TABLE OF CONTENTS

[Read Me First!] VOLUME I VOLUME II

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phantasms.html
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phantasms.html
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i-iv!
<<< In the later copies o= this e5ition( a =ew mistakes which occ9rre5 in the earlier copies
have been correcte5( an5 some a55itions have been ma5e. O= these( b> =ar the most
important is the recor5 which appears on pp. l???i-iv o= this Vol9me.
i-v!
PR&F!+&.
) L)'&E part o= the material 9se5 in this book was sent to the a9thors as representatives
o= the /ociet> =or 1s>chical 'esearch@ an5 the book is p9blishe5 with the sanction o= the
-o9ncil o= that /ociet>.
*he 5ivision o= a9thorship has been as =ollows. )s regar5s the writing an5 the views
e?presse5(AMr. M>ers is solel> responsible =or the Intro59ction( an5 =or the B%ote on a
/9ggeste5 Mo5e o= 1s>chical Interaction(C which imme5iatel> prece5es the /9pplement@
an5 Mr. &9rne> is solel> responsible =or the remain5er o= the book. "9t the most 5i==ic9lt
an5 important part o= the 9n5ertakingAthe collection( e?amination( an5 appraisal o=
evi5enceAhas been a Doint labo9r( o= which Mr. 1o5more has borne so consi5erable a
share that his name co9l5 not have been omitte5 =rom the title-page.
In the =ree 5isc9ssion an5 criticism which has accompanie5 the progress o= the work( we
have enDo>e5 the constant a5vice an5 assistance o= 1ro=essor an5 Mrs. /i5gwick( to each
o= whom we owe more than can be e?presse5 b> an> conventional phrases o= obligation.
,hatever errors o= D95gment or =laws in arg9ment ma> remain( s9ch blemishes are
certainl> =ewer than the> wo9l5 have been b9t =or this watch=9l an5 ever-rea5> help.
1ro=essor an5 Mrs. /i5gwick have also 5evote5 some time an5 tro9ble( 59ring vacations(
i-vi! to the practical work o= interviewing in=ormants an5 obtaining their personal
testimon>.
In the acknowle5gment o= o9r 5ebts( special mention is 59e to 1ro=essor ,. +. "arrett. .e
was to a great e?tent the pioneer o= the movement which it is hope5 that this book ma>
carr> =orwar5@ an5 the e?tent o= his services in relation( especiall>( to the s9bDect o=
e?perimental *ho9ght-trans=erence will s9==icientl> appear in the seE9el. Mr. Malcolm
&9thrie( 1ro=essor Oliver F. Lo5ge( an5 M. -harles 'ichet have been most welcome
allies in the same branch o=( the work. 1ro=essor "arrett an5 M. 'ichet have also s9pplie5
several o= the non-e?perimental cases in o9r collection. Mr. +. #. E5geworth has ren5ere5
val9able assistance in points relating to the theor> o= probabilities( a s9bDect on which he
is a recognise5 a9thorit>. )mong members o= o9r own /ociet>( o9r warmest thanks are
59e to Miss 1orter( =or her well-5irecte5( patient( an5 energetic assistance in ever>
5epartment o= the work@ Mr. -. -. Masse> has given 9s the bene=it o= his co9nsel@ an5
Mrs. ,alw>n( Mr. .ensleigh ,e5gwoo5( the 'ev. ). *. +r>er( o= -lerkenwell( the 'ev. F.
). Mac5onal5( o= 'h>l( an5 Mr. 'ichar5 .o5gson( have ai5e5 9s greatl> in the collection
o= evi5ence. Man> other helpers( in this an5 other co9ntries( we m9st be content to
incl95e in a general e?pression o= gratit95e.
+9rther recor5s o= e?perience will be most welcome( an5 sho9l5 be sent to the s9bDoine5
a55ress.
14, Deans ard, !. ".
June, 1##$.
i-vii!
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&'E%VILLE /*)%LE# .)LL( M.).( 1h.$.( 1ro=essor o= 1s>cholog> an5 1O5agogics(
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i-?!
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i-?i!
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I.
S 2. *he title o= this book embraces all transmissions o= tho9ght an5 =eeling =rom one
person to another( b> other means than thro9gh the recognise5 channels o= sense@ an5
among these cases we shall incl95e apparitions . . ???vT???vi
S U. ,e conceive that the problems here attacke5 lie in the main track o= science . . ???vi
S :. *he /ociet> =or 1s>chical 'esearch merel> aims at the =ree an5 e?act 5isc9ssion o=
the one remaining gro9p o= s9bDects to which s9ch 5isc9ssion is still re=9se5. 'easons =or
s9ch re=9sal . . ???viT???i?
S 3. 'easons( on the other han5( =or the prosec9tion o= o9r inE9iries ma> be 5rawn =rom
the present con5ition o= several contig9o9s st95ies. 'easons 5rawn =rom the a5vance o=
biolog> . . ???i?T?li
S V. /pecimens o= problems which biolog> s9ggests( an5 on which inE9iries like o9rs
ma> 9ltimatel> throw light. ,9n5t4s view o= the origination o= ps>chical energ> . . ?liT
?lii
S 8. *he problems o= h>pnotism . . ?liiT?liii
S W. .ope o= ai5 =rom the progress o= Bps>cho-ph>sicalC inE9iries . . ?liiiT?liv
S 7. 'easons =or ps>chical research 5rawn =rom the lacun+ o= anthropolog> . . ?livT?lv
S X. 'easons 5rawn =rom the st95> o= histor>( an5 especiall> o= the comparative histor>
o= religions. Instance =rom the /.1.'.4s investigation o= so-calle5 B*heosoph>C . . ?lviT
?lviii
S 2;. In consi5ering the relation o= o9r st95ies to religion generall>( we observe that(
since the> oblige 9s to conceive the ps>chical element in man as having relations which
cannot be e?presse5 in terms i-?ii! o= matter( a possibilit> is s9ggeste5 o= obtaining
scienti=ic evi5ence o= a s9persensor> relation between man4s min5 an5 a min5 or min5s
above his own . . ?lviiiTli
S 22. ,hile( on the other han5( i= o9r evi5ence to recent s9pernormal occ9rrences be
5iscre5ite5( a retrospective improbabilit> will be thrown on m9ch o= the content o=
religio9s tra5ition . . liTliv
S 2U. +9rthermore( in the region o= ethical an5 Osthetic emotion( telepath> in5icates a
possible scienti=ic basis =or m9ch to which men now cling witho9t 5e=inite D9sti=ication . .
livTlvii
2:.YsicZ Investigations s9ch as o9rs are important( moreover( =or the p9rpose o= checking
error an5 =ra95( as well as o= eliciting tr9th . . lviiTli?
II.
S 23. 1lace o= the present book in the =iel5 o= ps>chical research. In5ications o=
e?perimental tho9ght-trans=erence in the normal state. 27W8T277U . . l?
S 2V. +o9n5ation o= the /ociet> =or 1s>chical 'esearch( 277U. *elepath> selecte5 as o9r
=irst s9bDect =or 5etaile5 treatment on acco9nt o= the mass o= evi5ence =or it receive5 b>
9s . . l?i
S 28. *here is also a theoretic =itness in treating o= the 5irect action o= min5 9pon min5
be=ore 5ealing with other s9pernormal phenomena . . l?iiTl?iii
S 2W. 'easons =or classing apparitions occ9rring abo9t the moment o= 5eath as phantoms
o= the living, rather than o= the dead . . l?iiiTl?v
S 27. *his book( then( claims to show P2Q that e?perimental telepath> e?ists( an5 PUQ that
apparitions at 5eath( [c.( are a res9lt o= something be>on5 chance@ whence it =ollows P:Q
that these e?perimental an5 these spontaneo9s cases o= the action o= min5 on min5 are in
some wa> allie5 . . l?vTl?vii
S 27.YsicZ )s to the nat9re an5 5egree o= this alliance 5i==erent views ma> be taken( an5 in
a B%ote on a /9ggeste5 Mo5e o= 1s>chical Interaction(C in Vol. II.( a theor> somewhat
5i==erent =rom Mr. &9rne>4s is set =orth . . l?viiTl?i?
S U;. *his book( however( consists m9ch more largel> o= evi5ence than o= theories. *his
evi5ence has been almost entirel> collecte5 b> o9rselves . . l?i?Tl??
i-?iii!
S U2. InE9iries like these( tho9gh the> ma> appear at =irst to 5egra5e great tr9ths or
solemn conceptions( are likel> to en5 b> e?alting an5 a==irming them . . l??Tl??i
)55itions an5 -orrections . . l??iiiTl???iv
-.)1*E' I.
1'ELIMI%)'# 'EM)'0/: &'OU%$/ O+ -)U*IO%.
S 2. *he great test o= scienti=ic achievement is o=ten hel5 to be the power to predict
nat9ral phenomena@ b9t the test( tho9gh an a9thoritative one in the sciences o= inorganic
nat9re( has b9t a limite5 application to the sciences that 5eal with life, an5 especiall> to
the 5epartment o= (ental phenomena . . 2T:
S U. In 5ealing with the implications o= li=e an5 the 5evelopments o= h9man =ac9lt>(
ca9tion nee5s to be e?ercise5 in two 5irections. *he scientist is in 5anger o= =orgetting the
9nstable an5 9nmechanical nat9re o= the material( an5 o= closing the 5oor too
5ogmaticall> on phenomena whose relations with establishe5 knowle5ge he cannot trace@
while others take a5vantage o= the =act that the limits o= possibilit> cannot here be
scienti=icall> state5( to grati=> an 9ncritical taste =or marvels( an5 to invest their own
hast> ass9mptions with the 5ignit> o= laws . . :TV
S :. *his state o= things s9bDects the st95> o= Bps>chicalC phenomena to pec9liar
5isa5vantages( an5 imposes on the st95ent pec9liar obligations . . VT8
S 3. )n5 this sho9l5 be well recognise5 b> those who a5vance a conception so new to
ps>chological science as the central conception o= this bookAto wit( Telepath,, or the
abilit, of one (ind to i(press or to be i(pressed b, another (ind other-ise than through
the recognised channels of sense. PO= the two persons concerne5( the one whose min5
i(presses the other will be calle5 the agent, an5 the one whose min5 is i(pressed the
percipient& . . 8TW
S V. *elepath> will be here st95ie5 chie=l> as a s>stem o= facts, theoretical 5isc9ssion
being s9bor5inate5 to the presentation o= evi5ence. *he evi5ence will be o= two sortsA
spontaneous occ9rrences( an5 the res9lts o= 5irect e.peri(ent/ which latter will have to
be care=9ll> 5isting9ishe5 =rom sp9rio9s Btho9ght-rea5ingC e?hibitions . . WTX
i-?iv!
-.)1*E' II.
*.E E\1E'IME%*)L ")/I/: *.OU&.*-*')%/+E'E%-E.
S 2. *he term tho9ght-transference has been a5opte5 in pre=erence to tho9ght-reading,
the latter term P2Q having become i5enti=ie5 with e?hibitions o= (uscle-rea5ing( an5 PUQ
s9ggesting a power o= rea5ing a person4s tho9ghts against his will . . 2;T22
S U. *he phenomena o= tho9ght-trans=erence =irst attracte5 the attention o= competent
witnesses in connection with Bmesmerism(C an5 were regar5e5 as one o= the pec9liarities
o= the mesmeric rapport/ which was most preD95icial to their chance o= scienti=ic
acceptance . . 22T2:
S :. .ints o= tho9ght-trans=erence between persons in a normal state were obtaine5 b>
1ro=essor "arrett in 27W8@ an5 D9st at that time the attention o= others ha5 been attracte5
to certain phenomena o= the Bwilling-game(C which were not easil> e?plicable Pas almost
all the so-calle5 BwillingC an5 Btho9ght-rea5ingC e?hibitions areQ b> 9nconscio9s
m9sc9lar g9i5ance. "9t the iss9e co9l5 never be 5e=initel> 5eci5e5 b> cases where the
two persons concerne5 were in an> sort o= contact . . 2:T2W
S 3. )n5 even where contact is e?cl95e5( other possibilities o= 9nconscio9s g9i5ance
m9st be taken into acco9nt@ as also m9st the possibilit> o= conscio9s collusion. )n>one
who is 9nable to obtain conviction as to the bona fides o= e?periments b> himsel= acting
as agent or percipient Pan5 so being himsel= one o= the persons who wo9l5 have to take
part in the trick( i= trick it wereQ( ma> =airl> 5eman5 that the responsibilit> =or the res9lts
shall be sprea5 over a consi5erable gro9p o= personsAa gro9p so large that he shall =in5
it impossible to e?ten5 to all o= them the h>pothesis o= 5eceit Por o= s9ch imbecilit> as
wo9l5 take the place o= 5eceitQ which he might appl> to a smaller n9mber . . 2WTU;
S V. E?periments with the -reer> =amil>@ earlier trials . . U2TUU
More concl9sive e?periments( in which knowle5ge o= what was to be trans=erre5 P9s9all>
the i5ea o= a partic9lar car5( name( or n9mberQ was con=ine5 to the members o= the
investigating committee who acte5 as agents@ with a table o= res9lts( an5 an estimate o=
probabilities . . UUTU8
In man> cases reckone5 as =ail9res there was a 5egree o= appro?imate s9ccess which was
ver> signi=icant . . UWTU7
*he =orm o= the impression in the percipient4s min5 seems to have been sometimes vis9al
an5 sometimes a95itor> . . U7TUX
S 8. 'easons wh> these e?periments were not accessible to a larger i-?v! n9mber o=
observers@ the chie= reason being the gra59al 5ecline o= the percipient =ac9lt> . . UXT:2
S W. In a co9rse o= e?periments o= the same sort con59cte5 b> M. -harles 'ichet( in
+rance( the wo9l5-be percipients were apparentl> not persons o= an> special
s9sceptibilit>@ b9t a s9==icient n9mber o= trials were ma5e =or the e?cess o= the total o=
s9ccesses over the total most probable i= chance alone acte5 to be 5eci5e5l> striking . .
:2T::
*he p9rs9it o= this line o= inE9ir> on a large scale in Englan5 has pro59ce5 res9lts which
involve a practical certaint> that some ca9se other than chance has acte5 . . ::T:V
S 7. E?periments in the repro59ction o= 5iagrams an5 ro9gh 5rawings. In a long series
con59cte5 b> Mr. Malcolm &9thrie( two percipients an5 a consi5erable n9mber o= agents
were emplo>e5 . . :VT:7
/pecimens o= the res9lts . . :XT37
S X. 1ro=essor Oliver F. Lo5ge4s e?periments with Mr. &9thrie4s Bs9bDects(C an5 his
remarks thereon . . 3XTV2
S 2;. E?periments in the trans=erence o= elementar> sensationsAtastes( smells( an5
pains . . V2TV7
S 22. ) 5i==erent 5epartment o= e?periment is that where the trans=erence 5oes not take
e==ect in the percipient4s conscio9sness( b9t is e?hibite5 in his (otor s>stem( either
a9tomaticall> or semi-a9tomaticall>. E?periments in the inhibition o= 9tterance . . V7T8U
S 2U. *he most concl9sive cases o= trans=erence o= i5eas which( nevertheless( 5o not
a==ect the percipient4s conscio9sness are those where the i5ea is repro59ce5 b> the
percipient in -riting, witho9t his being aware o= what he has written. $etails o= a long
series o= trials carrie5 o9t b> the 'ev. 1. .. an5 Mrs. %ewnham . . 8UT8X
*he intelligence which acte5 on the percipient4s si5e in these e?periments was in a sense
an unconscious intelligenceAa term which nee5s care=9l 5e=inition . . 8XTW;
S 2:. M. 'ichet has intro59ce5 an ingenio9s metho5 =or 9tilising what he calls
Bme5i9mshipCAi.e., the liabilit> to e?hibit intelligent movements in which conscio9sness
an5 will take no partA=or p9rposes o= telepathic e?periment. "> this metho5 it has been
clearl> shown that a wor5 on which the agent concentrates his attention ma> be
9nconscio9sl> repro59ce5 b> the percipient . . W2TWW
)n5 even that a wor5 which has onl> an 9nconscio9s place in the agent4s min5 ma> be
similarl> trans=erre5 . . WWTWX
i-?vi!
*hese phenomena seem to involve a certain i(pulsive E9alit> in the trans=erence . . WXT7;
S 23. )part =rom serio9s an5 s>stematic investigation( interesting res9lts are sometimes
obtaine5 in a more cas9al wa>( o= which some specimens are given. It is m9ch to be
wishe5 that more persons wo9l5 make e?periments( 9n5er con5itions which precl95e the
possibilit> o= 9nconscio9s g9i5ance. )t present we are greatl> in the 5ark as to the
proportion o= people in whom the speci=ic =ac9lt> e?ists . . 72T7V
-.)1*E' III.
*.E *')%/I*IO% +'OM E\1E'IME%*)L *O /1O%*)%EOU/ *ELE1)*.#.
S 2. *here is a certain class o= cases in which( tho9gh the> are e?periments on the agent4s
part( an5 involve his conscio9s concentration o= min5 with a view to the res9lt( the
percipient is not conscio9sl> or vol9ntaril> a part> to the e?periment. /9ch cases ma> be
calle5 transitional. In them the 5istance between the two persons concerne5 is o=ten
consi5erable . . 78T7W
S U. /p9rio9s e?amples o= the sort are o=ten a559ce5@ an5 especiall> in connection with
mesmerism( res9lts are o=ten attrib9te5 to the operator4s -ill, which are reall> 59e to
some previo9s comman5 or s9ggestion. /till( e?amples are not lacking o= the in59ction o=
the h>pnotic trance in a Bs9bDectC at a 5istance( b> the 5eliberate e?ercise o= volition . .
7WT7X
S :. Ill9strations o= the in59ction or inhibition o= 5e=inite actions b> the agent4s volition(
5irecte5 towar5s a person who is 9naware o= his intent . . 7XTX2
*he relation o= the -ill to telepathic e?periments is liable to be mis9n5erstoo5. *he i5ea(
which we enco9nter in romances( that one person ma> acE9ire an5 e?ercise at a 5istance
a 5angero9s 5ominance over another4s actions( seems E9ite 9ns9pporte5 b> evi5ence. )n
e?treme e?ample o= what ma> reall> occ9r is given . . XUTX3
S 3. Ill9strations o= the in59ction o= 5e=inite ideas b> the agent4s volition . . X3TX8
S V. *he trans=erence o= an i5ea( 5eliberatel> =i?e5 on b> the agent( to an 9nprepare5
percipient at a 5istance( wo9l5 be har5 to establish( since i5eas whose origin escapes 9s
are so constantl> s9ggesting themselves spontaneo9sl>. /till( telepathic action ma>
possibl> e?ten5 consi5erabl> be>on5 the well-marke5 cases on which the proo= o= it m9st
5epen5 . . X8TXW
i-?vii!
S 8. Ill9strations o= the in59ction o= sensations b> the agent4s volition . . XWTXX
S W. )n5 especiall> o= sensations o= sight . . XXT2;U
S 7. *he best-atteste5 e?amples being hall9cinations representing the =ig9re o= the agent
himsel= . . 2;UT22;
S X. /9ch cases present a marke5 5epart9re =rom the or5inar> t>pe o= e?perimental
tho9ght-trans=erence( inasm9ch as what the percipient perceives Pthe agent4s =ormQ is not
the repro59ction o= that with which the agent4s min5 has been occ9pie5@ an5 this seems to
precl95e an> simple ph,sical conception o= the trans=erence( as 59e to Bbrain-waves(C
s>mpathetic vibrations( [c. ) similar 5i==ic9lt> meets 9s later in most o= the spontaneous
cases@ an5 the rapproche(ent o= e?perimental an5 spontaneo9s telepath> m9st be
9n5erstoo5 to be limite5 to their ps,chical aspectAa limitation which can be easil>
5e=en5e5 . . 22;T22:
-.)1*E' IV.
&E%E')L -'I*I-I/M O+ *.E EVI$E%-E +O' /1O%*)%EOU/ *ELE1)*.#.
S 2. ,hen we pass to spontaneo9s e?hibitions o= telepath>( the nat9re o= the evi5ence
changes@ =or the events are 5escribe5 b> persons who pla>e5 their part in them 9nawares(
witho9t an> i5ea that the> were matter =or scienti=ic observation. *he metho5 o= inE9ir>
will now have to be the historical metho5( an5 will involve 5i==ic9lt E9estions as to the
D95gment o= h9man testimon>( an5 a comple? estimate o= probabilities . . 223T22V
S U. *he most general obDection to evi5ence =or phenomena transcen5ing the recognise5
scope o= science is that( in a thickl> pop9late5 worl5 where mal-observation an5
e?aggeration are eas> an5 common( there is Pwithin certain limitsQ no marvel =or which
evi5ence o= a sort ma> not be obtaine5. *his obDection is o=ten en=orce5 b> re=erence to
the s9perstition o= -itchcraft, which in E9ite mo5ern times was s9pporte5 b> a large arra>
o= contemporar> evi5ence . . 22VT228 .
"9t when this instance is care=9ll> e?amine5( we =in5 P2Q that the 5irect testimon> came
e?cl9sivel> =rom the 9ne59cate5 class@ an5 PUQ that( owing to the ignorance which( in the
witch-epoch( was 9niversal as to the ps>cholog> o= vario9s abnormal an5 morbi5 states(
the h>pothesis o= 9nconscio9s sel=-5eception on the part o= the witnesses was never
allowe5 =or . . 228T22W
i-?viii!
O9r present knowle5ge o= h>pnotism( h>steria( an5 h>stero-epileps>( enables 9s to
acco9nt =or man> o= the phenomena attrib9te5 to 5emonic possession( as neither =act nor
=ra95( b9t as bon0 fide hall9cinations . . 22WT227
,hile =or the more bi]arre an5 incre5ible marvels there is absol9tel> no 5irect( =irst-han5(
in5epen5ent testimon> . . 227
*he better-atteste5 cases are D9st those which( i= gen9ine( might be e?plaine5 as
telepathic@ b9t the evi5ence =or them is not strong eno9gh to s9pport an> 5e=inite
concl9sion . . 22X
S :. *he evi5ence =or telepath> in the present work presents a complete contrast to that
which has s9pporte5 the belie= in magical occ9rrences. It comes =or the most part =rom
e59cate5 persons( who were not pre5ispose5 to a5mit the realit> o= the phenomena@ while
the phenomena themselves are not strongl> associate5 with an> prevalent belie=s or habits
o= tho9ght( 5i==ering in this respect( e.g., =rom allege5 apparitions o= the dead. /till we
m9st not( on s9ch gro9n5s as these( ass9me that the evi5ence is tr9stworth> . . 2U;T2UU
S 3. *he errors which ma> a==ect it are o= vario9s sorts. Error o= observation ma> res9lt in
a (ista1e of identit,. *h9s a stranger in the street ma> be mistaken =or a =rien5( who t9rns
o9t to have 5ie5 at that time( an5 whose phantasm is there=ore asserte5 to have appeare5.
"9t it is onl> to a ver> small minorit> o= the cases which =ollow that s9ch a h>pothesis
co9l5 possibl> be applie5 . . 2U:T2UV
Error o= inference is not a prominent 5anger@ as what concerns the telepathic evi5ence is
simpl> what the percipient see(ed to hi(self to see or hear( not what he in=erre5
there=rom . . 2UVT2U8
S V. O= more importance are errors o= narration, 59e to the ten5enc> to make an acco9nt
e5i=>ing( or graphic( or startling. In =irst-han5 testimon> this ten5enc> ma> be to some
e?tent co9nterbalance5 b> the 5esire to be believe5@ which has less in=l9ence in cases
where the narrator is not personall> responsible( as( e.g., in the sp9rio9s an5 sensational
anec5otes o= anon>mo9s newspaper paragraphs( or o= 5inner-table gossip . . 2U8T2UX
S 8. Errors o= (e(or, are more insi5io9s. I= the witness regar5s the =acts in a partic9lar
spec9lative or emotional light( =acts will be apt( in memor>( to accommo5ate themselves
to this view( an5 5etails will get intro59ce5 or 5roppe5 o9t in s9ch a manner as to ai5 the
harmonio9s e==ect. Even apart =rom an> special bias( the mere e==ort to make 5e=inite
what has become 5im ma> =ill in the pict9re with wrong 5etail@ or the ten5enc> to lighten
the b9r5en o= retention ma> invest the whole occ9rrence with a sp9rio9s trenchanc> an5
simplicit> o= =orm . . 2UXT2:2
i-?i?!
S W. ,e have to consi5er how these vario9s so9rces o= error ma> a==ect the evi5ence =or a
case o= spontaneo9s telepath>. /9ch a case presents a coinci5ence o= a partic9lar kin5(
with =o9r main points to look to:AP2Q ) partic9lar state o= the agent( e.g., the crisis o=
5eath@ PUQ a partic9lar e?perience o= the percipient( e.g., the impression o= seeing the
agent be=ore him in visible =orm@ P:Q the 5ate o= P2Q@ P3Q the 5ate o= PUQ . . 2:2T2:U
S 7. *he risk o= mistake as to the state o= the agent is sel5om appreciable: his 5eath( =or
instance( i= that is what has be=allen him( can 9s9all> be prove5 be>on5 5isp9te . . 2:U
+or the e?perience o= the percipient( on the other han5( we have generall> nothing b9t his
own wor5 to 5epen5 on. "9t =or what is reE9ire5( his wor5 is o=ten s9==icient. +or the
evi5ential point is simpl> his statement that he has ha5 an impression or sensation o= a
pec9liar kin5( which( i= he ha5 it( he knew that he ha5@ an5 this point is E9ite in5epen5ent
o= his interpretation o= his e?perience( which ma> easil> be erroneo9s( e.g., i= he
attrib9tes obDective realit> to what was reall> a hall9cination . . 2::T2:3
*he risk o= misrepresentation is smallest i= his 5escription o= his e?perience( or a 5istinct
co9rse o= action 59e to his e?perience( has preceded his knowle5ge o= what has happene5
to the agent . . 2:3T2:8
S X. ,here his 5escription o= his e?perience 5ates =rom a time subse2uent to his
knowle5ge o= what has happene5 to the agent( there is a possibilit> that this knowle5ge
ma> have ma5e the e?perience seem more striking an5 5istinctive than it reall> was. /till(
we have not 5etecte5 5e=inite instances o= this sort o= inacc9rac>. %or wo9l5 the =act
Po=ten e?pressl> state5 b> the witnessQ that the e?perience 5i5 not at the time o= its
occ9rrence s9ggest the agent( b> an> means 5estro>Atho9gh it wo9l5 o= co9rse weaken
Athe pres9mption that it was telepathic . . 2:8T2:7
S 2;. )s regar5s the interval o= time which ma> separate the two events or e?periences on
the agent4s an5 the percipient4s si5e respectivel>( an arbitrar> limit o= 2U ho9rs has been
a5opte5Athe coinci5ence in most cases being ver> m9ch closer than this@ b9t no case
will be presente5 as telepathic where the percipient4s e?perience preceded, b> however
short a time( some grave event occ9rring to the agent( i= at the time o= the percipient4s
e?perience the state o= the agent was normal . . 2:7T23;
S 22. It is in the matter o= the dates that the risk o= mis-statement is greatest. *he instinct
towar5s simpli=ication an5 5ramatic completeness nat9rall> ten5s to make the
coinci5ence more e?act than the =acts warrant . . 23;T23U.
i-??!
S 2U. *he 5ate o= the event that has be=allen the agent is o=ten incl95e5 in the news o= that
event@ which news( in these 5a>s o= posts an5 telegraphs( o=ten =ollows close eno9gh on
the percipient4s e?perience =or the 5ate o= that e?perience to be then sa=el> recalle5 . . 23U
-233
S 2:. "9t i= a longer interval elapse( the percipient ma> ass9me too rea5il> that his own
e?perience =ell on the critical 5a>@ an5 as time goes on( his certaint> is likel> to increase
rather than 5iminish. /till( i= the coinci5ence was then an5 there note5( an5 i= the
attention o= others was calle5 to it( it ma> be possible to present a tolerabl> strong case
=or its realit>( even a=ter the lapse o= a consi5erable time . . 233T238
S 23. *hese vario9s evi5ential con5itions ma> be arrange5 in a gra59ate5 scheme . . 238T
237
S 2V. /econ5-han5 evi5ence Pe?cept o= one special t>peQ is e?cl95e5 =rom the bo5> o= the
work@ b9t the /9pplement contains a certain n9mber o= secon5-han5 cases( receive5 =rom
persons who were well acE9ainte5 with the original witnesses( an5 who ha5 ha5 the
opport9nit> o= becoming thoro9ghl> acE9ainte5 with their statement o= the =acts . . 237T
23X
In transmitte5 evi5ence all the risks o= error are greatl> intensi=ie5( there being no 5eepl>-
graven sense o= realit> to act as a check on e?aggeration or invention. /ome instances are
given o= the breaking-5own o= allege5 evi5ence 9n5er critical e?amination . . 23XT2V3
) =reE9ent sort o= inacc9rac> in transmitte5 evi5ence is the shortening o= the chain o=
transmissionAsecon5 or thir5-han5 in=ormation being represente5 as =irst-han5@ an5 the
allege5 coinci5ence is almost alwa>s s9spicio9sl> e?act . . 2V3T2VW
S 28. ) certain separation o= cases accor5ing to their evi5ential val9e has been attempte5(
the bo5> o= the work being reserve5 =or those where the pri(0 facie probabilit> that the
essential =acts are correctl> state5 is tolerabl> strong. "9t even where the facts are
correctl> reporte5( their =orce in the argu(ent for telepath, will 5i==er accor5ing to the
class to which the> belong@ p9rel> e(otional impressions( =or instance( an5 drea(s, are
ver> weak classes . . 2V7
*he val9e o= the several items o= evi5ence is also largel> a==ecte5 b> the mental E9alities
an5 training o= the witnesses. Ever> case m9st be D95ge5 on its own merits( b> re=erence
to a variet> o= points@ an5 those who st95> the recor5s will have an eE9al opport9nit> o=
=orming a D95gment with those who have collecte5 themAe?cept in the matter o= i-??i!
personal acE9aintance with the witnesses( the e==ect o= which it is impossible to
comm9nicate . . 2VXT282
S 2W. )n all-important point is the nu(ber o= the coinci5ences a559ce5. ) fe- might be
acco9nte5 acci5ental@ b9t it will be impossible to appl> that h>pothesis thro9gho9t. %or
can the evi5ence be swept o9t o= co9rt b> a mere general appeal to the 9ntr9stworthiness
o= h9man testimon>. I= it is to be e?plaine5 awa>( it m9st be met Pas we have o9rselves
en5eavo9re5 to meet itQ in 5etail@ an5 this necessitates the con=ronting o= the single ca9se(
telepath>( Pwhose 3 priori improbabilit> is =9ll> a5mitte5(Q with a m9ltit95e o= ca9ses(
more or less improbable( an5 in c9m9lation incre5ible . . 282T283
S 27. ,ith all their 5i==erences( the cases recor5e5 bear strong signs o= belonging to a tr9e
nat9ral gro9p@ an5 their harmon>( alike in what the> 5o an5 in what the> 5o not present(
is ver> 9nlikel> to be the acci5ental res9lt o= a m9ltit95e o= 5isconnecte5 mistakes. )n5 it
is noteworth> that certain sensational an5 s9spicio9s 5etails( here conspic9o9s b> their
absence( which o=ten make their wa> into remote or ba5l>-evi5ence5 cases( are precisel>
those which the telepathic h>pothesis wo9l5 not cover . . 283T288
S 2X. "9t tho9gh some ma> regar5 the c9m9lative arg9ment here p9t =orwar5 =or
spontaneo9s telepath> as amo9nting to a proo=( the proo= is not b> an> means o= an
4clatant sort: m9ch o= the evi5ence =alls =ar short o= the i5eal stan5ar5. /till( eno9gh has
perhaps been 5one to D9sti=> o9r 9n5ertaking( an5 to broa5en the basis o= =9t9re inE9ir> . .
288T28X
S U;. *he vario9s items o= evi5ence are( o= co9rse( not the links in a chain( b9t the sticks
in a =aggot. It is impossible to la> 5own the precise n9mber o= sticks necessar> to a
per=ectl> soli5 =aggot@ b9t the present collection is at least an instalment o= what is
reE9ire5 . . 28XT2W;
S U2. *he instinct as to the amo9nt o= evi5ence nee5e5 ma> 5i==er greatl> in a min5 which
has, an5 a min5 which has not, realise5 the =acts o= e.peri(ental telepath> P-hap. ii.Q(
an5 the intimate relation o= that branch to the spontaneo9s branch. "etween the two
branches( in spite o= their 5i==erenceAa 5i==erence as great in appearance as that between
lightning an5 the electrical attraction o= r9bbe5 amber =or bits o= strawAthe great
ps>chological =act o= a s9persens9o9s in=l9ence o= min5 on min5 constit9tes a tr9e
generic bon5 . . 2W2T2WU
i-??ii!
% O*E O% , I*-.-')+*.
*he statement ma5e in -hapter iv. as to the lack o= =irst-han5 evi5ence =or the phenomena
o= magic an5 witchcra=t Pe?cept so =ar as the> can be completel> acco9nte5 =or b>
mo5ern ps>chological knowle5geQ ma> seem a sweeping one. "9t e?tensive as is the
literat9re o= the s9bDect( the act9al recor5s are e?traor5inaril> meagre@ an5 the staple
pro5igies( which were reall> nothing more than pop9lar legen5s( are E9ote5 an5 re-
E9ote5 ad nausea(. E?amples o= the so-calle5 evi5ence which s9pporte5 the belie= in
l,canthrop,, an5 in the nocturnal rides and orgies . . 2WUT2WV
*he case o= witchcra=t( so =ar =rom proving Pas is sometimes represente5Q that a more or
less imposing arra> o= evi5ence will be =orthcoming =or an> belie= that 5oes not 5istinctl>
=l> in the =ace o= average p9blic opinion( goes( in =act( rather s9rprisingl> =ar towar5s
proving the contrar> . . 2W8T2WW
*his view o= the s9bDect is completel> oppose5 to that o= Mr. Leck>( whose treatment
seems to s9==er =rom the neglect o= two important 5istinctions. .e 5oes not 5isting9ish
between evidenceAo= which( in respect o= the more bi]arre marvels( there was ne?t to
none@ an5 authorit,Ao= which there was ab9n5ance( =rom .omer 5ownwar5s. %or 5oes
he 5iscriminate the wholl> incre5ible allegations %e.g., as to transportations thro9gh the
air an5 trans=ormations into animal =ormsQ =rom the pathological phenomena( which in
the e>es o= contemporaries were eE9all> s9pernat9ral( an5 =or which( as might be
e?pecte5( the 5irect evi5ence was ab9n5ant . . 2WWT2WX
) most important class o= these pathological phenomena were sub5ective hallucinations
of the senses, o=ten 59e to terror or e?citement( an5 some times probabl> to h>pnotic
s9ggestion( b9t almost invariabl> attrib9te5 to the 5irect operation o= the 5evil. Other
phenomenaAo= insensibilit>( inhibition o= 9tterance( abnormal rapport, an5 the in=l9ence
o= rep9te5 witches on healthAwere almost certainl> h>pnotic in character@ BpossessionC
is o=ten simpl> h>stero-epileps>@ while m9ch ma> be acco9nte5 =or b> mere h>steria( or
b> the same sort o= =aith as pro59ces the mo5ern Bmin5-c9resC . . 2WXT27:
Learne5 opinion on the s9bDect o= witchcra=t went thro9gh c9rio9s vicissit95es@ the
recession to a rational stan5point( which in man> wa>s was o= co9rse a sceptical
movement( being complicate5 b> the =act that man> o= the phenomena were too gen9ine
to be 5o9bte5. %ow that the separation is complete( we see that the e?plo5e5 part o=
witchcra=t never ha5 an> real evi5ential =o9n5ation@ while the part which ha5 a real
evi5ential =o9n5ation has been taken 9p into ortho5o? ph>siological an5 ps>chological
science. ,ith the =ormer part we might contrast( an5 with the latter compare( the
evi5ential case =or telepath> . . 27:T27V
i-??iii!
-.)1*E' V.
/1E-IME%/ O+ *.E V)'IOU/ *#1E/ O+ /1O%*)%EOU/ *ELE1)*.#.
S 2. )s the st95> o= an> large amo9nt o= the evi5ence that =ollows is a task =or which
man> rea5ers will be 5isincline5( a selection o= t>pical cases will be presente5 in this
chapter( ill9strative o= the vario9s classes into which the phenomena =all . . 278T27W
S U. *he logical starting-point is =o9n5 in the class that presents most analog> to
e?perimental tho9ght-trans=erenceAi.e., where the percipient4s impression is not
e.ternalised as part o= the obDective worl5. )n e?ample is given o= the trans=erence o=
pain, an5 a possible e?ample o= the trans=erence o= s(ell/ b9t among the phenomena o=
spontaneo9s telepath>( s9ch literal repro59ctions o= the agent4s bo5il> sensation are ver>
e?ceptional . . 27WT2X2
S :. E?amples o= the trans=erence o= a somewhat abstract idea/ o= a pictorial i(age/ an5
o= an e(otional i(pression, involving some 5egree o= ph>sical 5iscom=ort . . 2X2T2X7
S 3. E?amples o= drea(s,Aa class which nee5s to be treate5 with the greatest ca9tion(
owing to the in5e=inite scope which it a==or5s =or acci5ental coinci5ences. One o= the
e?amples P%o. U:Q presents the =eat9re o= defer(ent o= percipienceAthe telepathic
impression having apparentl> =aile5 at =irst to reach the threshol5 o= attention( an5
emerging into conscio9sness some ho9rs a=ter the e?perience on the agent4s si5e in which
it ha5 its origin . . 2X7TU;:
S V. E?amples o= the BborderlandC classAa convenient name b> which to 5escribe cases
that belong to a con5ition neither o= sleep nor o= provabl> complete waking
conscio9sness@ b9t it is probable that in man> o= the cases so 5escribe5 Pas in %o. U8Q( the
percipient( tho9gh in be5( was E9ite normall> awake . . U;:TU;7
S 8. E?amples o= e.ternalised impressions o= sight, occ9rring in the mi5st o= or5inar>
waking li=e. In some o= these we =in5 an in5ication that a close personal rapport between
the agent an5 percipient is not a necessar> con5ition o= the telepathic trans=erence@ an5
another is pec9liar in that the phantasmal =ig9re is not recognised b> the percipient . .
U;7TUU2
S W. E?amples o= e.ternalised impressions o= hearing/ one o= which was o= a recognise5
voice( an5 one o= an inartic9late shriek . . UU2TUU3
S 7. E?ample o= an impression o= touch/ which is also( perhaps( an i-??iv! e?ample o=
the reciprocal class( where each o= the persons concerne5 seems to e?ercise a telepathic
in=l9ence on the other . . UUVTUUW
S X. E?ample o= the collective class( where more percipients than one take part in a single
telepathic inci5ent . . UUWTUUX
S 2;. )mong the vario9s con5itions o= telepathic agenc>( the death6cases =orm b> =ar the
commonest t>pe. %ow in these cases it is not rare =or the agent to be comatose an5
9nconscio9s@ in other cases( again( he has been in a swoon or a 5eep sleep@ an5 there is a
5i==ic9lt> in 9n5erstan5ing an abnormal e?ercise o= ps>chical energ> at s9ch seasons. *he
e?planation ma> possibl> be =o9n5 in the i5ea o= a wi5er conscio9sness( an5 a more
complete sel=( which =in5s in what we call li=e ver> imper=ect con5itions o=
mani=estation( an5 recognises in 5eath not a cessation b9t a liberation o= energ> . . UUXT
U:2
-.)1*E' VI.
*')%/+E'E%-E O+ I$E)/ )%$ ME%*)L 1I-*U'E/.
S 2. *he pop9lar belie= in the trans=erence o= tho9ght( witho9t ph>sical signs( between
=rien5s an5 members o= the same ho9sehol5( is o=ten hel5 on E9ite ins9==icient gro9n5s@
allowance not being ma5e =or the similarit> o= associations( an5 =or the slightness o= the
signs which ma> be hal=-a9tomaticall> interprete5 . . U:UTU::
It o=ten happens( =or instance( that one person in a room begins h9mming a tune which is
r9nning in another4s hea5@ b9t it is onl> ver> e?ceptionall> that s9ch a coinci5ence can be
hel5 to impl> a ps>chical trans=erence. Occasionall> the i5ea trans=erre5 is closel>
connecte5 with the auditor, i(age o= a -ord or phrase . . U:3TU:8
S U. E?amples o= the trans=erence o= i5eas an5 images o= a simple or r95imentar> sort . .
U:8TU3;
S :. E?amples o= the trans=erence o= more comple? i5eas( representing 5e=inite events@
an5 o= the occ9rrence o= several s9ch Bveri5icalC impressions to the same percipients . .
U32TUV2
S 3. -ases where the i5ea impresse5 on the percipient has been simpl> that o= the agent4s
approachAa t>pe which m9st be accepte5 with great ca9tion( as n9mero9s coinci5ences
o= the sort are s9re to occ9r b> p9re acci5ent . . UV2TUV3
i-??v!
S V. *rans=erences o= mental images o= concrete obDects an5 scenes with which the
agent4s attention is occ9pie5 at the time . . UV3TV88
/ome o= these impressions are so 5etaile5 an5 vivi5 as to s9ggest clairvo,ance/ nor is
there an> obDection to that term( so long as we recognise the 5i==erence between s9ch
telepathic clairvo>ance( an5 an> s9ppose5 independent e?tension o= the percipient4s
senses . . U88TU87
Occasionall> the percipient seems to obtain the tr9e impression( not b> passive reception(
b9t b> a 5eliberate e==ort . . U87
-.)1*E' VII.
EMO*IO%)L )%$ MO*O' E++E-*/.
S 2. Emotional impressions( allege5 to have coinci5e5 with some calamito9s event at a
5istance( =orm a ver> 59bio9s class( as P2Q in retrospect( a=ter the calamit> is realise5(
the> are apt to ass9me a strength an5 5e=niteness which the> 5i5 not reall> possess@ an5
PUQ similar impressions ma> be common in the soi6disant percipient4s e?perience( an5 he
ma> have omitte5 to remark or recor5 the (issesAthe man> instances which have not
correspon5e5 with an> real event. )ll cases m9st( o= co9rse( be reDecte5 where there has
been an> appreciable gro9n5 =or an?iet> . . U8XTUW;
S U. E?amples which ma> perhaps have been telepathic@ some o= which incl95e a sense o=
ph>sical 5istress . . UW;TUWX
S :. E?amples o= s9ch trans=erences between t-ins . . UWXTU7:
S 3. E?amples where the primar> element in the impression is a sense o= being -anted,
an5 an imp9lse to (ove(ent or action o= a sort 9nlikel> to have s9ggeste5 itsel= in the
or5inar> co9rse o= things . . U7:TUXU
*he telepathic in=l9ence in s9ch cases m9st be interprete5 as emotional( not as 5e=initel>
5irecting( an5 still less as abrogating( the percipient4s power o= choice: the movements
pro59ce5 ma> be s9ch as the agent cannot have 5esire5( or even tho9ght o= . . UXUTUX3
-.)1*E' VIII.
$'E)M/.
1)'* I.A*.E 'EL)*IO% O+ $'E)M/ *O *.E )'&UME%* +O' *ELE1)*.#.
S 2. $reams comprise the whole range o= transition =rom ideal and e(otional to sensor,
a==ections@ an5 at ever> step o= the transition we =in5 instances which ma> reasonabl> be
regar5e5 as telepathic . . UXVTUX8
i-??vi!
*he great interest o= the 5istinctl> sensor> specimens lies in the =9n5amental resemblance
which the> o==er( an5 the transition which the> =orm( to the e?ternalise5 Bphantasms o=
the livingC which impress -a1ing percipients@ the 5i==erence being that the 5ream-
percepts are recognise5( on re=lection( as having been hall9cinator>( an5 9nrelate5 to that
part o= the e?ternal worl5 where the percipient4s bo5> is@ while the waking phantasmal
percepts are apt to be regar5e5 as obDective phenomena( which reall> impresse5 the e>e
or the ear =rom o9tsi5e . . UX8TUXW
S U. "9t when we e?amine 5reams in respect o= their evidential val9eAo= the proo=
which the> are capable o= a==or5ing o= a telepathic correspon5ence with the realit>Awe
=in5 o9rselves on 5o9bt=9l gro9n5. +or P2Q the 5etails o= the realit>( when known( will be
ver> apt to be read bac1 into the 5ream( thro9gh the general ten5enc> to make vag9e
things 5istinct@ an5 PUQ the great (ultitude o= 5reams ma> seem to a==or5 almost limitless
scope =or accidental correspon5ences o= a 5ream with an act9al occ9rrence resembling
the one 5reamt o=. )n> answer to this last obDection m9st 5epen5 on statistics which( 9ntil
latel>( there has been no attempt to obtain@ an5 tho9gh an answer o= a sort can be given( it
is not s9ch a one as wo9l5 D9sti=> 9s in basing a theor> o= telepath> on the =acts o= 5reams
alone . . UX7T:;;
S :. Most o= the 5reams selecte5 =or this work were e?ceptional in intensit,/ an5
pro59ce5 marke5 5istress( or were 5escribe5( or were in some wa> acte5 on( before the
news o= the correspon5ent e?perience was known. In content, too( the> were mostl> o= a
5istinct an5 9n9s9al kin5@ while some o= them present a consi5erable amo9nt o= tr9e
5etail . . :;;T:;U
)n5 more than hal= o= those selecte5 on the above gro9n5s are 5reams o= deathAa =act
eas> to acco9nt =or on the h>pothesis o= telepath>( an5 5i==ic9lt to acco9nt =or on the
h>pothesis o= acci5ent . . :;:
S 3. $reams so 5e=inite in content as 5reams o= 5eath a==or5 an opport9nit> o=
ascertaining what their act9al =reE9enc> is( an5 so o= estimating whether the specimens
which have coinci5e5 with realit> are or are not more n9mero9s than chance wo9l5 =airl>
allow. ,ith a view to s9ch an estimate( a specimen gro9p o= V:8; persons( taken at
ran5om( have been aske5 as to their personal e?periences@ an5( accor5ing to the res9lt(
the persons who have ha5 a vivi5l> 5istress=9l 5ream o= the 5eath o= a relative or
acE9aintance( within the 2U >ears 27W3T277V( amo9nt to abo9t 2 in U8 o= the pop9lation.
*aking this 5at9m( it is shown that the n9mber o= coincidences o= the sort in E9estion
that( accor5ing to the law o= chances( o9ght to have occ9rre5 in the 2U >ears( among a
section o= the pop9lation even larger than that =rom which we can s9ppose o9r telepathic
evi5ence i-??vii! to be 5rawn( is onl> 2. %ow( Ptaking acco9nt onl> o= cases where
nothing ha5 occ9rre5 to s9ggest the 5ream in a normal wa>(Q we have enco9ntere5 U3
s9ch coinci5encesAi.e., a n9mber U3 times as large as wo9l5 have been e?pecte5 on the
h>pothesis that the coinci5ence is 59e to chance alone . . :;:T:;W
-ertain obDections that might be taken to this estimate are to a consi5erable e?tent met b>
the preca9tions that have been 9se5 . . :;7T:2;
S V. *he same sort o= arg9ment ma> be ca9tio9sl> applie5 to cases where the event
e?hibite5 in the coinci5ent 5ream is not( like 5eath( 9niE9e( an5 where( there=ore( the
basis =or an arithmetical estimate is 9nattainable . . :22T:2U
"9t man> more specimens o= a high evi5ential rank are nee5e5( be=ore 5reams can rank
as a strong integral portion o= the arg9ment =or telepath>. Meanwhile( it is onl> =air to
regar5 them in connection with the stronger evi5ence o= the waking phenomena@ since in
respect o= man> o= them an e?planation that is a5mitte5 in the waking cases cannot
reasonabl> be reDecte5 . . :2UT:2:
1)'*. II.AE\)M1LE/ O+ $'E)M/ ,.I-. M)# "E 'E)/O%)"L# 'E&)'$E$ )/
*ELE1)*.I-.
S 2. E?amples o= similar an5 sim9ltaneo9s 5reams . . :2:T:27
)n e?perience which has coinci5e5 with some e?ternal =act or con5ition ma> be
5escribe5 as a drea(, an5 >et be s9==icientl> e?ceptional in character to precl95e an
application o= the theor> o= chances base5 on the limitless nu(ber o= 5reams . . :27T:U;
S U. E?amples o= the repro59ction( in the percipient4s 5ream( o= a special tho9ght o= the
agent4s( who is at the time awake an5 in a nor(al state . . :U;T:UU
S :. E?amples o= a similar repro59ction where the agent is in a disturbed state . . :UUT:UX
S 3. -ases where the agent4s personalit> appears in the 5ream( b9t not in a speciall>
pictorial wa>. Ina5missibilit> o= 5reams that occ9r at times o= an?iet>( o= 5reams o= trivial
acci5ents to chil5ren( an5 the like . . :UXT::W
S V. -ases where the realit> which the e>es o= the agent are act9all> i-??viii! behol5ing
is pictoriall> represente5 in the 5ream. 'easons wh> the maDorit> o= allege5 instances
m9st be reDecte5 . . ::WT:3;
*he appearance in the 5ream o= the agent4s own =ig9re( which is not pres9mabl>
occ9p>ing his own tho9ghts( s9ggests an in5epen5ent 5evelopment( b> the percipient( o=
the impression that he receives . . :3;T:32
S 8. *he =amiliar wa>s in which 5reams are shape5 make it eas> to 9n5erstan5 how a
5reamer might s9ppl> his own setting an5 imager> to a Btrans=erre5 impression.C
E?amples where the elements th9s intro59ce5 are =ew an5 simple . . :32T:V8
S W. E?amples o= more comple? investit9re( an5 especiall> o= imager> s9ggestive o=
5eath. Importance o= the =eat9re o= repetition in some o= the e?amples . . :VWT:87
S 7. E?amples o= 5reams which ma> be 5escribe5 as clairvo,ant, b9t which still m9st be
hel5 to impl> some sort o= telepathic Bagenc>C@ since the percipient 5oes not see an,
scene( b9t the particular scene with some actor in which he is connecte5 . . :87T:77
-.)1*E' I\.
B"O'$E'L)%$C -)/E/.
S 2. *he transition-states between sleeping an5 wakingAor( more generall>( the seasons
when a person is in be5( b9t not asleepAseem to be speciall> =avo9rable to sub5ective
hall9cinations o= the senses@ o= which some are known as illusions h,pnagogi2ues/ others
are the prolongations o= 5ream-images into waking moments@ an5 some belong to neither
o= these classes( tho9gh e?perience5 in the moments or min9tes that prece5e or =ollow
sleep . . :7XT:X:
S U. It is not s9rprising that the same seasons sho9l5 be =avo9rable also to the
hall9cinations which( as connecte5 with con5itions e?ternal to the percipient( we sho9l5
5escribe( not as s9bDective( b9t as telepathic . . :X:
)s evi5ence =or telepath>( impressions o= this Bbor5erlan5C t>pe stan5 on an altogether
5i==erent =ooting =rom 5reams@ since their incalc9labl> smaller n9mber s9pplies an
incalc9labl> smaller =iel5 =or the operation o= chance . . :X:T:X3
Ver> great inD9stice is 5one to the telepathic arg9ment b> con=o9n5ing s9ch impressions
with 5reams@ as where Lor5 "ro9gham e?plains awa> the coinci5ence o= a 9niE9e
Bbor5erlan5C e?perience o= his own with the 5eath o= the =rien5 whose =orm he saw( on
the gro9n5 that the i-??i?! Bvast n9mbers o= 5reamsC give an> amo9nt o= scope =or s9ch
Bseeming miraclesC . . :X3T:XW
S :. E?amples where the impression was not o= a sensor> sort . . :XWT3;;
S 3. E?ample o= an apparentl> telepathic illusion h,pnagogi2ue . . 3;;T3;U
S V. )95itor> e?amples. -ases where the so9n5 hear5 was not artic9late . . 3;UT3;V
-ases where 5istinct wor5s were hear5 . . 3;8T32:
S 8. Vis9al e?amples: o= which two P%os. 2VX an5 28;Q ill9strate the =eat9re o= repetition/
another P%o. 287Q that o= the appearance o= (ore than one figure/ an5 two others P%os.
2W; an5 2W2Q that o= (is6recognition on the percipient4s part . . 323T3:3
S W. -ases where the sense o= to9ch was combine5 with that o= sight or hearing. One case
P%o. 2W7Q presents the important =eat9re o= marke5 lu(inosit, . . 3:3T332
S 7. -ases a==ecting the two senses o= sight an5 hearing. One case P%o. 27XQ presents the
=eat9re o= non6recognition on the percipient4s part . . 332T3V8
-.)1*E' \.
.)LLU-I%)*IO%/: &E%E')L /0E*-..
S 2. *elepathic phantasms o= the e?ternalise5 sort are a species belonging to the larger
gen9s o= hallucinations/ an5 the gen9s reE9ires some preliminar> 5isc9ssion . . 3VW
.all9cinations o= the senses are 5isting9ishe5 =rom other hall9cinations b> the =act that
the> 5o not necessaril> impl> =alse belie= . . 3V7
*he> ma> be 5e=ine5 as percepts -hich lac1, but -hich can onl, b, distinct reflection be
recognised as lac1ing, the ob5ective basis -hich the, suggest/ a 5e=inition which marks
them o== on the one han5 =rom tr9e perceptions( an5 on the other han5 =rom remembere5
images or mental pict9res . . 3VXT38;
S U. *he ol5 metho5 o= 5e=ining the ideational an5 the sensor, elements in the
phenomena was ver> 9nsatis=actor>. It is eas> to show that the 5el9sive appearances are
not merel> i(agined, b9t are act9all> seen an5 heardAthe hall9cination 5i==ering =rom
an or5inar> percept onl> i-???! in lacking an obDective basis@ an5 this is what is implie5
in the wor5 ps,cho6sensorial, when rightl> 9n5erstoo5 . . 382T383
S :. *he E9estion as to the ph>siological starting-point o= hall9cinationsAwhether the>
are o= central or o= peripheral originAhas been warml> 5ebate5( o=ten in a ver> one-
si5e5 manner. *he construction o= them( which is central an5 the work o= the brain( is
E9ite 5istinct =rom the e.citation or initiation o= them( which Ptho9gh o=ten central alsoQ
is o=ten peripheralAi.e.( 59e to some other part o= the bo5> that sets the brain to work . .
383T387
S 3. *his e?citation ma> even be 59e to some obDective e?ternal ca9se( some visible point
or mark( at or near the place where the imaginar> obDect is seen@ an5 in s9ch cases the
imaginar> obDect( which is( so to speak( attache5 to its point( ma> =ollow the co9rse o=
an> optical ill9sion %e.g., 5o9bling b> a prism( re=lection b> a mirrorQ to which that point
is s9bDecte5. "9t s9ch 5epen5ence on an e?ternal stim9l9s 5oes not a==ect the =act that the
act9al sensor> element o= the hall9cination( in these as in all other cases( is impose5 =rom
within b> the brain . . 387T3W;
S V. *here( are( however( a large n9mber o= hall9cinations which are centrall, initiated, as
well as centrall> constr9cte5Athe e?citation being 59e neither to an e?ternal point( nor to
an> morbi5 5ist9rbance in the sense-organs themselves. /9ch( probabl>( are man> vis9al
cases where the imaginar> obDect is seen in =ree space( or appears to move in5epen5entl>
o= the e>e( or is seen in 5arkness. /9ch( certainl>( are man> a95itor> hall9cinations@ some
hall9cinations o= pain@ man> hall9cinations which con=orm to the co9rse o= some more
general 5el9sion@ an5 hall9cinations vol9ntaril> originate5 . . 3W;T37;
S 8. /9ch also are hall9cinations o= a partic9lar internal kin5 common among m>stics( in
which the sensor> element seems re59ce5 to its lowest terms@ an5 which sha5e b>
5egrees( on the one si5e into more e?ternalise5 =orms( an5 on the other si5e into a mere
=eeling o= presence( in5epen5ent o= an> sensor> a==ection . . 37;T373
S W. ) =9rther arg9ment =or the central initiation ma> be 5rawn =rom the =act that repose
o= the sense-organs seems a con5ition =avo9rable to hall9cinations@ an5 the ps>chological
i5entit> o= waking hall9cinations an5 5reams cannot be too strongl> insiste5 on . . 373T
37V
S 7. )s regar5s the construction o= hall9cinationsAthe cerebral process involve5 in their
having this or that partic9lar =ormAthe E9estion is whether it takes place in the speci=ic
sensor> centre concerne5( or in some higher cortical tract . . 37VT377
i-???i!
S X. *here are reasons =or consi5ering that both places o= constr9ction are available@ that
the simpler sorts o= hall9cination( man> o= which are clearl> Ba=ter-images(C an5 which
are o=ten also rec9rrent( ma> take shape at the sensor> centres themselves@ b9t that the
more elaborate an5 variable sorts m9st be trace5 to the higher origin@ an5 that when the
higher tracts are =irst concerne5( the pro59ction o= the hall9cination is 59e to a 5ownwar5
escape o= the nervo9s imp9lse to the sensor> centre concerne5 . . 377T3X3
S 2;. *he constr9ction o= hall9cinations in the cortical tracts o= the brain( proper to the
higher co-or5inations an5 the more general i5eational activities( is per=ectl> compatible
with the view that the speci=ic sensor> centres are themselves sit9ate5 not below( b9t in(
the corte?. . 3X3T3XV
-.)1*E' \I
*')%/IE%* .)LLU-I%)*IO%/ O+ *.E /)%E: )M"I&UOU/ -)/E/.
S 2. *ransient hall9cinations o= the sane Pa 5epartment o= mental phenomena hitherto b9t
little st95ie5Q comprise two classes: P2Q hall9cinations o= purel, sub5ective origin@ an5 PUQ
hall9cinations o= telepathic originAi.e., Bphantasms o= the livingC which have an
obDective basis in the e?ceptional con5ition o= the person whom the> recall or represent.
-omparing the two classes( we sho9l5 e?pect to =in5 a large amo9nt o= rese(blance, an5
a certain amo9nt o= difference, between them . . 3X8T3XW
S U. -ertain marke5 resemblances at once present themselves@ as that Pgenerall>
speakingQ neither sort o= phenomenon is observabl> connecte5 with an> morbi5 state@ an5
that each sort o= phenomenon is rareAocc9rring to a comparativel> small n9mber o=
persons( an5 to most o= these onl> once or twice in a li=etime . . 3XWT3XX
S :. "9t in pressing the comparison =9rther( we are met b> the =act that the 5ivi5ing line
between the two classes is not clear@ an5 it is important to realise certain grounds of
a(biguit,, which o=ten prevent 9s =rom assigning an e?perience with certaint> to this
class or that . . V;;TV;U
S 3. Vario9s gro9ps o= hall9cinations are passe5 in review@ABa=ter imagesC@ phantasmal
obDects which are the res9lt o= a special train o= tho9ght@ phantasms o= inanimate obDects(
an5 o= animals( an5 non-vocal a95itor> phantasms@ vis9al representations o= =ragments o=
h9man =orms@ a95itor> impressions o= meaningless sentences( or o= groaning( an5 the i-
???ii! like@ an5 visions o= the BswarmingC t>pe. %earl> all specimens o= these t>pes ma>
sa=el> be re=erre5 to the p9rel> s9bDective class . . V;UTV;3
It is when we come to vis9al hall9cinations representing complete an5 nat9ral-looking
h9man =orms( an5 a95itor> hall9cinations o= 5istinct an5 intelligible wor5s( Ptho9gh here
again there is ever> reason to s9ppose the maDorit> o= the cases to be p9rel> s9bDective(Q
that the a(biguous cases are principall> to be =o9n5@ the gro9n5 o= ambig9it> being that
either P2Q the person represente5 has been in an onl> slightl, 9n9s9al state@ or PUQ a person
in a nor(al state has been represente5 in hall9cination to (ore than one percipient at
5i==erent times@ or P:Q an abnormal state o= the person represente5 has coinci5e5 with the
representation loosel,, b9t not e?actl>@ or P3Q the percipient has been in a con5ition o=
an.iet,, a-e, or e.pectanc,, which might be regar5e5 as the in5epen5ent ca9se o= his
e?perience . . V;3TV;8
S V. *he evi5ence that mere an.iet, ma> pro59ce sensor> hall9cination is s9==icient
greatl> to weaken( as evi5ence =or telepath>( an> case where that con5ition has been
present . . V;8TV;X
S 8. *he same ma> be sai5 o= the =orm o= a-e which is connecte5 with the near sense o=
5eath@ an5 Pe?cept in a =ew BcollectiveC casesQ abnormal e?periences which have
follo-ed 5eath have been e?cl95e5 =rom the telepathic evi5ence( i= the =act o= the 5eath
was 1no-n to the percipient. )s to the incl95e5 cases that have =ollowe5 5eath b> an
appreciable interval( reasons are given =or pre=erring the h>pothesis o= deferred
develop(ent to that o= post (orte( influenceAtho9gh the latter h>pothesis wo9l5 be
E9ite compatible with the ps>chical conception o= telepath> . . V2;TV2U
S W. *here is 5e=inite evi5ence to show that mere e.pectanc, ma> pro59ce
hall9cination . . V2;TV2U YsicZ
One t>pe which is probabl> so e?plicable being the 5el9sive impression o= seeing or
hearing a person whose arrival is e?pecte5 . . V2VTV2W
S 7. *here is( however( a gro9p o= arrival-cases where the impen5ing arrival was
9nknown or 9ns9specte5 b> the percipient@ or where the phantasm has incl95e5 some
special 5etail o= appearance which points to a telepathic origin . . V2WTV27
i-???iii!
-.)1*E' \II.
*.E $EVELO1ME%* O+ *ELE1)*.I- .)LLU-I%)*IO%/
S 2. *here are two ver> principal wa>s in which phantasms o= telepathic origin o=ten
resemble p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations: P2Q gra59alness o= 5evelopment@ an5 PUQ
originalit> o= =orm or content( showing the activit> o= the percipient4s own min5 in the
constr9ction . . V2XTVU;
S U. 7radual develop(ent is brie=l> ill9strate5 in the p9rel> s9bDective class . . VU;TVUU
S :. )n5 at greater length in the telepathic class. It ma> e?hibit itsel= P2Q in 5ela>e5
recognition o= the phantasm on the part o= the percipient . . VUUTVUV
Or PUQ in the wa> in which the phantasm gathers visible shape . . VUVTVU7
Or P:Q in the progress o= the hall9cination thro9gh several 5istinct stages( sometimes
a==ecting more than one sense . . VU7TV:3
S 3. 8riginalit, of construction is involve5 to some e?tent in ever> sensor> hall9cination
which is more than a mere revival o= =amiliar images@ b9t a5mits o= ver> vario9s
5egrees . . V:3TV:8
S V. In telepathic hall9cinations( the signs o= the percipient4s own constr9ctive activit> are
e?tremel> important. +or the 5i==erence =rom the res9lts o= e?perimental tho9ght-
trans=erence( which telepathic phantasms e?hibit( in representing what is not conscio9sl>
occ9p>ing the agent4s min5Ato wit( his own =orm or voiceAceases to be a 5i==ic9lt> in
proportion as the e?tent o= the impression trans=erre5 =rom the agent to the percipient can
be conceive5 to be small( an5 the percipient4s own contrib9tion to the phantasm can be
conceive5 to be large . . V:8TV:W
It ma> be a pec9liarit> o= the trans=erre5 i5ea that it impels the receiving min5 to react on
it( an5 to embo5> an5 proDect it as a hall9cination@ b9t the =orm an5 5etail o= the
embo5iment a5mitAas in 5reamAo= man> varieties( 5epen5ing on the percipient4s own
i5ios>ncrasies an5 associations . . V:WTV3;
S 8. *h9s the percipient ma> invest the i5ea o= his =rien5( the agent( with =eat9res o= 5ress
or app9rtenance that his own memor> s9pplies. POne o= the e?amples given( %o. U;U(
ill9strates a point common to the p9rel> s9bDective an5 to the telepathic class( an5 abo9t
eE9all> rare in eitherAthe appearance o= more than one =ig9reQ . . V3;TV38
S W. Or the investing imager> ma> be o= a more =anci=9l kin5Asometimes the obvio9s
re=lection o= the percipient4s habit9al belie=s( sometimes i-???iv! the mere bi]arrerie o=
what is literall> a Bwaking 5ream.C Man> 5i==ic9lties vanish( when the analog> o= 5ream
is bol5l> insiste5 on . . V3WTV37
E?amples o= phantasmal appearances presenting =eat9res which wo9l5 in realit> be
impossible . . V37TVV;
*he lu(inous character o= man> vis9al phantasms is speciall> to be note5( as a =eat9re
common to the p9rel> s9bDective an5 to the telepathic class . . VV;TVV2
E?amples o= imager> connecte5 with i5eas o= 5eath( an5 o= religion . . VV2TVV3
S 7. /ometimes( however( the phantasm incl95es 5etails o= 5ress or aspect which co9l5
not be s9pplie5 b> the percipient4s min5. /9ch partic9lars ma> sometimes creep witho9t
warrant even into evi5ence where the central =act o= the telepathic coinci5ence is
correctl> reporte5@ b9t where gen9inel> observe5( the> m9st apparentl> be attrib9te5 to a
conscio9s or s9b-conscio9s image o= his own appearance Por o= some =eat9re o= itQ in the
agent4s min5( to which the percipient obtains access b> what ma> be again 5escribe5 as
telepathic clairvo,ance. E?amples . . VV3TV8X
In cases where the 5etails o= the phantasm are s9ch as either min5 might conceivabl>
have s9pplie5( it seems simpler to regar5 them as the contrib9tions o= the percipient( than
to s9ppose that a clean-c9t an5 complete image has been trans=erre5 to him =rom
in5e=inite 9nconscio9s or s9b-conscio9s strata o= the agent4s min5 . . V8XTVW;
S X. *he 5evelopment o= a phantasm =rom the n9cle9s o= a trans=erre5 impression is a =act
strongl> con=irmator> o= the view maintaine5 in the prece5ing chapters( as to the
ph>siological starting point o= man> hall9cinations. Especiall> m9st the h>pothesis o=
centrifugal origin Po= a process in the 5irection =rom higher to lower centresQ commen5
itsel= in cases where the e?perience seems to have implie5 the E9ickening o= vag9e
associations an5 5istant memories( whose ph>sical recor5 m9st certainl> lie in the highest
cerebral tracts . . VW;TVWU
S 2;. /9mmar> o= the vario9s points o= parallelism between p9rel> s9bDective an5
telepathic phantasms( whereb> their i5entit> as phenomena =or the senses seems
concl9sivel> establishe5. "9t the> present also some ver> important contrasts . . VWUTVW:
i-???v!
("#R%/.+#(%".
^_ `a bca `ded`da fcgh`_i_e(
hdjdk ia _ae^`l_ bchj`ma c(
h^_edk n j_oda ^a pl_q e nen h^_oda.
YTranslationZ
/O1.O-LE/.
S 2. *.E s9bDect o= this book is one which a brie= title is har5l> s9==icient to e?plain. +or
9n5er o9r hea5ing o= B1hantasms o= the Living(C we propose( in =act( to 5eal with all
classes o= cases where there is reason to s9ppose that the min5 o= one h9man being has
a==ecte5 the min5 o= another( witho9t speech 9ttere5( or wor5 written( or sign ma5e@Ahas
a==ecte5 it( that is to sa>( b> other means than thro9gh the recognise5 channels o= sense.
*o s9ch transmission o= tho9ghts or =eelings we have elsewhere given the name o=
telepath,@ an5 the recor5s o= an e?perimental proo= o= the realit> o= telepath> will =orm a
part o= the present work. "9t( =or reasons which will be ma5e mani=est as we procee5( we
have incl95e5 among telepathic phenomena a vast class o= cases which seem at =irst sight
to involve something wi5el> 5i==erent =rom a mere trans=erence o= tho9ght.
I re=er to apparitions/ e?cl95ing( in5ee5( the allege5 apparitions o= the dead, b9t
incl95ing the apparitions o= all persons who are still living( as we know li=e( tho9gh the>
ma> be on the ver> brink an5 bor5er o= ph>sical 5issol9tion. )n5 these apparitions( as
will be seen( are themselves e?tremel> vario9s in character@ incl95ing not vis9al
phenomena alone( b9t a95itor>( tactile( or even p9rel> i5eational an5 emotional
impressions. )ll these we have incl95e5 9n5er the term phantas(@ a wor5 which( tho9gh
et>mologicall> a mere variant o= phanto(, has been less o=ten 9se5( an5 has not become
so closel> i5enti=ie5 with visual impressions alone.
/9ch( then( is the meaning o= o9r title@ b9t something more o= e?planation is necessar>
be=ore the tone an5 p9rport o= the book can i-???vi! be correctl> apprehen5e5. In a
region so novel we co9l5 har5l> be s9rprise5 at an> amo9nt o= misinterpretation. /ome
rea5ers( =or instance( ma> =anc> that a b9lk> an5 metho5ical treatise on phantoms can be
b9t a hal=-serio9s thing. Others ma> s9spect that its inspiration is in the love o= para5o?(
an5 that a =antastic craving =or originalit> has le5 the a9thors along a path where the>
cannot e?pect( an5 can har5l> 5esire( that the sober worl5 sho9l5 =ollow them.
S U. It is necessar>( there=ore( to state at once that we have no wish either to m>sti=> or to
startle mankin5. On the contrar>( the conDoint an5 cons9ltative scheme accor5ing to
which this book has been compile5 is th9s arrange5 mainl> with a view to correcting or
ne9tralising in5ivi59al =ancies or e?aggerations( o= leaving as little as possible to the
9nchecke5 i5ios>ncras> o= an> single thinker. )n5( again( we wish 5istinctl> to sa> that
so =ar =rom aiming at an> para5o?ical reversion o= establishe5 scienti=ic concl9sions( we
conceive o9rselves to be working Phowever imper=ectl>Q in the main track o= 5iscover>(
an5 assailing a problem which( tho9gh strange an5 har5( 5oes >et stan5 ne?t in or5er
among the new a5vent9res on which /cience m9st nee5s set =orth( i= her metho5s an5 her
temper are to g9i5e an5 control the wi5ening c9riosit>( the e?pan5ing capacities o= men.
,e anticipate( in short( that altho9gh it ma> at =irst be sai5 o= 9s that we have per=orme5
with nee5less elaboration a =oolish an5 =9tile task( the 9ltimate ver5ict on o9r work will
rather be that we have 9n5ertakenAwith all too limite5 a knowle5ge an5 capacit>Ato
open an inE9ir> which was mani=estl> impen5ing( an5 to la> the =o9n5ation-stone o= a
st95> which will loom large in the approaching age.
O9r onl> para5o?( then( is the assertion that we are not para5o?ical@ an5 that assertion it
is the main b9siness o= this Intro59ction to D9sti=>.
S :. +or this p9rpose two principal hea5s o= e?position will be reE9ire5. In the =irst place(
since this book P=or whose contents we are solel> responsibleQ was 9n5ertaken b> 9s at
the reE9est o= the -o9ncil o= the /ociet> =or 1s>chical 'esearch( an5 is largel> base5 on
material which that -o9ncil has place5 at o9r 5isposal( it will be necessar> to sa>
something as to the scope an5 obDect o= the /ociet> in E9estion@Aits gro9n5s =or claiming
a vali5 scienti=ic position( an5 its points o= interconnection with establishe5 branches o=
philosophic inE9ir>.
i-???vii!
)n5( secon5l>( it will be nee5=9l to in5icate the precise position which the theme o= this
book occ9pies in the =iel5 o= o9r investigations@ the reason wh> we have isolate5 these
special phenomena in a separate gro9p( an5 have selecte5 them =or 5isc9ssion at this
earl> stage o= the /ociet>4s labo9rs.
) rea5er o= the programme o= the /ociet> will probabl> =eel that altho9gh the special
topics to which attention is there invite5 ma> be 9n=amiliar( >et its general plea is s9ch as
he has o=ten note5 in the histor> o= science be=ore. B*o approach these vario9s problems
witho9t preD95ice or prepossession o= an> kin5( an5 in the same spirit o= e?act an5
9nimpassione5 inE9ir> which has enable5 /cience to solve so man> problems( once not
less obsc9re nor less hotl> 5ebate5@CAphrases like these have no more o= novelt> than
there might be( =or instance( in the proposal o= a +inance Minister to abolish the last o= a
long series o= protective embargoes. +ree *ra5e an5 =ree inE9ir> have each o= them
a5vance5 step b> step( an5 b> 5int o= the =reE9ent repetition( 9n5er var>ing 5i==ic9lties( o=
ver> similar( an5 ver> elementar>( tr9ths. *he special pec9liarit> o= o9r topic is that it is
an article Pso to sa>Q on which the +ree *ra5ers themselves have impose5 an a55itional
59t>@ that it has been more sternl> 5isco9ntenance5 b> the men who appeal to e?periment
than b> the men who appeal to a9thorit>@Athat its 5ispassionate 5isc9ssion has since the
rise o= mo5ern science been tabooe5 more Dealo9sl> than when the whole province was
claime5 b> theolog> alone. *here have been reasons( no 5o9bt( =or s9ch an e?cl9sion@ an5
I am not asserting that either +ree *ra5e or =ree inE9ir> is alwa>s an5 9n5er all
circ9mstances to be 5esire5. "9t it is nee5=9l to point o9t >et once more how pla9sible
the reasons =or 5isco9raging some novel research have o=ten seeme5 to be( while >et the
a5vance o= knowle5ge has rapi5l> shown the =9tilit> an5 =oll> o= s9ch 5isco9ragement.
It was the +ather o= /cience himsel= who was the =irst to circ9mscribe her activit>.
/ocrates( in whose min5 the i5ea o= the g9l= between 1no-ledge an5 mere opinion
attaine5 a 5ominant intensit> which impresse5 itsel= on all ages a=ter him(A/ocrates
e?pressl> e?cl95e5 =rom the range o= e?act inE9ir> all s9ch matters as the movements an5
nat9re o= the s9n an5 moon. .e wishe5Aan5 as he e?presse5 his wish it seeme5 to have
all the cogenc> o= absol9te wis5omAthat men4s min5s sho9l5 be t9rne5 to the ethical an5
political problems which tr9l> concerne5 them(Anot waste5 in spec9lation on things
9nknowableAthings 9seless even co9l5 the> be known.
i-???viii!
In a kin5re5 spirit( tho9gh separate5 =rom /ocrates b> the whole res9lt o= that ph>sical
science which /ocrates ha5 5eprecate5( we =in5 a great mo5ern s>stematiser o= h9man
tho9ght again en5eavo9ring to 5irect the scienti=ic imp9lse towar5s things serviceable to
man@ to 5ivert it =rom things remote( 9nknowable( an5 9seless i= known. ,hat then( in
-omte4s view( are in =act the limits o= man4s act9al home an5 b9sinessr the bo9n5s within
which he ma> set himsel= to learn all he can( ass9re5 that all will serve to in=orm his
conscience an5 g9i5e his li=er It is the solar s,ste( which has become =or the +rench
philosopher what the street an5 market-place o= )thens were =or the &reek. )n5 this
enlargement Pit nee5 har5l> be sai5Q is not 59e to an> wi5er grasp o= min5 in -omte than
in /ocrates( b9t simpl> to the march o= science@ which has shown 9s that the whole solar
s>stem 5oes( in =act( minister to o9r practical nee5s( an5 that the %a9tical )lmanack
5eman5s =or its constr9ction a mapping o= the paths o= those or5ere5 l9minaries which in
the time o= /ocrates seeme5 the ver> wan5erers o= .eaven.
I nee5 not sa> that -omte4s prohibition has been altogether neglecte5. %o =rontier o=
scienti=ic 5emarcation has been establishe5 between %ept9ne an5 /iri9s( between Uran9s
an5 )l5ebaran. O9r knowle5ge o= the =i?e5 stars increases >earl>@ an5 it wo9l5 be rash to
maintain that h9man con59ct is not alrea5> in=l9ence5 b> the conception th9s gaine5 o=
the 9nit> an5 immensit> o= the heavens.
*o man> o= the comments that have been ma5e on o9r work( even b> men who are not
=ormal -omtists( the above re=lections =9rnish a =itting repl>. "9t it is not onl>( nor
perhaps mainl>( on acco9nt o= the remoteness o= o9r s9bDect( or its 9nimportance to
h9man progress( that obDection is taken to o9r inE9ir>. *he criticisms which have met 9s(
=rom the si5e sometimes o= scienti=ic( sometimes o= religio9s ortho5o?>( have embo5ie5(
in mo5ernise5 phraseolog>( nearl> ever> well-worn =orm o= timi5 protest( or obsc9rantist
5em9rrer( with which the historians o= science have been acc9stome5 to give piE9anc> to
their long tale o= 5iscover> an5 achievement. It wo9l5 have been convenient ha5 these
obDections been presente5 to 9s in a connecte5 an5 =ormal manner. "9t this has not been
the case@ an5( in =act( the> are in their ver> nat9re too incoherent( too sel=-contra5ictor>(
=or contin9o9s statement. /ometimes we are tol5 that we are inviting the ol5 theological
spirit to encroach once more on the 5omain o= science@ sometimes that we are
en5eavo9ring to la> the impio9s han5s o= /cience 9pon the m>steries i-???i?! o=
'eligion. /ometimes we are in=orme5 that competent savants have alrea5> =9ll> e?plore5
the =iel5 which we propose =or o9r investigation@ sometimes that no respectable man o=
science wo9l5 con5escen5 to me55le with s9ch a reeking mass o= =ra95 an5 h>steria.
/ometimes we are pitie5 as laborio9s tri=lers who prove some in=initel> small matter with
might> tro9ble an5 pains@ sometimes we are 5eri5e5 as attempting the sol9tion o=
gigantic problems b> slight an5 s9per=icial means.
S 3. *he best wa> o= meeting obDections th9s con=9se5 an5 contra5ictor> will be to show
as clearl> as we can at what points o9r inE9iries to9ch the recent res9lts o= science@ what
signs there are which in5icate the nee5 o= vigoro9s a5vance along the lines which we
have chosen. ,e shall show( perhaps( that there is a kin5 o= convergence towar5s this
especial nee5Athat in several 5irections o= research there is =elt that kin5 o= pa9se an5
hesitanc> which is wont to prece5e the 5awn o= ill9minating conceptions. ,e shall not( o=
co9rse( th9s prove that o9r own attempt has been successful, b9t we shall prove that it
was 5ustified/ that i= the problems which we set o9rselves to solve are =o9n5 to be
insol9ble( the gaps th9s le=t in the s>stem o= tho9ght on which man4s normal li=e is base5
will be s9ch as can neither be ignore5 nor s9pplie5( b9t will become increasingl>
palpable an5 increasingl> 5angero9s.
Let 9s consi5er how =ar this remark can be D9sti=ie5 with regar5 to some o= the lea5ing
branches o= h9man knowle5ge in t9rn. )n5 let 9s take =irst "iolog>( the science which on
the whole approaches the closest to o9r own inE9iries. "iolog> has( 59ring the last hal=-
cent9r>( ma5e an a5vance which( meas9re5 b> the hol5 e?ercise5 on the mass o=
c9ltivate5 min5s( has perhaps ha5 no parallel since the =orwar5 stri5e o= astronom> an5
ph>sics in the 5a>s o= %ewton. ) glance at the te?t-books o= the last generation( in
ph>sical or mental scienceA,hewell4s 9istor, of the :nductive !ciences, or Mill4s
;ogic,Aas compare5( =or instance( with the works o= their imme5iate s9ccessor( Mr.
.erbert /pencer( shows something which is not so m9ch progress as revol9tionAthe
trans=ormation o= "iolog> =rom a mere special 5epartment o= knowle5ge into the ke> to
man4s remotest histor>( the onl> vali5 answer to the pro=o9n5est E9estions as to his
present being.
+or( in tr9th( it is "iolog> above all other sciences which has pro=ite5 b> the 5octrine o=
evol9tion. In evol9tion(Ain the 5octrine i-?l! that the whole cosmical or5er is the
o9tcome o= a gra59al 5evelopment(Amankin5 have gaine5 =or the =irst time a working
h>pothesis which covers eno9gh o= the known =acts o= the 9niverse to make its possible
e?tension to all =acts a matter o= hope=9l interest. )n5 "iolog>( which even at the 5ate o=
,hewell4s book co9l5 barel> make goo5 its claim to be regar5e5 as a coherent science at
all( has now acE9ire5 a co-or5inating an5 contin9o9s principle o= 9nit> which ren5ers it
in some respects the best t>pe o= a tr9e science which we possess. It traces li=e =rom the
proto]oon to the animal( =rom the br9te to the man@ it o==ers to e?plain the comple? =abric
o= h9man tho9ght an5 emotion( viewe5 =rom the ph>sical si5e( as the 5evelopment o= the
molec9lar movements o= scarcel>-5i==erentiate5 =ragments o= protaplasm.
)n5 along with this increase5 knowle5ge o= the processes b> which man has been 9pb9ilt
has come also an increase5 knowle5ge o= the processes which are now going on within
him. *he same inE9iries which have bro9ght o9r organic li=e into intelligible relation with
the whole range o= animal an5 vegetable e?istence have enable5 9s also to conceive more
5e=initel> the ne9ral si5e o= o9r mental processes( an5 the relation o= cerebral phenomena
to their accompan>ing emotion or tho9ght. )n5 hence( in the view o= some ar5ent
ph>siologists( it is becoming more an5 more probable that we are in =act ph>siological
a9tomata@ that o9r conscio9sness is a mere s9pera55e5 phenomenonAa mere
concomitant o= some special intensit> o= cerebral action( with no basis be>on5 or apart
=rom the molec9lar commotion o= the brain.
"9t this view( as it wo9l5 seem( 5epen5s in a great part 9pon something which
correspon5s in the mental =iel5 to a =amiliar optical ill9sion. ,hen we see hal= o= some
bo5> strongl> ill9minate5( an5 hal= o= it =eebl> ill9minate5( it is har5 to believe that the
brilliant moiet> is not the larger o= the two. )n5( similarl>( it is the increase5 5e=initeness
o= o9r conception o= the ph>sical si5e o= o9r mental operations which seems to increase
its relative importance(Ato give it a kin5 o= priorit> over the ps>chical aspect o= the same
processes. #et( o= co9rse( to the philosophic e>e the central problem o= the relation o= the
obDective an5 s9bDective si5es o= these ps>cho-ne9ral phenomena can be in no wa>
altere5 b> an> increase o= 5e=initeness in o9r knowle5ge o= the obDective processes which
correspon5 to the s9bDective states.
i-?li!
)n5( on the other han5( there is one sing9lar logical corollar> which seems th9s =ar to
have escape5 the notice o= ph>siologist an5 ps>chologist alike. It is this: that o9r
increase5 vivi5ness o= conception o= the ph>sical si5e o= mental li=e( while it cannot
possibl> disprove the in5epen5ence o= the ps>chical si5e( ma> E9ite conceivabl> prove it.
I will again resort to the Pver> imper=ectQ analog> o= a partiall>-ill9minate5 bo5>.
/9ppose that one hemisphere o= a globe is strongl> lit 9p( an5 that the other is lit 9p b>
=aint an5 scattere5 ra>s.
2
I am tr>ing to 5iscern whether the two hemispheres are
s>mmetricall> marke5 thro9gho9t. %ow no clearness o= marks on the bright hemisphere
can 5isprove the e?istence o= correspon5ing marks on the 5im one. "9t( on the other
han5( it is conceivable that one o= the =ew ra>s which =all on the 5im hemisphere ma>
reveal some sing9lar mark which I can see that the bright hemisphere 5oes not possess.
)n5 the brighter the bright hemisphere is ma5e( the more certain 5o I become that this
partic9lar mark is not to be =o9n5 on it.
S V. I will give two concrete e?amples o= what I meanAone o= them 5rawn =rom the
concl9sions o= a great ph>siologist( the other =rom the obvio9s con5ition o= a new branch
o= e?perimental inE9ir>. I shall not 5isc9ss either instance in 5etail( since I am here onl>
en5eavo9ring to show that with increase5 precision in ps>choph>sical researches the ol5
problems o= =ree-will( so9l an5 bo5>( [c.( are presenting more 5e=inite iss9es( an5
o==ering a =ar more hope=9l =iel5 to the e?act philosopher than their =ormer vag9eness
allowe5.
M> =irst ill9stration( then( is =rom the =orm which the ol5 =ree-will controvers> has
ass9me5 in the han5s o= ,9n5t. ,9n5t stan5s( o= co9rse( among the =oremost o= those
who have treate5 h9man tho9ght an5 sensation as 5e=inite an5 meas9rable things( who
have comp9te5 their rate o= transit( an5 anal>se5 their elements( an5 eno9nce5 the laws o=
their association. It is not =rom him that we nee5 look =or an> lo=t> metaph>sical view as
to the in=inite reso9rces o= spirit9al power(Athe transcen5ental character o= ps>chical
phenomena. "9t( nevertheless( ,9n5t believes himsel= able to assert that there is within
9s a resi59eAan all-important resi59eAo= ps>chical action which is incommens9rable
with ph>siological i-?lii! law. /o =ar( he hol5s( is the principle o= conservation o= energ>
=rom covering the ps>chical realm( that the =acts o= mental evol9tion proclaim that the
ver> contrar> is the case@Aan5 that what reall> obtains is rather Ban 9nlimite5 new
creation o= ps>chical energ>.C
2
%a>( so convince5 is he o= the ina5eE9ac> o= an> s>stem
o= ph>siological 5eterminism to e?plain ps>chical =acts( that he hol5s that we m9st
5irectl> reverse the materialistic view o= the relation o= the corporeal to the ps>chical li=e.
BIt is not the ps>chical li=e(C he sa>s( Bwhich is a pro59ct o= the ph>sical organisation@
rather it is the ph>sical organism which( in all those p9rposive a5D9stments which
5isting9ish it =rom inorganic compo9n5s( is itsel= a ps>chical creation.C
U

I am not here e?pressing either agreement or 5isagreement with this general view. I am
merel> pointing o9t that here is an opinion which( whether right or wrong( is =orme5 as a
res9lt not o= vagueness b9t o= distinctness o= ph>siological conceptions. )n5 m>
ill9stration shows at an> rate that the 5evelopment o= ph>siolog> is ten5ing not alwa>s to
make the ol5 ps>chical problems seem meaningless or sterile( b9t rather to give them
act9alit> an5 9rgenc>( an5 even to s9ggest new possibilities o= their sol9tion.
S 8. "9t( to come to m> secon5 instance( it is perhaps the present position o= h,pnotis(
that the strongest arg9ment ma> be 5rawn =or the nee5 o= s9ch researches as o9rs( to
s9pplement an5 co-or5inate the somewhat narrower e?plorations o= technical ph>siolog>.
+or the act9al interest o= the mesmeric or h>pnotic tranceAI am not now 5ealing with the
rival theories which these wor5s connoteAthe central interest( let 9s sa>( o= in59ce5
somnamb9lism( or the sleep-waking stateAhas har5l> as >et reveale5 itsel= to an> section
o= inE9irers.
*hat interest lies neither in mesmerism as a c9rative agenc>( as Elliotson wo9l5 have tol5
9s( nor in h>pnotism as an ill9stration o= inhibitor> cerebral action( as .ei5enhain wo9l5
tell 9s now. It lies in the =act that here is a ps>chical e?periment on a larger scale than was
ever possible be=ore@ that we have at length got hol5 o= a han5le which t9rns the
mechanism o= o9r being@ that we have =o9n5 i-?liii! a mo5e o= shi=ting the threshol5 o=
conscio9sness which is a 5islocation as violent as ma5ness( a s9bmergence as pervasive
as sleep( an5 >et is waking sanit>@ that we have in59ce5 a change o= personalit> which is
not per se either evol9tive or 5issol9tive( b9t seems a mere allotropic mo5i=ication o= the
ver> elements o= man. *he prime val9e o= the h>pnotic trance lies not in what it inhibits(
b9t in what it reveals@ not in the occl9sion o= the aven9es o= peripheral stim9l9s( b9t in
the emergence o= 9nnote5 sensibilities( na>( perhaps even in the mani=estation o= new an5
centrall>-initiate5 powers.
*he h>pnotic trance is an eclipse o= the normal conscio9sness which can be repeate5 at
will. %ow the =irst observers o= eclipses o= the s9n ascribe them to s9pernat9ral ca9ses(
an5 attrib9te to them an occ9lt in=l9ence =or goo5 or evil. *hen comes the stage at which
men note their e==ects on the animal organism( the roosting o= bir5s( the restlessness o=
cattle. *hen come observations on the intensit> o= the 5arkness( the aspect o= the l9ri5
sha5e. "9t to the mo5ern astronomer all this is tri=ling as compare5 with the knowle5ge
which those brie= moments give him o= the orb itsel= in its obsc9ration. .e learns =rom
that transient 5arkness more than the noon o= 5a> can tell@ he sees the l9minar> no longer
as a 5e=ine5 an5 soli5 ball( b9t as the centre o= the o9tr9sh o= =laming energies( the =oc9s
o= an e==l9ence which cor9scates 9ntraceabl> thro9gh immeas9rable =iel5s o= heaven.
*here is more in this parallel than a mere empt> metaphor. It s9ggests one o= the primar>
obDects which ps>chical e?periment m9st seek to attain. 1h>sical e?periment aims at
correcting the 5eliverances o= man4s conscio9sness with regar5 to the e?ternal worl5 b>
instr9ments which e?ten5 the range( an5 concentrate the power( an5 compensate the
=allacies o= his senses. )n5 similarl>( our obDect m9st be to correct the 5eliverances o=
man4s conscio9sness concerning the processes which are taking place -ithin him b>
means o= arti=icial 5isplacements o= the ps>cho-ph>sical threshol5@ b> inhibiting normal
perception( obliterating normal memor>( so that in this temporar> =ree5om =rom
preocc9pation b> acc9stome5 stim9li his min5 ma> reveal those latent an5 5elicate
capacities o= which his or5inar> conscio9s sel= is 9naware.
S W. It was th9s( in =act( that tho9ght-trans=erence( or telepath>( was =irst 5iscovere5. In
the =orm o= comm9nit> o= sensation between operator an5 s9bDect( it was note5 nearl> a
cent9r> ago as a i-?liv! phenomenon inci5ent to the mesmeric trance. Its =9ll importance
was not perceive5( an5 priceless opport9nities o= e?periment were almost wholl>
neglecte5. In or5er to bring o9t the val9e an5 e?tent o= the phenomenon it was necessar>(
we vent9re to think( that it sho9l5 be investigate5 b> men whose interest in the matter la>
not in the 5irection o= practical therape9tics b9t o= ps>chical theor>( an5 who were
willing to seek an5 Btest =or itC 9n5er a wi5e range o= con5itions( not in sleep-waking li=e
onl>( b9t in normal waking( an5 normal sleep( an5( as this book will in5icate( 9p to the
ver> ho9r o= 5eath.
*he 5i==ic9lties o= this p9rs9it are not ph>siological onl>. "9t( nevertheless( in o9r
en5eavo9rs to establish an5 to el9ci5ate telepath>( we look primaril> =or ai5 to the most
recent gro9p o= ph>siological inE9irers( to the ps>cho-ph>sicists whose special workAas
>et in its in=anc>Ahas onl> in o9r own 5a> been ren5ere5 possible b> the increase5
acc9rac> an5 grasp o= e?perimental metho5s in the sciences which 5eal with Li=e.
*he list o= -orrespon5ing Members o= o9r /ociet> will serve to show that this con=i5ence
on o9r part is not wholl> 9n=o9n5e5( an5 to in5icate that we are not alone in maintaining
that whatever ma> be the view o= these perple?ing problems which 9ltimatel> prevails(
the recent a5vances o= ph>siolog> constit9te in themselves a strong reasonAnot( as some
hol5( =or the aban5onment o= all 5isc9ssion o= the ol5 enigmas( b9t rather =or their =resh
5isc9ssion with scienti=ic or5erliness( an5 in the ill9mination o= o9r mo5ern 5a>.
2

S 7. +rom "iolog> we ma> pass( b> an eas> transition( to what is commonl> known as
)nthropolog>(Athe comparative st95> o= the 5i==erent races o= men in respect either o=
their ph>sical characteristics( or o= the earl> r95iments o= what a=terwar5s 5evelops into
civilisation.
*he connection o= anthropolog> with ps>chical research will be evi5ent to an> rea5er
who has acE9ainte5 himsel= with recent e?positions o= 1rimitive Man. .e ma> think(
in5ee5( that the connection is too evi5ent( an5 that we can har5l> bring it into notice
witho9t proving a goo5 5eal more than we 5esire. +or as the cree5s an5 c9stoms o=
savage races become better known( the part pla>e5 b> sorcer>( 5ivination( apparitions
becomes increasingl> pre5ominant. i-?lv! Mr. *>lor an5 /ir Fohn L9bbock have ma5e
this ab9n5antl> clear( an5 Mr. /pencer has gone so =ar as to trace all earl> religion to a
=ear o= the ghosts o= the 5ea5. In the works o= these an5 similar a9thors( I nee5 har5l> sa>(
we are le5 to regar5 all these belie=s an5 ten5encies as 59e solel> to the chil5ishness o=
savage manAas abs9r5ities which real progress in civilisation m9st ren5er increasingl>
alien to the 5evelope5 common-sense( the rational e?perience o= h9manit>. #et it appears
to me that as we trace the process o= evol9tion =rom savage to civilise5 man( we come to
a point at which the ina5eE9ac> o= this e?planation is strongl> =orce5 on o9r attention.
-ertainl> this was m> own case when I 9n5ertook some >ears ago to give a sketch o= the
&reek oracles. It soon became evi5ent to me that the mass o= phenomena incl95e5 9n5er
this title ha5( at an> rate( a ps>cho-ph>sical importance which the e?isting works on the
s9bDect =or the most part ignore5. I scarcel> vent9re5 m>sel= to 5o more than in5icate
where the real nodi o= the inE9ir> la>. "9t when a massive treatise on )ncient $ivination
appeare5 =rom the learne5 pen o= M. "o9chH-LeclercE( I looke5 eagerl> to see whether
his er95ition ha5 enable5 him to place these problems in a new light. I =o9n5( however(
that he e?plicitl> reno9nce5 all attempt to 5eal with the phenomena in more than a merel>
e?ternal wa>. .e wo9l5 record, b9t he wo9l5 make no en5eavo9r to e.plain/Ataking =or
grante5( as it appeare5( that the e?planation 5epen5e5 on =ra95 alone( an5 on =ra95 whose
5etails it wo9l5 now be impossible to 5iscover.
I cannot think that s9ch a view can an> longer satis=> persons a5eE9atel> acE9ainte5 with
the =acts o= h>pnotism. ,hatever else( whether o= =ra95 or realit>( there ma> have been
on the banks o= -assotis or -astal>(Aunde superstitiosa pri(u( sacra evasit vo. fera,A
there were at least the h>pnotic trance an5 h>stero-epileps>. )n5 9ntil these an5 similar
elements can be si=te5 o9t o= the recor5s le=t to 9s( with something o= insight gaine5 b>
=amiliarit> with their mo5ern =orms( o9r knowle5ge o= 1>thia or o= /ib>l will be shallow
in5ee5.
/till more marke5l> is s9ch insight an5 e?perience nee5e5 in anthropolog> properAin
the act9al observation o= the savage peoples who still e?ist. It is to be hope5 that shamans
an5 me5icine-men will not vanish be=ore the missionar> 9ntil the> have >iel5e5 some
=9ller lessons to the ps>cho-ph>sicistA9ntil the annals o= the /alpMtriNre an5 the
e?periments o= $ean4s #ar5 have been invoke5 in e?planation o= the weir5 terrors o= the
#enisei an5 the -ongo.
i-?lvi!
S X. 1assing on =rom )nthropolog> to histor> in its wi5er acceptation( we =in5 these
ps>cho-ph>sical problems perpet9all> rec9rring( an5 =orming a 5ist9rbing element in an>
theor> o= social or religio9s evol9tion. *he contagio9s enth9siasms o= the Mi55le )gesA
the strange en5emic mala5ies o= witchcra=t( vampirism( l>canthrop>Aeven the in5ivi59al
inspiration o= a Mahomet or a Foan o= )rcAthese are phenomena which the pro=esse5
historian =eels oblige5 to leave to the ph>sician an5 the alienist( an5 =or which the
ph>sician an5 the alienist( in their t9rn( have sel5om a satis=actor> e?planation.
%or 5o phenomena o= this kin5 cease to appear with the a5vance o= civilisation. In
5etaile5 mo5ern histories( in the biographies o= eminent men( we still come 9pon
inci5ents which are( at an> rate at =irst sight( o= a supernor(al
2
kin5( an5 over which the
narrator is =orce5 to pass with vag9e or ina5eE9ate comment.
"9t it is( o= co9rse( in 5ealing with the histor> o= religions that o9r lack o= an> complete
grasp o= ps>chical phenomena is most pro=o9n5l> =elt. )n5 here( also( it is as a res9lt o=
recent progress(Ao= the growth o= the comparative st95> o= religions(Athat we are able
to 5isengage( in a generalise5 =orm( the chie= problems with which o9r Bps>chicalC
science( i= s9ch co9l5 be establishe5( wo9l5 be imperativel> calle5 on to 5eal.
+or we =in5 thro9gho9t the worl54s histor> a series o= great events which( tho9gh
5i==ering wi5el> in 5etail( have a certain general resemblance both to each other an5 to
some o= those inci5ents both o= savage an5 o= or5inar> civilise5 li=e to which re=erence
has alrea5> been ma5e.
*he elements which are common to the great maDorit> o= religions seem to be mainl> two
Anamel>( the prom9lgation o= some 5octrine which the religio9s re=ormer claims to have
receive5( or act9all> to comm9nicate( in some s9pernormal manner@ an5 the report o= a
i-?lvii! conc9rrent mani=estation o= phenomena apparentl> ine?plicable b> or5inar>
laws.
%ow( with the rise o= one religion o9r /ociet> has alrea5> ha5 practicall> to 5eal. )cting
thro9gh Mr. .o5gson( whose e?periences in the matter have been elsewhere 5etaile5(
2
a
committee o= the /ociet> =or 1s>chical 'esearch has investigate5 the claim o= the so-
calle5 B*heosoph>(C o= which Ma5ame "lavatsk> was the prophetess( to be an incipient
worl5-religion( corroborate5 b> mirac9lo9s( or at least s9pernormal( phenomena(Aan5
has arrive5 at the concl9sion that it is merel> a r4chauff4 o= ancient philosophies( 5ecke5
in novel lang9age( an5 s9pporte5 b> ingenio9s =ra95. .a5 this =ra95 not been 5etecte5
an5 e?pose5( an5 ha5 the s>stem o= belie= s9pporte5 thereon thriven an5 sprea5( we
sho9l5 have witnesse5 what the sceptic might have cite5 as a t>pical case o= the origin o=
religions. ) &ibbon o= o9r own 5a>( reviewing the 5i==erent motives an5 ten5encies
which prompt( or sprea5( revelations( might have pointe5 to *heosoph> an5 Mormonism
as covering between them the whole gro9n5@A=rom the a5roit a5vantage taken o=
m>stical aspiration in the one religion( to the commonplace action o= gree5 an5 l9st 9pon
helplessness an5 st9pi5it> which =orms the basis o= the other.
"9t i= it sho9l5 be arg9e5 =rom these analogies that in no case o= the =o9n5ation o= a
religion wo9l5 an> scienti=ic metho5 o= ps>chical inE9ir> prove necessar> or =r9it=9l( i=
we knew all the =acts@ b9t that s9ch 5evelopments might be s9==icientl> 5ealt with b>
or5inar> common-sense( or( like Mormonism( b> the criminal law( the generalisation
wo9l5 be hast> an5 premat9re. ,e nee5 not go =ar back to 5iscover two religions whose
central =act is not a =act o= =ra95 at all( b9t an 9ne?plaine5 ps>chical phenomenon. I
all95e to the vision-li=e o= /we5enborg( an5 the speaking with tong9es which occ9rre5 in
the ch9rch o= Irving(Aeach o= which constit9tes a central point o= =aith =or a certain
n9mber o= intelligent an5 e59cate5 persons at the present 5a>. O= neither o= these =acts
can /cience at present o==er a satis=actor> e?planation. *he speaking with tong9es seems
plainl> to have been =or the most part Ptho9gh not entirel>Q a gen9ine a9tomatic
phenomenon. "9t as to the origin o= s9ch a9tomatic 9tterances Pconve>e5 in speech or
writingQ( as to the range =rom which their contents are 5rawn( or the kin5 o= attention
which the> can claim( there is little or nothing to be learnt =rom accepte5 i-?lviii!
te?tbooks. ,e are groping among the =irst e?periments( the simplest instances( on which
an> vali5 theor> can be base5.
2

*he case o= /we5enborg carries 9s still =9rther be>on5 the limits o= o9r ass9re5
knowle5ge. O= ma5ness an5 its 5el9sions( in5ee5( we know m9ch@ b9t it wo9l5 be a mere
ab9se o= lang9age to call /we5enborg ma5. .is position m9st be 5eci5e5 b> a m9ch more
5i==ic9lt analog>. +or be=ore we can even begin to criticise his celestial visions we m9st
be able in some 5egree to D95ge o= his visions o= things terrestrial@ we m9st =ace( that is to
sa>( the whole problem o= so-calle5 clairvo,ance, o= a =ac9lt> which claims to be not
merel> receptive b9t active(Aa proDection o= s9per-sensor> percipience among scenes
5istant an5 things 9nknown.
)n5 the e?istence o= s9ch a =ac9lt> as this will ass9re5l> never be prove5 b> a mere st95>
o= the transcen5ental 5icta o= an> single seer. *his problem( too( m9st be approache5(
partl> thro9gh the h>pnotic trance( in which the best-atteste5 instances o= clairvo>ance
are allege5 to have occ9rre5( an5 partl> thro9gh the collection o= s9ch s9pernormal
narratives as some o= those which =in5 place in the present book.
Even a sketch like this ma> in5icate how comple? an5 vario9s ma> be the problems
which 9n5erlie that B.istor> o= /ectsC in which a "oss9et might see onl> the heaven-sent
penalt> =or apostas> against the -h9rch(Aa &ibbon( the mere 5iverting panorama o= the
ever-var>ing =ollies o= men.
S 2;. "9t re=lections like these lie on the o9tskirts o= a still larger an5 graver E9estion.
,hat Pit is nat9rall> aske5Q is the relation o= o9r st95>Anot to eccentric or o9tl>ing
=orms o= religio9s cree5Ab9t to central an5 vital conceptions@ an5 especiall> to that main
s>stem o= belie= to which in English-speaking co9ntries the name o= religion is b>
pop9lar 9sage almost con=ine5r
Up till this time those who have written on behal= o= the /ociet> =or 1s>chical 'esearch
have st95io9sl> re=raine5 =rom entering on this important E9estion. O9r reason =or this
reticence is obvio9s eno9gh when state5( b9t it has not been 9niversall> 5iscerne5. ,e
wishe5 to avoi5 even the semblance o= attracting the p9blic to o9r researches b> an>
all9rement which la> o9tsi5e the scienti=ic =iel5. ,e co9l5 not take =or grante5 that o9r
inE9iries wo9l5 make =or the spirit9al view o= things( that the> wo9l5 ten5 to establish
even the in5epen5ent e?istence( still less the immortalit>( o= the so9l. ,e i-?li?! shrank
=rom taking a5vantage o= men4s hopes or =ears( =rom representing o9rselves as bent on
resc9ing them =rom the materialism which =orms so large a =actor in mo5ern tho9ght( or
=rom the pessimism which 5ogs its steps with 9nceasing persistenc>. ,e hel5 it to be
inc9mbent on 9s( in an especial 5egree( to maintain a ne9tral an5 e?pectant attit95e( an5
to con59ct o9r inE9iries in the B5r> lightC o= a 5ispassionate search =or tr9th.
)n5 this position we still maintain. *his book( as will be seen( 5oes not attempt to 5eal
with the most e?citing an5 pop9lar topics which are incl95e5 in o9r /ociet>4s general
scheme. )n5 we shall be care=9l in the pages that =ollow to keep within o9r sel=-assigne5
limits( an5 to sa> little as to an> light which o9r collecte5 evi5ence ma> throw on the
possibilit> o= an e?istence contin9e5 a=ter o9r ph>sical 5eath.
*hat master-problem o= h9man li=e m9st be assaile5 b> more 5eliberate approaches( nor
m9st we gil5 o9r soli5 arg9ments with the ra5iance o= an 9nprove5 s9rmise. "9t it wo9l5(
nevertheless( be impossible( in a 5isc9ssion o= this general kin5( to pass over the relation
o= ps>chical research to religion altogether in silence. )n5( in5ee5( since o9r inE9iries
began( the sit9ation has th9s =ar change5 that we have now not anticipation merel>( b9t a
certain amo9nt o= act9al achievement( to which to appeal. ,e hol5 that we have prove5
b> 5irect e?periment( an5 corroborate5 b> the narratives containe5 in this book( the
possibilit> o= comm9nications between two min5s( ine?plicable b> an> recognise5
ph>sical laws( b9t capable P9n5er certain rare spontaneo9s con5itionsQ o= taking place
when the persons concerne5 are at an in5e=inite 5istance =rom each other. )n5 we claim
=9rther that b> investigations o= the higher phenomena o= mesmerism( an5 o= the
a9tomatic action o= the min5( we have con=irme5 an5 e?pan5e5 this view in vario9s
5irections( an5 attaine5 a stan5ing-point =rom which certain even stranger allege5
phenomena begin to ass9me an intelligible aspect( an5 to s9ggest =9rther 5iscoveries to
come.
*h9s =ar the a9thors o= this book( an5 also the main gro9p o= their =ellow-workers( are
s9bstantiall> agree5. "9t their agreement as to the =acts act9all> prove5 5oes not e?ten5(
Ait is not even to be 5esire5 that it should e?ten5Ato the spec9lations which in one
5irection or another s9ch =acts m9st inevitabl> s9ggest. *he> are =acts which go too 5eep
to =in5 in an> two min5s a precisel> similar lo5gment( or to a5D9st themselves in the same
wa> to the comple? o= i-l! pre-e?istent conceptions. *he =ollowing paragraphs(
there=ore( m9st be taken merel> as re=lecting the opinions provisionall> hel5 b> a single
inE9irer.
I ma> sa>( then( at once that I consi5er it improbable that telepath> will ever receive a
p9rel> ph>sical e?planation(Aan e?planation( that is to sa>( wholl> re=erable to the
properties o= matter( as molec9lar matter is at present known to 9s. I a5mit( o= co9rse( that
s9ch an e?planation is logicall> conceivable@ that we can imagine that 9n59lations sho9l5
be propagate5( or particles emitte5( =rom one living organism to another( which sho9l5
e?cite the percipient organism in a great variet> o= wa>s. "9t it seems to me(Aan5 I
imagine that in this view at an> rate the maDorit> o= Materialists will conc9r(Athat i= the
narratives in this book are to be taken as( on the whole( tr9stworth>( the ph>sical
analogies are too =aint( an5 the ph>sical 5i==ic9lties too serio9s( to allow o= o9r intr95ing
among the =orces o= material %at9re a =orce whichA9nlike an> otherAwo9l5 seem Pin
some cases at leastQ neither to be 5iminishe5 b> an> 5istance nor to be impe5e5 b> an>
obstacle whatsoever.
I la> asi5e( =or the p9rposes o= the present arg9ment( the possibilit> o= a (onistic scheme
o= the 9niverse(Ao= a consentiens conspirans continuata cognatio reru( which ma>
present in an 9nbroken seE9ence both what we know as Matter an5 what we know as
Min5. /9ch a view(Atho9gh to higher intelligences it ma> perhaps be an int9itive
certaint>(Acan =or 9s be nothing more than a philosophic opinion. O9r scienti=ic
arg9ments m9st nee5s be base5 on the dualis( which o9r intellects( as at present
constit9te5( are in =act 9nable to transcen5.
I maintain( there=ore( that i= the general =act o= telepathic comm9nication between min5
an5 min5 be a5mitte5( it m9st also be a5mitte5 that an element is th9s intro59ce5 into o9r
conception o= the aggregate o= empiricall> known =acts which constit9tes a serio9s
obstacle to the materialistic s>nthesis o= h9man e?perience. *he ps>chical element in
man( I repeat( m9st hence=orth almost inevitabl> be conceive5 as having relations which
cannot be e?presse5 in terms o= matter.
%ow this 5ogma( tho9gh wholl> new to e?perimental science( is( o= co9rse( =amiliar an5
central in all the higher =orms o= religions. 'elations ine?pressible in terms o= matter( an5
s9bsisting between spirit an5 /piritAthe h9man an5 the $ivine(Aare implie5 in the ver>
notion o= the interchange o= sacre5 love an5 love( o= grace an5 i-li! worship. I nee5
har5l> a55 that the realit> o= an> s9ch comm9nion is rigi5l> e?cl95e5 b> the materialistic
view. *he Materialist( in5ee5( ma> regar5 pra>er an5 aspiration with in59lgence( or even
with approval( b9t he m9st necessaril> conceive them as =orming merel> the ps>chical
si5e o= certain molec9lar movements o= the particles o= h9man organisms( an5 he m9st
necessaril> regar5 the notion o= $ivine response to pra>er as an ill9sion generate5 b>
s9bseE9ent molec9lar movements o= the same organisms(Athe mere recoil an5 re=l9? o=
the wave which the worshipper himsel= has create5.
It wo9l5( o= co9rse( be mere o==ensive pres9mption to 5raw a parallel between o9r
telepathic e?periments an5 s9ch a relation between a h9man an5 $ivine spirit as the
5evo9t so9l believes itsel= to realise in pra>er. One si5e o= that comm9nion m9st e.
h,pothesi transcen5 the meas9rement or anal>sis o= =inite min5s. "9t( con=ining o9r view
wholl> to the part pla>e5 b> the h9man organism( it seems to me incontestable that o9r
e?periments s9ggest possibilities o= in=l9ence( mo5es o= operation( which throw an
entirel> =resh light on this ancient controvers> between /cience an5 +aith. I claim at least
that an> pres9mption which science ha5 establishe5 against the possibilit> o= spirit9al
comm9nion is now reb9tte5@ an5 that inasm9ch as it can no longer be a==irme5 that o9r
min5s are close5 to all in=l9ences save s9ch as reach them thro9gh sensor> aven9es( the
Materialist m9st a5mit that it is no longer an 9ns9pporte5 5ream b9t a serio9s scienti=ic
possibilit>( that i= an> intelligences 5o in =act e?ist other than those o= living men(
in=l9ences =rom those intelligences ma> be conve>e5 to o9r own min5( an5 ma> either
remain below the threshol5 o= conscio9sness( or rise into 5e=inite conscio9sness(
accor5ing as the presence or absence o= competing stim9li( or other ca9ses as >et
9nknown to 9s( ma> 5etermine.
S 22. I shall leave this proposition e?presse5 th9s in its most abstract an5 general =orm.
)n5 I ma> a55Ait is a re=lection which I m9st ask the rea5er to keep stea5il> in min5(A
that an> s9pport or ill9mination which religio9s cree5s ma> gain =rom ps>chical inE9ir>
is likel> to a==ect not their clauses b9t their prea(ble/ is likel> to come( not as a s955en
5iscover> bearing 5irectl> on some speci=ic 5ogma( b9t as the gra59al 5iscernment o=
laws which ma> =9n5amentall> mo5i=> the attit95e o= tho9ght=9l min5s.
%ow( in what I have calle5 the prea(ble o= all revelations two i-lii! theses are generall>
involve5( E9ite apart =rom the s9bDect-matter( or the $ivine sanction( o= the revelation
itsel=. ,e have to ass9me( =irst( that h9man testimon> to s9pernormal =acts ma> be
tr9stworth>@ an5 secon5l>( that there is something in the nat9re o= man which is capable
o= respon5ing toAI ma> sa> o= participating inAthese s9pernormal occ9rrences. *hat is
to sa>( revelations are not prove5 merel> b> large e?ternal =acts( perceptible to ever> one
who possesses the or5inar> senses( nor again are the> prove5 solel> b> what are
avowe5l> mere s9bDective impressions( b9t the> are largel> s9pporte5 b> a class o=
phenomena which comes between these two e?tremes@ b> powers inherent in certain
in5ivi59als o= behol5ing spirit9al visions or personages 9nseen b> common e>es( o=
receiving in=ormation or g9i5ance b> interior channels( o= 9ttering tr9ths not conscio9sl>
acE9ire5( o= healing sick persons b> the imposition o= han5s( with other =ac9lties o= a
similarl> s9pernormal kin5.
)n5 I hope that I shall not be tho9ght pres9mpt9o9s or irreverent i= Pwhile care=9ll>
abstaining =rom 5irect comment on an> 'evelationQ I in5icate what( in m> view( wo9l5 be
the inevitable e==ect on the attit95e o= p9rel> scienti=ic min5s towar5s these preliminar>
theses(Athis prea(ble, as I have sai5( o= 5e=inite religions(Awere the contin9e5
prosec9tion o= o9r inE9ir> to lea5 9s a=ter all to entirel> negative concl9sions( were all
o9r evi5ence to prove 9ntr9stworth>( an5 all o9r e?periments 9nso9n5.
+or in the =irst place it is plain that this new science o= which we are en5eavo9ring to la>
the =o9n5ations stan5s towar5s religion in a ver> 5i==erent position =rom that occ9pie5 b>
the rising sciences( s9ch as geolog> or biolog>( whose con=lict or agreement with nat9ral
or reveale5 religion has =9rnishe5 matter =or so m9ch 5ebate. *he 5iscoveries o= those
sciences can scarcel> in themselves a55 s9pport to a 5octrine o= man4s so9l an5
immortalit>( tho9gh the> ma> conceivabl> come into collision with partic9lar =orms
which that 5octrine has ass9me5. 'eligion( in short( ma> be able to assimilate them( b9t it
wo9l5 in no wa> have s9==ere5 ha5 the> prove5 altogether abortive.
"9t with o9r st95> the case is ver> 5i==erent. +or( to take the =irst o= the two preliminar>
theses o= religion alrea5> re=erre5 to( the E9estion whether h9man evi5ence as to
s9pernormal occ9rrences can ever be tr9ste5 has been raise5 b> o9r inE9iries in a m9ch
more cr9cial =orm than when .9me an5 1ale> 5ebate5 it with re=erence to historical
inci5ents onl>. ,e 5isc9ss it with re=erence to allege5 i-liii! conte(porar, inci5ents@ we
en5eavo9r to eval9ate b> act9al inspection an5 cross-e?amination the part which is
pla>e5 in s9pernormal narratives b> the mere love o= won5er( Bthe m>thopoeic =ac9lt>(C
the habit9al negligence an5 ignorance o= mankin5. )n5 i= all the evi5ence o==ere5 to 9s
sho9l5 cr9mble awa> on e?act investigationAas( =or instance( the lo95l>-va9nte5
evi5ence =or the marvels connecte5 with *heosoph> has cr9mble5Ait will no 5o9bt be
E9estione5 whether the narratives on which the historic religions 5epen5 =or their
acceptance co9l5 have stoo5 the test o= a contemporaneo9s inE9ir> o= a similarl>
searching kin5.
)n5 more than this( it will not onl> be maintaine5 that the collapse o= o9r mo5ern
evi5ence to s9pernormal phenomena 5iscre5its all earlier recor5s o= the same kin5 b>
showing the ease with which s9ch marvels are =eigne5 or imagine5( b9t also that it =9rther
5iscre5its those recor5s b> making them even more antecedentl, improbable than the>
were be=ore. %ot onl> will it be sai5 that the prove5 =allibilit> o= the mo5ern witnesses
ill9strates the probable =allibilit> o= the ancient ones( b9t the =ail9re o= the inE9ir> to elicit
an> in5ication that s9pernormal =ac9lties 5o now e?ist in man will pro tanto throw a
retrospective improbabilit> on the secon5 o= the preliminar> theses o= religion( which
ass9mes that some s9ch s9pernormal =ac9lt> 5i5 at an> rate e?ist in man at a given epoch.
It ma> in5ee5 be 9rge5 that s9ch =ac9lties were given =or a time( an5 =or a p9rpose( an5
were then with5rawn. "9t the instinct o= scienti=ic contin9it>( which even in the shaping
o= the soli5 continents is =ain to s9bstit9te =or 5el9ge an5 catacl>sm the ti5ewa> an5 the
ripple an5 the rain( will rebel against the h>pothesis o= a b>gone age o= inwar5 miracles(
Aa catastrophic inter=erence with the intimate nat9re o= man.
I will ill9strate m> meaning b> a concrete e?ample( which 5oes not involve an> act9al
article o= 1rotestant =aith. *he ecstac> an5 the stigmata o= /t. +rancis are an important
element in 'oman -atholic tra5ition. *he> are to some e?tent parallele5 in the present
5a> b> the ecstac> an5 the stigmata o= Lo9ise Latea9. )n5 -atholic instinct has 5iscerne5
that i= this mo5ern case be 5eci5e5 to be merel> (orbid, an5 in no tr9e sense
supernor(al, a retrospective 5iscre5it will be cast on the earlier legen5. *he ol5
rel9ctance o= the -atholic -h9rch to s9bmit her phenomena to scienti=ic assessors has
there=ore to some e?tent been overcome@ an5 -atholic ph>sicians( 9n5er ecclesiastical
a9thorit>( have 5isc9sse5 Lo9ise Latea94s case in the =orms o= an or5inar> me5ical report.
i-liv!
Eno9gh will have been sai5 to in5icate the realit> o= the connection between o9r inE9iries
an5 the preliminar> theses o= religion. )n5 so =ar as o9r positive res9lts go in this
5irection( the> will perhaps carr> the more weight in that the> are in5epen5entl>
obtaine5( an5 inten5e5 to s9bserve scienti=ic rather than religio9s en5s@Acoming( in5ee5(
=rom men who have no 5evelope5 theor> o= their own to o==er( an5 are merel> =ollowing
the observe5 =acts wherever the> ma> seem to lea5. I see no probabilit>( I ma> a55( that
o9r res9lts can ever s9ppl> a convincing proo= to an> specialise5 =orm o= religion. *he
9tmost that I anticipate is( that the> ma> a==or5 a soli5 basis o= general evi5ence to the
in5epen5ence o= man4s spirit9al nat9re( an5 its persistence a=ter 5eath( on which basis( at
an> rate( religions in their specialise5 =orms ma> be at one with science( an5 on which the
str9ct9re o= 5e=inite revelation Pwhich m9st be 9p-b9ilt b> historical or moral arg9mentsQ
ma> conceivabl> be plante5 with a =irmness which is at present necessaril> lacking.
S 2U. I have been speaking th9s =ar o= religion in its =9ll sense( as a bo5> o= 5octrine
containing some kin5 o= 5e=inite ass9rance as to an 9nseen worl5. "9t the =orm o=
religio9s tho9ght which speciall> characterises o9r own 5a> is somewhat 5i==erent =rom
this. ,e are acc9stome5 rather to var>ing attempts to retain the spirit( the aroma o=
religion( even i= its soli5 s9bstrat9m o= =acts previo9sl> s9ppose5 provable sho9l5 have to
be aban5one5. *he 5isco9rsers on things spirit9al who have been most listene5 to in o9r
own 5a>Aas -arl>le( Emerson( Ma]]ini( 'enan( *enn>son( Matthew )rnol5( '9skin(
[c.(Ahave been to a ver> small e?tent 5ogmatic on the ol5 lines. *he> have e?presse5
vag9e( tho9gh lo=t>( belie=s an5 aspirations( in which the e>e o= science ma> perhaps see
little s9bstance or vali5it>( b9t which nevertheless have been in a certain sense more
in5epen5ent( more spontaneo9s( than o= ol5( since the> are less o=ten prompte5 b> an>
=aith instille5 =rom witho9t( an5 resemble rather the awakening into =9ller conscio9sness
o= some inherite5 an5 instinctive nee5.
)n5 this brings 9s b> an eas> transition to the ne?t topic( on which I wish to 5well. +or I
wish to point o9t that the e(otional cree5 o= e59cate5 men is becoming 5ivorce5 =rom
their scientific cree5@ that D9st as the ol5 ortho5o?> o= religion was too narrow to contain
men4s knowle5ge( so now the new ortho5o?> o= materialistic science is too narrow to
contain their =eelings an5 aspirations@ an5 i-lv! conseE9entl> that D9st as the =abric o=
religio9s ortho5o?> 9se5 to be straine5 in or5er to a5mit the 5iscoveries o= geolog> or
astronom>( so now also the obvio9s 5e59ctions o= materialistic science are straine5 or
overpasse5 in or5er to give sanction to =eelings an5 aspirations which it is =o9n5
impossible to ignore. M> in=erence will( o= co9rse( be that in this vag9er realm o=
tho9ght( as well as in the more 5istinctl>-5e=ine5 branches o= knowle5ge which we have
alrea5> 5isc9sse5( the time is ripe =or some s9ch e?tension o= scienti=ic knowle5ge as we
claim that we are o==ering hereAan e?tension which( in m> view( li=ts 9s above the
materialistic stan5point altogether( an5 which gives at least a possible realit> to those
s9btle intercomm9nications between spirit an5 spirit( an5 even between visible an5
invisible things( o= which )rt an5 Literat9re are still as =9ll as in an> B)ge o= +aithC
which prece5e5 9s.
I point( then( to the obvio9s =act that the sprea5 o= Materialism has not calle5 into being
Materialists onl, o= those simple t>pes which were commonl> anticipate5 a cent9r> since
as likel> to =ill a worl5 o= complete sec9larit>.
Materialists( in5ee5( o= that ol5 9n=linching temper 5o e?ist( an5 =orm a power=9l an5
in=l9ential bo5>. It wo9l5 have been strange( in5ee5( i= recent a5vances in ph>siolog> ha5
not evoke5 new theories o= h9man li=e( an5 a new i5eal. +or the accepte5 commonplaces
o= the ol5-=ashione5 moralist are being scattere5 with a r9thless han5. O9r =ree will( over
great portions at least o= its once s9ppose5 e?tent( is 5eclare5 to be an ill9sion. O9r
highest an5 most comple? emotions are trace5 to their r95imentar> beginnings in the
instincts o= sel=-preservation an5 repro59ction. O9r va9nte5 personalit> itsel= is seen to
5epen5 on a shi=ting an5 9nstable s>nerg> o= a n9mber o= nervo9s centres( the 5e=ect o= a
portion o= which centres ma> alter o9r character altogether. )n5 meantime $eath( on the
other han5( has lost none o= its invincible terrors. *he eas> wa> in which o9r =ore=athers
wo9l5 speak o= Bo9r mortal an5 immortal partsC is har5 to imitate in =ace o= the
acc9m9lating testimon> to the e?istence o= the one element in 9s( an5 the evanescence o=
the other. )n5 since the 5eca> an5 5issol9tion o= man seem now to man> min5s to be so
m9ch more capable o= being tr9l> known than his s9rvival or his =9rther evol9tion( it is
nat9ral that m9ch o= the weight which once belonge5 to the prophets o= what man hoped
sho9l5 pass to those who can speak with a9thorit> on what man nee5s m9st fear. *h9s
Bma5-5octorsC ten5 to s9pplant theologians( an5 the lives o= i-lvi! l9natics are =o9n5 to
have more lessons =or 9s than the lives o= saints. +or these thinkers know well that man
can =all belo- himsel=@ b9t that he can rise above himsel= the> can believe no more. )
correspon5ing i5eal is gra59all> create5@ an i5eal o= mere sanit> an5 normalit>( which
gets to look on an> e?cessive emotion or =i?e5 i5ea( an> 5epart9re =rom a balance5
practicalit>( with 5istr9st or 5is=avo9r( an5 sometimes rising to a kin5 o= =ervo9r o=
1hilistinism( classes geni9s itsel= as a neurosis.
*he alienists who have taken this e?treme view have 9s9all>( perhaps( been o= opinion
that in th9s 5iscre5iting the higher =lights o= imagination or sentiment we are not losing
m9ch@ that these things are in an> case a mere s9rpl9sage( an5 that the en5s which li=e is
reall> capable o= attaining can be compasse5 as well witho9t them. "9t i= the materialistic
theor> be the tr9e one( these limitations o= i5eal might well be a5opte5 even b> men who
wo9l5 5eepl> regret what the> were th9s reno9ncing. It might well seem that( in
aban5oning the belie= in an> spirit9al or permanent element in man( it were wise to
aban5on also that intensit> o= the a==ections which is ill-a5apte5 to bon5s so perishable
an5 insec9re( that reach o= imagination which be=itte5 onl> the ill9sor> 5ignit> which was
once attache5 to h9man =ates.
"9t in =act( as I have alrea5> implie5( the characteristic movement o= o9r own co9ntr>( at
an> rate( at the present 5a>( is har5l> in this 5irection. O9r prevalent temper is not so
m9ch (aterialistic as agnostic/ an5 altho9gh this reno9ncement o= all knowle5ge o=
invisible things 5oes in a sense leave visible things in sole possession o= the =iel5( >et the
)gnostic is as =ar as an>one =rom being Ba hog =rom Epic9r9s4 st>.C 'ather( instea5 o=
sinking into the materialistic i5eal o= plain sense an5 ph>sical well-being( the rising
schools o= tho9ght are transcen5ing that i5eal more an5 more. )ltr9ism in morals(
i5ealism in art( na>( even the sentiment o= piet> itsel=( as a 5ecorative grace o= li=e(Aall
these( it is 9rge5( are consistent with a complete an5 contente5 ignorance as to a9ght
be>on5 the material worl5.
I nee5 not here embark on the controvers> as to how =ar this aspiration towar5s Bthe
things o= the spiritC is logicall> consistent with a cree5 that stops short with the things o=
sense. It is E9ite eno9gh =or m> present p9rpose to point o9t that here also( as in the case
o= more 5e=inite religions( we have a s>stem o= belie=s an5 emotions which ma> in5ee5
be able to acco((odate themselves to mo5ern i-lvii! science( b9t which are in no sense
supported thereb>@ rather which science m9st regar5 as( at best( a kin5 o=
phosphorescence which pla>s harmlessl> abo9t min5s that %at9re has 5evelope5 b> other
processes an5 =or other en5s than these.
+or m> arg9ment is that here again( as in the case o= religion( telepath>( as we a==irm it in
this book( wo9l5 be the =irst in5ication o= a possible scienti=ic basis =or m9ch that now
lacks not onl> e?perimental con=irmation( b9t even pla9sible analog>. ,e have seen how
m9ch s9pport the preliminar> theses o= religion ma> acE9ire =rom an ass9re5 conviction
that the h9man min5 is at least capable o= receiving s9pernormal in=l9ences(Ais not
close5( b> its ver> str9ct9re( as the Materialists wo9l5 tell 9s( to an> Binbreathings o= the
spiritC which 5o not appeal to o9twar5 e>e or ear. )n5 somewhat similar is the a55e5
realit> which the 5iscover> o= telepath> gives to the higher =lights( the s9btler sha5es( o=
mere earthl> emotion.
B/tar to star vibrates light@ ma> so9l to so9l
/trike thro4 some =iner element o= her ownrC
*he lover( the poet( the enth9siast in an> genero9s ca9se( has in ever> age 9nconscio9sl>
answere5 Lor5 *enn>son4s E9estion =or himsel=. *o some men( as to &oethe( the
ass9rance o= this s9btle intercomm9nication has come with vivi5 5istinctness in some
passion-shaken ho9r. Others( as "acon( have seeme5 to gather it =rom the imperceptible
in5icia o= a li=elong contemplation o= man. "9t the step which act9al e?perimentation( the
act9al collection an5 collation o= evi5ence( has now( as we believe( e==ecte5( is a greater
one than co9l5 have been achieve5 b> an> in5ivi59al int9ition o= bar5 or sage. +or we
have =or the =irst time a =irm =oothol5 in this impalpable realm@ we know that these
9n9ttere5 messages 5o tr9l> travel( that these emotions mi? an5 sprea5@ an5 tho9gh we
re=rain as >et =rom =9rther 5welling on the corollaries o= this =ar-reaching law( it is not
beca9se s9ch spec9lations nee5 an> longer be baseless, b9t beca9se we 5esire to set =orth
the proo= o= o9r theorem in =9ll 5etail be=ore we 5o more than hint at the new =iel5s
which it opens to h9man tho9ght.
S 2:. 1a9sing( there=ore( on the threshol5 o= these vag9er promises( I ma> in5icate
another 5irection( in which =ew will 5en> that a s>stematic investigation like o9rs o9ght
to pro59ce res9lts eminentl> sal9tar>. It o9ght to be as m9ch o9r b9siness to check the
growth o= error as to promote the 5iscover> o= tr9th. )n5 there is plent> o= evi5ence to
show that so long as we omit to s9bDect all allege5 s9pernormal phenomena to a thoro9gh
comparative scr9tin>( i-lviii! we are not merel> postponing a possible gain( b9t
permitting an 9nE9estione5 evil.
It sho9l5 s9rel> be nee5less in the present 5a> to point o9t that no attempt to 5isco9rage
inE9ir> into an> given s9bDect which strongl> interests mankin5( will in realit> 5ivert
attention =rom the topic th9s tabooe5. *he savant or the preacher ma> in=l9ence the
rea5ers o= scienti=ic han5-books( or the members o= ch9rch congregations( b9t o9tsi5e
that circle the s9bDect will be p9rs9e5 with the more e?cite5 eagerness beca9se reg9lating
knowle5ge an5 e?perience5 g9i5ance are with5rawn.
)n5 th9s it has been with o9r s9pernormal phenomena. *he men who claim to have
e?perience5 them have not been content to 5ismiss them as 9nseasonable or 9nimportant.
*he> have not relegate5 them into the backgro9n5 o= their lives as rea5il> as the
ph>siologist has relegate5 them into a =ew paragraphs at the en5 o= a chapter. On the
contrar>( the> have broo5e5 over them( 5istorte5 them( misinterprete5 them. ,here
savants have minimise5( the, have magni=ie5( an5 the perple?ing mo5es o= marvel which
the te?t-books ignore( have become( as it were( the ganglia =rom which all kin5s o=
strange opinions rami=> an5 sprea5.
*he n9mber o= persons whose min5s have been act9all> 9pset either b> gen9ine
ps>chical phenomena( or b> their =ra959lent imitation( is perhaps not large. "9t the
mischie= 5one is b> no means con=ine5 to these e?treme cases. It is mischievo9s( s9rel>A
it clashes ro9ghl> with o9r respect =or h9man reason( an5 o9r belie= in h9man progressA
that religions sho9l5 spring 9p( =orms o= worship be establishe5( which in e==ect 5o b9t
perpet9ate a mistake an5 consecrate a misapprehension( which carr> men not =orwar5(
b9t backwar5 in their conception o= 9nseen things.
*he time has not >et come =or an attempt to trace in 5etail the perversion which each
branch o= these s9pernormal phenomena has 9n5ergone in ar5ent min5s@Athe claims to
sanctit>( revelation( prophec>( which a series o= enth9siasts( an5 o= charlatans( have base5
on each class o= marvels in t9rn. "9t two =orms o= cree5 alrea5> mentione5 ma> again be
cite5 as convenient e?amplesAthe Irvingite =aith o= the misinterpretation o= auto(atis(,
the /we5enborgian o= the misinterpretation o= Pso-calle5Q clairvo,ance. /till more
sing9lar have been the res9ltant belie=s when to the assemblage o= p9rel> ps,chical
marvels a ph,sical ingre5ient has been a55e5( o= a more 5isp9table kin5. +or linke5 in
vario9s wa>s with recor5s o= i-li?! a9tomatic cerebration( o= apparitions( o= vision an5
revelation( come acco9nts o= obDective so9n5s( o= meas9rable movements( which ma>
well seem an 9nwarrantable intr9sion into the stea5> or5er o= the pon5erable worl5. )n5
in the >ear 2737 certain events( whose precise nat9re is still in 5isp9te( occ9rre5 in
)merica( in conseE9ence o= which man> persons were le5 to believe that 9n5er
appropriate circ9mstances these so9n5s( these movements( these tangible apparitions(
co9l5 be evoke5 or repro59ce5 at will. On this basis the cree5 o= BMo5ern /pirit9alismC
has been 9pb9ilt. )n5 here arises the pressing E9estionAnotorio9sl> still 9n5eci5e5(
5i==ic9lt an5 comple? be>on5 an> anticipationAas to whether s9pernormal phenomena o=
this ph,sical kin5 5o in =act occ9r at all@ or whether the> are in all casesAas the>
9n5o9bte5l> have been in (an, casesAthe pro59ct o= mere =ra95 or 5el9sion. *his
E9estion( as it seems to 9s( is one to which we are bo9n5 to give o9r most care=9l
attention@ an5 i= we have as >et =aile5 to attain a 5ecisive view( it is not =or want o=
laborio9s observation( contin9e5 b> several o= 9s thro9gho9t man> >ears. "9t we are
9nwilling to prono9nce 9ntil we have ha5 ample opport9nitiesAopport9nities which so
=ar we have =or the most part so9ght in vainAo= investigating phenomena obtaine5
thro9gh private so9rces( an5 =ree( at an> rate( =rom the speci=ic s9spicion to which the
presence o= a Bpai5 me5i9mC inevitabl> gives rise.
I nee5 not a55 =9rther ill9strations o= the ca9tionar>( the critical attit95e which be=its s9ch
a /ociet> as o9rs at the present D9nct9re. *his attit95e is in one wa> 9navoi5abl>
9ngracio9s@ =or it has sometimes precl95e5 9s =rom availing o9rselves o= the labo9rs o=
pre5ecessors whose ]eal an5 in59str> we sho9l5 have been gla5 to praise. *he time( we
hope( will come when eno9gh o= 5a>light shall shine 9pon o9r path to make possible a
5iscriminating s9rve> o= the tracks which scattere5 seekers have str9ck o9t =or
themselves in the con=9sion an5 5imness o= 5awn. )t present we have mainl> to take
hee5 that o9r own groping co9rse shall at least avoi5 the pit=alls into which others have
=allen. )n>thing like a 5istrib9tion o= awar5s o= merit wo9l5 be obvio9sl> premat9re on
the part o= men whose best hope m9st be that the> ma> con59ct the inE9ir> into a roa5
=irm eno9gh to enable others rapi5l> to o9tstrip them.
i-l?!
II.
S 23. Eno9gh( however( has now been sai5 to in5icate the general tenor o= the task which
the /ociet> =or 1s>chical 'esearch has 9n5ertaken. It remains to in5icate the place which
the present work occ9pies in the allotte5 =iel5( an5 the reasons =or o==ering it to p9blic
consi5eration at this earl> stage o= o9r inE9ir>.
,e co9l5 not( o= co9rse( pre5ict or pre-arrange the or5er in which opport9nities o=
s9ccess=9l investigation might occ9r to the searchers in this lab>rinth o= the 9nknown.
)mong the groping e?periments which seeme5 to have onl> too o=ten le5 to mere
mistake an5 con=9sion(Athe Btho9san5 pathwa>sC
BE9a signa seE9en5i
+alleret in5eprens9s et inremeabilis error(CA
YTranslationZ
it was not eas> to choose with con=i5ence o9r a5it o= e?ploration. *he approach which
prove5 most E9ickl> pro59ctive was one =rom which it might have seeme5 that there was
little in5ee5 to hope. ) kin5 o= 5rawing-room game sprang 9pAit is har5 to sa> whence
Aa metho5 o= 5irecting a s9bDect to per=orm a 5esire5 act b> a contact so slight that no
conscious imp9lsion was either receive5 or given. -are=9l observers soon ranke5 the
Bwilling-gameC as an ill9stration o= invol9ntar> m9sc9lar action on the willer4s part(
a==or5ing a g9i5ance to which the s9bDect >iel5e5 sometimes witho9t being aware o= it.
"9t while the (odus operandi o= p9blic e?hibitions o= this misname5 Btho9ght-rea5ingC
was not 5i==ic9lt to 5etect( 1ro=essor "arrett was one o= the =irst whoAwhile recognising
all these so9rces o= errorA9rge5 the 59t> o= persistent watching =or an> resi599m o= tr9e
tho9ght-trans=erence which might =rom time to time appear. )s will be seen =rom -hap.
II. o= this book it was not till a=ter some si? >ears o= inE9ir> an5 e?periment P27W8T7UQ
that 5e=inite proo= o= tho9ght-trans=erence in the normal state co9l5 be place5 be=ore the
worl5. *his was 5one in an article in the Nineteenth Centur, =or F9ne( 277U( signe5 b>
1ro=essor "arrett( Mr. &9rne>( an5 m>sel=. *he phenomenon o= transmission o= tho9ght
or sensation witho9t the agenc> o= the recognise5 organs o= sense ha5 been previo9sl>
recor5e5 in connection with the mesmeric state( b9t( so =ar as we know( its occasional
occ9rrence in the normal state was now =or the =irst time maintaine5 on the strength o=
5e=inite e?periment. )n5 the =o9r >ears 277UT2778 have witnesse5 a great e?tension o=
those e?periments( which no longer rest on the integrit> an5 capacit> o= the earliest gro9p
o= observers alone.
i-l?i!
S 2V. *he =o9n5ation o= the /ociet> =or 1s>chical 'esearch in 277U gave an opport9nit>
to Mr. &9rne> an5 m>sel=( as .on. /ecs. o= a Literar> -ommittee( to invite =rom the
general p9blic recor5s o= apparitions at or a=ter 5eath( an5 other abnormal occ9rrences.
On reviewing the evi5ence th9s obtaine5 we were str9ck with the great pre5ominance o=
allege5 apparitions at or near the (o(ent of death. )n5 a new light seeme5 to be thrown
on these phenomena b> the 9ne?pecte5 =reE9enc> o= acco9nts o= apparitions o= living
persons( coinci5ent with moments o= 5anger or crisis. ,e were le5 to in=er a strong
analog> between o9r e?perimental cases o= tho9ght-trans=erence an5 some o= these
spontaneo9s cases o= what we call telepath>( or trans=erence o= a shock or imp9lse =rom
one living person to another person at s9ch a 5istance or 9n5er s9ch con5itions as to
negative the possibilit> o= an> or5inar> mo5e o= transmission. )n article( signe5 b> Mr.
&9rne> an5 m>sel=( in the <ortnightl, =evie- =or March( 277:( gave a =irst e?pression to
the analog> th9s s9ggeste5. *he task o= collection an5 scr9tin> grew on o9r han5s@ Mr.
1o5more 9n5ertook to share o9r labo9rs@ an5 the -o9ncil o= the /ociet> =or 1s>chical
'esearch reE9este5 9s to embo5> the evi5ence receive5 in a s9bstantive work.
It will be seen( then( that the theor> o= *elepath>( e?perimental an5 spontaneo9s( which
=orms the main topic o= this book( was not chosen as o9r theme b> an> arbitrar> process
o= selection( b9t was irresistibl> s9ggeste5 b> the ab9n5ance an5 the convergence o=
evi5ence ten5ing to prove that special thesis. ,e were( an5 are( eE9all> an?io9s to inE9ire
into man> other allege5 marvelsAclairvo>ance( ha9nte5 ho9ses( /pirit9alistic
phenomena( [c.Ab9t telepath> is the s9bDect which has =irst shown itsel= capable o=
investigation appearing to lea5 to a positive res9lt@ an5 it seeme5 well to arrange its
evi5ence with s9==icient =9lness to a==or5 at least a soli5 gro9n5work =or =9rther inE9ir>.
)n5 having been le5 to this choice b> the nat9re o= the act9al evi5ence be=ore 9s( we ma>
recognise that there is some propriet> in 5ealing =irst with an iss9e which( comple?
tho9gh it is( is >et simple as compare5 to other articles o= o9r programme. +or the =act( i=
it be one( o= the 5irect action o= min5 9pon min5 has at least a generalit> which makes it
possible that( like the law o= atomic combination in chemistr>( it ma> be a generalisation
which( tho9gh graspe5 at =irst in a ver> simpli=ie5 an5 imper=ect =ashion( ma> prove to
have been the essential pre-reE9isite o= =9t9re progress.
i-l?ii!
S 28. In a certain sense it ma> be sai5 that this hi55en action o= one min5 on another
comes ne?t in or5er o= ps>chical 5iscover> to the hi55en action o= the min5 within itsel=.
It will be remembere5 that the earliest scienti=ic attempts to e?plain the phenomena o= so-
calle5 /pirit9alism re=erre5 them mainl> to B9nconscio9s cerebration(C P-arpenter(Q or to
what was virt9all> the same thing( B9nconscio9s m9sc9lar actionC P+ara5a>Q.
%ow these theories( in m> view( were( so =ar as the> went( not onl> legitimate( b9t the
most logical which co9l5 have been s9ggeste5 to e?plain the scant> evi5ence with which
alone +ara5a> an5 -arpenter attempte5 to 5eal. *his 9nconscio9s action o= the min5 was
in realit> the =irst thing which it was nee5=9l to take into acco9nt in approaching
s9pernormal phenomena. I believe( in5ee5( that o9r knowle5ge o= those hi55en processes
o= mentation is still in its in=anc>( an5 I have elsewhere en5eavo9re5 to assign a wi5er
range than ortho5o? science has >et a5mitte5 to the min54s 9nconscio9s operation.
2
"9t
the res9lt o= this =9rther anal>sis has been Pas I hol5Q not to show that or5inar>
ph>siological consi5erations will s9==ice Pas $r. -arpenter seems to s9pposeQ to e?plain
all the ps>chical problems involve5( b9t rather to reveal the =act that these 9nconscio9s
operations o= the min5 5o not =ollow the =amiliar channels alone( b9t are themselves the
=acilitation or the starting-point o= operations which to science are wholl> new.
*o state the matter broa5l>( so as to incl95e in a common =orm9la the 9nremembere5
9tterances o= the h>pnotic s9bDect( an5 the invol9ntar> writings o= the waking a9tomatist(
I wo9l5 maintain that when the hori]on o= conscio9sness is altere5( the opening =iel5 o=
view is not alwa>s or wholl> =ille5 b> a mere mirage or re=raction o= obDects alrea5>
=amiliar( b9t 5oes( on rare occasions( incl95e new obDects( as real as the ol5. )n5 amongst
the novel energies th9s liberate5( the power o= entering into 5irect comm9nication with
other intelligences seems to stan5 plainl> =orth. )mong the obDects in the new prospect
are =ragments o= the tho9ghts an5 =eelings o= 5istant min5s. It seems( at an> rate( that
some element o= telepath, is perpet9all> meeting 9s thro9gho9t the whole range o= these
inE9iries. In the =irst place( tho9ght-trans=erence is the onl> s9pernormal phenomenon
which we have as >et acE9ire5 the power o= in59cing( even occasionall>( in the nor(al
state. It meets 9s also in the i-l?iii! h>pnotic trance( 9n5er the vario9s =orms o=
Bcomm9nit> o= sensation(C Bsilent willing(C an5 the like. )mong the allege5 cases o=
Bmesmeric clairvo>anceC the comm9nication o= pict9res o= places =rom operator to
s9bDect seems the least 9ncertain gro9n5. )n5 again( among phenomena commonl>
attrib9te5 to Bspirits(C Pb9t man> o= which ma> perhaps be more sa=el> ascribe5 to the
a9tomatic agenc> o= the sensitive himsel=(Q comm9nication o= tho9ght still =9rnishes o9r
best cl9e to Btrance-speaking(C Bclairvo>ant vision(C answers to mental E9estions an5 the
like. It nee5 not( there=ore( s9rprise 9s i=( even in a =iel5 so apparentl> remote =rom all
or5inar> analogies as that o= apparitions an5 5eath-wraiths( we still =in5 that telepath>
a==or5s o9r most satis=actor> cl9e.
S 2W. )n5 here wo9l5 seem to be the =itting place to e?plain wh> we have given the title
o= B1hantasms o= the ;ivingC to a gro9p o= recor5s most o= which will present themselves
to the or5inar> rea5er as narratives o= apparitions o= the dead.
,hen we began( in a manner to be presentl> 5escribe5( to collect acco9nts o= e?periences
which o9r in=ormants regar5e5 as ine?plicable b> or5inar> laws( we were o= co9rse
ignorant as to what =orms these e?periences wo9l5 mainl> take. "9t a=ter printing an5
consi5ering over two tho9san5 5epositions which seeme5 pri(0 facie to 5eserve
attention( we =in5 that more than hal= o= them are narratives o= appearances or other
impressions coinci5ent either with the 5eath o= the person seen or with some critical
moment in his li=e-histor>.
*he val9e o= the acco9nts o= apparitions after 5eath is lessene5( moreover( b> a
consi5eration which is obvio9s eno9gh as soon as these narratives come to be criticall>
consi5ere5. *he 5i==ic9lt> in 5ealing with all these hall9cinationsAwith all appearances
to which no persistent three-5imensional realit> correspon5sAis to 5etermine whether
the> are veridical, or truth6tellingAwhether( that is( the> 5o in =act correspon5 to some
action which is going on in some other place or on some other plane o= being@Aor
whether( on the other han5( the> are merel> morbi5 or cas9alAthe ran5om an5
meaningless =ictions o= an over-stim9late5 e>e or brain. %ow in the case o= apparitions at
the moment o= 5eath or crisis( we have at an> rate an obDective =act to look to. I= we can
prove that a great n9mber o= apparitions coinci5e with the 5eath o= the person seen( we
ma> =airl> sa>( as we 5o sa>( that chance alone cannot e?plain this i-l?iv! coinci5ence(
an5 that there is a ca9sal connection between the two events. "9t i= I have a vision o= a
=rien5 recentl> 5ea5( an5 on whom m> tho9ghts have been 5welling( we cannot be s9re
that this ma> not be a merel> 5el9sive hall9cinationAthe mere o==spring o= m> own
broo5ing sorrow. In or5er to get at all nearl> the same 5egree o= evi5ence =or a dead
person4s appearance that we can get =or a d,ing person4s appearance( it seems necessar>
that the apparition sho9l5 either comm9nicate some =act known onl> to the 5ecease5( or
sho9l5 be note5 in5epen5entl> b> more than one person at once or s9ccessivel>. )n5 o9r
evi5ence o= this kin5 is at present scarcel> s9==icient to s9pport an> ass9re5 concl9sion.
2

,hen( there=ore( we are consi5ering whether the phantasms o= d,ing persons ma> most
=itl> be consi5ere5 as phantasms o= the 5ea5 or o= the living( we =in5 little s9pport =rom
analog> on the si5e o= posthu(ous apparitions. )n5 on the other han5( as alrea5> hinte5(
we have man> cases where the apparition has coinci5e5 with violent shocks(Acarriage
acci5ents( =ainting =its( epileptic =its( [c.( which nevertheless le=t the agent,Aas we call
the person whose semblance is seen(Aas m9ch alive as be=ore. In some cases the
acci5ent is al(ost a =atal one@ as when a man4s phantom is seen at the moment when he is
hal=-5rowne5 an5 insensible. In s9ch a case it wo9l5 seem illogical to allow the mere =act
o= his restoration or non-restoration to li=e to rank his phantom as that o= a living person
in the one case( o= a dead person in the other. It seems simpler to s9ppose that i= two men
=all overboar5 to-5a> an5 their respective phantoms are seen b> their =rien5s at the
moment(Athen( tho9gh one man sho9l5 be restore5 to li=e an5 the other not(A>et i= the
=irst phantom was that o= a living man( so also was the secon5.
%a> more( even i= the apparition be seen some ho9rs later than the moment o= apparent
5eath( there are still reasons which prevent 9s =rom 5ecisivel> classing it as the apparition
o= a 5ea5 man. In the =irst place( the moment o= act9al 5eath is a ver> 9ncertain thing.
,hen the heart4s action stops the organism contin9es =or some time in a state ver>
5i==erent =rom that o= or5inar> inanimate matter. In s9ch an inE9ir> as o9rs it is sa=er to
speak( not o= 5eath( b9t o= Bthe process o= 5issol9tion(C an5 to allow =or the possible
prolongation o= some =orm o= ps>chical energ> even when( =or instance( the attempt to
restore respiration to a 5rowne5 man has 5e=initel> =aile5. )n5 in i-l?v! the secon5
place( we =in5 in the case o= phantasms correspon5ing to some acci5ent or crisis which
be=alls a living =rien5( that there seems o=ten to be a latent perio5 be=ore the phantasm
becomes 5e=inite or e?ternalise5 to the percipient4s e>e or ear. /ometimes a vag9e
(alaise seems =irst to be generate5( an5 then when other stim9li are 5ea5ene5(Aas at
night or in some perio5 o= repose(Athe in5e=inite grie= or 9neasiness takes shape in the
voice or =ig9re o= the =rien5 who in =act passe5 thro9gh his moment o= peril some ho9rs
be=ore. It is E9ite possible that a 5e=erment o= this kin5 ma> sometimes intervene between
the moment o= 5eath an5 the phantasmal anno9ncement thereo= to a 5istant =rien5.
*hese( then( are reasons( s9ggeste5 b> act9al e?perience( =or ascribing o9r phantasms at
5eath to living rather than to 5ea5 men. )n5 there is another consi5eration( o= a more
general or5er( which points in the same 5irection. ,e m9st not rashl> m9ltipl> the
problems involve5 in this 5i==ic9lt inE9ir>. %ow /cience( it is nee5less to sa>( o==ers no
ass9rance that man s9rvives the tomb@ an5 altho9gh in -hristian co9ntries o9r s9rvival is
an establishe5 5octrine( this 5oes not carr> with it an> 5ogma as to the possibilit> that
comm9nications sho9l5 reach 9s =rom 5eparte5 spirits. *he h>pothesis( then( that
apparitions are ever 5irectl> ca9se5 b> 5ea5 persons is one which or5inar> scienti=ic
ca9tion bi5s 9s to be ver> slow in intro59cing. /ho9l5 it a=terwar5s be establishe5 that
5eparte5 spirits can comm9nicate with 9s( the interpretation place5 9pon vario9s cases
containe5 in these vol9mes ma> nee5 revision. "9t =or the present it is certainl> sa=er to
inE9ire how =ar the> can be e?plaine5 b> the in=l9ences or impressions which( as we
know b> act9al e?periment( living persons can 9n5er certain circ9mstances e?ert or e==ect
on one another( in those obsc9re s9persensor> mo5es which we have provisionall>
masse5 together 9n5er the title o= *elepath>.
S 27. *he main theses o= this book( then( are now capable o= being state5 in a ver> simple
=orm.
I. E?periment proves that telepath>Athe s9persensor>
2
trans=erence o= tho9ghts an5
=eelings =rom one min5 to another(Ais a =act in %at9re.
i-l?vi!
II. *estimon> proves that phantasms Pimpressions( voices( or =ig9resQ o= persons
9n5ergoing some crisis(Aespeciall> 5eath(Aare perceive5 b> their =rien5s an5 relatives
with a =reE9enc> which mere chance cannot e?plain.
III. *hese phantasms then( whatever else the> ma> be( are instances o= the s9persensor>
action o= one min5 on another. *he secon5 thesis there=ore con=irms( an5 is con=irme5 b>(
the =irst. +or i= telepath> e?ists( we sho9l5 anticipate that it wo9l5 e?hibit some
spontaneous mani=estations( on a scale more striking than o9r e.peri(ental ones. )n5( on
the other han5( apparitions are ren5ere5 more cre5ible an5 comprehensible b> an analog>
which =or the =irst time links them with the res9lts o= act9al e?periment.
/9ch are the central theses o= this work(Atheses on which its a9thors( an5 the =rien5s
whom the> have mainl> cons9lte5( are in entire agreement. *he =irst thesis ma>( o=
co9rse( be imp9gne5 b> 9rging that o9r e?periments are =allacio9s. *he secon5 thesis
ma> be imp9gne5 b> 9rging that o9r testimon> is ins9==icient. *he thir5 thesis( as I have
here wor5e5 it( is har5l> open to separate attack@ being a corollar> which rea5il> =ollows
i= the =irst two theses are taken as prove5.
*his( however( is onl> the case so long as the thir5 thesis( which asserts the analog>
between tho9ght-trans=erence an5 apparitionsAbetween e?perimental an5 spontaneo9s
telepath>Ais state5 in a vag9e an5 general =orm. /o soon as we attempt to give more
precision to this analog>Ato 5isc9ss how =ar the 9nknown agenc> at work can be
s9ppose5 to be the same in both casesAor how =ar the apparitions ma> be re=erable to
E9ite other( tho9gh cognate( laws(Awe enter on a =iel5 where even those who have
accepte5 the analog> in general terms are likel> to =in5 the evi5ence lea5ing them to
somewhat 5ivergent concl9sions. O= two men in5epen5entl> st95>ing o9r recor5s o=
apparitions( the one will almost inevitabl> press their analog> to simple telepath> =9rther
than the other. )n5 each will be able to plea5 that he has been g9i5e5 as =ar as possible b>
an instinct o= scienti=ic ca9tion in th9s D95ging o= matters strange an5 new. *he first will
sa> that Bca9ses are not to be m9ltiplie5 witho9t necessit>(C an5 that we have now in
telepath> a vera causa whose =9rthest possibilities we o9ght to e?ha9st be=ore invoking
still stranger( still remoter agencies( whose ver> e?istence we are not in a position to
prove. .e will =eel bo9n5 there=ore to 5well on the points on which o9r knowle5ge either
o= telepath>( or o= the mechanism o= hall9cinations i-l?vii! in general( throws some
light@ an5 he will set asi5e as at present ine?plicable s9ch pec9liarities o= o9r evi5ence as
cannot well be bro9ght within this scheme.
*he secon5 inE9irer( on the other han5( will perhaps =eel strongl> that telepath>( as we
now know it( is probabl> little more than a mere preliminar> conception( a simpli=ie5
mo5e o= representing to o9rselves a gro9p o= phenomena which( as involving relations
between (inds, ma> probabl> be more comple? than those which involve even the
highest known =orms o= (atter. .e will =eel that( while we hol5 one cl9e alone( we m9st
be care=9l not to overrate its e==icac>@ we m9st be on the watch =or other approaches( =or
hints o= inter-relation between 5isparate an5 scattere5 phenomena.
It is to the =irst o= these two attit95es o= min5(Athe attit95e which 5eprecates e?traneo9s
theorising(Athat Mr. &9rne> an5 Mr. 1o5more have incline5@ an5 the committal o= the
b9lk o= this work to Mr. &9rne>4s e?ec9tion in5icates not onl> that he has been able to
5evote the greatest amo9nt o= time an5 energ> to the task( b9t also that his view is on the
whole the most nearl> central among the opinions which we have =elt it inc9mbent on 9s
to cons9lt. ,e have no wish( however( to a==ect a closer agreement than act9all> e?ists@
an5 in a B%ote on a /9ggeste5 Mo5e o= 1s>chical Interaction(C which will be =o9n5 in
Vol. II.( I shall s9bmit a view which 5i==ers =rom Mr. &9rne>4s on some theoretical points.
S 2X. *he theories containe5 in this book( however( bear a small proportion to the mass o=
collecte5 =acts. ) =ew wor5s as to o9r metho5 o= collection ma> here prece5e Mr.
&9rne>4s =9ll 5isc9ssion P-hapter IV.Q o= the pec9liar 5i==ic9lties to which o9r evi5ence is
e?pose5.
It soon became evi5ent that i= o9r collection was to be satis=actor> it m9st consist mainl>
o= cases collecte5 b> o9rselves( an5 o= a great n9mber o= s9ch cases. *he apparitions at
5eath( [c.( recor5e5 b> previo9s writers( are eno9gh( in5ee5( to show that scattere5
inci5ents o= the kin5 have obtaine5 cre5ence in man> ages an5 co9ntries. "9t the> have
never been collecte5 an5 si=te5 with an> s>stematic care@ an5 =ew o= them reach an
evi5ential stan5ar5 which co9l5 D9sti=> 9s in la>ing them be=ore o9r rea5ers. )n5 even
ha5 the e?isting stock o= testimon> been large an5 well-ass9re5( it wo9l5 still have been
nee5=9l =or 9s to collect o9r own specimens in situ,Ato see( talk with( an5 correspon5
with the persons to whose strange e?periences i-l?viii! so m9ch weight was to be given.
*his task o= personal inE9ir>(Awhose traces will( we hope( be s9==icientl> apparent
thro9gho9t the present work(Ahas stretche5 itsel= o9t be>on5 e?pectation( b9t has also
enable5 9s to speak with a con=i5ence which co9l5 not have been otherwise acE9ire5.
One o= its a5vantages is the sec9rit> th9s gaine5 as to the bona fides o= the witnesses
concerne5. *he> have practicall> place5 themselves 9pon their hono9r@ nor nee5 we
5o9bt that the e?periences have been( as a r9le( reco9nte5 in all sincerit>. )s to
9nintentional errors o= observation an5 memor>( Mr. &9rne>4s 5isc9ssion will at least
show that we have ha5 ab9n5ant opport9nities o= learning how wi5e a margin m9st be
le=t =or h9man carelessness( =orget=9lness( cre59lit>. B&o5 =orbi5(C sai5 the =l9te-pla>er to
1hilip o= Mace5on( Bthat >o9r MaDest> sho9l5 know these things as well as IsC
It m9st not( however( be in=erre5 =rom what has been sai5 that o9r in=ormants as a bo5>
have shown themselves less shrew5 or less acc9rate than the generalit> o= mankin5. On
the contrar>( we have observe5 with pleas9re that o9r somewhat persistent an5 probing
metho5 o= inE9ir> has 9s9all> repelle5 the sentimental or cra]> won5er-mongers who
hang abo9t the o9tskirts o= s9ch a s9bDect as this@ while it has met with cor5ial response
=rom an 9ne?pecte5 n9mber o= persons who =eel with reason that the ver> m>ster> which
s9rro9n5s these inci5ents makes it a55itionall> important that the> sho9l5 be reco9nte5
with sobriet> an5 care. *he straight=orwar5 st>le in which most o= o9r in=ormants have
co9che5 their narratives( as well as the hono9re5 names which some o= them bear( ma>
enable the rea5er to share something o= the con=i5ence which a closer contact with the
=acts has inspire5 in o9r own min5s.
)gain( it seeme5 necessar> that the collection o==ere5 to the p9blic sho9l5 be a ver> large
one( even at the cost o= incl95ing in a /9pplement some remote or secon5-han5 cases
besi5es the =irst-han5 cases which alone are a5mitte5 into the chapters o= this book. I=(
in5ee5( o9r obDect ha5 been simpl> to make o9t a case =or the connection o= 5eaths with
apparitions( we might have o==ere5 a less assailable =ront( an5 sho9l5 certainl> have
spare5 o9rselves m9ch tro9ble( ha5 we con=ine5 o9rselves to giving in 5etail a =ew o= the
best-atteste5 instances. "9t what we 5esire5 was not precisel> this. ,e hope( no 5o9bt(
that most o= o9r rea5ers ma> 9ltimatel> be le5 to concl9sions resembling o9r own. "9t
be=ore o9r concl9sions can e?pect to gain general acceptance( man> other i-l?i?!
h>potheses will 5o9btless be a5vance5( an5 coinci5ence( s9perstition( =ra95( h>steria( will
be invoke5 in vario9s combinations to e?plain the evi5ence given here. ,e think(
there=ore( that it is o9r 59t> in so new a s9bDect to a==or5 =9ll material =or h>potheses
5iscor5ant with o9r own@ to set =orth cases 5rawn =rom so wi5e a range o= societ>( an5
embracing s9ch a variet> o= circ9mstances( as to a==or5 scope =or ever> mo5e o=
origination or 5evelopment o= these narratives which the critic ma> s9ggest.
+9rthermore( the whole s9bDect o= hall9cinations o= the saneAwhich hitherto has
receive5 ver> scant> treatmentAseems =airl> to belong to o9r s9bDect( an5 has been
treate5 b> Mr. &9rne> in -hap. \I. ,e have thro9gho9t conten5e5 that a knowle5ge o=
abnormal or merel> morbi5 phenomena is an in5ispensable pre-reE9isite =or the treating
o= an> s9pernormal operations which ma> be =o9n5 to e?ist 9n5er somewhat similar
=orms o= mani=estation.
Once more( it was plainl> 5esirable to inE9ire whether h>potheses( now a5mitte5 to be
erroneo9s( ha5 ever been base5 in past times on evi5ence in an> wa> comparable to that
which we have a559ce5. *he belie= in witchcra=t( =rom its wi5e e?tent an5 its nearness to
o9r own times( is the most pla9sible instance o= s9ch a parallelism. )n5 Mr. &9rne>( in
his %ote on -hapter IV.( has given the res9lts o= an anal>sis o= witch-literat9re more
laborio9s than previo9s a9thors ha5 tho9ght it worth while to 9n5ertake. *he res9lt is
remarkable@ =or it appears that the onl> marvels =or which respectable testimon> was
a559ce5 consist obvio9sl> o= ignorant 5escriptions o= h>pnotic an5 epilepti=orm
phenomena now becoming =amiliar to science@ while as to the monstro9s storiesAcopie5
=rom one 9ncritical writer into anotherAwhich have given to this con=9se5 recor5 o=
h>pnotic an5 h>sterical ill9sions the special aromas Pso to sa>Q o= witchcra=t or
l>canthrop>(Athese pro5igies have scarcel> ever the slightest claim to be =o9n5e5 on an>
=irst-han5 evi5ence at all.
S U;. "9t while the material here o==ere5 =or =orming an opinion on all these points is( no
5o9bt( m9ch larger than previo9s writers have been at the pains to amass( we are an?io9s(
nevertheless( to state e?plicitl> that we regar5 this present collection o= =acts as merel>
preliminar>@ this present work as merel> opening o9t a novel s9bDect@ these researches o=
a =ew persons 59ring a =ew >ears as the mere =irst instalment o= inE9iries which will nee5
i-l??! repetition an5 rein=orcement to an e?tent which none o= 9s can as >et =oresee.
) change in the scienti=ic o9tlook so consi5erable as that to which these vol9mes point
m9st nee5s take time to accomplish. *ime is nee5e5 not onl> to sprea5 the knowle5ge o=
new =acts( b9t also to acclimatise new conceptions in the in5ivi59al min5. /9ch( at least(
has been o9r own e?perience@ an5 since the evi5ence which has come to 9s slowl> an5
piecemeal is here presente5 to other min5s s955enl> an5 in a mass( we m9st nee5s e?pect
that its acceptance b> them will be a partial an5 gra59al thing. ,hat we hope =or =irst is
an increase in the n9mber o= those who are willing to ai5 9s in o9r labo9rs@ we tr9st that
the =ellow-workers in man> lan5s to whom we alrea5> owe so m9ch ma> be enco9rage5
to =9rther collection o= testimon>( renewe5 e?periment( when the> see these e?periments
con=irming one another in Lon5on( 1aris( "erlin(Athis testimon> vo9ching =or cognate
inci5ents =rom %ew #ork to %ew Jealan5( an5 =rom Manchester to -alc9tta.
,ith each >ear o= e?periment an5 registration we ma> hope that o9r res9lts will ass9me a
more 5e=inite shapeAthat there will be less o= the vag9eness an5 con=9sion inevitable at
the beginning o= a novel line o= research( b9t nat9rall> 5istaste=9l to the savant
acc9stome5 to procee5 b> meas9rable increments o= knowle5ge =rom e?perimental bases
alrea5> ass9re5. /9ch an one( i= he rea5s this book( ma> =eel as tho9gh he ha5 been calle5
awa> =rom an or5nance s9rve>( con59cte5 with a competent sta== an5 =amiliar
instr9ments( to plo9gh slowl> with ine?perience5 mariners thro9gh some strange ocean
where be5s o= entangling seawee5 c9mber the trackless wa>. ,e accept the analog>@ b9t
we wo9l5 remin5 him that even =loating wee5s o= novel genera ma> =oreshow a lan5
9nknown@ an5 that it was not witho9t 9ltimate gain to men that the straining keels o=
-ol9mb9s =irst presse5 thro9gh the /argasso /ea.
S U2. #et one wor5 more. *his book is not a55resse5 to savants alone( an5 it ma> repel
man> rea5ers on E9ite other than scienti=ic gro9n5s. )ttempting as we 5o to carr> the
reign o= Law into a sanct9ar> o= belie= an5 emotion which has never th9s been inva5e5 in
5etail(Al>ing in wait( as it were( to catch the last imp9lse o= the 5>ing( an5 to E9estion
the serenit> o= the 5ea5(Awe ma> seem to be inc9rring the poet4s c9rse on the man Bwho
wo9l5 peep an5 botani]e 9pon his mother4s grave(CAto be to9ching the )rk o= sacre5 i-
l??i! m>steries with han5s staine5 with labo9r in the pro=ane an5 common =iel5.
.ow o=ten have men th9s =eare5 that %at9re4s won5ers wo9l5 be 5egra5e5 b> being
closelier looke5 intos .ow o=ten( again( have the> learnt that the tr9th was higher than
their imagination@ an5 that it is man4s work( b9t never %at9re4s( which to be magni=icent
m9st remain 9nknowns .ow wo9l5 a 5isciple o= )ristotle(A=resh =rom his master4s
conception o= the =i?e5 stars as t>pes o= go5hea5(Ao= an inhabitance b> p9re e?istences
o= a s9pernal worl5 o= their own(Ahow wo9l5 he have scorne5 the proposal to learn
more o= those stars b> 5int o= the generation o= =eti5 gases an5 the se59lo9s min9teness o=
spectroscopic anal>siss #et how poor( how =ragmentar> were )ristotle4s =ancies
compare5 with o9r conception( th9s gaine5( o= cosmic 9nit>s o9r vibrant message =rom
/iri9s an5 Orion b> the heral5r> o= the kin5re5 =lames *hose imagine5 go5s are gone@ b9t
the spectacle o= the starr> heavens has become =or 9s so moving in its immensit> that
philosophers( at a loss =or terms o= won5er( have ranke5 it with the Moral Law.
I= man( then( shall attempt to so9n5 an5 =athom the 5epths that lie not witho9t him( b9t
within( analog> ma> s9rel> warn him that the =irst attempts o= his r95e ps,choscopes to
give precision an5 act9alit> to tho9ght will grope among Bbeggarl> elements(CAwill be
concerne5 with things grotesE9e( or trivial( or obsc9re. #et here also one han5sbrea5th o=
realit> gives better =ooting than all the castles o= o9r 5ream@ here also b> beginning with
the least things we shall best learn how great things ma> remain to 5o.
*he insentient has awoke( we know not how( into sentienc>@ the sentient into the =9ller
conscio9sness o= h9man min5s. #et even h9man sel=-conscio9sness remains a recent( a
per=9nctor>( a s9per=icial thing@ an5 we m9st =irst reconstit9te o9r conception o= the
microcosm( as o= the macrocosm( be=ore we can enter on those Bhigh capacio9s powersC
which( I believe( Blie =ol5e5 9p in man.C
+. ,. .. M.
i-l??ii! i-l??iii!
!//(#(%"$ !"/ +%RR&+#(%"$.
)%'.M& (.
1age ::( line U;. +or XXX(XXX(X7( rea5 XXX(XXX(XXX(2.
1age :3( line 8. +or 2;;; to 2( rea5 Babo9t V;; to 2.C
1age 77. /ince the note on this page was written( some a55itional evi5ence has been
obtaine5 as to the e==ect o= concentration o= the operator4s will in the process o=
h>pnotising. /ee the cases E9ote5 in the )55itional -hapter( PVol. II.( pp. 87;( 873( 87V(Q
=rom the recor5s o= the /ociHtH 5e 1s>chologie 1h>siologiE9e.
1age 22;( =irst note. *wo =9rther e?amples o= this interesting t>pe will be =o9n5 on pp.
l???i-iv( below.
1age 227( secon5 note. )=ter this note ha5 been printe5 o==( I came across a passage =rom
Die Christliche ',sti1, b> F. F. von &oerres( in which a learne5 bishop( 1r95encio 5e
/an5oval( is ma5e to 5escribe a witch4s Do9rne> thro9gh the air as tho9gh he ha5 himsel=
been a D95icial spectator o= it. ) re=erence to /an5oval4s own acco9nt( however( in his
9istoria de la vida , hechos del >(perador Carlos ?. P1amplona( 2827Q( Vol. I.( p. 7:;(
shows that the trial o= the witch in E9estion took place in 2VUW. %ow /an5oval 5ie5 in
28U2@ clearl>( there=ore( he co9l5 not have been a =irst-han5 witness( as represente5. %or
5oes he even name his a9thorit>@ an5 5iscre5it is thrown on his so9rces o= in=ormation b>
Llorente( in his )nales de la :n2uisition de >spa@a PMa5ri5( 272UQ( p. :2X. )s the
passage =rom &oerres was E9ote5 in a =irst-class scienti=ic review( an5( i= acc9rate( wo9l5
have tol5 against m> statements as to the absence o= =irst-han5 evi5ence =or allege5
magical occ9rrences( I have tho9ght it worth while to =orestall a possible obDection.
*he onl> instance that I can =in5( 59ring the witch-epoch( o= 5e=inite =irst-han5 evi5ence
=or a marvel o= a t>pe which o9r present knowle5ge o= abnormal bo5il> an5 mental states
will not e?plain( is( as it happens( not part o= the histor> o= so-calle5 magic( b9t is
connecte5 with the e?traor5inar> epi5emic o= religio9s e?citement which took place in
the -evennes at the beginning o= the last cent9r>. )s the instance seems to be a solitar>
one( it ma> be worth while to give the =acts. The Th40tre !acr4 des Cevennes PLon5on(
2W;WQ contains the 5epositions o= two witnesses to the =act that the> saw a man name5
-lar> stan5 =or man> min9tes( totall> 9ninD9re5( in the mi5st o= a h9ge =ire o= bla]ing
woo5@ an5 that the> imme5iatel> a=terwar5s ascertaine5 b> their own senses that there
was not a sign o= b9rning on him or his clothes. *his is the sort o= case which( i=
m9ltiplie5 b> scores or h9n5re5s( an5 i= nothing were i-l??iv! known against the
character o= the witnesses( wo9l5 s9pport the view that an apparentl> strong evi5ential
case can be ma5e o9t =or phenomenaAbeing matters o= 5irect observationAwhich
nevertheless =or the scienti=ic min5 are impossible@ an5 that there=ore the evi5ential case
=or telepath> presente5 in this book ma> be sa=el> neglecte5 Psee p. 22VQ. "9t the
character o= the two 5eponents mentione5 is serio9sl> imp9gne5 b> a thir5 witness( the
celebrate5 -olonel -avallier( who ha5 no interest in 5ecr>ing his own =ollowers an5
partisans( an5 whose probit> seems never to have been 5o9bte5 even b> those who most
E9estione5 his goo5 sense.
2
%Nouveau. 'e(oires pour !ervir 3 l9istoire des Trois
Ca(isars, Lon5on( 2W;7( pp. 8TX.Q .e 5escribes them as worthless impostors( as to
whom it was eas> to see BE94 il n4> a pas bea9co9p G compter s9r ce E94 ils 5isent( et
encore moins s9r ce E94 ils sont.C /ee also the acco9nt given o= them b> $r. .9tchinson(
a b> no means over-sceptical writer( who seems to have ha5 the means o= ascertaining
-avallier4s opinions when the latter was in Englan5. %) !hort ?ie- of the *retended
!pirit of *rophec,, Lon5on( 2W;7( pp. X( 28. /ee also ) *reservative against the <alse
*rophets of the Ti(es, b> Mark Vernons( Lon5on( 2W;7( p. WU@ an5 Clavis *rophetica,
Lon5on( 2W;W( pp. 7( X.Q )s regar5s -olonel -avallier himsel=( we have to note P2Q that in
the histor> o= the -evennes 5ist9rbances( attrib9te5 to him an5 probabl> 5rawn 9p =rom
recollections o= his conversations( not a wor5 on the s9bDect occ9rs@ an5 that the onl>
5irect testimon> to the occ9rrence that we have =rom him( as =ar as I can 5iscover( is the
phrase( B-ela est vrai(C applie5 to the =ire o= -lar>( Bet 54a9tres choses 5e cette nat9reC
%'e(oires pour !ervir, [c.( p. 2;Q@
U
PUQ that even s9pposing he was an e>e-witness( it
nowhere appears that he e?amine5 -lar> a=ter the or5eal( an5 ascertaine5 that his clothes
an5 hair were 9nsinge5@ an5( as .9tchinson remarks( the =ire ma> have been Ba =ire o=
straw( that is no sooner kin5le5 b9t it is o9t again.C )n5 in =act( in the 9istoire des
Troubles des Cevennes, b> ). -o9rt PVille=ranche( 2W8;Q( p. 33U( the a9thor pro=esses to
have =o9n5( =rom in=ormation gathere5 at the spot( that BP2Q -lar> ne sHDo9rna pas 5ans le
=e9@ PUQ il > entra 5e9? =ois@ P:Q il se brtla a9 col 59 bras( et =9t obligH 5e s4arrMter a9 lie9
5e 1ierre5on( po9r se =air panser.C
I con=ine m>sel= to this single case( which bears 5irectl> on m> 5isc9ssion o= evi5ence in
-hapter IV.@ b9t since no topic has been a greater =avo9rite in the mo5ern literat9re o= the
Bs9pernat9ralC than the phenomena o= the -evennes( it ma> be 9se=9l to a55 that
probabl> no chapter o= histor> o==ers eE9al =acilities =or st95>ing the nat9ral genesis o=
mo5ern miracles.
1age 2UW( line 28. +or won5er-mongerer rea5 won5er-monger.
1age 23;( last sentence o= note. /ince this was written( a =ew other instances have been
incl95e5 where it is possible( b9t not certain( that the i-l??v! 2U ho9rs4 limit was
e?cee5e5. It was e?cee5e5 in case 2:7( an5 possibl> in case 28V.
1age 23V( last sentence. /ince this was printe5( some =9rther cases have been receive5 o=
consi5erable e?aggeration o= the closeness o= a coinci5ence( which sho9l5 be a55e5 to
the e?amples mentione5 in the note.
P2Q )n in=ormant sent 9s a sworn a==i5avit to the e==ect that( in Fan9ar>( 27VU( when
ret9rning =rom -hina on boar5 the B1ilot(C an5 near the -ape( he ha5 a vision o= his
sister( an5 learnt on his arrival in Englan5 that she ha5 5ie5 Babo9t the timeC o= the
vision. ,e =in5( =rom an e?amination o= vario9s newspapers( that the B1ilotC was in the
East In5ies 9p to $ecember( 27V2( an5 was at $evonport in March( 27VU@ so that she ma>
well have been near the -ape in Fan9ar>( 27VU. "9t we =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths
that the sister 5ie5 on F9ne UX( 27V2( at which 5ate( as we learn =rom the )5miralt>( the
B1ilotC was at ,hampoa. It is not likel> that o9r in=ormant was mistaken as to his own
e?perience having taken place on the ret9rn vo>age( an5 shortl> be=ore his arrival in
Englan5. ,hat happene5( we ma> s9rmise( is that he was tol5( when he arrive5 a=ter a
long absence( that his sister ha5 latel, 5ie5@ an5 that on the strength o= his vision( he
ass9me5 or gra59all> came to imagine( that the 5eath ha5 happene5 onl> several weeks
be=ore( instea5 o= several months.
PUQ ) gentleman gave 9s a striking acco9nt o= a phantasm o= a =rien5( then in the
*ransvaal war( who appeare5 in his room earl> one morning( an5 anno9nce5 that he ha5
been shot thro9gh the right l9ng. /9ch a hall9cination being absol9tel> 9niE9e in o9r
in=ormant4s e?perience( he note5 the timeA3.2; a.m.Ab> a clock on the mantelpiece(
an5 waite5 =everishl> 59ring the ho9rs that elapse5 be=ore he co9l5 see a newspaper at
his cl9b. .e =o9n5 no news o= the war. In the co9rse o= the 5a> he mentione5 his vision
an5 his 5isE9iet95e to an acE9aintance at the cl9b. *he ne?t morning he saw( in the =irst
paper that he took 9p( the anno9ncement that his =rien5 ha5 been kille5Ashot thro9gh the
right l9ng( as it a=terwar5s prove5Aat an ho9r Pas he calc9late5Q closel> coinci5ent with
that o= his vision. ,e =o9n5( however( =rom the ;ondon 7aAette, that the battle in which
this o==icer was kille5 5i5 not begin till X.:; a.m.@ an5 the 5eath took place at least two
ho9rs later( which wo9l5 be between X an5 2; a.m. in Englan5. -learl>( there=ore( the
vision m9st have prece5e5 the 5eath b> some ho9rs( if the, occurred on the sa(e da,.
"9t an e?amination o= the newspapers makes it seem ver> likel> that the vision =ell on the
5a> after the 5eath. *he battle took place on +ri5a>( an5 was anno9nce5 in the /at9r5a>
papers@ b9t the 5eath was not anno9nce5 in the morning papers till Mon5a>( an5 the
vision which is represente5 as having occ9rre5 on the 5a> ne?t be=ore the anno9ncement
o= the 5eath ma> more easil> be s9ppose5 to have occ9rre5 on the second 5a> than on the
third 5a> be=oreAi.e., on the /at9r5a>( not the +ri5a> morning. )s to the statement that
the papers containe5 no war-news on the morning o= the vision( that is a point on which
o9r in=ormant4s memor> might easil> get wrong( as the> 5i5 not contain what he searche5
them =or.
P:Q )n acco9nt signe5 b> three witnesses o= 9nimpeachable character( an5 p9rporting to
be a statement ma5e to them on /ept. W( 27VX( b> *. -rowle>( o= $inish Islan5( recor5s a
hall9cination which he e?perience5 i-l??vi! on /at9r5a>( )9g. 2:( an5 a=terwar5s
connecte5 with the 9ne?pecte5 5eath o= his 5a9ghter( Ellen( which took place at a
5istance a =ew ho9rs earlier. *his 5a9ghter ha5 been an inmate o= a $ea= an5 $9mb
)s>l9m. +rom the secretar> o= this instit9tion we learnt that the 5a> o= her 5eath was
/9n5a>( F9l> U3( 27VX@ an5 we proc9re5 a certi=icate o= her b9rial on the =ollowing 5a>. It
is probable that those who took 5own the statement got an i5ea that the coinci5ence was a
close one( an5 9nconscio9sl> =orce5 the wrong 5ate on an 9ne59cate5 witness.
P3Q *wo letters have been han5e5 to 9s( written b> a h9sban5 to his wi=e on %ov. W an5
$ec. U7( 27W3. *he =irst letter 5escribes an overpowering impression o= calamit> at home
which the writer e?perience5( 59ring a vo>age( on +ri5a>( %ov. 8( an5 which he
imme5iatel> mentione5 to a =rien5( who has given 9s =9ll written con=irmation o= the =act.
In that week the writer o= the letters lost a chil5( who 5ie5( as we =in5 =rom the 'egister
o= $eaths( on *9es5a>( %ov. :. #et the secon5 letter( written a=ter the news o= the 5eath
ha5 reache5 the =ather( sa>s( BIt is ver> strange( b9t the ver> timeA5a> an5 ho9rAo= o9r
bo>4s 5eath( I co9l5 not sleep(C an5 then =ollows another acco9nt o= the ver> e?perience
which was be=ore 5escribe5 Pan5 9n5o9bte5l> correctl>Q as having happene5 on the night
o= %ov. 8( three 5a>s a=ter the 5eath.
PVQ ) la5>( who 5i5 not remember ever to have 5reamt o= 5eath on an> other occasion(
tol5 9s that one night( in Fan9ar>( 2772( she ha5 a remarkabl> vivi5 5ream o= the 5eath o=
a relative whom she 5i5 not know to be ill or likel> to 5ie@ an5 that on coming 5own in
the morning she =o9n5 the 5eath anno9nce5 in the Ti(es as having occ9rre5 on the
previo9s 5a>. /he 5i5 not P=or =amil> reasonsQ comm9nicate the name o= the person who
5ie5. "9t it is not ver> common =or 5eaths to appear in the Ti(es on the 5a> a=ter that on
which the> occ9rre5. ) list was accor5ingl> ma5e o9t o= all the persons( correspon5ing
with her 5escription in se? an5 age( whose 5eaths were so imme5iatel> anno9nce5 59ring
that month@ an5 the list( being s9bmitte5 to her( her relative4s name prove5 not to be in it.
*he 5eath m9st there=ore have prece5e5 the 5ream b> more than U3 ho9rs.
P8Q )nother in=ormant gives an acco9nt o= an interesting e?perience sai5 to have occ9rre5
on the night o= /9n5a>( Ma> 8( 2788( an5 remarkabl> coinci5ing with the 5eath o= the
narrator4s brother( lost with the B&eneral &rant.C *he =ate o= this ship was not known till
Fan9ar>( 2787( when the 'elbourne )rgus p9blishe5 a Bnarrative o= the s9rvivors.C +rom
this acco9nt we =in5 that the wreck occ9rre5 on the night o= /9n5a> the 2:th( an5 that the
5eath in E9estion probabl> occ9rre5 on the morning o= the 23th@ which( allowing =or
longit95e( wo9l5 closel> correspon5 with the time o= the e?perience in Englan5(
s9pposing that o9r in=ormant4s 5ate was wrong b> a week. *his ma> ver> likel> have
been the case( as he e?plains that all he is clear abo9t is that the 5a> was a /9n5a> in Ma>
which he spent at a partic9lar place. "9t 9n=ort9natel> he ha5 sai5 in a =ormer letter that
the 5ate Ma> 8 was impresse5 on his min5 b> its being his own birth5a>@ an5 that
statement cannot( o= co9rse( be ignore5@ altho9gh he makes it tolerabl> clear that he reall>
onl> inferred long a=terwar5s that that was the 5a>( beca9se he knew =or certain that on
his birth5a> he was at the place where the e?perience occ9rre5.
i-l??vii!
1ages 23XTV2. *he =ollowing instr9ctive instance o= the 5i==erence between =irst-han5
an5 secon5-han5 evi5ence shows how easil> a sp9rio9s telepathic narrative ma> grow 9p.
,e receive5 a secon5-han5 acco9nt to the e==ect that a =rien5 o= o9r in=ormant( as she was
ret9rning =rom a walk( saw her sister on the 5oorstep D9st entering the ho9se( entere5
hersel= a =ew moments a=ter( was tol5 b> the servant that her sister ha5 not been o9t( went
9pstairs( an5 =o9n5 her 5>ing =rom a s955en =it. *he =irst-han5 acco9nt( which ha5 been
given to 9s some >ears be=ore( contains ever> one o= these =acts( Pmo5i=>ing one o= them
b> the statement that the sister 5ie5B-ithin 1B hoursC a=ter(Q b9t a55s D9st two more. BI(
being ver, blind, thought
2
I saw her be=ore me.C BI probabl> mistook the 5oor( there
being t-o on the same 5oorstep as mine.C .ow completel> the aspect o= the case is
altere5 b> these =ew a55itional wor5s( appears in the most nat9ral wa> =rom the sentences
that =ollow. *he secon5-han5 acco9nt sa>s( B!he loo1ed upon this as an apparition, sent
to her to break the s955en shock(CCc. *he =irst-han5 acco9nt sa>s, D: never i(agined :
had reall, seen an apparition/ b9t it certainl> was a merci=9l mistake( as it in a certain
sense broke the shock to me(C Cc.
1age 2V3( secon5 paragraph. *he partic9lar =orm o= e?aggeration in secon5-han5
evi5ence( which represents what was reall> onl> a 5ream as that =ar rarer an5 more
striking phenomenonAa waking hall9cinationAis e?empli=ie5 in connection with one o=
the narratives E9ote5 later( %o. 3UX. *he =irst-han5 acco9nt( it will be seen( 5escribes the
e?perience simpl> as a drea(/ )9bre> %'iscellanies, Lon5on( 28X8( p. 8;Q reco9nts it as
a case o= apparition.
1age 2V8( last part o= note. *he p9blication o= this book has le5 to the verication YsicZ o=
the inci5ent here 5escribe5. *he gentleman concerne5AMr. &. .. $ickson( o= 2W(
,inckle> /treet( 1restonAhas sent me P$ec. UU( 2778Q an acco9nt which 5i==ers =rom the
secon5-han5 report in two points onl>:Athe woman was not act9all> cr9she5 to 5eath(
tho9gh Mr. $ickson Bwas tol5( be=ore leaving the station( that her inD9ries wo9l5 be
=atalC@ an5 his wi=e 5i5 not 5escribe her e?perience to him imme5iatel> on his arrival( b9t
later in the 5a>Awhether be=ore or a=ter his mention o= the scene the> 5o not now
remember.
1age 2V7( line 2. B%o cases are given which are not =irst-han5.C -ases UV8 an5 UVW are
e?ceptions@ b9t see Vol. II.( p. 7:.
1age 28W( line 2 o= note. B*he s9ppresse5 names have in all cases been given to 9s in
con=i5ence.C In the /9pplement there are seven e?ceptions to this r9le. +ive o= them are
cases which have been previo9sl> p9blishe5 on apparentl> reliable a9thorit>( b9t which
the 5eath o= the person responsible =or them has prevente5 9s =rom tracing to their so9rce@
the si?th is a M/. case o= the same 5escription@ an5 in the seventh( o9r in=ormant( tho9gh
per=ectl> remembering the circ9mstances o= his connection with the original witness(
cannot recall his name. In a ver> =ew other cases the name o= the agent has not been
learnt.
1age U;8( note. /ome in5epen5ent evi5ence has been receive5 as to the manner o=
-aptain -oll>er4s 5eath. )n a5vertisement was inserte5 =or 9s in the Dail, *ica,une, the
lea5ing %ew Orleans newspaper( o==ering a small i-l??viii! rewar5 =or 5e=inite
in=ormation as to the =atal acci5ent on the B)lice.C +or some months no in=ormation was
given@ b9t on Fan. 8( 2778( the e5itor wrote to 9s as =ollows:AB*o-5a> a part> calle5 at
the *ica,une o==ice( an5 ma5e the =ollowing statement: uM> name is F. L. .all. I was a
striker on the steamer B'e5 'iverCat the time she ran into the B)lice(C Fohn -oll>er(
master( at a point abo9t U; miles above %ew Orleans. *he acci5ent occ9rre5 at 2; o4clock
at night( in Fan9ar>( 27V8. *he 5a> o= the month I 5o not remember. *he B'e5 'iverC was
bo9n5 9p stream( an5 the B)liceC bo9n5 5own. *he collision broke the starboar5 engine
o= the B)liceCan5 stove in her 9pper g9ar5s an5 boiler 5eck. )s soon as possible the B'e5
'iverC went to the assistance o= the B)lice(C when one o= the crew o= the 5isable5 boat
remarke5 that the captain ha5 been kille5. On investigation( -aptain -oll>er was =o9n5
l>ing on his back on the starboar5 si5e o= the boiler 5eck o= his boat( with a severe wo9n5
in the hea5 an5 li=e e?tinct. *he crew o= the B)lice(C all o= whom were negroes( state5
that -aptain -oll>er ha5 been kille5 b> the collision( b9t the o==icers o= the B'e5 'iverC
tho9ght otherwise( as the wo9n5 in his P-aptain -oll>er4sQ hea5 appeare5 to have been
ma5e be=ore the two boats met( an5 the bloo5 on the 5eck was coag9late5. 1robabl> not
more than 2; min9tes elapse5 =rom the time the collision took place 9ntil the bo5> o=
-aptain -oll>er was viewe5 b> the o==icers o= the B'e5 'iver.C )=ter helping the B)liceC
to make repairs( the B'e5 'iverC procee5e5 on her vo>age. I cannot sa> positivel>( b9t I
5o not think the killing o= -aptain -oll>er was ever investigate5.4C
2

It will be seen that there is a s9ggestion here that the 5eath prece5e5 the collision@ an5 i=
this was so( it is an a55itional reason =or s9pposing the coinci5ence with Mrs. -oll>er4s
e?perience to have been e?tremel> close@ =or the witness ha5 no i5ea wh> the evi5ence
was wante5( an5 cannot have a5D9ste5 his acco9nt to a narrative o= which he knew
nothing. I= his i5ea is correct( then there is no reason to s9ppose Pas I have too hastil>
5one in p. U;8( noteQ that he has ma5e a mistake as to the ho9r o= the collision.
1age U37( case 3X. *he =ollowing is a corroborative acco9nt =rom Mrs. )r9n5el( who
wrote =rom Maniton( -olora5o( on )pril 2( 2778:A
B%ot being ver> well( I was l>ing on the so=a Pnot asleep( =or I ha5 m> bab> sitting on the
=loor besi5e me( pla>ingQ. Mr. )r9n5el was awa> on a sailing e?c9rsion with some
=rien5s( an5 I 5i5 not e?pect his ret9rn =or some 5a>s. It seeme5 to me that I 5istinctl>
hear5 him call me b> name( uMaggie(4 a slight pa9se an5 again uMaggie.4 *he voice
seeme5 =ar o== an5 >et clear( b9t the tone s9ch as he wo9l5 9se i= nee5ing me. *he
impression was so 5istinct that I rose an5 went o9t on to the porch with the tho9ght( u-an
the> possibl> have ret9rne5 sooner =or some reasonr4 an5 I so =9ll> e?pecte5 to see him
there that I went back into the ho9se with a =eeling o= 5isappointment an5 some an?iet>(
too( =eeling so sure I ha5 hear5 his voice. %o one was in the ho9se( m> servant being o9t.
,hen m> h9sban5 came home( he was m9ch startle5 to =in5 how e?actl> i-l??i?! his
e?perience on that /9n5a> a=ternoon correspon5e5 with m> vivi5 impressions. It co9l5
not have been mere coinci5ence. I m9st a55 that I mentione5 (, e?perience to Mr.
)r9n5el be=ore he ha5 spoken to me o= his.
BI have ha5 impressions more than once( b9t never a false one. ,hen Mr. )r9n5el =irst
crosse5 to )merica he met with a severe storm. *he night that the ship was in great
5anger Ptho9gh it is impossible to 5e=ine howQ( I knew an5 =elt that it was so. I mentione5
it to m> =rien5s( who ri5ic9le5 the =anc>@ nevertheless( the time correspon5e5 precisel>.
2

BM)'&UE'I*E )'U%$EL.C
1age U3X( case VU. $r. an5 Mme. Ollivier are both now 5ecease5.
1age U82( note. On viv0 voce e?amination o= the witnesses( it seems probable that
*ortugal 5i5 enter into the impression@ b9t Mrs. ,ilson( 5i==ering =rom her h9sban5(
thinks he knew that his brothers were going-thereAwhich certainl> commen5s itsel= as
the probable e?planation o= that 5etail. ,e ha5 the 5oor( which has been repainte5(
bro9ght 9p to Lon5on( in or5er that the paint might be care=9ll> remove5. *he e?pert
whom we emplo>e5 to 5o this tol5 9s that it was ver> improbable that the pencil marks
wo9l5 have resiste5 the action o= t9rpentine an5 the =riction o= the repainting@ an5 nothing
relating to the inci5ent was 5iscovere5.
1age :;3( bottom. /ome =9rther ret9rns( receive5 since this page was printe5( leave
9naltere5 the proportion state5.
1age :;8( line 27. )=ter B5eathC insert B5reamt b> an> previo9sl> speci=ie5 in5ivi59al.C
Lines U: an5 U8. +or 2 v UW rea5 2 v U8. Line U7. )=ter BwillC insert Bon an average( i=
chance alone r9les.C
1age :8W( note. Visions o= spectral =9nerals are mentione5 b> ,. .owells( Ca(brian
!uperstitions, pp. V3T8( 83@ an5 b> ,irt /ikes( British 7oblins, pp. U:2TU. )n apparentl>
telepathic instance( recor5e5 in a collection o= "or5er legen5s ma5e b> a Mr. ,ilkie( ma>
be =o9n5 in ,. .en5erson4s <ol16lore of the Northern Counties of >ngland and the
Borders, p. UX.
1age :X3( note. It is tr9e that Isaak ,alton4s acco9nt represents $r. $onne as 5eclaring
that he was certainl> awake@ b9t ,alton is a thir5-han5 witness. /ee p. 2V3( secon5
paragraph( an5 the above remarks thereon.
1age 3;7( case 2V3. )ske5 b> her 5a9ghter to sa> Bwhether she remembere5 an>thing
partic9lar taking place at homeC on the night o= the 5eath( Mrs. *hompson wrote as
=ollows( on F9ne :;( 2778:A
B7U( *albot /treet( Moss-si5e( Manchester.
BI remember 5istinctl> m> 5a9ghter coming to m> room several times asking me i= I ha5
calle5 her( or i= I knew who ha5 calle5 her( the night 59ring which m> nephew( .arr>
/955ab>( 5ie5.
BM)'# *.OM1/O%.C
1age 3WX. /ince this page was printe5( I have receive5 another instance o= hall9cinations
vol9ntaril> originate5. ) la5> who has ha5 a scienti=ic training tells me that one bright
F9ne 5a>( two >ears agoAwhen l>ing ill in be5( b9t with her min5 especiall> activeAshe
saw the gra59al =ormation( on the backgro9n5 o= the blin5( o= a stat9esE9e hea5( which
then change5 i-l???! into another. BI tire5 m>sel= calling the pict9res 9p again 59ring
the a=ternoon. *he> seeme5 as clear as i= real( b9t a=ter the =irst =lash I was conscio9s o= a
mental e==ort with regar5 to them. "anishment was ver> eas>@ it onl> nee5e5 a rela?e5
tension.C
*o the cases mentione5 in the note sho9l5 be a55e5 $r. )bercrombie4s 5escription o= a
gentleman Pnot personall> known to himQ who Bha5 the power o= calling 9p spectral
=ig9res at his will( b> 5irecting his attention stea5il> to the conception o= his own min5@
an5 this ma> either consist o= a =ig9re or a scene which he has seen( or it ma> be a
composition create5 b> his imagination. "9t tho9gh he has the =ac9lt> o= pro59cing the
ill9sion( he has no power o= banishing it@ an5 when he has calle5 9p an> partic9lar
spectral =ig9re or scene( he never can sa> how long it ma> contin9e. *he gentleman is in
the prime o= li=e( o= so9n5 min5( in goo5 health( an5 engage5 in b9siness. )nother o= his
=amil> has been a==ecte5 in the same manner( tho9gh in a slighter 5egree.C %:n2uiries
concerning the :ntellectual *o-ers, 27:7( p. :8:.Q
1ages 3XWT7. -hap. \I.( S U. *he compatibilit> o= sensor> hall9cinations( even o= a ver>
prono9nce5 sort( with so9n5 bo5il> an5 mental health is ill9strate5 in the passage D9st
E9ote5 =rom )bercrombie. Yabove E>d.Z
1age V;:( lines 2W( 27. *he statement that hall9cinations o= the sane an5 health>(
representing non-h9man obDects( seem to be Brarel> i= everC grotesE9e or horrible( is
rather too sweeping. )n e?ception sho9l5 at an> rate be ma5e =or certain en5emic
hall9cinations. P/ee Vol. II.( p. 27X( note.Q
1age V23( =irst paragraph. /ome =9rther e?amples o= a95itor> hall9cinations probabl> 59e
to e?pectanc> ma> be =o9n5 in .owells4 Ca(brian !uperstitions P*ipton( 27:2Q( p. 8V.
/ee also /ikes4s British 7oblins, p. UUX.
1age V:3( case 2XX. *he acco9nt( con=irme5 b> Mr. ". in 277:( was written in or be=ore
27W8. Mrs. ". writes( on $ec. :2( 2778:ABI per=ectl> recollect the occasion o= Mrs.
AA4s 5eath( an5 that m> h9sban5 =or a whole week was consi5erabl> concerne5 abo9t
her. M> h9sban5 mentione5 the vision the same morning( at the time it occ9rre5( an5 we
5i5 not hear o= the 5eath till seven or eight 5a>s a=terwar5s.C *he 5eath co9l5 not be
trace5 in the register at /omerset .o9se@ b9t on inE9iring o= the coroner o= the 5istrict
where it occ9rre5( we =in5 that it took place e?actl> as 5escribe5( on )pril X( 27W:(
which( however( was a ,e5nes5a>( not a /at9r5a>. *he mistake as to the 5a> o= the week
seems neither to increase nor to 5ecrease the probabilit> that Mr. an5 Mrs. ". were able(
a=ter the short interval which elapse5 be=ore the> hear5 the news( correctl> to i5enti=> the
5a> o= the vision with that o= the 5eath.
1age V38( lines 23T28. Mr. 0e9lemans4 statement that his little bo>4s =ringe could not
have grown to its 9s9al length in a month might be E9estione5. "9t on m> pointing this
o9t to him( he e?plaine5 that Pbeing str9ck b> the =act that the hair( as he saw it in his
vision( was D9st as he ha5 been acc9stome5 to see itQ he ha5 e?pressl> aske5 his mother-
in-law what was the state o= the chil54s hair at the time o= his 5eath@ an5 she ha5 sai5 that
he Bha5 ver> little hairAthat it grew straight 9pright( an5 that he ha5 no =ringe when he
5ie5.C Mr. 0e9lemans has no 5i==ic9lt> in accepting this 5escription( as he has recentl>
ma5e e?periments with two i-l???i! o= his chil5ren( age5 3 an5 8( with a res9lt that
entirel> accor5s with it *he rate at which hair grows seems to 5i==er greatl> in 5i==erent
people.
1age V37 note. *o the case mentione5 a55 Mr. ,ilkie4s narrative re=erre5 to above in
connection with p. :8W. Other possible e?amples o= the bi]arre investit9re o= a telepathic
impression ma> be =o9n5 in 0ell>4s Curiosities of :ndo6>uropean Traditions and <ol16
;ore( p. 2;3@ an5 in &. ,al5ron4s Description of the :sle of 'an, pp. 8XTW;(Aa case to
which we have a close parallel on goo5( b9t not =irst-han5( a9thorit>. /ee also 1a9l
/Hbillot4s Traditions de la 9aute Bretagne, Vol. I.( pp U8VTX.
1age VV7( line U:. MaDor Pnow -olonelQ "orthwick writes on $ec. UU( 2778( =rom the
-hie= -onstable4s O==ice( -o9nt> "9il5ings( E5inb9rgh( that he is 9n5er the impression
that -aptain '9ssell -olt mentione5 his e?perience to the part> at break=ast on the
morning a=ter it occ9rre5.
1age VVX( case U22. In conversation( the narrator mentione5 that the boots o= the =ig9re
appeare5 clean( tho9gh it was po9ring with rain@ an5 that the stick which she a=terwar5s
recognise5 ha5 a silver po((e, not a c9rve5 han5le. /he was noticing the passage o=
time( as her =ather ha5 to catch a train that a=ternoon. /he a55e5 some 5etails which
increase the probabilit> that the 5>ing man4s tho9ghts were r9nning on her =ather at the
last. )s to the =act that it was she who was the percipient( an5 not her =ather( see Vol. II.(
pp. U87( :;2@ an5 compare cases 2XU( UUV( U3U( :;W( 88;.
*he =ollowing BtransitionalC case is a =resh specimen o= the rare an5 most important class
to which %os. 2:( 23( 2V( 28( 87V( an5 878 belong@ an5 is =9rther o= interest as being
5irectl> 59e to the p9blication o= this book. *he receipt o= it D9sti=ies 9s in hoping that we
ma> enco9nter more like it. On %ovember 28th( 2778( the 'ev. -. &o5=re>( o= V( *he
&o==s( Eastbo9rne( wrote to Mr. 1o5more as =ollows:A
BI was so impresse5 b> the acco9nt on p. 2;V( that I 5etermine5 to p9t the matter to an
e?periment.
B'etiring at 2;.3V( I 5etermine5 to appear( i= possible( to Ya =rien5Z( an5 accor5ingl> I set
m>sel= to work( with all the volitional an5 5eterminative energ> which I possess( to stan5
at the =oot o= her be5. I nee5 not sa> that I never 5roppe5 the slightest hint be=orehan5 as
to m> intention s9ch as wo9l5 mar the e?periment( nor ha5 I mentione5 the s9bDect to her.
)s the uagent(4 I ma> 5escribe m> own e?periences.
BUn5o9bte5l> the i(aginative =ac9lt> was bro9ght e?tensivel> into pla>( as well as the
volitional@ =or I en5eavo9re5 to translate (,self, spirit9all>( into the room( an5 to attract
her attention( as it were while stan5ing there. M> e==ort was s9staine5 =or perhaps 7
min9tes@ a=ter which I =elt tire5( an5 was soon asleep.
B*he ne?t thing I was conscio9s o= was meeting the la5> ne?t morning %i.e., in a 5ream( I
s9pposerQ an5 asking her at once i= she ha5 seen me last night. *he repl> came u#es.4
u.owr4 I inE9ire5. *hen in wor5s strangel> clear an5 low( like a well-a95ible whisper(
came the answer( uI was sitting besi5e >o9.4 *hese wor5s( so clear( awoke me instantl>(
an5 I =elt I m9st have been 5reaming@ b9t on re=lection I remembere5 what I ha5 been
uwilling4 be=ore I =ell asleep an5 it str9ck me( u*his m9st be a refle. action =rom the
percipient.4
i-l???ii!
BM> watch showe5 :.3; a.m. *he =ollowing is what I wrote imme5iatel> in pencil(
stan5ing in m> night-5ress:Au)s I re=lecte5 9pon those clear wor5s( the> str9ck me as
being E9ite intuitiveAI mean sub5ective, an5 to have procee5e5 fro( -ithin, as (, o-n
conviction( rather than a comm9nication =rom an>one else.
2
)n5 >et I can4t remember her
=ace at all( as one can a=ter a vivi5 5reams4
B"9t the wor5s were 9ttere5 in a clear( E9ick tone( which was most remarkable( an5
awoke me at once.
BM> =rien5( in the note with which she sent me the enclose5 acco9nt o= her o-n
e?perience( sa>s: uI remember the man p9t all the lamps o9t soon a=ter I came 9pstairs(
an5 that is onl> 5one abo9t a E9arter to 3.4C
Mr. &o5=re> went ne?t morning to see someone who resi5e5 in the same ho9se as Mrs.
AA( an5 was leaving( when Bshe calle5 o9t to me =rom the win5ow that she ha5
something special to tell me@ b9t being ver> b9s>( I co9l5 not ret9rn again into the ho9se(
an5 replie5 to the e==ect that it wo9l5 keep. I am not E9ite certain now
U
whether it was on
the a=ternoon o= the same 5a>( or later in the morning( that she calle5. I aske5 her( as
usual Y=or she s9==ere5 =rom ne9ralgiaZ( i= she ha5 ha5 a goo5 night( an5 she at once
commence5 to narrate as I have tol5 >o9. ,hen she ha5 tol5 me all( I begge5 her at once
to go home an5 write it 5own. *he acco9nt which I sent to >o9 was the res9lt@ an5 it
compare5 acc9ratel> with a =ew scribble5 notes in pencil which I ha5 hastil> Dotte5 5own
as she was relating it to me originall>.C
*he =ollowing is the percipient4s acco9nt:A
B#ester5a>( vi].( the morning o= %ov. 28(2778( abo9t hal=-past : o4clock( I woke 9p with
a start( an5 an i5ea that someone ha5 come into the room. I also hear5 a c9rio9s so9n5(
b9t =ancie5 it might be the bir5s in the iv> o9tsi5e. %e?t I e?perience5 a strange( restless
longing to leave the room an5 go 5ownstairs. *his =eeling became so overpowering that
at last I rose( an5 lit a can5le( an5 went 5own( thinking i= I co9l5 get some so5a-water it
might have a E9ieting e==ect. On ret9rning to m> room( I saw Mr. &o5=re> stan5ing 9n5er
the large win5ow on the staircase. .e was 5resse5 in his 9s9al st>le( an5 with an
e?pression on his =ace that I have notice5 when he has been looking ver> earnestl> at
an>thing. .e stoo5 there( an5 I hel5 9p the can5le an5 ga]e5 at him =or : or 3 secon5s in
9tter ama]ement@ an5 then( as I passe5 9p the staircase( he 5isappeare5. *he impression
le=t on m> min5 was so vivi5 that I =9ll> inten5e5 waking a =rien5 who occ9pie5 the same
room as m>sel=@ b9t remembering I sho9l5 onl> be la9ghe5 at as romantic an5
imaginative( re=raine5 =rom 5oing so.
i-l???iii!
BI was not =rightene5 at the appearance o= Mr. &o5=re>( b9t =elt m9ch e?cite5 an5 co9l5
not sleep a=terwar5s.C
In conversation with Mrs. AA P%ov. UU( 2778Q( Mr. 1o5more learnt that she is a goo5
sleeper( an5 not given to waking at nights. /he 5oes not remember ever be=ore having
e?perience5 an>thing like the =eeling which she ha5 on =irst waking 9p. /he was at the
bottom o= the stairs when she saw Mr. &o5=re>4s =ig9re( which appeare5 on the lan5ing(
abo9t 22 steps 9p. It was E9ite 5istinct an5 li=e-like at =irst(Atho9gh she 5oes not
remember noticing more than the 9pper part o= the bo5>@ as she looke5( it grew more an5
more sha5ow>( an5 =inall> =a5e5 awa>. It m9st be a55e5 that she has seen in her li=e two
other phantasmal appearances( which represente5 a parent whom she ha5 recentl> lost.
"9t a co9ple o= e?periences o= this sort( coming at a time o= emotional strain( cannot be
regar5e5 as a sign o= an> abnormal liabilit> to s9bDective hall9cinations Psee p. V2;Q@ an5
even i= she was 5estine5 an>how to e?perience one other( the chances against its
representing one partic9lar member o= her acE9aintance( at the ver> time when he
happene5 =or the =irst time in his li=e to be making the e==ort above 5escribe5( wo9l5 be at
least man> h9n5re5s o= tho9san5s to 2.
,e reE9este5 Mr. &o5=re> to make another trial( witho9t o= co9rse giving Mrs. AA an>
reason to e?pect that he wo9l5 5o so. .e ma5e a trial at once( thinking that we wante5 the
res9lt imme5iatel>( tho9gh he himsel= tho9ght the time 9ns9itable@ an5 this was a =ail9re.
"9t on $ec. 7( 2778( he wrote as =ollows:A
BM> =rien5 Mrs. AA has D9st been in( an5 given me an acco9nt o= what she e?perience5
last night@ she is gone home to write it o9t =or >o9( an5 it will be enclose5 with mine. I
can state that I have not attempte5 one e?periment since I last comm9nicate5 with >o9@
there=ore there are no =ail9res to recor5. I was at Mrs. AA4s ho9se last evening( an5 she
testi=ies this morning that she ha5 not the =aintest s9spicion that I inten5e5 attempting
another e?periment. *he first wor5s she 9se5 on seeing me this morning were
Pla9ghingl>Q u,ell( I saw >o9 last night( an>wa>.4
B)ll the interest( as on the =ormer occasion( o= co9rse lies with the percipient. I ma>
simpl> e?plain that I acte5 as on the =ormer occasionAvi].( concentrate5 m> attention on
the percipient( while I was 9n5ressing@ then 5evote5 some 2; min9tes( when in be5( to
intense e==ort to transport m>sel= to her presence( an5 make m> presence =elt both b>
voice an5 touch,Avi].( placing m> han5 9pon the percipient4s hea5. *hen I =ell asleep(
slept well( an5 was conscio9s o= nothing s9==icientl> vivi5 to a-a1e me.
B$irectl> I awoke at m> 9s9al time( abo9t 8.3; a.m.( I g9esse5 that I ha5 s9ccee5e5(
beca9se I instantl> remembere5 that I ha5 5reamt Pas last timeQ o= meeting the la5> ne?t
5a>( an5 asking her the same E9estionAvi].( whether she ha5 seen me( an5 the answer
was( u#es( I saw >o9 in5istinctl>.4 *his re=le? action is ver> important( an5 I wo9l5
9n5ertake to tell( on an> occasion( whether I ha5 =aile5 or s9ccee5e5. *he wor5s o= repl>
PaboveQ were written 5own b> me on paper
2
be=ore hearing the percipient4s acco9nt.
i-l???iv!
B*his case is( I think( ver> instr9ctive( beca9se o= the sound o= voice( as well as o= sight.F
Mr. &o5=re> a55s that Mrs. AA( tho9gh she appeare5 in goo5 spirits( ha5 been
B=rightene5 an5 a little 9nnerve5C@ an5 that he sho9l5 not =eel D9sti=ie5 in repeating the
e?periment.
*he percipient4s acco9nt( written on $ec. 7( 2778( is as =ollows:A
BLast night( *9es5a>( $ec. Wth( I went 9pstairs at hal=-past 2;. I remember 5istinctl>
locking the be5-room 5oor( which this morning( to m> astonishment( was 9nlocke5. I was
soon asleep( an5 ha5 a strange 5ream o= taking =lowers to a grave. /955enl> I hear5 a
voice sa> u,ake(4 an5 =elt a han5 rest on the le=t si5e o= m> hea5. PI was l>ing on the right
si5e.Q I was wi5e awake in a secon5( an5 hear5 a c9rio9s so9n5 in the room( something
like a Few4s harp. I =elt a col5 breath streaming over me( an5 violent palpitation o= the
heart came on@ an5 I also 5istinctl> saw a =ig9re leaning over me. *he onl> light in the
room was =rom the lamp o9tsi5e( which makes a long line on the wall over the wash-
stan5. *his line was partl> obsc9re5 b> the =ig9re. I t9rne5 ro9n5 at once( an5 the han5
seeme5 to slip =rom m> hea5 to the pillow besi5e me. *he =ig9re was stooping over me(
an5 I =elt it leaning 9p against the si5e o= the be5. I saw the arm resting on the pillow the
whole time it remaine5. I saw an o9tline o= the =ace( b9t it seeme5 as i= a mist were
be=ore it. I think the time when it came m9st have been abo9t hal=-past 2U. It ha5 5rawn
the c9rtain o= the be5 slightl> back( b9t this morning I notice5 it was hanging straight as
9s9al. *he =ig9re was 9n5o9bte5l> that o= Mr. &o5=re>. I knew it b> the appearance o= the
sho9l5ers an5 the shape o= the =ace. *he whole time it remaine5( there was a 5ra9ght o=
col5 air streaming thro9gh the room( as i= both 5oor an5 win5ow were open. I hear5 the
5ining-room clock strike hal=-past something@ an5 as I co9l5 not sleep again( b9t hear5
the clock strike ho9rs an5 hal=-ho9rs consec9tivel> 9p to V o4clock( I think I am right in
sa>ing the time was hal=-past 2U.C
I have 5rawn attention Ppp. 28VT8( an5 Vol. II.( p. 2W;Q to the =act that the =irst-han5
evi5ence =or telepathic e?periences incl95es no reports o= ph>sical changes pro59ce5 in
the material worl5Awhich( i= the> occ9rre5( wo9l5 be impossible to acco9nt =or b> the
h>pothesis o= a temporar> ps>chical trans=erence =rom one min5 to another. ) percipient
ma> have the hall9cination o= seeing the 5oor opening Pp. 2;U( noteQ@ b9t the 5oor not
having reall> been move5( it o= co9rse is not a=terwar5s =o9n5 open. /o( in the above
acco9nt( the c9rtain( which seeme5 to the percipient to be shi=te5 at the time o= her
e?perience( was =o9n5 in its place in the morning. On the other han5( the 5oor( which she
sa>s that she ha5 locke5( was =o9n5 9nlocke5. On being E9estione5 as to this( she replies
that the 5oor is habit9all> locke5 at night( an5 that she 5oes not walk in her sleep@ b9t she
thinks it probable that( a=ter locking the 5oor( she le=t the room to get some matches( an5
that she omitte5 to lock it again on her ret9rn. I= an>one( a=ter this( sho9l5 be incline5 to
connect the 9nlocking with the apparition( I wo9l5 s9ggest to him that a BghostC which
has shown its capacit> to walk thro9gh a close5 hall-5oor wo9l5( on =in5ing a be5-room
5oor locke5 on the inside, be more likel> to walk thro9gh it than to 9nlock it.
i-2!
+!P#&R (.
PR&'(M("!R- R&M!R,$: *R%."/$ %F +!.#(%".
S 2. ,.)*EVE' the a5vances o= science ma> 5o =or the 9niverse( there is one thing that
the> have never >et 5one an5 show no prospect o= 5oingAnamel>( to make it less
marvello9s. +ace to =ace with the =acts o= %at9re( the won5erment o= the mo5ern chemist(
ph>sicist( ]oologist( is =ar wi5er an5 5eeper than that o= the savage or the chil5@ =ar wi5er
an5 5eeper even than that o= the earl> workers in the scienti=ic =iel5. *r9e it is that science
e.plains@ i= it 5i5 not it wo9l5 he worthless. "9t scienti=ic e?planation means onl> the
re=erence o= more an5 more =acts to imm9table laws@ an5( as 5iscover> a5vances in ever>
5epartment( the or5erl> marvel o= the comprehensive laws merel> takes the place o= the
5isor5erl> marvel o= arbitrar> occ9rrences. *he m>ster> is p9she5 back( so to speak( =rom
=acts in isolation to =acts in the aggregate@ b9t at ever> stage o= the process the m>ster>
itsel= gathers new =orce an5 impressiveness.
,hat( then( is the speci=ic relation o= the man o= science to the phenomena which he
observesr .is e?planation o= them 5oes not lea5 him to marvel at them less than the
9ne59cate5 person: what 5oes it lea5 him to 5o =or them that the 9ne59cate5 person
cannot 5or B*o predict them with certaint>(C it will no 5o9bt be replie5@ Bwhich =9rther
implies( in cases where the con5itions are within his control( to pro59ce them at will.C
"9t it is important to observe that this power o= pre5iction( tho9gh constantl> proclaime5
as the a9thoritative test o= scienti=ic achievement( is ver> =ar in5ee5 =rom being an
acc9rate one. +or it is a test which is onl> =9l=ille5 with an>thing like completeness b> a
small gro9p o= sciencesAthose which 5eal with inorganic nat9re. *he ph>sicist can
proclaim with con=i5ence that gravitation( an5 heat( an5 electricit> Pas long as the> act at
allQ will contin9e to act as the> 5o now@ ever> 5iscover> that the chemist makes abo9t a
s9bstance is a i-U! prophec> as to the behavio9r o= that class o= s9bstance =or ever. "9t
as soon as vital organisms appear on the scene( there is a change. %ot onl> 5o the
comple?ities o= str9ct9re an5 process( an5 the m9t9al reactions o= the parts an5 the
whole( e?cl95e all e?act E9antitative =orm9lO@ not onl> is there an irre59cible element o=
9ncertaint> in the behavio9r =rom moment to moment o= the simplest living 9nit@ b9t
there appear also 5evelopments( an5 varieties an5 Bsports(C which present themselves to
9s as arbitrar>Awhich have D9st to be registere5( an5 cannot be e?plaine5. %ot( o= co9rse(
that the> are reall> arbitrar>@ no scienti=icall> traine5 min5 entertains the least 5o9bt that
the> are in ever> case the inevitable res9lts o= prior con5itions. "9t the knowle5ge o= the
e?pert has not appro?imatel> penetrate5 to the secret o= those con5itions@ here( there=ore(
his power o= pre5iction largel> =ails him.
*his applies to a great e?tent even to events o= a 9ni=orm an5 =amiliar or5er. "iological
science ma> pre5ict that an animal will be o= the same species as its parents@ b9t cannot
pre5ict its se?. It ma> pre5ict the general characteristics o= the ne?t generation o= men@
b9t not the special attrib9tes o= a single in5ivi59al. "9t its power o= =orecast is limite5 in
a =ar more striking wa>Ab> the perpet9al mo5i=ication o= the ver> material with which it
has to 5eal. It is able to pre5ict that( given s9ch an5 s9ch variations( nat9ral selection will
=oster an5 increase them@ that given s9ch an5 s9ch organic taints( here5it> will transmit
them: b9t it is powerless to sa> what the ne?t spontaneo9s variation( or the ne?t
5evelopment o= here5it> will be. It is at work( not on stea5=ast s9bstances with imm9table
E9alities( like those o= the inorganic worl5@ b9t on s9bstances whose ver> nat9re is to
change. *he evol9tion o= animal e?istence( =rom protoplasm 9pwar5s( involves ever =resh
elaborations in the composition o= the vital tiss9es. /cience traces the iss9e o= these
changes( an5 learns even to some e?tent to =oresee an5 so to g9i5e their co9rse@ it can
th9s la> 5own laws o= scienti=ic bree5ing( laws o= me5icine an5 h>giene. "9t the
9nconE9erable spontaneit> o= the organic worl5 is =or ever setting previo9s
generalisations at 5e=iance@ in great things an5 small( =rom the pro59ction o= a new t>pe
o= national ph>siE9e to the pro59ction o= a new variet> o= t9lip( it is ever presenting =resh
5evelopments( whose necessit> no one co9l5 5ivine( an5 o= which no one co9l5 sa> a9ght
9ntil the> were act9all> there. )n5 so( tho9gh science =ollows closel> a=ter( an5 keeps 9p
the game with spirit( its i-:! position in its ,on5erlan5 is alwa>s rather like that o= )lice
in hers( when the croE9et-hoops consiste5 o= sol5iers who move5 as o=ten as the> chose.
*he game is one on which it will never be sa=e to bet =or ver> =ar ahea5@ an5 it is one
which will certainl> never en5.
)n5 i= this is tr9e o= li=e in its ph,sical mani=estations( it is certainl> not less tr9e o= its
(ental mani=estations. It is to the latter( in5ee5( that we nat9rall> t9rn =or the highest
e?amples o= mobilit>( an5 the most marke5 e?hibitions o= the 9ne?pecte5. )n )thenian o=
/olon4s time( spec9lating on Bthe coming race(C might well have pre5icte5 =or his
co9ntr>men the ph>sical prowess that won Marathon( b9t not the pec9liar intellect9al
vitalit> that c9lminate5 in the theatre o= $ion>s9s. )t the present moment( it is sa=er to
prophes> that the ne?t generation in &erman> will incl95e a goo5 man> h9n5re5s o=
tho9san5s o= short-sighte5 persons than that it will incl95e a "eethoven. %or will it
s9rprise 9s to =in5 the BsportsC an5 9ncertainties o= vital 5evelopment most conspic9o9s
on the ps>chical si5e( i= we remember the nat9re o= their ph>sical basis. +or mental =acts
are in5issol9bl> linke5 with the ver> class o= material =acts that science can least
penetrateAwith the most comple? sort o= changes occ9rring in the most s9btl>-woven
sort o= matterAthe molec9lar activities o= brain-tiss9e.
S U. *here e?ists( then( a large 5epartment o= nat9ral events where the test o= pre5iction
can be applie5 onl> in a restricte5 wa>. ,hether the events be near or 5istantAwhether
the E9estion be o= intellect9al 5evelopments a tho9san5 >ears hence( or o= the movements
o= an amoeba or the s9ccess o= a Btho9ght-trans=erenceC e?periment in the ne?t =ive
min9tesAthere is here no voice that can speak with absol9te a9thorit>. *he e?pert gets
his cosmic prophecies accepte5 b> pointing to the perpet9al =9l=ilment o= his minor
pre5ictions in the laborator>@ or he re=9tes a5verse theories b> showing that the> con=lict
with =acts that he can at an> moment ren5er patent. "9t as to the implications an5
possibilities o= lifeAthe constit9tion an5 =ac9lties o= (anAhe will 5o well to pre5ict an5
re=9te with ca9tion@ =or here he ma> =ail even to g9ess the relation o= what will be to what
is. I= his =9nction as a prophet is not wholl> abrogate5( he is a prophet ever liable to
correction. .e is oblige5 to 5eal largel> in likelihoo5s an5 ten5encies@ an5 Pi= I ma>
vent9re on a prophec> which is perhaps as =allible as the restQ the interest in the laws that
he is able to la> i-3! 5own will never s9perse5e the interest in the e?ceptions to those
laws. In5ee5 it is in emphasising e?ceptions that his own rGle will largel> consist. )n5
above all m9st he beware o= setting 9p an> arbitrar> Bscienti=ic =rontierC between the part
o= %at9re that he knows an5 the part that he 5oes not know. .e can trace the great =loo5
o= evol9tion to the point at which he stan5s@ b9t a little be>on5 him it loses itsel= in the
5arkness@ an5 tho9gh he ma> realise its general =orce an5 5irection( an5 ro9ghl> s9rmise
the mo5e in which its be5 will be shape5( he can b9t 5iml> pict9re the scenes thro9gh
which it will =low.
"9t i= the science o= li=e cannot be =inal( there is no reason wh> it sho9l5 not be acc9rate
an5 coherent. )n5 i= the scope o= 5e=inite scienti=ic comprehension is here speciall>
restricte5( an5 the 9ne?pecte5 is speciall> certain to occ9r( that is no reason =or abating
one Dot o= care in the act9al work that it remains possible to 5oAthe work o= si=ting an5
marshalling evi5ence( o= estimating so9rces o= error( an5 o= strictl> a5D9sting theories to
=acts. On the contrar>( the necessit> =or s9ch care is onl> increase5. I= inca9tion ma> be
sometimes shown in too peremptoril> sh9tting the 5oor on allege5 phenomena which are
not in clear contin9it> with establishe5 knowle5ge( it is =ar more o=ten an5 =lagrantl>
shown in the claim =or their a5mission. )n5 it is 9n5eniable that the con5itions which
have been brie=l> 5escribe5 e?pose spec9lation on the possible 5evelopments o= vital
phenomena to pec9liar 5angers an5 5i==ic9lties. In proportion as the e?pert mo5erates his
tone( an5 makes his =orecasts in a tentative an5 h>pothetical manner( it is certain that
those who are not e?perts will wa? bol5 in assertion an5 theor>. *he part o= the map that
science leaves blank( as terra incognita, is the ver> one which amate9r geographers will
=ill in accor5ing to their =anc>( or on the reports o= 9ncritical an5 9ntr9stworth> e?plorers.
*he con=i5ence o= ignorance is alwa>s prett> acc9ratel> a5D9ste5 to the con=i5ence o=
knowle5ge. ,herever the e?pert can p9t his =oot 5own( an5 assert or 5en> with
ass9rance( the 9ninstr9cte5 instinctivel> bow to him. .e =earlessl> asserts( =or instance(
that the law o= the conservation o= energ> cannot be broken@ the worl5 believes him( an5
the inventors o= perpet9al-motion-machines gra59all> 5ie o==. "9t s9ppose the E9estion is
o= possible relations o= h9man beings to inanimate things or to one another( new mo5es
o= in=l9ence( new =orms o= sensitiveness. .ere responsible science can give no con=i5ent
5enial@ here( there=ore( irresponsible spec9lation =in5s its chance.
i-V!
It has( no 5o9bt( mo5i=ie5 its lang9age 9n5er the in=l9ence o= hal= a cent9r> o= brilliant
ph>sical 5iscover>. It takes care to shelter its h>potheses 9n5er the name o= law: the
loosest o= philosophers now-a-5a>s wo9l5 hesitate to appeal( as the el5er .9mbol5t
appeale5 si?t> >ears ago( to a Bsense o= >earning in the h9man so9l(C as a proo= that the
co9rse o= nat9re ma> s9==er e?ceptions.
2
"9t the change is o=ten rather in name than in
=act@ the Bnat9ralC len5s itsel= to =ree g9essing E9ite as easil> as the Bs9pernat9ralC@ an5
nowhere in %at9re is this =ree5om so 9nchartere5 as in the 5omain o= ps>chic li=e.
/pec9lation here is not onl> eas>@ it is( 9n=ort9natel>( also attractive. *he more obsc9re
phenomena an5 the more 5o9bt=9l ass9mptions are D9st those on which the pop9lar min5
most rea5il> =astens@ an5 the pop9lar tong9e reDoices in terms o= the biggest an5 vag9est
connotation. /omething also m9st be set 5own to a nat9ral reaction. Even persons whose
interest has been earnest an5 intelligent have =o9n5 scienti=ic (oral har5 to preserve( in
5epartments s9rren5ere5 b> a long-stan5ing convention to 9nscienti=ic treatment. *h9s( in
their practice( the> have come to acE9iesce in that s9rren5er( an5 have 5ispense5 with
habits o= ca9tion =or which no one was likel> to give them cre5it@ while in their polemic
the> have as m9ch resente5 the stringent 5eman5s =or evi5ence( in which their opponents
have been right( as the re=9sal to look at it when it is there( in which their opponents have
been wrong.
S :. *he above =acts( an5 the pec9liar obligations which the> involve( sho9l5 never be
lost sight o= b> the serio9s st95ent o= Bps>chicalC
U
phenomena. .is path is one that
eminentl> craves war> walking. On the one han5( he =in5s new 5im vistas o= st95>
opening o9t( in an age whose i5eal o= scienti=ic st95ies is =orme5 =rom the most highl>
5evelope5 specimens o= them@ an5 the twilight which has in ever> class o= knowle5ge
prece5e5 the ill9minating 5awn o= law is ma5e 5o9bl> 5ark an5 59bio9s =or him b> the
a5vance5 5a>light o= scienti=ic conceptions =rom which he peers into it. .e =in5s(
moreover( that the i-8! marvello9s recent e?tension o= the area o= the known thro9gh
a55itions to its recognise5 5epartments an5 m9ltiplication o= their connections( has
inevitabl> an5 reasonabl> pro59ce5 a certain rigi5it> o= scienti=ic attit95eAan increase5
5i==ic9lt> in breaking loose =rom association( an5 a5mitting a new 5epartment on its own
in5epen5ent evi5ence. )n5 on the other han5( he =in5s himsel= more or less in contact
with a5vocates o= new 5epartments who ignore the weight o= the pres9mption against
themAwho =ail to see that it is =rom the recognise5 5epartments that the stan5ar5 o=
evi5ence m9st be 5rawn( an5 that i= spec9lation is to make goo5 its right to o9tr9n
science( it will certainl> not be b> impatience o= scienti=ic canons. On this si5e the
position o= the ps>chical st95ent is one in which the st95ent o= the recognise5 sciences is
never place5. *he ph>sicist never =in5s his observations con=ronte5 or con=o9n5e5 with
those o= persons who claim =amiliarit> with his s9bDect while ignoring his metho5s: he
never sees his statements an5 his theories classe5 or compare5 with theirs. .e is marke5
o9t =rom his neighbo9rs b> the ver> =act o= 5ealing with s9bDect-matter which the> 5o not
know how even to begin to talk abo9t. *he Bps>chicistC is not so marke5 o9t. 9is s9bDect-
matter is in large meas9re common propert>( o= which the whole worl5 can talk as glibl>
as he@ an5 the gro9n5 which m9st be broken =or science( i= at all( b> the application o=
precise treatment( has alrea5> been ma5e trite in connection with E9ite other treatment.
S 3. *he moral is one which the a9thors o= the present 9n5ertaking have ever> reason to
la> to heart. +or the en5eavo9r o= this book( almost thro9gho9t( is to 5eal with themes
that are in a sense =amiliar( b> the ai5( partl>( o= improve5 evi5ential metho5s( b9t partl>
also o= conceptions which have as >et no place in the recognise5 ps>cholog>. %ot(
in5ee5( that the rea5er is abo9t to be treate5 to an> large amo9nt o= spec9lation@ =acts will
be ver> m9ch more prominent than theories. /till( the =acts to be a559ce5 carr> 9s at least
one step be>on5 the accepte5 bo9n5aries. ,hat the> prove Pi= we interpret them rightl>Q
is the abilit, of one (ind to i(press or to be i(pressed b, another (ind other-ise than
through the recognised channels of sense. ,e call the owner o= the impressing min5 the
agent, an5 the owner o= the impresse5 min5 the percipient@ an5 we 5escribe the =act o=
impression shortl> b> the term telepath,. ,e began b> restricting that term to cases where
the 5istance thro9gh which the trans=erence i-W! o= impressions took place =ar e?cee5e5
the scope o= the recognise5 senses@ b9t it ma> be =airl> e?ten5e5 to all cases o=
impressions conve>e5 witho9t an> a==ection o= the percipient4s recognise5 senses(
whatever ma> be his act9al 5istance =rom the agent. I o= co9rse 5o not mean b> this
merel> that the channel o= comm9nication is 9nrecognise5 b> the person impresse5Aas
in the 5rawing-room pastime where hi55en pins are =o9n5 thro9gh in5ications which the
=in5er receives an5 acts on witho9t an> conscio9sness o= g9i5ance. "> the wor5s
Botherwise than thro9gh the recognise5 channels o= sense(C I mean that the ca9se or
con5ition o= the trans=erre5 impression is speci=icall> 9nknown. It ma> sometimes be
necessar> or convenient to conceive it as some special s9pernormal or s9persens9o9s
2

facult,/ an5 in that case we are 9n5o9bte5l> ass9ming a =ac9lt> which is newAor at an>
rate is new to science. "9t we can at least claim that we take this step 9n5er comp9lsion@
not in the light-hearte5 =ashion which =ormerl> improvise5 occ9lt =orces an5 =l9i5s to
acco9nt =or the vagaries o= h>steria@ or which in o9r own 5a> has 5iscovere5 the 5awn o=
a new sense( or the relic o= some primeval instinct( in the or5inar> e?hibitions o= the
Bwilling-game.C O9r in=erence o= an 9nrecognise5 mo5e o= a==ection has nothing in
common with s9ch in=erences as these@ =or it has been ma5e onl> a=ter recognise5 mo5es
have been care=9ll> e?cl95e5.
S V. It is not( however( with the 9ltimate con5itions o= the phenomena that the st95> o=
them can begin: o9r =irst b9siness is with the realit>( rather than with the rationale( o=
their occ9rrence. *elepath> as a s>stem o= =acts is what we have to e?amine. $isc9ssion
o= the nat9re o= the novel =ac9lt> in itsel=( an5 apart =rom partic9lar res9lts( will be as =ar
as possible avoi5e5. *hat( i= it e?ists( it has important relations to vario9s ver>
=9n5amental problemsAmetaph>sical( ps>chological( possibl> even ph>sicalAcan
scarcel> be 5o9bte5. /o =ar =rom the scienti=ic st95> o= man being a region whose
bo9n5aries are prett> well mappe5 o9t( an5 which onl> reE9ires to be =ille5 in with
=9rther 5etail b> ph>siologists an5 ps>chologists( we ma> come to perceive that we are
stan5ing onl> on the threshol5 o= a vast terra incognita, which m9st be h9mbl> e?plore5
be=ore we can even g9ess at its tr9e e?tent( or appreciate its relation to the more =amiliar
i-7! realms o= knowle5ge. "9t s9ch 5istant visions ha5 better not be lingere5 over.
"e=ore the philosophical aspects o= the s9bDect can be pro=itabl> 5isc9sse5( its position as
a real 5epartment o= knowle5ge m9st be ampl> vin5icate5. *his can onl> be 5one b> a
wi5e s9rve> o= evi5ence@ the character o= the present treatise will there=ore be mainl>
evi5ential.
In 5emonstrating the realit> o= impressions comm9nicate5 otherwise than thro9gh the
known sensor> channels( we rel> on two 5istinct branches o= evi5ence( each o= which
5eman5s a special sort o= ca9tion. *he larger portion o= this work will 5eal with cases o=
spontaneous occ9rrence. .ere the evi5ence will consist o= recor5s o= e?periences which
we have receive5 =rom a variet> o= so9rcesA=or the most part =rom living persons more
or less known to 9s. %arratives o= the same kin5 have =rom time to time appeare5 in other
collections. *hese( however( have not been treate5 with an> re=erence to a theor> o=
telepath> s9ch as is here set =orth@ nor have their e5itors =9l=ille5 con5itions which( =or
reasons to be s9bseE9entl> e?plaine5 P-hap. IV.Q( we have =elt bo9n5 to observe@ an5 we
have =o9n5 them o= almost no assistance. In scarcel> a single instance has a case been
bro9ght 9p to the stan5ar5 which reall> comman5s attention.
2
*he prime essentials o=
testimon> in s9ch mattersAa9thorities( names( 5ates( corroboration( the ipsissi(a verba
o= the witnessesAhave one or all been lacking@ an5 there seems to have been no
appreciation o= the strength o= the 3 priori obDections which the evi5ence has to
overmaster( nor o= the possible so9rces o= error in the evi5ence itsel=. It is in anal>sing
an5 estimating these so9rces o= error( an5 in =i?ing the evi5ential stan5ar5 which ma>
=airl> be applie5( that the most 5i==ic9lt part o= the present task will be seen to consist.
"9t tho9gh the recor5s here presente5 will be more n9mero9s( an5 on the whole better
atteste5( than those o= previo9s collections( the maDorit> o= them will be o= a tolerabl>
well-known t>pe. *he pec9liarit> o= the present treatment will come o9t rather in the
connection o= this branch o= o9r evi5ence with the other branch. +or o9r conviction that
the s9ppose5 =ac9lt> o= s9persens9o9s impression is a gen9ine one is greatl> =orti=ie5 b>
a bo5> o= evi5ence o= an e.peri(ental i-X! kin5Awhere the con5itions co9l5 be
arrange5 in s9ch a wa> as to e?cl95e the chances o= error that beset the spontaneo9s
cases. In consi5ering this e?perimental branch o= o9r s9bDect( I shall o= co9rse( a=ter what
has been sai5( be speciall> bo9n5 to make clear the 5istinction between what we hol5 to
be gen9ine cases an5 the sp9rio9s Btho9ght-rea5ingC e?hibitions which are so m9ch
better known. *his will be eas> eno9gh( an5 will be 5one in the ne?t chapter.
i-2;!
+!P#&R ((.
#& &0P&R(M&"#!' 1!$($: #%.*#-#R!"$F&R&"+&.
S 2. I* is 5i==ic9lt to get a E9ite satis=actor> name =or the e?perimental branch o= o9r
s9bDect. B*ho9ght-rea5ingC was the name that we =irst a5opte5@ b9t this ha5 several
inconveniences. O55l> eno9gh( the term has got i5enti=ie5 with what is not thought-
rea5ing at all( b9t (uscle-rea5ingAo= which more anon. "9t a more serio9s obDection to
it is that it s9ggests a power to read an>thing that ma> be going on in the min5 o= another
personAto probe characters an5 5iscover secretsAwhich raises a nee5less preD95ice
against the whole s9bDect. *he i5ea o= s9ch a power has( in =act( been converte5 into an
ad absurdu( arg9ment against the e?istence o= the =ac9lt> =or which we conten5. *o
s9ppose that people4s min5s can be th9s open to one another( it was D9stl> eno9gh sai5(
wo9l5 be to contra5ict the ass9mption on which all h9man interco9rse has been carrie5
on. O9r answer( o= co9rse( is that we have never s9ppose5 people4s min5s to be th9s open
to one another@ that s9ch a s9pposition wo9l5 be as remote as possible =rom the =acts on
which we rel>@ an5 that the most accomplishe5 Btho9ght-rea5er4sC power is never likel>
to be a matter o= social inconvenience. *he mo5e o= e?perimentation ma> reass9re those
who look on the gen9ine =ac9lt> as 5angero9s or 9ncann>@ =or the res9lts( as a r9le( have
to be trie5 =or b> a 5istinct( an5 o=ten a ver> irksome( process o= concentration on the part
o= the person whose Btho9ghtC is to be Brea5C )n5 this being so( it is clearl> important to
avoi5 s9ch an e?pression as Btho9ght-rea5ing(C which conve>s no hint that his tho9ght is
an>thing else than an open page( or that his mental attit95e has an>thing to 5o with the
phenomenon.
*he e?periments involve( in =act( the will o= t-o persons@ an5 o= the two min5s( it is
rather the one which rea5s that is passive an5 the one which is read that is active. It is =or
the sake o= recognising this that we 5isting9ish the two parties as BagentC an5 i-22!
Bpercipient(C an5 that we have s9bstit9te5 =or tho9ght-rea5ing the term thought6
transference. Thought m9st here be taken as incl95ing more than it 5oes in or5inar>
9sage@ it m9st incl95e sensations an5 volitions as well as mere representations or i5eas.
*his being 9n5erstoo5( the name serves its p9rpose =airl> well( as long as we are on
e?perimental gro9n5. It will not be =orgotten( however( that o9r aim is to connect an
e?perimental with a spontaneo9s class o= cases@ an5 accor5ing to that view it will o=ten
be convenient to 5escribe the =ormer no less than the latter as telepathic. ,e th9s get
what we nee5( a single generic term which embraces the whole range o= phenomena an5
brings o9t their contin9it>Athe simpler e?perimental =orms being the =irst step in a
gra59ate5 series.
SU. *he histor> o= e?perimental tho9ght-trans=erence has been a sing9lar one. It was not
b> 5irect trial( nor in what we sho9l5 now acco9nt their normal =orm( that the phenomena
=irst attracte5 the attention o= competent witnesses. *heir appearance was connecte5 with
the 5iscover> that the so(na(bulic state co9l5 be arti=iciall> in59ce5. It was a=ter the
intro59ction o= BmesmerismC or BmagnetismC into +rance( an5 in the co9rse o= the
investigation o= that wi5er s9bDect( that this special =eat9re 9ne?pecte5l> presente5 itsel=.
*he observations remaine5( it is tr9e( e?tremel> =ew an5 scattere5. *he greater part o=
them were ma5e in this co9ntr>( 59ring the secon5 E9arter o= the present cent9r>@ an5
took the =orm o= co((unit, of sensation between the operator an5 the patient. *he
trans=erence o= impressions here 5epen5e5 on a speci=ic rapport previo9sl> in59ce5 b>
mesmeric or h>pnotic operationsApasses( =i?ation( an5 the like. *o 9s( now( this
mesmeric rapport Pin some( at an> rate( o= its mani=estationsQ seems nothing more than
the =ac9lt> o= tho9ght-trans=erence confined to a single agent an5 percipient( an5
intensified in 5egree b> the ver> con5itions which limit its scope. "9t the co9rse o=
5iscover> inverte5 the logical or5er o= the phenomena. *he recognition o= the partic9lar
case( where the e?ercise o= the =ac9lt> was narrowe5 5own to a single channel( prece5e5
b> a long interval the recognition o= the more general phenomena( as e?hibite5 b>
persons in a normal state. *he trans=erence o= impressions was nat9rall> regar5e5 as
belonging essentiall> to mesmerism. )s s9ch( it was onl> one more won5er in a veritable
won5erlan5@ an5 while obtaining on that acco9nt the rea5ier acceptance among those who
witnesse5 it( it to i-2U! some e?tent sh9t o9t the i5ea o= the possibilit> o= similar
mani=estations where no speci=ic rapport ha5 been arti=iciall> establishe5.
"9t there was a =9rther res9lt. *he earl> connection o= tho9ght-trans=erence with
mesmerism 5istinctl> 5amage5 its chance o= scienti=ic recognition. *hose who believe5
in cognate marvels might easil> believe in this marvel: b9t ca9tio9s min5s reDecte5 the
whole posse o= marvels together. )n5 one can har5l> won5er at this( when one
remembers the wil5 an5 ignorant manner in which the claims o= Mesmer an5 his
=ollowers were thr9st 9pon the worl5. ) man who pro=esse5 to have magnetise5 the s9n
co9l5 har5l> e?pect a serio9s hearing@ an5 even the operators who eschewe5 s9ch
e?travagant pretensions still too o=ten a5vocate5 their ca9se in a lang9age that co9l5 onl>
cover it with contempt. *heories o= Bo5>licC =orce( an5 o= impon5erable =l9i5s perva5ing
the bo5>Aas 5ogmaticall> set =orth as i= the> ranke5 in certaint> with the 5octrine o= the
circ9lation o= the bloo5Awere not likel> to attract scienti=ic inE9ir> to the =acts. )n5 in
the later 5evelopments o= h>pnotismAin which man> o= the ol5 BmesmericC phenomena
have been re-st95ie5 =rom a tr9er point o= view( an5 rapport o= a certain sort between the
h>pnotist an5 the Bs9bDectC has been a5mitte5Athere has been so m9ch to absorb
observation in the e?traor5inar> range o= mental an5 ph>sical e==ects which the operator
can comman5 b> verbal or visible suggestion, that the =ar rarer telepathic phenomena
have( so to speak( been crow5e5 o9t.
2
*he conseE9ence is that a=ter nearl> a cent9r> o=
controvers>( the most interesting =acts o= mesmeric histor> are E9ite as little recognise5 as
the less specialise5 kin5s o= tho9ght-trans=erence( which have onl> within the last =ew
>ears been serio9sl> looke5 =or or 5e=initel> obtaine5.
/ome o= the ol5er cases re=erre5 to will be =o9n5 E9ote5 in e.tenso in the =irst chapter o=
the /9pplement. *ho9gh recor5e5 =or the most part in a =ragmentar> an5 9nsatis=actor>
wa>( it will be seen that the> 5o not lack goo5( or even high( scienti=ic a9thorit>. *he
testimon> o= Mr. Es5aile( =or man> >ears 1resi5enc> /9rgeon in -alc9tta( cannot be
5espise5 b> an> instr9cte5 i-2:! ph>siologist in o9r 5a>@ inasm9ch as his work is now
recognise5 as one o= the most important contrib9tions ever ma5e to the rapi5l>-growing
science o= h>pnotism. %o one has 5enie5 the abilit> an5 integrit> o= $r. Elliotson( nor Pin
spite o= his spec9lative e?travagancesQ o= 'eichenbachAwho both witnesse5 instances o=
h>pnotic telepath>. )n5 tho9gh 1ro=essor &regor>( $r. Ma>o( the 'ev. -. .. *ownsen5(
an5 others( ma> not have been men o= ac9te scienti=ic intelligence( the> were probabl>
competent to con59ct( an5 to recor5 with acc9rac>( e?periments the con5itions o= which
involve5 no more than common care an5 honest>. ,e cannot b9t acco9nt it strange that
s9ch items o= testimon> as these men s9pplie5 sho9l5 have been neglecte5( even b> those
who were most repelle5 b> the ignorance an5 =anaticism which in=ecte5 a large amo9nt
o= the mesmeric literat9re. "9t since s9ch was the =act( the observations will har5l> now
make their weight =elt( e?cept in connection with the =9ller testimon> o= a more recent
5ate. It is characteristic o= ever> s9bDect which 5epen5s on E9estions o= =act( an5 which
has >et =aile5 to win a sec9re place in intelligent opinion( that an> =9rther a5vance m9st
=or the most part 5epen5 on conte(porar, evi5ence. I ma>( there=ore( pass at once to the
wholl> new 5epart9re in tho9ght-trans=erence which the last =ew >ears have witnesse5.
S :. *he novelt> o= this 5epart9reAas has been alrea5> intimate5Aconsists in the =act
that s9ccess=9l res9lts have been obtaine5 when the percipient was apparentl> in a
per=ectl> normal state( an5 ha5 been s9bDecte5 to no mesmerising or h>pnotising process.
*he 5awn o= the 5iscover> m9st be re=erre5 to the >ears 27WV an5 27W8. It was in the
a9t9mn o= the latter >ear that o9r colleag9e( 1ro=essor ,. +. "arrett( bro9ght 9n5er the
notice o= the "ritish )ssociation( at &lasgow( a ca9tio9s statement o= some remarkable
=acts which he ha5 enco9ntere5( an5 a s9ggestion o= the e?pe5ienc> o= ascertaining how
=ar recognise5 ph>siological laws wo9l5 acco9nt =or them. *he =acts themselves were
connecte5 with mesmerism@
2
b9t the 5isc9ssion in the 1ress to which the paper gave rise
le5 to a consi5erable correspon5ence( in which 1ro=essor "arrett =o9n5 his =irst hints o= a
=ac9lt> o= tho9ght-trans=erence e?isting in5epen5entl> o= the speci=ic mesmeric rapport.
*hat these hints happene5 to be =orthcoming( D9st at the right moment( was a piece o=
great goo5 =ort9ne( an5 was 59e i-23! primaril> to a circ9mstance E9ite 9nconnecte5
with science( an5 =rom which serio9s res9lts wo9l5 scarcel> have been anticipate5Athe
invention o= the Bwilling-game.C In some =orm or other this pastime is probabl> =amiliar
to most o= m> rea5ers( either thro9gh personal trials or thro9gh the e?hibitions o=
plat=orm per=ormers. *he or5inar> process is this. ) member o= the part>( who is to act as
Btho9ght-rea5er(C or percipient( leaves the room@ the rest 5etermine on some simple
action which he( or she( is to per=orm( or hi5e some obDect which he is to =in5. *he
wo9l5-be percipient is then recalle5( an5 his han5 is taken or his sho9l5ers are lightl>
to9che5 b> one or more o= the willers. Un5er these con5itions the action is o=ten E9ickl>
per=orme5 or the obDect =o9n5. %othing co9l5 at =irst sight look less like a promising
starting-point =or a new branch o= inE9ir>. *he BwillerC 9s9all> asserts( with per=ect goo5
=aith( an5 o=ten perhaps E9ite correctl>( that he 5i5 not push/ b9t so little is it necessar>
=or the g9i5ing impression to be a p9sh that it ma> be the ver> reverseAa slight release
o= tension when the Bwille5C per=ormer( a=ter vario9s min9te in5ications o= a ten5enc> to
move in this( that( or the other wrong 5irection( at last hits on the right one. Even when
the 9tmost care is 9se5 to maintain the light contact with absol9te ne9tralit>( it is
impossible to la> 5own the limits o= an> given s9bDect4s sensibilit> to s9ch slight tactile
an5 m9sc9lar hints. *he e?periments o= $rs. -arpenter an5 "ear5( an5 especiall> those o=
a member o= o9r own /ociet>( the 'ev. E. .. /9g5en( o= "ra5=or5(
2
an5 other
9np9blishe5 ones on which we can rel>( have shown 9s that the 5i==erence between one
person an5 another in this respect is ver> great( an5 that with some organisations a
variation o= press9re so slight that the s9ppose5 BwillerC ma> be E9ite 9naware o=
e?ercising it( b9t which he applies accor5ing as the movements o= the other person are on
the right track or not( ma> a==or5 a kin5 o= ,es or no in5ication E9ite s9==icient =or a cl9e.
*his( in5ee5( is the one 5irect piece o= instr9ction which the game has s9pplie5. ,e might
perhaps have been to some e?tent prepare5 =or the res9lt b> observing the in=initesimal
to9ches to which a horse will respon5( or the e?tremel> slight in5ications on which we
o9rselves o=ten act in or5inar> li=e. "9t till this game was pla>e5( probabl> no one =9ll>
realise5 that m9sc9lar hints( so slight as to be E9ite 9nconscio9sl> given( co9l5 be eE9all>
9nconscio9sl> i-2V! taken@ an5 that th9s a 5e=inite co9rse o= action might be pro59ce5
witho9t the =aintest i5ea o= g9i5ance on either si5e. In some cases it appeare5 that even
contact co9l5 be 5ispense5 with( an5 the g9i5ance was pres9mabl> o= an a95itor> kin5A
the Bs9bDectC e?tracting =rom the mere =ootsteps o= the BwillerC( who was =ollowing him
abo9t( hints o= satis=action or 5issatis=action at the co9rse he was taking.
2
"9t tho9gh this
remarkable s9sceptibilit> to a partic9lar or5er o= impressions was an interesting
5iscover>( the res9lts which co9l5 be th9s e?plaine5 clearl> involve5 nothing new in
kin5. *hat recognise5 =ac9lties ma> e?hibit 9ns9specte5 5egrees o= re=inement is a
common eno9gh conception. *he more important point was that there were certain res9lts
which( apparentl>( co9l5 not be th9s e?plaine5( at an> rate( in an> o==-han5 wa>.
Occasionall> the actions reE9ire5 o= the Bwille5C per=ormer were o= so complicate5 a
sort( an5 so rapi5l> carrie5 o9t( as to cast consi5erable 5o9bt on the a5eE9ac> o= an>
m9sc9lar hints to evoke an5 g9i5e them. .ere( then( was the =irst in5ication o= something
newAo= a hitherto 9nrecognise5 =ac9lt>@ an5 b> goo5 =ort9ne( as I have sai5( 1ro=essor
"arrett4s appeal =or =9rther evi5ence as to trans=erre5 impressions came D9st at the time
when the game ha5 obtaine5 a certain amo9nt o= pop9larit>( an5 when its more 5elicate
an5 9nacco9ntable phenomena ha5 attracte5 attention.
Meanwhile similar observations were being ma5e in )merica. )merica( in5ee5( was the
original home o= the BwillingC entertainment@ an5 it is to an )merican( $r. Mc&raw( that
the cre5it belongs o= having been the =irst Pas =ar as I am awareQ to 5etect in it the
possible germ o= something new to science. In the Detroit =evie- of 'edicine =or
)9g9st( 27WV( $r. Mc&raw gave a clear acco9nt o= the or5inar> ph>siological process
ABthe perception b> a traine5 operator o= invol9ntar> an5 9nconscio9s m9sc9lar
movementsC@ an5 then procee5e5 as =ollows:A
BIt seeme5 to me that there were =eat9res in these e?hibitions which co9l5 not be
satis=actoril> e?plaine5 on the h>pothesis o= invol9ntar> m9sc9lar action( =or w we are
reE9ire5 to believe a man co9l5 9nwillingl>( an5 in spite o= himsel=( give in=ormation b>
9nconscio9s an5 invol9ntar> signs that he co9l5 not give 9n5er the same circ9mstances
b> vol9ntar> an5 conscio9s action w It seems to me there is a hint towar5s the possibilit>
o= the nervo9s s>stem o= one in5ivi59al being 9se5 b> the active will o= another to
accomplish certain simple motions.C
i-28!
"9t tho9gh there might be eno9gh in the phenomena to D9sti=> ca9tio9s s9ggestions o=
this sort( the gro9n5 is at best ver> 9ncertain. Even where some nicet> o= selection is
involve5( as( =or instance( when a partic9lar note is to be str9ck on the piano( or a
partic9lar book to be taken o9t o= a shel=( still( 9nless the s9bDect4s han5 moves with
e?treme rapi5it>( it will be per=ectl> possible =or an invol9ntar> an5 9nconscio9s
in5ication to be given b> the BwillerC at the instant that the right note or book is reache5.
In reports o= s9ch cases it is sometimes state5 that there was no tentative process( an5 that
the Bs9bDect4sC han5 seeme5 to obe> the other person4s will with almost the same
5irectness as that person4s own han5 wo9l5 have 5one. "9t this is a E9estion o= 5egree as
to which the con=i5ence o= an e>e-witness cannot easil> be imparte5 to others. It ma> be
worth while( however( to give an instance o= a less common t>pe b> which the theor> o=
m9sc9lar g9i5ance 5oes 9n5o9bte5l> seem to be somewhat straine5.
*he case was observe5 b> Mr. M>ers on October :2st( 27WW. *he per=ormers were two
sisters.
BI wrote the letters o= the alphabet on scraps o= paper. I then tho9ght o= the wor5 -L)')
an5 showe5 it to M. behin5 '.4s back( '. sitting at the table. M. p9t her han5s on '.4s
sho9l5ers( an5 '. with sh9t e>es picke5 o9t the letters - L ) ' VAtaking the V
apparentl> =or a secon5 )( which was not in the packAan5 lai5 them in a heap. /he 5i5
not know( she sai5( what letters she ha5 selecte5. %o imp9lse ha5 conscio9sl> passe5
thro9gh her min5( onl> she ha5 =elt her han5s impelle5 to pick 9p certain bits o= paper.
B*his was a goo5 case as apparentl, e?cl95ing pushing. *he scraps were in a con=9se5
heap in =ront o= '.( who kept still =9rther con=9sing them( picking them 9p an5 letting
them 5rop with great rapi5it>. M.4s han5s remaine5 apparentl> motionless on '.4s
sho9l5ers( an5 one can har5l> conceive that in5ications co9l5 be given b> pressure, =rom
the rapi5 an5 snatching manner in which '. collecte5 the right letters( to9ching several
letters in the co9rse o= a secon5. M.( however( tol5 me that it was alwa>s necessar> that
she( M.( sho9l5 see the letters which '. was to pick 9p.C
/9ch a case ma> not s9ggest tho9ght-trans=erence( b9t it at an> rate tempts one to look
5eeper than cr95e sensor> signs =or the springs o= action( an5 to conceive the governance
o= one organism b> another thro9gh some sort o= nervo9s in59ction. It at an> rate 5i==ers
greatl> in its con5itions =rom the =amo9s bank-note trick( where a n9mber is written on a
boar5( so slowl>( an5 in =ig9res o= so large a si]e( that at ever> point the BwillerC ma>
mark his i-2W! opinion o= the 5irection the lines are taking b> invol9ntar> m9sc9lar
hints.
It wo9l5 be 9seless to acc9m9late =9rther instances. *he best o= them co9l5 never be
wholl> concl9sive( an5 mere m9ltiplication a55s nothing to their weight. "> some o=
them( as I have sai5( the theor> o= m9sc9lar g9i5ance is 9n5o9bte5l> straine5. "9t then
the theor> o= m9sc9lar g9i5ance ought to be straine5( an5 straine5 to the ver> 9tmost(
be=ore being 5eclare5 ina5eE9ate@ an5 it wo9l5 alwa>s be a matter o= opinion whether the
point o= B9tmostC strain ha5 been overpasse5. $r. Mc&raw an5 1ro=essor "arrett
s9rmise5 that it ha5@ $r. "ear5( o= %ew #ork( was con=i5ent that it ha5 not. *he
contention between Bmin5-rea5ingC an5 Bm9scle-rea5ingC co9l5 never reach a 5e=inite
iss9e on this gro9n5. "9t meanwhile the con=i5ent an5 e?cl9sive a5herents o= the
m9sc9lar h>pothesis ha5 a position o= 5eci5e5 a5vantage over the 5o9bters( =or the>
co9l5 =airl> eno9gh represent themselves as the champions o= science in its war with
pop9lar s9perstitions. *he pop9lar imagination (ore suo ha5 =astene5 on the phenomena
en bloc, an5 ha5 5eci5e5 that the> were what the> seeme5 to beABtho9ght-rea5ing.C *o
the average sightseer a m>sterio9s wor5 is =ar more congenial than a ph>siological
e?planation@ an5 it was( o= co9rse( the interest o= the pro=essional e?hibitor to a5opt an5
a5vertise a 5escription which seeme5 to invest him with novel an5 magical powers. ,hat
more nat9ral( there=ore( than that those who saw the abs9r5it> o= these pretensions sho9l5
regar5 =9rther inE9ir> or s9spension o= D95gment as a concession to ignorant cre59lit>r
BIrving "ishop(C it seeme5 =air to arg9e( Bis a pro=esse5 utho9ght-rea5er4@ Irving "ishop4s
tricks are( at best( mere =eats o= m9sc9lar an5 tactile sensibilit>@ ergo whoever believes
that there is s9ch a thing as utho9ght-rea5ing4 is on a par with the crow5 who are
m>sti=ie5 b> Irving "ishop.C
S 3. I=( then( the gro9n5 o= e?periment ha5 remaine5 9nchange5Ai= the ol5 Bwilling-
gameC ha5 merel> contin9e5 to appear in vario9s =ormsAno 5e=inite a5vance co9l5 have
been ma5e. "9t on the path o= the ol5 e?periments( a E9ite new phenomenon now
presente5 itsel=( which no one co9l5 have con=i5entl> anticipate5( b9t =or which the
s9ggestions 5rawn =rom the most a5vance5 phenomena o= the Bwilling-gameC ha5 to
some e?tent prepare5 the wa>. It was 5iscovere5 that not onl> trans=erences o= impression
co9l5 take place -ithout contact, b9t that there was no necessit> =or the res9lt aime5 i-
27! at to involve movements@ the =act o= the trans=erence might be shown( notAas in the
Bwilling-gameCAb> the s9bDect4s abilit> to do something( b9t b> his abilit> to 5iscern
an5 5escribe an obDect tho9ght o= b> the Bwiller.C "oth parties co9l5 th9s remain
per=ectl> still@ which was reall> a more important con5ition than even the absence o=
contact. In this =orm o= e?periment( m9scle-rea5ing an5 all the s9btler =orms o=
9nconscio9s g9i5ance are completel> e?cl95e5@ an5 the 5angers which remain are s9ch as
can( with s9==icient care( be clearl> 5e=ine5 an5 sa=el> g9ar5e5 against. In5ications o= a
vis9al kin5A=or instance( b> the invol9ntar> 5irection o= glancesAhave no scope i= the
obDect which the percipient is to name is not present or visible in the room. *here is( o=
co9rse( an obvio9s 5anger in low whispering( or even so9n5less movements o= the lips@
while the =aintest accent o= approval or 5isapproval in E9estion or comment ma> give a
hint as to whether the e==ort is ten5ing in the right 5irection( an5 th9s g9i5e to the mark
b> s9ccessive appro?imations. )n> e?hibition o= the kin5 be=ore a promisc9o9s compan>
is nearl> s9re to be vitiate5 b> the latter so9rce o= error. "9t when the e?periments are
carrie5 on in a limite5 circle o= persons known to each other( an5 amenable to scienti=ic
control( it is not har5 =or those engage5 to set a watch on their own an5 on each other4s
lips@ an5 E9estions an5 comments can be entirel> =orbi55en.
I have been speaking o= the 5anger o= involuntar, g9i5ance. *here is( o= co9rse( another
5anger to be consi5ere5Athat o= voluntar, g9i5anceAo= act9al collusion between the
agent an5 percipient. -ontact being e?cl95e5( s9ch g9i5ance wo9l5 have to be b> signals@
an5 it is impossible to la> 5own an> precise limit to the 5egree o= per=ection that a plan o=
signalling ma> reach. *he long an5 short signs o= the Morse co5e a5mit o= man> varieties
o= application@ an5 tho9gh the channels o= sight an5 to9ch ma> be c9t o==( it is 5i==ic9lt
entirel> to c9t o== that o= hearing. /h9==lings o= the =eet( co9ghs( irreg9larities o=
breathing( all o==er available material. "9t tho9gh the precise line o= possibilities in this
5irection cannot be 5rawn( we are at an> rate able to s9ggest cases where the line wo9l5
be clearl> overpasse5. +or instance( i= the i5ea to be trans=erre5 =rom the agent to the
percipient is ine?pressible in less than twent> wor5s@ an5 i= hearing is the onl> sensor>
channel le=t open@ an5 i= it is care=9ll> observe5 that there are no co9ghs or sh9==lings(
an5 that the agent4s breathing appears reg9lar( then one seems D9sti=ie5 in sa>ing that the
necessar> in=ormation co9l5 not be conve>e5 b> a co5e i-2X! witho9t a ver>
consi5erable e?pen5it9re o= time( an5 a ver> abnormall> ac9te sense o= hearing on the
percipient4s part. *here is no relation whatever between a private e?periment per=orme5
9n5er s9ch con5itions as these( an5 the =eats o= a conD9rer( like Mr. Maskel>ne( who
comman5s secret apparat9s( an5 whose ever> wor5 an5 gest9re ma> be observe5 an5
interprete5 b> a conceale5 con=e5erate.
It wo9l5 be rash( however( to represent as cr9cial an> apparent trans=erences o= tho9ght
between persons not absol9tel> separate5( where the goo5 =aith o= at least one o= the two
is not accepte5 as be>on5 E9estion( an5 where the gen9ineness o= the res9lt is le=t to
5epen5 on the per=ection with which thir5 parties have arrange5 con5itions an5 g9ar5e5
against signs. *he con5itions o= a cr9cial res9lt( =or one4s own min5( are either P2Q that the
agent or the percipient shall be onesel=@ or PUQ that the agent or percipient shall be
someone whose e?perience( as recor5e5 b> himsel=( is in5isting9ishable in certaint> =rom
one4s own@ or P:Q that there shall be several agents or percipients( in the case o= each o=
whom the improbabilit> o= 5eceit( or o= s9ch imbecilit> as wo9l5 take the place o= 5eceit(
is so great that the combination o= improbabilities amo9nts to a moral impossibilit>. *he
thir5 mo5e o= attaining conviction is the most practicall> important. +or it is not to be
e?pecte5 o= most people that( within a short time( the> will either themselves be( or have
intimate =rien5s who are( s9ccess=9l agents or percipients@ an5 the> are D9sti=ie5(
there=ore( in 5eman5ing that the evi5ence to which the> might =airl> re=9se cre5ence i= it
5epen5e5 on the veracit> an5 intelligence o= one or two persons( o= however 9nblemishe5
a rep9tation( shall be m9ltiplie5 =or their bene=it. ,hatever be the e?perimenter4s
ass9rance as to the per=ection o= his con5itions( it is in the nat9re o= things impossible
that strangers( who onl> rea5 an5 have not seen( sho9l5 be in=ecte5 b> it. *he> cannot be
absol9tel> certain that this( that( or the other stick might not break@ then eno9gh sticks
m9st be collecte5 an5 tie5 together to make a =aggot o= a strength which shall 5e=>
s9spicion.
2
)s regar5s the e?periments i-U;! o= which I am abo9t to present a sketch( it
is not necessar> to m> arg9ment that an> in5ivi59al4s honest> shall be completel>
ass9me5( in the sense o= being 9se5 as a certain basis =or concl9sions. *he proo= m9st
5epen5 on the nu(ber o= persons( rep9te5 honest an5 intelligent( to whom 5ishonest> or
imbecilit> m9st be attrib9te5 i= the concl9sions are wrong( i.e., it m9st be a c9m9lative
proo=. %ot that m> colleag9es an5 I have an> 5o9bt as to the bona fides o= ever> case
here recor5e5. "9t even where o9r gro9n5s o= certaint> are most obvio9s( the> cannot be
ma5e entirel> obvio9s to those to whom we an5 o9r more intimate associates are
personall> 9nknown@ while o9tsi5e this inner circle o9r con=i5ence 5epen5s on points that
can scarcel> even be s9ggeste5 to othersAon views o= character gra59all> b9ilt 9p o9t o=
a n9mber o= small an5 o=ten in5e=inable items o= conversation an5 5emeano9r. ,e ma>
vent9re to sa> that a can5i5 critic( present 59ring the whole co9rse o= the e?periments(
wo9l5 have carrie5 awa> a =ar more vivi5 impression o= their gen9ineness than an>
printe5 recor5 can conve>. "9t it m9st be 5istinctl> 9n5erstoo5 that we 5iscriminate o9r
cases@ an5 that even where the res9lts are to o9r own min5s cr9cialAin that the> can onl>
be imp9gne5 b> imp9gning the honest> or sanit> o= members o= o9r own investigating
-ommitteeAwe 5o not 5eman5 their acceptance on this gro9n5 alone( or attempt
acc9ratel> to 5e=ine the n9mber o= rep9tations which sho9l5 be stake5 be=ore a =air min5
ought to a5mit the proo= as overwhelming. )s observations are acc9m9late5( 5i==erent
B=air min5sC will give in at 5i==erent points@ an5 9ntil the most e?acting are satis=ie5( o9r
task will be incomplete.
S V. I mentione5 above the correspon5ence which =ollowe5 1ro=essor "arrett4s appeal =or
evi5ence. In this correspon5ence( among man> instances o= the higher aspects o= the
Bwilling-game(C there was a small resi59e which pointe5 to a gen9ine trans=erence o=
impression witho9t contact or movement. O= this resi59e the most important item was
that s9pplie5 b> o9r =rien5( the 'ev. ). M. -reer>( then i-U2! resi5ent at "9?ton( an5
now working in the 5iocese o= Manchester. .e ha5 his attention calle5 to the s9bDect in
October( 277;@ an5 was earl> str9ck b> the impossibilit> o= 5eci5ing( in cases where
contact was emplo>e5( how =ar the powers o= 9nconscio9s m9sc9lar g9i5ance might
e?ten5. .e( there=ore( instit9te5 e?periments with his 5a9ghters an5 with a >o9ng mai5-
servant( in which contact was altogether eschewe5. .e th9s 5escribes the earl> trials:A
BEach went o9t o= the room in t9rn( while I an5 the others =i?e5 on some obDect which the
absent one was to name on ret9rning to the room. )=ter a =ew trials the s9ccesses
prepon5erate5 so m9ch over the =ail9res that we were all convince5 there was something
ver> won5er=9l coming 9n5er o9r notice. %ight a=ter night( =or several months( we spent
an ho9r or two each evening in var>ing the con5itions o= the e?periments( an5 choosing
new s9bDects =or tho9ght-trans=erence. ,e began b> selecting the simplest obDects in the
room@ then chose names o= towns( names o= people( 5ates( car5s o9t o= a pack( lines =rom
5i==erent poems( Cc., in =act an> things or series o= i5eas that those present co9l5 keep
stea5il> be=ore their min5s@ an5 when the chil5ren were in goo5 h9mo9r( an5 e?cite5 b>
the won5er=9l nat9re o= their s9ccess=9l g9essing( the> ver> sel5om ma5e a mistake. I
have seen seventeen car5s( chosen b> m>sel=( name5 right in s9ccession( witho9t an>
mistake. ,e soon =o9n5 that a great 5eal 5epen5e5 on the stea5iness with which the i5eas
were kept be=ore the min5s o= uthe thinkers(4 an5 9pon the energ> with which the> wille5
the i5eas to pass. O9r worst e?periments be=ore strangers have invariabl> been when the
compan> was 59ll an5 9n5emonstrative@ an5 we are all convince5 that when mistakes are
ma5e( the =a9lt rests( =or the most part( with the thinkers( rather than with the tho9ght-
rea5ers.C
In the co9rse o= the >ears 2772 an5 277U( a large n9mber o= e?periments were ma5e with
the -reer> =amil>( =irst b> 1ro=essor "arrett( then b> Mr. an5 Mrs. /i5gwick( b> 1ro=essor
"al=o9r /tewart( +.'./.( an5 1ro=essor )l=re5 .opkinson( o= Owens -ollege( Manchester(
an5( a=ter the =ormation o= the /ociet> =or 1s>chical 'esearch( b> the *ho9ght-
trans=erence -ommittee o= that bo5>( o= which Mr. M>ers an5 m>sel= were members. *he
chil5ren in t9rn acte5 as Bpercipients(C the other persons present being Bagents(C i.e.,
concentrating their min5s on the i5ea o= some selecte5 wor5 or thing( with the intention
that this i5ea sho9l5 be trans=erre5 to the percipient4s min5. *he thing selecte5 was either
a car5( taken at ran5om =rom a =9ll pack@ or a name chosen also at ran5om@ or a n9mber(
9s9all> o= two =ig9res@ or occasionall> some 5omestic implement or other obDect in the
ho9se. *he percipient was( o= co9rse( absent when the selection was ma5e( an5 when
recalle5 ha5 no means o= 5iscovering thro9gh the e?ercise o= the senses what it was(
9nless b> signals( conscio9sl> or 9nconscio9sl> i-UU! given b> one or other o= the
agents. /trict silence was maintaine5 thro9gho9t each e?periment( an5 when the gro9p o=
agents incl95e5 an> members o= the -reer> =amil>( the closest watch was kept in or5er to
5etect an> passage o= signals@ b9t in h9n5re5s o= trials nothing was observe5 which
s9ggeste5 an> attempt o= the sort. /till( s9ch simple obDects wo9l5 not 5eman5 an
elaborate co5e =or their 5escription@ nor were an> e==ective means taken to block the
percipient4s channels o= senseAit being tho9ght e?pe5ient in these earl> trials not to
5ist9rb their min5s b> obtr9sive preca9tions. ,e co9l5 not( there=ore( regar5 the
testimon> o= the investigators present as a55ing m9ch weight to the e?periments in which
an> members o= the =amil> were among the gro9p o= agents( 9nless the percipient was
completel> isolate5 =rom that gro9p. /9ch a case was the =ollowing:A
BEaster( 2772. 1resent: Mr. an5 Mrs. -reer> an5 =amil>( an5 ,. +. "arrett( the narrator.
One o= the chil5ren was sent into an a5Doining room( the 5oor o= which I saw was close5.
On ret9rning to the sitting-room an5 closing its 5oor also( I tho9ght o= some obDect in the
ho9se( =i?e5 9pon at ran5om@ writing the name 5own( I showe5 it to the =amil> present(
the strictest silence being preserve5 thro9gho9t. ,e then all silentl> tho9ght o= the name
o= the thing selecte5. In a =ew secon5s the 5oor o= the a5Doining room was hear5 to open(
an5 a=ter a ver> short interval the chil5 wo9l5 enter the sitting-room( generall> with the
obDect selecte5. %o one was allowe5 to leave the sitting-room a=ter the obDect ha5 been
=i?e5 9pon@ no comm9nication with the chil5 was conceivable( as her place was o=ten
change5. +9rther( the onl> instr9ctions given to the chil5 were to =etch some obDect in the
ho9se that I wo9l5 =i? 9pon( an5( together with the =amil>( silentl> keep in min5( to the
e?cl9sion( as =ar as possible( o= all other i5eas. In this wa> I wrote 5own( among other
things( a hair6brush/ it was bro9ght: an orange/ it was bro9ght: a -ine glass/ it was
bro9ght: an apple/ it was bro9ght: a toasting6for1/ =aile5 on the =irst attempt( a pair o=
tongs being bro9ght( b9t on a secon5 trial it was bro9ght. ,ith another chil5 Pamong
other trials not here mentione5Q a cup was written 5own b> me@ it was bro9ght: a saucer/
this was a =ail9re( a plate being bro9ght@ no secon5 trial allowe5. *he chil5 being tol5 it
was a sa9cer( replie5( u*hat came into m> hea5( b9t I hesitate5 as I tho9ght it 9nlikel>
>o9 wo9l5 name sa9cer a=ter c9p( as being too eas>.4C
"9t( o= co9rse( the most satis=actor> con5ition was that onl> the members o= the
investigating -ommittee sho9l5 act as agents( so that signals co9l5 not possibl> be given
9nless b> one o= the(. *his con5ition clearl> makes it i5le to represent the means b>
which the trans=erences took place as simpl> a trick which the members o= the
investigating -ommittee failed to detect. *he trick( i= trick there i-U:! was( m9st have
been one in which the>( or one o= them( activel, shared/ the onl> alternative to coll9sion
on their part being some piece o= carelessness amo9nting almost to i5ioc>As9ch as
9ttering the reE9ire5 wor5 alo95( or leaving the selecte5 car5 e?pose5 on the table. *he
=ollowing series o= e?periments was ma5e on )pril 2:th( 277U. *he agents were Mr.
M>ers an5 the present writer( an5 two la5ies o= their acE9aintance( the Misses Mason( o=
Morton .all( 'et=or5( who ha5 become intereste5 in the s9bDect b> the remarkable
s9ccesses which one o= them ha5 obtaine5 in e?perimenting among =rien5s.
2
)s neither o=
these la5ies ha5 ever seen an> member o= the -reer> =amil> till D9st be=ore the
e?periments began( the> ha5 no opport9nities =or arranging a co5e o= signals with the
chil5ren@ so that an> h>pothesis o= collusion m9st in this case be con=ine5 to Mr. M>ers
or the present writer. )s regar5s the h>pothesis o= -ant of intelligence, the 5egree o=
intelligent behavio9r reE9ire5 o= each o= the =o9r agents was simpl> this: P2Q *o keep
silence on a partic9lar s9bDect@ an5 PUQ to avoi5 9nconscio9sl> 5ispla>ing a partic9lar car5
or piece o= paper to a person sit9ate5 at some >ar5s4 5istance. *he =irst con5ition was
realise5 b> keeping silence altogether@ the secon5 b> remaining E9ite still. *he =o9r
observers were per=ectl> satis=ie5 that the chil5ren ha5 no means at an> moment o=
seeing( either 5irectl> or b> re=lection( the selecte5 car5 or the name o= the selecte5
obDect. *he =ollowing is the list o= trials:A
ObDects to be name5. P*hese obDects ha5 been bro9ght( an5 still remaine5( in the pocket
o= one o= the visitors. *he name o= the obDect selecte5 =or trial was secretl> written 5own(
not spoken.Q
) "hite *en1nife.A-orrectl> name5( with the colo9r( the =irst trial.
Bo. of )l(onds.A-orrectl> name5.
Threepenn, piece.A+aile5.
Bo. of Chocolate.A"9tton-bo? sai5@ no secon5 trial given.
P) penkni=e was then hi55en@ b9t the place was not 5iscovere5.Q
%9mbers to be name5.
<ive.A'ightl> given on the =irst trial.
<ourteen.A+aile5.
Thirt,6three.EV3 P%oQ. :3 P%oQ. :: P'ightQ.
!i.t,6eight.EV7 P%oQ. VW P%oQ. W7 P%oQ.
+ictitio9s names to be g9esse5.
'artha Billings.AB"iggisC was sai5.
i-U3!
Catherine !(ith.AB-atherine /hawC was sai5.
9enr, 7o-per.A+aile5.
-ar5s to be name5.
T-o of clubs.A'ight =irst time.
Hueen of dia(onds.A'ight =irst time.
<our of spades.A+aile5.
<our of hearts.A'ight =irst time.
Iing of hearts.A'ight =irst time.
T-o of dia(onds.A'ight =irst time.
)ce of hearts.A'ight =irst time.
Nine of spades.A'ight =irst time.
<ive of dia(onds.A+o9r o= 5iamon5s P%oQ. +o9r o= hearts P%oQ.
+ive o= 5iamon5s P'ightQ.
T-o of spades.A'ight =irst time.
>ight of dia(onds.A)ce o= 5iamon5s sai5@ no secon5 trial given.
Three of hearts.A'ight =irst time.
<ive of clubs.A+aile5.
)ce of spades.A+aile5.
*he chances against accidental s9ccess in the case o= an> one car5 are( o= co9rse( V2 to 2@
>et o9t o= fourteen s9ccessive trials nine were s9ccess=9l at the =irst g9ess( an5 onl> three
trials can be sai5 to have been complete =ail9res. *he o55s against the occ9rrence o= the
=ive s9ccesses r9nning( in the car5 series( are consi5erabl> over 2(;;;(;;; to 2. On none
o= these occasions was it even remotel> possible =or the chil5 to obtain b> an> or5inar>
means a knowle5ge o= the obDect selecte5. O9r own =acial e?pression was the onl> in5e?
open to her@ an5 even i= we ha5 not p9rposel> looke5 as ne9tral as possible( it is 5i==ic9lt
to imagine how we co9l5 have 9nconscio9sl> carrie5( sa>( the two o= 5iamon5s written
on o9r =orehea5s.
$9ring the ens9ing >ear( the -ommittee( consisting o= 1ro=essor "arrett( Mr. M>ers( an5
the present writer( ma5e a n9mber o= e?periments 9n5er similar con5itions( which
e?cl95e5 contact an5 movement( an5 which con=ine5 the knowle5ge o= the selecte5
obDectAan5( there=ore( the chance o= coll9sion with the percipientAto their own gro9p.
In some o= these trials( con59cte5 at -ambri5ge( Mrs. +. ,. .. M>ers an5 Miss Mason
also took part. In a long series con59cte5 at $9blin( 1ro=essor "arrett was alone with the
percipient. )ltogether these scr9p9lo9sl> g9ar5e5 trials amo9nte5 to 3XW@ an5 o= this
n9mber XV were completel> s9ccess=9l at the =irst g9ess( an5 3V at the secon5. *he res9lts
ma> be clearer i= arrange5 in a tab9lar =orm.
i-UV!
*)"LE /.O,I%& *.E /U--E// O"*)I%E$ ,.E% *.E /ELE-*E$ O"FE-* ,)/ 0%O,%
*O O%E O' MO'E O+ *.E I%VE/*I&)*I%& -OMMI**EE O%L#.
Place o2
#rial.
%b3ect
+hosen.
"o. o2
#rials
.
Probabilit
4 o2
s5ccess b4
mere
chance at
each 6st
g5ess.
Most
probabl
e
n5mber
o2
s5ccesse
s at the
6st
g5ess i2
chance
alone
acted.
"5mber o2
s5ccesses
obtained
"5mber
o2
s5ccesses
reckonin
g both
6st and
7nd
g5esses.
Probabilit4 o2
attaining b4 mere
chance the amo5nt
o2 s5ccess which
the 2irst g5esses
gave.
!t
the
6st
g5ess
.
!t
the
7nd
g5ess
a2ter
the
6st
had
2ailed
.
< ) =9ll pack was 9se5( =rom which a car5 was in each case 5rawn at ran5om.
x *his n9mber is obtaine5 b> m9ltipl>ing each =ig9re o= the thir5 col9mn b> the
Place o2
#rial.
%b3ect
+hosen.
"o. o2
#rials
.
Probabilit
4 o2
s5ccess b4
mere
chance at
each 6st
g5ess.
Most
probabl
e
n5mber
o2
s5ccesse
s at the
6st
g5ess i2
chance
alone
acted.
"5mber o2
s5ccesses
obtained
"5mber
o2
s5ccesses
reckonin
g both
6st and
7nd
g5esses.
Probabilit4 o2
attaining b4 mere
chance the amo5nt
o2 s5ccess which
the 2irst g5esses
gave.
!t
the
6st
g5ess
.
!t
the
7nd
g5ess
a2ter
the
6st
had
2ailed
.
correspon5ing =ig9re in the =o9rth col9mn %e.g., U28 y 2/VUQ( an5 a55ing the pro59cts.
z *his entr> is calc9late5 =rom the =irst three totals in the last hori]ontal row( in the same
wa> that each other entr> in the last col9mn is calc9late5 =rom the =irst three totals in the
correspon5ing hori]ontal row.
"9?ton
1la>ing
-ar5s<
23 2 v VU ; X ; X {;;;(;;;(;;;(;;;(W
8
%9mber
s( [c.
2V 2 v X; ; 3 ; 3 {;;;(;U
-ambri5g
e
1la>ing
-ar5s<
U28 2 v VU 3 2W 27 :V {;;;(;;;(2
8
%9mber
s
83 2 v X; 2 V 8 22 {;;W
$9blin
1la>ing
-ar5s<
:; 2 v VU 2 : ; : {;U
8
%9mber
s( [c.
2;7 2 v 2U X :U 22 3: {;;;(;;;(;;;(U
8 ,or5s V; | 2: UV 2; :V {;;;(2
*otals 3XW UWx XV 3V 23;
{;;;(;;;(;;;(;;;(;
;;(
;;;(;;;(;;;(;2z
i-U8!
Mr. +. #. E5geworth( to whom these res9lts were s9bmitte5( an5 who calc9late5 the =inal
col9mn o= the *able( has kin5l> appen5e5 the =ollowing remarks:A
B*hese observations constit9te a chain or rather coil o= evi5ence( which at =irst sight an5
9pon a general view is seen to be ver> strong( b9t o= which the =9ll strength cannot be
appreciate5 9ntil the concatenation o= the parts is consi5ere5.
BViewe5 as a whole the *able presents the =ollowing 5ata. *here are in all 3XW trials. O9t
o= these there are XV s9ccesses at the =irst g9ess. *he n9mber o= s9ccesses most probable
on the h>pothesis o= mere chance is UW. *he problem is one o= the class which I have
5isc9sse5 in the *roceedings o= the /. 1. '.( Vol. III.( p. 2X;( [c. *he appro?imative
=orm9la there given is not well s9ite5 to the present case(
2
in which the n9mber o=
s9ccesses is ver> great( the probabilit> o= their being 59e to mere chance ver> small( in
relation to the total n9mber o= trials. It is better to procee5 5irectl> accor5ing to the
metho5 emplo>e5 in the paper re=erre5 to Pp. 2X7Q =or the appreciation o= M. 'ichet4s
res9lt E1F#EIO$ Ysee below( p. WVZ. "> this metho5(
U
with the ai5 o= appropriate tables(
:

I =in5 =or the probabilit> that the observe5 total o= s9ccesses have res9lte5 =rom some
other agenc> than p9re chance {XXX( XXX( XXX( XXX( XXX( XXX( XXX( XXX( X7
B/t9pen5o9s as is this probabilit> it =alls short o= that which the complete sol9tion o= o9r
problem >iel5s. +or( meas9ring an5 Doining all the links o= evi5ence accor5ing to the
metho5s 5escribe5 in the paper re=erre5 to( I obtain a row o= thirt,6four nines =ollowing a
5ecimal point. ) fortiori( i= we take acco9nt o= the secon5 g9esses.
B*hese =ig9res more impressivel> than an> wor5s proclaim the certaint> that the recor5e5
observations m9st have res9lte5 either =rom collusion on the part o= those concerne5 Pthe
h>pothesis o= ill9sion being e?cl95e5 b> the simplicit> o= the e?perimentsQ( or =rom
thought6transference o= the sort which the investigators vin5icate.C
) large n9mber o= trials were also ma5e in which the gro9p o= agents incl95e5 one or
more o= the -reer> =amil>@ an5 as bearing on the h>pothesis o= an ingenio9s =amil> trick(
it is worth noting thatAe?cept where Mr. -reer> himsel= was th9s incl95e5Athe
percentage o= s9ccesses was( as a r9le( not appreciabl> higher 9n5er these con5itions than
when the -ommittee alone were in the secret.
3
,hen i-UW! Mr. -reer> was among the
agents( the average o= s9ccess was =ar higher@
2
b9t his position in the a==air was precisel>
the same as o9r own@ an5 the most remarkable res9lts were obtaine5 while he was
himsel= still in a state o= 5o9bt as to the gen9ineness o= the phenomena which he was
investigating.
One =9rther evi5ential point sho9l5 be note5. /9pposing s9ch a thing as a gen9ine =ac9lt>
o= tho9ght-trans=erence to e?ist( an5 to be capable( =or e?ample( o= evoking in one min5
the i5ea o= a car5 on which other min5s are concentrate5( we might nat9rall> e?pect that
the car5-pict9res conve>e5 to the percipient wo9l5 present vario9s 5egrees o=
5istinctness( an5 that there wo9l5 be a consi5erable n9mber o= appro.i(ate g9esses( as
the> might be given b> a person who was allowe5 one =leeting glimpse at a car5 in an
imper=ect light. /9ch a person might o=ten =ail to name the car5 correctl>( b9t his =ail9res
wo9l5 be apt to be =ar more nearl> right than those o= another person who was simpl>
g9essing witho9t an> sort o= g9i5ance. *his e?pectation was ab9n5antl> con=irme5 in o9r
e?periments. *h9s( in a series o= :U trials( where onl> V =irst g9esses were completel>
right( the suit was 23 times r9nning name5 correctl> on the =irst trial( an5 reiterate5 on the
secon5. Inave was ver> =reE9entl> g9esse5 as Iing, an5 vice vers0, the s9it being given
correctl>.
i-U7!
*he n9mber o= pips name5 was in man> cases onl> one o== the right n9mber( this sort o=
=ail9re being speciall> =reE9ent when the n9mber was over si?. )gain( the correct answer
was o=ten given( as it were( piecemealAin two partiall> incorrect g9essesAthe pips or
pict9re being rightl> given at the =irst attempt( an5 the s9it at the secon5@ an5 in the same
wa> with n9mbers o= two =ig9res( one o= them wo9l5 appear in the =irst g9ess an5 the
other in the secon5.
2

"e=ore we leave these earl> e?periments( one interesting E9estion presents itsel=( which
has an important bearing on the wi5er s9bDect o= this book. In what =orm was the
impression =lashe5 on the percipient4s min5r ,hat were the respective parts in the
phenomena pla>e5 b> the mental e,e an5 the mental earJ *he points D9st notice5 in
connection with the partial g9essing o= car5s seem 5istinctl> in =avo9r o= the mental e>e.
) king loo1s like a knave( b9t the na(es have no similarit>. /o with n9mbers. :V is
g9esse5 piecemeal( the answers being 3V an5 3:@ so VW is attempte5 as 3W an5 3V. %ow
the similarit> in sound between three an5 thirt> in 3: an5 :V( or between =ive an5 =i=t> in
3V an5 VW( is not e?tremel> strong@ while the picture o= the : or the V is i5entical in either
pair. On the other han5( names o= appro?imate so9n5 were o=ten given instea5 o= the tr9e
ones@ as B-hesterC =or Leicester( B"iggisC =or i-UX! "illings( B+reemoreC =or +rogmore.
/nelgrove was repro59ce5 as B/ingroreC@ the last part o= the name was soon given as
B&rover(C an5 the attempt was then aban5one5Athe chil5 remarking a=terwar5s that she
tho9ght o= B/nailC as the =irst s>llable( b9t it ha5 seeme5 to her too ri5ic9lo9s. 1ro=essor
"arrett( moreover( s9ccess=9ll> obtaine5 a &erman wor5 o= which the percipient co9l5
have =orme5 no vis9al image.
2
*he chil5ren4s own acco9nt was 9s9all> to the e==ect that
the> Bseeme5 to seeC the thing@ b9t this( perhaps( 5oes not come to m9ch@ as a known
obDect( however s9ggeste5( is likel> to be instantl> vis9alise5. On the whole( then( the
concl9sion seems to be that( with these Bs9bDects(C both mo5es o= trans=erence were
possible@ an5 that the> prevaile5 in t9rn( accor5ing as this or that was better a5apte5 to
the partic9lar case.
S 8. I have 5welt at some length on o9r series o= trials with the members o= the -reer>
=amil>( as it is to those trials that we owe o9r own conviction o= the possibilit> o= gen9ine
tho9ght-trans=erence between persons in a normal state. I have s9==icientl> e?plaine5 that
we 5o not e?pect the res9lts to be as cr9cial =or persons who were not present( an5 to
whom we are o9rselves 9nknown( as the> were =or 9s@ an5 that it cannot be Bin the mo9th
o= two or three witnessesC onl> that s9ch a st9pen5o9s =act as the transmission o= i5eas
otherwise than thro9gh the recognise5 sensor> channels will be establishe5. *he
testimon> m9st be m9ltiplie5@ the responsibilit> m9st be sprea5@ an5 I shall imme5iatel>
procee5 to 5escribe =9rther res9lts obtaine5 with other agents an5 other percipients. "9t
=irst it ma> perhaps be aske5 o= 9s wh> we 5i5 not e.ploiter this remarkable =amil>
=9rther. It was certainl> o9r intention to 5o what we co9l5 in this 5irection( an5 b>
5egrees to proc9re =or o9r =rien5s an opport9nit> o= D95ging =or themselves. *his point(
however( was one which co9l5 onl> be ca9tio9sl> presse5. Mr. -reer> was certainl>
D9sti=ie5 in regar5ing his 5a9ghters as something more than mere s9bDects o= e?periments(
an5 in hesitating to make a show o= them to persons who might( or rather who reasonabl>
m9st( begin b> entertaining grave 5o9bts as to their goo5 =aith. It m9st be remembere5
that we were 5ealing( not with chemical s9bstances( b9t with >o9th=9l min5s( liable to be
re59ce5 to con=9sion b> an>thing in the 5emeano9r o= visitors which inspire5 5istaste or
alarm@ an5 even with the best intentions( Ba chil5l> wa> i-:;! with chil5renC is not eas>
to a5opt where the chil5ren concerne5 are obDects o= s9spicio9s c9riosit>. More especiall>
might these consi5erations have weight( when =ail9re was anticipate5 =or the =irst
attempts ma5e 9n5er new con5itions. )n5 this s9ggests another 5i==ic9lt>( which has
more than once rec9rre5 in the e?perimental branches o= o9r work. *he wo9l5-be
spectators themselves ma> be 9nable or 9nwilling to =9l=il the necessar> con5itions.
"e=ore intro59cing them( it is in5ispensable to obtain some g9arantee that the> on their
part will e?ercise patience( make repeate5 trials( an5 give the Bs9bDectsC a =air
opport9nit> o= getting 9se5 to their presence. }9estions o= moo5( o= goo5will( o=
=amiliarit>( ma> hol5 the same place in ps>chical investigation as E9estions o=
temperat9re in a ph>sical laborator>@ an5 till this is =9ll> realise5( it will not be eas> to
m9ltipl> testimon> to the e?tent that we sho9l5 5esire.
In the case o= the -reer> =amil>( however( we met with a 5i==ic9lt> o= another kin5. .a5
the =ac9lt> o= whose e?istence we ass9re5 o9rselves contin9e5 in =9ll =orce( it wo9l5
5o9btless have been possible in time to bring the phenomena 9n5er the notice o= a
s9==icient n9mber o= painstaking an5 impartial observers. "9t the =ac9lt> 5i5 not contin9e
in =9ll =orce@ on the contrar>( the average o= s9ccesses gra59all> 5ecline5( an5 the
chil5ren regret=9ll> acknowle5ge5 that their capacit> an5 con=i5ence were 5eserting
them. *he 5ecline was eE9all> observe5 even in the trials which the> hel5 amongst
themselves@ an5 it ha5 nothing whatever to 5o with an> increase5 stringenc> in the
preca9tions a5opte5. %o preca9tions( in5ee5( co9l5 be stricter than that con=inement to
o9r own investigating gro9p o= the knowle5ge o= the i5ea to be trans=erre5( which was(
=rom the ver> =irst( a con5ition o= the e?periments on which we absol9tel> relie5. *he =act
has D9st to be accepte5( as an ill9stration o= the =leeting character which seems to attach to
this an5 other =orms o= abnormal sensitiveness. It seems probable that the telepathic
=ac9lt>( i= I ma> so name it( is not an inborn( or li=elong possession@ or( at an> rate( that
ver> slight 5ist9rbances ma> s9==ice to paral>se it. *he -reer>s ha5 their most startling
s9ccesses at =irst( when the a==air was a s9rprise an5 an am9sement( or later( at short an5
seemingl> cas9al trials@ the 5ecline set in with their sense that the e?periments ha5
become matters o= weight> importance to 9s( an5 o= somewhat prolonge5 strain an5
te5io9sness to them. /o( on a minor scale( in trials among o9r own =rien5s( we have seen
a =ort9nate evening( when the spectators were intereste5 an5 the percipient i-:2! e?cite5
an5 con=i5ent( s9ccee5e5 b> a series o= =ail9res when the res9lts were more an?io9sl>
awaite5. It is almost inevitable that a percipient who has aro9se5 interest b> a marke5
s9ccess on several occasions( sho9l5 =eel in a wa> responsible =or =9rther res9lts@ an5 >et
an> real pre-occ9pation with s9ch an i5ea seems likel> to be =atal. *he con5itions are
clearl> 9nstable. "9t o= co9rse the =irst E9estion =or science is not whether the
phenomena can be pro59ce5 to or5er( b9t whether in a s9==icient n9mber o= series the
proportion o= s9ccess to =ail9re is marke5l> above the probable res9lt o= chance.
S W. "e=ore leaving this class o= e?periments( I ma> mention an interesting 5evelopment
which it has latel> receive5. In the =evue *hilosophi2ue =or $ecember( 2773( M. -h.
'ichet( the well-known savant an5 e5itor o= the =evue !cientifi2ue, p9blishe5 a paper(
entitle5 BLa /9ggestion Mentale et le -alc9l 5es 1robabilitHs(C in the =irst part o= which
an acco9nt is given o= some e?periments with car5s precisel> similar in plan to those
above 5escribe5. ) car5 being 5rawn at ran5om o9t o= a pack( the BagentC =i?e5 his
attention on it( an5 the BpercipientC en5eavo9re5 to name it. "9t M. 'ichet4s metho5
containe5 this important novelt>Athat tho9gh the s9ccess( as D95ge5 b> the res9lts o= an>
partic9lar series o= trials( seeme5 slight Pshowing that he was not e?perimenting with
what we sho9l5 consi5er Bgoo5 s9bDectsCQ( he ma5e the trials on a s9==icientl> e?ten5e5
scale to bring o9t the =act that the right g9esses were on the -hole, tho9gh not stri1ingl,,
above the n9mber that p9re acci5ent wo9l5 acco9nt =or( an5 that their total was
consi5erabl> above that n9mber.
*his observation involves a new an5 striking application o= the calc9l9s o= probabilities.
)5vantage is taken o= the =act that the larger the n9mber o= trials ma5e 9n5er con5itions
where s9ccess is p9rel> acci5ental( the more nearl> will the total n9mber o= s9ccesses
attaine5 con=orm to the =ig9re which the =orm9la o= probabilities gives. +or instance( i=
some one 5raws a car5 at ran5om o9t o= a =9ll pack( an5 be=ore it has been looke5 at b>
an>one present I make a g9ess at its s9it( m> chance o= being right is( o= co9rse( 2 in 3.
/imilarl>( i= the process is repeate5 VU times( the most probable n9mber o= s9ccesses(
accor5ing to the strict calc9l9s o= probabilities( is 2:@ in VU; trials the most probable
n9mber o= s9ccesses is 2:;. %ow( i= we consi5er onl> a short series o= VU g9esses( I ma>
be acci5entall> right man> more times than 2: or man> less times. "9t i= the series be i-
:U! prolonge5Ai= VU; g9esses be allowe5 instea5 o= VUAthe act9al n9mber o= s9ccesses
will var> =rom the probable n9mber within m9ch smaller limits@ an5 i= we s9ppose an
in5e=inite prolongation( the proportional 5ivergence between the act9al an5 the probable
n9mber will become in=initel> small. *his being so( it is clear that i=( in a ver> short series
o= trials( we =in5 a consi5erable 5i==erence between the act9al n9mber o= s9ccesses an5
the probable n9mber( there is no reason =or regar5ing this 5i==erence as an>thing b9t
p9rel> acci5ental@ b9t i= we =in5 a similar 5i==erence in a ver> long series( we are D9sti=ie5
in s9rmising that some con5ition be>on5 mere acci5ent has been at work. I= car5s be
5rawn in s9ccession =rom a pack( an5 I g9ess the s9it rightl> in : o9t o= 3 trials( I shall be
=oolish to be s9rprise5@ b9t i= I g9ess the s9it rightl> in :(;;; o9t o= 3(;;; trials( I shall be
eE9all> =oolish not to be s9rprise5.
%ow M. 'ichet contin9e5 his trials 9ntil he ha5 obtaine5 a consi5erable total@ an5 the
res9lts were s9ch as at an> rate to s9ggest that acci5ent ha5 not r9le5 9n5ist9rbe5Athat a
g9i5ing con5ition ha5 been intro59ce5( which a==ecte5 in the right 5irection a certain
small percentage o= the g9esses ma5e. *hat con5ition( i= it e?iste5( co9l5 be nothing else
than the =act that( prior to the g9ess being ma5e( a person in the neighbo9rhoo5 o= the
g9esser ha5 concentrate5 his attention on the car5 5rawn. .ence the res9lts( so =ar as the>
go( make =or the realit> o= the =ac9lt> o= Bmental s9ggestion.C *he =ac9lt>( i= present( was
clearl> onl> slightl> 5evelope5@ whence the necessit> o= e?perimenting on a ver> large
scale be=ore its gen9ine in=l9ence on the n9mbers co9l5 be even s9rmise5.
O9t o= U(XUW trials at g9essing the s9it o= a car5( 5rawn at ran5om( an5 stea5il> looke5 at
b> another person( the act9al n9mber o= s9ccesses was W7X@ the most probable n9mber(
ha5 p9re acci5ent r9le5( was W:U. *he total was ma5e 9p o= thirt>-nine series o= 5i==erent
lengths( in which eleven persons took part( M. 'ichet himsel= being in some cases the
g9esser( an5 in others the person who looke5 at the car5. .e observe5 that when a large
n9mber o= trials were ma5e at one sitting( the aptit95e o= both persons concerne5 seeme5
to be a==ecte5@ it became har5er =or the BagentC to vis9alise( an5 the proportion o=
s9ccesses on the g9esser4s part 5ecrease5. I= we agree to reDect =rom the above total all
the series in which over 2;; trials were consec9tivel> ma5e( the n9mbers become more
striking.
2
O9t o= i-::! 2(7:: trials( he then got V2; s9ccesses( the most probable n9mber
being onl> 3V7@ that is to sa>( the act9al n9mber e?cee5s the most probable n9mber b>
abo9t 2/2;.
-learl> no 5e=inite concl9sion co9l5 be base5 on s9ch =ig9res as the above. *he> at most
containe5 a hint =or more e?ten5e5 trials( b9t a hint( =ort9natel>( which can be easil>
=ollowe5 9p. ,e are o=ten aske5 b> acE9aintances what the> can 5o to ai5 the progress o=
ps>chical research. *hese e?periments s9ggest a most convenient answer@ =or the> can be
repeate5( an5 a val9able contrib9tion ma5e to the great aggregate( b> an> two persons
who have a pack o= car5s an5 a little perseverance.
2

Up to the time that I write( we have receive5( in all( the res9lts o= 2W batches o= trials in
the g9essing o= s9its. In 22 o= the batches one person acte5 as agent an5 another as
percipient thro9gho9t: the other 8 batches are the collective res9lts o= trials ma5e b> as
man> gro9ps o= =rien5s. *he total n9mber o= trials was 2W(8V:( an5 the total n9mber o=
s9ccesses was 3(W8;@ which e?cee5s b> :3W the n9mber which was the most probable i=
chance alone acte5. *he probabilit> a==or5e5 b> this res9lt =or the action o= a ca9se other
than chance is {XXX(XXX(X7Y~ZAor practical certaint>.
U
I nee5 har5l> sa> that there has
been here no selection o= res9lts@ all who 9n5ertook the trials were speciall> reE9este5 to
sen5 in their report( whatever the 5egree o= s9ccess or 9ns9ccess@ an5 we have no reason
to s9ppose that this 5irection has been ignore5. It is th9s an a55itional point o= interest
that in onl, one o= the batches 5i5 the res9lt =all belo- the n9mber which was the most
probable one =or mere chance to give. )n5 i= we take onl> those batches( 2; in n9mber( in
which a co9ple o= e?perimenters ma5e as man> as 2(;;; trials an5 over( the probabilit> o=
a ca9se other than chance which the gro9p o= res9lts >iel5s is estimate5 b> one metho5 to
be {XXX(XXX(XXX(X8( an5 b> another to be {XXX(XXX(XXX(XXX(U.
*o this recor5 m9st be a55e5 another( not less striking( o= e?periments which( Ptho9gh
part o= the same e==ort to obtain large collective res9lts(Q 5i==ere5 in =orm =rom the above(
an5 co9l5 not( i-:3! there=ore( =ig9re in the aggregate. *h9s( in a set o= XW8 trials(
carrie5 o9t b> Miss ". Lin5sa> Plate o= &irton -ollegeQ( an5 a gro9p o= =rien5s( where the
choice was between 8 uncoloured for(sAX specimens o= each being combine5 in a pack
=rom which the agent 5rew at ran5omAthe total o= right g9esses was 2X7( the o55s
against obtaining that 5egree o= s9ccess b> chance being 2(;;; to 2.Y~Z In another case(
the choice la> between 3 things( b9t these were not s9its( b9t simple coloursAre5( bl9e(
green( an5 >ellow. *he percipient thro9gho9t was Mr. ). F. /hilton( o= 3;( 1ara5ise /treet(
"irmingham@ the agent Pe?cept in one small gro9p( when 1ro=essor 1o>nting( o= Mason
-ollege( acte5Q was Mr. &. * -ashmore( o= )lbert 'oa5( .an5sworth. O9t o= V;V trials(
U82 were s9ccesses. *he probabilit> here a==or5e5 o= a ca9se other than chance is
consi5erabl> more than a trillion trillions to 2. )n5 still more remarkable is the res9lt
obtaine5 b> the Misses ,ing=iel5( o= *he 'e5ings( *otteri5ge( in some trials where the
obDect to be g9esse5 was a n9mber o= two 5igitsAi.e., one o= the X; n9mbers incl95e5 in
the series =rom 2; to XXAchosen at ran5om b> the agent. O9t o= U(8U3 trials( where the
most probable n9mber o= s9ccesses was UX( the act9al n9mber obtaine5 was no less than
UWVAto sa> nothing o= W7 other cases in which the right 5igits were g9esse5 in the
reverse or5er. In the last V;8 trials the agent Pwho sat some 8 =eet behin5 the percipientQ
5rew the n9mbers at ran5om o9t o= a bowl@ the o55s against the acci5ental occ9rrence o=
the 5egree o= s9ccessAU2 right g9essesAobtaine5 in this batch are over U(;;;(;;; to 2.
*he arg9ment =or tho9ght-trans=erence a==or5e5 b> the total o= UWV cannot be e?presse5
here in =ig9res( as it reE9ires 28W ninesAthat is( the probabilit> is =ar more than the ninth
power o= a trillion to 2.
-ar5-e?periments o= the above t>pe o==er special conveniences =or the ver> e?ten5e5
trials which we wish to see carrie5 o9t: the> are easil> ma5e an5 rapi5l> recor5e5. )t the
same time it m9st not be ass9me5 that the limitation o= the =iel5 o= choice to a ver> small
n9mber o= known obDects is a =avo9rable con5ition@ it is probabl> the reverse. +or =rom
the 5escriptions which intelligent percipients have given it wo9l5 seem that the best
con5ition is a sort o= inwar5 blankness( on which the image o= the obDect( sometimes
s955enl> b9t o=ten onl> gra59all>( takes shape. )n5 this inwar5 blankness is har5 to
ens9re when the obDects =or choice are both =ew an5 known. +or their images are then apt
to import9ne the min5( an5 to lea5 to g9essing@ the little procession o= them marches so
i-:V! rea5il> across the mental stage that it is 5i==ic9lt to 5rive it o==( an5 wait =or a
single image to present itsel= in5epen5entl>. Moreover i5ios>ncrasies on the g9esser4s
part have the opport9nit> o= obtr95ing themselvesAas an inclination( or a 5isinclination(
to repeat the same g9ess several times in s9ccession. *hese obDections o= co9rse reach
their ma?im9m i= the =iel5 o= choice be narrowe5 5own to t-o thingsAas where not the
s9it b9t the colour o= the car5s is to be g9esse5. )n5 in =act some +rench trials o= this
t>pe( an5 an aggregate o= V(V;; carrie5 o9t b> the )merican /ociet> =or 1s>chical
'esearch(
2
give a res9lt onl> ver> slightl> in e?cess o= the most probable n9mber.
S 7. I ma> now pass to another class o= e?periments( in which the impression trans=erre5
was almost certainl> o= the vis9al sort( inasm9ch as an> verbal 5escription o= the obDect
wo9l5 reE9ire a gro9p o= wor5s too n9mero9s to present an> clear an5 compact a95itor>
character. )n obDect o= this kin5 is s9pplie5 b> an> irreg9lar =ig9re or arrangement o=
lines which s9ggests nothing in partic9lar. ,e have ha5 two remarkabl> s9ccess=9l series
o= e?periments( e?ten5ing over man> 5a>s( in which the i5ea o= s9ch a =ig9re has been
telepathicall> trans=erre5 =rom one min5 to another. ) ro9gh 5iagram being =irst 5rawn b>
one o= the investigating -ommittee( the agent procee5e5 to concentrate his attention on it(
or on the memor> which he retaine5 o= it@ an5 in a perio5 var>ing =rom a =ew secon5s to a
=ew min9tes the percipient was able to repro59ce the 5iagram( or a close appro?imation
to it( on paper. %o contact was permitte5( e?cept on a =ew occasions( which( on that ver>
acco9nt( we sho9l5 not present as cr9cial@ an5 in or5er to precl95e the agent =rom giving
9nconscio9s hintsAe.g., b> 5rawing with his =inger on the table or making movements
s9ggestive o= the =ig9re in the airAhe was kept o9t o= the percipient4s sight.
O= the two series mentione5( the secon5 is evi5entiall> to be pre=erre5. +or in the =irst
series the agent( as well as the percipient( was alwa>s the same person@ an5 we recognise
this as pro tanto an obDection. %ot in5ee5 that the simple h>pothesis o= coll9sion wo9l5
i-:8! at all meet the 5i==ic9lties o= the case. +aith in the power o= a secret co5e m9st be
carrie5 to the verge o= s9perstition( be=ore it will be eas> to believe that a95itor> signals(
the material =or which Pas I pointe5 o9t aboveQ is limite5 to the =aintest variations in the
signaller4s metho5 o= breathing( can =9ll> an5 =aith=9ll> 5escribe a complicate5 5iagram@
especiall> when the variations( imperceptible to the closest observation o= the b>stan5ers(
wo9l5 have to penetrate to the intelligence o= a percipient whose hea5 was envelope5 in
ban5age( bolster-case( an5 blanket. "9t in spite o= all( s9spicion will( reasonabl> or
9nreasonabl>( attach to res9lts which are( so to speak( a monopol> o= two partic9lar
per=ormers. In o9r secon5 series o= e?periments this obDection was obviate5. *here were
two percipients( an5 a consi5erable gro9p o= agents( each o= whom( when alone with one
or other o= the percipients( was s9ccess=9l in trans=erring his impression. It is this series(
there=ore( that I select =or =9ller 5escription.
,e owe these remarkable e?periments to the sagacit> an5 energ> o= Mr. Malcolm
&9thrie( F.1.( o= Liverpool. )t the beginning o= 277:( Mr. &9thrie happene5 to rea5 an
article on tho9ght-trans=erence in a maga]ine( an5 tho9gh completel> sceptical( he
5etermine5 to make some trials on his own acco9nt. .e was then at the hea5 o= an
establishment which gives emplo>ment to man> h9n5re5s o= persons@ an5 he was
in=orme5 b> a relative who occ9pie5 a position o= responsibilit> in this establishment that
she ha5 witnesse5 remarkable res9lts in some cas9al trials ma5e b> a gro9p o= his
e(plo,4es a=ter b9siness ho9rs. .e at once took the matter into his own han5s( an5 went
stea5il>( b9t ca9tio9sl>( to work. .e restricte5 the practice o= the novel accomplishment
to weekl> meetings@ an5 he arrange5 with his =rien5( Mr. Fames "irchall( the hon.
secretar> o= the Liverpool Literar> an5 1hilosophical /ociet>( that the latter sho9l5 make
a =9ll an5 complete recor5 o= ever> e?periment ma5e. Mr. &9thrie th9s 5escribes the
procee5ings:A
BI have ha5 the a5vantage o= st95>ing a series o= e?periments ab ovo. I have witnesse5
the gen9ine s9rprise which the operators an5 the us9bDects4 have alike e?hibite5 at their
increasing s9ccesses( an5 at the res9lts o= o9r e?c9rsions into novel lines o= e?periment.
*he a==air has not been the 5iscover> o= the possession o= special powers( =irst ma5e an5
then worke5 9p b> the parties themselves =or gain or glor>. *he e?perimenters in this case
were 5ispose5 to pass the matter over altogether as one o= no moment( an5 onl> p9t
themselves at m> 5isposal in regar5 to e?periments in or5er to oblige me. *he
e?periments have all been 5evise5 an5 con59cte5 b> m>sel= an5 Mr. "irchall( witho9t
an> previo9s intimation o= their nat9re( an5 co9l5 not possibl> have been =oreseen. In =act
the> i-:W! have been to the >o9ng la5ies a s9ccession o= s9rprises. %o set o=
e?periments o= a similar nat9re has ever been more completel> known =rom its origin( or
more completel> 9n5er the control o= the scienti=ic observer.C
I m9st pass over the recor5 o= the earlier e?periments( where the i5eas trans=erre5 were o=
colo9rs( geometrical =ig9res( car5s( an5 visible obDects o= all sorts( which the percipient
was to nameAthese being similar in kin5( tho9gh on the whole s9perior in the proportion
o= s9ccesses( to those alrea5> 5escribe5.
2
*he repro59ction o= 5iagrams was intro59ce5 in
October( 277:( an5 in that an5 the =ollowing month abo9t 2V; trials were ma5e. *he
whole series has been care=9ll> mo9nte5 an5 preserve5 b> Mr. &9thrie. %o one co9l5
look thro9gh them witho9t perceiving that the h>pothesis o= chance or g9ess-work is o9t
o= the E9estion@ that in most instances some i5ea( an5 in man> a complete i5ea( o= the
original m9st( b> whatever means( have been present in the min5 o= the person who ma5e
the repro59ction. In Mr. &9thrie4s wor5s(A
BIt is 5i==ic9lt to classi=> them. ) great n9mber o= them are 5eci5e5 s9ccesses@ another
large n9mber give part o= the 5rawing@ others e?hibit the general i5ea( an5 others again
mani=est a kin5 o= composition o= =orm. Others( s9ch as the 5rawings o= =lowers( have
been 5escribe5 an5 name5( b9t have been too 5i==ic9lt to 5raw. ) goo5 man> are per=ect
=ail9res. *he 5rawings generall> r9n in lots. ) n9mber o= s9ccess=9l copies will be
pro59ce5 ver> E9ickl>( an5 again a n9mber o= =ail9resAin5icating( I think( =a9ltiness on
the part o= the agent( or growing =atig9e on the part o= the us9bDect.4 Ever> e?periment(
whether s9ccess=9l or a =ail9re( is given in the or5er o= trial( with the con5itions( name o=
us9bDect4 an5 agent( an5 an> remarks ma5e b> the us9bDect4 speci=ie5 at the bottom. /ome
o= the repro59ctions e?hibit the c9rio9s phenomenon o= inversion. *hese 5rawings m9st
speak =or themselves. *he principal =acts to be borne in min5 regar5ing them are that the>
have been e?ec9te5 thro9gh the instr9mentalit>( as agents( o= persons o= 9nE9estione5
probit>( an5 that the responsibilit> =or them is sprea5 over a consi5erable gro9p o= s9ch
persons@ while the con5itions to be observe5 were so simpleA=or the> amo9nte5 reall> to
nothing more than taking care that the original sho9l5 not be seen b> the us9bDect4Athat
it is e?tremel> 5i==ic9lt to s9ppose them to have been el95e5.C
i-:7!
I give a =ew specimensAnot 9n59l> =avo9rable ones( b9t ill9strating the Bsprea5ing o=
responsibilit>C to which Mr. &9thrie re=ers. *he agents concerne5 were Mr. &9thrie@ Mr.
/teel( the 1resi5ent o= the Liverpool Literar> an5 1hilosophical /ociet>@ Mr. "irchall(
mentione5 above@ Mr. .9ghes( ".).( o= /t. Fohn4s -ollege( -ambri5ge@ an5 m>sel=. *he
names o= the percipients were Miss 'elph an5 Miss E5war5s. *he con5itions which I
shall 5escribe were those o= the e?periments in which I m>sel= took part@ an5 I have Mr.
&9thrie4s a9thorit> =or stating that the> were 9ni=orml> observe5 in the other cases. *he
originals were =or the most part 5rawn in another room =rom that in which the percipient
was place5. *he =ew e?ec9te5 in the same room were 5rawn while the percipient was
blin5=ol5e5( at a 5istance =rom her( an5 in s9ch a wa> that the process wo9l5 have been
wholl> invisible to her or an>one else( even ha5 an attempt been ma5e to observe it.
$9ring the process o= trans=erence( the agent looke5 stea5il> an5 in per=ect silence at the
original 5rawing( which was place5 9pon an intervening woo5en stan5@ the percipient
sitting opposite to him( an5 behin5 the stan5( blin5=ol5e5 an5 E9ite still. *he agent cease5
looking at the 5rawing( an5 the blin5=ol5ing was remove5( onl> when the percipient
pro=esse5 hersel= rea5> to make the repro59ction( which happene5 9s9all> in times
var>ing =rom hal=-a-min9te to two or three min9tes. .er position ren5ere5 it absol9tel>
impossible that she sho9l5 obtain a glimpse o= the original. )part =rom the blin5=ol5ing(
she co9l5 not have 5one so witho9t rising =rom her seat an5 a5vancing her hea5 several
=eet@ an5 as she was ver> nearl> in the same line o= sight as the 5rawing( an5 so ver>
nearl> in the centre o= the agent4s =iel5 o= vision( the slightest approach to s9ch a
movement m9st have been instantl> 5etecte5. *he repro59ctions were ma5e in per=ect
silence( the agent =orbearing to =ollow the act9al process o= the 5rawing with his e>es(
tho9gh he was( o= co9rse( able to keep the percipient 9n5er the closest observation.
In the case o= all the 5iagrams( e?cept those n9mbere5 W an5 7( the agent an5 the
percipient were the onl> two persons in the room 59ring the e?periment. In the case o=
n9mbers W an5 7( the agent an5 Miss 'elph were sitting E9ite apart in a corner o= the
room( while Mr. &9thrie an5 Miss E5war5s were talking in another part o= it. %9mbers
2T8 are speciall> interesting as being the complete an5 consec9tive series o= a single
sitting.
i-:X!
%o. 2. O'I&I%)L $'),I%&. %o. 2. 'E1'O$U-*IO%.
Mr. &9thrie an5 Miss E5war5s. %o contact.
%o. U. O'I&I%)L $'),I%&. %o. U. 'E1'O$U-*IO%.
Mr. &9thrie an5 Miss E5war5s. %o contact.
i-3;!
%o. :. O'I&I%)L $'),I%&. %o. :. 'E1'O$U-*IO%.
Mr. &9thrie an5 Miss E5war5s.
%o contact.
%o. 3. O'I&I%)L $'),I%&. %o. 3. 'E1'O$U-*IO%.
Mr. &9thrie an5 Miss E5war5s.
%o contact.
i-32!
%o. V. O'I&I%)L $'),I%&. %o. V. 'E1'O$U-*IO%.
Mr. &9thrie an5 Miss E5war5s.
%o contact.
%o. 8. O'I&I%)L $'),I%&.
Mr. &9thrie an5 Miss E5war5s. %o contact.
%o. 8. 'E1'O$U-*IO%.
Miss E5war5s almost 5irectl> sai5( B)re >o9 thinking o= the bottom o= the sea( with
shells an5 =ishesrC an5 then( BIs it a snail or a =ishrCAthen 5rew as above.
i-3U!
%o. W. O'I&I%)L $'),I%&.
Mr. &9rne> an5 Miss 'elph. -ontact =or hal=-a-min9te be=ore the repro59ction was
5rawn.
%o. W. 'E1'O$U-*IO%.
i-3:!
%o. 7. O'I&I%)L $'),I%&. %o. 7. 'E1'O$U-*IO%.
Mr. &9rne> an5 Miss 'elph. %o contact.
%o. X. O'I&I%)L $'),I%&.
Mr. "irchall an5 Miss 'elph. %o contact.
%o. X. 'E1'O$U-*IO%.
Miss 'elph sai5 she seeme5 to see a lot o= rings( as i= the> were moving( an5 she co9l5 not get them stea5il> be=ore her
e>es.
i-33!
%o. 2;. O'I&I%)L $'),I%&. %o. 2;. 'E1'O$U-*IO%.
Mr. "irchall an5 Miss 'elph. %o contact.
%o. 22. O'I&I%)L $'),I%&.
%o. 22. 'E1'O$U-*IO%.
Mr. "irchall an5 Miss E5war5s. %o contact.
i-3V!
%o. 2U. O'I&I%)L $'),I%&.
Mr. /teel an5 Miss 'elph. %o contact.
%o. 2U. 'E1'O$U-*IO%.
i-38!
%o. 2:. O'I&I%)L $'),I%&. %o. 2:. 'E1'O$U-*IO%.
Mr. /teel an5 Miss E5war5s. -ontact be=ore
the repro59ction was ma5e.
%o. 23. O'I&I%)L $'),I%&. %o. 23. 'E1'O$U-*IO%.
Mr. .9ghes an5 Miss E5war5s. -ontact
be=ore the repro59ction was ma5e.
Miss E5war5s sai5( B) bo? or chair ba5l>
shape5CAthen 5rew as above.
i-3W!
%o. 2V. O'I&I%)L $'),I%&.
Mr. .9ghes an5 Miss E5war5s. %o contact.
%o. 2V. 'E1'O$U-*IO%.
Miss E5war5s sai5( BIt is like a mask at a pantomime(C an5 imme5iatel> 5rew as above.
i-37!
%o. 28. O'I&I%)L $'),I%&.
Mr. .9ghes an5 Miss E5war5s. %o. contact.
%o. 28. 'E1'O$U-*IO%.
i-3X!
S X. /oon a=ter the p9blication o= these res9lts( Mr. &9thrie was =ort9nate eno9gh to
obtain the active co-operation o= $r. Oliver F. Lo5ge( 1ro=essor o= 1h>sics in Universit>
-ollege( Liverpool( who carrie5 o9t a long an5 in5epen5ent series o= e?periments with
the same two percipients( an5 completel> convince5 himsel= o= the gen9ineness o= the
phenomena. In his report
2
he sa>s:A
B)s regar5s coll9sion an5 tricker>( no one who has witnesse5 the absol9tel> gen9ine an5
artless manner in which the impressions are 5escribe5( b9t has been per=ectl> convince5
o= the transparent honest> o= p9rpose o= all concerne5. *his( however( is not evi5ence to
persons who have not been present( an5 to them I can onl> sa> that to the best o= m>
scienti=ic belie= no coll9sion or tricker> was possible 9n5er the varie5 circ9mstances o=
the e?periments. w ,hen one has the control o= the circ9mstances( can change them at
will an5 arrange one4s own e?periments( one gra59all> acE9ires a belie= in the
phenomena observe5 E9ite comparable to that in59ce5 b> the repetition o= or5inar>
ph>sical e?periments. w ,e have man> times s9ccee5e5 with agents E9ite 5isconnecte5
=rom the percipient in or5inar> li=e( an5 sometimes complete strangers to them. Mr.
"irchall( the hea5-master o= the "irk5ale In59strial /chool( =reE9entl> acte5@ an5 the
ho9se ph>sician at the E>e an5 Ear .ospital( $r. /hears( ha5 a s9ccess=9l e?periment(
acting alone( on his =irst an5 onl> visit. )ll s9spicion o= a pre-arrange5 co5e is th9s
ren5ere5 impossible even to o9tsi5ers who are 9nable to witness the obvio9s =airness o=
all the e?periments.C
*he obDects o= which the i5ea was trans=erre5 were sometimes things with names Pcar5s(
ke>( teapot( =lag( locket( pict9re o= 5onke>( an5 so onQ( sometimes irreg9lar 5rawings with
no name. 1ro=essor Lo5ge satis=ie5 himsel= that a95itor> as well as vis9al impressions
pla>e5 a partAthat in some cases the i5ea trans=erre5 was that o= the obDect itsel=( an5 in
others( that o= its name@ th9s con=irming the concl9sion which we ha5 come to in the
e?periments with the -reer> =amil>. O= the two percipients one seeme5 more s9sceptible
to the vis9al( an5 the other to the a95itor> impressions. ) case where the a95itor> element
seems clearl> to have come in is the =ollowing. *he obDect was a tetrahe5ron r95el>
5rawn in proDection( th9sA
*he percipient sai5: BIs it another trianglerC %o answer was given( b9t 1ro=essor Lo5ge
silentl> passe5 ro9n5 to the agents a scribble5 message( B*hink o= a p>rami5.C *he
percipient then sai5( BI onl> i-V;! see a triangle BAthen hastil>( B1>rami5s o= Eg>pt.
%o( I shan4t 5o this.C )ske5 to 5raw( she onl> 5rew a triangle.
I will give onl> one other case =rom this series( which is important as showing that the
percipient ma> be sim9ltaneo9sl> in=l9ence5 b> two min5s( which are concentrate5 on
two 5i==erent things. *he two agents being seate5 opposite to one another( 1ro=essor
Lo5ge place5 between them a piece o= paper( on one si5e o= which was 5rawn a sE9are(
an5 on the other a cross. *he> th9s ha5 5i==erent obDects to contemplate( an5 neither
knew what the other was looking at@ nor 5i5 the percipient know that an>thing 9n9s9al
was being trie5. *here was no contact. Ver> soon the percipient sai5( BI see things
moving abo9t w I seem to see two things w I see =irst one 9p there an5 then one 5own
there w I 5on4t know which to 5raw w I can4t see either 5istinctl>.C 1ro=essor Lo5ge
sai5: B,ell( an>how( 5raw what >o9 have seen.C /he took o== the ban5age an5 5rew =irst
a sE9are( an5 then sai5( B*hen there was the other thing as well w a=terwar5s the>
seeme5 to go into one(CAan5 she 5rew a cross insi5e the sE9are =rom corner to corner(
a55ing a=terwar5s( BI 5on4t know what ma5e me p9t it insi5e.C *he signi=icance o= this
e?perimental proo= o= 5oint agenc, will be more =9ll> realise5 in connection with some o=
the spontaneo9s cases.
*he =ollowing passage =rom the close o= 1ro=essor Lo5ge4s report has a special interest
=or 9s( con=irming( as it 5oes( the acco9nts which we ha5 receive5 =rom o9r own =ormer
Bs9bDects(C an5 the views above e?presse5 as to the con5itions o= s9ccess an5 =ail9re:A
B,ith regar5 to the =eelings o= the percipients when receiving an impression( the> seem
to have some sort o= conscio9sness o= the action o= other min5s on them@ an5 once or
twice( when not so conscio9s( have complaine5 that there seeme5 to be uno power4 or
an>thing acting( an5 that the> not onl> receive5 no impression( b9t 5i5 not =eel as i= the>
were going to.
BI aske5 one o= them what she =elt when impressions were coming =reel>( an5 she sai5
she =elt a sort o= in=l9ence or thrill. *he> both sa> that several obDects appear to them
sometimes( b9t that one among them persistentl> rec9rs an5 the> have a =eeling when
the> =i? 9pon one that it is the right one.
BOne serio9s =ail9re rather 5epresses them( an5 a=ter a s9ccess others o=ten =ollow. It is
beca9se o= these rather 5elicate ps>chological con5itions i-V2! that one cannot press the
variations o= an e?periment as =ar as one wo9l5 5o i= 5ealing with inert an5 more
5epen5able matter. Us9all> the presence o= a stranger spoils the phenomena( tho9gh in
some cases a stranger has prove5 a goo5 agent straight o==.
B*he percipients complain o= no =atig9e as in59ce5 b> the e?periments( an5 I have no
reason to s9ppose that an> harm is 5one them.C
It is the B5elicate ps>chological con5itionsC o= which 1ro=essor Lo5ge here speaks that
are in 5anger o= being ignore5( D9st beca9se the> cannot be meas9re5 an5 han5le5. *he
man who =irst hears o= tho9ght-trans=erence ver> nat9rall> imagines that( i= it is a realit>(
it o9ght to be 5emonstrate5 to him at a moment4s notice. .e =orgets that the e?periment
being essentiall> a mental one( his own presenceAso =ar as he has a min5Ama> be a
=actor in it@ that he is 5eman5ing that a 5elicate weighing operation shall be carrie5 o9t(
while he himsel=( a person o= 9nknown weight( sits D95iciall> in one o= the scales. )=ter a
time he will learn to allow =or the con5itions o= his instr9ments( an5 will not e?pect in the
operations o= an obsc9re vital in=l9ence the rigoro9s certaint> o= a chemical reaction.
I cannot concl95e this 5ivision o= the s9bDect witho9t a re=erence to a remarkable set o=
5iagrams which appeare5 in !cience =or F9l>( 277VAthe =irst-=r9its o= the investigation o=
tho9ght-trans=erence set on =oot b> the )merican /ociet> =or 1s>chical 'esearch. Most o=
the trials were carrie5 o9t b> Mr. ,. .. 1ickering Pbrother o= the eminent astronomer at
.arvar5Q( an5 his sister-in-law. *ho9gh the s9ccess is =ar less striking to the e>e than in
the several English series( the evi5ence =or some agenc> be>on5 chance seems( on
e?amination( irresistible.
S 2;. /o =ar the present sketch has incl95e5 trans=erence o= impressions o= the vis9al an5
a95itor> sorts onl>Aimpressions( moreover( which =or the most part represente5 =orme5
obDects or 5e=inite groups o= sensations( not sensations p9re an5 simple. *hese are not
onl> b> =ar the most important =orms o= the phenomenon( in relation to the wi5er
spontaneo9s operations o= telepath> which we shall consi5er in the seE9el@ b9t are also
the most convenient =orms =or e?periment. Moreover( I have been tracing the
5evelopment o= the s9bDect historicall>@ an5 it was in connection with i5eas belonging to
the higher =orms o= sense that the trans=erences to percipients who were in a normal state
were =irst obtaine5. "9t the e?istence o= s9ch cases wo9l5 i-VU! prepare 9s =or
trans=erences o= a more elementar> t>pe(Atrans=erences o= a simple =ormless sensation
an5 nothing more( which sho9l5 impress the percipient not as an i5ea( b9t in its 5irect
sensational character@ an5 i= the phenomena be arrange5 in a logical scale =rom the less to
the more comple?( s9ch cases wo9l5 have the priorit>. +or their e?hibition( it is nat9rall>
to the lower senses that we sho9l5 lookAtaste( smell( an5 to9chAwhich last Psince a
certain intensit, o= e?perience seems necessar>Q we sho9l5 har5l> e?pect to prove
e==ective till it reache5 the 5egree o= pain. *hese lower =orms are( in =act( those which
prepon5erate in the earlier observations o= mesmeric rapport in this co9ntr>@ an5 o9r own
e?periments in mesmerism have incl95e5 several instances o= this sort.
2
*h9s the
5iscover> that a similar Bcomm9nit> o= sensationC might e?ist between persons in a
normal state( an5 witho9t an> resort to mesmeric or h>pnotic processes( not onl> =ille5 9p
an obvio9s lacuna, b9t gave a =resh proo= o= the =9n5amental 9nit> o= o9r man>-si5e5
s9bDect.
In the case o= taste, we owe the 5iscover> to Mr. &9thrieAthe phenomenon having been(
we believe( =irst observe5 b> him on )9g9st :;th( 277:( an5 =irst =9ll> e?amine5 in the
co9rse o= a visit which Mr. M>ers an5 the present writer pai5 to him in the =ollowing
week. +ailing to obtain ver> marke5 s9ccess in other lines o= e?periment( it occ9rre5 to
9s to intro59ce this novel =orm@ b9t the s9periorit> o= the res9lts was probabl> 59e simpl>
to the =act that the> were obtaine5 on the later 5a>s o= o9r visit( when the Bs9bDectsC ha5
become acc9stome5 to o9r presence.
I will E9ote the report ma5e at the time:A
B*he taste to be 5iscerne5 was known onl> to one or more o= the three act9al
e?perimenters@ an5 the sensations e?perience5 were verball> 5escribe5 b> the us9bDects4
Pnot written 5ownQ( so that all 5anger o= invol9ntar> m9sc9lar g9i5ance was eliminate5.
B) selection o= abo9t twent> strongl>-tasting s9bstances was ma5e. *hese s9bstances
were enclose5 in small bottles an5 small parcels( precisel> similar to one another( an5
kept care=9ll> o9t o= the range o= vision o= the us9bDects(4 who were( moreover(
blin5=ol5e5( so that no grimaces ma5e b> the tasters co9l5 be seen. *he us9bDects(4 in =act(
ha5 no means whatever o= knowing( thro9gh the sense o= sight( what was the s9bstance
taste5.
i-V:!
B!(ell ha5 to be g9ar5e5 against with still greater care. ,hen the s9bstance was
o5ori=ero9s the packet or bottle was opene5 o9tsi5e the room( or at s9ch a 5istance( an5
so ca9tio9sl> as to prevent an> sensible smell =rom escaping. *he e?periments( moreover(
were con59cte5 in the close vicinit> o= a ver> large kitchen( =rom whence a strong o5o9r
o= bee=steak an5 onions procee5e5 59ring almost all the time occ9pie5. *he tasters took
pains to keep their hea5s high above the us9bDects(4 an5 to avoi5 breathing with open
mo9th. One s9bstance Pco==eeQ trie5 was =o9n5 to give o== a slight smell( in spite o= all
preca9tions( an5 an e?periment ma5e with this has been omitte5.
B*he tasters were Mr. &9thrie PM.&.Q( Mr. &9rne> PE.&.Q( an5 Mr. M>ers PM.Q. *he
percipients ma> be calle5 '. an5 E. *he tasters lightl> place5 a han5 on one o= the
sho9l5ers or han5s o= the percipientsAthere not being the same obDection to contact in
trials o= this t>pe as where lines an5 =ig9res are concerne5( an5 the us9bDects4 themselves
seeming to have some =aith in it. $9ring the =irst e?periments P/eptember :r5 an5 3thQ
there were one or two other persons in the room( who( however( were kept entirel>
ignorant o= the s9bstance taste5. $9ring the e?periments silence was preserve5. *he last
=i=teen o= them P/eptember VthQ were ma5e when onl> M. &.( E. &.( an5 M.( with the two
percipients( were present. On this evening E. was( 9n=ort9natel>( s9==ering =rom sore
throat( which seeme5 to bl9nt her s9sceptibilit>. On this occasion none o= the s9bstances
were allowe5 even to enter the room where the percipients were. *he> were kept in a
5ark lobb> o9tsi5e( an5 taken b> the investigators at ran5om( so that o=ten one
investigator 5i5 not even know what the other took. /till less co9l5 an> sp> have
5iscerne5 what was chosen( ha5 s9ch sp> been there( which he certainl> was not.
D) ver> small portion o= each s9bstance 9se5 was =o9n5 to be eno9gh. *he 5i==ic9lt> lies
in keeping the mean between the (assive impression o= a large E9antit> o= a salt( spice(
bitter( or aci5( which con=o9n5s the speci=ic 5i==erences 9n5er each general hea5( an5 the
fading impression which is apt to give merel> a resi59al p9ngenc>( =rom which the
characteristic =lavo9r has escape5. It is necessar> to allow some min9tes to elapse
between each e?periment( as the imaginar> taste seems to be =9ll> as persistent as the real
one.
!epte(ber Krd, 277:.
*)/*E'. 1E'-I1IE%*. /U"/*)%-E. )%/,E'/ &IVE%.
2.AM. E Vinegar B) sharp an5 nast> taste.C
U.AM. E M9star5 BM9star5.C
:.AM. ' $o. B)mmonia.C
3.AM. E /9gar BI still taste the hot taste o= the m9star5.C
!epte(ber 4th.
V.AE. &. E ,orcestershire B,orcestershire sa9ce.C
[ M sa9ce.
8.AM. &. E $o. BVinegar.C
W.AE. &.
[ M
E 1ort wine B"etween ea9 5e -ologne an5 beer.C
7.AM. &. ' $o. B'aspberr> vinegar.C
X.AE. &.
[ M
E "itter aloes B.orrible an5 bitter.C
2;.AM. &. ' )l9m
B) taste o= inkAo= ironAo= vinegar. I =eel
it on m> lipsAit is as i= I ha5 been eating
al9m.C
i-V3!
22.AM. &. E )l9m
PE. perceive5 that M. &. was not tasting
bitter aloes( as E. &. an5 M. s9ppose5( b9t
something 5i==erent. %o 5istinct perception
on acco9nt o= the persistence o= the bitter
taste.Q
2U.AE. &.
[ M
E %9tmeg
B1eppermintAnoAwhat >o9 p9t in
p955ingsAn9tmeg.C
2:.AM. &. ' $o. B%9tmeg.C
2

23.AE. &.
[ M
E /9gar %othing perceive5.
2V.AM. &. ' $o.
%othing perceive5. P/9gar sho9l5 be trie5
at an earlier stage in the series( as( a=ter the
aloes( we co9l5 scarcel> taste it o9rselves.Q
28.AE. &.
[ M
E -a>enne pepper BM9star5.C
2W.AM. &. ' $o.
B-a>enne pepper.C P)=ter the ca>enne we
were 9nable to taste an>thing =9rther that
evening.
!epte(ber Lth.
27.AE. &.
[ M
E
-arbonate o=
so5a
%othing perceive5.
2X.AM. &. ' -arrawa> see5s
BIt =eels like mealAlike a see5 loa=A
carrawa> see5s.C P*he substance o= the
see5s seeme5 to be perceive5 be=ore their
taste. Q
U;.AE. &.
[ M
E -loves B-loves.C
U2.AE. &.
[ M
E -itric aci5 %othing perceive5.
UU.AM. &. ' $o. B/alt.C
U:.AE. &.
[ M
E LiE9orice B-loves.C
U3.AM. & ' -loves B-innamon.C
UV.AE. &.
[ M
E )ci5 D9D9be B1ear 5rop.C
U8.AM. &. ' $o.
B/omething har5( which is giving wa>A
aci5 D9D9be.C
UW.AE. &.
[ M
E -an5ie5 ginger B/omething sweet an5 hot.C
U7.AM. &. ' $o.
B)lmon5 to==>.C PM. &. took his ginger in
the 5ark( an5 was some time be=ore he
realise5 that it was ginger.Q
UX.AE. &.
[ M
E
.ome-ma5e
%o>a9
B/alt.C
:;.AM. &. ' $o.
B1ort wine.C P*his was b> =ar the most
strongl> smelling o= the s9bstances trie5(
the scent o= kernels being har5 to conceal.
#et it was name5 b> E. as salt.Q
:2.AE. &.
[ M
E "itter aloes B"itter.C
:U.AM. &. ' $o. %othing perceive5.
i-VV!
B,e sho9l5 have pre=erre5 in these e?periments to 9se onl> s9bstances which were
wholl> ino5oro9s. "9t in or5er to get an> 5escription o= tastes =rom the percipients( it was
necessar> that the tastes sho9l5 be either ver> 5eci5e5 or ver> =amiliar. It wo9l5 be
5esirable( be=ore entering on a series o= e?periments o= this kin5( to e59cate the palates o=
the percipients b> acc9stoming them to a variet> o= chemical s9bstances( an5 also b>
training them to 5isting9ish( with sh9t e>es( between the more or5inar> =lavo9rs. It is
well known how m9ch taste is helpe5 b> sight an5 5etermine5 b> e?pectation@ an5 when
it is consi5ere5 that the percipients in these cases were D95ging blin5=ol5 o= the mere
sha5ow o= a savo9r( it will perhaps be tho9ght that even some o= their mistakes are not
m9ch wi5er o= the mark than the> might have been ha5 a trace o= the s9bstance been
act9all> place5 9pon their tong9es.C
In later e?periments( Mr. &9thrie en5eavo9re5 to meet the 5i==ic9lt> ca9se5 b> o5oro9s
s9bstances( an5 even s9ccee5e5 in obtaining what appeare5 to be trans=erences o= smell-
impressions. *he Bs9bDectsC an5 the agents were place5 in 5i==erent rooms. )n opening(
2; inches sE9are( ha5 been ma5e in the woo5en partition between the two rooms@ an5
this ha5 been =ille5 in with a =rame( covere5 with in5ia-r9bber an5 =itting tightl>. *hro9gh
a slit in this =rame the agent PMr. &9thrie or his relative( Miss 'e5mon5Q passe5 a han5(
which both the Bs9bDectsC co9l5 then to9ch. Un5er these con5itions( as =ar as co9l5 be
D95ge5( it was impossible =or an> scent to pass@ an5( certainl>( i= an> 5i5 pass( it wo9l5
have nee5e5 e?treme h>perOsthesia to 5etect it. *he =ollowing res9lts were obtaine5 on
$ecember Vth( 277::A
2.AMiss 'e5mon5 taste5 pow5ere5 n9tmeg.
E. sai5 B&inger.C
'. sai5 B%9tmeg.C
U.AMr. &. taste5 pow5er o= 5r> celer>.
E.: B) bitter herb.C
'.: B/omething like camomile.C
:.AMiss 'e5mon5 taste5 co==ee.
)t the same time( witho9t an> previo9s intimation( Mr. &.( with two pins( pricke5 the
=ront o= the right wrist o= Miss 'e5mon5.
E. sai5: BIs it a taste at allrC Mr. &.: B,h> 5o >o9 askrC
B"eca9se I =eel a sort o= pricking in the le=t wrist.C /he was tol5 it was the right wrist( b9t
sai5 she =elt it in the le=t.
'.: BIs it cocoa or chocolaterC )nswer given in the negative.
E.: BIs it co==eerC
3.AMr. &. taste5 ,orcestershire sa9ce.
'.: B/omething sweet . . also aci5 . . a c9rio9s taste.C
E.: BIs it vinegarrC
V.AMiss 'e5mon5 smelt ea9 5e -ologne.
'.: BIs it ea9 5e -olognerC
i-V8!
8.AMiss 'e5mon5 smelt camphor.
E.: B$on4t taste an>thing.C
'.: %othing perceive5.
W.AMr. &. smelt carbolic aci5.
'.: B,hat >o9 9se =or toothache w creosote.C
E. a=terwar5s sai5 she tho9ght o= pitch.
7.AMr. &. 'ight instep pricke5 with pins.
E. g9esse5 =irst the =ace( then the le=t sho9l5er@ then '. localise5 the pain on the right
=oot.
*he pain was then silentl> trans=erre5 to the le=t =oot. E. localise5 it on the le=t =oot. "oth
maintaine5 their opinions.
I will E9ote one more taste-series( =or the sake o= ill9strating a special pointAnamel>( the
defer(ent o= the percipient4s conscio9sness o= the sensation 9ntil a time when the agent
ha5 himsel= cease5 to =eel it. *his =act is o= great interest( on acco9nt o= the marke5
analog> to it which we shall enco9nter in man> o= the spontaneous telepathic cases. *he
instances below are too =ew to be concl9sive@ b9t we 9se5 to notice the same thing in o9r
e?periments with the -reer> =amil>Athe obDect on which the attention o= the agents ha5
been concentrate5 being sometimes correctl> name5 a=ter the e?periment ha5 been
completel> aban5one5 as a =ail9re. PCf., Vol. II.( p. :UW.Q
June 22th, 277V.
$r. .>la &reves was in contact with Miss 'elph( having taste5 sala5 oil.
Miss 'elph sai5: BI =eel a cool sensation in m> mo9th( something like that pro59ce5 b>
sal pr9nelle.C
Mr. '. -. Fohnson in contact( having taste5 ,orcestershire sa9ce in another room.
BI taste something oil>@ it is ver> like sala5 oil.C *hen( a =ew min9tes a=ter contact with
Mr. Fohnson ha5 cease5( BM> mo9th seems getting hot a=ter the oil.C P%.".A%othing at
all ha5 been sai5 abo9t the s9bstances taste5 either b> $r. &reves or Mr. Fohnson.Q
$r. &reves in contact( having taste5 bitter aloes.
BI taste something =right=9ll> hot w something like vinegar an5 pepper w Is it
,orcestershire sa9cerC
Mr. &9thrie in contact( also having taste5 bitter aloes.
BI taste something e?tremel> bitter( b9t 5on4t know what it is( an5 5o not remember
tasting it be=ore w It is a ver> horri5 taste.C
*he possibilit> o= the trans=erence o= pain, to a percipient in the normal state( is also a
recent 5iscover>. In $ecember( 277U( we obtaine5 some res9lts whichAwith o9r well-
trie5 knowle5ge o= the percipient4s characterAwe regar5 as completel> satis=actor>@ b9t
o9r more striking s9ccesses in this line happen to have been with i-VW! h>pnotic
s9bDects.
2
*he =orm o= e?periment has 5i==ic9lties o= its own. +or( in merc> to the agent(
the pain which it is hope5 to trans=er cannot be ver> severel> in=licte5@ an5( moreover( in
s9ch circ9mstances o= investigation as Mr. &9thrie4s( it is onl> a ver> limite5 amo9nt o=
the area o= the bo5> that can practicall> be 9se5Aa =act which o= co9rse increases the
percipient4s chances o= acci5ental s9ccess. /till( the amo9nt o= s9ccess obtaine5 with Mr.
&9thrie4s Bs9bDects(C in a normal state( is s9ch as certainl> e?cl95es the h>pothesis o=
acci5ent. In some o= the most remarkable series( contact has been permitte5( it being
5i==ic9lt to s9ppose that 9nconscio9s press9re o= the han5 co9l5 conve> in=ormation as to
the e?act localit> o= a pain.
U
"9t complete isolation o= the percipient is( no 5o9bt( a more
satis=actor> con5ition@ an5 at seven o= the Liverpool meetings( which took place at
intervals =rom %ovember( 2773( to F9l>( 277V( the e?periment was arrange5 in the
=ollowing wa>. *he percipient being seate5 blin5=ol5e5( an5 with her back to the rest o=
the part>( all the other persons present in=licte5 on themselves the same pain on the same
part o= the bo5>. *hose who took part in this collective agenc> were three or more o= the
=ollowing: Mr. &9thrie( 1ro=essor .er5man( $r. .icks( $r. .>la &reves( Mr. '. -.
Fohnson( +.'.)./.( Mr. "irchall( Miss 'e5mon5( an5 on one occasion another la5>. *he
percipient thro9gho9t was Miss 'elph.
In all( U; trials were ma5e. *he parts paine5 wereA
2.A"ack o= le=t han5 pricke5. 'ightl> localise5.
U.ALobe o= le=t ear pricke5. 'ightl> localise5.
:.ALe=t wrist pricke5. BIs it in the le=t han5rCApointing to the back near the little =inger.
3.A*hir5 =inger o= le=t han5 tightl> bo9n5 ro9n5 with wire. ) lower Doint o= that =inger
was g9esse5.
V.ALe=t wrist scratche5 with pins. BIt is in the le=t wrist( like being scratche5.C
8.ALe=t ankle pricke5. 'ightl> localise5.
W.A/pot behin5 le=t ear pricke5. %o res9lt.
7.A'ight knee pricke5. 'ightl> localise5.
X.A'ight sho9l5er pricke5. 'ightl> localise5.
2;.A.an5s b9rne5 over gas. BLike a p9lling pain . . then tingling( like col5 an5 hot
alternatel>AAlocalise5 b> gest9re onl>.
22.AEn5 o= tong9e bitten. BIt is in the lip or the tong9e.C
2U.A1alm o= le=t han5 pricke5. BIs it a tingling pain in the han5( hererCAplacing her
=inger on the palm o= the le=t han5.
2:.A"ack o= neck pricke5. BIs it a pricking o= the neckrC
i-V7!
23.A+ront o= le=t arm above elbow pricke5. 'ightl> localise5.
2V.A/pot D9st above le=t ankle pricke5. 'ightl> localise5.
28.A/pot D9st above right wrist pricke5. BI am not E9ite s9re( b9t I =eel a pain in the right
arm( =rom the th9mb 9pwar5s( to above the wrist.C
2W.AInsi5e o= le=t ankle pricke5. O9tsi5e o= le=t ankle g9esse5.
27.A/pot beneath right collarbone pricke5. *he e?actl> correspon5ing spot on the le=t
si5e was g9esse5.
2X.A"ack hair p9lle5. %o res9lt.
U;.AInsi5e o= right wrist pricke5. 'ight =oot g9esse5.
*h9s in 2; o9t o= the U; cases( the percipient localise5 the pain with great precision@ in 8
the localisation was nearl> e?act( an5 with these we ma> incl95e %o. 2;( where the pain
was probabl> not con=ine5 to a single well-5e=ine5 area in the han5s o= all the agents@ in U
no local impression was pro59ce5@ an5 in 2( the last( the answer was wholl> wrong.
S 22. ,e ma> pass now to a totall> new 5ivision o= e?perimental cases. /o =ar the e==ect
o= tho9ght-trans=erence on the receiving min5 has been an e==ect in consciousnessAthe
act9al emergence o= an image or sensation which the percipient has recognise5 an5
5escribe5. "9t it is not necessar> that the e==ect sho9l5 be th9s recognise5 b> the
percipient@ his witness to it ma> be 9nconscio9s( instea5 o= conscio9s( an5 >et ma> be
E9ite 9nmistakeable. *he simplest e?ample o= this is when some e==ect is pro59ce5 on his
(otor s>stemAwhen the impression receive5 ca9ses him to per=orm some action which
proves to have 5istinct re=erence to the tho9ght in the agent4s min5.
2

*he cases =all into two classes. In one class the actions are p9rel> a9tomatic: in the other
some conscio9s i5ea o= what was to be 5one has prece5e5 an5 accompanie5 the m9sc9lar
e==ect@ so that that e==ect wo9l5 be at most semi-a9tomatic. *o begin with this semi-
a9tomatic class@ it might be tho9ght that e?amples wo9l5 be =o9n5 in those rarer cases o=
the Bwilling-gameC where contact( an5 i-VX! movement on the agent4s part( are avoi5e5.
"9t we have receive5 no recor5s o= s9ch cases where it is certain that the preca9tions
necessar> to e?cl95e the barest possibilit> o= slight 9nconscio9s ph>sical signs were
rigi5l> en=orce5@ an5 it will be pre=erable to 5escribe some e?periments ma5e b>
members o= o9r own gro9p( where this point was kept stea5il> in view. ,e have ha5
several interesting series in which the Bs9bDect4sC power o= 9tterance has been inhibited
b> the silent 5etermination o= the operator. O9r =irst e?periments o= this sort were ma5e in
Fan9ar>( 277:. *he Bs9bDectC was o9r =rien5( Mr. /i5ne> "ear5( who ha5 been thrown
into a light h>pnotic trance b> Mr. &. ). /mith. ) list o= twelve eses an5 Noes in
arbitrar> or5er was written b> one o= o9rselves an5 p9t into Mr. /mith4s han5( with
5irections that he sho9l5 s9ccessivel> BwillC@ the Bs9bDectC to respon5 or not to respon5(
in accor5ance with the or5er o= the list. Mr. "ear5 was l>ing back with close5 e>es@ an5 a
t9ning-=ork was str9ck an5 hel5 at his ear( with the E9estion( B$o >o9 hearrC aske5 b>
one o= o9rselves. *his was 5one twelve times with a completel> s9ccess=9l res9lt( the
answer or the =ail9re to answer correspon5ing in each case with the B>esC or BnoC o= the
written listAthat is to sa>( with the silentl> concentrate5 will o= the agent.
2

) m9ch more prolonge5 series o= trials was ma5e in %ovember( 277:( b> 1ro=essor
"arrett( at his ho9se in $9blin. *he h>pnotist was again Mr. &. ). /mith.
B*he us9bDect4 was an entire stranger to Mr. /mith( a >o9th name5 +earnle>( to whom
nothing whatever was sai5 as to the nat9re o= the e?periment abo9t to be trie5( 9ntil he
was thrown into the h>pnotic state in m> st95>. .e was then in a light sleep-waking
con5itionAhis e>es were close5 an5 the p9pils 9pt9rne5Aapparentl> so9n5 asleep@ b9t
he rea5il> answere5 in response to an> E9estions a55resse5 to him b> Mr. /mith or b>
m>sel=.
BI =irst tol5 him to open the =ingers o= his close5 han5( or not to open them( D9st as he =elt
5ispose5( in response to the E9estion a55resse5 to him. *hat E9estion( which I alwa>s
aske5 in a 9ni=orm tone o= voice( was in i-8;! each case( u%ow( will >o9 open >o9r
han5r4 an5 at the same moment I pointe5 to the wor5 u#es4 or u%o(4 written on a car5(
which was hel5 in sight o= Mr. /mith( b9t entirel> o9t o= the range o= vision o= the
us9bDect(4 even ha5 his e>es been open( which the> were not. ,itho9t the slightest change
o= e?pression or other observable m9sc9lar movement( an5 E9ite o9t o= contact with the
us9bDect(4 Mr. /mith then silentl> wille5 the s9bDect to open or not to open his han5( in
accor5ance with the u#es4 or u%o.4 *went> s9ccessive e?periments were ma5e in this
wa>@ seventeen o= these were E9ite s9ccess=9l( an5 three were =ail9res. "9t these three
=ail9res were possibl> 59e to ina5vertence on Mr. /mithus part( as he s9bseE9entl> state5
that on those occasions he ha5 not been prompt eno9gh to 5irect his will in the right
5irection be=ore the E9estion was aske5.
B*he e?periment was now varie5 as =ollows: *he wor5 u#es4 was written on one( an5 the
wor5 u%o4 on the other( o= two precisel> similar pieces o= car5. One or other o= these
car5s was han5e5 to Mr. /mith at m> arbitrar> pleas9re( care( o= co9rse( being taken that
the us9bDect4 ha5 no opport9nit> o= seeing the car5( even ha5 he been awake. ,hen u#es4
was han5e5( Mr. /mith was silentl> to will the us9bDect4 to answer alo95 in response to
the E9estion aske5 b> me( u$i5 >o9 hear mer4 ,hen u%o4 was han5e5( Mr. /mith was to
will that no response sho9l5 be ma5e in repl> to the same E9estion. *he obDect o= this
series o= e?periments was to note the e==ect o= increasing the 5istance between the willer
an5 the wille5(Athe agent an5 the percipient. In the =irst instance Mr. /mith was place5
three feet =rom the us9bDect(4 who remaine5 thro9gho9t apparentl> asleep in an arm-chair
in one corner o= m> st95>.
B)t three =eet apart( =i=teen trials were s9ccessivel> ma5e( an5 in ever, case the us9bDect4
respon5e5 or 5i5 not respon5 in e?act accor5ance with the silent will o= Mr. /mith( as
5irecte5 b> me.
B)t si? =eet apart( si? similar trials were ma5e witho9t a single =ail9re.
B)t twelve =eet apart( si? more trials were ma5e witho9t a single =ail9re.
B)t seventeen =eet apart( si? more trials were ma5e witho9t a single =ail9re.
BIn this last case Mr. /mith ha5 to be place5 o9tsi5e the st95> 5oor( which was then
close5 with the e?ception o= a narrow chink D9st wi5e eno9gh to a5mit o= passing a car5
in or o9t( whilst I remaine5 in the st95> observing the us9bDect.4 *o avoi5 an> possible
in5ication =rom the tone in which I aske5 the E9estion( in all cases e?cept the =irst 5o]en
e?periments( I sh9==le5 the car5s =ace 5ownwar5s( an5 then han5e5 the 9nknown u#es4 or
u%o4 to Mr. /mith( who looke5 at the car5 an5 wille5 accor5ingl>. I note5 5own the
res9lt( an5 then( an5 not till then( looke5 at the car5.
B) =inal e?periment was ma5e when Mr. /mith was taken across the hall an5 place5 in
the 5ining-room( at a 5istance o= abo9t thirt> =eet =rom the us9bDect(4 two 5oors( both E9ite
close5( intervening. Un5er these con5itions( three trials were ma5e with s9ccess( the
u#es4 response being( however( ver> =aint an5 har5l> a95ible to me( who ret9rne5 to the
st95> to ask the 9s9al E9estion a=ter han5ing the car5 to the 5istant operator. )t this point(
the us9bDect4 =ell into a 5eep sleep( an5 ma5e no =9rther replies to the E9estions a55resse5
to him.
BOmitting these =inal e?periments( the total n9mber o= s9ccessive trials at 5i==erent
5istances was =ort>-three. I= the res9lt ha5 been 59e to acci5ent( there wo9l5 have been an
even chance o= =ail9res an5 o= i-82! s9ccesses(Awhereas in =act there -as not a single
failure in the entire series.
BI s9bseE9entl> ma5e a series o= a 5o]en s9ccessive trials in an absol9tel> 5ark room(
conve>ing m> intention to Mr. /mith b> silentl> sE9ee]ing his han5( once =or u%o(4 twice
=or u#es.4 Ever> trial was s9ccess=9l. ,hen Mr. /mith was place5 o9tsi5e the 5arkene5
room( I han5e5 him the car5 thro9gh a small apert9re( which co9l5 be close5. Eight trials
gave si? res9lts E9ite right( one wrong( an5 one 5o9bt=9l. )=terwar5s twent> trials( ma5e
when Mr. /mith was recalle5( an5 the room lighte5( were all entirel> s9ccess=9l. *here
was( I nee5 har5l> sa>( no contact between operator an5 us9bDect4 in an> o= these
e?periments.
B*he 5i==erence in the power o= the will o= the h>pnotist an5 that o= an> other person was
strikingl> mani=est( an5 the proo= o= the e?istence o= a pec9liar urapport4 between
operator an5 s9bDect was simpl> overwhelming. I several times e?erte5 m> will in
opposition to that o= Mr. /mithAthat is to sa>( wille5 that the us9bDect4 sho9l5 or sho9l5
not respon5( when Mr. /mith wille5 the opposite( both o= 9s being eE9all> 5istant =rom
the us9bDect.4 In ever> case his will tri9mphe5. )s in the case o= Mr. "ear5( the us9bDect(4
on being aro9se5( state5 that he ha5 hear5 the E9estion each time( b9t that when he gave
no answer he =elt 9nacco9ntabl> 9nable to control his m9scles so as to =rame the wor5.
BIt was noticeable that neither in the normal nor in the h>pnotic state was this s9bDect able
to tell an> wor5 or n9mber or 5escribe an> 5iagram tho9ght o= or viewe5 b> the operator.
Onl> his abilit> to act in a partic9lar wa> co9l5 be controlle5( an5 he was not s9sceptible
to even the most r95imentar> =orm o= tho9ght-trans=erence proper.C
*he =ollowing shorter series with another operator( Mr. 0ershaw( o= /o9thport( an5 with
Mrs. +irth( a sick-n9rse( as Bs9bDect(C tho9gh the preca9tions were less elaborate than in
the case D9st recor5e5( was to an e>e-witness almost eE9all> satis=actor>. +or the trial was
E9ite s955enl> s9ggeste5 to Mr. 0ershaw b> the present writer@ an5 not onl> was it
planne5 o9t o= Mrs. +irth4s hearing( b9t Mr. 0ershaw himsel= ha5 some 5i==ic9lt> in
9n5erstan5ing what was wante5. ) variet> o= small circ9mstances combine5 to show that
the =orm o= e?periment was entirel> new both to operator an5 Bs9bDect.C
*he trial took place at /o9thport( on /eptember Wth( 277:. Mrs. +irth( who ha5 been
previo9sl> thrown into a light stage o= trance( was place5 in a chair in the mi55le o= a
bare room. Mr. 0ershaw an5 I stoo5 abo9t three >ar5s behin5 her@ an5 sight o= 9s( or o=
an> part o= 9s( on her part was o9t o= the E9estion. *he win5ow was in the wall in =ront o=
her( b9t altogether on one si5e@ an5 there were no other re=lecting s9r=aces in the room. I
5rew 9p the s9bDoine5 list o= ,eses an5 noes, an5 hel5 it =or Mr. 0ershaw to see. .e ma5e
a E9iet connecting motion o= the han5 Pnot to9ching me( an5 being man> i-8U! =eet =rom
Mrs. +irthQ( when there was to be an answer( an5 an eE9all>-E9iet transverse or separating
pass when there was to be none. I attrib9te no virt9e to the passes( e?cept so =ar as the>
were a means o= vivi=>ing Mr. 0ershaw4s silent intention to himsel=. *he passes were
almost absol9tel> noiseless( an5 the e?tremel> =aint so9n5 which the> ma5e( =rom the
ver> nat9re o= the gentle motion( can scarcel> have varie5. -omplete silence was
preserve5 b9t =or m> E9estion( B$o >o9 hearrC repeate5 time a=ter time( in a per=ectl>
ne9tral tone@ an5 there 5i5 not appear to be the ver> =aintest chance o= signalling( even
ha5 there been an opport9nit> =or arranging a scheme.
2.A#es 'ight Pi.e., Mrs. +irth respon5e5Q.
U.A%o 'ight Pi.e., Mrs. +irth 5i5 not respon5Q.
:.A#es 'ight.
3.A#es 'ight.
V.A%o 'ight.
8.A#es 'ight.
W.A%o
)t =irst no answer( which was right: then I gave a ver> lo95 stamp( which
provoke5 a B#es.C
7.A%o 'ight.
X.A#es 'ight.
I will a55 one more short series( which took place at m> lo5gings at "righton( on
/eptember 2;th( 277:. *he operator was Mr. /mith@ the Bs9bDectC an intelligent >o9ng
cabinet-maker( name5 -onwa>. Mr. /mith an5 I stoo5 behin5 him( witho9t an> contact
with him. I hel5 the list( an5 pointe5 to the 5esire5 answer each time. *he silence was
absol9te. I repeate5 the E9estion( B,hat is >o9r namerC in a per=ectl> ne9tral an5
monotono9s manner.
2.A#es 'ight %i.e., the Bs9bDectC sai5 B-onwa>CQ.
U.A#es 'ight.
:.A%o
*his time the answer B-onwa>C was given@ b9t when the ne.t E9estion was
aske5( the Bs9bDectC seeme5 9nable to answer =or some secon5s( as tho9gh
Mr. /mithus intention ha5 taken e==ect a little too late.
3.A#es 'ight.
V.A%o 'ight.
8.A%o 'ight.
W.A#es 'ight.
7.A%o 'ight.
X.A#es 'ight.
2;.A#es 'ight.
22.A%o 'ight.
2U. #es 'ight.
S 2U. "9t in e?periments o= this class it is clearl> 5i==ic9lt to be s9re that the conscious
idea o= the evoke5 or the inhibite5 action 5oes not prece5e or accompan> the m9sc9lar
e==ects. In5ee5( as we have seen( the percipient4s own acco9nt has sometimes shown that
it 5i5 so. I procee5( then( to o9r secon5 class o= cases. *here is( =ort9natel>( one sort o= act
where the ver5ict o= the per=ormer that it was i-8:! a9tomaticall> per=orme5 ma> be
taken as concl9sive@ the act o= -riting. I= wor5s are written 5own which the writer is
oblige5 to rea5 over( an5 even to p9]]le over( D9st as an>one else might 5o( in or5er to
learn what the> are( his 9nconscio9sness o= them in the act o= writing ma> be taken as
establishe5. %ow written wor5s are o= co9rse as goo5 as spoken ones( as evi5ence that a
partic9lar i5ea has been in some wa> comm9nicate5. I=( then( one person4s a9tomatic
writing correspon5s 9nmistakeabl> to the i5ea on which another person4s min5 was
concentrate5 at the time( an5 i= the possibilit> o= sensor> in5ications has been e?cl95e5(
we have a clear e?ample o= some novel in=l9ence acting( not onl> witho9t the
participation o= the recognise5 organs o= sense( b9t witho9t the participation o= the
percipient4s conscio9s intelligence. .ere again we =in5 the a5vantage o= the generic wor5
Btelepath>CA=or it wo9l5 clearl> be inacc9rate to call a phenomenon Btho9ght-
trans=erenceC where what is trans=erre5 5oes not make its appearance( on the percipient4s
si5e( as tho9ght or an> other =orm o= conscio9s perception.
,e have in o9r collection several e?amples o= this (otor =orm o= e?perimental telepath>@
where a mental E9estion on the part o= some one present has been answere5 in writing(
with a planchette
2
or a simple pencil( witho9t an> conscio9sness o= either the E9estion or
the answer on the part o= the person whose han5 was a9tomaticall> acting. "9t the
=ollowing gro9p o= cases is 5eci5e5l> the most remarkable that has come 9n5er o9r
notice.
*he 'ev. 1. .. %ewnham( Vicar o= Maker( $evonport( has ha5 man> in5ications o=
spontaneo9s trans=erence o= tho9ght =rom himsel= to his wi=e@
U
an5 at one perio5 o= his
li=e( in 27W2( he carrie5 o9t a long an5 s>stematic series o= e?periments( which were o=
the motor t>pe that we are now consi5eringAhe writing 5own a E9estion( an5 the
planchette 9n5er his wi=e4s han5s repl>ing to it. .e recor5e5 the res9lts( 5a> b> 5a>( in a
private 5iar>( which he has kin5l> place5 at o9r 5isposal. +rom this 5iar> I E9ote the
=ollowing e?tracts:A
M> wi=e alwa>s sat at a small low table( in a low chair( leaning backwar5s. I sat abo9t
eight =eet 5istant( at a rather high table( an5 with m> back towar5s her while writing
5own the E9estions. It was absol9tel> impossible that an> gest9re or pla> o= =eat9res( on
m> part( co9l5 have been visible or intelligible to her. )s a r9le she kept her e>es sh9t@
b9t never became in the slightest 5egree h>pnotic( or even nat9rall> 5rows>.
i-83!
Un5er these con5itions we carrie5 on e?periments =or abo9t eight months( an5 I have :;X
E9estions an5 answers recor5e5 in m> note-book( sprea5 over this time. "9t the
e?periments were =o9n5 ver> e?ha9stive o= nerve power( an5 as m> wi=e4s health was
5elicate( an5 the =act o= tho9ght-transmission ha5 been ab9n5antl> prove5( we tho9ght it
best to aban5on the p9rs9it.
I ma> mention that the planchette began to move instantl>( with m> wi=e. *he answer was
o=ten hal= written be=ore I ha5 complete5 the E9estion.
On =irst =in5ing that it wo9l5 write easil>( I aske5 three simple E9estions which were
known to the operator@
2
then three others( 9nknown to her( relating to m> own private
concerns. )ll si? having been instantl> answere5 in a manner to show complete
intelligence( I procee5e5 to ask:A
W.
U
,rite 5own the lowest temperat9re here this winter. ). 7.
%ow( this repl> at once arreste5 m> interest. *he act9al lowest temperat9re ha5 been W.8
so that 7 was the nearest whole 5egree@ b9t m> wi=e sai5 at once that( i= she ha5 been
aske5 the E9estion( she wo9l5 have written W an5 not 7@ as she ha5 =orgotten the 5ecimal(
b9t remembere5 m> having sai5 that the temperat9re ha5 been 5own to W so(ething.
I simpl> E9ote this( as a goo5 instance( at the ver> o9tset( o= per=ect transmission o=
tho9ght( co9ple5 with a per=ectl> in5epen5ent repl>@ the answer being correct in itsel=(
b9t 5i==erent =rom the impression on the conscious intelligence o= both parties.
:

%at9rall> o9r =irst 5esire was to see i= we co9l5 obtain an> in=ormation concerning the
nat9re o= the intelligence which was operating thro9gh the planchette( an5 o= the metho5
b> which it pro59ce5 the written res9lts. ,e repeate5 E9estions on this s9bDect again an5
again( an5 I will cop> 5own the principal E9estions an5 answers in the connection.
Januar, BMth.
2:. Is it the operator4s brain( or some e?ternal =orce( that moves the planchetter )nswer
BbrainC or B=orce.C
). ,ill.
23. Is it the will o= a living person( or o= an immaterial spirit( 5istinct =rom that personr
)nswer BpersonC or Bspirit.C
). ,i=e.
2V. &ive =irst the wi=e4s -hristian name@ then( m> =avo9rite name =or her.
P*his was acc9ratel> 5one.Q
UW. ,hat is >o9r own namer
). Onl> >o9.
U7. ,e are not E9ite s9re o= the meaning o= the answer. E?plain.
). ,i=e.
+ailing to get more than this( at the o9tset( we t9rne5 to the same tho9ght a=ter E9estion
223@ when( having been closel> presse5 on another s9bDect( we receive5 the c9rt repl>
AB*ol5 all I know.C
i-8V!
<ebruar, 1#th.
22W. ,ho are >o9 that writes( an5 has tol5 all >o9 knowr
). ,i=e.
227. "9t 5oes no one tell wi=e what to writer I= so( whor
). /pirit.
22X. ,hose spiritr
). ,i=e4s brain.
2U;. "9t how 5oes wi=e4s brain know PcertainQ secretsr
). ,i=e4s spirit 9nconscio9sl> g9i5es.
2U2. "9t how 5oes wi=e4s spirit know things it has never been tol5r
). %o e?ternal in=l9ence.
2UU. "9t b> what internal in=l9ence 5oes it know PtheseQ secretsr
). #o9 cannot know.
'arch 1Lth.
2:U. ,ho( then( makes the impressions 9pon herr
). Man> strange things.
2::. ,hat sort o= strange thingsr
). *hings be>on5 >o9r knowle5ge.
2:3. $o( then( things be>on5 o9r knowle5ge make impressions 9pon wi=er
). In=l9ences which no man 9n5erstan5s or knows.
2:8. )re these in=l9ences which we cannot 9n5erstan5 e?ternal to wi=er
). E?ternalAinvisible.
2:W. $oes a spirit( or 5o spirits( e?ercise those in=l9encesr
). %o( never Pwritten ver> large an5 emphaticall>Q.
2:7. *hen =rom whom( or =rom whence( 5o the e?ternal in=l9ences comer
). #es@ >o9 will never know.
2:X. ,hat 5o >o9 mean b> writing B>esC in the last answerr
). *hat I reall> meant never.
)pril 1Nth.
2XU. "9t b> what means are m> tho9ghts conve>e5 to her brainr
). Electro-biolog>.
2X:. ,hat is electro-biolog>r
). %o one knows.
2X3. "9t 5o not >o9 knowr
). %o. ,i=e 5oes not know.
M> obDect in E9oting this large n9mber o= E9estions an5 replies Y%.". those here given
are mere samplesZ has not been merel> to show the instantaneo9s an5 9n=ailing
transmission o= tho9ght =rom E9estioner to operator@ b9t( more especiall>( to call attention
to a remarkable characteristic o= the answers given. *hese answers( consistent an5
invariable in their tenor =rom =irst to last( did not correspond -ith the opinions or
e.pectations of either (,self or (, -ife. %either m>sel= nor m> wi=e ha5 ever taken part
in an> =orm o= Pso-calle5Q Bspirit9alC mani=estations be=ore this time@ nor ha5 we an>
5eci5e5 opinion as to the agenc> b> which phenomena o= this kin5 were bro9ght abo9t.
"9t =or s9ch answers as those n9mbere5 23( UW( 2:W( 2XU( an5 2X3( we were both o= 9s
totall> 9nprepare5@ an5 I ma> a55 that( so =ar as we were prepossesse5 b> an> opinions
whatever( these replies were 5istinctl> oppose5 to s9ch opinions. In a wor5( it is simpl>
impossible that these replies sho9l5 i-88! have been either s9ggeste5 or compose5 b>
the conscious intelligence o= either o= 9s.
I ha5 a >o9ng man rea5ing with me as a private p9pil at this time. On +ebr9ar> 2Uth he
ret9rne5 =rom his vacation@ an5( on being tol5 o= o9r e?periments( e?presse5 his
incre59lit> ver> strongl>. I o==ere5 an> proo= that he like5 to insist 9pon( onl> stip9lating
that I sho9l5 see the E9estion aske5. )ccor5ingl>( Mrs. %ewnham took her acc9stome5
chair in m> st95>( while we went o9t into the hall( and shut the door behind us. .e then
wrote 5own on a piece o= paper:A
7W. ,hat is the -hristian name o= m> el5est sisterr
,e at once ret9rne5 to( the st95>( an5 =o9n5 the answer alrea5> waiting =or 9s:A
). Mina.
P*his name was the =amil> abbreviation o= ,ilhelmina@ an5 I sho9l5 a55 that it was
9nknown to m>sel=.Q
I m9st now go on to speak o= a series o= other e?periments( o= a ver> remarkable kin5.
,e soon =o9n5 that m> wi=e was per=ectl> 9nable to =ollow the motions o= the planchette.
O=ten she onl> to9che5 it with a single =inger@ b9t even with all her =ingers resting on the
boar5( she never ha5 the slightest i5ea o= what wor5s were being trace5 o9t. It str9ck me
that it wo9l5 be a goo5 thing to take a5vantage o= this pec9liarit> on her part( to ask
E9estions 9pon s9bDects that it was impossible =or her to know an>thing abo9t. I ha5
taken a 5eep interest in Masonic archOolog>( an5 I now E9estione5 planchette on some
s9bDects connecte5 therewith.
<ebruar, 14th.
XU. ,hat is the English o= the great wor5 o= the '.).r
)=ter an interr9ption( o= which I shall speak herea=ter( one great wor5 o= the 5egree( b9t
not the one I meant( was written( ver> slowl> an5 clearl>.
<ebruar, 1#th.
22U. ,hat is the translation o= the &reat *riple ,or5r
). P*he =irst s>llable o= the wor5 in E9estion was written correctl>( an5 then it
procee5e5.Q *he en5 9nknown. *hree lang9ages. &reece. Eg>pt. />riac.
22V. ,ho are >o9 that knowr
P)nswer scrawle5 an5 illegible.Q
228. 1lease repeat same answer legibl>.
). Mani=estation tri9ne person.
'arch B$th.
288. O= what lang9age is the =irst s>llable o= the &reat *riple '.). ,or5r
). $on4t know.
28W. #es( >o9 5o. ,hat are the three lang9ages o= which the wor5 is compose5r
). &reek( Eg>pt( />riac =irst s>llable %correctl, given&, rest 9nknown.
i-8W!
287. ,rite the s>llable which is />riac.
). P+irst s>llable correctl> written.Q
28X. ,rite the s>llable which is Eg>ptian.
). /econ5.
2W;. -an >o9 not write the s>llable itsel=r
). *hir5 &reek.
2W3. ,rite 5own the wor5 itsel=.
). +irst three an5 last two letters were written correctl>( b9t =o9r incorrect letters( partl,
borro-ed fro( another -ord of the sa(e degree, came in the mi55le.
2W8. ,h> 5o >o9 write a wor5 o= which I know nothingr
). ,i=e trie5 har5 to tell the wor5( b9t co9l5 not E9ite catch it.
2WW. -atch it =rom whomr
). %ot E9ite s9re.
2W7. %ot E9ite s9re o= whatr
). I know nothing. ,i=e 5oesn4t E9ite know.
In the above series o= answers we have( it seems to me( a ver> remarkable combination o=
knowle5ge an5 ignorance. *here is a per=ect appreciation o= m> tho9ghts( in the E9eries@
b9t a strange( persistent( almost 5ogge5( incapabilit> o= seeing m> tho9ghts( in the
replies. Especiall> in the answer to 228( an5 in some other answers Ynot here E9ote5Z(
there is a re=erence to an opinion which was p9blishe5 b> $r. Oliver( whose works I ha5
been care=9ll> rea5ing abo9t =o9r months be=ore( b9t with whose theor>( in this case( I
most strongl> 5isagree5. /o that here was an opinion intimate5 which it was impossible
that the operator co9l5 have been aware o=( an5 which the E9estioner ha5 absol9tel>
reDecte5 as 9ntenables
27U. ,rite o9t the pra>er 9se5 at the a5vancement o= a Mark Master Mason.
). )lmight> '9ler o= the Universe an5 )rchitect o= all worl5s( we beseech *hee to accept
this( o9r brother( whom we have this 5a> receive5 into o9r most hono9rable -ompan> o=
Mark Master Masons. &rant him to be a worth> member o= o9r brotherhoo5@ an5 ma> he
be in his own person a per=ect mirror o= all Masonic virt9es. &rant that all o9r 5oings
ma> be to *h> hono9r an5 glor>( an5 to the wel=are o= all mankin5.
*his pra>er was written o== instantaneo9sl> an5 ver> rapi5l>. It is a ver> remarkable
pro59ction in5ee5. +or the bene=it o= those who are not members o= the cra=t( I ma> sa>
that no pra>er in the slightest 5egree resembling it is ma5e 9se o= in the 'it9al o= an>
Masonic 5egree@ an5 >et it contains more than one strictl> acc9rate technicalit> connecte5
with the 5egree o= Mark Mason. M> wi=e has never seen an> Masonic pra>ers( whether in
B-arlile(C or an> other real or sp9rio9s 'it9al o= the Masonic Or5er.
.ere( then( ass9re5l> was a =orm9la compose5 b> some intelligence totall> 5istinct =rom
the conscio9s intelligence o= either o= the persons engage5 in the e?periment.
I procee5e5 to inE9ire as =ollows:A
i-87!
27:. I 5o not know this pra>er. ,here is it to be =o9n5r
). Ol5 )merican 'it9al.
273. ,here can I get oner
). Most likel> none in Englan5.
27V. -an >o9 not write the pra>er that I ma5e 9se o= in m> own Lo5ger
). %o( I 5on4t know it.
In these last answers we see a new moral element intro59ce5. *here is evasion( or
s9bter=9ge( o= a more or less ingenio9s kin5@ an5 totall> =oreign to the whole character
an5 nat9ral 5isposition o= the operator. ) similar attempt at 5eliberate invention( rather
than plea5 g9ilt> to total ignorance( is containe5 in the =ollowing answers:A
'a, Oth.
UVV. In what Masonic 5egree was the *riple ,or5 =irst 9se5r
). ,i=e 5oes not know.
UV8. -annot >o9 tell herr
). .ow can wi=e know what no one else 5oesr
UVW. $oes no one( then( know the answer to thisr
). %o one knows now.
UV7. ,hat 5o >o9 mean b> BnowCr $i5 an>one once knowr
). *he last one who knew 5ie5 at least twent> >ears ago.
UVX. ,hat was his namer
). In )merica@ 5on4t know name.
YMan> more instances o= these evasive replies occ9r.Z
'a, 1Nth.
1lanchette again gave 9s an e?ample o= its sense o= the h9moro9s.
I ha5 been oblige5 to engage a clerg>man who was not a =avo9rable specimen o= his
pro=ession( as I co9l5 proc9re no one else in time to get the /9n5a>4s work 5one. .e was
m9ch am9se5 with planchette( an5 5esire5 to ask:A
UWW. .ow sho9l5 a bachelor live in this neighbo9rhoo5r
P*he answer was illegible.Q
UW7. 1lease repeat answer.
). *hree months.
P1lanchette evi5entl> 5i5 not catch the e?act E9er>.Q
UWX. I 5i5 not ask ho- long b9t ho-J
). Eating an5 5rinking an5 sleeping an5 smoking.
*hat clerg>man never cons9lte5 planchette again.
I will concl95e with a ver> prett> instance o= a mistake instantl> correcte5. It was on the
same evening( Ma> 2;th@ I ha5 to preach on the =ollowing ,hit-Mon5a>( on the occasion
o= la>ing a =o9n5ation-stone with Masonic ceremonial( so I aske5:A
UWV. &ive me a te?t =or ,hit-Mon5a>4s sermon.
). I= I go not awa>( the -om=orter will not come to >o9.
*he selection o= a s9bDect s9itable =or "hitsuntide is plainl> the =irst i5ea ca9ght b> the
intelligence@ so I procee5e5:A
UW8. *hat will not 5o =or m> s9bDect. I want a te?t =or the 'onda,s sermon.
i-8X!
). Let brotherl> love contin9e.
I will a55 one e?ample where( contrar> to the 9s9al r9le( the i5ea o= the answer( tho9gh
not that o= the E9estion( reache5 the level o= conscio9sness in Mrs. %ewnham4s min5.
VX. ,hat name shall we give to o9r new 5ogr
). %ipen.
*he name o= %ipen( =rom <eats on the <iord, shot into the operator4s brain D9st as the
E9estion was aske5.
*he above E9otations =orm a =air sample o= Mr. %ewnham4s :;X e?periments o= the same
t>pe@ an5 no one who a5mits the bona fides o= the recor5( an5 believes that Mrs.
%ewnham( sitting with close5 e>es eight =eet behin5 her h9sban5( 5i5 not obtain thro9gh
her senses an 9nconscio9s knowle5ge o= what he wrote( will 5en> that some sort o=
telepathic in=l9ence was at work( acting below the level o= the percipient4s conscio9sness.
*he e?periments are =9rther interesting as s9ggesting( in the character o= man> o= the
replies( an 9nconscio9s intelligenceAa secon5 sel= E9ite other than Mrs. %ewnham4s
conscio9s sel=. BUnconscio9s intelligenceC is no 5o9bt a somewhat eE9ivocal phrase( an5
it is necessar> to know in ever> case e?actl> what is meant b> it. It ma> be 9se5 in a
p9rel> ph,sical senseAto 5escribe the 9nconscio9s cerebral processes whereb> actions
are pro59ce5 which as a r9le are hel5 to impl> conscio9s intelligence@ as( =or instance(
when complicate5 movements( once per=orme5 with tho9ght an5 e==ort( gra59all>
become mechanical. "9t it ma> be 9se5 also to 5escribe ps,chical processes which are
severe5 =rom the main conscio9s c9rrent o= an in5ivi59al4s li=e. Unconscio9sness in an>
=9rther sense it wo9l5 be rash to assert@ =or intelligent ps>chic process witho9t
conscio9sness o= so(e sort( i= not a contra5iction in terms( is at an> rate something as
impossible to imagine as a =o9rth 5imension in space. *he events in E9estion are o9tsi5e
the in5ivi59al4s conscio9sness( as the events in another person4s conscio9sness are@ b9t
the> 5i==er =rom these last in not revealing themselves as part o= an, contin9o9s stream o=
conscio9s li=e@ an5 no one( there=ore( can give an acco9nt o= them as belonging to a sel=.
,hat their range an5 con5itions o= emergence ma> be we cannot tell@ since( in general(
their ver> e?istence can onl> be in=erre5 =rom certain sensible e==ects to which the> lea5.
2
I ma> recall the 9n5o9bte5 phenomena o= what i-W;! has been terme5 B5o9ble
conscio9sness(C where a double ps>chical li=e is =o9n5 connecte5 with a single organism.
In those cases the two selves( one o= which knows nothing o= the other( appear as
successive/ b9t i= we can regar5 s9ch segregate5 e?istences as 9nite5 or 9ni=ie5 b> bon5s
o= re=erence an5 association which( =or the partial view o= one o= them at least( remain
permanentl> o9t o= sight( then I 5o not see what new or =9n5amental 5i==ic9lt> is
intro59ce5 b> conceiving them as si(ultaneous/ an5 sim9ltaneit> o= the sort is what
seems to be shown( in a =ragmentar> wa>( b> cases like the present. I shall have to rec9r
to this conception in connection with some o= the =acts o= spontaneo9s telepath> Psee pp.
U:;T2Q.
) =9rther noteworth> point is that so o=ten the E9estions an5 not the answers in the
agent4s min5 sho9l5 have been telepathicall> 5iscerne5@ b9t we ma> perhaps conceive
that the imp9lse =irst conve>e5 set the percipient4s in5epen5ent activit> to work( an5 so
p9t an en5 =or the moment to the receptive con5ition. *he power to repro59ce the act9al
wor5 tho9ght o= is s9==icientl> shown in the cases where names were given P2V an5 7WQ(
an5 in some o= the Masonic answers@ an5 the =ollowing e?amples belong to the same
class.
37. ,hat name shall we give to o9r new 5ogr
). #ester5a> was not a =air trial.
3X. ,h> was not >ester5a> a =air trialr
). $og.
)n5 again:A
2;7. ,hat 5o I mean b> cha==ing -. abo9t a lilac treer
). *emper an5 imagination.
2;X. #o9 are thinking o= somebo5> else. 1lease repl> to m> E9estion.
). Lilacs.
.ere a single image or wor5 seems to have ma5e its mark on the percipient4s min5(
witho9t calling an> originative activit> into pla>@ an5 we th9s get the nake5 repro59ction.
In these last e?amples we again notice the =eat9re o= deferred impression. *he in=l9ence
i-W2! onl> gra59all> became e==ective( the imme5iate answer being irrelevant to the
E9estion. ,e ma> s9ppose( there=ore( that the =irst e==ect took place below the threshol5
o= conscio9sness.
2

S 2:. I ma> now procee5 to some =9rther res9lts which were obtaine5 with percipients o=
less abnormal sensibilit>( an5 which 5eman5( there=ore( a care=9l application o= the
theor> o= probabilities.
i-WU!
+or the 5evelopment o= the motor =orm o= e?periment in this 5irection( we have again to
thank M. 'ichet@ who here( as in the case o= the car5-g9essing( has bro9ght the calc9l9s
to bear e==ectivel> on vario9s sets o= res9lts man> o= which( i= looke5 at in separation(
wo9l5 have ha5 no signi=icance.
2
*he =act that the Bs9bDectsC o= his trials were persons
who ha5 betra>e5 no special aptit95e =or Bmental s9ggestion(C ma5e it clearl> 5esirable
that the bo5il> action reE9ire5 sho9l5 be o= the ver> simplest sort. *he =ormation o=
wor5s b> a planchette-writer reE9ires( o= co9rse( a ver> comple? set o= m9sc9lar co-
or5inations: all that M. 'ichet so9ght to obtain was a single movement or twitch. In the
earlier trials an obDect was hi55en( an5 the percipient en5eavo9re5 to 5iscover it b>
means o= a sort o= 5ivining-ro5Athe i5ea being that he invol9ntaril> twitche5 the ro5 at
the right moment 9n5er the in=l9ence o= Bmental s9ggestionC =rom the agent( who was
watching his movements. "9t where the s9bDect o= comm9nication is o= s9ch an
e?tremel> simple kin5( ver> elaborate preca9tions wo9l5 be nee5e5 to g9ar5 against
9nconscio9s hints. In5ications =rom the e?pression or attit95e o= the BagentC ma> be
prevente5 b> blin5=ol5ing the Bpercipient(C an5 in other wa>s@ b9t i= the two are in close
pro?imit>( it is har5er to e?cl95e s9ch signs as ma> be given b> invol9ntar> movements(
or b> changes o= breathing. M. 'ichet4s later e?periments were ingenio9sl> contrive5 so
as to obviate this obDection.
*he place o= a planchette was taken b> a table( an5 M. 'ichet pre=aces his acco9nt b> a
s9ccinct statement o= the ortho5o? view as to Btable-t9rning.C 'eDecting altogether the
three theories which attrib9te the phenomena to wholesale =ra95( to spirits( an5 to an
9nknown =orce( he regar5s the g>rations an5 oscillations o= sHance-tables as 59e wholl>
to the 9nconscio9s m9sc9lar contractions o= the sitters. It th9s occ9rre5 to him to emplo>
a table as an in5icator o= the movements that might be pro59ce5( b> Bmental s9ggestion.C
*he plan o= the e?periments was as =ollows. *hree persons P-( $( an5 E(Q took their seats
in a semi-circle( at a little table on which their han5s reste5. One o= these three was
alwa>s a Bme5i9mCAa term 9se5 b> M. 'ichet to 5enote a person liable to e?hibit
intelligent movements in which conscio9sness an5 will apparentl> take no part. )ttache5
to the table was a simple electrical apparat9s( the e==ect o= which was to ring a bell
whenever the c9rrent was broken b> the tilting o= the table.
i-W:!
"ehin5 the backs o= the sitters at the table was another table( on which was a large
alphabet( completel> screene5 =rom the view o= -( $( an5 E( even ha5 the> t9rne5 ro9n5
an5 en5eavo9re5 to see it. In =ront o= this alphabet sat )( whose 59t> was to =ollow the
letters slowl> an5 stea5il> with a pen( ret9rning at once to the beginning as soon as he
arrive5 at the en5. )t )4s si5e sat "( with a note-book@ his 59t> was to write 5own the
letter at which )4s pen happene5 to be pointing whenever the bell rang. *his happene5
whenever one o= the sitters at the table ma5e the simple movement necessar> to tilt it.
Un5er these con5itions( ) an5 " are apparentl> mere a9tomata. -( $( an5 E are little
more( being 9nconscio9s o= tilting the table( which appears to them to tilt itsel=@ b9t even
i= the> tilte5 it conscio9sl>( an5 with a conscio9s 5esire to 5ictate wor5s( the> have no
means o= ascertaining at what letter )4s pen is pointing at an> partic9lar moment@ an5
the> might tilt =or ever witho9t pro59cing more than an en5less series o= incoherent
letters. *hings being arrange5 th9s( a si?th operator( +( statione5 himsel= apart both =rom
the tilting table an5 =rom the alphabet( an5 concentrate5 his tho9ght on some wor5 o= his
own choosing( which he ha5 not comm9nicate5 to the others. *he three sitters at the =irst
table engage5 in conversation( sang( or tol5 stories@ b9t at intervals the table tilte5( the
bell rang( an5 " wrote 5own the letter which )4s pen was opposite to at that moment.
%ow( to the astonishment o= all concerne5( these letters( when arrange5 in a series( t9rne5
o9t to pro59ce a more or less close appro?imation to the wor5 o= which + was thinking.
+or the sake o= comparing the res9lts with those which p9re acci5ent wo9l5 give( M.
'ichet =irst consi5ers some cases o= the latter sort. .e writes the wor5 %)1OLEO%@ he
then takes a bo? containing a n9mber o= letters( an5 makes eight 5raws@ the eight letters(
in the or5er o= 5rawing( t9rn o9t to be U1M*$E#V .e then places this set below the
other( th9s:A
%)1OLEO%
U1M*$E#V
*aking the n9mber o= letters in the +rench alphabet to be U3( the probabilit> o= the
correspon5ence o= an> letter in the lower line with the letter imme5iatel> above it is( o=
co9rse 2 v U3@ an5 in the series o= 7 letters it is more probable than not that there will not
be a single correspon5ence. I= we reckon as a s9ccess an> case where the letter in the
lower line correspon5s not onl> with the letter above it( b9t i-W3! with either o= the
neighbo9rs o= that letter in the alphabet
2
%e.g., where L has above it either 0( L( or MQ(
then a single correspon5ence represents the most probable amo9nt o= s9ccess. In the
act9al res9lt( it will be seen( there is D9st one correspon5ence( which happens to be a
complete oneAthe letter E in the si?th place. It will not be necessar> to E9ote other
instances. /9==ice it to sa> that the total res9lt( o= trials involving the 9se o= 83 letters(
gives : e?act correspon5ences( while the e?pression in5icating the most probable n9mber
was U{W@ an5 W correspon5ences o= the other t>pe( while the most probable n9mber was 7.
*h9s even in this short set o= trials( the acci5ental res9lt ver> nearl> coinci5e5 with the
strict theoretic n9mber.
,e are now in a position to appreciate the res9lts obtaine5 when the =actor o= Bmental
s9ggestionC was intro59ce5. In the =irst e?periment ma5e( M. 'ichet( stan5ing apart both
=rom the table an5 =rom the alphabet( selecte5 =rom LittrH4s 5ictionar> a line o= poetr>
which was 9nknown to his =rien5s( an5 aske5 the name o= the a9thor. *he letters obtaine5
b> the process above 5escribe5 were F+)'$@ an5 there the tilting stoppe5. )=ter M.
'ichet4s =rien5s ha5 p9]]le5 in vain over this answer( he in=orme5 them that the a9thor o=
the line was 'acine@ an5 D9?taposition o= the letters th9sA
F+)'$
FE)%'
shows that the n9mber o= complete s9ccesses was U( which is abo9t 2; times the =raction
representing the most probable n9mber@ an5 that the n9mber o= s9ccesses o= the t>pe
where neighbo9ring letters are reckone5 was :( which is abo9t V times the =raction
representing the most probable n9mber. M. 'ichet tells 9s( however( that he was not
act9all> concentrating his tho9ght on the a9thor4s -hristian name. Even so( it probabl>
ha5 a s9b-conscio9s place in his min5( which might s9==icientl> acco9nt =or its
appearance. )t the same time acci5ent has o= co9rse a wi5er scope when there is more
than one res9lt that wo9l5 be allowe5 as s9ccess=9l@ an5 the amo9nt o= s9ccess was here
not nearl> striking eno9gh to have an> in5epen5ent weight.
It is clearl> 5esirableAwith the view o= making s9re that +4s min5( i= an>( is the operative
oneAnot to ask a E9estion o= which the i-WV! answer might possibl> at some time have
been within the knowle5ge o= the sitters at the table@ an5 in the s9bseE9ent e?periments
the name was silentl> =i?e5 on b> +. *he most striking s9ccess was this:A
%ame tho9ght o=: -.EV)LO%
Letters pro59ce5: -.EV)L
.ere the most probable n9mber o= e?act s9ccesses was ;( an5 the act9al n9mber was 8.
*aking the s9m o= eight trials( we =in5 that the most probable n9mber o= e?act s9ccesses
was U( an5 the act9al n9mber 23@ an5 that the most probable n9mber o= s9ccesses o= the
other t>pe was W( an5 the act9al n9mber U3. It was observe5( moreover( that the
correspon5ences were m9ch more n9mero9s in the earlier letters o= each set than in the
later ones. *he =irst three letters o= each set were as =ollowsA
F+)A%E+A+O}A.E%A-.EAE1FA-.EA)LL
FE)ALE&AE/*A.I&A$IEA$O'A-.EAJ0O
.ere( o9t o= U3 trials( the most probable n9mber o= e?act s9ccesses being 2( the act9al
n9mber is 7@ the most probable n9mber o= s9ccesses o= the other t>pe being :( the act9al
n9mber is 2W. *he =ig9res become still more striking i= we regar5 certain consec9tive
series in the res9lts. *h9s the probabilit> o= obtaining b> chance the three consec9tive
correspon5ences in the =irst e?periment here E9ote5 was 2 v V2U@ an5 that o= obtaining the
8 consec9tive correspon5ences in the -.EV)LO% e?periment was abo9t 2 v
2;;(;;;(;;;.
*he e?periment was repeate5 =o9r times in another =orm. ) line o= poetr> was secretl>
an5 silentl> written 5own b> the agent( with the omission o= a single letter. .e then aske5
what the omitte5 letter was@ it was correctl> pro59ce5 in ever> one o= the =o9r trials. *he
probabilit> o= s9ch a res9lt was less than 2 v :;;(;;;.
)n5 now =ollows a ver> interesting observation. In some cases( a=ter the res9lt was
obtaine5( s9bseE9ent trials were ma5e -ith the sa(e -ord, which o= co9rse the agent 5i5
not reveal in the meantime@ an5 the amo9nt o= s9ccess was sometimes marke5l>
increase5 on these s9bseE9ent trials. *h9s( when the name tho9ght o= was $4O ' M O %
*(
the =irst three letters pro59ce5 on the =irst trial were E1F
<

the =irst three letters pro59ce5 on the secon5 trial were E1+
the =irst three letters pro59ce5 on the thir5 trial were E1/
the =irst three letters pro59ce5 on the =o9rth trial were $O'
/9mming 9p these =o9r trials( the most probable n9mber o= e?act s9ccesses was ;( an5
the act9al n9mber was :@ the most probable i-W8! n9mber o= s9ccesses o= the other t>pe
was 2 or at most U@ an5 the act9al n9mber was 2;. *he probabilit> o= the : consec9tive
s9ccesses in the last trial was abo9t : v 2;(;;;.
In respect o= this name 54Ormont( there was a =9rther ver> pec9liar res9lt. On the =o9rth
trial( the letters pro59ce5 in the manner 5escribe5 stoo5 th9sA$O'EMIO$. *h9s( i= the
name tho9ght o= were spelt $O'EMO%$( the appro?imation wo9l5 be e?traor5inaril>
close( the probabilit> o= the acci5ental occ9rrence o= the V consec9tive s9ccesses being
something in=initesimal.
2
%ow( as long as we are merel> aiming at an 9nassailable
mathematical estimate o= probabilities =or each partic9lar case( it 5oes not seem
D9sti=iable to take ifs o= an> sort into consi5eration. M. 'ichet( who was the agent(
e?pressl> tells 9s that he -as imagining the name spelt as 54Ormont@ an5 on the strict
acco9nt( there=ore( the s9ccess reache5 a point against which the o55s( tho9gh still
enormo9s( were 5eci5e5l> less enormo9s than i= he ha5 been imagining the other
spelling. "9t when we are en5eavo9ring to =orm a correct view o= what reall> takes place(
it wo9l5 be 9nintelligent not to take a somewhat wi5er view o= the phenomena. )n5 s9ch
a view seems to show that in those 9n5ergro9n5 mental regions where M. 'ichet4s res9lts
Pi= more than acci5entalQ m9st have ha5 their preparation( a mistake or a piece o=
in5epen5ence in spelling is b> no means an 9n9s9al occ9rrence. *he recor5s o=
a9tomatism( E9ite apart =rom telepath>( a==or5 man> instances o= s9ch in5epen5ence.
*h9s a gentleman( writing a9tomaticall>( was p9]]le5 b> the mention o= a =rien5 at
<rontunacAa place he ha5 never hear5 o=@ weeks a=terwar5s his own writing gave him
the correct nameA<ond du ;ac. Mr. M>ers4 paper( above re=erre5 to( contains one case
where a planchette wrote( BM> name is Nor(an,F pres9mabl> meaning Norval/ an5
another( witnesse5 b> 1ro=essor /i5gwick( where the &reek letter ? was a9tomaticall>
written as 0 .( with the res9lt that =or a time the wor5 completel> p9]]le5 the writer.
)n5 while engage5 on this ver> point I have receive5 a letter =rom Mr. F9lian .awthorne(
in which he tells me that the spelling o= the planchette-writing obtaine5 thro9gh the
a9tomatism o= a >o9ng chil5 o= his own was Bm9ch better than in her own letters an5
Do9rnals.C
I will insert here an inci5ent to which( since it occ9rre5 in connection with a person who
has been 5etecte5 in the pro59ction o= sp9rio9s i-WW! phenomena( I wish to attrib9te no
evi5ential importance. *hro9gho9t this book care has been taken to rest o9r case
e?cl9sivel> on phenomena an5 recor5s o= phenomena 5erive5 =rom Pas we believeQ E9ite
9ntainte5 so9rces@ b9t there are two reasons which seem to me to make the =ollowing
e?perience worth 5escribing. +irst( those who alrea5> believe in tho9ght-trans=erence will
=eel little 5o9bt that we have here an instance o= it( which is in itsel= in5epen5ent o= the
character an5 pretensions o= the percipient@ an5 this being so( the> will =in5( in the close
parallelism that the case presents in some points to M. 'ichet4s e?periments( an
interesting con=irmation o= these. )n5 secon5l>( it ma> be 9se=9l to s9ggest that tho9ght-
trans=erence is probabl> the tr9e e?planation o= certain res9lts pro=esse5l> pro59ce5 b>
Bspirit9alistic me5i9mshipC@ =or till telepathic percipience is allowe5 =or( as a nat9ral
h9man =ac9lt>( the occasional mani=estations o= it in 59bio9s circ9mstances are certain to
be a so9rce o= con=9sion an5 error.
On /eptember U( 277V( Mr. +. ,. .. M>ers( $r. ). *. M>ers( an5 the present writer pai5
an imprompt9 visit to a pro=essional Bme5i9mC in a =oreign town( who ha5 no cl9e
whatever to o9r names an5 i5entit>. ,e ha5 5eci5e5 be=orehan5 on a name on which to
concentrate o9r tho9ghts( with a view to getting it repro59ce5. *here was no opport9nit>
=or emplo>ing M. 'ichet4s preca9tions an5 checks. *he Bme5i9m(C her 5a9ghter( an5 the
three visitors sat ro9n5 a table on which their han5s were place5( an5 the present writer
pointe5 to the s9ccessive letters o= a printe5 alphabet@ at intervals the so9n5 o= a rap was
hear5( an5 the letter th9s in5icate5 was written 5own. %ow these con5itions co9l5 not
have been consi5ere5 a5eE9ate( ha5 the res9lt been that the name in o9r min5s was
correctl> given@ =or tho9gh o9r two companions were not apparentl> looking at 9s an5 not
in contact with 9s( it might have been s9ppose5 that some invol9ntar> an5 9nconscio9s
movement on o9r part reveale5 to one o= them at what points to make the raps. "9t as the
res9lt t9rne5 o9t( it will be seen( I think( that this obDection 5oes not appl>. *he name that
ha5 been selecte5 was Fohn .enr> 1ratt. *he res9lt obtaine5 in the wa> 5escribe5 was
FO%.%#E/'O/)*. +rom the % in the =i=th place to the en5( $r. M>ers an5 m>sel=
regar5e5 the letters that were being given as p9rel> =ort9ito9s( an5 as =orming gibberish@
an5 tho9gh Mr. +. ,. .. M>ers 5etecte5 a metho5 in them( he was as =ar as we were =rom
e?pecting the s9ccessive letters be=ore the> appeare5. On inspection( the metho5 i-W7!
becomes apparent. I= in three places an appro?imation Po= the sort so o=ten met with b>
M. 'ichetQ be allowe5( an5 a contig9o9s letter be s9bstit9te5( the complete name will be
=o9n5 to be given( th9s:A
F O % . % # E
'
/ '
1
O
*
/ ) *
the =irst wor5 being phoneticall> spelt( an5 the other two being correct anagrams. It is
highl> improbable that s9ch an amo9nt o= resemblance was acci5ental@ an5 it is 5i==ic9lt
to s9ppose that it was 59e to m9sc9lar in5ications 9nconscio9sl> given b> 9s in
accor5ance with an unconscious arrangement o= the letters in o9r min5s in phonetic an5
anagrammatic or5er. I= these s9ppositions be e?cl95e5( the onl> alternative will be
tho9ght-trans=erenceAthe letters whose image or so9n5 was trans=erre5 being mo5i=ie5
b> the percipient hersel=( in a wa> which seems( =rom some e?periments 9nconnecte5
with tho9ght-trans=erence( to be E9ite within the scope o= the min54s 9nconscio9s
operations.
2
"9t in whatever wa> the knowle5ge o= the letters or s>llables reache5 the
Bme5i9m4sC min5( I see no reason to think that the e?pression o= it b> raps was other than
a conscio9s act. *he so9n5s were s9ch as wo9l5 be ma5e b> gentl> tapping the =oot
against the woo5en =rame o= the table@ an5 at a s9bseE9ent trial with one o= these so-
calle5 Bme5i9msCAthe 5a9ghterAI manage5 b> ver> gra59all> a5vancing m> own =oot
to receive on it =irst a part an5 9ltimatel> the whole o= the impact. *he movement
reE9ire5 to make the raps ma> have become semia9tomatic =rom long habit( b9t can
har5l> have been 9nconscio9s. I ma> a55 that( o9t o= a goo5 man> wor5s an5 sentences
which were spelt o9t in the same wa> at several 5i==erent sittings( the case recor5e5 was
Pwith a single 5o9bt=9l e?ceptionQ the onl> one that containe5 the slightest in5ication o=
an> abnormal =ac9lt>.
*o ret9rn to M. 'ichet4s e?perimentsAa res9lt o= a 5i==erent kin5 was the =ollowing(
which is especiall> noteworth> as 59e to the agenc> o= an i5ea that was itsel= on the verge
o= the 9nconscio9s. M. 'ichet chose a E9otation at ran5om =rom LittrH4s 5ictionar>( an5
aske5 =or the name o= the a9thor( which was Lego9vH. *he letters pro59ce5 were
FO/E1.-.$( which looke5 like a complete =ail9re. "9t the E9otation in the 5ictionar>
was a5Dacent to another =rom the works o= Foseph -hHnier@ an5 M. 'ichet4s e>e( in
r9nning over the page( ha5 certainl> enco9ntere5 the latter name( which ha5 probabl>
retaine5 a certain low place in his conscio9sness. )nother i-WX! ver> interesting case o=
a res9lt 9ninten5e5 b> the agent( tho9gh probabl> 59e to something in his min5( was this.
*he name tho9ght o= was Victor@ the letters pro59ce5 on three trials were
$)LE%
$)ME/
$)%$/
Aseemingl> complete =ail9res. "9t it appeare5 that while the agent ha5 been
concentrating his tho9ghts on BVictor(C the name o= a =rien5( $anet( ha5 spontaneo9sl>
rec9rre5 to his memor>. ,e sho9l5( o= co9rse( be greatl> e?ten5ing the chances o=
accidental s9ccess( i= we reckone5 collocations o= letters as s9ccess=9l on the gro9n5 o=
their resemblance to an> one o= the names or wor5s which ma> have momentaril> =o9n5
their wa> into the agent4s min5 while the e?periment was in progress. .ere( however( the
name seems to have s9ggeste5 itsel= with consi5erable persistence( an5 the resemblance
is ver> close. )n5 i= the res9lt ma> =airl> be attrib9te5 to Bmental s9ggestion(C then( o=
the two names which ha5 a certain lo5gment in the agent4s min5( the one inten5e5 to be
e==ective was ine==ective( an5 vice vers0.
It is a remarkable =act that in the =ew hitherto recor5e5 cases o= e?perimental telepath>(
where wor5s have been in5icate5 b> writing or b> other movements on the percipient4s
part( the i5ea or wor5 trans=erre5 seems as o=ten as not to have been one which was not at
the moment occ9p>ing the agent4s conscio9sness@ that is to sa>( the in=l9ence has
procee5e5 =rom some part o= the agent4s min5 which is below the threshol5 o= conscio9s
attention. P/ee p. 73 below( an5 Vol. II.( pp. 8W;T2.Q *his conception o= unconscious
agenc,Ao= an B9nconscio9s intelligenceC in the agent as well as in the percipientAwill
present itsel= again ver> prominentl> when we come to consi5er the cases o= spontaneo9s
telepath>. "9t the e?perimental instances have a theoretic importance o= another sort.
*he> seem to e?hibit telepathic pro59ction o= movements b> what is at most an i5ea( an5
not a volition( on the agent4s part. *his( in5ee5( is a h>pothesis which seems D9sti=ie5
even b> M. 'ichet4s less e?ceptional res9lts. +or we m9st remember that in a sense ) is
thro9gho9t more imme5iatel> the agent than +@ it is what )4s min5 contrib9tes( not what
+4s min5 contrib9tes( that pro59ces the tilts at the right moments.
2
"9t this i-7;! is o=
co9rse thro9gh no -ill o= )4s@ he is ignorant o= the reE9ire5 wor5( an5 has absol9tel> no
opport9nit> o= bringing his volition into pla>. .is Bagenc>C is o= a wholl> passive sort@
an5 his min5( as it =ollows the co9rse o= his pen( is a mere con59it-pipe( whereb>
knowle5ge o= a certain kin5 obtains access to the B9nconscio9s intelligenceC which
evokes the tilts. I=( then( the knowle5ge mani=ests itsel= as imp9lse( can we avoi5 the
concl9sion that in this partic9lar mo5e o= accessAin Bmental s9ggestionC or telepath> as
s9chAa certain i(pulsive E9alit> is involve5r ,e shall enco9nter =9rther signs o= s9ch an
imp9lsive E9alit> among the spontaneo9s cases.
2
P/ee pp. UX3( V:WT7.Q
"9t o= co9rse the relation between + an5 the Bme5i9mC pla>s also a necessar> part in the
res9lt@ the imp9lse to tilt when a partic9lar letter is reache5 onl> takes e==ect when it =alls
Pso to speakQ on gro9n5 prepare5 b> Bmental s9ggestionC =rom +Aon a min5 in which
the wor5 imagine5 b> him has obtaine5 an 9nconscio9s lo5gment. *he 9nconscio9s part
o= the percipient4s min5 wo9l5 th9s be the scene o= con=l9ence o= two separate telepathic
streams( which procee5 to combine there in an intelligent wa>Aone procee5ing =rom +4s
min5( which pro59ces 9nconscio9s knowle5ge o= the wor5( an5 the other procee5ing
=rom )4s min5( which pro59ces an 9nconscio9s image i-72! o= the s9ccessive letters.
2

)nother possible s9pposition wo9l5 be that +4s tho9ght a==ects( not the Bme5i9m(C b9t )@
or conversel>( that )4s tho9ght a==ects not the Bme5i9m(C b9t +@Athat ) obtains
9nconscio9s knowle5ge o= the wor5( or that + obtains 9nconscio9s knowle5ge o= the
letter( an5 so is enable5 to comm9nicate an imp9lse to the Bme5i9mC at the right moment.
)n5 we sho9l5 then have to s9ppose a secret 9n5erstan5ing between two parts o= )4s or
+4s min5( the part which takes acco9nt o= the letters o= the alphabet( an5 the part which
takes acco9nt o= the letters o= the wor5Athe =ormer being conscio9s an5 the latter
9nconscio9s( or vice vers0, accor5ing as ) or + is the part> a==ecte5.
One hesitates to la9nch onesel= on the conceptions which these e?periments open 9p@ b9t
the onl> alternative wo9l5 be to E9estion the =acts =rom an evi5ential point o= view. /o
regar5e5( the> are o= an e?tremel> simple kin5@ an5 i= their gen9ineness be grante5( we
are re=t once an5 =or all =rom o9r ol5 ps>chological moorings. *he whole E9estion o= the
ps>chical constit9tion o= man is opene5 to its =9rthest 5epths@ an5 o9r central conception
Atelepath>Athe interest o= which( even in its simpler phases( seeme5 almost
9ns9rpassable( takes on an interest o= a wholl> 9nlooke5-=or kin5. +or it now appears as
an all-important metho5 or instr9ment =or testing the min5 in its hi55en parts( an5 =or
meas9ring its 9nconscio9s operations.
S 23. *he above sketch P=or it is little moreQ ma> give an i5ea o= the chie= e?perimental
res9lts so =ar obtaine5 in the co9rse o= serio9s an5 s>stematic research.
U
"9t tho9gh the
investigation ma> be laborio9sl> an5 consec9tivel> p9rs9e5 b> those who make a special
st95> o= the s9bDect( it is one which a5mits also o= being prosec9te5 in a more hapha]ar5
an5 spora5ic manner. ) gro9p o= =rien5s ma> take it 9p =or a =ew evenings( an5 then get
tire5 o= it@ an5 it is E9ite possible =or val9able res9lts to be obtaine5 witho9t an>
recognition o= their val9e. One or two specimens o= these cas9al s9ccesses that we so i-
7U! =reE9entl> hear o= ma> be worth citing( i= onl> beca9se the knowle5ge that s9ch
res9lts are obtainable ma> stim9late =9rther trials. O9r own satis=action in s9ch =ragments
o= evi5ence is o=ten more than co9nterbalance5 b> the impossibilit> o= getting o9r =rien5s
to 5evote time an5 tro9ble to the work.
*he =ollowing case( receive5 in /eptember( 277V( =rom Mrs. ,ilson( o= ,estal(
-heltenham( is interesting as an apparent victor> o= Btho9ght-rea5ingC over Bm9scle-
rea5ing.C ) gro9p o= =ive BwillersC one o= whom was in contact with the wo9l5-be
percipient( were to concentrate their min5s on the 5esire that the latter sho9l5 sit 5own to
the piano an5 strike the mi55le -. .a5 she 5one so( the res9lt wo9l5 have been worth
little@ b9t this was what happene5:A
B,hen ). I. entere5 blin5=ol5e5Aher han5 in the han5 o= "( hel5 over the =orehea5AM.
). ,. was possesse5 with the 5esire to will her( witho9t bo5il> contact( to come to her
an5 give her a kiss on the =orehea5( an5 she at once e?erte5 P9nknown to the othersQ all
her will to achieve this obDect. ). I. came slowl> 9p to M. ). ,.( till she stoo5 E9ite close(
to9ching her( an5 commence5 ben5ing 5own towar5s her( when M. ). ,.( thinking it was
har5l> =air to s9ccee5 against the other uwillers(4 trie5 to reverse her will( an5 with intense
e==ort wille5 ). I. to t9rn awa> an5 not give the inten5e5 kiss. /lowl> ). I raise5 her
hea5( stoo5 a moment still( then t9rne5 in another 5irection towar5s the piano( b9t not
near it( an5 sat 5own in an armchair. ) =ew secon5s a=ter she sai5: uI can4t =eel an>
impression now( nor an> wish to 5o an>thing.4 /he was release5 =rom her ban5age an5
E9estione5 as to her =eelings. u$i5 >o9 get an> impression o= what >o9 ha5 to 5or ,hat
5i5 >o9 =eelr4 /he replie5: uI ha5 a 5istinct =eeling that I ha5 to go an5 kiss M. ). ,. on
the =orehea5@ b9t when I came 9p to someone an5 bent 5own to 5o it( I was sensible o= a
strong =eeling that I was not to 5o itAan5 co9l5 not 5o it@ an5 a=ter that I co9l5 get no
impression whatever.4
BM)'# ). ,IL/O%.
B)LI-E M. ,. I%&')M.C
*he percipient in both the =ollowing cases was o9r =rien5( the .on. )le?an5er #orke. In
the s9mmer o= 2773 he mentione5 to two nieces( as a Doke( that some one ha5 s9ggeste5
to him the possibilit> o= 5iscerning the contents o= letters presse5 to the =orehea5@ an5 this
E9ack s9ggestion le5 b> acci5ent to an apparentl> gen9ine e?periment in tho9ght-
trans=erence.
*he acco9nt is =rom the Misses )5eane( o= 2X( Ennismore &ar5ens( /.,.
BF9ne( 2773.
B*aking a letter =rom a heap on m> mother4s table( I glance5 at the contents( an5 then
place5 it on m> 9ncle4s hea5( where he hel5 it. ) min9te ha5 har5l> elapse5 be=ore he
sai5( E9ite E9ietl>( u*his letter is not a55resse5 to >o9r mother.4 .e then pa9se5( as i=
waiting =or another impression. uIt is written to -harlie4 Pm> brotherQ( an5 another pa9se(
ub> an 9ncleAnot a real 9ncleAa sort o= 9ncle.4 )nother pa9se( uIt i-7:! m9st be abo9t
b9siness.4 )t this point I was so m9ch astonishe5 that I co9l5 not help telling him how
tr9e an5 correct all his impressions ha5 been( which practicall> p9t an en5 to the
e?periment b> giving a cl9e as to what the b9siness was( [c. M> >o9nger sister was the
onl> other person in the room at the time. *he letter was a55resse5 to m> brother at
O?=or5 b> his tr9stee( an5 9ncle b> marriage( an5 relate5 to b9siness@ he ha5 =orwar5e5 it
to m> mother to rea5( an5 I selecte5 it partl> b> chance( an5 partl> beca9se I tho9ght( i=
there was onl> g9essing in the case( it wo9l5 have been a p9]]ler. M> 9ncle( Mr. #orke(
5oes not know the writer o= the letter or his han5writing.
BM)'IE -. )$E)%E.
BM)U$E )$E)%E.C
)gain( the mother o= these in=ormants( La5> Eli]abeth "i559lph( writes to 9s( on F9ne 2U(
2773:A
BM> girls came 5own to the 5rawing-room with m> brother( Mr. )le?an5er #orke( abo9t
:.:; on /9n5a> a=ternoon( Ma> 27th. I was sitting with one o= Mr. "i559lph4s brothers(
an5 his sister( Mrs. L. *he> ha5 D9st bro9ght me a letter sent b> mistake to :2( Eaton
1lace. 1resentl> -aptain an5 La5> E5ith )5eane came in( an5 then m> two girls began
telling 9s o= what ha5 happene5 9pstairs. I imme5iatel> r9she5 at the letter I ha5 D9st
receive5( an5 la9ghing( hel5 it to Mr. #orke4s =orehea5: he obDecte5( sa>ing( uI shall
probabl> =ail( an5 then >o9 will onl> la9gh at the whole thing.4 .e thr9st m> han5 awa>(
an5 I le=t the matter alone an5 went on talking to m> relations. 1resentl> m> brother rose
to go( an5 hesitating rather( sai5( u,ell( m> 5ear( the impression abo9t that letter is so
strong that I m9st tell >o9 the $9chess o= /t. )lbans wrote it.4 It -as so. /he 5oes not
correspon5 with me@ the letter( too( having been a55resse5 b> mistake to :2( Eaton 1lace(
ma5e it more 9nlikel> there sho9l5 be an> cl9e( an5 its contents were p9rel> o= a
b9siness-like character.
BELIJ)"E*. 1. "I$$UL1..C
On another similar occasion( the present writer saw a letter taken 9p cas9all> =rom a
writing-table( an5 hel5 to Mr. #orke4s =orehea5( in s9ch a wa> that he co9l5 not possibl>
catch a glimpse o= the writing. .e correctl> 5escribe5 the writer as an el5erl> man(
=ormerl> connecte5 with himsel=( b9t co9l5 not name him. *he writer ha5( in =act( been
his t9tor at one time. It nee5 har5l> be sai5 that no importance is to be attrib9te5 to the
hol5ing o= the letters to the =orehea5. In ever> case the writer an5 the contents o= the
letter were known to some person in the percipient4s imme5iate vicinit>( an5 that being
so( an> other h>pothesis than that o= tho9ght-trans=erence is grat9ito9s.
*he =ollowing inci5ent is an e?cellent cas9al ill9stration o= the motor =orm o= e?periment
to which the cases 5escribe5 on pp. W7TX belonge5. It presents( in5ee5( a point which
wo9l5 lea5 some to place it in a separate categor>: the names 9ne?pecte5l> pro59ce5
were those o= dead persons. "9t where the Bcomm9nicationC contains nothing i-73!
be>on5 the content( or the possible man9=act9re( o= the min5s o= the living persons
present( it seems reasonable to re=er it to those min5sAat an> rate 9ntil the power o= the
5ea5 to comm9nicate with the living be establishe5 b> acc9m9late5 an5 irre=ragable
evi5ence.
One evening in )9g9st( 277V( some =rien5s were assemble5 in a ho9se at '9stington@ an5
the >o9nger members o= the part> s9ggeste5 Btable-t9rningC as an am9sement. *hree
la5iesAMrs. ,. ". 'ichmon5( Mrs. 1erceval -lark( an5 anotherAwere seate5 apart =rom
the larger gro9p@ an5 a small table on which the> lai5 their han5s( an5 which was light
eno9gh to be easil> move5 b> 9nconscio9s press9re( soon became livel>. *he alphabet
being repeate5( the sentence B.arriet knew me >ears ago(C was tilte5 o9t. *he name o=
(e was aske5 =or. B0ate &ar5inerC was the answer. *hese names conve>e5 nothing to the
three la5ies at the table( b9t the> ca9ght the attention o= a member o= the other gro9p( Mr.
'. L. Morant. *his gentleman was acting as holi5a>-t9tor to Mrs. 'ichmon54s bo>s( an5
ha5 not be=ore that been acE9ainte5 with an> o= the part>@ nor ha5 Mrs. 'ichmon5 hersel=
the slightest knowle5ge o= his =amil>-histor>. On hearing the names( he aske5 that
B.arriet4sC s9rname sho9l5 be given. *he name BMorantC was tilte5 o9t. In repl> to
=9rther E9estions( p9t o= co9rse in s9ch a wa> as not to s9ggest the answers( an5 while
Mr. Morant remaine5 at the =9rther en5 o= the room( the tilts pro59ce5 the in=ormation
that .arriet an5 0ate met at 0ingstown( an5 that .arriet was Mr. Morant4s great-a9nt( his
=ather B'obinC Morant being her nephew.
,e have receive5 in writing three in5epen5ent an5 concor5ant acco9nts o= this
occ9rrenceA=rom Mrs. 'ichmon5( =rom the thir5 la5> at the table Pwho is hostile to the
s9bDect( b9t who was probabl> the 9nconscio9s percipientQ( an5 =rom Mr. Morant( who
a55s:A
BI =elt 5istinctl> an5 alwa>s rightl>( when it wo9l5 answer( an5 -hat it wo9l5 answer. I
=o9n5 that it alwa>s answere5 the E9estions o= which : 1ne- the answer@ an5 was silent
when I 5i5 not: e.g., it wo9l5 not sa> how man> >ears ago Ythe meeting wasZ. I was E9ite
ignorant o= where the> met@ that was the onl> answer be>on5 m> knowle5ge. YIt is not
known i= this answer was correct.Z )ll the names given are correct: m> =ather4s name was
'obert( b9t he was alwa>s calle5 =obin. 0ate &ar5iner was a =rien5 o= m> =ather@ I
believe she helpe5 to arrange his marriage. .arriet Morant was his a9nt. I am ignorant o=
m9ch abo9t this a9nt@ an5 =rom rea5ing some ol5 correspon5ence in F9ne( I was
partic9larl> an?io9s to learn more abo9t these names. %o one at the table can possibl>
have known an,thing -hatever abo9t an> one o= the names given.C
2

It is( o= co9rse( a matter o= interest to know what in5ications o= gen9ine telepath> ma> be
a==or5e5 b> these less s>stematic trials. +or e?periments with a comparativel> small
n9mber o= Bs9bDectsC Plike those be=ore 5escribe5Q( however concl9sive we ma> consi5er
them as to the e?istence o= a special =ac9lt>( a==or5 no means o= D95ging how common
that =ac9lt> ma> be. I= it e?ists( i-7V! we have no reason to e?pect it to be e?tremel>
9ncommon@ on the contrar>( we sho9l5 rather e?pect to =in5 an appreciable 5egree o= it
tolerabl> wi5el> 5i==9se5. "9t Pp9tting asi5e the res9lts o= SW( above(Q o9r onl> means( at
present( =or D95ging how =ar this is the case is b> consi5ering the evi5ence o= persons who
were( so to speak( amate9r observers( an5 who in some cases were not even aware that
the matter ha5 an> scienti=ic importance. /9ch evi5ence m9st( o= co9rse( be receive5 with
59e allowances( an5( i= it stoo5 alone( might be wholl> ina5eE9ate to establish the case
=or telepathic phenomena@ b9t i= these be otherwise establishe5( it wo9l5 be illogical to
sh9t o9r e>es to allege5 res9lts which =all rea5il> into the same class( provi5e5 the trials
appear to have been con59cte5 with intelligence an5 care.
It is 9nnecessar> to sa> that this last proviso at once e?cl95es the vast maDorit> o= the
cases which one rea5s abo9t in the newspapers( or hears 5isc9sse5 in private circles. ,e
have alrea5> seen that the s9bDect o= Btho9ght-rea5ingC has obtaine5 its vog9e b> 5int o=
e?hibitions which( however clever an5 interesting( have no sort o= claim to the name. *he
prime reE9isite is that the con5itions shall precl95e the possibilit> o= 9nconscio9s
g9i5ance@ that contact between the agent an5 the percipient shall be avoi5e5@ or that the
=orm o= e?periment shall not reE9ire movements( b9t the percipient shall give his notion
o= the trans=erre5 impressionAcar5( n9mber( taste( or whatever it ma> beAb> wor5 o=
mo9th. *hat these con5itions have been observe5 is itsel= an in5ication that e?periments
have been intelligentl> con59cte5@ an5 the cases o= this sort o= which we have receive5
recor5s are at an> rate n9mero9s eno9gh to 5ispel the 5isE9ieting sense that the
possibilit> o= acc9m9lating evi5ence =or o9r h>pothesis 5epen5s on the transient
en5owment o= a =ew most e?ceptional in5ivi59als. I have spoken above o= the 9rgent
importance o= sprea5ing the responsibilit> =or the evi5ence as wi5el> as possibleAin
other wor5s( o= largel> increasing the n9mber o= persons( rep9te5 honest an5 intelligent(
who m9st be either knaves or i5iots i= the allege5 trans=erence o= tho9ght took place
thro9gh an> hitherto recognise5 channels. )n5 o9r hopes in this 5irection are( o= co9rse(
the better =o9n5e5( in so =ar as the necessar> material =or e?perimentation is not o=
e?treme rarit>. I= what has been here sai5 in59ces a wi5er an5 more s>stematic search =or
this material( an5 increase5 perseverance in =ollowing 9p all in5ications o= its e?istence( a
ver> 5istinct step will have been taken towar5s the general acceptance o= the =acts.
i-78!
+!P#&R (((.
#& #R!"$(#(%" FR%M &0P&R(M&"#!' #% $P%"#!"&%.$
#&'&P!#-.
S 2. I% all the cases o= the action o= one min5 on another that were consi5ere5 in the last
chapter( both the parties concerne5Apercipient as well as agentAwere conscio9sl> an5
vol9ntaril> taking part in the e?periment with a 5e=inite i5ea o= certain res9lts in view.
/pontaneo9s telepath>( as its name implies( 5i==ers =rom e?perimental in precisel> this
partic9larAthat neither agent nor percipient has conscio9sl> or vol9ntaril> =orme5 an
i5ea o= an> res9lt whatever. /omething happens =or which both alike are completel>
9nprepare5. "9t between these two great classes o= cases there is a sort o= transitional
class( which is akin to each o= the others in one marke5 =eat9re. In this class the agent
acts conscio9sl> an5 vol9ntaril>@ he e?ercises a concentration o= min5 with a certain
obDect( as in e?perimental tho9ght-trans=erence@ he is in this wa> tr9l> e?perimenting.
2

"9t the percipient is not conscio9sl> or vol9ntaril> a part> to the e?periment@ as in
spontaneo9s telepath>( his min5 has not been in an> wa> a5D9ste5 to the res9lt@ he =in5s
himsel= a==ecte5 in a certain manner( he knows not b> what means.
In another wa>( also( this class o= cases serves as a connecting link between the other two.
+or it intro59ces 9s to res9lts pro59ce5 at a m9ch greater distance than an> o= those that
have been so =ar 5escribe5. %ot that greater 5istance between the agent an5 percipient is
in an> wa> a 5isting9ishing mark o= the spontaneo9s( as oppose5 to the e?perimental(
e==ects@ the =ormer no less than the latterAas we shall see reason to thinkAma> take
place between persons in the same room. "9t in the large maDorit> o= the spontaneo9s
cases that we shall have to notice( the 5istance was consi5erable. )n5 in the transitional
class we meet i-7W! with specimens o= both kin5sAe==ects pro59ce5 in the same room(
an5 e==ects pro59ce5 at a 5istance o= man> miles.
S U. In these transitional casesAas in those o= the last chapterAthe e==ect ma> show itsel=
either in i5eas an5 sensations which the percipient 5escribes( or in actions o= a more or
less a9tomatic sort. *he (otor cases have been b> =ar the most hear5 o=( an5 are( in5ee5(
pop9larl> s9ppose5 to be tolerabl> common@ b9t this i5ea has no real =o9n5ation. *he
allegations o= certain persons that( e.g., the> can make strangers in ch9rch or in a theatre
t9rn their hea5s( b> BwillingC that the> sho9l5 5o so( cannot be accepte5 as establishing
even a pri(0 facie case. *ill acc9rate recor5s are kept( s9ch cases m9st clearl> be
reckone5 as mere ill9sions o= post hoc propter hocAo= s9ccesses note5 an5 =ail9res
=orgotten. )9thentic instances o= the kin5 seem( as it happens( alwa>s to be more or less
closel> connecte5 with mesmerism. )n5 even as regar5s mesmeric cases where a 5e=inite
action or co9rse o= action is pro59ce5 b> silent or 5istant control( the =irst thing to remark
is that man> phenomena are pop9larl> re=erre5 to this categor> which have not the
slightest claim to a place in it. *he common plat=orm e?hibition( where a pro=ession is
ma5e o= BwillingC a partic9lar person to atten5( an5 he r9shes into the room at the
appointe5 moment( is not to be attrib9te5 to an> in=l9ence then an5 there e?ercise5( b9t is
the e==ect o= the comman5 or the threat impresse5 on his min5 when in its wa?-like
con5ition o= trance on a previo9s evening. %or( as a r9le( 5o the cases where Bs9bDectsC
are sai5 to be 5rawn b> their controller =rom ho9se to ho9se( or even to a 5istant town(
prove an> speci=ic power o= his will( or an>thing be>on5 the general in=l9ence an5
attraction which he has establishe5( an5 which is liable ever> now an5 then to recr95esce
in his absence( an5 to mani=est itsel= in this startling =orm.
2

i-77!
Ver> m9ch rarer are the reall> cr9cial cases where the inten5e5 e==ectAthe origination or
inhibition o= a motor-imp9lseAis bro9ght abo9t at the moment b> a 5eliberate e?ercise o=
volition. In some o= the more striking instances( the inhibition has been o= that speci=ic
sort which temporaril> alters the whole con5ition o= the Bs9bDect(C an5 in59ces the
mesmeric trance. In the Poist =or )pril( 273X( Mr. )5ams( a s9rgeon o= L>mington(
writing =o9r months a=ter the event( 5escribes how a g9est o= his own twice s9ccee5e5 in
mesmerising the man-servant o= a common =rien5 at a 5istance o= nearl> =i=t> miles( the
time when the attempt was to be ma5e having in each case been privatel> arrange5 with
the man4s master. On the =irst occasion( the 9nwitting Bs9bDectC =ell at the time name5(
W.:; p.m.( into a state o= pro=o9n5 coma not at all resembling nat9ral sleep( =rom which
he was with 5i==ic9lt> aro9se5. .e sai5 that Bbe=ore he =ell asleep he ha5 lost the 9se o=
his legs@ he ha5 en5eavo9re5 to kick the cat awa>( an5 co9l5 not 5o so.C On the secon5
occasion a similar =it was in59ce5 at X.:; a.m.( when the man was in the act o= walking
across a mea5ow to =ee5 the pigs. "9t the =ollowing case is more striking( as resting on
the testimon> o= a man whose name m9st per=orce be treate5 with respect. $r. Es5aile
sa>s:A
2
Y~Z
P2Q BI ha5 been looking =or a blin5 man on whom to test the imagination theor>( an5 one
at last presente5 himsel=. *his man became so s9sceptible that( b> making him the obDect
o= m> attention( I co9l5 entrance him in whatever occ9pation he was engage5( an5 at an>
5istance within the hospital enclos9re. w M> first atte(pt to in=l9ence the blin5 man was
ma5e b> ga]ing at him silentl> over a wall( while he was engage5 in the act o= eating his
solitar> 5inner( at the 5istance o= twent> >ar5s. .e gra59all> cease5 to eat( an5 in a
E9arter o= an ho9r was pro=o9n5l> entrance5 an5 cataleptic. *his was repeate5 at the most
9ntimel> ho9rs( when he co9l5 not possibl> know o= m> being in his neighbo9rhoo5( an5
alwa>s with like res9lts.C
i-7X!
-ases o= -a1ing a h>pnotic Bs9bDectC b> the silent e?ercise o= the will have been
recor5e5 b> 'eichenbach(
2
an5 b> the -ommittee appointe5 b> the +rench 'o>al
)ca5em> o= Me5icine to investigate Banimal magnetism.C In their 'eport( p9blishe5 in
27:2( this -ommittee sa> that the> Bco9l5 entertain no 5o9bt as to the ver> 5eci5e5
e==ects which magnetism pro59ce5 9pon the us9bDect(4 even witho9t his knowle5ge( an5
at a certain 5istance.C ) more recent case will be =o9n5 in Vol. II.( p. 87V.
S :. "9t( besi5es s9ch e?amples o= the in59ction o= trance( the recor5s o= mesmerism
contain a goo5 man> cases o= the in59ction or inhibition o= partic9lar actions@ an5 where
persons who appeare5 to be in a per=ectl> normal state have ha5 their will similarl>
5ominate5( or their actions 5ominate5 against their will( it has almost alwa>s( I think(
been thro9gh the agenc> o= some person who has given in5ications o= consi5erable
mesmeric power. *he 'ev. F. Lawson /isson( 'ector o= E5ingthorpe( %orth ,alsham(
Pwhose interest in mesmerism( like that o= so man> others( began with the 5iscover> o=
his own power to alleviate pain(Q 5escribes the =ollowing e?periment as having been
per=orme5 on an incre59lo9s la5>( whose =irst e?perience o= his in=l9ence ha5 been a =ew
moments4 s9bDection to the slightest possible h>pnotic process in the co9rse o= the
evening.
U

PUQ B-onversation went on on other topics( an5 then =ollowe5 a light s9pper. /everal o=
the gentlemen( m>sel= among the n9mber( were oblige5 to stan5. I stoo5 talking to a
=rien5( against the wall( an5 at the back o= Miss -ooke( some three or =o9r =eet o== her.
.er wine-glass was =ille5( an5 I ma5e 9p m> min5 that she sho9l5 not 5rink witho9t m>
uwilling.4 I kept on talking an5 watching her man> =9tile attempts to get the glass to her
mo9th. /ometimes she got it a =ew inches =rom the level o= the table( sometimes she got it
a little higher( b9t she evi5entl> =elt that it was not =or some reason to be 5one. )t last I
sai5( uMiss -ooke( wh> 5on4t >o9 5rink >o9r winer4 an5 her answer was at once( uI will
when >o9 let me.4C
*he Poist contains several cases o= apparentl> the same kin5@ tho9gh( 9n=ort9natel>( the
narrators have sel5om recognise5 the nee5 o= making it clear that the possibilit> o=
ph>sical in5ications was completel> e?cl95e5. *h9s Mr. "arth recor5s o= a patient o= his
own PVol. VII.( p. U7;Q:A
i-X;!
P:Q B,hen she wishe5 to leave the room( I co9l5 at an> time prevent her( b> willing that
she sho9l5 sta>( an5 this silentl>. I co9l5 not arrest her progress whilst she was in motion(
b9t i= she stoo5 =or a moment an5 I mentall> sai5 u/tan5(4 she stoo5 9nable to move =rom
the spot. I= she place5 her han5 on the table I co9l5 a==i? it b> m> will alone( an5 9n=i? it
b> will. I= she hel5 a r9ler or paper-kni=e in her close5 han5( I co9l5 compel her b> will
alone to 9nclose her han5 an5 5rop the article. +reE9entl> when she has been at the tea-
table( an5 I E9ite behin5 an5 o9t o= sight( have I locke5 her Daws or arreste5 her han5 with
her brea5-an5-b9tter in it( when hal= wa> betwi?t her plate an5 her mo9th.C
)n5 Mr. %. $9nscombe( F.1. %Poist, Vol. I\.( p. 3:7Q( narrates o= himsel= that( having
atten5e5 some mesmeric per=ormances( he was =or some time at the merc> o= the
operator4s silent will.
P3Q B.e has ca9se5 me( b> wa> o= e?periment( to leave m> seat in one part o= m> ho9se(
an5 =ollow him all thro9gh it an5 o9t o= it 9ntil I =o9n5 him. .e was not in the room with
me( neither ha5 I the slightest i5ea o= his attempting the e?periment. I =elt an
9nacco9ntable 5esire to go in a certain 5irection.C
Most remarkable o= all are the cases o= acts per=orme5 9n5er the silent control o= the late
Mr. .. /. *hompson( o= Moor=iel5s( #ork( tho9gh here again we have to regret that the
signe5 corroboration o= the persons a==ecte5 was not obtaine5 at the time. Mr.
*hompson4s interest in mesmerism la> almost entirel> in the opport9nities which his
power gave him o= alleviating s9==ering@ an5 having s9ccee5e5 in giving relie= to a
patient( it is to him a comparativel> small matter to be able to sa> %Poist, Vol. V.( p. UVWQ:
A
BI have o=ten( b> the will( ma5e her per=orm a series o= tri=ling acts( tho9gh( when aske5
wh> she 5i5 them( she has answere5 that she 5i5 them witho9t observing them( an5 ha5
no 5istinct wish to 5o them as =ar as she was aware.C
/ome o= his 5escriptions( however( are more e?plicit. .e gave 9s permission to p9blish(
=or the =irst time on his a9thorit>( an acco9nt o= an a=ter-5inner inci5ent which ma5e
m9ch sensation in #orkshire societ> when it occ9rre5( an5 which even twent> >ears
a=terwar5s was still all95e5 to with bate5 breath( as a mani=est proo= o= the alliance o=
mesmerists with the 5evil. *he acco9nt was sent to 9s in %ovember( 277:.
PVQ BIn 27:W( I =irst became acE9ainte5 with mesmerism thro9gh "aron $9potet. *he =irst
e?periment I trie5 was 9pon a Mrs. *hornton( who was sta>ing with some =rien5s o=
mine( Mr. an5 Mrs. -harles .arlan5( o= i-X2! /9tton. /he tol5 me that no one ha5 ever
s9ccee5e5 in mesmerising her( tho9gh she soon s9bmitte5 to being mesmerise5 b> me.
/he went to sleep at once( an5 was ver> strongl> in=l9ence5 b> m> will. One night when I
was 5ining with Mr. .arlan5( a=ter the la5ies ha5 le=t the room( some gentleman propose5
that I sho9l5 will her to come back again( which I 5i5. /he came 5irectl>( an5 a=ter this I
co9l5 not go to the ho9se witho9t her going to sleep( even i= she 5i5 not know that I was
there.C
In the same letter( Mr. *hompson contin9es:A
BI have met with man> cases o= tho9ght-rea5ing( b9t none so 5istinct as in a little girl
name5 -rowther. /he ha5 ha5 brain =ever( which ha5 ca9se5 a protr9sion o= the e>es. O=
this ill e==ect I soon relieve5 her( an5 =o9n5 that she was nat9rall> a tho9ght-rea5er. I
practise5 on her a goo5 5eal( an5 at length there was no nee5 =or me to 9tter what I
wishe5 to sa>( as she alwa>s knew m> tho9ghts. I was showing some e?periments to a $r.
/impson( an5 he aske5 me to will her to go an5 pick a piece o= white heather o9t o= a
large vase =9ll o= =lowers there was in the room( an5 bring it to me. /he 5i5 this as
E9ickl> as i= I ha5 spoken to her. )ll these e?periments were per=orme5 when the girl was
awake( an5 not in a mesmeric sleep.C
*he ne?t acco9nt Preceive5 in 277:Q is none the less interesting that it is o= a partial
failure@ an5 in this case we have the a5vantage o= the percipient4s own testimon>. *he
la5> who sent it to 9s is a co9sin o= Mr. *hompson4s an5 has ha5 other similar
e?periences@ b9t at this 5istance o= time can onl> recollect the =ollowing( whose abs9r5it>
vivi5l> impresse5 her min5.
P8Q BI was sitting one 5a> in the librar>. %o one else was in the room e?cept m> co9sin(
.enr> *hompson( who was rea5ing at the other en5 o= the room. &ra59all> I =elt an
9nacco9ntable imp9lse stealing over me( an imp9lse to go 9p to him an5 kiss him. I ha5
been in the habit o= kissing him =rom chil5hoo5 9pwar5s at intervals( when I le=t the
sitting-room be=ore going to be5( or when he came to sa> goo5-b>e at the termination o=
a visit( [c.( as a matter o= co9rse( not o= pleas9re. In this instance the inclination to kiss
him str9ck me as being so e?traor5inar> an5 ri5ic9lo9s as to make it an impossibilit>. I
have no recollection o= leaving the room( tho9gh I (a, have 5one so( b9t in the evening
when he sai5 to me at 5inner( uI trie5 to will >o9 to-5a> an5 =aile5(4 I answere5 at once( uI
know per=ectl> -hen >o9 were willing me( an5 what >o9 wante5 me to 5o( tho9gh I 5i5
not s9spect it at the time. "9t >o9 were willing me to kiss >o9 in the librar>( an5 I ha5 the
greatest inclination to 5o sos4 u)n5 wh> wo9l5 >o9 notr4 he aske5( an5 la9ghe5
immo5eratel> at m> answering that I was so astonishe5 at m>sel= =or =eeling an
inclination to kiss him that I resiste5 it at once. I ha5 never been mesmerise5 b> him( an5
m> will was not s9bservient to his.
BL. +. -.C
i-XU!
)n5 here a wor5 ma> be in place as to the relation o= the -ill to telepathic e?periments in
general. *hat the will o= the agent or operator is 9s9all> in active pla>( a5mits( o= co9rse(
o= no 5o9bt@ b9t the nat9re an5 e?tent o= its operation are sometimes misconceive5. In
or5inar> tho9ght-trans=erence( it is probabl> e==ective onl> so =ar as it implies strong
concentration o= the agent4s own attention on the sensation or image which he seeks to
conve>. )s a r9le he will nat9rall> 5esire that the e?periment sho9l5 s9ccee5@ b9t(
provi5e5 onl> that the necessar> concentration be given( there is nothing to show( or even
to s9ggest that( i= =or some special reason he 5esire5 =ail9re( his 5esire wo9l5 ens9re that
res9lt. It is somewhat 5i==erent with cases like the above( where a 5istinct set o= visible
actionsAas that the per=ormer shall walk to a partic9lar spot or select a partic9lar obDect
Ais the thing aime5 at@ in so =ar as there the 5esire is likel> to be keener an5 more
persistent. ,hen we are pict9ring a series o= movements to be per=orme5 b> a person in
o9r sight( we easil> come to regar5 that person4s ph>siE9e 9n5er a hal=-ill9sion that we
can 5irect it =rom moment to moment( as tho9gh it were o9r own@ an5 we are more on
e5ge( so to speak( than when we are merel> imagining Psa>Q a wor5 or a n9mber( an5
waiting =or the Bs9bDectC to name it( or write it 5own. "9t even here there is little
=o9n5ation =or the i5ea that the operator4s will in an> wa> do(inates the other will( or
that he s9ccee5s b> s9perior Bstrength o= willC in an> or5inar> sense. It is still primaril>
an i(age, not an> =orm o= =orce( that is conve>e5Ab9t an image o= (ove(ent, i.e., an
image whose nervo9s correlate in the brain is in intimate connection with motor-centres@
an5 the m9sc9lar e==ect is th9s evoke5 while the Bs9bDectC remains a sort o= spectator o=
his own con59ct. *he last e?ample o= Mr. *hompson4s powers goes as near as an> I know
to the act9al pro59ction o= an e==ect on the self6deter(ining =ac9lt> o= a person in a
normal state@ b9t even here( it will be observe5( the action s9ggeste5 was o= a simple sort(
an5 one which the Bs9bDectC ha5 o=ten vol9ntaril> per=orme5. )n5 in mesmeric casesAas
in the e?periments on inhibition o= 9tterance in the last chapterAwhere( no 5o9bt( the
sel=-5etermining =ac9lt> is o=ten to a great e?tent abrogate5( we m9st still beware o=
concl95ing that the Bs9bDect4sC will is 5ominate5 an5 5irecte5 this wa> or that b> a series
o= special Dets o= energ>. It is rather that his instinct o= choice( his =ree-will as a whole(
has lapse5( as one o= the general =eat9res o= the trance-con5ition. It is worth noting(
moreover( that in none o= i-X:! the cases E9ote5 have the BwillerC or the Bwille5C been
=9rther remove5 =rom one another than two neighbo9ring rooms. *he liabilit> to have
5e=inite acts compelle5 =rom a 5istance( which =ig9res in romance an5 in pop9lar
imagination as the nat9ral an5 terrible res9lt o= mesmeric in=l9ence( is precisel> the res9lt
=or which we can =in5 least evi5ence.
,e have( however( in o9r own collection( two =irst-han5 instances where the 5istance
between the agent an5 the percipient was greater( an5 where the action to be per=orme5
was o= a rather more complicate5 sort.
2
,e receive5 the =ollowing case in 277: =rom the
agent( Mr. /. .. ".( a =rien5 o= o9r own. *he =irst part o= the acco9nt was copie5 b> 9s
=rom a M/. book( in which Mr. ". has recor5e5 this an5 other e?periments.
PWQ BOn ,e5nes5a>( U8th F9l>( 277U( at 2;.:; p.m.( I wille5 ver> strongl> that Miss V.(
who was living at -larence 'oa5( 0ew( sho9l5 leave an> part o= that ho9se in which she
might happen to be at the time( an5 that she sho9l5 go into her be5room( an5 remove a
portrait =rom her 5ressing-table.
B,hen I ne?t saw her she tol5 me that at this partic9lar time an5 on this 5a>( she =elt
strongl> impelle5 to go 9p to her room an5 remove something =rom her 5ressing-table(
b9t she was not s9re which article to misplace. /he 5i5 so an5 remove5 an article( b9t not
the =rame5 portrait which I ha5 tho9ght o=.
B"etween the time o= the occ9rrence o= this =act an5 that o= o9r ne?t meeting( I receive5
one or two letters( in which the matter is all95e5 to an5 m> E9estions concerning it
answere5.
B/. .. ".C
U

Mr. ". was himsel= at /o9thall on the evening in E9estion. .e has shown the letters o=
which he speaks to the present writer( an5 has allowe5 him to cop> e?tracts.
On *h9rs5a>( F9l> UWth( witho9t having seen or ha5 an> comm9nication with Mr. ".(
Miss Verit> Pnow resi5ing in -astellain 'oa5( ,.( who allows the p9blication o= her
nameQ wrote to him as =ollows:A
B,hat were >o9 5oing between ten an5 eleven o4clock on ,e5nes5a> eveningr I= >o9
make me so restless( I shall begin to be a=rai5 o= >o9. I positivel> could not sta> in the
5ining-room( an5 I believe >o9 meant me to be 9pstairs( an5 to move something on m>
5ressing-table. I want to see i= >o9 know what it was. )t an> rate( I am sure >o9 were
thinking abo9t me.C
Mr. ". then wrote an5 tol5 Miss Verit> that the obDect he ha5 tho9ght o= was Mr. &.4s
photograph. /he answere5:A
BI m9st tell >o9 it was not &.4s photo( b9t something on m> table i-X3! which perhaps
>o9 wo9l5 never think o=. .owever( it was reall> won5er=9l how impossible I =o9n5 it to
thin1 or 5o an>thing 9ntil I came 9pstairs( an5 I 1ne- =or certain that >o9r tho9ghts were
here/ in =act( it seeme5 as i= >o9 were ver> near.C
YMore than a >ear a=ter these letters were written( an absol9tel> concor5ant acco9nt was
given viva voce to the present writer b> Miss Verit>( whom he believes to be a thoro9ghl>
care=9l an5 conscientio9s witness.Z
,e have a parallel instance to this on eE9all> tr9stworth> a9thorit>@ b9t the person
impresse5 has a 5rea5 o= the s9bDect( an5 will not give his testimon> =or p9blication.
2

S 3. I now t9rn to the secon5 class o= transitional cases@ that where ideas an5 sensations
9nconnecte5 with movement are e?cite5( in a person who is not a conscio9s part> to the
e?periment( b> the concentrate5 b9t 9ne?presse5 will o= another. )n5 here( even more
than be=ore( I have to a5mit how scant> in ever> sense are the acco9nts which =ormer
observers have p9blishe5.
U
O= ideational cases( one o= the most striking( i= correctl>
reporte5( is that given b> the 'ev. L. Lewis in the Poist, Vol. V( p. :U3.
B&ateacre( October( 273W.
P7Q BOne evening( at a =rien54s ho9se( an5 in the presence o= several spectators( E. -. was
p9t into the sleep( when I s9ggeste5 to the magnetiser YMr. Lewis4s sonZ that he sho9l5
attempt in59cing personation, that is( making the magnetise5 person ass9me 5i==erent
characters b> means o= the will an5 passes alone.
B*he =irst in5ivi59al agree5 9pon was m>sel=( with whom E. -. was well acE9ainte5( an5
m> name was given to the magnetiser on paper. )=ter a i-XV! =ew passes having been
ma5e b> him over E. -.( she ass9me5 rather a 5ictatorial tone( complaining o=
interr9ption when spoken to( as it was /at9r5a> night( when she was b9s> writing. I shall
5raw a c9rtain over m> other =railties( an5 procee5 to the mention o= characters well
known in the worl5( b9t whom E. -. ha5 never seen.
B*he =irst o= these was }9een Victoria. ,ith regar5 to this name the compan> observe5
the same silence as be=ore( onl> writing it on paper( an5 the magnetiser p9rs9e5 the same
metho5 also with E. -. "9t the 5ignit> which she ver> soon ass9me5( the lo=t> tone with
which she aske5 E9estions( so contrar> to her 9s9al 5isposition( the or5ers she iss9e5 to
the vario9s persons o= the ho9sehol5( an5 especiall> her conversation with 1rince )lbert
Pwhose person the magnetiser ha5 ass9me5Q(
2
her remonstrances at his sta>ing so long
=rom the castle contrar> to her e?press comman5s( an5 her threats that he sho9l5 not be
permitte5 to leave again( e?cite5 instantl> peals o= la9ghter( an5 on re=lection( the most
intense astonishment.
B*he name o= /ir 'obert 1eel was then written b> one o= the compan>( an5 given to the
magnetiser. .e then magnetise5 her( an5 she soon gave 9neE9ivocal proo=s o= her
personating the noble baronet b> conversations with the }9een on the state o= the
co9ntr>( an5 answering several political E9estions in accor5ance with his well-known
sentiments.
B+rom -onservatism it was tho9ght the best step ne?t to take was Liberalism( an5 the
name o= $aniel O4-onnell was han5e5 to the magnetiser. %ow E. -.4s replies were o= a
5i==erent nat9re( whether political or religio9s@ b9t there was one E9estion which she
answere5 in a pec9liar manner( >et whether in 9nison with the views o= the late celebrate5
uLiberator4 I know not. ,hen the magnetiser aske5 her what she tho9ght o= the English
-h9rch Establishment( she replie5 that the uEstablishment was alrea5> on cr9tches( an5
wo9l5 soon be 5own.4
B*he last personation was that o= a >o9ng la5> whom E. -. ha5 never seen or hear5 o=(
an5 who was then more than one h9n5re5 miles 5istant( b9t her mother an5 sisters were
present. *he same mo5e o= secrec> was a5opte5 in this as well as in all other instances( so
that it was impossible E. -. sho9l5 have been able to g9ess the name. *he absent person
was the 5a9ghter o= a la5> at whose ho9se these e?periments were ma5e. ,hen E. -. was
wille5 to personate the propose5 character( the =irst thing she 9ttere5 was an e?clamation
o= s9rprise at =in5ing hersel= s955enl> at home. "eing aske5 her name( she ri5ic9le5 the
i5ea o= s9ch a E9estion being p9t in the presence o= her =amil>( b9t being presse5 b> her
magnetiser to prono9nce it( an5 promise5 not to be tro9ble5 with an> =9rther E9estions(
she ingenio9sl> sai5( an5 with somewhat o= an arch look( that it began with the thir5
letter in the alphabet. On being tol5 that she ha5 not given a 5irect repl>( she rather
pettishl> answere5( u,ell( then( it is -lara.4 This -as the fact.
BE?cept in the precise or5er in which these cases occ9rre5( I can vo9ch =or their
correctness( having been present when the> happene5.
BL. LE,I/.C
i-X8!
*he =ollowing instance( however( has more weight with 9s( who know the observer( an5
have ha5 ample proo= o= his acc9rac>. Mr. &. ). /mith( o= U( Elms 'oa5( $9lwich( Pwho
has assiste5 9s in most o= o9r mesmeric work(Q narrate5 the inci5ent to 9s within two
months o= its occ9rrence@ an5 has now s9pplie5 a written acco9nt.
PXQ BOne evening in /eptember( 277U( at "righton( I was tr>ing some e?periments with a
Mrs. ,.( a us9bDect4 whom I ha5 =reE9entl> h>pnotise5. I =o9n5 that she co9l5 give
s9rprisingl> min9te 5escriptions o= spots which she knewAwith 5etails which her normal
recollection co9l5 never have =9rnishe5. I 5i5 not =or a moment regar5 these 5escriptions
as impl>ing an>thing more than intensi=ie5 memor>( b9t resolve5 to see what wo9l5
happen when she was reE9este5 to e?amine a place where she ha5 never been to. I
there=ore reE9este5 her to look into the manager4s room at the )E9ari9m( an5 to tell me
all abo9t it. M9ch to m> s9rprise( she imme5iatel> began to 5escribe the apartment with
great e?actness( an5 in per=ect con=ormit> with m> own knowle5ge o= it. I was =airl>
astonishe5@ b9t it occ9rre5 to me that altho9gh m> s9bDect4s memor> co9l5 not be at
work( m> own min5 might be acting on hers. *o test this( I imagine5 strongl> that I saw a
large open 9mbrella on the table( an5 in a min9te or so the la5> sai5( in great won5er:
u,ells how o55( there4s a large open 9mbrella on the table(4 an5 then began to la9gh. It(
there=ore( seeme5 clear that her apparent knowle5ge o= the room ha5 been 5erive5
somehow =rom m> own mental pict9re o= it@ b9t I ma> a55 I was never able to pro59ce
the same e==ect again.C
*his ma> he =airl> reckone5 among transitional cases( inasm9ch as the la5> was E9ite
9naware at the time that an> person4s in=l9ence was being bro9ght to bear 9pon her.
S V. It will be seen that in both these last e?amples the agent an5 percipient were close
together( an5 the latter was in the h>pnotic state. )n5 among transitional cases( we have
absol9tel> no specimens o= the 5eliberate trans=erence o= a per=ectl> 9ne?citing i5eaAas
o= a car5 or a nameAto a distant an5 nor(al percipient. *his ma> appear an 9n=ort9nate
lacuna in the transition that I am attempting to make@ b9t the =act itsel= can har5l>
s9rprise 9s. It m9st be remembere5 that in most o= o9r e?perimental cases there was a
tr9e analog> to the passivit> o= h>pnotism( in the a5D9stment o= the percipient4s min5( the
sort o= inwar5 blankness an5 receptivit> which he or she establishe5 b> a 5eliberate
e==ort@ that even where this was absent( the rapport involve5 in the mere sense o=
personal pro?imit> to the agent probabl> went =or something in the res9lts@ an5 also that
Pwith =ew e?ceptionsQ the sort o= image to be e?pecte5 was knownAthat the percipient
realise5 whether it was a car5( a i-XW! name( or a taste. *hat an impression sho9l5 =lash
across a min5 in this state o= preparation is clearl> no g9arantee that an>thing similar will
occ9r when the percipient is occ9pie5 with wholl> 5i==erent things( while the agent is
secretl> concentrating his tho9ghts on a car5 or a taste in another place. )n5 in5ee5 the
s9ppose5 con5itionsAa p9rel> 9nemotional i5ea on the part o= the wo9l5-be agent( an5 a
state o= complete 9nprepare5ness on the part o= the person whom it is attempte5 to
in=l9enceAseem the most 9n=avo9rable possible: where the percipient min5 is
9nprepare5Athat is( where the con5ition on one si5e is 9n=avo9rableAwe sho9l5
nat9rall> e?pect that a stronger imp9lsive =orce m9st be s9pplie5 =rom the other si5e. "9t
we have =9rther to note that( even i= the trial s9ccee5e5( the s9ccess wo9l5 be har5 to
establish. +or to the percipient the impression wo9l5 onl> be a =leeting an5 9ninteresting
item in the swarm o= =aint i5eas that pass ever> min9te thro9gh the min5@ an5 as he is e.
h,pothesi ignorant that the trial is being ma5e( there wo9l5 be nothing to =i? this
partic9lar =aint item in his memor>. It wo9l5 come an5 go 9nmarke5( like a tho9san5
others. )n5 this same possibilit> m9st be eE9all> borne in min5 in respect o=
spontaneous telepath>. +or tho9gh in most o= the cases to be E9ote5 in the seE9el( a
special imp9lsive =orce will be in=erre5 =rom the =act that the agent was at the time in a
state ps>chicall> or ph>sicall> abnormal( we m9st not be too positive that the telepathic
action is con=ine5 to the well-marke5 or ostensive instances on which the proof o= it has
to 5epen5. *he abnormalit> o= the agent4s state( tho9gh nee5e5 to make the coinci5ence
striking eno9gh to be incl95e5 in this book( ma> not =or all that be an in5ispensable
con5ition@ gen9ine trans=erences o= i5ea( o= which we can take no acco9nt( ma> occ9r in
the more or5inar> con5itions o= li=e@ an5 the contin9it> o= the e?perimental an5 the
spontaneo9s cases ma> th9s conceivabl> be complete. Meanwhile( however( a certain gap
in the evi5ence has to be a5mitte5@ an5 there is nothing =or it b9t to pass on to the more
e?treme cases where the senses begin to be a==ecte5Athe percipients having been =or the
most part in a normal state( an5 at vario9s 5istances =rom the agents.
S 8. *he sensor> cases to be =o9n5 in the Poist are a tri=le less =ragmentar> than some that
I have E9ote5( b9t 5epen5 again on the 9ncorroborate5 statement o= a single observer. Mr.
.. /. *hompson PVol. IV.( p. U8:Q sa>s:A
i-X7!
P2;Q BI have trie5 an am9sing e?periment two or three times ver> s9ccess=9ll>. I have
taken a part> Pwitho9t in=orming them o= m> intentionsQ to witness some galvanic
e?periments( an5 whilst s9bmitting m>sel= to contin9e5 slight galvanic shocks( have
=i?e5 m> attention on some one o= the part>. *he =irst time I trie5 this I was m9ch am9se5
b> the person soon e?claiming( u,ell( it is ver> strange( b9t I co9l5 =anc> that I =eel a
sensation in m> han5s an5 arms as tho9gh I were s9bDect to the action o= the batter>.4 I
=o9n5 that o9t o= seven persons( four e?perience5 similar sensations more or less. %one
o= them showe5 an> s>mptom o= being a==ecte5 be=ore I 5irecte5 m> attention towar5s
them. )=ter that YsicZ the> were ma5e acE9ainte5 with the e?periment( I =o9n5 their
imagination sometimes s9pplie5 the place o= m> will( an5 the> =ancie5 I was
e?perimenting 9pon them when I was not so. *his we so o=ten see in other cases.C
M9sc9lar an5 tactile hall9cinations are( o= co9rse( eminentl> o= a sort which ma> be
pro59ce5 b> e?pectanc>@ an5 all that can be sai5 is that Mr. *hompson seems to have
been alive to this 5anger. I ma> perhaps be allowe5 to state o= this gentleman that( as =ar
as we are aware( Pan5 we have E9estione5 both a near relative o= his an5 a bitter
5etractor(Q it was never allege5 that he was an 9ntr9stworth> witness( or prone to
e?aggerate his powers.
*he impression in the ne?t e?ample seems to have been on the bor5erlan5 between
sensation an5 i5ea. It is given b> the 'ev. L. Lewis in the same paper as the acco9nt
above E9ote5. .is son ha5 resolve5 to test the statement that in a mesmeric state a
Bs9bDectC might( b> the operator4s 9ne?presse5 will( be impresse5 with 5el9sions s9ch as
are 9s9all> onl> pro59ce5 b> 5irect s9ggestion.
P22Q B*he girl Yone whom he ha5 o=ten h>pnotise5Z being gone into the sleep( the =irst
thing that occ9rre5 to him was that she sho9l5 imagine hersel= a camphine lamp( which
was then b9rning on the table. .e wrote 5own the wor5s( which were not 9ttere5 b>
an>one( an5 were han5e5 to the compan>. *hen( witho9t speaking( he strongl> wille5 that
she sho9l5 be a lamp( making over her hea5 the 9s9al magnetic passes. E. -. was in a =ew
min9tes per=ectl> immovable( an5 not a wor5 co9l5 be elicite5 =rom her. ,hen she ha5
contin9e5 in this strange state =or some time( he 5issipate5 the ill9sion b> his -ill,
witho9t awaking her( when she imme5iatel> =o9n5 her tong9e again( an5 on being aske5
how she ha5 =elt when she wo9l5 not speak( she replie5( uVer> hot( an5 =9ll o= naphtha.uC
*he ne?t case Pcontaine5 in a letter =rom Mr. .. /. *hompson( to $r. Elliotson( Poist, Vol.
V.( p. UVW(Q takes 9s a little =9rther( =or the agent an5 percipient were at a consi5erable
5istance =rom one another@ an5 tho9gh the e?perience was o= a vag9e sort( ver> m9ch
more was pro59ce5 than a mere i5eaAnamel>( a ph>sical impression o= the agent4s
presence( strong eno9gh to be 5escribe5 as felt.
i-XX!
P2UQ BI have trie5 several e?periments on persons not in the mesmeric state( an5 some
who ha5 never been mesmerise5. I have repeate5l> =o9n5 that I have been able( b> will(
to s9ggest a series o= i5eas to some persons( which i5eas have in59ce5 correspon5ing
actions@ an5 again( b> =i?ing m> attention 9pon others( an5 thinking on some partic9lar
s9bDect( I have o=ten =o9n5 them able most acc9ratel> to penetrate m> tho9ghts. %either
have I observe5 that it was alwa>s necessar> to be near them( or to be in the same room
with them( to pro59ce these e==ects. w /ome months ago I was sta>ing at a =rien54s
ho9se( an5 this s9bDect came 9n5er 5isc9ssion. *wo =rien5s ha5 le=t the ho9se the 5a>
be=ore.
2
%either o= them( that I am aware o=( ha5 ever been in the mesmeric state@ b9t I
knew that to some e?tent the> ha5 this =ac9lt>. I propose5 to make trial whether I co9l5
will them to think I was coming to see them at that moment. I accor5ingl> =i?e5 m>
attention 9pon them =or some little time. /i? weeks elapse5 be=ore I saw either o= them
again@ an5 when we met I ha5 =orgotten the circ9mstance( b9t one o= them soon remin5e5
me o= it b> sa>ing( uI have something c9rio9s to tell >o9( an5 want also to know whether
>o9 have ever trie5 to practise >o9r power o= volition 9pon either o= 9s@ =or on the
evening o= the 5a> I le=t the ho9se where >o9 were sta>ing( I was sitting rea5ing a book
in the same room with Mr. AA. M> attention was with5rawn =rom m> book( an5 =or
some moments I =elt as tho9gh a thir5 person was in the room( an5 that =eeling shortl>
a=ter became connecte5 with an i5ea that >o9 were coming or even then present. *his
seeme5 so ver> abs9r5 that I trie5 to banish the i5ea =rom m> min5. I then observe5 that
Mr. AA4s attention was also 5rawn =rom the book which he was rea5ing( an5 he
e?claime5( uIt is positivel> ver> ri5ic9lo9s( b9t I co9l5 have sworn some thir5 person was
in the room( an5 that impression is connecte5 with an i5ea o= .enr> *hompson.4C
S W. "9t the most prono9nce5 cases are o= co9rse those where an act9al a==ection o=
vision is pro59ce5. .ere previo9s observations o= an a9thentic sort almost wholl> =ail 9s.
U
I have no wish to e?ten9ate the negative importance o= this =act. )t the same time( it m9st
be remembere5 how ver> e?ceptional( probabl>( are the occasions on which i-2;;! the
e?periment has been attempte5. ,hen the two persons concerne5 in a BwillingC
e?periment have been together( the obDect( as a r9le( has been to pro59ce the e==ect which
shall present the most obvio9s test =or spectators or =or the agent himsel=Anamel>( (otor
e==ects. )n5 when some one o= the =ew persons who possess an appreciable 5egree o= the
abnormal power has attempte5 to e?ercise it at a 5istance( it is still the pro59ction o=
actions that he wo9l5 most nat9rall> aim at@ =or it is in this 5irection that s9ch a power
has been pop9larl> e?pecte5 to show itsel=. *h9s it is reasonable to concl95e that
5eliberate attempts to pro59ce a vis9al hall9cination in another person( b> the e?ercise o=
the will( have been ver> =ew an5 =ar between. /till this is( o= co9rse( no complete
e?planation o= the rarit> o= the phenomenon@ =or no 5e=inable line separates these rare
attempts =rom the or5inar> e?periments in tho9ght-trans=erence( when the agent
concentrates his attention on a visible obDect. In those e?periments there is( so to speak(
an opport9nit> =or a vis9al hall9cination( i= the agent is able to pro59ce one. "9t the
percipient has never Pas =ar as I knowQ receive5 more than a vivi5 i5ea( or at most a
pict9re o= the obDect in the min54s e>e. )n5 this =act s9==icientl> in5icates that the more
prono9nce5 sensor> res9lt is one reE9iring most special con5itionsAone which wo9l5
remain e?tremel> rare however m9ch it were so9ght =or( an5 the proo= o= which will
rightl> be regar5e5 with all the more Dealo9s scr9tin>.
*he previo9s recor5s o= the phenomenon to which I can point are reall> onl> =o9r in
n9mber@
2
an5 these are so =ar =rom concl9sive( that the> wo9l5 har5l> even be worth
mentioning( i= stronger e?amples co9l5 not be a55e5 =rom o9r own collection. *he =irst
case is th9s meagrel> 5escribe5 b> $r. Elliotson %Poist, Vol. VIII.( p. 8X&:A
BI have a =rien5( who can( b> his will( make certain patients think o= an> others he
chooses( an5 =anc> he sees those persons: he silentl> thinking o= certain persons( the brain
o= the patient s>mpathises with his brain. %a>( b> silentl> willing that these persons shall
sa> an5 5o certain i-2;2! things which he chooses( he makes the patients believe the>
see these imaginar> appearances 5oing an5 9ttering those ver> things.C
*hat a man o= in5isp9table abilit> sho9l5 have tho9ght s9ch a statement o= s9ch a =act
a5eE9ate is tr9l> e?traor5inar>. *he same ma> be sai5 o= the =ollowing sentence o= $r.
-harpignon4s *h,siologic du 'agn4tis(s, P1aris( 2737(Q p. :UV:A
B%o9s avons maintes =ois =ormH 5ans notre pensHe 5es images =ictives( et les
somnamb9les E9e no9s E9estionnions vo>aient ces images comme 5es rHalitHs.C
YTranslationZ
Even i= these 5escriptions be acc9rate in the main( we are 9nable to D95ge how =ar the
vision was reall> e.ternalised b> the patients. In the ne?t case this point is clear@ b9t the
5istinct ass9rance is still lacking that the agent was on his g9ar5 against the slightest
approach to a s9ggestive movement. *he inci5ent is cite5 in the )nnales '4dico6
*s,chologi2ues, 8th series( Vol. V.( p. :WX( b> $r. $agonet( 5octor at the /aint )nne
)s>l9m.
BUn interne Yho9se-ph>sicianZ l9i 5it: u'egar5e] 5one( $i5ier( voilG 9ne Dolie =emme.4 II
n4> avait personne. $i5ier reprit: uMais non( elle est lai5e(4 et il aDo9te: u}94a-t-elle 5ans
les brasr4 -es E9estions se rap-portaient e?actement G ce E9e pensait son interloc9te9r. )
9n certain moment $i5ier se prHcipita mMme po9r empMcher 5e tomber l4en=ant E94il
cro>ait voir 5ans les bras 5e la =emme imaginaire 5ont on l9i parlait.C YTranslationZ
*his is a specimen o= the stra> in5ications o= tho9ght-trans=erence that ma> be =o9n5
even in strictl> scienti=ic literat9re@ b9t the signi=icance o= the phenomenon seems to have
been altogether misse5. It is 5escribe5 among a n9mber o= observations o= an or5inar>
kin5( ma5e on an habit9al somnamb9list( an5 as tho9gh it were E9ite on a par with the
rest.
*he ne?t acco9nt( tho9gh( like $r. -harpignon4s( =irst-han5 =rom the agent( is more
remote( an5 eE9all> 9ncorroborate5. It is to be =o9n5 in an article b> -o9ncillor .. M.
,esermann( in the )rchiv fQr den Thierischen 'agnetis(us, Vol. VI.( pp. 2:8TX@ an5 is
5ate5 $Rssel5or=( F9ne 2Vth( 272X. *he =irst =o9r items in the list are impressions allege5
to have been ma5e on a sleeping percipient b9t the =i=th is a waking an5 completel>
e?ternalise5 hall9cination.
B<irst >.peri(ent at a Distance of <ive 'iles.AI en5eavo9re5 to acE9aint m> =rien5( the
.o=kammerrath &. Pwhom I ha5 not seen( with whom I ha5 not spoken( an5 to whom I
ha5 not written( =or thirteen >earsQ( with the =act o= m> inten5e5 visit( b> presenting m>
=orm to him in his sleep( thro9gh the =orce o= m> will. ,hen I 9ne?pecte5l> went to him
on the =ollowing evening( he evince5 his astonishment at having seen me in a 5ream on
the prece5ing night.
i-2;U!
B!econd >.peri(ent at a Distance of Three 'iles.AMa5ame ,.( in her sleep( was to
hear a conversation between me an5 two other persons( relating to a certain secret@ an5
when I visite5 her on the thir5 5a> she tol5 me all that ha5 been sai5( an5 showe5 her
astonishment at this remarkable 5ream.
BThird >.peri(ent at a Distance of 8ne 'ile.A)n age5 person in &. was to see in a
5ream the =9neral procession o= m> 5ecease5 =rien5 /.( an5 when I visite5 her on the ne?t
5a> her =irst wor5s were that she ha5 in her sleep seen a =9neral procession( an5 on
inE9ir> ha5 learne5 that I was the corpse. .ere then was a slight error.
B<ourth >.peri(ent at a Distance of 8ne6>ighth of a 'ile.A.err $octor ". 5esire5 a
trial to convince him( where9pon I represente5 to him a noct9rnal street-brawl. .e saw it
in a 5ream( to his great astonishment. Y*his means( pres9mabl>( that he was astonishe5
when he =o9n5 that the act9al s9bDect o= his 5ream was what ,esermann ha5 been
en5eavo9ring to impress on him.Z
B<ifth >.peri(ent at a Distance of Nine 'iles.A*he intention was that Lie9tenant %.
sho9l5 see in a 5ream( at 22 o4clock p.m.( a la5> who ha5 been =ive >ears 5ea5( who was
to incite him to a goo5 action. .err %.( however( contrar> to e?pectation( ha5 not gone to
sleep b> 22 o4clock( b9t was conversing with his =rien5 /. on the +rench campaign.
/955enl> the 5oor o= the chamber opens@ the la5>( 5resse5 in white( with black kerchie=
an5 bare hea5( walks in( sal9tes /. thrice with her han5 in a =rien5l> wa>( t9rns to %.(
no5s to him( an5 then ret9rns thro9gh the 5oor. "oth =ollow E9ickl>( an5 call the sentinel
at the entrance@ b9t all ha5 vanishe5( an5 nothing was to be =o9n5. /ome months
a=terwar5s( .err /. in=orme5 me b> letter that the chamber 5oor 9se5 to creak when
opene5( b9t 5i5 not 5o so when the la5> opene5 itAwhence it is to be in=erre5 that the
opening o= the 5oor was onl> a 5ream-pict9re( like all the rest o= the apparition.C
2

*o s9ch a recor5( i= it stoo5 alone( we sho9l5 attach ver> little importance( in 5e=a9lt o=
an> evi5ence as to the intellect9al an5 moral tr9stworthiness o= ,esermann. *here is(
=ort9natel>( no necessit> =or 5welling on these cases( as the possibilit> o= the allege5
phenomenon will certainl> not be a5mitte5 e?cept on the strength o= conte(porar, an5
corroborated instances.
S 7. In the e?amples that I am abo9t to E9ote( one grave 5e=ect m9st at once be a5mitte5.
*ho9gh in all o= them testimon> is given b> both agent an5 percipient( the agent in ever>
case( an5 the percipient in one( withhol5 their names =rom p9blication. ,e( o= co9rse(
regret this restriction e?cee5ingl>@ b9t it can har5l> be 5eeme5 9nnat9ral or 9nreasonable.
It m9st be remembere5 that i-2;:! these cases o= apparitions intentionall> pro59ce5
stan5 in a most pec9liar position( as compare5 even with the other remarkable inci5ents
with which we are concerne5 in the present work. In the case o= the more normal
telepathic phantasm( neither part> is in the least responsible =or what occ9rs. ) 5ies or
breaks his leg@ " thinks that he sees )4s =orm or hears his voice: neither can help it@ i=
their e?periences coinci5e( that is not their b9siness@ perhaps it is a chance. "9t in the
present class o= cases( the agent deter(ines to 5o something that to most o= his e59cate5
=ellow-creat9res will appear a miracle@ an5 however little he himsel= ma> share that view(
he ma> still have goo5 gro9n5s =or shrinking =rom the rep9tation either o= a miracle-
worker or o= a miracle-monger. *he percipient4s position is somewhat 5i==erent@ b9t
mo5ern miracles are b> no means tempting things to get p9blicl> mi?e5 9p with( even =or
a person whose share in them has been passive. )n5 the e?treme rarit> o= the
phenomenon is another 5a9nting =act. +or a single specimen o= this 5eliberate t>pe o=
phantasm( we have a h9n5re5 specimens o= the wholl> spontaneo9s t>pe: an5 the witness
who is willing to give his name =or p9blication( where he is ass9re5 that he will =in5
himsel= in n9mero9s an5 respectable compan>( ma> =airl> hesitate when aware that the
inci5ent he recor5s is almost 9ne?ample5.
.owever( it ma> be hope5 that this 5i==ic9lt>( like others( will gra59all> be remove5 b> a
mo5i=ication o= p9blic opinion on the whole s9bDect. Meanwhile( I can b9t give the
evi5ence 9n5er the con5itions impose5. In the =irst case( the agent is slightl> known to 9s.
*he percipient is o9r =rien5( the 'ev. ,. /tainton Moses( who believes that he has kept a
written memoran59m o= the inci5ent( b9t has been prevente5 b> a long illness( an5 b>
press9re o= work( =rom h9nting =or it among a large mass o= store5-awa> papers. *he
agent4s acco9nt was written in +ebr9ar>( 27WX( an5 incl95es a =ew p9rel> verbal
alterations ma5e in 277:( when Mr. Moses prono9nce5 it correct.
P2:Q BOne evening earl> last >ear( I resolve5 to tr> to appear to J( at some miles 5istance.
I 5i5 not in=orm him be=orehan5 o= the inten5e5 e?periment@ b9t retire5 to rest shortl>
be=ore mi5night with tho9ghts intentl> =i?e5 on J( with whose room an5 s9rro9n5ings(
however( I was E9ite 9nacE9ainte5. I soon =ell asleep( an5 awoke ne?t morning
9nconscio9s o= an>thing having taken place. On seeing J a =ew 5a>s a=terwar5s( I
inE9ire5( u$i5 an>thing happen at >o9r rooms on /at9r5a> nightr4 u#es(4 replie5 he( ua
great 5eal happene5. I ha5 been sitting over the =ire with M( smoking an5 chatting. )bo9t
2U.:; he rose to leave( an5 I let him o9t m>sel=. I ret9rne5 to the =ire to =inish i-2;3! m>
pipe( when I saw >o9 sitting in the chair D9st vacate5 b> him. I looke5 intentl> at >o9( an5
then took 9p a newspaper to ass9re m>sel= I was not 5reaming( b9t on la>ing it 5own I
saw >o9 still there. ,hile I ga]e5 witho9t speaking( >o9 =a5e5 awa>. *ho9gh I imagine5
>o9 m9st be =ast asleep in be5 at that ho9r( >et >o9 appeare5 5resse5 in >o9r or5inar>
garments( s9ch as >o9 9s9all> wear ever> 5a>.4 u*hen m> e?periment seems to have
s9ccee5e5(4 sai5 I. u*he ne?t time I come( ask me what I want( as I ha5 =i?e5 on m> min5
certain E9estions I inten5e5 to ask >o9( b9t I was probabl> waiting =or an invitation to
speak.4
B) =ew weeks later the e?periment was repeate5 with eE9al s9ccess( I( as be=ore( not
in=orming J when it was ma5e. On this occasion he not onl> E9estione5 me on the
s9bDect which was at that time 9n5er ver> warm 5isc9ssion between 9s( b9t 5etaine5 me
b> the e?ercise o= his will some time a=ter I ha5 intimate5 a 5esire to leave.
2
*his =act(
when it came to be comm9nicate5 to me( seeme5 to acco9nt =or the violent an5 somewhat
pec9liar hea5ache which marke5 the morning =ollowing the e?periment@ at least I
remarke5 at the time that there was no apparent ca9se =or the 9n9s9al hea5ache@ an5( as
on the =ormer occasion( no recollection remaine5 o= the event( or seeming event( o= the
prece5ing night.C
Mr. Moses writes:A
BU2( "irchington 'oa5( %.,.
B/eptember UWth( 277V.
B*his acco9nt is( as =ar as m> memor> serves( e?act@ an5( witho9t notes be=ore me( I
cannot s9pplement it. B,. /*)I%*O% MO/E/.C
Mr. Moses tells 9s that he has never on an> other occasion seen the =ig9re o= a living
person in a place where it was not.
*he ne?t case( otherwise similar( was more remarkable in that there were two percipients.
*he narrative has been copie5 b> the present writer =rom a M/. book o= Mr. /. .. ".4s( to
which he trans=erre5 it =rom an almanack 5iar>( since lost.
P23Q BOn a certain /9n5a> evening in %ovember( 2772( having been rea5ing o= the great
power which the h9man will is capable o= e?ercising( I 5etermine5 with the whole =orce
o= m> being that I wo9l5 be present in spirit in the =ront be5room on the secon5 =loor o= a
ho9se sit9ate5 at UU( .ogarth 'oa5( 0ensington( in which room slept two la5ies o= m>
acE9aintance( vi].( Miss L. /. V. an5 Miss E. -. V.( age5 respectivel> UV an5 22 >ears. I
was living at this time at U:( 0il5are &ar5ens( a 5istance o= abo9t : miles =rom .ogarth
'oa5( an5 I ha5 not mentione5 in an> wa> m> intention o= tr>ing this e?periment to
either o= the above la5ies( =or the simple reason that it was onl> on retiring to rest 9pon
this /9n5a> night that I ma5e 9p m> min5 to 5o so. *he time at which I 5etermine5 I
wo9l5 be there was 2 o4clock in the morning( an5 I also ha5 a strong intention o= making
m> presence perceptible.
i-2;V!
BOn the =ollowing *h9rs5a> I went to see the la5ies in E9estion( an5( in the co9rse o=
conversation Pwitho9t an> all9sion to the s9bDect on m> partQ( the el5er one tol5 me( that(
on the previo9s /9n5a> night( she ha5 been m9ch terri=ie5 b> perceiving me stan5ing b>
her be5si5e( an5 that she screame5 when the apparition a5vance5 towar5s her( an5 awoke
her little sister( who saw me also.
BI aske5 her i= she was awake at the time( an5 she replie5 most 5eci5e5l> in the
a==irmative( an5 9pon m> inE9iring the time o= the occ9rrence( she replie5( abo9t 2
o4clock in the morning.
B*his la5>( at m> reE9est( wrote 5own a statement o= the event an5 signe5 it.
B*his was the =irst occasion 9pon which I trie5 an e?periment o= this kin5( an5 its
complete s9ccess startle5 me ver> m9ch.
B"esi5es e?ercising m> power o= volition ver> strongl>( I p9t =orth an e==ort which I
cannot =in5 wor5s to 5escribe. I was conscio9s o= a m>sterio9s in=l9ence o= some sort
permeating in m> bo5>( an5 ha5 a 5istinct impression that I was e?ercising some =orce
with which I ha5 been hitherto 9nacE9ainte5( b9t which I can now at certain times set in
motion at will.
B/. .. ".C
YO= the original entr> in the almanack 5iar>( Mr. ". sa>s: BI recollect having ma5e it
within a week or so o= the occ9rrence o= the e?periment( an5 whilst it was per=ectl> =resh
in m> memor>.CZ
Miss Verit>4s acco9nt is as =ollows:A
BFan9ar> 27th( 277:.
BOn a certain /9n5a> evening( abo9t twelve months since( at o9r ho9se in .ogarth 'oa5(
0ensington( I 5istinctl> saw Mr. ". in m> room( abo9t 2 o4clock. I was per=ectl> awake
an5 was m9ch terri=ie5. I awoke m> sister b> screaming( an5 she saw the apparition
hersel=. *hree 5a>s a=ter( when I saw Mr. ".( I tol5 him what ha5 happene5@ b9t it was
some time be=ore I co9l5 recover =rom the shock I ha5 receive5( an5 the remembrance is
too vivi5 to be ever erase5 =rom m> memor>.
BL. /. VE'I*#.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss Verit> a55s:A
BI ha5 never ha5 an> hall9cination o= the senses o= an> sort whatever.C
Miss E. -. Verit> sa>s:A
BI remember the occ9rrence o= the event 5escribe5 b> m> sister in the anne?e5 paragraph(
an5 her 5escription is E9ite correct. I saw the apparition which she saw( at the same time
an5 9n5er the same circ9mstances.
BE. -. VE'I*#.C
Miss ). /. Verit> sa>s:A
BI remember E9ite clearl> the evening m> el5est sister awoke me b> calling to me =rom
an a5Doining room@ an5 9pon m> going to her be5si5e( where she slept with m> >o9ngest
sister( the> both tol5 me the> ha5 seen /. .. ". stan5ing in the room. *he time was abo9t
2 o4clock. /. .. ". was in evening 5ress( the> tol5 me.
2

B). /. VE'I*#.C
i-2;8!
YMiss E. -. Verit> was asleep when her sister ca9ght sight o= the =ig9re( an5 was awoke
b> her sister4s e?claiming( B*here is /.C *he name ha5 there=ore met her ear be=ore she
hersel= saw the =ig9re@ an5 the hall9cination on her part might th9s be attrib9te5 to
s9ggestion. "9t it is against this view that she has never ha5 an> other hall9cination( an5
cannot there=ore be consi5ere5 as pre5ispose5 to s9ch e?periences. *he sisters are both
eE9all> certain that the =ig9re was in evening 5ress( an5 that it stoo5 in one partic9lar spot
in the room. *he gas was b9rning low( an5 the phantasmal =ig9re was seen with =ar more
clearness than a real =ig9re wo9l5 have been.
*he witnesses have been ver> care=9ll> cross-e?amine5 b> the present writer. *here is not
the slightest 5o9bt that their mention o= the occ9rrence to /. .. ". was spontaneo9s. *he>
ha5 not at =irst inten5e5 to mention it@ b9t when the> saw him( their sense o= its o55ness
overcame their resol9tion. I have alrea5> sai5 that I regar5 Miss Verit> as a care=9l an5
conscientio9s witness@ I ma> a55 that she has no love o= marvels( an5 has a consi5erable
5rea5 an5 5islike o= this partic9lar =orm o= marvel.Z
*he ne?t case o= Mr. /. .. ".4s is 5i==erent in this respect( that the percipient was not
conscio9sl> present to the agent4s min5 on the night that he ma5e his attempt. *he
acco9nt is copie5 =rom the M/. book mentione5 above.
P2VQ BOn +ri5a>( $ecember 2st( 277U( at X.:; p.m.( I went into a room alone an5 sat b>
the =iresi5e( an5 en5eavo9re5 so strongl> to =i? m> min5 9pon the interior o= a ho9se at
0ew Pvi].( -larence 'oa5Q( in which resi5e5 Miss V. an5 her two sisters( that I seeme5 to
be act9all> in the ho9se. $9ring this e?periment I m9st have =allen into a mesmeric sleep(
=or altho9gh I was conscio9s I co9l5 not move m> limbs. I 5i5 not seem to have lost the
power o= moving them( b9t I co9l5 not make the e==ort to 5o so( an5 m> han5s( which la>
loosel> on m> knees( abo9t 8 inches apart( =elt invol9ntaril> 5rawn together an5 seeme5
to meet( altho9gh I was conscio9s that the> 5i5 not move.
B)t 2; p.m. I regaine5 m> normal state b> an e==ort o= the will( an5 then took a pencil an5
wrote 5own on a sheet o= note-paper the =oregoing statements.
B,hen I went to be5 on this same night( I 5etermine5 that I wo9l5 be in the =ront
be5room o= the above-mentione5 ho9se at 2U p.m.( an5 remain there 9ntil I ha5 ma5e m>
spirit9al presence perceptible to the inmates o= that room.
BOn the ne?t 5a>( /at9r5a>( I went to 0ew to spen5 the evening( an5 met there a marrie5
sister o= Miss V. Pvi].( Mrs. L.Q *his la5> I ha5 onl> met once be=ore( an5 then it was at a
ball two >ears previo9s to the above 5ate. ,e were both in =anc> 5ress at the time( an5 as
we 5i5 not e?change more than hal=-a-5o]en wor5s( this la5> wo9l5 nat9rall> have lost
an> vivi5 recollection o= m> appearance( even i= she ha5 remarke5 it.
BIn the co9rse o= conversation Paltho9gh I 5i5 not think =or a moment o= asking her an>
E9estions on s9ch a s9bDectQ( she tol5 me that on the previo9s night she ha5 seen me
5istinctl> 9pon two occasions. /he i-2;W! ha5 spent the night at -larence 'oa5( an5 ha5
slept in the =ront be5room. )t abo9t hal=-past X she ha5 seen me in the passage( going
=rom one room to another( an5 at 2U p.m.( when she was wi5e awake( she ha5 seen me
enter the be5room an5 walk ro9n5 to where she was sleeping( an5 take her hair Pwhich is
ver> longQ into m> han5. /he also tol5 me that the apparition took hol5 o= her han5 an5
ga]e5 intentl> into it( where9pon she spoke( sa>ing( u#o9 nee5 not look at the lines( =or I
have never ha5 an> tro9ble.4 /he then awoke her sister( Miss V.( who was sleeping with
her( an5 tol5 her abo9t it. )=ter hearing this acco9nt( I took the statement which I ha5
written 5own on the previo9s evening( =rom m> pocket( an5 showe5 it to some o= the
persons present( who were m9ch astonishe5 altho9gh incre59lo9s.
BI aske5 Mrs. L. i= she was not 5reaming at the time o= the latter e?perience( b9t this she
sto9tl> 5enie5( an5 state5 that she ha5 =orgotten what I was like( b9t seeing me so
5istinctl> she recognise5 me at once.
BMrs. L. is a la5> o= highl> imaginative temperament( an5 tol5 me that she ha5 been
s9bDect( since chil5hoo5( to ps>chological =ancies(
2
[c.( b9t the won5er=9l coinci5ence o=
the time Pwhich was e?actQ convince5 me that what she tol5 me was more than a =light o=
the imagination. )t m> reE9est she wrote a brie= acco9nt o= her impressions an5 signe5 it.
B/. .. ".C
YMr. ". was at /o9thall when he ma5e this trial. .e tells me that the above acco9nt was
written 5own abo9t ten 5a>s a=ter the e?periment( an5 that it embo5ies the entr> ma5e in
his ro9gh 5iar> on the night o= the trial.Z
*he =ollowing is the la5>4s statement( which was =orwar5e5 to Mr. ".( he tells 9s( Bwithin
a =ew weeks o= the occ9rrence.C
B7( ,or5sworth 'oa5( .arrow.
BOn +ri5a>( $ecember 2st( 277U( I was on a visit to m> sister( U2( -larence 'oa5( 0ew(
an5 abo9t X.:; p.m. I was going =rom m> be5room to get some water =rom the bathroom(
when I 5istinctl> saw Mr. /. ".( whom I ha5 onl> seen once be=ore( abo9t two >ears ago(
walk be=ore me past the bathroom( towar5s the be5room at the en5 o= the lan5ing. )bo9t
22 o4clock we retire5 =or the night( an5 abo9t 2U o4clock I was still awake( an5 the 5oor
opene5
U
an5 Mr. /. ". came into the room an5 walke5 ro9n5 to the be5si5e( an5 there
stoo5 with one =oot on the gro9n5 an5 the other knee resting on a chair. .e then took m>
hair into his han5( a=ter which he took m> han5 in his( an5 looke5 ver> intentl> into the
palm. u)h(4 I sai5 Pspeaking to himQ( u>o9 nee5 not look at the lines( =or I never ha5 an>
tro9ble.4 I then awoke m> sister@ I was not nervo9s( b9t e?cite5( an5 began to =ear some
serio9s illness wo9l5 be=all her( she being 5elicate at the time( b9t she is progressing
more =avo9rabl> now.
B.. L.C Y+9ll name signe5.Z
i-2;7!
Miss Verit> corroborates as =ollows:A
BI can remember E9ite well Mrs. L.4s mentioning her two visionsAone at X.:; an5 one at
2UAat the time( an5 be=ore /. .. ". came. "hen he ca(e, m> sister tol5 him( an5
imme5iatel> he took a car5 Por paper( I =orget whichQ o9t o= his pocket( containing an
acco9nt o= the previo9s evening. I consi5er this testimon> E9ite as goo5 as i= Mrs. L.
were giving it( beca9se I can recall so -ell these two 5a>s.
BM> sister has tol5 me that she never e?perience5 an> hall9cination o= the senses e?cept
on this occasion.
BL. /. VE'I*#.C
*he present writer reE9este5 Mr. ". to sen5 him a note on the night that he inten5e5 to
make his ne?t e?periment o= the kin5( an5 receive5 the =ollowing note b> the =irst post on
Mon5a>( March U3th( 2773.
BMarch UUn5( 2773.
P28Q B$ear Mr. &9rne>(AI am going to tr> the e?periment to-night o= making m>
presence perceptible at 33( %orlan5 /E9are( at 2U p.m. I will let >o9 know the res9lt in a
=ew 5a>s.A#o9rs ver> sincerel>(
B/. .. ".C
*he ne?t letter was receive5 in the co9rse o= the =ollowing week:A
B)pril :r5( 2773.
B$E)' M'. &U'%E#(AI have a strange statement to show >o9( respecting m>
e?periment( which was trie5 at >o9r s9ggestion( an5 9n5er the test con5itions which >o9
impose5.
B.aving E9ite =orgotten which night it was on which I attempte5 the proDection( I cannot
sa> whether the res9lt is a brilliant s9ccess( or onl> a slight one( 9ntil I see the letter
which I poste5 >o9 on the evening o= the e?periment.
B.aving sent >o9 that letter( I 5i5 not 5eem it necessar> to make a note in m> 5iar>( an5
conseE9entl> have let the e?act 5ate slip m> memor>.
BI= the 5ates correspon5( the s9ccess is complete in ever> 5etail( an5 I have an acco9nt
signe5 an5 witnesse5 to show >o9.
BI saw the la5> Pwho was the s9bDectQ =or the =irst time last night( since the e?periment(
an5 she ma5e a vol9ntar> statement to me( which I wrote 5own at her 5ictation( an5 to
which she has attache5 her signat9re. *he 5ate an5 time o= the apparition are speci=ie5 in
this statement( an5 it will be =or >o9 to 5eci5e whether the> are i5entical with those given
in m> letter to >o9. I have completel> =orgotten( b9t >et I =anc> that the> are the same.
B/. .. ".C
*his is the statement:A
B33( %orlan5 /E9are( ,.
BOn /at9r5a> night( March UUn5( 2773( at abo9t mi5night( I ha5 a 5istinct impression that
Mr. /. .. ". was present in m> room( an5 I 5istinctl> saw him whilst I was E9ite wi5el>
awake. .e came towar5s me( an5 stroke5 m> hair. I voluntaril, gave him this
in=ormation( when he calle5 to see me on ,e5nes5a>( )pril Un5( telling him the time an5
i-2;X! the circ9mstances o= the apparition( witho9t an> s9ggestion on his part. *he
appearance in m> room was most vivi5( an5 E9ite 9nmistakeable.
L. /. VE'I*#.C
Miss ). /. Verit> corroborates as =ollows:A
BI remember m> sister telling me that she ha5 seen /. .. ".( an5 that he ha5 to9che5 her
hair( before he came to see 9s on )pril Un5.
B). /. V.C
Mr. ".4s own acco9nt is as =ollows:A
BOn /at9r5a>( March UUn5( I 5etermine5 to make m> presence perceptible to Miss V.( at
33( %orlan5 /E9are( %otting .ill( at 2U mi5night( an5 as I ha5 previo9sl> arrange5 with
Mr. &9rne> that I sho9l5 post him a letter on the evening on which I trie5 m> ne?t
e?periment Pstating the time an5 other partic9larsQ( I sent a note to acE9aint him with the
above =acts.
B)bo9t ten 5a>s a=terwar5s I calle5 9pon Miss V.( an5 she vol9ntaril> tol5 me( that on
March UUn5( at 2U o4clock mi5night( she ha5 seen me so vivi5l> in her room Pwhilst
wi5el> awakeQ that her nerves ha5 been m9ch shaken( an5 she ha5 been oblige5 to sen5
=or a 5octor in the morning.
B/. .. ".C
YUn=ort9natel> Mr. ".4s intention to pro59ce the impression o= to9ching the percipient4s
hair is not incl95e5 in his written acco9nt. On )9g9st U2st( 277V( he wrote to me( BI
remember that I ha5 this intention@C an5 I m>sel= remember that( ver> soon a=ter the
occ9rrence( he mentione5 this as one o= the points which ma5e the s9ccess Bcomplete in
ever> 5etailC@ an5 that I recommen5e5 him in an> =9t9re trial to en5eavo9r instea5 to
pro59ce the impression o= some spoken phrase.Z
It will be observe5 that in all these instances the con5itions were the sameAthe agent
concentrating his tho9ghts on the obDect in view be=ore going to sleep. Mr. ". has never
s9ccee5e5 in pro59cing a similar e==ect when he has been awake. )n5 this restriction as
to time has ma5e it 5i==ic9lt to 5evise a plan b> which the phenomenon co9l5 be teste5 b>
in5epen5ent observers( one o= whom might arrange to be in the compan> o= the agent at a
given time( an5 the other in that o= the percipient. %or is it eas> to press =or repetitions o=
the e?periment( which is not an agreeable one to the percipient( an5 is =ollowe5 b> a
consi5erable amo9nt o= nervo9s prostration. Moreover( i= trials were =reE9entl> ma5e
with the same percipient( the val9e o= s9ccess wo9l5 5iminish@ =or an> latent e?pectation
on the percipient4s part might be arg9e5 to be itsel= pro59ctive o= the 5el9sion( an5 the
coinci5ence with the agent4s resolve might be e?plaine5 as acci5ental. ,e have( o=
co9rse( reE9este5 Mr. ". to tr> to pro59ce the e==ect on o9rselves@ b9t tho9gh he has more
than once ma5e the attempt( it has not s9ccee5e5. ,e can there=ore onl> wait( in the hope
that time will bring =resh opport9nities( an5 that other persons ma> be i-22;! in59ce5 to
make the trial.
2
Y~Z I am strongl> sensible o= the nat9ral rep9lsion which 5escriptions o=
s9ch isolate5 marvels are likel> to pro59ce in most e59cate5 min5s( an5 the more so
when the 5etails are o= a slightl> l95icro9s kin5. "9t the evi5ence to the =acts is o= s9ch a
E9alit> that it co9l5 not have been s9ppresse5 witho9t 5oing grave inD9stice to the case
=or telepath>.
U

S X. "9t even a rea5er who can s9==icientl> rel> on o9r knowle5ge o= the witnesses to =eel
that the evi5ence is important( ma> =in5 an obDection o= another kin5. .e ma> E9estion
o9r right to make an> theoretic connection between the e?perimental res9lts be=ore
5isc9sse5 an5 these last-5escribe5 cases. I have calle5 the phenomena o= the present
chapter transitional, an5 have pointe5 o9t the wa> in which the> =orm a bri5ge =rom the
e?perimental tho9ght-trans=erence o= the last chapter to the spontaneo9s telepath> that
will occ9p> 9s =or the =9t9re. "9t it ma> seem that the line o= connection is a=ter all onl>
an e?ternal one@ an5 that there is a 5eep essential 5i==erenceAa g9l= which cannot be th9s
lightl> crosse5Abetween the more or5inar> =acts o= tho9ght-trans=erence an5 these
apparitions o= the agent. It is not onl> that in the latter the percipient4s impression has
been o= an e?ternal obDectAo= something not merel> =lashe5 on the min5( b9t
in5epen5entl> locate5 in space: i-222! that might be a mere E9estion o= 5egree. *he
more ra5ical 5i==erence is thisAthat what the one part> perceive5 was not that on which
the min5 o= the other part> ha5 been concentrate5. In a Btho9ght-trans=erenceC
e?periment o= the normal t>pe( the percipient4s image or i5ea o= a car5 or 5iagram is 59e
Pas we hol5Q to the =act that the agent has been 5irecting his attention to that ver> image
or i5ea. "9t in the case o= these will-pro59ce5 phantasms( the agent has not been
pict9ring his own visible aspect. /o =ar as he has been thinking o= himsel= at all( it has
been not o= his aspect partic9larl>( b9t o= his personalit>( an5 o= his personalit> in relation
to the percipient. It is th9s probable that the percipients aspect has =orme5 a larger part o=
the agent4s whole i5ea than his own@ >et it is his aspect( an5 nothing else( that is
telepathicall> perceive5. )n5 a similar 5epart9re =rom the normal e?perimental t>pe will
meet 9s again in the large maDorit> o= the spontaneous telepathic cases. In some o= these(
the content o= the agent4s min5( at the time when the percipient receive5 some sensor>
impression o= him( has been a =orcible i5ea o= the percipient( an5 o= himsel= in relation to
the percipient@ in others( we shall =in5 that even this bon5 was lacking( an5 that the
percipient4s impression cannot be even loosel> i5enti=ie5 with an> part o= the conscio9s
contents o= the agent4s min5.
*hese =acts have( no 5o9bt( a ver> real theoretic importance: the> reveal a certain
incompleteness in the transition which I have been en5eavo9ring to make. )s long as the
impression in the percipient4s min5 is merel> a repro59ction o= that in the agent4s min5( it
is possible to conceive some sort o= ph,sical basis =or the =act o= the trans=erence. *he
=amiliar phenomena o= the transmission an5 reception o= vibrator> energ> are rea5> to
han5 as analogiesAthe e==ect( =or instance( o= a swinging pen59l9m on another o= eE9al
length attache5 to the same soli5 s9pport@ or o= one t9ning-=ork or string on another o= the
same pitch@ or o= glowing particles o= a gas on cool molec9les o= the same s9bstance. /till
more tempting are the analogies o= magnetic an5 electrical in59ction. ) permanent
magnet bro9ght into a room will throw an> s9rro9n5ing iron into a similar con5ition@ an
electric c9rrent in one coil o= wire will in59ce a c9rrent in a neighbo9ring coil@ tho9gh
here even the me5i9m o= comm9nication is 9nknown. /o it is possible to conceive that
vibration-waves( or nervo9s in59ction( are a means whereb> activit> in one brain ma>
evoke a kin5re5 activit> in anotherAwith( o= co9rse( a similar i-22U! correspon5ence o=
ps>chical impressions. Even here( perhaps( the conception sho9l5 rather be regar5e5 as a
metaphor than an analog>. ,e have onl> to remember that the e==ect o= all the known
ph>sical =orces 5iminishes with 5istanceAwhereas we shall =in5 reason to think that(
9n5er appropriate con5itions( an i5ea ma> be telepathicall> repro59ce5 on the other si5e
o= the worl5 as easil> as on the other si5e o= a room. *he emplo>ment( there=ore( o=
wor5s like force, i(pulse, i(pact, in speaking o= telepathic in=l9ences( m9st not be hel5
to impl> the =aintest s9spicion o= what the =orce is( or an> h>pothesis whatever which
wo9l5 co-or5inate it with the recognise5 =orces o= the material worl5. %ot onl>( as with
other 5elicate phenomena o= li=e an5 tho9ght( is the sub5ective si5e o= the problem the
onl> one that we can >et attempt to anal>se: we 5o not even know where to look =or the
ob5ective si5e. I= there reall> is a ph>sical co9nterpart to the fact o= transmissionAover
an5 above the movements in the two brains which are the ter(ini o= the transmissionA
that co9nterpart remains wholl> 9nknown to 9s.
"9t a m9ch more serio9s 5i==ic9lt> in the wa> o= an> ph>sical conception o= telepath>
presents itsel= as soon as we pass to the cases where the image act9all> present in the
agent4s min5 is no longer repro59ce5 in the percipient4s. ) is 5>ing at a 5istance@ " sees
his =orm. ,e ma> perhaps trace a relation between the processes in their two min5s@ b9t it
certainl> 5oes not amo9nt to an>thing like i5entit> or 5istinct parallelism. *hat being so(
there can be no s9ch simple an5 imme5iate concor5ance as we have s9ppose5( between
the nervo9s vibrations o= their two brains@ an5 that being so( there is no obvio9s means o=
translating into ph>sical terms the ca9sal connection between their e?periences. *his
5i==ic9lt> will take a somewhat 5i==erent aspect when we come later to consi5er the part
which the min54s unconscious operations ma> bear in telepathic phenomena. ,e ma> see
gro9n5s =or thinking that a consi5erable comm9nit> o= e?perience Pespeciall> in
emotional relationsQ between two persons ma> involve nervo9s recor5s s9==icientl>
similar to retain =or one another some sort o= revivable a==init>( even when the e?perience
has long lost its vivi5ness =or conscio9s memor>. Meanwhile it is best to a5mit the
5i==ic9lt> witho9t reserve( an5 to state in the most e?plicit wa> that in the rapproche(ent
between e?perimental tho9ght-trans=erence an5 spontaneo9s telepathic impressions we
are con=ining o9rselves to the ps,chical aspect@ we connect the phenomena as being in all
cases i-22:! a==ections o= one min5 b> another( occ9rring otherwise than thro9gh the
recognise5 channels o= sense. *he obDector ma> 9rge that i= we have not( we o9ght to
have( a ph,sical theor> which will embrace all the phenomenaAthat we o9ght not to talk
abo9t a rapport between )4s min5 an5 "4s 9nless we can establish a bridge between their
two brains. *his seems rather to ass9me that the stan5ing p9]]le o= the relation between
cerebral an5 ps>chical events in the individual, "( can onl> be state5 in one cr95e =ormA
vi].( that the =ormer are prior an5 produce the latter@ an5 tho9gh =or or5inar> p9rposes
s9ch an e?pression is convenient( the convenience has its 5angers. /till( as the converse
propositionAthat the ps>chical events are the priorAwo9l5 be eE9all> 5angero9s( a cru.
remains which we cannot eva5e. /ince we cannot 5o9bt that "4s 9nwonte5 e?perience
has its appropriate cerebral correlate( we have to a5mit that the energ> o= "4s brain is
5irecte5 in a wa> in which it wo9l5 not be 5irecte5 b9t =or something that has happene5
to ). In this ph>sical e==ect it is impossible to ass9me that an e?ternal ph>sical antece5ent
is not involve5@ an5 the relation o= the antece5ent to the e==ect is( as I have pointe5 o9t(
har5 to conceive( when the ne9ral tremors in )4s brain are so 9nlike the ne9ral tremors in
"4s brain as the> m9st pres9mabl> be when )4s min5 is occ9pie5 with his imme5iate
s9rro9n5ings( or with the i5ea o= 5eath( an5 "4s min5 is occ9pie5 with a s955en an5
9nacco9ntable impression or vision o= ).
"9t however things ma> be on the ph>sical plane( the =acts recor5e5 in this book are
p9rel> ps,chical =acts@ an5 on the ps>chical plane it is possible to give to a heterogeneo9s
arra> o= them a certain or5erl> coherence( an5 to present them as a gra59ate5 series o=
nat9ral phenomena. -an it be asserte5 that this treatment is illegitimate 9nless a
conc9rrent ph>sical theor> can also be p9t =orwar5r It is s9rel> allowable to 5o one thing
at a time. *here is an 9nsolve5 m>ster> in the backgro9n5@ that we grant an5 remember@
b9t it nee5 not perpet9all> oppress 9s. )=ter all( is there not that stan5ing m>ster> o= the
cerebral an5 mental correlation in the in5ivi59alAa m>ster> eE9all> 9nsolve5 an5
perhaps more 5e=initel> an5 ra5icall> insol9bleAat the backgro9n5 o= ever> =act an5
5octrine o= the recognise5 ps>cholog>r *he ps>chologists work on as i= it 5i5 not e?ist(
or rather as i= it were the most nat9ral an5 intelligible thing in the worl5( an5 no one
complains o= them. )ll that we claim is a similar =ree5om.
i-223!
+!P#&R ().
*&"&R!' +R(#(+($M %F #& &)(/&"+& F%R $P%"#!"&%.$
#&'&P!#-.
S 2. ,E have now to E9it the e?perimental branch o= o9r s9bDect. ,e have been engage5(
so =ar( with cases o= tho9ght-trans=erence 5eliberatel> so9ght =or an5 observe5 within the
=o9r walls o= a room( both the agent an5 the percipient being aware o= the obDect in view@
an5 with the =9rther cases whereAtho9gh the 5istance between the agent an5 the
percipient was o=ten greater( an5 the latter ha5 no intimation o= what was inten5e5Athere
was still a 5eliberate 5esire on the agent4s part to e?ert a telepathic in=l9ence( an5 a
concentration o= his min5 on that obDect. +or the remain5er o= o9r co9rse we shall be
entirel> occ9pie5 with cases where no s9ch 5esire or i5ea e?iste5Awhere the e==ect
pro59ce5 on the percipient( tho9gh we ma> connect it with the state o= the agent( was
certainl> not an e==ect which he was aiming at pro59cing. )n5 this change in the
character o= the =acts is accompanie5 b> a marke5 change in the character o= the evi5ence
Aa change =or which some o= the transitional cases in the last chapter have alrea5>
prepare5 9s. O9r concl9sions will now have to be 5rawn =rom the recor5s o= persons
who( at the time when the phenomena which the> 5escribe took place( were E9ite
9naware that these wo9l5 ever be 9se5 as evi5ence =or telepath> or an>thing else. %or
have m> colleag9es an5 I an> observations o= o9r own to compare with what o9r
witnesses tell 9s@ the =acts are known to 9s onl> thro9gh the me5i9m o= their report( an5
we shall have to 5eci5e how =ar the me5i9m ma> be a 5istorting one. O9r metho5 o=
inE9ir> will th9s be the historical metho5@ an5 s9ccess will 5epen5 9pon the e?ercise o= a
wi5er an5 less specialise5 =orm o= common-sense than was reE9ire5 in the e?perimental
work. ) great man> more points have to be taken into acco9nt in weighing h9man
testimon> than in arranging the con5itions o= a cr9cial trial o= tho9ght-trans=erence.
*here( one precise an5 simple =orm o= 5anger ha5 to be g9ar5e5 againstAthe i-22V!
possibilit> o= conscio9s or 9nconscio9s ph>sical signs: here( 5angers m9lti=orm an5
in5eterminate will have to be allowe5 =or. ,e shall be bro9ght =ace to =ace with E9estions
o= character( o= the general behavio9r o= h9man beings in vario9s circ9mstances( an5 o=
the 9nconscio9s workings o= the h9man min5@ an5 a E9ite 5i==erent sort o= logic m9st
come into pla>( involving o=ten a ver> comple? estimate o= probabilities.
/o all-important is it =or o9r p9rpose to =orm a correct D95gment as to the possible so9rces
o= error in this new 5epartment o= evi5ence( that I have tho9ght it best to 5evote the
present chapter entirel> to that s9bDect.
S U. +irst( then( to =ace the most general obDection o= all. *his ma> perhaps be state5 as
=ollows. )ll manner o= =alse belie=s have in their 5a> been able to m9ster a consi5erable
amo9nt o= evi5ence in their s9pport( m9ch o= which was certainl> not conscio9sl>
=ra959lent. *he =orm o= s9perstition varies with the religio9s an5 e59cational con5itions
o= the time@ b9t within certain limits a 5iligent collector will be able to obtain evi5ence
=or prett> well an>thing that he chooses. *here is( o= co9rse( a lineAan5 ever> age will
have its own lineAbe>on5 which it wo9l5 be impossible =or an>one who wishe5 to be
tho9ght sane an5 e59cate5 to go@ =or instance( it wo9l5 be impossible in the present 5a>
to obtain an>thing like respectable contemporar> testimon> =or the trans=ormation o= ol5
women into hares an5 cats. "9t short o= this line there is alwa>s a range o= i5eas an5
belie=s as to which opinion is 5ivi5e5Awhich it is per=ectl> allowable to rep95iate( an5
which science ma> treat with scorn( b9t which it is not a sign o= abnormal ignorance or
st9pi5it> to entertain. )n5 within this range evi5ence( an5 even e59cate5 evi5ence( =or
the belie=s will prett> certainl> be =orthcoming. +or however m9ch a5vancing knowle5ge
ma> have limite5 the =iel5 o= s9perstition( the =9n5 o= possibilities in the wa> o= mal-
observation( misinterpretation( an5 e?aggeration o= =acts is still practicall> ine?ha9stible@
an5 with s9ch a =9n5 to 5raw on( the belie=( or the mere 5esire or ten5enc> to believe( in
an> partic9lar or5er o= phenomena is s9re( now an5 again( to light on =acts which can be
ma5e to >iel5 the semblance o= a proo=.
%ow( tho9gh it is 5i==ic9lt to 5en> the =orce o= this arg9ment when state5 in general
terms( I think that it can be shown not serio9sl> to invali5ate the evi5ence which is here
relie5 on as proo= o= the realit> o= spontaneo9s telepath>. +or the sake o= comparison( it
will i-228! be worth while to glance at the most striking e?ample that mo5ern times
s9ppl> o= the s9pport o= =alse belie=s b> a large arra> o= contemporar> evi5enceAthe case
o= witchcra=t.
,e ma> begin b> e?cl95ing the enormo9s amo9nt o= the witch-evi5ence which consiste5
in con=essions e?tracte5 b> tort9re( terror( or =alse promisesABthe casting evi5ence in
most tr>als(C as .9tchinson sa>s@ an5 also the large class o= cases where the act9al =acts
atteste5 wo9l5 not be 5isp9te5@Aas where a woman was con5emne5 beca9se a chil5 who
ha5 been with her h9ng its hea5 on its ret9rn home( an5 rolle5 over in its cra5le in the
evening@ or beca9se a goo5 man> people or cattle ha5 =allen sick in her village@ or
beca9se she kept a tame =rog( pres9me5 to be her BimpC@ or beca9se on the ver> 5a> that
she ha5 scol5e5 a carter whose cart knocke5 9p against her ho9se( the sel=-same cart
st9ck in a gate( an5 the men who sho9l5 have emptie5 it at night =elt too tire5 to 5o so.
2

19tting these cases asi5e as irrelevant( an>one who looks care=9ll> into the remaining
recor5s will =in5 P2Q that the act9al testimon> on which the allege5 =acts were believe5
came e?cl9sivel> =rom the 9ne59cate5 classes@ an5 PUQ that the eas> acceptance o= this
evi5ence b> better e59cate5 persons was 59e to the ignorance which was at that time all
b9t 9niversal respecting several great 5epartments o= nat9ral phenomenaAthose o=
hall9cination( trance( h>steria( an5 mesmerism. *his ignorance took e==ect in the
=ollowing wa>Athat ever> piece o= evi5ence to marvello9s =acts was per=orce regar5e5
as presenting one simple alternative:Aeither the =acts happene5 as allege5@ or the
witnesses m9st be practising 5eliberate =ra95. *he latter h>pothesis was( o= co9rse( an
eas> one eno9gh to make in respect o= this or that in5ivi59al case( an5 was s9pporte5 b>
in5isp9table e?amples@ b9t it co9l5 not long be applie5 in an> wholesale manner. *he
previo9s character o= man> o= the persons involve5( the aimlessness o= s9ch a =ra95( the
vast scale o= the conspirac> which wo9l5 have ha5 to be organise5 in or5er to impose it
on the worl5( an5 above all the =act that man> o= the witnesses bro9ght on themselves
nothing b9t opprobri9m an5 persec9tion b> their statements( ma5e it practicall>
impossible to 5o9bt that the testimon> was on the whole honestl> given. +ra95( then(
being e?cl95e5( there remaine5 nothing b9t to believe i-22W! the =acts gen9ine. /ane
men an5 women spoke with obvio9s sincerit> o= what the> ha5 seen with their own e>es@
how co9l5 s9ch a proo= be gainsai5r *his is a point which &lanvil an5 other writers o=
the witch-epoch are =or ever 9rging@ i= we reDect these =acts( the> arg9e( we m9st reDect all
belie=s that have their basis in h9man testimon>.
.appil> we have now a totall> 5i==erent means o= escaping =rom the 5ilemma. ,e know
now that s9bDective hall9cinations ma> possess the ver> =9llest sensor> character( an5
ma> be as real to the percipient as an> obDect he ever behel5. I have m>sel= hear5 an
epileptic s9bDect( who was per=ectl> sane an5 rational in his general con59ct( 5escribe a
series o= interviews that he ha5 ha5 with the 5evil( with a precision( an5 an absol9te belie=
in the evi5ence o= his senses( eE9al to an>thing that I ever rea5 in the recor5s o= the
witches4 compacts. )n5 =9rther( we know now that there is a con5ition( capable o=ten o=
being in59ce5 in 9ne59cate5 an5 simple persons with e?treme ease( in which an> i5ea
that is s9ggeste5 ma> at once take sensor> =orm( an5 be proDecte5 as an act9al
hall9cination. *o those who have seen rob9st >o9ng men( in an earl> stage o= h>pnotic
trance( staring with horror at a =ig9re which appears to them to be walking on the ceiling(
or giving wa> to strange conv9lsions 9n5er the impression that the> have been change5
into bir5s or snakes( there will be nothing ver> s9rprising in the belie= o= h>sterical girls
that the> were possesse5 b> some alien in=l9ence( or that their 5istant persec9tor was
act9all> present to their senses. It is tr9e that in h>pnotic e?periments there is commonl>
some preliminar> process b> which the pec9liar con5ition is in59ce5( an5 that the i5ea
which originates the 5el9sion has then to be s9ggeste5 ab e.tra. "9t with sensitive
Bs9bDectsC who have been m9ch 9n5er an> partic9lar in=l9ence( a mere wor5 will pro59ce
the e==ect@ nor is there an> =eat9re in the evi5ence =or witchcra=t that more constantl>
rec9rs than the touching o= the victim b> the witch.
2
Moreover( no har5 an5 =ast line
e?ists between the 5el9sions o= in59ce5 h>pnotism an5 those o= spontaneo9s trance( or o=
the grave h>stero-epileptic crises which mere terror is now known to 5evelop. )n5
association between persons who were possesse5 with certain e?citing i5eas wo9l5
rea5il> acco9nt =or the generation o= a m9t9all> contagio9s in=l9ence@ as in cases where
magic rites were per=orme5 b> several persons in compan>@ or i-227! where a whole
ho9sehol5 or comm9nit> was a==ecte5 with some partic9lar 5el9sion.
2

*he above seems a s9==icient e?planation o= the testimon> which to the e>es o=
contemporaries appeare5 the strongestAthe testimon> o= Bpossesse5C persons( an5 o= the
pro=esse5 participators in the incantation scenes an5 noct9rnal orgies. )s regar5s the
allege5 statements o= in5epen5ent persons who testi=ie5 to having witnesse5 the arial
ri5es( trans=ormations into animal =orms( an5 s9ch-like marvels( I wo9l5 remark in the
=irst place that the literat9re o= witchcra=t ma> be searche5 =ar an5 wi5e witho9t
enco9ntering hal=-a-5o]en first6hand statements o= the sort@
U
Y~Z an5 in the secon5 place(
that there is a characteristic o= 9ne59cate5 min5s which is onl> e?ceptionall> observe5 in
e59cate5 a59ltsAthe ten5enc> to con=o9n5 mental images( p9re an5 simple( with matters
o= =act. *his ten5enc> nat9rall> allies itsel= with an> set o= images which is prominent in
the belie=s o= the time@ an5 it is certain now an5 then to give to what are merel> vivi5
i5eas the character o= bon0 fide memories. *he imagination which ma> be 9nable to
pro59ce( even in =eeble-min5e5 persons( the belie= that the> see things that are not there(
ma> be E9ite able to pro59ce the belie= that the> have seen themAwhich is all( o= co9rse(
that their testimon> implies.
:

*here is( however( one small class o= phenomena connecte5 with witchcra=t which stan5s
on 5i==erent gro9n5( as regar5s the E9alit> o= i-22X! the evi5ence a559ce5 =or it. ) =ew
cases are recor5e5( on reall> respectable a9thorit>( o= a remarkable s9sceptibilit>( shown
b> persons whom we might now recognise as h>pnotic Bs9bDects(C to the conscio9s or
9nconscio9s in=l9ence o= some absent person s9ppose5 to be a witch@ an5 perhaps also o=
abnormal powers o= 5iscernment on the part o= the s9ppose5 witches themselves. *hese
allege5 telepathic cases nat9rall> =ell into 5iscre5it along with all the other phenomena o=
occ9lt agenc>. +or the belie= in witchcra=t =a5e5 an5 9ltimatel> 5ie5 as a whole@ not
beca9se each sort o= phenomenon was in t9rn e?pose5 or e?plaine5( or beca9se an>
critical acco9nt o= hall9cinations an5 pop9lar 5el9sions was =orthcoming( or even beca9se
a certain amo9nt o= 5istinct =ra95 was prove5( b9t beca9se the general ti5e o= 9ncritical
opinion took a t9rn towar5s scepticism as to matters s9pernat9ral. %ow we are certainl>
not concerne5 to maintain that this or that instance o= allege5 telepathic in=l9ence o9ght
to have been allowe5 to stan5 as gen9ine( when belie= in the more phantastic phenomena
was 9n5ermine5. Is YsicZ is probable that in the =ormer( as in the latter( the in=l9ence o=
imagination was not allowe5 =or( an5 that the 5i==erent items o= evi5ence were never
teste5 an5 compare5 in the manner that tr9e scienti=ic scepticism wo9l5 5ictate. ,e( at
an> rate( have 5i==ic9lt> eno9gh in testing the acc9rac> o= contemporar> evi5ence( an5
certainl> are not going to rest an> part o= o9r case on the recor5s o= a b>-gone age. "9t i=
an>one who has st95ie5 the evi5ence =or witchcra=t 9rges these cases as a proo= that the
more recent telepathic evi5ence is 9nworth> o= attention( it is reasonable to remark that i=
telepath> is in operation now( it was probabl> in operation then@ an5 that the onl> cases o=
s9ppose5 magic with which persons o= sense an5 e59cation seem( at the time( to have
come to close E9arters were similar in character to cases =or which persons o= sense an5
e59cation are still =o9n5 to o==er their personal testimon>.
2

i-2U;!
"9t in whatever light these resi59al cases be regar5e5( the general concl9sion remains the
sameAthat the phenomena which were characteristic o= witchcra=t( an5 which are an
accepte5 t>pe o= e?plo5e5 s9perstitions( never reste5 on the =irst-han5 testimon> o=
e59cate5 an5 intelligent persons@ an5 the sweeping assertion which is o=ten ma5e that
s9ch persons were( in their 5a>( witnesses to the tr9th o= these abs9r5ities nee5s(
there=ore( to be care=9ll> g9ar5e5. ,hat the e59cate5 an5 intelligent believers 5i5 was to
accept =rom others( as evi5ence o= ob5ective =acts( statements which were reall> onl>
evi5ence o= sub5ective =acts. )n5 the> 5i5 this nat9rall> an5 e?c9sabl>( beca9se the> live5
at a time when the science o= ps>cholog> was in its in=anc>( an5 the necessar> means o=
correction were not within their reach.
2

One =9rther criticism ma> be ma5e as to the mental con5ition o= those who were in an>
5irect sense witnesses to the =acts. *he> were invariabl> persons incline5 to s9ch belie=s
to begin withAwho ha5 been bro9ght 9p in them an5 ha5 accepte5 them as a matter o=
co9rse. ,e have no recor5 o= an>one who ha5 all his li=e 5ecline5 to a5mit the realit> o=
the allege5 phenomena( an5 who was s955enl> convince5 o= his mistake b> coming into
personal contact with them.
S :. ,e are now in a position to perceive( b> comparison( how the case stan5s with the
evi5ence =or telepath> which awaits e?amination. It wo9l5 almost be s9==icient to sa> that
the comparison is an absol9te contrast in respect o= ever> point which has been
mentione5. ) ver> large n9mber o= o9r =irst-han5 witnesses are i-2U2! e59cate5 an5
intelligent persons( whose sobriet> o= D95gment has never been calle5 in E9estion. +or the
most part( moreover( the> have been in no wa> incline5 to a5mit the realit> o= the
phenomena( prior to themselves enco9ntering them. "> man> o= them even what the>
themselves narrate has not been regar5e5 with special interest@ while others( who have
been 9nable to get behin5 their own e?perience( have e?presse5 scepticism as to the
e?istence o= the phenomena as a class.
2
*he =acts themselves have no special a==init> with
an> partic9lar =orm o= =aith@ the> are not =acts in a belie= o= which an> one is speciall>
bro9ght 9p. )n5 here we ma> contrast telepath>( not onl> with the comparativel> mo5ern
s9perstition o= witchcra=t( b9t with phenomena o= m9ch ol5er an5 wi5er acceptanceAthe
allege5 apparitions o= the 5ea5. *he contin9e5 e?istence o= 5eparte5 =rien5s an5 relatives
has been one o= the most constant elements o= religio9s belie=@ an5 that m>ths sho9l5
grow 9p respecting their appearances to s9rvivors is what might have nat9rall> been
looke5 =or. "9t even in respect o= the most striking sort o= phenomena with which we
shall here be concerne5Aapparitions at the time o= 5eathAwe 5o not =in5 in men4s
prevalent habits o= tho9ght( at an> stage o= c9lt9re( elements which wo9l5 be partic9larl>
likel> to pro59ce a m>th on the s9bDect. )n5 as a matter o= =act( i= we go to the classes o=
persons whose belie=s have no special relation to evi5ence( we 5o act9all> =in5 the one
m>th prevalent( an5 not the other. *he i5ea o= apparitions a=ter 5eath has a wi5e an5
strong hol5 on the pop9lar min5@ the i5ea o= apparitions at the time either o= 5eath( or o=
serio9s crises in li=e( has no establishe5 vog9e. Instances are( no 5o9bt( to be met with in
books o= histor>( biograph>( an5 travel@ an5 the range which s9ch notices cover is itsel=
important( as showing that the i5ea( tho9gh so =ar =rom 9niversall> prevalent( is =or all
that not in an> sense a specialit> o= partic9lar times or localities. "9t tho9gh n9mero9s(
the instances are spora5ic@ the> appear as isolate5 marvels( which even those who
e?perience5 them regar5e5 as s9ch( an5 not as evi5ences to an> wi5el>-believe5 realit>.
/o m9ch is this the case that to man> persons with i-2UU! whom we have converse5 on
the s9bDect we =in5 that the ver> i5ea o= s9ch phenomena is practicall> new@ an5 that
Bapparitions(C whether 5el9sions or realities( have alwa>s been consi5ere5 b> them as
apparitions o= the dead.
2
)n5 i= this is tr9e o= the more striking telepathic cases( 3 fortiori
is it tr9e o= the less striking. *he class o= apparitions an5 impressions which have
correspon5e5 with the 5eath o= the BagentC has onl> been vag9el> recognise5@ the class
which have correspon5e5 with a state o= passing e?citement or 5anger can har5l> be sai5
to have been recognise5 at all. Even persons with whose general wa> o= thinking the>
might seem compatible are apt to be repelle5 b> their apparent 9selessness( an5 certainl>
are not wont to e?hibit an> 3 priori belie= in their realit>@ while to others who have
enco9ntere5 them( the> have appeare5 in the obDectionable light o= a p9]]le( witho9t
analogies an5 witho9t a place in the recognise5 or5er o= %at9re.
"9t tho9gh I think that it is not har5 to 5isting9ish the evi5ence on which we rel> =rom
the evi5ence =or vario9s =orms o= pop9lar s9perstition( an5 to show that( as a matter o=
=act( telepath> is not a pop9lar s9perstition( I am =ar =rom 5en>ing a certain 5egree o=
=orce to the line o= obDection above s9ggeste5. Ignorance( cre59lit>( an5 a pre5isposition
to believe in a partic9lar or5er o= marvels( are not the onl> so9rces o= 9nconscio9s
=alsi=ication in h9man testimon>@ an5 it b> no means =ollows( beca9se these partic9lar
elements o= error are absent( that a bon0 fide =irst-han5 narrative o= contemporar> =acts is
tr9stworth>. )n5 having brie=l> consi5ere5 certain 5angers an5 obDections =rom which we
think that o9r telepathic evi5ence is =ree( I procee5 now to consi5er certain others to
which it is to a certain e?tent e?pose5( an5 to e?plain the means b> which we have
en5eavo9re5 to obviate or re59ce them.
i-2U:!
S 3. It will be best to en9merate( one b> one( the general so9rces o= error which ma>
a==ect the testimon> o= honest an5 =airl>-e59cate5 persons( to events that are both 9n9s9al
an5 o= a sort 9nrecognise5 b> contemporar> science. ,e shall th9s be able to observe in
5etail how =ar each is likel> to have a==ecte5 the evi5ence here bro9ght =orwar5.
*he most obvio9s 5anger ma> seem to lie in errors o= observation an5 in=erence. )n5 =irst
as to errors o= observation. *he phenomena with which these have to 5o are nat9rall>
ob5ective phenomena. It is onl> in re=erence to the obDective worl5 that observation can
be prove5 to be acc9rate or =a9lt>@ the =a9lt> observation is that which interprets real
things in a wa> that 5oes not correspon5 with realit>. %ow misinterpretation o= this sort
ma> 9n5o9bte5l> pro59ce sp9rio9s telepathic cases@ an5 wherever we can s9ppose it to
have been possible( we are bo9n5 to e?cl95e the case =rom o9r evi5ence. *h9s we have a
gro9p o= narratives o= the =ollowing t>pe( s9ggesting a mistake o= i5entit>.
Mrs. -ampbell( o= $9nsta==nage( Oban( wrote( in F9ne( 2773:A
B*wo >ears ago one o= o9r tenant =armers was ver> ill( an5 m> brother aske5 me to
inE9ire how he was( on m> wa> back =rom a walk I was going to take with a co9sin o=
mine. ,e went( b9t on passing the ol5 man4s ho9se I =orgot to go in( an5 soon we arrive5
at o9r aven9e( when m> co9sin remin5e5 me o= not having aske5 =or the sick man. I
tho9ght o= ret9rning( when I 5istinctl> saw the ol5 man( =ollowe5 b> his =avo9rite 5og(
cross a =iel5 in =ront o= 9s( an5 go into his ho9se( an5 I remarke5 to m> co9sin( who also
ha5 seen the ol5 man an5 his 5og( that as he was so well that he was able to walk abo9t(
there was not m9ch 9se in going to inE9ire =or him( so we went on home. "9t on arriving
there( m> brother came to tell 9s that the ol5 man4s son ha5 D9st been to sa> that his =ather
ha5 D9st 5ie5.C
.ere it is possible( an5 there=ore =or evi5ential p9rposes necessar>( to s9ppose that the
=ig9re seen was a neighbo9r( or perhaps the ol5 man4s son.
2
*he ne?t inci5ent( given in
the wor5s o= Mrs. /a?b>( o= Mo9nt Elton( -leve5on( was narrate5 to her an5 other =rien5s
b> the late 'ev. &. 'i5o9t( Vicar o= %ewlan5( &lo9cestershire( on whom it ha5 ma5e a
ver> serio9s impression.
BM> sister an5 I were le=t orphans when we were e?tremel> >o9ng. ,e were ver> =on5 o=
each other. ,hen I was nearl> grown 9p( I was sent to Mag5alen -ollege( O?=or5. ,hile
there( one 5a> when I was i-2U3! walking in the cloisters( I saw m> sister walking
be=ore me( 5resse5 in white. I knew that she was not sta>ing in O?=or5( an5 I was m9ch
s9rprise5 at seeing her thereAb9t I ha5 no 5o9bt whatever that it was m> sister. /he
passe5 along the cloister be=ore me( I =ollowing close behin5 her till she t9rne5 the =irst
angle. *o m> s9rprise( when I reache5 the same place( instea5 o= seeing her be=ore me(
she was gone. Imme5iatel> the conviction that she was 5ea5 sei]e5 me( an5 I =elt m>sel=
strengthene5 to receive the ti5ings o= her 5eath( which reache5 me ne?t 5a>.C
*he 5isappearance here seems to have been strangel> s955en@ b9t we have not been able
to cross-e?amine the witness@ an5 one knows that people o= =lesh an5 bloo5 5o sometimes
get o9t o= sight ro9n5 corners in o55 wa>s. )gain( the 'ev. -. ,oo5cock( 'ector o= )ll
/aints4( )?minster( writes:A
BFan9ar> 7th( 2773.
B*he =ollowing =act was o=ten narrate5 in m> presence b> m> =ather( who has been 5ea5
9pwar5s o= thirt> >ears. .e was once invite5( when a >o9ng man( to break=ast on the
gro9n5 =loor at /t. Fames4s 1alace( to meet a partic9lar =rien5. .e was p9nct9al to the
appointe5 ho9r@ b9t not so the e?pecte5 g9est. *he ho9r ha5 str9ck( b9t neither part>
present was willing to sit 5own witho9t the m9t9al =rien5. *he> ha5 not long to wait =or
seeming satis=action( =or as each stoo5 at a win5ow opposite the thoro9gh=are to the park(
both e?claime5 at the same moment( uOhs there he is(4 an5 the host( so =9ll> satis=ie5 in
his oc9lar ass9rance( went to the 5oor on the other si5e o= the ho9se( to welcome his
=rien5( instea5 o= waiting =or his anno9ncement. .e stoo5 there in vain@ the =rien5 never
appeare5( to the great astonishment o= all present@ =or two persons stan5ing at 5i==erent
win5ows agree5 that the> saw him pass at the i5entical moment. ,ithin an ho9r( a man-
servant appeare5 to anno9nce that his master( the e?pecte5 g9est( was =o9n5 5ea5 in his
be5 that morning. M> =ather was a member o= the Ma5ras -. /.@ the name o= his host I
=orget.C
.ere the e>es o= two persons were concerne5@ b9t the> were in an e?pectant state o=
min5( which is eminentl> =avo9rable to s9ch mistakes. In another case( two gentlemen
crosse5 1icca5ill> 9n5er the impression that the> saw a =rien5( who( as it t9rne5 o9t( 5ie5
in In5ia on that 5a>. "9t it is nee5less to m9ltipl> instances@ in all o= them the =ig9re seen
has been o9t o= 5oors( an5 at some >ar5s4 5istance@ an5 these being the ver>
circ9mstances in which we know that sp9rio9s recognitions o=ten take place( there is
nothing s9rprising in an occasional coinci5ence o= the sort 5escribe5. /imilarl>( a person
ma> hear a call( perhaps o= his own -hristian name( o9tsi5e his ho9se( an5 ma> mistake
the voice =or that o= a =rien5@ an5( Bin 59e co9rse(C as o9r in=ormants sometimes sa>( the
news o= that =rien54s i-2UV! 5eath ma> arrive.
2
"9t it is onl> to an inconsi5erable
=raction o= the evi5ence here presente5 that s9ch e?planations co9l5 b> an> possibilit> be
applie5. *he large maDorit> o= the allege5 e?periences are( on the =ace o= them( sub5ective
phenomena( in the sense that the> are in5epen5ent o= an> real obDects in the environment(
an5 o= an> mistakes possible in connection with s9ch obDects( an5 are 59e to a pec9liar
a==ection o= the percipient4s own min5. *his mo5e o= regar5ing them Pan5 the
reservations with which the wor5 Bs9bDectiveC m9st be 9se5Q will be =9ll> e?plaine5 in
the seE9el. It is eno9gh =or the present to note that the witness who wo9l5 be an 9nsa=e
a9thorit> i= he sai5 B/ea-serpents e?ist(C ma> be a sa=e a9thorit> i= he sa>s( BI saw what
appeare5 to be a sea-serpentC@ an5 this amo9nt o= assertion is all that the telepathic
evi5ence involves. )ll the acc9rac> o= observation reE9ire5 o= the witness has to 5o with
what he see(ed to hi(self to see( or to hear( or to =eel.
%or in o9r cases is the 5anger o= errors o= inference so serio9s as might be imagine5. )
man ma>( no 5o9bt( see something o55 or in5e=inite( at the time that his mother 5ies at a
5istance( an5 ma> in=er that it bo5es calamit>@ an5 i=( a=ter he hears o= the 5eath( he in=ers
an5 reports that he saw his mother4s =orm( the error will be a ver> grave one. "9t it will
be more convenient to treat retrospective mistakes o= this sort 9n5er the hea5 o= errors o=
(e(or,. )n5 with a percipient4s interpretation o= his impression at the (o(ent we have
reall> ver> little concern. .e ma> see the apparition o= a relative in his room( an5 in=er
=irst that it is the relative4s real =ig9re in =lesh an5 bloo5( an5 ne?t that it is the relative4s
spirit. %either in=erence has an> relation to o9r arg9ment. i-2U8! *he onl> =act that
concerns 9s is the =act that he ha5 the s9bDective impression o= seeing his relative. I ma>
re=er once more( b> wa> o= contrast( to the case o= witchcra=t( where the ver> basis o= the
s9perstition was error o= in=erence(Aerror shown Pan5 b> the more intelligent class
e?cl9sivel> shownQ not in the giving b9t in the interpreting o= testimon>.
S V. *he ten5encies to error which more vitall> concern 9s =all broa5l> into two classesA
ten5encies to error in narration( an5 ten5encies to error o= (e(or,. Let 9s ask( then( what
are the vario9s conscio9s or 9nconscio9s motives which ma> ca9se persons who belong
to the e59cate5 class( an5 who have a general character =or tr9th=9lness( to narrate
e?periences o= telepathic impressions in a manner which is not strictl> acc9rater
One motive which has 9n5o9bte5l> to be allowe5 =or in some cases is the 5esire to make
the acco9nt edif,ing. *his 5anger nat9rall> attaches to the evi5ence =or an> class o= =acts
which can be regar5e5( however erroneo9sl>( as transcen5ing nat9ral law. Enth9siastic
persons will val9e an 9n9s9al occ9rrence( not =or its intrinsic interest( b9t =or its
ten5enc>( i= accepte5( to convert others to their own wa> o= belie=@ an5 the> will be apt to
shape an5 colo9r their acco9nt o= it with a view to the 5esire5 e==ect. Intent on pointing
the moral( the> will 9nconscio9sl> a5orn the tale. *his so9rce o= error is one which it is
speciall> necessar> to bear in min5 where some partic9lar t>pe o= stor> is connecte5 with
a partic9lar religio9s sect. *he literat9re o= the /ociet> o= +rien5s( =or instance( is
remarkabl> rich in acco9nts o= provi5ential monitions an5 premonitions@ an5 it s9pplies
also a consi5erable n9mber o= telepathic cases. "9t we have alrea5> seen that telepath>
5oes not speciall> len5 itsel= to the s9pport o= 5e=inite articles o= =aith. %or is an> one
who takes the tro9ble to st95> o9r evi5ence likel> to maintain that errors o= narration
have largel> entere5 into it 9n5er the in=l9ence o= a propagan5ist ]eal. It is rather =or the
sake o= completeness than on acco9nt o= its practical importance that s9ch a possibilit>
has been mentione5.
2

i-2UW!
) =ar more =reE9ent an5 e==ective so9rce o= error in narration is the ten5enc> to make the
acco9nt graphic and pictures2ue. )mong h9man beings( the motives which prompt
narration o= matters 9nconnecte5 with b9siness or the mere machiner> o= li=e are mainl>
two(Aa 5esire to interest one4s a95itor@ an5 a 5esire to p9t onesel= en evidence( to =ee5
one4s own sel=-esteem b> attracting an5 retaining the attention o= others. *he in=l9ence o=
each o= these motives is towar5s making the stor> as goo5 a one as possible. )n5 tho9gh(
as I have alrea5> sai5( a goo5 5eal o= o9r evi5ence comes =rom persons who pro=ess to
have ha5 no bias in =avo9r o= the realit> o= s9ch events as the> 5escribe( an5 wish rather
that the> ha5 not occ9rre5( still the instinct to make what one sa>s seem worth sa>ing is
too general =or it ever to be sa=e to ass9me its absence. In s9ch a s9bDect as o9rs( this
instinct will =in5 its chie= opport9nit> in making things appear (arvellous. *he rea5er
m9st 5eci5e =or himsel= how =ar the evi5ence to be here presente5 bears the stamp o= the
won5er-mongererY~Z or raconteur. *he 5esire to make people open their e>es is no
5o9bt per=ectl> compatible with a habit o= tr9th=9lness in the or5inar> a==airs o= li=e. /till(
the 5esire( as a r9le( is act9all> to see the e>es opening@ an5 the 5anger is there=ore
greater in the case o= a stor> which is tol5 o==-han5 an5 viv0 voce =or the sake o=
imme5iate e==ect( than in the case o= evi5ence which is =irst written 5own at leis9re( an5
has then to 9n5ergo the or5eal o= a care=9l an5 5etaile5 scr9tin>. %or m9st we =orget that
there is another instinct which ten5s 5irectl> i-2U7! to 5isco9rage won5er-mongering( at
an> rate in the narration o= 9n9s9al personal e?periencesAthe instinct to -in belief.
,here the risk o= being 5isbelieve5 is appreciable( a sense o= acc9rac> becomes also a
sense o= sec9rit>@ a thing being cre5ible to onesel= D9st beca9se it is =act( the
conscio9sness o= not e?aggerating the =act begets a sort o= tr9st that others ma> somehow
=in5 it cre5ible. )n5 with the class =rom whom o9r evi5ence is chie=l> 5rawn( this
in=l9ence seems not less likel> to be operative than the 5esire to sa> something startling.
*he latter ten5enc> is more prone on the whole to a==ect second6hand witnesses( who 5o
not =eel bo9n5 to e?ercise an> econom> o= the mirac9lo9s( who can alwa>s =all back on
the plea that the> are onl> telling what was tol5 to them( an5 who ma> easil> be le5 into
inacc9racies b> the analog> o= other marvello9s stories.
)n5 in5ee5 it is a matter o= or5inar> observation( b> no means con=ine5 to Bps>chical
research(C that where the s9bDect o= narration has nothing to 5o with merit( an5 what is
allege5 to have been 5one or s9==ere5 is not o= a sort to attract a5miration to the 5oer or
s9==erer( the more e?travagant sort o= stories are given( not as personal e?periences( b9t
on the a9thorit> o= someone else. I= there is e?aggeration( it is Ba =rien5C who is to blame@
an5 this term is 9se5 on s9ch occasions with consi5erable latit95e. I have alrea5> note5
how( in the case o= witchcra=t( the more bi]arre inci5ents 5o not rest on an>thing like
traceable =irst-han5 testimon>. *his remark is applicable in a general wa> to the whole
=iel5 o= evi5ence =or marvello9s events( as recor5e5 in mo5ern literat9re@ an5 the same
=act has been ver> noticeable with respect to the evi5ence( o= ver> vario9s sorts an5
E9alities( which has come 9n5er the attention o= m> colleag9es an5 m>sel= 59ring the last
=ew >ears. ,e have o=ten taken the tro9ble to trace an5 test the matter o= those
sensational newspaper-paragraphs which get so =reel> copie5 =rom one Do9rnal into
another@ b9t in scarcel> one per cent. o= the cases has the evi5ence hel5 water. )n5 in the
or5inar> talk o= societ>( where there is o=ten a show or assertion o= a9thorit> =or the
statements ma5e( one gra59all> learns to 5iagnose with con=i5ence the acco9nts which
pro=ess to be secon5 or thir5 han5 =rom the original( b9t o= which no original will ever be
=orthcoming. )n e?ample is the well-known tale o= the 5ripping letter( han5e5 to a la5>
b> the phantasmal =ig9re o= a mi5shipman who ha5 been 5rowne5 be=ore he co9l5
e?ec9te his commission. I= the newspaper-anec5otes were like b9bbles that break in the
p9rs9er4s han5( a societ>-marvel o= this stamp ma> be i-2UX! more =itl> compare5 to a
will-o4-the-wisp: one never gets an> nearer to it. *hen there is the >o9ng la5> who was
preserve5 =rom a railwa> acci5ent b> seeing the apparition o= her fianc4 on the plat=orm
o= three consec9tive stationsAwhich in59ce5 her to alight. .ere I was act9all> promise5
an intro59ction to the heroine: what I =inall> receive5 was a re=erence to Ba =rien5 o= the
la5> who tol5 the stor>.C Or( again( there is the tale o= secon5-sight( so wi5el> tol5 59ring
the last three >ears( where the visitor saw a 5a9ghter o= the ho9se stabbe5 b> a stranger(
whom he has since i5enti=ie5 as her h9sban5( an5 has remorselessl> 5ogge5 in hansom
cabs. *hree or =o9r times have we been( so to speak( Bone o==C this stor>@ b9t the vario9s
cl9es have shown no sign o= converging@ an5 we still occasionall> hear o= the happ>
co9ple as on their hone>moon.
S 8. *9rning now to the so9rces o= error in (e(or,( we =in5 the 5anger here is o= a more
insi5io9s kin5( in that comparativel> =ew persons realise the e?tent to which it e?ists in
their own case. +or one who is innocent o= an> 5esire to impress his a95itor in an>
partic9lar wa>( an5 who simpl> 5esires to tell the tr9th( it is not eas> to realise that he
ma> be an 9ntr9stworth> witness abo9t matters concerning himsel=. *he weaknesses o=
h9man memor>( an5 the preca9tions which the> necessitate( will be so =reE9ent a topic in
the seE9el that a brie= classi=ication will here s9==ice.
,e m9st allow( in the =irst place( =or a common res9lt o= the belie= in s9pernat9ral
in=l9ences an5 provi5ential interpositions. 1ersons who are intereste5 in s9ch i5eas will
be keenl> alive to an> phenomena which seem to transcen5 a p9rel> materialistic view o=
li=e. *he> will be apt to see =acts o= this class where the> 5o not e?ist( an5 to interpret in
this sense small or vag9e occ9rrences which i= acc9ratel> e?amine5 at the time might
have been otherwise e?plaine5. )n5 where this ten5enc> e?ists( it is almost inevitable
that( as time goes on( the occ9rrence sho9l5 represent itsel= to memor> more an5 more in
the 5esire5 light( that inconvenient 5etails sho9l5 5rop o9t( an5 that the remain5er sho9l5
stan5 o9t in a 5eceptivel> signi=icant an5 harmonio9s =orm. O= the cases to be here
presente5( however( onl> a ver> small proportion betra> an> i5ea on the part o= the
witness that what he reco9nts has an> special religio9s or philosophical signi=icance. O9r
in=ormants have ha5 no motive to conceal =rom 9s their real view o= the =acts@ an5 i= the>
narrate an inci5ent as simpl> strange or i-2:;! 9nacco9ntable( we have no right to
ass9me their evi5ence to have been colo9re5 b> an emotional sense that materialism ha5
been re=9te5 in their person( or that s9pernat9ral comm9nications ha5 been permitte5 to
them. In5ee5( as regar5s religio9s an5 emotional prepossessions( we are certainl>
D9sti=ie5 in thinking that the> have rather been hin5rances than helps to the presentation
o= an ab9n5ant arra> o= evi5ence. +or it has happene5 in man> instances that persons
whose testimon> wo9l5 have been a val9able a55ition to the case =or telepath>( have =elt
their e?periences to be too intimate or too sacre5 =or p9blication.
2

"9t apart =rom an> bias o= an emotional or spec9lative sort( we m9st certainl> a5mit a
general ten5enc> in the h9man min5 to make an> pict9re o= =acts 5e=inite. *o man>
people vag9eness o= emotion or o= spec9lation is a 5elight@ b9t no one enDo>s vag9eness
o= memor>. In thinking o= an event which was in an> wa> sha5ow> or 9ncertain( there is
alwa>s a certain irksomeness in realising clearl> how little clear it was. *he same applies(
o= co9rse( to events at which we look back thro9gh an> consi5erable interval o= time. *he
ver> e==ort to recall them implies an e==ort to represent them to the min5 as precisel> an5
completel> as possible( an5 it is o=ten not observe5 that the precision th9s attaine5 is not
that o= realit>.
Lastl>( there is a general ten5enc> to lighten the b9r5en o= memor> b> si(plif,ing its
contentsAb> bringing an> gro9p o= connecte5 events into as ro9n5 an5 portable a =orm
as possible. *his ma>( o= co9rse( onl> res9lt in the loss o= e?crescences an5 s9bor5inate
=eat9res( while the essential inci5ent is le=t intact. "9t we shall =in5 instances =9rther on
where simpli=ication reall> alters the character o= the evi5ence. $etails ma> not simpl>
5rop o9t@ the> ma> 9n5ergo a change( an5 gro9p themselves convenientl> ro9n5 some
central i5ea. It might reasonabl> be e?pecte5( an5 we o9rselves certainl> began b>
e?pecting( that error =rom this so9rce wo9l5 alwa>s tell in the 5irection o= act9al
5istortion an5 e?aggeration@ i= the aspect o= the case was to some e?tent striking an5
signi=icant to begin with( it wo9l5 seem likel> that this aspect o= it sho9l5 become i-
2:2! more prono9nce5 as it ass9me5 a more isolate5 place in the min5( an5 lost its
connection with the normal stream o= e?perience in the co9rse o= which it appeare5. )s a
matter o= =act( however( this is b> no means alwa>s what happens. +or instance( we have
met with several cases o= the =ollowing sort. )n impression o= a remarkable kin5( an5
which( i= telepath> e?ists( ma> =airl> be regar5e5 as telepathic( has been pro59ce5 on a
percipient while in a state which he recognise5 at the time as one o= complete
wake=9lness( an5 which was practicall> prove5 to be so b> the =act that he 5i5 not wake
=rom itAthat it =orme5 a connecte5 part o= his waking li=e. "9t in the nat9ral gravitation
towar5s eas, acco9nts o= things( he gra59all> gets to look back on this e?perience as a
drea(@ that is( he allows the ver5ict o= s9bseE9ent memor> to s9pplant the ver5ict o=
imme5iate conscio9sness. ,e m9st not then sa> in o9r haste( all menAor all memoriesA
are e?aggerators. Even where evi5ence has been mo5i=ie5 in passing thro9gh several
mo9ths( a comparison between later an5 earlier versions o= the same occ9rrence has
sometimes shown that its more striking an5 signi=icant characteristics have lost rather
than gaine5 b> the transmission. "9t this is no 5o9bt the e?ception.
S W. /9ch( in brie= o9tline( are the principal so9rces o= error which ma> in a general wa>
be s9ppose5 to a==ect the sort o= evi5ence with which we are concerne5@ an5 o9r ne?t step
m9st be to =i? with precision what the act9al opport9nities =or perversion are. *he
evi5ence =or telepath> has a certain t>pe an5 str9ct9re o= its own( an5 we m9st realise
what this is( in or5er to know where to look =or the weak points. ,hat( then( are the
essential elements o= a t>pical telepathic phenomenonr *he> consist in two events or two
states( o= a more or less remarkable kin5( an5 connecte5( as a r9le( b> certain common
characteristics@ an5 o= a certain time-relation between the two. +or e?ample( i= a =lawless
case is to be presente5( it wo9l5 be o= the =ollowing t>pe an5 composition: It wo9l5
comprise P2Q in5isp9table evi5ence that ) Pwhom we call the agentQ has ha5 an 9n9s9al
e?perienceAsa>( has 5ie5@ PUQ in5isp9table evi5ence that " Pwhom we call the percipientQ
has ha5 an 9n9s9al e?perience which incl95es a certain impression o= )Asa>( has( while
wi5e awake( ha5 a vision o= ) in the room@ P:Q in5isp9table evi5ence that the two events
coinci5e5 in timeAwhich( o= co9rse( implies that their respective 5ates can be acc9ratel>
=i?e5. ,hen I call s9ch evi5ence as this fla-less( I 5o not( o= co9rse( mean that it is
conclusive: the =act that the two i-2:U! events occ9rre5( an5 the =act that the> occ9rre5
sim9ltaneo9sl>( might be place5 be>on5 5isp9te( an5 the coinci5ence might( =or all that(
be 59e not to telepath>( b9t to chance alone. "9t tho9gh no single case can prove
telepath>( no case where the above con5itions are not to some e?tent realise5 can even
help to prove it. "rie=l>( then( i= the acco9nt o= some allege5 instance o= telepath>-is
evi5entiall> =a9lt>( there m9st be misrepresentation as to one or more o= the =ollowing
items: P2Q the state o= the agent@ PUQ the e?perience o= the percipient@ P:Q the time o= P2Q@
P3Q the time o= PUQ.
%ow the evi5ence where the chances o= misrepresentation have primaril> to be
consi5ere5 is clearl> that o= the percipient. It is the percipient4s mention o= his own
e?perience which makes( so to speak( the gro9n5-work o= the case@ 9nless the percipient
gives his own acco9nt o= this e?perience( the case is in no sense a =irst-han5 one@ whereas
i= s9ch an acco9nt is given we sho9l5 consi5er the evi5ence =irst-han5( even tho9gh the
acco9nt o= the agents state is not obtaine5 =rom himsel=. O= co9rse when the agent is in a
position to give an acco9nt( it is important that his evi5ence sho9l5 be proc9re5@ b9t this
is impossible in the n9mero9s cases where his share in the matter consists simpl> in
5>ing. In these cases( then( we are 5epen5ent on others =or evi5ence as to the agent4s si5e
o= the occ9rrence@ an5 primaril> o=ten on the percipient( who is o9r =irst an5
in5ispensable witness =or the whole matter. *his being premise5( we shall have no
5i==ic9lt> in 5iscovering where the risks o= misrepresentation reall> lie.
S 7. *aking the above =o9r items in or5er( the =irst o= themAthe state o= the agentAis the
one where the risk is smallest. *o take the commonest case( the ver> =act( 5eath( which
makes it impossible to obtain the agent4s personal testimon>( is an event as to which( o=
all others in his histor>( it is least likel> that a person who knew him sho9l5 be in error. It
is one also as to which corroboration o= the percipient4s statement is o=ten most easil>
obtaine5@ either =rom the verbal testimon> o= s9rviving relatives an5 =rien5s( or =rom
contemporar> letters( notices( an5 obit9aries. )n5 where the event which has be=allen the
agent =alls short o= this 5egree o= gravit>( it is probabl> still s9==icientl> o9t o= the
common =or the ascertainment o= it b> the percipient an5 others to have been nat9ral an5
eas>@ an5 3 fortiori s9==icientl> o9t o= the common to have stampe5 itsel= on i-2::! the
memor> o= the agent himsel=( who ma> now be available as a witness.
2

,hen we come to the ne?t itemAthe e?perience o= the percipientAthe risk o=
misrepresentation seems 5eci5e5l> to increase. +or the witness is now reco9nting
something p9rel> personal( =or the occ9rrence o= which he can pro59ce no obDective
proo=s. .e sa>s that he saw something( or hear5 something( or =elt something( which
str9ck him as remarkable Pin man> cases( in5ee5( as uni2ue in his e?perienceQ( an5 this
has to be taken on his wor5@ no e?ternal observation o= him Peven were an>one present
with him at the timeQ co9l5 reveal whether he was act9all> e?periencing these sensations
which he a=terwar5s 5escribe5. %ow to a careless glance it ma> seem that there is a
loophole here( thro9gh which eno9gh error ma> enter to invali5ate the whole case. It ma>
be sai5 that the percipient was perhaps nervo9s( or 9nwell( or imaginative@ an5 that a
report o= impressions which are receive5 9n5er s9ch con5itions cannot be relie5 on as
evi5ence. "9t in what was sai5 above as to errors o= observation( this obDection has been
practicall> answere5. It wo9l5 be in place i= the E9estion were whether what he tho9ght
he perceive5 was reall> there@ b9t it is not in place when the E9estion is simpl> what he
tho9ght he perceive5. ,e are 5isc9ssing the e?perience o= the percipient as the secon5 o=
the =o9r hea5s 9n5er which misrepresentation ma> enter. %ow( (isrepresentation o= this
e?perience wo9l5 consist simpl> in the statement that he ha5 ha5 certain sensations or
impressions which he ha5 not ha5: (isinterpretation o= the e?perienceAe.g.( i= he
imagine5 that his =rien5 was act9all> ph>sicall> present where his =orm ha5 been seen or
his voice hear5Ahas nothing to 5o with the evi5ential point. &rant that the percipient4s
senses pla>e5 him =alseAthat his impression was a hall9cination@ that( as I have implie5(
is the ver> light in which we o9rselves regar5 it@ it ma> even be the light in which he
regar5e5 it himsel=. *hat 5oes not prevent its being an 9n9s9al e?perience@ an5 it is
simpl> as an i-2:3! 9n9s9al e?perience( which incl95e5 an impression o= his =rien5( that
it has a place in the evi5ence.
%ow the probabilit> that this 9n9s9al e?perience has been misrepresente5 will be ver>
5i==erent( accor5ing as the mention o= it b> the percipient prece5es or =ollows his
knowle5ge o= what has be=allen the agent. I= he gives his acco9nt in ignorance o= that
event( an5 in5epen5entl> o= an> i5eas which it might be calc9late5 to awake in his min5(
there seems no gro9n5 at all =or s9pposing that he has colo9re5 his statement( at an> rate
in an> wa> which wo9l5 a==ect its evi5ential val9e. I= )( a person with a general character
=or tr9th=9lness( an5 with no motive to 5eceive( mentions having ha5 an 9n9s9al
e?perienceAa hall9cination o= the senses( an 9nacco9ntable impression( or whatever he
likes to call itAwhich was strongl> s9ggestive o= "( no one will tell him that he is
romancing or e?aggerating( an5 that he ha5 no s9ch impression as he reports. .e will
simpl> be tol5 that his nerves are overstr9ng( or that he has ha5 a waking 5ream( or
something o= that sort. )n5 this ass9mption o= the tr9th o= the statement co9l5 o= co9rse
not be imp9gne5 merel> beca9se it s9bseE9entl> t9rne5 o9t that " 5ie5 at the time.
.ence( one o= the points to which we have( thro9gho9t o9r inE9ir>( attache5 the highest
val9e( is the proo= that evi5ence o= the percipient4s e?perience was in e?istence prior to
the receipt o= the news o= the agent4s con5ition. *his prior evi5ence ma> be o= vario9s
sorts. *he percipient ma> at once make a written recor5 in a 5iar>( or in a letter which
ma> have been preserve5. ,here this has been the case( we have alwa>s en5eavo9re5 to
obtain the 5oc9ment =or inspection.
2
Or he ma> have mentione5 his hall9cination or i-
2:V! impression to some one who ma5e a note o= it( or who 5istinctl> remembers that it
was so mentione5@ an5 whenever this has been 5one( we have en5eavo9re5 to get written
corroboration =rom this secon5 person. Evi5ence o= this class a==or5s comparativel> little
opport9nit> =or the vario9s sorts o= error which have been passe5 in review. %o amo9nt
o= carelessness o= narration( or o= love o= the marvello9s( wo9l5 enable a witness to time
his evi5ence in correspon5ence with an event o= which he was ignorant( nor to =i? on the
right person with whom to connect his allege5 e?perience. Errors o= (e(or, are eE9all>
9nlikel> to take a =orm which makes the impression correspon5 with an un1no-n event@
an5 5anger =rom that so9rce is( moreover( at a minim9m( in cases which are 5isting9ishe5
b> the ver> =act that the impression has been itsel= recor5e5 imme5iatel>( or ver> shortl>(
a=ter its occ9rrence.
"9t apart =rom the act9al recor5s o= the e?perience in writing or in someone else4s
memor>( it ma> have pro59ce5 action o= a s9==icientl> 5istinct sort on the percipient4s
part@ =or instance( it ma> have so 5ist9rbe5 him as to make him take a Do9rne>( or write at
once =or ti5ings o= the agent4s con5ition. /9ch imme5iate action( which can o=ten be
s9bstantiate5 b> others( a==or5s a strong in5epen5ent proo= that the impression ha5
occ9rre5( an5 ha5 been o= an 9n9s9al kin5. )n5 even i= he has 5one none o= these things(
>et i= i-2:8! he 5escribes a state o= 5iscom=ort or an?iet>( =ollowing on his e?perience
an5 prece5ing his receipt o= the news( this m9st( at an> rate( be acco9nte5 a =resh item o=
testimon>( con=irmator> o= the mere statement that s9ch-an5-s9ch an 9n9s9al e?perience
ha5 be=allen him@ an5 it is sometimes possible to obtain the corroboration o= others who
have notice5 or been ma5e aware o= this an?iet>( even tho9gh the so9rce o= it was not
mentione5. I=( however( he has kept his =eelings as well as their ca9se( to himsel=( there
is( o= co9rse( nothing b9t his s9bseE9ent memor> to 5epen5 on. .ere( there=ore( we shall
have a transitional step to the ne?t evi5ential class( where the percipient4s own perception
o= the importance o= the e?perience( an5 an> possibilities o= con=irmation( 5ate =rom a
time when the con5ition o= the agent has become known.
S X. -ases o= this t>pe are o= co9rse( as a class( less satis=actor>. It is here that some o= the
recognise5 ten5encies to errorAthe imp9lse to make vag9e things 5e=inite( an5 the
imp9lse to make a gro9p o= =acts compact an5 harmonio9sAma> =in5 their opport9nit>.
*he error will( o= co9rse( not arise witho9t a certain =o9n5ation in =act: the news that a
=rien5 has 5ie5 is not in itsel= calc9late5 to create a wholl> =ictitio9s i5ea that one has ha5
an 9n9s9al e?perience shortl> be=ore the news arrive5. "9t an e?perience which has been
somewhat o9t o= the common ma> look E9ite 5i==erent when recalle5 in the light o= the
s9bseE9ent knowle5ge. It ma> not onl> gain in signi=icance@ its ver> content ma> alter. )
person perhaps hear5 his name calle5 when no one was near( an5( not being s9bDect to
hall9cinations o= hearing( he was momentaril> str9ck b> the =act( b9t 5ismisse5 it =rom
his min5. ) 5a> or two a=terwar5s he hears o= a =rien54s 5eath. It then occ9rs to him that
the events ma> have been connecte5. .e en5eavo9rs to recall the so9n5 that he hear5(
an5 seems to hear in it the tones o= the =amiliar voice. &ra59all> the connection that he
has at =irst onl> 5iml> s9rmise5( becomes a certaint> =or him@ an5 in 5escribing the
occ9rrence( witho9t an> i5ea o= 5eceiving( he will mention his =rien54s voice as tho9gh he
ha5 act9all> recognise5 it at the time. In the same wa> something 5iml> seen in an
imper=ect light ma> take =or s9bseE9ent memor> the aspect o= a recognisable =orm@ or a
momentar> hall9cination o= to9ch ma> rec9r to the min5 as a clasp o= =arewell.
%ow s9ch possibilities cannot be too stea5il> kept in view( 59ring the process o=
collecting an5 si=ting evi5ence. )t the same time( the i-2:W! interrogation o= witnesses(
an5 the comparison o= earlier an5 later acco9nts( have not reveale5 an> 5e=inite instance
o= this sort o= inacc9rac>. %ow the n9mber o= allege5 telepathic cases which we have
e?amine5 Pa n9mber o= which the narratives given in this book =orm less than a thir5Q
seems s9==icientl> large =or the vario9s t>pes o= error that reall> e?ist to have come to
light@ an5( as a matter o= =act( certain t>pes have come to light( an5 have helpe5 9s to a
view o= what ma> be calle5 the laws o= error in s9ch matters. I=( then( a partic9lar =orm o=
inacc9rac> is conspic9o9s b> its absence =rom o9r consi5erable list o= prove5
inacc9racies( it ma> be concl95e5( we think( not to have been wi5el> operative. It wo9l5
be a 5i==erent matter i= the cases o= the lower evi5ential class stoo5 aloneAi= we were
9nable to present an> cases where the percipient4s i5enti=ication o= his impression with
the partic9lar personalit> o= the agent ha5 been establishe5 be>on5 5isp9te. "9t in =ace o=
the large n9mber o= those stronger instances( it wo9l5 be 9nwarrantabl> violent to
s9ppose that in all( or nearl> all( the other cases where the percipient 5eclares that the
i5enti=ication was clear an5 9nmistakeable( he is giving =ictitio9s shape an5 colo9r to a
p9rel> 9n5istinctive e?perience.
"9t there is >et another reason =or allowing this in=erior evi5ence to stan5 =or what it is
worth. +or even i= we make ver> large allowance =or inacc9rac>( an5 s9ppose that in a
certain n9mber o= these cases the visible or a95ible phantasm( a=terwar5s 5escribe5 as
recognise5( was reall> 9nrecognise5 at the moment( the evi5ence =or a telepathic
pro59ction o= it 5oes not thereb> vanish. I=( in5ee5( a witness4s mental or moral stat9s
were s9ch that he might be s9ppose5 capable o= giving retrospective an5 obDective
5istinctness to what was an 9tterl> in5e=inite impression( with no e?ternal or sensor>
character at all( his testimon> wo9l5( o= co9rse( be val9eless@ simpl> beca9se we co9l5
not ass9re o9rselves that he ha5 not ha5 e?periences o= that sort 5ail>( so that the
coinci5ence with the real event wo9l5 lose all signi=icance. "9t in the case o= a witness o=
=air intelligence( the point remains that the presence o= a h9man being was s9ggeste5 to
his senses in a manner which was in his e?perience marke5l> 9n9s9al or 9niE9e( at the
time that a h9man being at a 5istance with whom he was more or less closel> connecte5(
was in a marke5l> 9n9s9al or 9niE9e con5ition. "> itsel= s9ch evi5ence might =airl>(
perhaps( be regar5e5 as too 9ncertain to s9pport an> h>pothesis. "9t i= a case =or
telepath> can be =o9n5e5 on the stronger cases( where the imme5iate re=erence o= the
impression to the agent is as m9ch i-2:7! establishe5 as the =act o= the impression itsel=(
then we have no right to la> 5own as an imm9table law o= telepathic e?perience that s9ch
a re=erence is in5ispensable. 'ecognition is be>on5 5o9bt the best o= tests@ an5 in a vast
maDorit> o= o9r cases we have the percipient4s testimon>( an5 in a ver> large n9mber
corroborative testimon> as well( to the =act o= recognition. "9t 5istinctness an5
9n9s9alness in the e?perience are also evi5ential points. ,e have( in5ee5( a whole class
o= cases where the percipient has e?pressl> state5 that a phantasm which coinci5e5 with
the s9ppose5 agent4s 5eath was 9nrecognise5( an5 where( there=ore( the 5istinctness an5
9n9s9alness o= the impression were the onl> gro9n5s =or pa>ing an> attention to the
coinci5ence. /9ch cases ma> be =ar =rom proving telepath>@ >et i= telepath> be a vera
causa( it wo9l5 be 9nscienti=ic to leave them o9t o= acco9nt.
S 2;. /o m9ch =or the evi5ence o= the state o= the agent( an5 o= the e?perience o= the
percipient( regar5e5 simpl> as events( o= which we want to know P2Q to what e?tent we
can rel> on the 5escription that we receive o= them@ PUQ to what e?tent the pres9mption o=
a telepathic connection between them is a==ecte5 b> the sort o= inacc9racies that ma> be
reveale5 or s9rmise5. *he sketch that has been given is( o= co9rse( a mere o9tline. It m9st
wait =or =9rther ampli=ications o= 5etail till we come to e?amine the evi5ence itsel=.
Meanwhile it ma> serve to prepare the rea5er4s min5( an5 to in5icate what special points
to be on the look-o9t =or. "9t o= those =o9r essential items o= a case( as to which the
opport9nities an5 the e==ect o= misrepresentation were to be speciall> consi5ere5( two still
remain( namel>( the precise ti(es o= the two items alrea5> 5isc9sse5Ao= the agent4s an5
the percipient4s respective shares in the inci5ent. It is clearl> essential to a telepathic case
that these times sho9l5 appro?imatel> coinci5e@ an5 error in the assertion o= this
coinci5ence is a possibilit> reE9iring =9ll> as m9ch attention as error in the 5escription o=
the two events.
"9t here the rea5er ma> =airl> ask where the line o= error is to be 5rawn. M9st the
coinci5ence be e?act to the momentr )n5( i= not( what 5egree o= ine?actness ma> be
permitte5 be=ore we cease to regar5 a case as s9pporting the telepathic h>pothesisr It is
9n=ort9natel> not eas> =or the moment to give an> satis=actor> answer to this E9estion.
*wo 5istinct E9estions are in =act involve5. *he =irst is a E9estion o= nat9ral =act: ,hat
are the =9rthest limits o= time within which it i-2:X! appears( on a review o= the whole
s9bDect( that a single telepathic phenomenon ma> reall> be incl95e5r )t what 5istance o=
time( =rom the 5eath o= an absent person( ma> a =rien5 receive telepathic intimation o= the
=actr *he secon5 E9estion is one o= interpretation an5 arg9ment. It will be a most
important part o= o9r task herea=ter to estimate the probabilit> that it was b, chance( an5
not as ca9se an5 e==ect( that the two events occ9rre5 at no ver> great 5istance o= time
=rom one another. *he wi5er the interval( the greater( o= co9rse( 5oes this probabilit>
become@ in other wor5s( the larger the scope that we give to Bcoinci5encesC which we are
willing to regar5 as pri(0 facie telepathic in origin( the greater is the chance that we shall
be wrong in so regar5ing them. %ow( 9nless some provisional limit were assigne5 to the
interval which ma> separate the two events( it wo9l5 be impossible to obtain n9merical
5ata =or calc9lating what the =orce o= the arg9ment =or chance reall> is( an5 how =ar the
h>pothesis o= some ca9se be>on5 chance is D9sti=ie5. *his point will be ma5e clear in the
=irst chapter o= the secon5 vol9me( which 5eals with Bthe theor> o= chance-coinci5enceC@
meanwhile it will be convenient to 5e=er both these E9estions( an5 to make the =ollowing
brie= statement witho9t 5isc9ssion or e?planation.
*here is one class o= cases which are not available =or a n9merical estimate at allAthose(
namel>( where the agent4s con5ition is not strictl> limite5 in time@ =or instance( where he
is merel> ver> ill( an5 no partic9lar crisis takes place at or near the time when the
percipient4s impression occ9rs. *his in5e=initeness is( o= co9rse( a serio9s evi5ential
weakness. "9t in a vast maDorit> o= the cases to be bro9ght =orwar5( the event that be=alls
the agent is short an5 5e=inite. I=( then( the e?perience o= the percipient 5oes not e?actl>
coinci5e with that event( it m9st either =ollow or prece5e it. )n5( =irst( i= it follo-s it@ then
it will be convenient to limit the interval within which this m9st happen to 2U ho9rs. I
ma> mention at once that in most o= o9r cases the coinci5ence seems to have been ver>
consi5erabl> closer than this. "9t in a =ew cases the 2U ho9rs limit has been reache5@ an5
i= we =o9n5 that( tho9gh some error in evi5ence ha5 ma5e the coinci5ence appear to have
been closer than it reall> was( >et a=ter correction the 2U ho9rs seeme5 not to have been
over-passe5( we sho9l5 still treat the case as having a pri(0 facie claim to be consi5ere5
telepathic. %e?t as to the cases where the percipient4s impression precedes some marke5
event or crisis in the e?istence o= the other i-23;! person concerne5@ the E9estion will
then be( ,hat was that other person4s con5ition at the act9al time that the impression
occ9rre5r I= it was nor(al( we sho9l5 not arg9e here =or an> connection between the
e?periences o= the two parties. +or instance( we sho9l5 not treat as evi5ence =or telepath>
an impression( however striking( which prece5e5 b> an appreciable interval an accident
or sudden catastrophe o= an> sort.
2
Y~Z "9t it ma> happen that the percipient4s
impression =alls within a season in which the con5ition o= the other part> is 5istinctl>
abnor(alAsa> a season o= serio9s illness@ an5 that it likewise prece5es b> less than 2U
ho9rs the crisisA9s9all> 5eathAwith which that season closes. )n5 these cases will not
onl> have a pri(0 facie claim to be consi5ere5 telepathic( b9t will also a5mit o= being
9se5 in a strict n9merical estimate.
S 22. *o ret9rn now to the evi5ential E9estion( it is reall> in the matter o= 5ates( rather
than =acts( that the risk o= an important mistake is greatest. In the =irst place( 5ates are
har5 things to remember: man> persons who have a =airl> acc9rate memor> =or =acts
which interest them have a poor memor> =or 5ates. *his is a nat9ral =ailing( an5 it is also
one that ma> easil> escape notice@ =or in the vast maDorit> o= instances where a personal
e?perience is a=terwar5s reco9nte5( the whole interest centres in the =act( an5 none at all
in the 5ate. "9t in e?amining the evi5ence =or an i-232! allege5 telepathic case( m9ch
more than or5inar> h9man =railt> in the matter o= 5ates has to be consi5ere5. It is D9st
here that the action o= the vario9s positive ten5encies to error( above en9merate5( is reall>
most to be apprehen5e5. *wo 9n9s9al eventsAsa> the 5eath o= a =rien5 at a 5istance( an5
the hearing o= a voice which certainl> so9n5e5 like hisAhave happene5 at no ver> great
5istance o= time. *he latter event recalls the =ormer to the min5 o= the person who
e?perience5 it@ an5 on re=lection he =eels that the character o= the one connects it in a
certain wa> with the other. *r9e( he has kept no recor5 o= the 5a> an5 ho9r when he hear5
the voice@ or his =rien5 ma> have 5ie5 in /o9th )merica( an5 no acc9rate report o= the
5ate o= the occ9rrence ma> ever have reache5 Englan5@ b9t the connection which has
been s9rmise5 cannot b9t raise a pres9mption that the two events correspon5e5 in time as
well as in character. B,h>( otherwise( sho9l5 I have hear5 the voice at allrC the person
who hear5 it will arg9e: BI am not given to hearing phantasmal voices. I 5i5 not know
how to acco9nt =or it be=ore@ b9t now I see m> wa> to 5oing so.C *his train o= tho9ght
being p9rs9e5( it will seem in a ver> short time that the two events (ust have been
sim9ltaneo9s@ an5 what can that mean b9t that the> -ere sim9ltaneo9sr )n5 the =act th9s
arrive5 at will remain the point o= the stor>( as long as it contin9es to be tol5. In allowing
his min5 to act th9s( it will be seen that the percipient has merel> =ollowe5 the eas> an5
convenient co9rse. *here was something ba==ling an5 aimless in the occ9rrence o= the
phantasmal voice( witho9t rh>me or reason( at a time when the hearer was in goo5 health
an5 not even thinking o= his =rien5. 'h>me an5 reasonAsigni=icance an5 coherenceAare
s9pplie5 b> the h>pothesis that his =rien5( =in5ing 5eath imminent( was thinking o= him. It
5oes not occ9r to him that this acco9nt o= the matter is in itsel= har5er to accept than the
=act o= a s9bDective a95itor> hall9cination. *o realise this wo9l5 reE9ire a certain amo9nt
o= 5e=inite ps>chological knowle5ge. *hings are s9==icientl> e?plaine5 to him i= the>
seem to cohere in an evi5ent wa>. Or i= he is sensible that his version o= the matter
intro59ces or s9ggests a 5eci5e5 element o= the marvello9s( still the marvel is o= a sort
which is a legitimate s9bDect o= h9man spec9lation( an5 with which it is interesting to
have been in personal contact. )n5 not onl> has his reason th9s =ollowe5 the line o= least
resistance@ his memor> has also been relieve5 b> the 9nit> which he has given to its
contents. It has now got a single an5 well-compacte5 i-23U! stor> to carr>( instea5 o=
two 5isconnecte5 items. It has( so to speak( e?change5 two silver pieces( o= 5i==erent
coinages an5 5o9bt=9l ratio( =or a single =amiliar =lorin.
*he above is no mere =anc> sketch@ it represents what is reall> not 9nlikel> to occ9r.
,hen we were D9st now consi5ering how =ar an honest an5 intelligent witness is likel> to
imagine a=terwar5s that a passing impression which at the time was vag9e an5
9nrecognise5 ha5 reall> been 5istinct an5 recognise5( it will be remembere5 that s9ch a
perversion seeme5 5eci5e5l> 9nlikel>Athat we saw no gro9n5 =or ass9ming that an error
o= that t>pe ha5 entere5 into an>thing like a maDorit> o= the cases where we have no
concl9sive evi5ence that it has not entere5. "9t with the 5ates it is otherwise. ,e have
receive5 several ill9strations o= the liabilit> o= even =irst-han5 witnesses to make times
e?actl> coalesce witho9t 59e proo= o= their having 5one so( or even in spite o= proo= that
the> 5i5 not 5o so. .aving b> a reasoning process o= a vag9e kin5 come to the concl9sion
that the two events were sim9ltaneo9s( the> will be apt to note an> items o= =acts or
in=erence which tell in this 5irection( an5 not s9ch as ma> tell in the other. )n in=ormant
sometimes b> his ver> acc9rac> reveals the attit95e o= min5 which might easil> pro59ce
inacc9rac> in other cases. .e will tell 9s that all that was prove5 was that the 5eath =ell in
the same month as the impression@ b9t that it is Bborne in on himC that it was at the same
ho9r. ) goo5 man> people 9pon whom s9ch a conviction is Bborne inC will treat that as i=
it were itsel= the evi5ence reE9ire5. One sort o= case in which the ten5enc> in E9estion
has been speciall> evi5ent is that where the 5eath has taken place at a great 5istance =rom
the percipient. *he instinct o= artistic per=ection overshoots the mark( when a ship4s log in
the In5ian Ocean shows that 5eath took place at a E9arter-past :( an5 a clock on an
English mantelpiece reveals that that is the ver> min9te o= the apparition. *elepath>( like
electricit>( ma> Bannihilate spaceC@ b9t it will never make the time o= 5a> at two 5i==erent
longit95es the same. *his partic9lar error wo9l5 not( it is tr9e( completel> vitiate the case
=rom o9r point o= view( since the 2U ho9rs4 interval wo9l5 not have been e?cee5e5@ b9t
pro tanto it( o= co9rse( 5iminishes the cre5it o= the witness.
S 2U. Let 9s now e?amine the two 5ates separatel>( an5 see where the 5anger more
partic9larl> lies( an5 what tests an5 sa=eg9ar5s can be a5opte5. )n5 =irst as to the 5ate o=
the event that has be=allen the i-23:! agent. )s we have seen( it is almost alwa>s =irst
=rom the percipient4s si5e that we hear o= this event@ an5 to him the knowle5ge o= it came
as a piece o= news( sometimes b> wor5 o= mo9th( sometimes in a letter or telegram(
occasionall> in some printe5 =orm. In ver> man> cases the 5ate wo9l5( o= co9rse( be part
o= the news. %ow( i= his own e?perience was impressive eno9gh to have ca9se5 him real
an?iet> or c9riosit>( an5 i= his recollection is clear that the news came almost
imme5iatel> a=terwar5sAsa> within a co9ple o= 5a>sAan5 that the time o= the two
events was there an5 then compare5( an5 =o9n5 to coinci5e( the coinci5ence will then rest
on something better( at an> rate( than the mere memor> o= a 5ate. It will 5epen5 on the
memor> that a certain 9n9s9al an5 probabl> pain=9l state o= min5 receive5 remarkable
D9sti=ication( an5 that this D9sti=ication in t9rn pro59ce5 another state o= min5 which was
also o= an 9n9s9al t>pe. I= there was reall> no s9ch s>nchronism as is represente5( then
not onl> the abstract =act o= correspon5ence( b9t a 5istinct an5 interesting piece o= mental
e?perience m9st have been =ictitio9sl> imagine5.
2
%ow( it ma> be sai5( I think( as a r9le(
that a =ictitio9s imagination o= this sort nee5s some little time to grow 9p@ that it is
5eci5e5l> improbable that an> case which is 5e=initel> recor5e5 ver> soon a=ter the event
will have s9==ere5 this 5egree o= misrepresentation. "9t a =ew >ears will give the
imagination time to pla> ver> strange tricks. ,e have ha5 one ver> notable proo= o= this(
in a case where a c9rio9sl> 5etaile5 vision o= a 5ea5 man( which Pso =ar as we can
ascertainQ m9st have =ollowe5 the act9al 5eath b> at least three months( was represente5
to 9s( a=ter an interval o= ten >ears( b> the person who ha5 seen itAa witness o=
9n5o9bte5 integrit>Aas having occ9rre5 on the ver> night o= the 5eath. ,e ma> be right
in regar5ing so complete a lapse o= memor> on the part o= an intelligent witness as
e?ceptional@ b9t we sho9l5 certainl> not be D9sti=ie5 in assu(ing that it is e?ceptional@
an5 no case o= an>thing like that 5egree o= remoteness can be relie5 on( witho9t some i-
233! evi5ence be>on5 the percipient4s mere present recollection that the event which
be=ell the agent took place at the time mentione5. *he evi5ence ma> be o= vario9s sorts.
I= the e?act 5ate o= the percipient4s e?perience can be prove5( then it is o=ten possible to
=i? the other 5ate as the same( b> letters( 5iaries( or obit9aries( or b> the verbal testimon>
o= some in5epen5ent witness. I= no s9ch evi5ence is accessible( or even i= the e?act 5ate
o= the percipient4s e?perience is =orgotten( it ma> still be possible to obtain corroboration
o= the coinci5ence =rom someone who was imme5iatel> cognisant o= the percipient4s
e?perience( an5 who ha5 in5epen5ent means o= ascertaining the =9rther =act an5 o= noting
the connection at the time. "9t the absence o= a written recor5 o= either event is( o=
co9rse( a 5eci5e5l> weak point.
S 2:. "9t on the whole( the 5anger that the closeness o= the coinci5ence ma> be
e?aggerate5 5epen5s rather on mis-statement o= the 5ate o= the percipients than o= the
agents share in the allege5 occ9rrence. -learl> the =act that some one has 5ie5 or has ha5
a serio9s acci5ent( or has been place5 in circ9mstances o= some 9n9s9al sort( is likel> to
be known to more persons( an5 to be more =reE9entl> recor5e5 in some permanent =orm(
than the =act that some one has ha5( or sa>s he has ha5( an o55 hall9cination. )n5 clearl>
also( i= one o= the points is =i?e5( an5 the other( b> hast> ass9mption or 5e=ective memor>(
is move5 9p to it( the moveable 5ate is likel> to be that o= the event which has no
ascertainable place in the worl5 o= obDective =act. )s a r9le( it is at an> rate possible at the
time to obtain certaint> as to the 5ate o= what has be=allen the agent@ an5 there=ore i= the
percipient has been str9ck b> his e?perience an5 retains evi5ence o= its 5ate( either in
writing or in the memor> o= others to whom he mentione5 it( he will ver> likel> be
prompte5( when he hears o= the other event( to ass9re himsel= as to what the 5egree o=
coinci5ence reall> was. "9t the converse case is ver> 5i==erent. I= the percipient 5oes not
recor5 his e?perience at the time o= its occ9rrence( even a week4s interval ma> 5estro> the
possibilit> o= making s9re what its e?act 5ate was@ an5 there=ore( however certain the
5ate o= the other event ma> be( ass9rance as to the 5egree o= coinci5ence will here be
9nattainable. It is o=ten e?pressl> recognise5 as s9ch b> the percipient himsel=@ an5 then
one can onl> regret that the importance o= the class o= =actsAi= =acts in5ee5 the> areA
has been so little realise5 that the simple meas9res which wo9l5 have ens9re5 i-23V!
acc9rate evi5ence have not been taken. "9t where the acco9nt given is one o= acc9rate
coinci5ence( we cannot be satis=ie5 witho9t goo5 evi5ence that the point was criticall>
e?amine5 into at the time. It ma>( o= co9rse( happen that the percipient has a clear
recollection that the coinci5ence was a5eE9atel> ma5e o9t at the time( altho9gh he can
pro59ce no 5oc9mentar> evi5ence which wo9l5 establish it@ an5 i= others con=irm his
memor> in this respect( that is so =ar satis=actor>. /9ch 9nwritten con=irmation( however(
will have little in5epen5ent =orce( 9nless the person who gives it was ma5e aware o= the
percipient4s e?perience within a ver> short time o= its occ9rrence.
"9t tho9gh the 5anger here m9st be e?plicitl> recognise5( it is important not to
e?aggerate its practical scope. *he coinci5ence ma> have been reporte5 as closer than it
was@ b9t it ma> still( in a maDorit> o= cases( be =airl> concl95e5 to have =allen within the
2U ho9rs4 limit. )s a r9le( the news o= what has be=allen the agent arrives soon eno9gh =or
not more than a space o= two 5a>s to intervene between the percipient4s knowle5ge o=
this event an5 the time when( to make the coinci5ence complete( his own e?perience m9st
have taken place. ,e are not( there=ore( making a large 5eman5 on his memor>@ we are
onl> reE9iring that he shall remember that an e?perience( which he represents as
remarkable( be=ell him( or 5i5 not be=all him( on the 5a> be=ore >ester5a>. %o 5o9bt( a=ter
a lapse o= >ears( the evi5ential val9e o= what a person reports ceases to have a close
relation to the knowle5ge o= the =acts which it seems prett> certain he m9st have ha5 at
the time. "9t the 5eman5s ma5e at the time on the intelligence either o= the percipient( or
o= an>one else who ha5 the opport9nit> o= asking E9estions an5 =orming concl9sions( are
so slight that we ma> =airl> take contemporar> written recor5s o= the matter( or even later
verbal corroboration( as having a consi5erable claim to attention( even when the best
evi5ence o= allAevi5ence whose e?istence prece5e5 the arrival o= the newsAis wanting.
)n5 it is important to notice that( while we have ha5 several coinci5ences reporte5 to 9s
as having been close to the ho9r( which t9rne5 o9t( on =9rther inE9ir> or e?amination o=
5oc9ments( to have been onl> close to the 5a>( we have ha5 ver> =ew cases where a
similar correction has prove5 that the 2U ho9rs4 limit was reall> overpasse5.
2
Y~Z ) goo5
man> coinci5ences( i-238! no 5o9bt( have been represente5 as e?tremel> close( where
no in5epen5ent evi5ence on this point has been accessible( an5 closer inE9ir> has
occasionall> reveale5 that the assertion reste5 onl> on a g9ess. "9t wholl> to neglect
cases where the e?actit95e o= the coinci5ence is not bro9ght within the 2U ho9rs4 limit
wo9l5 clearl> be 9nreasonable( provi5e5 thatAon the evi5enceAit is not likel> that this
limit was m9ch e?cee5e5(
2
an5 not certain that it was e?cee5e5 at all. /9ch cases m9st( o=
co9rse( be e?cl95e5 =rom an> n9merical estimate base5 on precise 5ata@ b9t the> ma>
=airl> be allowe5 their own weight on the min5.
S 23. ,e see( then( that cases where the allege5 correspon5ence o= =acts an5 coinci5ence
o= 5ates are s9==icientl> close to a==or5 a pri(0 facie pres9mption o= telepathic action(
ma> present ver> vario9s 5egrees o= strength an5 weakness@ an5 it ma> be convenient to
s9mmarise the evi5ential con5itions accor5ing to their val9e( in the =ollowing tab9lar
=orm. P*he wor5s Bthe newsC mean alwa>s the news o= what has be=allen the s9ppose5
agent.Q
). ,here the event which be=ell the agent( with its 5ate( is recor5e5 in printe5 notices( or
contemporar> 5oc9ments which we i-23W! have e?amine5@ or is reporte5 to 9s b> the
agent himsel= in5epen5entl>( or b> some in5epen5ent witness or witnesses@ an5 where
P2Q *he percipient P_Q ma5e a written recor5 o= his e?perience( with its 5ate( at the time o=
its occ9rrence( which recor5 we have either seen or otherwise ascertaine5 to be still in
e?istence@ or PpQ be=ore the arrival o= the news( mentione5 his e?perience to one or more
persons( b> whom the =act that he so mentione5 it is corroborate5@ or PQ imme5iatel>
a5opte5 a special co9rse o= action on the strength o= his e?perience( as is prove5 b>
e?ternal evi5ence( 5oc9mentar> or personal.
PUQ *he 5oc9mentar> evi5ence mentione5 in P2_Q an5 P2Q is allege5 to have e?iste5( b9t
has not been accessible to o9r inspection@ or the e?perience is allege5 to have been
mentione5 as in P2pQ( or the action taken on the strength o= it to have been remarke5 as in
P2Q( b9t owing to 5eath or other ca9ses( the person or persons to whom the e?perience
was mentione5( or b> whom the action was remarke5( can no longer corroborate the =act.
*his secon5 class o= cases is place5 here =or convenience( b9t sho9l5 probabl> rank
below the ne?t class. )t the same time the =act that the percipient4s e?perience was note5
in writing b> him( or was comm9nicate5 to another person( or was acte5 on( be=ore the
arrival o= the news( is not one which is at all speciall> likel> to be 9nconscio9sl> invente5
b> him a=terwar5s.
P:Q *he percipient 5i5 not P_Q make an> written recor5( nor PpQ make an> verbal mention
o= his e?perience 9ntil a=ter the arrival o= the news( b9t then 5i5 one or both@ o= which
=act we have con=irmation.
*his class is o= co9rse( as a r9le( 5eci5e5l> in=erior to the =irst class. )t the same time(
cases occ9r 9n5er it in which the news was so imme5iate that the =act o= the coinci5ence
co9l5 onl> be imp9gne5 b> representing the whole stor> as an invention.
2

P3Q *he imme5iate recor5 or mention on the arrival o= the news is allege5 to have been
ma5e( b9t owing to loss o= papers( 5eath o= =rien5s( or other ca9ses( cannot be con=irme5.
i-237!
PVQ *he percipient alleges that he remarke5 the coinci5ence when he hear5 the news@ b9t
no recor5 or mention o= the circ9mstance was ma5e 9ntil some time a=terwar5s.
/9ch cases( o= co9rse( rapi5l> lose an> val9e the> ma> have as the time increases which
separates the acco9nt =rom the inci5ent. /till( sometimes we have been able to obtain the
in5epen5ent evi5ence o= some one who hear5 an acco9nt previo9s to the present report to
9s@ or we have o9rselves obtaine5 two reports separate5 b> a consi5erable interval. )n5
where a comparison o= acco9nts given at 5i==erent times shows that the> 5o not var>( this
is to some e?tent an in5ication o= acc9rac>.
". ,here the percipient is o9r sole a9thorit> =or the nat9re an5 5ate o= the event which he
alleges to have be=allen the agent.
In man> o= these cases( the percipient is also o9r sole a9thorit> =or his own e?perience@
an5 the evi5ence 9n5er this hea5 will then be weaker than in an> o= the above classes.
"9t where we have in5epen5ent testimon> o= the percipient4s mention o= the two events(
an5 o= their coinci5ence( soon a=ter their occ9rrenceAhe having been at the time in s9ch
circ9mstances that he wo9l5 nat9rall> know the nat9re an5 5ate o= what ha5 be=allen the
agentAthe case ma> rank as higher in val9e than some o= those o= -lass ) PVQ.
S 2V. *he evi5ence which I have so =ar anal>se5 is first6hand evi5enceAin the sense that
the main acco9nt comes to 9s 5irect =rom the percipient. *he present collection( however(
incl95es Pin the /9pplementQ a certain n9mber o= secon5-han5 narratives@ an5 it will be
well( there=ore( to consi5er brie=l> what are the best sorts o= secon5-han5 evi5ence( an5
what kin5s o= inacc9rac> are most to be apprehen5e5 in the transmission o= telepathic
histor> =rom mo9th to mo9th.
*here is one( an5 onl> one( sort o= secon5-han5 evi5ence which can on the whole be
place5 on a par with =irst-han5@ namel>( the evi5ence o= a person who has been in=orme5
o= the e?perience o= the percipient while the latter was still 9naware o= the correspon5ing
event@ an5 who has ha5 eE9al opport9nities with the percipient =or learning the tr9th o=
that event( an5 con=irming the coinci5ence. *he secon5-han5 witness4s testimon> in s9ch
a case is E9ite as likel> to be acc9rate as the percipient4s@ =or tho9gh his impression o= the
act9al 5etails will no 5o9bt be less vivi5( i-23X! >et on the other han5 he will not be
9n5er the same temptation to e?aggerate the =orce or strangeness o= the impression in
s9bseE9ent retrospection. /pecimens o= this class have there=ore been a5mitte5 to the
bo5> o= the work( as well as to the /9pplement. 19tting this e?ceptional class asi5e( the
val9e o= secon5-han5 evi5ence chie=l> 5epen5s on the relation o= the =irst narrator to the
secon5. ) secon5-han5 acco9nt =rom a person onl> slightl> acE9ainte5 with the original
narrator is o= ver> little val9e@ not onl> beca9se it is probabl> the report o= a stor> which
has been onl> once hear5( an5 that( perhaps( in a h9rrie5 or cas9al wa>@ b9t also beca9se
the less the reporter4s sense o= responsibilit> to his in=ormant( the less also will be his
sense o= responsibilit> to the =acts( an5 the greater the temptation to improve on the
original.
2
Y~Z "9t we cannot so lightl> 5ismiss the testimon> o= near relatives an5 close
=rien5s to a matter which the> have hear5 the =irst-han5 witness narrate more than once(
or narrate in s9ch a manner as convince5 them that the allege5 =acts were to him realities(
an5 ha5 ma5e a lasting impression on his min5. .ere we at an> rate have a chance o=
=orming a D95gment as to the character o= the original a9thorit>@ we can make tolerabl>
certain that what we hear was never the mere anec5ote o= a raconteur@ an5 we have
gro9n5s =or ass9ming in o9r own in=ormants a certain instinct o= =i5elit> which ma> at
an> rate preserve their report =rom the errors o= wil=9l carelessness an5 e?aggeration. It
not in=reE9entl> happens( too( that we can obtain several in5epen5ent versions =rom
several secon5-han5 witnesses( which ma> m9t9all> con=irm one another@ an5
contemporar> 5oc9mentar> evi5ence ma> give =9rther s9pport to the case.
*he risks o= error in trans(itted evi5ence are( o= co9rse( in man> respects the same( in an
intensi=ie5 =orm( as those o= original evi5ence. *o a person who is tol5 something which
so9n5s s9rprising b> some one else who has e?perience5 it( the central marvel is apt to
stan5 o9t in memor> with 9n59e relie=@ an5 the vario9s 5etails an5 consi5erations which
might mo5i=> the marvello9s element will 5rop o9t o= sight. One is( o= co9rse( =amiliar
with the same process in the case o= almost an> anec5ote or witticism that gets at all
r4pandu: the i-2V;! point is retaine5( the 5etails an5 s9rro9n5ings var>. +or p9rposes o=
am9sement s9ch variations ma> be wholl> 9nimportant@ =or p9rposes o= evi5ence the>
ma> be all-important. +acts( moreover( are ver> m9ch easier to improve than bon (ots
an5 the like( an5 with the secon5-han5 narrator the ten5enc> to make things pict9resE9e
an5 complete( b> the a55ition( omission( or trans=ormation o= 5etails( is nat9rall> stronger
in that there is no 5eepl>-graven sense o= the realit> to act as a check on it. ) gentleman(
who signs himsel= B'ector(C writes to the Dail, Telegraph( an5 5escribes a n9mber o=
clerg>men sitting ro9n5 a table( on the evening when the late "ishop o= ,inchester met
with his =atal acci5ent. BOne o= them sai5( u*here is the "ishop looking in at that
win5ow.4 )nother imme5iatel> sai5( u%o( he is at this win5ow.4C ,hat reall> happene5A
as we learn =rom Mr. &. ,. 1a?on( who was present at the scene re=erre5 toAwas that a
strange =ig9re passe5 the three win5ows o= the 5ining-room at ,otton( b9t that Bit was
not possible =or the gentlemen presentC Pwho( b> the wa>( were three onl>( an5 all
la>menQ to i5enti=> it. Mr. Evel>n went o9t to see who it co9l5 be( b9t it ha5 5isappeare5
with m>sterio9s rapi5it>. )n5 that is the whole stor>. )gain( a >o9ng man( we are tol5(
was 5>ing in Lon5on( his =rien5s being 9naware o= his whereabo9ts. ) sister o= his in
E5inb9rgh( who was also 5>ing( Bsai5 that she was present at the 5eath-be5 o= her
brother@ she gave an o9tline o= his room( an5 told the na(e and nu(ber o= the street.C )
=rien5 o= o9r in=ormant4s( Mr. $avi5 Lewis( o= U2( /t. )n5rew /E9are( E5inb9rgh( was
then aske5 to inE9ire( went to the a55ress( an5 =o9n5 Pas he in=orms 9sQ that the >o9ng
man ha5 D9st 5ie5 there. "9t on more care=9l inE9ir> =rom the la5>4s h9sban5( we learn
that tho9gh his wi=e 5escribe5 the room( she 5i5 not see the name o= the street@ an5 that
he himsel= knew his brother-in-law4s a55ress at the time( an5 ha5 act9all> receive5 a
letter sa>ing that he was ver> ill an5 not e?pecte5 to live. *he 5escription o= the roomA
even i= prove5 to be correctAco9l5 have no evi5ential =orce 9nless e?tremel> min9te. )ll
that remains to be acco9nte5 =or( there=ore( is the la5>4s impression as to her brother4s
con5ition@ an5 tho9gh her h9sban5 is s9re that she co9l5 not have known it in an>
or5inar> wa>( it is impossible =or o9tsi5ersAremembering that the knowle5ge 5i5 e?ist in
the ho9se at the timeAto share his con=i5ence. )gain( a gentleman tells 9s how his
gran5=ather( when taking a walk at .on=le9r( on %ovember U3th( 27VX( saw the apparition
o= his Po9r i-2V2! in=ormant4sQ sister( who e?pire5 at that time in Englan5. .e =ollowe5
the =ig9re( an5 it 5isappeare5 on reaching his gar5en. BIn conversation a=terwar5s the
ver> wrapper worn b> the 5ecease5 was 5escribe5.C ,e obtain a cop> o= the original
letter in which the gran5=ather 5escribe5 the occ9rrence( an5 =in5 that he was walking Bin
the 5ark an5 a 5ri]]ling rainC when he observe5 something ver> white. BIt appeare5 to be
a la5> in white( witho9t a bonnet( b9t a large white veil over her hea5. It 5isappeare5 at
the 5oor o= a ho9se. *his took place as near the time o= 5ear /arah4s 5epart9re as
possible.C .ere( there=ore( the secon5-han5 acco9nt introduced the recognition( o(itted
the 9ncertain light( an5 altered the place o= 5isappearance. Once more( a la5> has ha5 a
strong impression o= her h9sban54s being in 5anger( at a time when he act9all> ha5 a
narrow escape in a railwa> acci5ent. In this acci5ent a n9mber o= cattle were kille5( an5
the line was re5 with their bloo5. *he stor> comes ro9n5 to 9s that the wi=e ha5 not onl>
an impression o= 5anger( b9t a vivi5 pict9re o= bloo5. It is am9sing sometimes to =in5 that
evi5ence breaks 5own on the e?act point which has been hel5 to be its most convincing
=eat9re. *he =ollowing narrative( tho9gh a thir5-han5 one( seeme5 to have some claim to
attention( as it reache5 9s =rom two in5epen5ent E9arters@ an5 the two acco9nts so
completel> agree that we ma> ass9me that we have the correct version o= the secon5-
han5 witness. Mr. ,. -. Morlan5( o= Lamberh9rst -o9rt Lo5ge( 0ent( Pwho vo9ches =or
no more than that he repeats e?actl> what he was tol5(Q writes to 9s as =ollows:A
B)9g9st 22th( 277:.
BM> wi=e4s great-9ncle was private secretar> to ,arren .astings in In5ia( an5 one 5a>(
when sitting in -o9ncil( the> all saw a =ig9re pass thro9gh the -o9ncil-room into an inner
room( =rom which there was no other e?it. One o= the -o9ncil e?claime5( u&oo5 &o5s
that is m> =ather.4 /earch was ma5e in the inner room( b9t nothing co9l5 be =o9n5( an5
,arren .astings( t9rning to his secretar>( sai5( u-ator( make a note o= this( an5 p9t it with
the min9tes o= to-5a>4s -o9ncil.4 )s a small inci5ent in the stor>( it was notice5 that the
=ig9re ha5 one o= o9r mo5ern pot hats. /ome months a=ter( a ship arrive5 bringing the
news o= the ol5 gentleman4s 5eath an5 the =irst pot hats that ha5 been seen in In5ia.
BI simpl> tell it >o9 as I hear5 it =rom a Mr. /parkes( who is now 5ea5( an5 who( as well
as m> wi=e( was a great-nephew toAan5 probabl> hear5 it =romAthe ol5 Mr. -ator who
was present at the -o9ncil. I never hear5 him sa> whether he hear5 it 5irect =rom Mr.
-ator( b9t I think it likel>( as he was rather nearl> relate5( an5 =rom his age m9st have
known him.C
i-2VU!
1recisel> similar 5etails were given b> Mr. /parkes to the 'ev. ". ,re> /avile( who has
p9blishe5 the case in his book on )pparitions@ in this acco9nt the Member o= -o9ncil
who recognise5 his =ather =ig9res as Mr. /hakespeare. %ow the o==icial min9tes o= the
/9preme -o9ncil have been searche5 =or 9s@ b9t it 5oes not appear either that Mr.
/hakespeare was a Member o= -o9ncil at the time( or that Mr. -ator was .astingsu
private secretar>( tho9gh he was certainl> in the -ompan>4s service. ,e learn( however(
=rom the /9perinten5ent o= 'ecor5s at the In5ia O==ice that Bit is believe5 that the
registers o= the -ompan>4s servants in In5ia at that earl> 5ate were not alwa>s E9ite
acc9rateC@ so that these 5iscoveries wo9l5 not alone have thrown serio9s s9spicion on the
report. )n5 the chimne>-pot hat seeme5( at an> rate( something respectable to stan5 b>.
*he phantom( in =act( owe5 his character to his hat@ =or it is har5 to imagine how Mr.
-ator or Mr. /parkes co9l5 have grat9ito9sl> intro59ce5 s9ch a =eat9re into the stor>. "9t
the c9rio9s per=ection o= the 5etail as to the sim9ltaneo9s arrival o= the news an5 o= the
real hats at once s9ggests scr9tin> o= the 5ates. )ll the acco9nts o= chimne>-pot hats that
we have been able to =in5 agree that the> came into 9se between 2WX; an5 2WXV( tho9gh
the> seem to have been worn in +rance as earl> as 2W7W. *he> cannot( there=ore( have
reache5 In5ia be=ore the termination o= .astings4 governorship in 2W7V. *h9s the case at
once ass9mes a m>thical air@ an5 the most we can ass9me is that probabl> some o55
coinci5ence occ9rre5.
2

I will a55 where the instinct that we have notice5( to make evi5ence pictures2ue( has so
=ar overleapt itsel= as to s9ppl> the ver> means o= con=9tation. *he late Mrs. .owitt ,atts
gave 9s the narrative as =rom her mother( who ha5 Bman> times hear5 it relate5C b> her
mother( the percipient( an5 so =ar it is thir5-han5. "9t Mrs. ,atts ha5 also hear5 it =rom
her gran5mother4s own lips. *he occ9rrence took place at .eanor( in $erb>shire.
BM> mother4s =amil> name( *ant9m( is an 9ncommon one( which I 5o not recollect to
have met with( e?cept in a stor> o= Miss Leslie4s. M> mother ha5 two brothers( +rancis
an5 'ichar5. *he >o9nger( 'ichar5( I i-2V:! knew well( =or he live5 to an ol5 age. *he
el5er( +rancis( was at the time o= the occ9rrence I am abo9t to report( a ga> >o9ng man(
abo9t twent>( 9nmarrie5( han5some( =rank( a==ectionate( an5 e?tremel> belove5 b> all
classes thro9gho9t that part o= the co9ntr>. .e is 5escribe5( in that age o= pow5er an5
pigtails( as wearing his a9b9rn hair =lowing in ringlets on his sho9l5ers( like another
)bsalom( an5 was m9ch a5mire5( as well =or his personal grace as =or the li=e an5 gaiet>
o= his manners.
BOne =ine calm a=ternoon( m> mother( shortl> a=ter a con=inement( b9t per=ectl>
convalescent( was l>ing in be5( enDo>ing( =rom her win5ow( the sense o= s9mmer bea9t>
an5 repose: a bright sk> above( an5 the E9iet village be=ore her. In this state she was
gla55ene5 b> hearing =ootsteps which she took to be those o= her brother +rank( as he
was =amiliarl> calle5( approaching the chamber-5oor. *he visitor knocke5 an5 entere5.
*he =oot o= the be5 was towar5s the 5oor( an5 the c9rtains at the =oot( notwithstan5ing the
season( were 5rawn( to prevent an> 5ra9ght. .er brother parte5 them( an5 looke5 in 9pon
her. .is ga]e was earnest( an5 5estit9te o= its 9s9al cheer=9lness( an5 he spoke not a
wor5. uM> 5ear +rank(4 sai5 m> mother( uhow gla5 I am to see >o9. -ome ro9n5 to the
be5si5e@ I wish to have some talk with >o9.4
B.e close5 the c9rtains( as compl>ing@ b9t instea5 o= 5oing so( m> mother( to her
astonishment( hear5 him leave the room( close the 5oor behin5 him( an5 begin to 5escen5
the stairs. &reatl> ama]e5( she hastil> rang( an5 when her mai5 appeare5 she ba5e her
call her brother back. *he girl replie5 that she ha5 not seen him enter the ho9se. "9t m>
mother insiste5( sa>ing( u.e was here b9t this instant. '9ns E9icks call him backs I m9st
see him.4
B*he girl h9rrie5 awa>( b9t( a=ter a time( ret9rne5( sa>ing that she co9l5 learn nothing o=
him an>where@ nor ha5 an>one in or abo9t the ho9se seen him either enter or 5epart.
B%ow( m> =ather4s ho9se stoo5 at the bottom o= the village( an5 close to the high-roa5(
which was E9ite straight@ so that an>one passing along it m9st have been seen =or a m9ch
longer perio5 than ha5 elapse5. *he girl sai5 she ha5 looke5 9p an5 5own the roa5( then
searche5 the gar5enAa large( ol5-=ashione5 one( with sha5> walks. "9t neither in the
gar5en nor on the roa5 was he to be seen. /he ha5 inE9ire5 at the nearest cottages in the
village@ b9t no one ha5 notice5 him pass.
BM> mother( tho9gh a ver> pio9s woman( was =ar =rom s9perstitio9s@ >et the strangeness
o= this circ9mstance str9ck her =orcibl>. ,hile she la> pon5ering 9pon it( there was hear5
a s955en r9nning an5 e?cite5 talking in the village street.C
"rie=l>( the ca9se o= the 5ist9rbance was that Mr. +rancis *ant9m ha5 D9st been kille5. .e
ha5 been 5ining at /hiple> .all( abo9t a mile o==( an5 was ri5ing home a=ter the earl>
co9ntr> 5inner o= that 5a>Asomewhat elate5( it ma> be( with wine. .e stoppe5 at the
5oor o= an ale-ho9se at .eanor( where he o==en5e5 the >o9ng man who serve5 him( b>
striking him with his whip. *he >o9th ran into the ho9se( sei]e5 a carving-kni=e( 5arte5
back( an5 stabbe5 him.
*his stor> obtaine5 a certain c9rrenc>( having been p9blishe5 b> Mr. $ale Owen in his
<ootfalls. #et the simple preca9tion o= i-2V3! getting in5epen5ent evi5ence as to the
time o= the 5eath goes =ar to r9in its character. ) certi=icate sent to 9s b> the rector o= the
parish shows that Mr. +. *ant9m was b9rie5 on the 3th of <ebruar,( an5 that his age was
:8. )n5 this 5oes more than merel> 5ist9rb o9r pict9re o= the E9iet s9mmer scene( an5 o=
the )bsalom o= twent>. *he time o= >ear shows that the percipient4s vision probabl> took
place after dar1@ so that Ban> one passing along the high-roa5C might ver> well not have
been seen a min9te a=ter his 5epart9re@ an5 the inE9iries at the cottages wo9l5 have been
worth little or nothing. "9t these researches( as the> are 5escribe5( m9st have taken time@
an5 as the news o= the m9r5er wo9l5 be likel> to sprea5 =ast( we sho9l5 concl95e that that
event took place 5eci5e5l> after the vision. *h9s there appears no a5eE9ate reason wh>
the apparition sho9l5 not have been the real (anAhis con59ct( tho9gh 9n5o9bte5l> o55(
being e?plicable b> the state o= slight into?ication which the narrative s9ggests.
"9t apart =rom sensational a55itions( 5etails are apt to creep in which seem sober an5
innocent eno9gh( b9t which make the whole 5i==erence =rom an evi5ential point o= view.
) ver> striking narrative reaches 9s =rom a secon5-han5 so9rce( as to how an o==icer in
In5ia one 5a> saw his =ather( long 5ecease5( iss9e =rom a woo5 lea5ing his mother b> the
han5@ how the latter a55resse5 some wor5s to her son( an5 the pair then vanishe5@ an5
how he a=terwar5s learnt that his mother ha5 5ie5 in Englan5 on that ver> 5a>. ,e
happene5 alrea5> to have a =irst-han5 acco9nt o= the inci5ent( in which the visitation that
coinci5e5 with the 5eath was 5escribe5 not as a -a1ing percept( b9t as a drea(. *he
enormo9s 5i==erence( =or the p9rpose o= o9r arg9ment( which this point involves will
ab9n5antl> appear in the seE9el. )gain( in transmitte5 cases it is E9ite remarkable how
o=ten the percipient Bma5e a noteC o= his e?perience at the time o= its occ9rrenceAan act
o= =oresight in which percipients( to D95ge =rom their own =irst-han5 acco9nts( seem onl>
too apt to =ail.Y~Z
In transmitte5 evi5ence( which is more remote than secon5-han5( another =reE9ent point
is that the chain o= transmission is shortene5Athat a narrative which has reall> passe5
thro9gh two or thro9gh three mo9ths will be represente5 as having passe5 onl> thro9gh
one or thro9gh two. +or instance( a gentleman tells 9s o= a striking telepathic phantasm
which appeare5 to a =rien5 o= his( a sea-captain( on boar5 ship. %a9tical phantasms are
not a =avo9rite class o= o9rs@ the evi5ence is too apt to Bs9==er a sea-changeC@ an5 even the
i-2VV! g9arantee o==ere5 to 9s in respect o= another specimen( that Bthe crew ha5 no
5i==ic9lt> in believing it(C is not completel> reass9ring. "9t the present e?ample( at an>
rate( prove5 E9ite too s9perlativel> na9tical@ =or it t9rne5 o9t that the sea-captain was not
the original witness( b9t ha5 hear5 the stor> =rom another sea-captain@ an5 that this sea-
captain ha5 hear5 it =rom the Bman at the wheelC@ whom we have not tro9ble5 =or it.
)gain( a stor> which has been more than once printe5 b> /pirit9alistic writers begins as
=ollows:ABMrs. -raw=or5( in the 'etropolitan 'agaAine in 27:8( tells 9s that the then
Lor5 -he5worth was a man who s9==ere5 5eepl> =rom 5o9btsCAan5 then 5escribes how
the apparition o= a sceptical =rien5 o= Lor5 -he5worth4s presente5 itsel= one night( tol5
him that there was a D95gment to come( an5 5isappeare5Athe news o= the =rien54s 5eath
arriving Bin 59e co9rseC ne?t morning. On re=erring to Mrs. -raw=or54s own acco9nt( we
=in5 the hero o= the stor> 5escribe5 as BLor5 -he5worth( the father o= the late lor5C: an5
even this 5escription is incorrect( as the =o9rth baronAwith whose 5eath in 27;3 the title
became e?tinctAs9ccee5e5( not his =ather( b9t his 9ncle.
2
*his possible shortening o= the
chain o= evi5ence is a point that m9st never be lost sight o= when the acco9nt was given
orall> to the last witness( an5 was not ma5e the s9bDect o= min9te inE9ir>.
U
Y~Z "9t
perhaps no =eat9re o= the transmitte5 narratives is on the whole so s9ggestive as the
won5er=9l e?actness o= the all-important time-coinci5ence@ which in these cases we m9st
be 5o9bl> care=9l o= i-2V8! ass9ming to have been =o9n5e5 on a gen9ine coinci5ence o=
a less e?act kin5 Pp. 2:XQ. *h9s( a gentleman strikingl> 5escribes to 9s how a =rien5 o=
his( while walking in "arnsle>( an5 when no one was within :; >ar5s o= her( =elt hersel=
sei]e5 b> two han5s ro9n5 the waist@ her onl> Benlightenment on the matterC being that
Bon the ver> same a=ternoon her brother went 5own with the ill-=ate5 training ship( the
uE9r>5ice.4C On appl>ing 5irect to the la5>( we =in5 that the hall9cination took place Btwo
5a>s be=ore the 5rea5=9l acci5ent.C *he more remote the inci5ent( an5 the less the
a9thorit> =or the stor>( the more clinching the correspon5ence becomes( till its per=ection
is reall> E9ite wearisome. BOn the 5a> o= his vision( an5 at that ver, (o(ent( i-2VW! his
=rien5 was passing awa>(C is E9ite the accepte5 sort o= =orm9la. ,e ma> h9nt =ar in s9ch
acco9nts be=ore we =in5 an> g9ar5ing cla9ses( as that Bthe ho9r o= 5eath was never
e?actl> ascertaine5(C or Bthe vision was in the morning( b9t the 5eath 5i5 not take place
till the a=ternoonCAcla9ses which are common eno9gh( be it observe5( in =irst-han5
recor5s.
It wo9l5( however( not be =air to leave this list o= ca9ses which 5iminish the amo9nt o=
presentable secon5-han5 evi5ence( witho9t a55ing that o= the more reliable sort o=
secon5-han5 Pno less than o= =irst-han5Q cases( a consi5erable n9mber are withhel5 =rom
p9blication =rom motives with which it is har5 altogether to s>mpathise. 1ersons who
have a reall> acc9rate knowle5ge o= some inci5ent in which a 5ecease5 relative has been
concerne5( an5 whoAseeing that the inci5ent 5i5 no 5ishono9r to an> one4s hea5 or heart
Ahave no scr9ple in p9blishing it at cas9al 5inner-parties( become sometimes almost
morbi5l> scr9p9lo9s when there is a E9estion o= making it available( even in an
anon>mo9s =orm( =or a scienti=ic p9rpose.
.ere I ma> close this preliminar> s9rve> o= the possibilities o= error which m9st be
constantl> kept in view in the investigation o= allege5 telepathic cases( an5 which m9st be
either e?cl95e5 b> evi5ence or care=9ll> allowe5 =or. "oth the 5angers an5 the sa=eg9ar5s
will( o= co9rse( be better realise5 when we come to the 5etails o= partic9lar cases. It 5oes
not seem necessar> to give a similar s>nopsis o= the evi5ential =laws an5 weaknesses
which are not in an> sense errors. /ome o= these ma> be apparent on the ver> =ace o= the
evi5ence@ as when the percipient e?pressl> states that his impression was o= an 9n5e=ine5
sort( or was o= a sort which he ha5 e?perience5 on other occasions witho9t the
correspon5ence o= an> real event( or that the coinci5ence o= 5ates( tho9gh close( was not
e?actl> ascertaine5. Others ma> appear when we take all the circ9mstances into
consi5eration( altho9gh the percipient ma> =ail to a5mit them@ =or instance( a person who
is in 5eci5e5 an?iet> abo9t an absent relative or =rien5 ma> be regar5e5 as to some e?tent
pre5ispose5 to s9bDective impressions which s9ggest his presence( so that the acci5ental
coinci5ence o= s9ch an impression with some act9al crisis that is apprehen5e5 ma> be
regar5e5 as not violentl> improbable. )ll s9ch topics( however( will =in5 a more
convenient place in the seE9el.
S 28. )n5 now with regar5 to the cases that have been incl95e5 in the evi5ential part o=
the present work. ) certain separation has i-2V7! been attempte5. In the main bo5> o=
the book( no cases are given which are not =irst-han5(Y~Z or o= the partic9lar secon5-han5
sort which Pas e?plaine5 on p. 237Q is on a par with =irst-han5@ or in which the pri(0
facie probabilit> that the =acts state5 are s9bstantiall> correct is not tolerabl> strong. "9t
the /9pplement incl95es a goo5 man> secon5-han5 acco9nts@
2
as well as =irst-han5
acco9nts where the evi5ence( =rom lack o= corroboration or other ca9ses( =alls short o= the
stan5ar5 previo9sl> attaine5.
U
O9r principle in selecting cases =or the /9pplement has
been to take onl> those whichAs9pposing telepath> to be establishe5 as a =act in %at9re
Awo9l5 reasonabl> be regar5e5 as e?amples o= it. *heir e?istence a55s =orce to the proo=
o= telepath>@ b9t we sho9l5 not have p9t them =orwar5 as an a5eE9ate proo= b>
themselves. *his separation( however( 5oes not apportion the evi5ential weight o= the two
5ivisions with rigi5 precision. +or( given a certain amo9nt o= ass9rance that the =acts are
correctl> reporte5( the val9e o= the =acts in the argu(ent for telepath, will var> accor5ing
to the class to which the> belong. *here are strong classes an5 weak classes. %ow the
bo5> o= the work incl95es specimens o= p9rel> emotional impressions( an5 o= 5reamsA
classes which we shall =in5 b> their ver> nat9re to be weak@ an5 more weight might
reasonabl> be attache5 to some case in the /9pplement( even tho9gh less completel>
atteste5( i= it belonge5 to the strongest class( which we shall =in5 to be the class o= waking
vis9al phantasms. )n5 even within the limits o= a single class( it is impossible to eval9ate
the cases with e?actness. ) phantasm o= sight or so9n5 which 5oes not at the moment
s9ggest the appearance or voice o= an absent =rien5( ma> stillAi= 9niE9e in the
percipient4s e?perience( an5 i= the coinci5ence o= time with the =rien54s 5eath is e?actA
have abo9t an eE9al claim to be consi5ere5 telepathic with a 5istinctl> recognise5
phantasm( the coinci5ence o= which with the 5eath Ptho9gh it ma> have been e?actQ
cannot with certaint> be bro9ght closer than three or =o9r 5a>s.
*hen as regar5s the mere acc9rac> o= the recor5sAtho9gh it has been possible to 5raw 9p
a sort o= table o= 5egrees( s9ch a table( o= co9rse( a==or5s no =inal criterion. It is a g9i5e in
the 5issection o= i-2VX! testimon>@ it 5irects attention to important str9ct9ral points@ b9t
it takes no acco9nt o= the living E9alities( the character( training( an5 habits o= tho9ght o=
witnesses. ,e have incl95e5 no cases where the witnesses were not( to the best o= o9r
belie=( honest in intention( an5 possesse5 o= s9==icient intelligence to be competent
reporters o= 5e=inite =acts with which the> ha5 been closel> connecte5. "9t the report(
sa>( o= a sceptical
2
law>er or a man o= science( who ha5 totall> 5isbelieve5 in the whole
class o= phenomena 9ntil convince5 b> his own e?perience( is nat9rall> stronger evi5ence
than the report o= a la5> who( whether owing to nat9ral proclivities or to want o=
scienti=ic training( has no sense o= an> 3 priori obDections to the telepathic h>pothesis.
*he report o= a person who has seen the phantasm o= a =rien5 at the time o= his 5eath( b9t
consi5ers that the coinci5ence ma> have been acci5ental( is stronger evi5ence than the
report o= a person who wo9l5 regar5 s9ch a s9pposition as irreverent. Each case m9st be
D95ge5 on its merits( b> re=erence to a consi5erable n9mber o= points@
U
an5 as =ar as i-
28;! written testimon> goes( the rea5er will have the same opport9nities as we have ha5
=or =orming an opinion. ,e have 5one o9r best to obtain corroborative evi5ence o= all
sorts( whether =rom private so9rces( =rom p9blic notices( or =rom o==icial recor5s. ,e
have o=ten =aile5@ an5 these =ail9res( an5 other evi5ential =laws( have been bro9ght into PI
=earQ wearisome prominence. In E9otations( care has( o= co9rse( been taken to give the
e?act wor5s o= witnesses. *he onl> e?ceptions are that P2Q we have occasionall> omitte5
re=lections an5 other matter which =orme5 no part o= the evi5ence@ an5 PUQ we have
correcte5 a =ew obvio9s slips o= writing( an5 intro59ce5 an occasional wor5 =or the sake
o= grammatical coherence( where the narrative has come to 9s piecemeal( or where the
above-name5 omissions have been ma5e. "9t in no case have we ma5e the slightest
alteration o= meaning( or omitte5 an>thing that co9l5 b> an> possibilit> be hel5 to mo5i=>
the acco9nt given. ) =ew cases have been s9mmarise5( in whole or in part@ b9t here the
=orm o= the sentences will show that the> are not E9otations. )n> wor5 or phrase
interpolate5 =or other than grammatical reasons is clearl> 5isting9ishe5 b> being place5
within sE9are brackets.
One a5vantage( however( which we o9rselves have ha5( cannot be comm9nicate5 to o9r
rea5ersAnamel>( the increase5 power o= D95gment which a personal interview with the
narrator gives. *he e==ect o= these interviews on o9r own min5s has been on the whole
5istinctl> =avo9rable. *he> have greatl> a55e5 to o9r con=i5ence that what we are here
presenting is the testimon> o= tr9stworth> an5 intelligent witnesses. )n5 i= the collection
be taken as a whole( this seems to be a s9==icient g9arantee. It =ollows =rom the ver>
nat9re o= telepathic cases Pas 5isting9ishe5( sa>( =rom the allege5 phenomena o= Bghost-
seeingC or o= B/pirit9alismCQ that the evi5ence o=ten in great meas9re( so to speak( (a1es
itselfAthe agent4s si5e in the matter being be>on5 5isp9te. *h9s a vali5 case( as has been
shown above( might per=ectl> well rest on the testimon> o= a person whose own
interpretation o= it was totall> erroneo9s( an5 whose intelligence an5 memor> were onl>
a5eE9ate to reporting tr9th=9ll> that he tho9ght he saw so-an5-so in his room >ester5a> or
the 5a> be=ore. "9t we have nat9rall> pre=erre5 to be on the sa=e si5e. ,e have( there=ore(
e?cl95e5 all narratives where( on personal acE9aintance with the witnesses( we =elt that
we sho9l5 be 9neas> in con=ronting them with a critical cross-e?aminer@ an5 we have
=reE9entl> tho9ght it right to e?cl95e i-282! cases( otherwise satis=actor>( that 5epen5e5
on the reports o= 9ne59cate5 persons.
2
%or( I think( will the rea5er =in5 m9ch to s9ggest
perversion o= =acts thro9gh s9perstitio9s 3 priori =ancies. *he greater part o= o9r
witnesses( as alrea5> state5( have ha5 no special belie= in the phenomena( e?cept so =ar as
the> have themselves come in contact with them@ an5 even where their interest has been
awakene5( it has sel5om been o= a more intense kin5 than might nat9rall> be e?cite5 b> a
remarkable passage o= personal or =amil> e?perience. *he> have not( =or instance( been at
all in the attit95e towar5s the s9bDect which is now o9rs( an5 which it is hope5 that the
rea5er ma> come to share. *h9s even on this score( their common-sense( in the or5inar>
straight=orwar5 meaning o= the term( co9l5 har5l> be imp9gne5. 1erhaps even so general
a testimon> to character as this is somewhat o= an impertinence@ to give it precision in
partic9lar cases wo9l5( as a r9le( be o9t o= the E9estion. "9t however little weight s9ch an
e?pression o= opinion ma> have( the mere statement that we are( in the large maDorit> o=
cases( personall> acE9ainte5 with o9r witnesses( has a 5istinct bearing on the evi5ence@
=or it practicall> implies that the> gave 9s their acco9nt in s9ch a wa> that their goo5 =aith
is ple5ge5 to it.
S 2W. "9t there is E9antit> as well as E9alit> to consi5er: the basis o= o9r 5emonstration
nee5s to be broa5 as well as strong. ,e might have a =ew correspon5ences per=ect in
ever> 5etail( a =ew i-28U! coinci5ences precise to the moment( establishe5 b> evi5ence
which was irresistible@ an5 p9re acci5ent might still be the tr9e e?planation o= them.
Later( however( it will be prove5( as I think( be>on5 the sha5ow o= a 5o9bt( that that line
cannot be taken in respect o= the several h9n5re5s o= coinci5ences incl95e5 in these
vol9mes. )n5 the maDorit> o= persons who regar5 the book =rom an evi5ential point o=
view( an5 who start with the legitimate 3 priori preD95ice against the whole class o=
phenomena( will certainl> take other gro9n5. *he> will take e?ception to the evi5ence as
it stan5s. *he> will not be concerne5 to 5en> that there wo9l5 be an enormo9sl> strong
case =or the realit> o= telepath>( s9pposing the correspon5ences an5 coinci5ences to have
occ9rre5 e?actl> as state5@ b9t the> will take the gro9n5 that the> 5i5 not so occ9r@ an5
will =rame vario9s h>potheses( accor5ing to which it sho9l5 be possible that the evi5ence
sho9l5 be th9s( an5 the =acts otherwise.
%ow not onl> is the en5eavo9r to =rame s9ch h>potheses legitimate: it has been
thro9gho9t an in5ispensable part o= o9r own work. Even improbable h>potheses o9ght to
be care=9ll> consi5ere5@ =or we have no 5esire to 9n5errate the 3 priori improbabilit> o=
o9r own h>potheses o= telepath>. It is e?tremel> 5i==ic9lt to compare the improbabilit> o=
an> partic9lar combination o= known con5itions with the improbabilit> o= the e?istence
o= a hitherto 9nknown con5ition. "9t the point on which we 5esire to la> stress is the
nu(ber o= improbable h>potheses that will have to be propo9n5e5 i= the telepathic
e?planation is reDecte5. O= co9rse( this point ma> be eva5e5 b> incl95ing all the
h>potheses nee5e5 in a single sweeping ass9mption( as to the general 9ntr9stworthiness
o= h9man testimon>. *his mo5e o= arg9ment wo9l5 be per=ectl> legitimate i= we were
presenting a collection o= 9nsi=te5 secon5 an5 thir5-han5 stories@ b9t it will scarcel> seem
eE9all> so in application to what we 5o present. *he evi5ence Por at an> rate a ver> large
amo9nt o= itQ is o= a sort which merits attention( even =rom those who most =9ll> share the
views that I have en5eavo9re5 to e?press as to the chances o= error in the recor5s o=
9n9s9al occ9rrences. It cannot be s9mmaril> 5ismisse5@ i= it is to be got ri5 o=( it m9st be
e?plaine5 awa> in 5etail. )n5 it is the contin9e5 process o= attempts to e?plain awa>
which ma>( we think( pro59ce on others the same c9m9lative e==ect as it has pro59ce5 on
o9rselves. *he attempts have been ma5e on the lines alrea5> sketche5@ an5 so =ar as an>
rea5er agrees that the risks i-28:! an5 v9lnerable points have been care=9ll> consi5ere5
in the abstract( he ma> be willing provisionall> to accept an ass9rance that a similar
care=9l an5 rationall> sceptical mo5e o= e?amination has been applie5 to the concrete
instances. *he work is( no 5o9bt( wearisome@ b9t there is no avoi5ing it( =or an>one who
wishes to =orm a =air in5epen5ent opinion as to what the strength o= the case =or telepath>
reall> is. *he narratives are ver> vario9s( an5 their =orce is 5erive5 =rom ver> vario9s
characteristics@ the en5eavo9r to acco9nt =or them witho9t resorting to telepath> m9st(
there=ore( be carrie5 thro9gh a consi5erable n9mber o= gro9ps( be=ore it pro59ces its
legitimate e==ect on the min5. *hat e==ect arises =rom the n9mber an5 variet> o= the
improbable s9ppositions( now violent( now vag9eAcontra5ictor> o= o9r e?perience o= all
sorts o= h9man acts an5 h9man relationsAthat have to be ma5e at ever> t9rn. %ot onl>
have we to ass9me s9ch an e?tent o= =orget=9lness an5 inacc9rac>( abo9t simple an5
striking =acts o= the imme5iate past( as is totall> 9ne?ample5 in an> other range o=
e?perience. %ot onl> have we to ass9me that 5istressing or e?citing news abo9t another
person pro59ces a havoc in the memor> which has never been note5 in connection with
5istress or e?citement in an> other =orm. ,e m9st leave this merel> general gro9n5( an5
make s9ppositions as 5etaile5 as the evi5ence itsel=. ,e m9st s9ppose that some people
have a wa> o= 5ating their letters in in5i==erence to the calen5ar( or making entries in their
5iaries on the wrong page an5 never 5iscovering the error@ an5 that whole =amilies have
been str9ck b> the collective hall9cination that one o= their members ha5 ma5e a
partic9lar remark( the s9bstance o= which ha5 never even entere5 that member4s hea5@
an5 that it is a recognise5 c9stom to write mo9rn=9l letters abo9t bereavements which
have never occ9rre5@ an5 that when ) 5escribes to a =rien5 how he has 5istinctl> hear5
the voice o= "( it is not in=reE9entl> b> a slip o= the tong9e =or -@ an5 that when $ sa>s
he is not s9bDect to hall9cinations o= vision( it is thro9gh momentar> =orget=9lness o= the
=act that he has a spectral ill9sion once a week@ an5 that when a wi=e interr9pts her
h9sban54s sl9mbers with wor5s o= 5istress or alarm( it is onl> her =9n( or a s955en morbi5
craving =or 9n5eserve5 s>mpath>@ an5 that when people assert that the> were in so9n5
health( in goo5 spirits( an5 wi5e awake( at a partic9lar time which the> ha5 occasion to
note( it is a sa=e concl9sion rhat YsicZ the> were having a nightmare( or were the prostrate
victims o= nervo9s h>pochon5ria. Ever> one o= these improbabilities is( perhaps( in itsel=
a possibilit>@ b9t as the i-283! narratives 5rive 9s =rom one 5esperate e?pe5ient to
another( when time a=ter time we are compelle5 to own that 5eliberate =alsi=ication is less
9nlikel> than the ass9mptions we are making( an5 then again when we s9bmit the theor>
o= 5eliberate =alsi=ication to the c9m9lative test( an5 see what is involve5 in the
s9pposition that h9n5re5s o= persons o= establishe5 character( known to 9s =or the most
part an5 9nknown to one another( have sim9ltaneo9sl> =orme5 a plot to 5eceive 9sAthere
comes a point where the reason rebels. -ommon-sense persists in recognising that when
phenomena( which are 9nite5 b> a =9n5amental characteristic an5 have ever> appearance
o= =orming a single nat9ral gro9p( are presente5 to be e?plaine5( an e?planation which
m9ltiplies ca9ses is improbable( an5 an e?planation which m9ltiplies improbable ca9ses
becomes( at a certain point( incre5ible.
S 27. I am aware that in its abstract =orm( an5 apart =rom act9al st95> o= the cases( this
reasoning m9st be wholl> 9nconvincing. "9t meanwhile the arg9ment =or the general
tr9stworthiness o= o9r evi5ence ma> be p9t in another( an5( perhaps( clearer light. )mi5
all their 5i==erences( the cases present one general characteristicAan 9n9s9al a==ection o=
one person( having no apparent relation to an>thing o9tsi5e him e?cept the 9n9s9al
con5ition( otherwise 9nknown to him( o= another person. It is this characteristic that gives
them the appearance( as I have D9st sai5( o= a true natural group. %ow the =9ll
signi=icance o= these wor5s ma> easil> escape notice. *he> have an evidential as well as a
theoretic bearing. *he> involve( o= co9rse( the h>pothesis that the =acts( i= tr9l> state5( are
probabl> 59e to a single ca9se@ b9t the> involve( =9rther( a ver> strong arg9ment that the
=acts are tr9l> state5. Let 9s s9ppose( =or the moment( that an> amo9nt o= la?it> o=
memor> an5 o= statement ma> be e?pecte5 even =rom =irst-han5 witnesses( belonging to
the e59cate5 class. )n5 let 9s ignore all the heterogeneo9s improbabilities which we were
D9st now consi5ering@ an5 ass9me that the mistakes mentione5( an5 others like them( ma>
occ9r at an> moment. ,hat( then( is the likelihoo5 that all these vario9s ca9sesAall these
errors o= in=erence( lapses o= memor>( an5 e?aggerations an5 perversions o= narrationA
will iss9e in a consistent bo5> o= evi5ence( presenting one well-5e=ine5 t>pe o=
phenomenon( =ree in ever> case =rom e?crescences or inconsistent =eat9res an5
e?plicable( an5 completel> e?plicable( b> one eE9all> well-5e=ine5 h>pothesisr ,hat is
the likelihoo5 that a n9mber o= narratives( which are ass9me5 i-28V! to have 5iverge5 in
vario9s wa>s =rom the act9al =acts( sho9l5 th9s converge to a single res9ltr /everal
h9n5re5s o= in5epen5ent an5 =irst-han5 reporters have( wittingl> or 9nwittingl>( got loose
=rom the tr9th( an5 are well starte5 5own the incline5 plane o= the marvello9s. #et all o=
them stop short at or within a given lineAthe line being the e?act one 9p to which a
partic9lar e?planation( not o= theirs b9t o= o9rs( can be e?ten5e5( an5 be>on5 which it
co9l5 not be e?ten5e5. *empting marvels lie =9rther onAmarvels which in the pop9lar
view are E9ite as likel> to be tr9e as the =acts act9all> reporte5( an5 which the general
tra5itions o= the s9bDect wo9l5 connect with those =acts. "9t o9r reporters one an5 all
eschew them. *o take( =or instance( the gro9p o= cases which the rea5er will probabl> =in5
to be the most interesting( as it is also the largest( in o9r collectionAapparitions at the
time o= 5eath. ,h> sho9l5 not s9ch apparitions hol5 prolonge5 converse with the waking
=rien5r ,h> sho9l5 the> not pro59ce ph,sical e==ectsAshe5 tears on the pillow an5 make
it wet( open the 5oor an5 leave it open( or leave some tangible token o= their presencer It
is s9rel> noteworth> that we have not ha5 to reDect( on gro9n5s like these( a single
narrative which on other gro9n5s wo9l5 have been a5mitte5. .ave all o9r in=ormants
5rawn an arbitrar> line( an5 all 5rawn precisel> the same arbitrar> line( between the
mistakes an5 e?aggerations o= which the> -ill be g9ilt>( an5 the mistakes an5
e?aggerations o= which the> will notr ,e might imagine them as travellers( ignorant o=
]oolog>( each o= whom reports that he has lan5e5 on a strange shore( an5 has enco9ntere5
a strange animal. /ome o= the travellers have been nearer the animal( an5 have ha5 a
better view o= him than others( an5 their acco9nts var> in clearness@ b9t these acco9nts(
tho9gh in5epen5entl> 5rawn 9p( all point to the same so9rce@ the> all present a consistent
pict9re o= the sel=-same animal( an5 what is more( the pict9re is one which ]oolog> can
=in5 no positive ca9se to 5istr9st. ,e =in5 in it none o= the =amiliar =eat9res o= m>th or o=
9ntraine5 =anc>@ the reports have not given wings to a E9a5r9pe5( or horns an5 hoo=s to a
carnivor@ YsicZ the> contra5ict nothing that is known. -an we =airl> s9ppose that this
complete agreement( alike in what the> contain an5 in what the> 5o not contain( is the
acci5ental res9lt o= a h9n5re5 5isconnecte5 mistakesr
It is most instr9ctive( in this connection( to compare =irst-han5 Pan5 the better sort o=
secon5-han5Q narratives with others. I have alrea5> spoken o= the greater general sobriet>
o= the =irst-han5 i-288! evi5ence. I ma> now a55 that the s9spicio9sl> startling 5etails
which o=ten characterise the more remote narratives are precisel> o= the sort which the
telepathic h>pothesis co9l5 b> no possibilit> be ma5e to cover. *o wet the pillow or leave
the 5oor open wo9l5 be E9ite an or5inar> breach o= manners in the pop9lar Bghost(C or
the secon5-han5 apparition o= 5o9bt=9l a9thorit>. I have mentione5 the real 5ripping letter
conve>e5 b> the phantasmal mi5shipman. I ma> =9rther recall the scar reporte5 to have
been le=t on the la5>4s wrist b> the to9ch o= the well-known B"eres=or5C apparition@ an5
the wo9n5s allege5 to have been pro59ce5 on the bo5ies o= absent witches( b> blows an5
swor5 thr9sts 5irecte5 to their BastralC appearances. %o marvels in the least resembling
these =in5 an> place in o9r =irsthan5 recor5s@ >et wh> sho9l5 the> not( i= those recor5s are
=9n5amentall> 9ntr9stworth>r *he e?istence o= s9ch =eat9res in other narratives
s9==icientl> shows how wi5e is the possible range o= inci5ents( in stories where the
or5inar> limitations o= comm9nication between h9man beings are allege5 to have been
transcen5e5. O= this wi5e =iel5( the h>pothesis o= the action o= min5 on min5( which we
are en5eavo9ring to 5evelop( covers onl> a single well-5e=ine5 portion. "> what =atalit>(
i= error is wi5el> at work in the case o= o9r =irsthan5 evi5ence( 5o its res9lts alwa>s =all
insi5e an5 not o9tsi5e this ver> limite5 arear I= o9r witnesses are ass9me5 to sit loose to
the =acts which the> have known( wh> sho9l5 the> bring their acco9nts into rigi5 Ptho9gh
p9rel> acci5entalQ con=ormit> with a theor> which the> have not knownr
S 2X. ,hat I have here in5icate5 is the general impression pro59ce5 b> the evi5ence in
o9r own min5s. In o9r view( the realit> o= telepath> Peven apart =rom a consi5eration o=
the e?perimental evi5enceQ ma> be not 9nreasonabl> taken as prove5. .aving =orme5 this
view( we are bo9n5 to state it@ b9t we e?pressl> re=rain =rom p9tting it =orwar5
5ogmaticall>( an5 =rom sa>ing that to reDect it wo9l5 arg9e want o= can5o9r or
intelligence. ,e hol5 that( in s9ch a matter( it is i5le to attempt to 5e=ine the line o=
complete proo=@ an5 the proo= givenAi= it be oneAis =ar =rom being o= an 4clatant or
overwhelming sort. *o those who 5o not realise the strength o= the 3 priori pres9mption
against it( it ma> easil> look more overwhelming than it is. *o others( again( it ma>
appear that( on the h>pothesis that the =ac9lt> has acte5 as wi5el> as we have s9ppose5(
the highest evi5ential stan5ar5 o9ght to have been reache5 in a larger n9mber o= i-28W!
cases. *o 9s it rather seems that the evi5ence that we =in5 is D9st abo9t what might have
been e?pecte5. ,e see nothing in the mere e?istence o= telepath> that wo9l5 ten5 to make
reserve5 people mention strange e?periences( or to make careless or b9s> people keep
conscientio9s 5iariesAor generall> that wo9l5 lea5 the persons imme5iatel> connecte5
with a telepathic case( in which their emotions ma> be 5eepl> involve5( to act with a
single e>e to pro59cing a clinching piece o= evi5ence =or the =9t9re bene=it o= critical
ps>chological inE9irers. It wo9l5( o= co9rse( be 9seless =or 9s to 9rge that evi5ence which
=alls short o= the best is still as goo5 as can be e?pecte5( 9nless we were able to present a
certain n9cle9s o= =airl> concl9sive cases( an5 this we think we can 5o. "9t i= the proo= is
hel5 to 5eman5 more cases o= the highest evi5ential E9alit>( we m9st tr9st to time =or
them. *he i5eal collection wo9l5( o= co9rse( be one where ever> in5epen5ent instance
sho9l5 be so evi5entiall> complete that it m9st be either P2Q telepathic( or PUQ a p9rel>
acci5ental coinci5ence o= a most striking kin5( or P:Q the res9lt o= a =ra959lent conspirac>
to 5eceive( in which several persons o= goo5 character an5 rep9tation have taken part. In
o9r view( this point has been reache5 in a s9==icient n9mber o= the e?amples here given to
e?cl95e the secon5 an5 thir5 o= these alternatives@ b9t these e?amples constit9te onl> a
ver> small minorit> compare5 with the mass o= cases which are merel> con=irmator>A
strongl> con=irmator>( as we think( b9t still con=irmator> onl> an5 not cr9cial. )n5 the
collection so =ar =alls short o= the i5eal.
In sa>ing( then( that telepath> ma> not 9nreasonabl> be taken as prove5( I 5o not wish =or
a moment to impl> that the proo= which we give is the one which we sho9l5 event9all>
5esire to see given. *o no rea5er( we think( will the vario9s imper=ections an5 weak spots
o= o9r case be more patent than the> have been to o9rselves. /ome o= these are be>on5
reme5>Aas the absence o= contemporar> 5oc9ments. Others ma> possibl> be reme5ie5
at a later stageA=or instance( the s9ppression o= names.
2
Y~Z It has been impossible to
bring home to all i-287! o9r in=ormants that where a person re=9ses to a phenomenon(
belonging to a certain class( the 5irect testimon> which he wo9l5 give( i= nee5=9l( to an>
other sort o= personal e?perience( the worl5 is s9re to take the view that he lacks that
complete ass9rance o= the realit> o= the e?perience which alone can make his evi5ence
worth> o= serio9s i-28X! attention. *his is not alwa>s D9st@ since the reason wh> he
s9ppresses his name ma> be( not that he 5o9bts the tr9th o= his evi5ence( b9t that he
regar5s the tr9th in this partic9lar 5epartment o= %at9re as something 5isgrace=9l or
9ncann>@ or it ma> be mere =ear o= ri5ic9le( or a shrinking =rom an> =orm o= p9blicit>.
"9t meanwhile the 5e=ect m9st not be e?ten9ate5. Even minor points ma> 5etract =rom
the b9sinesslike look o= the work. In=ormants whose evi5ence is otherwise satis=actor>
sometimes =eel it a sort o= m>sterio9s 59t> to throw a veil over somethingAi= it is onl> to
p9t -AA =or -lapham. ) 5ash is the last re=9ge o= the occ9lt. ,e m9st not be hel5 to be
blin5 to these blots beca9se we have printe5 the evi5ence in which the> occ9r. "9t the
case( as it stan5s( seeme5 worth presenting( an5 the time =or presenting it seeme5 to have
arrive5. Even i= it be weaker than we think it( there is the =9t9re as well as the past to
think o=. "> =ar the greater part o= the telepathic evi5ence( even o= the last twent> >ears(
has 9n5o9bte5l> perishe5( =or all scienti=ic p9rposes@ we want the acco9nt =or the ne?t
twent> >ears to be 5i==erent. "9t it is onl> b> a 5eci5e5 change in the attit95e o= the
p9blic min5 towar5s the s9bDect that the passing phenomena can be ca9ght an5 =i?e5@ an5
it is onl> b> a wi5er knowle5ge o= what there alrea5> is to know that this change can
come abo9t. *h9s o9r best chance o= a more satis=actor> harvest herea=ter is to e?hibit
o9r shea= o= gleanings now. I= telepath> is a realit>( e?amples o= it ma> be tr9ste5 to go
on occ9rring@ an5 with the increase o= intelligent interest in ps>chical research we ma>
hope that the collection an5 veri=ication o= goo5 =irst-han5 evi5ence will gra59all>
become easier( an5 that the necessit> o= care=9l contemporar> recor5s( an5 o= complete
attestation( will be more wi5el> perceive5.
S U;. Meanwhile it ma> be D9st worth while to =orestall an obDectionAwhich( as it has
been ma5e be=ore( ma> be ma5e againAto the arg9ment =rom n9mbers. It has been 9rge5
that no acc9m9lation o= instances can make 9p a soli5 case( i= no in5ivi59al instance can
be absol9tel> certi=ie5 as =ree =rom =law. "9t the 5i==erent items o= in59ctive proo= are( o=
co9rse( not like the links o= a 5e59ctive chain. *he tr9e metaphor is the sticks an5 the
=aggot@ an5 o9r right to treat an> partic9lar case as a stick 5epen5s( not on its being so
=lawlessl> strong( as evi5ence =or o9r h>pothesis( that no other h>pothesis can possibl> be
entertaine5 with regar5 to it( b9t on the m9ch h9mbler i-2W;! =act that an> other
h>pothesis involves the ass9mption o= so(ething in itself i(probable. *hir5-han5 ghost-
stories( an5 the or5inar> e?amples o= pop9lar s9perstitions( have no claim to be regar5e5
as sticks at all( since the reDection o= the pop9lar e?planation o= them involves no
improbable ass9mptions o= an> kin5@ at best the> are 5r> ree5s( an5 no m9ltiplication o=
their n9mber co9l5 ever make a respectable =aggot. "9t in ever> one o= the e?amples on
which we rest the telepathic h>pothesis( the reDection o= that h>pothesis 5oes( as I have
pointe5 o9t( involve the ass9mption o= something in itsel= improbable@ an5 ever> s9ch
e?ample a55s to the c9m9lative =orce o= the arg9ment =or telepath>. *he m9ltiplication o=
s9ch e?amples( there=ore( makes a =aggot o= ever-increasing soli5it>.
,hen ma5e e?plicit( this seems too plain to be 5enie5@ b9t an e?treme case ma> perhaps
make the point even clearer. I=( since the worl5 began( nobo5> ha5 ever 5ie5 witho9t a
phantasm o= him appearing to one or more o= his =rien5s( the Doint occ9rrence o= the two
events wo9l5 have been a piece o= 9niversall> recognise5 knowle5ge@ o= the ca9se o=
which we sho9l5 to this 5a> possibl> not know more( an5 co9l5 not possibl> know less(
than we know o= the ca9se o= gravitation. %or( i= the attestation ha5 been =orthcoming in
the case o= onl> half the 5eaths( wo9l5 its signi=icance have been m9ch more likel> to be
5isp9te5@ nor i= it ha5 been =orthcoming in the case o= a E9arter( or a tenth( or even a
h9n5re5th o= the n9mber. "9t those who a5mit this( practicall> a5mit that there is a
conceivable n9mber o= well atteste5 cases which the> wo9l5 regar5 as concl9sive
evi5ence o= telepath>. ,e ma> ask them( then( to name their n9mber@ an5 i= the> 5o so(
we ma> not 9nreasonabl> procee5 to inE9ire the gro9n5s o= their selection. ) writer on
the s9bDect latel> name5 V;;; as the mark@ b9t can he make his reasons e?plicit =or
consi5ering V;;; as concl9sive( an5 3;;;( or even 2;;;( as inconcl9siver In co9rse o=
time we hope that his minim9m ma> be reache5@ b9t an> limit m9st be to a great e?tent
arbitrar>. ,e shall be content i= impartial rea5ers( who 5o not =eel convince5 that an
a5eE9ate in59ctive proo= has been attaine5( are >et bro9ght to see that o9r obDect an5
metho5 are scienti=icall> 5e=ensible@ while we( on o9r si5e( =9ll> a5mit that the a5eE9ac>
o= the present collection 5oes not a5mit o= 5emonstration( an5 are per=ectl> willing that it
sho9l5 be regar5e5 as onl> a =irst imper=ect instalment o= what is nee5e5.
i-2W2!
S U2. 1erhaps( a=ter all( the 5i==erence o= instinct as to what reall> is nee5e5 ma> be
consi5erabl> less than at =irst sight appears. +or we have not been able to regar5 the
allege5 phenomena in the completel> 5etache5 =ashion which most o= those who consi5er
them nat9rall> a5opt. ,e are 9nable to 5etermine how =ar the impression on o9r own
min5s o= the evi5ence =or spontaneous telepath> has been 5epen5ent on o9r conviction o=
the gen9ineness o= cognate e.peri(ental cases. *hese latter being =or the most part
trivial( recent( an5 little known( it is not s9rprising that comparativel> =ew persons sho9l5
have consi5ere5 them( an5 that still =ewer sho9l5 have graspe5 their bearing on the
spontaneo9s cases. "9t to an>one who accepts the e?perimental res9lts( the 3 priori
pres9mption against other =orms o= s9persens9o9s comm9nication can har5l> retain its
=ormer aspect. *he pres9mption is 5iminishe5Athe hospitalit> o= the min5 to s9ch
phenomena is increase5Ain a 5egree which is none the less important that it 5oes not
a5mit o= calc9lation. ) =9rther step o= abo9t eE9al importance is ma5e when we a5vance
to the better-evi5ence5 o= the transitional cases@ tho9gh here again the e==ect on o9r own
min5s( 59e to o9r knowle5ge o= the persons concerne5( cannot be imparte5 to others.
)ttention has been 59l> 5rawn to the 5i==ic9lt> o= embracing these several classes in a
common ph,sical conception@ b9t on ps,chological gro9n5 we cannot 5o9bt that we are
D9sti=ie5 Pprovisionall> at an> rateQ in regar5ing them as contin9o9s. 'emembering the
e?istence o= the transitional class( we ma> regar5 the e?tremes as not more remote =rom
one another than the electrical phenomena o= the cat4s coat =rom those o= the =irmament.
Electricit>( in5ee5( a==or5s in this wa> a sing9larl> close parallel to telepath>. B*he
spontaneo9s apparitions o= the 5>ingC PI E9ote Mr. M>ers4 wor5sQ Bma> stan5 =or the
lightning@ while the ancient observations on the attraction o= amber =or straw ma> =airl>
be parallele5 b> o9r mo5est e?periments with car5s an5 5iagrams. *he spontaneo9s
phenomena( on the one han5( have been observe5 in ever> age( b9t observe5 with mere
terror an5 bewil5erment. )n5( on the other han5( can5i5 =rien5s have e?presse5 s9rprise
at o9r taking a serio9s interest in getting a r95e pict9re =rom one person4s min5 into
another( or proving that ginger ma> be hot in the mo9th b> the e==ect o= 9nconscio9s
s>mpath> alone. #et we hol5 that these trivial cases o= comm9nit> o= sensation are the
germinal in5ications o= a =ar-reaching =orce( whose higher mani=estations i-2WU! ma>
o9tshine these as the lightning o9tshines the sparks on 19ss4s back. ,e hol5 that the
lowest telepathic mani=estations ma> be 9se5 to e?plain an5 corroborate the highest.C
*heir con5itions 5i==er wi5el>@ so wi5el>( in5ee5( as to s9ppl> in5irectl> an arg9ment =or
the gen9ineness o= the =acts( since totall> 5istinct an5 in5epen5ent h>pothesesAthat o=
coll9sion in the one case( an5 o= =orget=9lness or e?aggeration in the otherAwo9l5 be
nee5e5 to re=9te them. #et( with all this 5i==erence o= con5itions( when we compare the
=acts o= either class with an> =acts which the accepte5 ps>cholog> incl95es( we cannot
help recognising the great common characteristicAa s9persens9o9s in=l9ence o= min5 on
min5Aas a tr9e generic bon5. ,here that characteristic is =o9n5( there we have a nat9ral
gro9p o= phenomena which 5i==er =ar more =9n5amentall> =rom all other known
phenomena than the> can possibl> 5i==er among themselves. *heir 9nit> is =o9n5 in
contrast. *ill more is known o= their ca9ses( it ma> be impossible =or science to establish
their inner relationships( D9st as it is impossible to establish the 5egrees o= a==init>
between cas9all> selecte5 members o= a single h9man comm9nit>. "9t the> 5raw
together( so to speak( on the =iel5 o= science( even as men o= one race 5raw together when
cast among an alien pop9lation.
%O*E O% ,I*-.-')+*.
In sa>ing that there is a total absence o= respectable evi5ence( an5 an almost total absence
o= an> =irst-han5 evi5ence at all( =or those allege5 phenomena o= magic an5 witchcra=t
which cannot be acco9nte5 =or as the res9lts o= 5isease5 imagination( h>steria(
h>pnotism( an5 occasionall>( perhaps( o= telepath>( I have ma5e a sweeping statement
which it ma> perhaps seem that nothing short o= a knowle5ge o= the whole witch-
literat9re o= the worl5 co9l5 D9sti=>. I have( o= co9rse( no claim to this complete
knowle5ge. M> statement 5epen5s on a care=9l search thro9gh abo9t U8; books on the
s9bDect Pincl95ing( I think( most o= the principal ones o= the 28th( 2Wth( an5 27th
cent9riesQ( an5 a large n9mber o= contemporar> recor5s o= trials.
2
/9ch a list is certainl>
ver> =ar =rom e?ha9stive. "9t as( on the one han5( the 3V; works which Le i-2W:! Lo>er
pro=esse5 to have st95ie5( be=ore writing his ;ivre des !pectres( 5i5 not =orti=> him with
the tr9stworth> recor5 o= a single case( so( on the other han5( a m9ch smaller assortment
ma> s9==ice to s9pport ver> wi5e negative concl9sions. *o those who have travelle5 over
the same gro9n5( the reason will be obvio9s. Ever> st95ent o= recor5s o= abnormal or
Bs9pernat9ralC events m9st have been str9ck b> the wa> in which the same cases keep on
reappearing in one work a=ter another. Even the most cre59lo9s partisans e?ercise a sort
o= econom> o= the marvello9s( in so =ar as the> =in5 that cop>ing o9t ol5 marvels is a
great saving o= time an5 responsibilit>. )n5 this is ver> speciall> the case with the
literat9re now in E9estion. "o5in4s D4(ono(anie an5 the 'alleus 'aleficaru( s9pplie5
generations o= theorists with their pittance o= =acts@ an5 not even the "eres=or5 ghost has
5one s9ch har5 an5 contin9o9s 59t> in the ca9se o= s9perstition as some =ew o= the witch-
cases.
-onsi5ering the enormo9s place that l>canthrop>( =or instance( pla>s in the interminable
5isc9ssions as to what the 5evil co9l5 5o( an5 how he 5i5 it( it is strange to realise what
the evi5ence Po9tsi5e con=essions
2
Q act9all> was. 19tting %eb9cha5ne]]ar an5 Lot4s wi=e
o9t o= the E9estion( the main b9r5en o= the proo= seems reall> to rest on abo9t =o9r cases.
Either it is the 22th cent9r> legen5( E9ote5 =rom ,illiam o= Malmesb9r>( o= the two ol5
women who kept an inn( an5 trans=orme5 their g9ests into asses: or it is the eE9all>
m>thical tale o= the woo5c9tter who wo9n5e5 three cats( an5 5eclare5 that three women
a=terwar5s acc9se5 him o= having wo9n5e5 the(@ or it is 1eter /t9bbe( against whom the
evi5ence was that the villagers lit on him 9ne?pecte5l>( while the> were h9nting a wol=@
or it is the man who( having c9t o== a wol=4s paw( 5rew =rom his pocket the han5 o= his
host4s wi=e( whom he =o9n5 sitting compose5l> witho9t itAa stor> tol5 to "og9et Pas a
Doke =or a9ght we can tellQ b> a person who pro=esse5 to have picke5 it 9p in travelling
thro9gh the localit>. Even the cre59lo9s $e l4)ncre
U
a5mits that( with wi5e opport9nities(
he has not come on the track o= an> trans=ormationsAa =act which seems to have a goo5
5eal impresse5 him. "9t in the e>es o= other writers( perpet9al citation seems to have
imparte5 to the classical legen5s D9st mentione5 the virt9e o= goo5 =irst-han5 testimon>.
&lanvil gives i-2W3! another case where a panting ol5 woman was s955enl> seen in the
place o= a h9nte5 hare( on the a9thorit> o= a h9ntsman@
2
b9t there are =eat9res in the
acco9nt which strongl> s9ggest( as &lanvil a5mits( that the h9ntsman was a wag. I =in5
another less known English e?ample o= the kin5@ an5 the manner o= its appearance is
signi=icant. *he recor5 o= the trial o= the Esse? witches in 283V
U
contains( =irst( all manner
o= first6hand evi5ence to witches4 B=amiliarsCAevi5ence which m9st have been eas>
eno9gh to get( consi5ering that a man who ha5 looke5 thro9gh a cottage win5ow( an5
seen a woman hol5ing a lock o= wool that cast a sha5ow( was believe5 when he 5escribe5
these obDects as her white an5 black imps@
:
an5 then at last we have a case o=
trans=ormation into an animal( at which point( s9re eno9gh( the evi5ence becomes
second6hand( an5 the witness has hear5 the tale =rom a man who he knew Bwo9l5 not
speak an 9ntr9th.C ) trans=ormation case which ,ebster mentions as given on =irst-han5
testimon> was a=terwar5s con=esse5 to have been an impost9re.
3
I have =o9n5 b9t a single
item o= in5epen5ent evi5ence to the phenomenon which is =irst-han5( in the sense o=
having been given 5irect to the writer who recor5s it. *his is in /pina4s Hu+stio de
!trigibus P'ome( 2VW8( p. V:Q( an5 is to this e==ect:Aa cobbler( being anno>e5 b> a cat(
5ealt blows at it( a=ter which an ol5 woman t9rne5 o9t to have some h9rts which she was
not known to have receive5.
V
*o be E9ite =air( I sho9l5 a55 that "o5in sa>s that one 1ierre
Mamor wrote a little treatise( in which he pro=esse5 to have act9all> seen a
trans=ormationAthis being the onl> case that I have come across where a man o=
s9==icient e59cation to write something that was printe5 is even cite5 as bearing personal
testimon> to s9ch marvels.
It is the same with the witches4 compacts( an5 with the noct9rnal ri5es an5 orgies. 19tting
asi5e con=essions( the evi5ence is o= the =limsiest sort( an5 is copie5 an5 re-copie5 with
9ntiring pertinacit>@ while man> o= the mirac9lo9s tales are mere co9ntr> gossip( which
5o not even preten5 to i-2WV! rest on an> a9thorit>. .ollan5 sa>s( BI cannot hear that an>
wise man or honest man tell 9s an> thing( which hath been himsel= either a part> or a
witness o= s9ch horrible bargains.C
2
B,hat cre5ible witness is there bro9ght at an> time(C
sa>s 'eginal5 /cot( Bo= this their corporal( visible( an5 incre5ible bargain@ saving the
con=ession o= some person 5isease5 both in bo5> an5 min5( wil=9ll> ma5e or inD9rio9sl>
constraine5rC
U
)s regar5s transportations( the most s9perstitio9s writers have never
themselves come into an>thing like close contact with the marvels that the> recor5.
.abbak9k( an5 the /abine peasant who ina5vertentl> 5isperse5 an assembl> b> a pio9s
eDac9lation( =ig9re in the recor5s with almost 9nbroken reg9larit>. I am aware o= onl> two
cases in which it is even r9mo9re5 that a person has been act9all> observe5 travelling
thro9gh the air@
:
an5 whenever a B/abbathC has been seen( or persons have been =o9n5 =ar
=rom their homes in the morningApres9mabl> beca9se the 5evil( who was carr>ing them
back =rom the revels( 5roppe5 them at the so9n5 o= the )ngel9sAthe witnesses are
shepher5s or peasants Pin one case a b9tlerQ( who have not been cross-e?amine5 or even
interviewe5. &rillan59s
3
sa>s that he ha5 been at =irst incline5 to 5isbelieve in bo5il>
transportations( b9t that longer e?perience ha5 change5 his view. .e then gives a co9ple
o= hearsa> stories abo9t people =o9n5 in the =iel5s( an5 a =ew con=essions. "ins=el5
V

consi5ers transportation certain( on the strength o= some village gossip Pcopie5 in part
=rom &rillan59sQ. ) stor> E9ote5 b> .orst =rom the De 9irco Nocturno o= /cherert]( o= a
>o9ng man =o9n5 on the roo= towar5s morning( is apparentl> a t>pical case o= nat9ral
somnamb9lism. *he 'alleus PVol. I.( p. 2W2Q tells how some >o9ng men saw a comra5e
carrie5 o== b> invisible means@ b9t the prominent =act in the stor> is that the> were having
a 5rinking bo9t.
8

i-2W8!
In all these matters we ma> be s9re that( ha5 there been better evi5ence to recor5( it
wo9l5 have been recor5e5.
/imilarl> in the trials o= witches( where Pi= we e?cl95e the con=essionsQ nearl> all the
allege5 =acts can now be accepte5 an5 e?plaine5 on ph>siological an5 ps>chological
principles( the sameness is so great that( a=ter o9r research has been carrie5 to a certain
point( we =eel s9re that no new t>pes will be =orthcoming.
2
Even the E9estions an5
s9ggestions 9se5 =or entrapping the acc9se5 seem to have become stereot>pe5 =orms( an5
the ver> in5ictments came to be h9rrie5 over( as almost taken =or grante5.
U
/pee sa>s that
it never even entere5 into his hea5 to 5o9bt the e?istence o= witches( till he st95ie5 the
D95icial evi5ence.
:

On the whole( then( the sweeping statement consi5ere5 at the beginning o= the =oregoing
chapterAthat in mo5ern societies a more or less imposing arra> o= so-calle5 evi5ence can
be obtaine5 =or the s9pport o= an> belie= or crotchet that is less than an o9trage on the
pop9lar common-sense o= the timeAis ver> =ar =rom receiving s9pport =rom the histor>
o= witchcra=t. *he stock e?ample which was to prove the view goes( in =act( somewhat
s9rprisingl> =ar to 5isprove it. +or at no perio5 wo9l5 the con5itions seem to be more
=avo9rable =or a reall> impressive recor5 o= marvello9s phenomena than 59ring the 2Vth
an5 28th cent9ries. *he art an5 literat9re o= the epoch show high imaginative
5evelopment( an5 a keen appetite =or variet> an5 5etail@ while( at the same time( the
maDorit> o= able an5 e59cate5 min5s were not =ore-arme5( in at all the same wa> as now(
b> a sense o= 3 priori impossibilities an5 o= a 9ni=orm %at9re( an5 the belie= in the
incalc9lable power an5 malignit> o= the 5evil was nearl> 9niversal.
3
One wo9l5 have i-
2WW! e?pecte5( then( that ever> village wo9l5 swell the 5irect testimon> to
trans=ormations an5 witches4 B/abbathsC@ an5 that even philosophers who regar5e5 the
Evil One as an abi5ing so9rce o= sensor> 5el9sion might occasionall> have ha5 their own
senses 5el95e5. "9t we can onl> take the recor5 that we =in5( an5 it is as monotono9s as
it is meagre. %ot onl> 5o the philosophers an5 their =rien5s seem to have enDo>e5
complete imm9nit> =rom /atanic visitations( b9t even in the lower social strata the
magical inci5ents Pother than those which mo5ern science can accept an5 e?plainQ are
e?tremel> =ew an5 =ar between@ an5 the evi5ence =or themAi= the wor5 be 9se5 with an>
5egree o= strictnessAis practicall> non-e?istent.
2

I m9st speciall> insist on this point@ as m> view seems completel> oppose5 to that given
in the acco9nt =rom which most English rea5ers have probabl> =orme5 their i5ea o= the
s9bDectAthe brilliant =irst chapter o= Mr. Leck>4s 9istor, of =ationalis(. Mr. Leck>4s
treatment appears to me to s9==er =rom the want o= two important 5istinctions. In the =irst
place( he 5oes not separate the =act o= the wi5e belie= in the magical phenomena( an5 the
arra> o= a9thorities that co9l5 be cite5 on the si5e o= that belie=( =rom the evi5ence =or
partic9lar eventsAthe statements o= bon0 fide witnesses. +or ever> grain o= testi(on,
there is no 5i==ic9lt> in =in5ing a ton o= authorit,.
U
)n5 in the secon5 place( he 5oes not
e?plicitl> 5iscriminate between the wholl> bi]arre i-2W7! an5 incre5ible si5e o= the
s9bDect( an5 its scienti=ic or pathological si5e. O= co9rse Bbelie= in witchcra=tC ma> be
taken to mean simpl> a gro9p or s>stem o= wrong in=erences( 5rawn 9n5er a strong
instinct o= 5emonic agenc>@ an5 in that light the belie= can 5o9btless be treate5 as a whole
Aas a single tho9gh comple? s9perstition. "9t Bwitchcra=tC ma> also be 9se5( an5 is
=reE9entl> 9se5 in Mr. Leck>4s own pages( to 5enote the =acts allege5A=or instance( that
ol5 women were carrie5 thro9gh the airAan5 not the in=erence 5rawn( that it was the
5evil who carrie5 them. )n5 this is the meaning that nat9rall> becomes prominent when
the E9estion is o= the evidence =or witchcra=tAthe act9al testimon> that men4s senses
bore to it. +or instance( Mr. Leck> sa>s Ppp. 23T28Q that Bthe historical evi5ence
establishing the realit> o= witchcra=t is so vast an5 varie5 that it is impossible to
5isbelieve it witho9t what( on other s9bDects( we sho9l5 5eem the most e?traor5inar>
rashness. w In o9r own 5a>( it ma> be sai5 with con=i5ence that it wo9l5 be altogether
impossible =or s9ch an amo9nt o= evi5ence to acc9m9late ro9n5 a conception which ha5
no s9bstantial basis in =act. w I= it were a nat9ral b9t a ver> improbable =act( o9r
rel9ctance to believe it wo9l5 have been completel> sti=le5 b> the m9ltiplicit> o= the
proo=s.C .ere the Bevi5enceC an5 Bproo=sC clearl> re=er rather to =acts than to in=erences@
an5 it is implie5 in the whole tone o= the passage that the =acts re=erre5 to belong to the
mirac9lo9s class which is now 9niversall> 5iscre5ite5. I can( there=ore( onl> e?press m>
entire 5issent =rom the statements ma5e( at an> rate 9ntil the> receive better s9pport than
Mr. Leck> s9pplies. .e tells 9s( =or instance( that "og9et Bis sai5 to have b9rnt 8;;
persons( chie=l> =or l>canthrop>.C I= this be tr9e( it still gives 9s no hint as to what the
evi5ence was@ D95ging b> analog>( we sho9l5 s9ppose that it consiste5 in con=essions(
probabl> ma5e 9n5er tort9re.
2
$i5 8;; persons( or 2;;( or even 2; persons ever bear
testimon> be=ore "og9et that the> ha5 seen a man or woman converte5 into a wol=r I= so(
it is s9rel> remarkable that his own book PDiscours des !orciers, L>ons( 28;7Q contains
Pbesi5es a =ew con=essions an5 a =ew o= the stock =ablesQ onl, t-o l>canthrop> casesAthe
evi5ence =or one being that a chil5 who ha5 been inD9re5 b> a wol= 5eclare5( in the =ever
which =ollowe5( that the animal4s paws were like han5s@ an5 =or the other that a peasant
woman who ha5 been 5esperatel> =rightene5 b> a wol=( sai5 a=terwar5s that its hin5 =eet
ha5 ha5 h9man toes. /o again( Mr. Leck> Pp. 2UWQ seems completel> to s>mpathise with
&lanvil4s statement that the evi5ence =or Bthe belie= o= things 5one b> persons o=
5espicable power an5 knowle5ge( be>on5 the reach o= art an5 i-2WX! or5inar> nat9re(C
was overwhelming.
2
)n5 tr9l> &lanvil 5oes speak o= Bthe attestation o= tho9san5s o= e>e
an5 ear witnesses( an5 those not o= the easil> 5eceivable v9lgar onl>( b9t o= wise an5
grave 5iscerners.C "9t this is a t>pical e?ample o= the ver> con=9sion which I am tr>ing
to clear 9p. I= tho9san5s o= wise an5 grave 5iscerners sa- the incre5ible marvels with
their own e>es( how is it that in not a single case has the recor5 been preserve5r I= on the
other han5 the> sa- onl> the cre5ible marvelsA=its an5 the likeAan5 believed the
incre5ible ones( on e?traor5inaril> =eeble testimon> b9t 9n5er an e?traor5inaril> strong
prepossession( in what sense can it be asserte5 that there was then Boverwhelming
evi5enceC =or what wo9l5 now be 5enie5r
In brie=( when it is a E9estion o= evi5ence( we sho9l5 nat9rall> e?pect to =in5 a strongl>-
marke5 5ivision between that part o= the s9perstition where the wrong in=erence was
5rawn =rom spurious =acts( s9ch as l>canthrop> an5 the noct9rnal orgies( an5 that part
where the wrong in=erence was 5rawn =rom genuine =acts( s9ch as the phenomena o=
somnamb9lism or epileps>. )n5 m> contention is that this strongl> marke5 5ivision
act9all> e?ists( an5 that =or the =ormer class o= marvels there was practicall> no evi5ence
Ano pro=esse5l> =irst-han5 observation. +or the latter class( on the other han5( the
evi5ence was nat9rall> ab9n5ant( however wrongl> interprete5.
*o pass now to this latter classAthat is to sa>( to the ph>siological an5 ps>chological
aspects o= the s9bDect. I have sai5 that man> phenomena( which in their wa> were
s9==icientl> gen9ine( were misinterprete5( beca9se the sciences which sho9l5 have
e?plaine5 them were still 9nborn. "9t tho9gh an>thing like a complete an5 critical
e?planation o= these phenomena was impossible( it is to be remarke5 that the witch-
literat9re presents a constant s9ccession o= sensible writers Pchie=l> English an5 &ermanQ(
who wholl> reDecte5 the common view o= them. )s earl> as the 2Vth cent9r>( an5 o=ten
59ring the 28th( works appeare5 in which the obDective nat9re o= the more bi]arre
inci5ents is 5enie5( an5 the> are treate5 as hall9cinations@ almost invariabl>( however( as
hall9cinations o= a s9pernat9ral kin5( ca9se5 5irectl> b> the 5evil.
U
*his comparativel>
rational view o= the transportations( trans=ormations( i-27;! [c.( was gra59all> a5opte5
in the co9rse o= the 2Wth cent9r> even b> the cre59lo9s writers@
2
while the rational writers
come to recognise more 5istinctl> the in=l9ence o= terror an5 e?citement on weak min5s(
an5 hall9cination begins to be regar5e5 as a nat9ral phenomenon.
U
)5> even recognises a
case PCandle in the Dar1( p. 8VQ where mere entraRne(ent( apart =rom terror( was
s9==icient to pro59ce a hall9cination in an e?citable Bs9bDectCAa bo> who was emplo>e5
to assist in calling 9p imps( b> imitating the E9acking o= 59cks( having so impose5 on a
minister that( even when shown the cheat( Bhe wo9l5 not be pers9a5e5 b9t that he saw
real 59cks sE9irming abo9t the room.C )n5 thro9gho9t we meet with cases o= sensor>
5el9sion which ma> with great probabilit> be re=erre5 to h>pnotic s9ggestion@ being ver>
similar to the e==ects which are pro59ce5 in o9r 5a> on the plat=orm o= pro=essional
Bmesmerists.C I have mentione5 $e l4)ncre4s instance o= the chil5ren s9ppose5 to have
been taken to a B/abbath.C "o5in P8p. cit.( p. 2:7Q 5escribes how *rois-Eschelles ma5e a
circle o= spectators mistake a breviar> =or a pack o= car5s@ "og9et P8p. cit.( p. :8;Q
mentions the celebrate5 Escot 5e 1arme as having been able to make persons see car5s
5i==erentl> to what the> reall> were( an5 mentions another case P!i. )dvis( p. 7XQ where a
witch ma5e a woman see r9bbish as mone>@ 'em> an5 $el 'io 5escribe similar =eats
per=orme5 b> one Fean 5e Va9?. It is o= co9rse impossible to be s9re that these were not
mere conD9ring =eats@ b9t $el 'io seems to have been awake to that h>pothesis( an5 to
have tho9ght it E9ite 9ntenable.
)s specimens o= other e==ects which ma> =airl> be acco9nte5 =or as h>pnotic( I ma>
mention the =ollowing. Occasionall> witches are sai5 to have shown insensibilit> to
tort9re@ o= which a sel=-in59ce5 trance i-272! a==or5s the rea5iest e?planation.
2
*here
are occasional cases o= inhibition( o= a sort to which we have ab9n5ant mo5ern parallels
in connection with h>pnotism( b9t none( as =ar as I am aware( e?cept in that connection.
U

'em> P8p. cit.( p. UU2Q gives an apparent e?ample o= the inabilit> o= the Bs9bDectC to 5rop
an obDect which his controller insists on his hol5ing. In Dr. ;a(b =evived, or "itchcraft
Conde(ned( PLon5on( 28V:Q( p. U;( a case o= the pro59ction o= h>pnotic sleep is
5escribe5 b> an e>e-witness. *he 5escription in &lanvil P8p. cit.( p. :3UQ o= a Bs9bDectC
who showe5 the well-known s>mptoms o= m9sc9lar rigi5it>( an5 o= rapport with a single
person( is again strongl> s9ggestive o= h>pnotic trance. *he rapport( shown in e?cl9sive
sensitiveness to the witch4s to9ch or approach( reappears in /aint )n5rH4s ;ettres au !u5et
de la 'agie P1aris( 2WUVQ( p. U2:@ an5 in The Tr,al of Bridget Bishop at /alem in 28XU@
:

where also the Bs9bDectsC are 5escribe5 as having 5ispla>e5 the phenomenon o= i(itation
o= the witch4s post9res an5 gest9res. *he Bs9bDect4sC craving to get to the witch is another
signi=icant =eat9re. P/ee above( p. 7W( note.Q ,e sho9l5 probabl> have ha5 a m9ch larger
amo9nt o= 5e=inite h>pnotic evi5ence ha5 s9ch a thing as h>pnotism been recognise5 at
the timeAobservations ma5e 9n5er the in=l9ence o= wrong theories being nat9rall> one-
si5e5 an5 5e=ective.
,ith respect to 5emoniacal possession( we =in5 a progress o= opinion to some e?tent
parallel with that observe5 in the treatment o= hall9cinations@ b9t the belie= in the /atanic
agenc> was here nat9rall> more tenacio9s@ an5 where the act9al possession was 5o9bte5(
the investigators o=ten =ell into the opposite error o= concl95ing that the victims co9l5
have nothing the matter with them( an5 m9st be conscio9sl> shamming.
3
i-27U! ,ebster
P8p. cit.( p. U37Q is( perhaps( the earliest English writer who insists on p9rel> nat9ral
ca9ses as s9==icient to e?plain possession. )s regar5s the whole E9estion o= the in=l9ence
o= the rep9te5 witches on health( it is here probabl> that we sho9l5 have ha5 the most
5istinct in5ications o= h>pnotic agenc> ha5 the i5ea o= h>pnotism been there to colligate
the =acts.
2
)n5 m9ch m9st( no 5o9bt( be set 5own to the morbi5 craving =or notoriet>
which is now one o= the best known s>mptoms o= h>steria. "9t as regar5s the larger
n9mber o= the allege5 phenomena( the rational in=erenceAthat the e==ects were 59e to
imagination or =rightAmight( as we now see( have been 5rawn =rom the evi5ence o= even
the most cre59lo9s writers. "o5in( =or instance( insists on the necessit> o= faith on the
part o= the s9==erer(
U
an5 reports not a single case o= c9ring where the witch was not
act9all> present.
:
.is recor5s( an5 those o= man> others( are precisel> parallel to what o9r
newspapers 5escribe o= the Bmin5-c9resC in "oston an5 "ethshan( an5 might be accepte5
to-5a> witho9t 5i==ic9lt> b> ortho5o? me5ical opinion.
3
-ases where there was rapi5
improvement in the victim4s health on the con5emnation o= the s9ppose5 witch come into
the same categor>.
V
/imilarl> in cases o= inD9rio9s e==ectsAwe constantl> hear that the
s9==erer ha5 been to9che5( or at the ver> least =i?e5l> looke5 at( b> the s9ppose5 witch.
8

&reat stress was lai5 on the con=ession o= the celebrate5 &a9=ri5i that he ha5 breathe5 on
his n9mero9s victims.
W
)n5 i= we bear in min5 the prevalent belie= that the witch
comman5e5 the =9ll powers o= the 5evil( we nee5 not re=9se to connect the threats an5
angr> wor5s o= 9npop9lar ol5 women with a certain proportion( at an> rate( o= the i-
27:! illnesses which are so =reel> testi=ie5 to as having soon a=ter s9pervene5.
2
It m9st
also be borne in min5 that the rep9te5 witches possibl> incl95e5 in their ranks a =air
sprinkling o= the amate9r me5ical practitioners o= the time.
U
*his is a =eat9re o= the witch-
histor> which is more prominent in =oreign than in English recor5s. In -annaert P8p. cit.Q
an5 'e9ss P8p. cit.Q constant mention is ma5e o= bewitche5 pow5ers@ an5 in the =oreign
trials generall>( more stress is lai5 on poisoning than on an>thing else. 'e9ss is o=
opinion that the hall9cinations were in man> cases the res9lt o= 5r9gs. )t the same time
we =in5 that( among the cre59lo9s writers o= the witch-epoch( a witch an5 a poisoner
were o=ten regar5e5 as s>non>mo9s@ an5 the stories o= the pow5ers ma> have reste5 on
m9ch the same evi5ence as those o= the imps. )s =ar as I know( no one ever 5epose5 to
having seen the 5r9g a5ministere5.
:

*he above slight sketch ma> serve to s9ggest that learned opinion on the E9estion o=
witchcra=t has a histor> o= its own o= a rather comple? kin5@ an5 some recognition o= this
seems necessar> to s9pplement the view o= the 5ecline o= the belie= so =orcibl> set =orth
b> Mr. Leck>. )s regar5s the place o= witchcra=t in the popular regar5( the e==ect o= the
a5vancing spirit o= rationalism was no 5o9bt more 9nconscio9s an5 in5iscriminateA
9n5ermining the s9perstition witho9t e?actl> attacking it in 5etail@ p9tting the whole
s9bDect( so to speak( o9t o= co9rt( not thro9gh a reasonable re=9tation o= its claims( b9t
thro9gh a general change o= instinct an5 moo5 in respect o= mirac9lo9s events. "9t
pro=esse5 st95ents still =elt it their b9siness to anal>se the phenomena( an5 e?ercise5 their
min5s on the vario9s points in t9rn. )n5 the conseE9ence is that the works o= the abler
writers present 9s with a c9rio9s an5 gra59all>-shi=ting me5le> o= 3 priori convictions
an5 scienti=ic reasonings an5 o= belie=s an5 5isbelie=s( o=ten o55l> inconsistent an5 o55l>
harmonise5 in the same min5. "ins=iel5( who =irml> believes in the B/abbaths(C 5raws
the line at the 5ancing with $iana an5 .ero5ias@ beca9se as =or $iana( there is no s9ch
person( an5 .ero5ias( tho9gh e?isting in hell( is a so9l onl> an5 not a woman.
3
"og9et
thinks that witches p9rs9e an5 eat chil5ren( b9t that the> are not reall> wolves. MaDol9s
an5 %>na9l5 believe in transportations( b9t not in trans=ormations. ,ier po9rs scorn alike
on l>canthrop> an5 on the night-ri5es@ b9t he has not the slightest 5o9bt that the 5evil can
transport people( an5 that he i-273! does prevent his votaries =rom =eeling tort9re.
2

%either he nor -otta has graspe5 the i5ea that h>sterical girls can pla> tricks( an5 pro59ce
=rom their mo9ths obDects which the> have previo9sl> place5 there.
U
1erkins consi5ers
that s9ch e==ects as trans=ormation( an5 inD9r> b> the mere power o= the e>e( E9ite
transcen5 the 5evil4s range@
:
b9t this view in no wa> shakes his =aith in the realit> o=
magical powers. MHric -asa9bon( tho9gh so =ar emancipate5 as to s9rmise that
Bs9pernat9ralC things ma> in time be e?plaine5( >et writes e?pressl> to con=9te Bthe
/a559cism o= these times(C 5isapproves o= /cot( an5 can sa> nothing harsher o= "o5in
an5 'em> than that the> were Bin some things perchance more cre59lo9s than I sho9l5
be.C
3
.is impartialit> is E9ite tantalising. *h9s( as regar5s certain allege5 c9res( he
presents 9s with =o9r alternatives( E9ote5 =rom +rancisc9s G Victoria( =rom which we ma>
s9it o9rselves:Aeither the healers cheat@ or the> heal b> the power o= the 5evil@ or b> the
grace o= &o5@ or b> some speci=ic nat9ral gi=t. $4)9t9n( a writer who wholl> rep95iates
the e?tremer marvels( an5 who is remarkable =or his h9manit>( >et cannot resist the
evi5ence o= con=ession( which a mo5ern writer regar5s with mingle5 scorn an5
in5ignation.
V
Even in the 27th cent9r>( )c?telmeir( who 5oes not lack sense( an5 who
attrib9tes the mi5night revels to 5ream( >et cannot shake o== the e==ect on his min5 o= the
=eeble stories abo9t the persons =o9n5 in the =iel5s in the morning@
8
an5 a little earlier
,agsta==e( one o= the most open-min5e5 o= all the writers on the s9bDectAwho e?pressl>
attrib9tes m9ch o= the 5eception to Bwant o= knowle5ge in the art o= ph>sicCAis >et
convince5 that there were gen9ine cases o= wo9n5ing the witch at a 5istance b> striking
at her apparition.
W
"a>le an5 La "r9>Nre( as Mr. Leck> has observe5( hel5 a similar
9ncertain position.
+or an> wi5e historical anal>sis o= the gro9n5s o= opinion an5 o= certaint> in the h9man
min5( no literat9re co9l5 better repa> 5etaile5 st95> than that which these brie= citations
ill9strate. "9t eno9gh has perhaps been sai5 =or m> present p9rposeAwhich is merel> to
show that( i= the gra59al ten5enc> o= the great bo5> o= p9blic opinion on the s9bDect o=
witchcra=t was to p9t asi5e evi5ential E9estions( an5 simpl> to i-27V! t9rn awa> =rom
the phenomena as incre5ible an5 abs9r5( there was in the re=lective an5 literar> worl5 a
strong ten5enc> to cling( wherever possible( to tra5ition an5 3 priori conceptions( an5 =or
that p9rpose to press to the ver> 9tmost s9ch items o= evi5ence as were to be =o9n5. .a5
evi5ence an5 in=erence( necessaril> an5 thro9gho9t( gone han5 in han5( an5 ha5 the
abnormal occ9rrences all been o= a pieceAall o= that bi]arre an5 incre5ible kin5 which
Mr. Leck>4s treatment too m9ch impliesAthen critical as well as 9ncritical min5s might
have 5ri=te5 awa> =rom them in the silent an5 in5i==erent wa> which he 5epicts. "9t man>
o= the abnormalities were =ar too real an5 tangible to be th9s 5ri=te5 awa> =rom@ an5 it
o=ten happene5 that these( thro9gh the wrong in=erences to which the> gave rise( lent a
sort o= 9nso9n5 s9pport to the more incre5ible an5 the worse-atteste5 inci5ents. *h9s( one
a9thor a=ter another( in the gra59al recession to the rational stan5point( 5raws an5 5e=en5s
what( to 9s now( looks like an arbitrar> line between =act an5 =able@ b9t the e==ect o= this
more critical treatment was( on the whole( to keep in view the large mass o= phenomena
which science can still accept as =act( an5 some o= which( in5ee5Anotabl> those o=
h>steria( h>stero-epileps>( an5 h>pnotismAare onl> now beginning to make their =9ll
importance =elt. )n5 th9s the position taken 9p in the =oregoing chapter is maintaine5.
*he part o= the case =or witchcra=t which is now an e?plo5e5 s9perstition ha5 never( even
in its own 5a>( an> real evi5ential =o9n5ation@ while the part which ha5 a real evi5ential
=o9n5ation is now more =irml> establishe5 than ever. It is with the =ormer part that we
wo9l5 5irectl> contrast( an5 with the latter that we might in some respects compare( o9r
own evi5ential case =or telepath>.
i-278!
+!P#&R ).
$P&+(M&"$ %F #& )!R(%.$ #-P&$ %F $P%"#!"&%.$
#&'&P!#-.
S 2. ,E now come to the act9al evi5ence =or spontaneo9s telepath>. )s has been
e?plaine5( the proo= is c9m9lative( an5 its strength can onl> be tr9l> estimate5 b> a
patient st95> o= a ver> large mass o= testimon>. "9t to wa5e thro9gh a n9mber o= the
cases is =ar =rom an attractive task. *he> are ver> 9ne?citingAmonotono9s ami5 all their
variet>Aas 5i==erent =rom the ',steries of Sdolpho as =rom the 5igni=ie5 reports o= a
learne5 societ>( an5 =ar more likel> to provoke sl9mber in the co9rse o= per9sal than to
banish it a=terwar5s. )n5 =or the convenience o= those who 5esire neither to toil nor to
sleep( it will be well to 5isregar5 logical arrangement( an5 to present at once a =ew
preliminar> samples. *his chapter( there=ore( will incl95e a small batch o= narratives
which ma> serve as t>pes o= the 5i==erent classes o= telepathic phenomena( while =9rther
ill9strating vario9s important evi5ential points. )t the present stage it will( no 5o9bt( be
open to an>one who accepts the =acts in these cases as essentiall> correct to regar5 ever>
one o= the coinci5ences as acci5ental. *he reasoning that will prevent this concl9sion
m9st still be taken on tr9st@ it co9l5 not be given now witho9t 5ela>ing the concrete
ill9strations till the rea5er wo9l5 be wear> o= waiting =or them. %or wo9l5 it be pro=itable
at this place to enter =9ll> into the principles o= the classi=ication( which can onl> be ma5e
clear in connection with the evi5ence. I will there=ore sketch here the main hea5ings(
witho9t comment( tr9sting to the =9rther 5evelopment o= the work to D9sti=> the
arrangement a5opte5.
,e =in5 o9r most 5istinct line o= classi=ication in the nat9re o= the percipient4s
impression. *his at once 5ivi5es the cases into two great =amiliesAthose P)Q where the
impression is sensor, and e.ternalised, an5 those P"Q where it is not sensor, or
e.ternalised. In the =irst 5ivision the e?perience is a percept or E9asi-perceptAsomething
i-27W! which the person seems to see( hear( or =eel( an5 which he instinctivel> re=ers to
the o9ter worl5. In the secon5 5ivision( the impression is o= an inwar5 or i5eal kin5A
either a mental image( or an emotion( or a mere blin5 imp9lse towar5s some sort o=
action. *here is also a small gro9p o= cases P-Q which it is not eas> to assign to either
5ivisionAthose( namel>( where the e?perience o= the percipient is sensor>( witho9t being
an e?ternal-seeming a==ection o= sight( hearing( or to9chA=or instance( a ph>sical =eeling
o= illness or malaise. *his small gro9p will be most convenientl> treate5 with the
emotional 5ivision into which it sha5es. +9rther( each o= these 5ivisions is represente5 in
sleeping as well as in waking li=e( so that drea(s =orm a comprehensive class P$Q o= their
own@ an5 the e.ternalised 5ivision is also strongl> represente5 in a region o= e?perience
which is on the borderland PEQ between complete sleep an5 complete normal
wake=9lness. Lastl>( there are two pec9liarities( attaching to certain cases in all or nearl>
all the above 5ivisions( which are o= s9==icient importance to =orm the basis o= two
separate classes. *he =irst o= these is the reciprocal class P+Q( where each o= the persons
concerne5 seems to e?ercise a telepathic in=l9ence on the other@ an5 the secon5 is the
collective class P&Q( where more percipients than one take part in a single telepathic
inci5ent.
S U. %ow the logical starting-point =or the =ollowing inE9ir> will nat9rall> be =o9n5 in the
cases which present most analog> to the res9lts o= e?perimental tho9ght-trans=erence. )ll
those res9lts( it will be remembere5( were o= the non6e.ternalised t>pe. I shall there=ore
start with inwar5 impressions( i5eal an5 emotional( an5 shall a5vance( thro9gh 5reamsA
where each o= 9s has( so to speak( an o9ter as well as an inner worl5 o= his ownAto the
Bbor5erlan5C an5 waking impressions which seem to =all on the senses in an obDective
wa> =rom the o9ter worl5 that is common to 9s all.
"9t tho9gh the impressions receive5 b> the percipient in the e?perimental cases ha5 no
e.ternal E9alit>( a goo5 man> o= them were 5istinctl> sensor,Aone important branch
being trans=erence o= pains. )n5 i= the parallel between e?perimental an5 spontaneo9s
e==ects be a D9st one( we might =airl> e?pect to =in5 cases where a localise5 pain has been
similarl> trans=erre5 =rom one person to another at a 5istance. I will open this preliminar>
batch o= narratives with D9st s9ch a case( the simplest possible specimen o= gro9p -( an5
as p9re an instance o= trans=erence o= sensation( 9natten5e5 b> an> i5ea i-277! or image(
as can well be conceive5. *he parties concerne5 are Mr. )rth9r /evern( the 5isting9ishe5
lan5scape-painter( an5 his wi=e@ an5 the narrative was obtaine5 thro9gh the kin5ness o=
Mr. '9skin.
Mrs. /evern sa>s:A
B"rantwoo5( -oniston.
BOctober UWth( 277:.
P2WQ BI woke 9p with a start( =eeling I ha5 ha5 a har5 blow on m> mo9th( an5 with a
5istinct sense that I ha5 been c9t( an5 was blee5ing 9n5er m> 9pper lip( an5 sei]e5 m>
pocket-han5kerchie=( an5 hel5 it Pin a little p9she5 l9mpQ to the part( as I sat 9p in be5(
an5 a=ter a =ew secon5s( when I remove5 it( I was astonishe5 not to see an> bloo5( an5
onl> then realise5 it was impossible an>thing co9l5 have str9ck me there( as I la> =ast
asleep in be5( an5 so I tho9ght it was onl> a 5reamsAb9t I looke5 at m> watch( an5 saw
it was seven( an5 =in5ing )rth9r Pm> h9sban5Q was not in the room( I concl95e5 Prightl>Q
that he m9st have gone o9t on the lake =or an earl> sail( as it was so =ine.
BI then =ell asleep. )t break=ast Phal=-past nineQ( )rth9r came in rather late( an5 I notice5
he rather p9rposel> sat =arther awa> =rom me than 9s9al( an5 ever> now an5 then p9t his
pocket-han5kerchie= =9rtivel> 9p to his lip( in the ver> wa> I ha5 5one. I sai5( u)rth9r(
wh> are >o9 5oing thatr4 an5 a55e5 a little an?io9sl>( uI know >o9 have h9rt >o9rsel=s b9t
I4ll tell >o9 wh> a=terwar5s.4 .e sai5( u,ell( when I was sailing( a s955en sE9all came(
throwing the tiller s955enl> ro9n5( an5 it str9ck me a ba5 blow in the mo9th( 9n5er the
9pper lip( an5 it has been blee5ing a goo5 5eal an5 won4t stop.4 I then sai5( u.ave >o9
an> i5ea what o4clock it was when it happene5r4 an5 he answere5( uIt m9st have been
abo9t seven.4
BI then tol5 what ha5 happene5 to (e( m9ch to his s9rprise( an5 all who were with 9s at
break=ast.
BIt happene5 here abo9t three >ears ago at "rantwoo5( to me.
BFO)% '. /EVE'%.C
In repl> to inE9iries Mrs. /evern writes:A
B*here was no 5o9bt abo9t m> starting 9p in be5 wi5e awake( as I st9==e5 m> pocket-
han5kerchie= into m> mo9th( an5 hel5 it presse5 9n5er m> 9pper lip =or some time be=ore
removing it to usee the bloo5(4Aan5 was m9ch s9rprise5 that there was none. /ome little
time a=terwar5s I =ell asleep again. I believe that when I got 9p( an ho9r a=terwar5s( the
impression was still vivi5l> in m> min5( an5 that as I was 5ressing I 5i5 look 9n5er m>
lip to see i= there was an> mark.C
Mr. /evern4s acco9nt( 5ate5 %ov. 2V( 277:( is as =ollows:A
BEarl> one s9mmer morning( I got 9p inten5ing to go an5 sail on the lake@ whether m>
wi=e hear5 me going o9t o= the room I 5on4t know@ she probabl> 5i5( an5 in a hal=-
5ream> state knew where I was going.
B,hen I got 5own to the water I =o9n5 it calm( like a mirror( an5 remember thinking it
E9ite a shame to 5ist9rb the won5er=9l re=lections o= the opposite shore. .owever( I soon
got a=loat( an5 as there was no win5( contente5 m>sel= with p9lling 9p m> sails to 5r>(
an5 p9tting m> boat in or5er. /oon some slight air came( an5 I was able to sail abo9t a
mile below "rantwoo5( then the win5 5roppe5( an5 I was le=t becalme5 =or i-27X! hal=-
an-ho9r or so( when( on looking 9p to the hea5 o= the lake( I saw a 5ark bl9e line on the
water. )t =irst I co9l5n4t make it o9t( b9t soon saw that it m9st be small waves ca9se5 b>
a strong win5 coming. I got m> boat as rea5> as I co9l5( in the short time( to receive this
g9st( b9t some how or other she was taken aback( an5 seeme5 to spin ro9n5 when the
win5 str9ck her( an5 in getting o9t o= the wa> o= the boom I got m> hea5 in the wa> o=
the tiller( which also sw9ng ro9n5 an5 gave me a nast> blow in the mo9th( c9tting m> lip
rather ba5l>( an5 having become loose in the r955er it came o9t an5 went overboar5.
,ith m> mo9th blee5ing( the mainsheet more or less ro9n5 m> neck( an5 the tiller gone(
an5 the boat in con=9sion( I co9l5 not help smiling to think how s955enl> I ha5 been
h9mble5 almost to a wreck( D9st when I tho9ght I was going to be so clevers .owever( I
soon manage5 to get m> tiller( an5( with plent> o= win5( tacke5 back to "rantwoo5( an5(
making m> boat sn9g in the harbo9r( walke5 9p to the ho9se( an?io9s o= co9rse to hi5e as
m9ch as possible what ha5 happene5 to m> mo9th( an5 getting another han5kerchie=
walke5 into the break=ast-room( an5 manage5 to sa> something abo9t having been o9t
earl>. In an instant m> wi=e sai5( u#o9 5on4t mean to sa> >o9 have h9rt >o9r mo9thr4 or
wor5s to that e==ect. I then e?plaine5 what ha5 happene5( an5 was s9rprise5 to see some
e?tra interest on her =ace( an5 still more s9rprise5 when she tol5 me she ha5 starte5 o9t o=
her sleep thinking she ha5 receive5 a blow in the mo9ths an5 that it was a =ew min9tes
past seven o4clock( an5 won5ere5 i= m> acci5ent ha5 happene5 at the same time@ b9t as I
ha5 no watch with me I co9l5n4t tell( tho9gh( on comparing notes( it certainl> looke5 as i=
it ha5 been abo9t the same time.
B)'*.U' /EVE'%.C
-onsi5ering what a vivi5 thing pain o=ten is( it might seem likel> that this =orm o=
telepath>( i= it e?ists( wo9l5 be comparativel> common( in comparison with the more
i5eal or intellect9al =orms which are connecte5 with the higher senses. *his( however( is
not so. It is conceivable( o= co9rse( that instances occ9r which go 9nnotice5. +or( apart
=rom inD9r>( even a sharp pain is soon =orgotten@ an5 9nless the cop> repro59ce5 the
original with e?cr9ciating =i5elit>( a s955en pang might be re=erre5 to some or5inar>
ca9se( an5 the coinci5ence wo9l5 never be note5. ,e( however( can onl> go b> what is
note5. I mentione5 that even in e?perimental trials the phenomenon has been little
observe5 e?cept with h>pnotise5 Bs9bDectsC@ an5 on the evi5ence we m9st allow its
spontaneo9s appearance to be even rarer. *he stock instance is that o= the brothers( Lo9is
an5 -harles "lanc( the latter o= whom pro=esse5 to have e?perience5 a strong ph>sical
shock at the time that his brother was =elle5 in the streets o= 1aris b> Pas was s9ppose5Q
some "onapartist b9ll>.
2
"9t this is a thir5-han5 stor> at best@ an5 the above is o9r i-
2X;! onl> =irst-han5 instance where the pain was o= an 9n9s9al kin5( an5 was ver>
e?actl> localise5. It is speciall> =or cases o= this sortAmost interesting to science( b9t
with neither pathos nor 5ignit> to keep them aliveAthat the chance o= preservation will(
we tr9st( be improve5 b> the e?istence o= a classi=ie5 collection( where the> ma> at once
=in5 their proper place.
,hat has been sai5 o= pains applies( (utatis (utandis( to all a==ections o= the lower
senses. In the =irst place( it is the e?ception an5 not the r9le =or the spontaneo9s
trans=erences to repro59ce in the percipient the e?act sensation o= the agent Pp. 222Q@ an5(
in the secon5 place( s9ch repro59ction Por at an> rate the evi5ence =or itQ seems almost
wholl> con=ine5 to the higher senses o= sight an5 hearing. *h9s( tho9gh we =o9n5 that
trans=erence o= tastes ha5 been a ver> s9ccess=9l branch o= the e?perimental work( we
have no precisel> analogo9s recor5 in the spontaneo9s class. *he nearest approach is a
case which concerne5 the sense o= smell( b9t where there was no 5irect trans=erence o=
sensation as s9ch. *he case is( however( worth E9oting here on another gro9n5( as
ill9strating one o= the evi5ential points o= the last chapterAnamel>( that the strength o=
an> evi5ence( in the sense o= the ass9rance which it pro59ces that the =acts are correctl>
reporte5( is a ver> 5i==erent thing =rom its strength as a contrib9tion to the proo= o=
telepath>. *h9s( no one probabl> will care to 5isp9te the =acts in the =ollowing narrative@
b9t the coinci5ence recor5e5 is little( i= at all( more striking than most o= 9s occasionall>
enco9nter@ an5 reco9rse to the telepathic e?planation can onl> be D9sti=ie5 b> o9r
knowle5ge that the two persons concerne5 have( on other occasions( given ver> m9ch
more concl9sive signs o= their power o= s9per-sens9o9s comm9nication.
2
*he 'ev. 1. ..
%ewnham( o= Maker Vicarage( $evonport( writes to 9s:A
i-2X2!
BFan9ar> U8th( 277V.
P27Q BIn March( 2782( I was living at .o9ghton( .ants. M> wi=e was at the time con=ine5
to the ho9se( b> 5elicac> o= the l9ngs. One 5a>( walking thro9gh a lane( I =o9n5 the =irst
wil5 violets o= the spring( an5 took them home to her.
BEarl> in )pril I was attacke5 with a 5angero9s illness@ an5 in F9ne le=t the place. I never
tol5 m> wi=e e?actl> where I =o9n5 the violets( nor( =or the reasons e?plaine5( 5i5 I ever
walk with her past the place where the> grew( =or man> >ears.
BIn %ovember( 27W:( we were sta>ing with =rien5s at .o9ghton@ an5 m>sel= an5 wi=e
took a walk 9p the lane in E9estion. )s we passe5 b> the place( the recollection o= those
earl> violets o= 2U >ears ago =lashe5 9pon m> min5. )t the 9s9al interval o= some U; or
:; secon5s m> wi=e remarke5( uIt4s ver> c9rio9s( b9t i= it were not impossible( I sho9l5
5eclare that I co9l5 smell violets in the he5ge.4
BI ha5 not spoken( or ma5e an> gest9re or movement o= an> kin5( to im5icate YsicZ what I
was thinking o=. %either ha5 m> memor> calle5 9p the per=9me. )ll that I tho9ght o= was
the e?act localit> on the he5ge bank@ m> memor> being e?cee5ingl> min9te =or localit>.C
Mr. %ewnham4s resi5ence at .o9ghton laste5 onl> a =ew months( an5 with the help o= a
5iar> he can acco9nt =or nearl> ever> 5a>4s walking an5 work. BM> impression is(C he
sa>s( Bthat this was the =irst an5 onl> time that I e?plore5 this partic9lar u5rive4@ an5 I =eel
certain that Mrs. %ewnham never saw the spot at all 9ntil %ovember( 27W:. *he he5ges
ha5 then been gr9bbe5( an5 no violets grew there.C
*he =ollowing is Mrs. %ewnham4s acco9nt:A
BMa> U7th( 277V.
BI per=ectl> remember o9r walking one 5a> in %ovember( 27W:( at .o9ghton( an5
s955enl> =in5ing so strong a scent o= violets in the air that I remarke5 to m> h9sban5( uI=
it were not so 9tterl> impossible( I sho9l5 5eclare I smelt violetss4 Mr. %ewnham then
remin5e5 me o= his bringing me the =irst violets in the spring o= 2782( an5 tol5 me that
this was D9st abo9t the spot where he ha5 =o9n5 them. I ha5 E9ite =orgotten the
circ9mstance till th9s remin5e5.C
S :. ,e ma> now pass to ill9strations o= -lass "Athe class o= i5eal an5 emotional
impressions. *he =ollowing is a well-atteste5 case o= the trans=erence o= an i5ea. It was
sent to 9s( in 2773( b> o9r =rien5( the 'ev. F. ). Mac5onal5( who wrote:A
B2X( .e>woo5 /treet( -heetham( Manchester.
P2XQ B,hen I was in Liverpool( in 27WU( I hear5 =rom m> =rien5( the late 'ev. ,. ,.
/tamp( $.$.( a remarkable stor> o= the =ac9lt> o= secon5 sight possesse5 b> the 'ev. Fohn
$rake( o= )rbroath( in /cotlan5. I visite5 )rbroath in 27W3( an5 reco9nte5 to Mr. $rake
the stor> o= $r. /tamp( which Mr. $rake assente5 to as correct( an5 he calle5 his =ac9lt>
uclairvo>ance.4 /9bseE9entl>( in 2772( I ha5 the =acts partic9larl> veri=ie5 b> Mrs.
.9tcheon( who was hersel= the s9bDect o= this clairvo>ance o= Mr. $rake.
i-2XU!
B,hen the 'ev. Fohn $rake was minister o= the ,esle>an -h9rch at )ber5een( Miss
Fessie ,ilson( the 5a9ghter o= one o= the principal la> o==ice bearers in that ch9rch( saile5
=or In5ia( to Doin the 'ev. Fohn .9tcheon( M.).( then statione5 as a missionar> at
"angalore( to whom she was 9n5er engagement to be marrie5. Mr. $rake( one morning(
came 5own to Mr. ,ilson4s place o= b9siness an5 sai5( uMr. ,ilson( I am happ> to be
able to in=orm >o9 that Fessie has ha5 a pleasant vo>age( an5 is now sa=el> arrive5 in
In5ia.4 Mr. ,ilson sai5( u.ow 5o >o9 know that( Mr. $raker4 to which Mr. $rake replie5(
uI saw it.4 u"9t(4 sai5 Mr. ,ilson( uit cannot be( =or it is a =ortnight too soon. *he vessel
has never ma5e the vo>age within a =ortnight o= the time it is now since Fessie saile5.4 *o
this Mr. $rake replie5: u%ow >o9 Dot it 5own in >o9r book that Fohn $rake calle5 this
morning( an5 tol5 >o9 that Fessie has arrive5 in In5ia this morning a=ter a pleasant
vo>age.4 Mr. ,ilson accor5ingl> ma5e the entr>( which Mrs. .9tcheon ass9res me she
saw( when she ret9rne5 home( an5 that it ran th9s: uMr. $rake. Fessie arrive5 In5ia
morning o= F9ne Vth( 278;.4 *his t9rne5 o9t to have been literall> the case. *he ship ha5
=air win5s all the wa>( an5 ma5e a E9icker passage b> a =ortnight than ever she ha5 ma5e
be=ore.C
*he above acco9nt was sent b> Mr. Mac5onal5 to Mr. $rake =or veri=ication( an5 the
=ollowing repl> was receive5 =rom the 'ev. -rawshaw .argreaves( o= the ,esle>an
Manse( )rbroath:A
B)pril UXth( 277V.
BM# $E)' /I'(AMr. $rake is sorr> >o9r comm9nication o= the Un5 inst. has been so
long 9nanswere5@ b9t two 5a>s a=ter receiving it he ha5 a paral>tic sei]9re( which has not
onl> con=ine5 him to be5( b9t taken =rom him the 9se o= one si5e.
B.e now 5esires me to answer >o9r inE9iries( an5 to sa> that the acco9nt( which >o9
enclose5 an5 which he now ret9rns to >o9( is correct( e?cept that he has no recollection o=
ever calling it uclairvo>ance.4 It was neither a u5ream(4 nor a uvision(4 b9t an impression
that he receive5 between the ho9rs o= 7 an5 2; in the morning( when his min5 was as
clear as ever it was( an impression which he believes was given him b> &o5 =or the
com=ort o= the =amil>. Moreover this impression was so clear an5 satis=actor> to himsel=
that when Mr. ,ilson sai5( uIt cannot be(4 Mr. $rake replie5( u#o9 Dot it 5own(4 as warml>
as i= his statement o= an> or5inar> circ9mstances ha5 been 5o9bte5 b> a =rien5.
BMr. $rake hopes these partic9lars will be eno9gh =or >o9r p9rpose.A"elieve me( 5ear
sir( >o9rs ver> tr9l>(
B-. .)'&'E)VE/C
*he =ollowing is Mrs. .9tcheon4s acco9nt o= the inci5ent( given E9ite in5epen5entl>:A
B,eston-s9per-Mare.
B+ebr9ar> U;th( 277V.
B*he =acts are simpl> these. I saile5 =or In5ia on March :r5( 278;( in the uEarl o=
.ar5wicke(4 a goo5( b9t slow( sailing-vessel. )bo9t 28 weeks were 9s9all> allowe5 =or
the vo>age( so that we were not 59e in Ma5ras till abo9t the mi55le o= F9ne. O9r vo>age(
however( being an 9ncommonl> rapi5 one( we cast anchor in the roa5s o= Ma5ras on the
morning o= F9ne Vth( taking o9r =rien5s there E9ite b> s9rprise.
i-2X:!
BOn this same morning( m> =ormer pastor( an able an5 m9ch esteeme5 ,esle>an
minister( calle5 on m> =ather at an 9n9s9all> earl> ho9r( when the =ollowing conversation
passe5:A
Bu,h>( Mr. $.( what takes >o9 abroa5 at this earl> ho9rr4
BuI have come to bring >o9 goo5 news( Mr. ,. #o9r 5a9ghter Fessie has reache5 In5ia
this morning( sa=e an5 well.u
Bu*hat wo9l5 in5ee5 be goo5 news( i= we co9l5 believe it@ b9t >o9 =orget that the ship is
not 59e at Ma5ras be=ore the mi55le o= F9ne. "esi5es( how co9l5 >o9 get to know thatr4
Bu/9ch( however( is the =act(4 replie5 Mr. $.( an5 seeing m> =ather4s incre59lo9s look( he
a55e5: u#o9 5o not believe what I sa>( Mr. ,.( b9t D9st take a note o= this 5ate.4
B*o satis=> him( m> =ather wrote in his memo book: u'ev. F. $. an5 Fessie. *9es5a>( Vth
F9ne( 278;.4
BIn 59e time( ti5ings con=irming Mr. $.4s statement arrive5( greatl> to the astonishment
o= m> =rien5s. .e( however( mani=este5 no s9rprise( b9t simpl> remarke5( u.a5 I not
known it =or a =act( I certainl> sho9l5 not have tol5 >o9 o= it.4
B*hese partic9lars I receive5 b> letter at the time( an5 on o9r ret9rn home W >ears later(
we hear5 it =rom m> =ather4s own lips. .e is no longer with 9s( b9t the above are the plain
=acts as he gave them( an5 the little memo( in his han5writing( which he gave me as a
c9riosit>( lies be=ore me now.
BFE//IE .U*-.EO%.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. .9tcheon a55s:A
BMarch U:r5.
BI =elt incline5 to smile at the i5ea that I co9l5 possibl> be mistaken as to a 5ate so
memorable in m> li=e4s histor>( an5 imme5iatel> prece5ing m> marriage. .owever( to
ren5er ass9rance 5o9bl> s9re( I have re=erre5 to both m> h9sban54s 5iar> an5 m> own( in
each o= which m> lan5ing in In5ia on the Vth o= F9ne has an important place.
B*he entr> ma5e b> m> h9sban5 is as =ollows: u%.".AVth F9ne( 278;@ a memorable 5a>s
*he u.ar5wicke4 has arrive5. ,hat a E9ick vo>ages Miss ,ilson an5 mission part>
well.4C
YMr. Mac5onal5 tells 9s that he believes Mr. $rake ha5 man> s9ch e?periences( b9t that
he =o9n5 him so reticent that he 5espaire5 o= getting an acco9nt o= them =rom him. )n5
Mr. $rake4s 5eath has now ma5e the attempt impossible.Z
)s regar5s the =acts here( the narrative will probabl> be accepte5 as tr9stworth>. )s
regar5s the in=erence that ma> be 5rawn( the case is eminentl> o= a sort where the
character o= the pro=essing percipient Pin other points than the mere 5esire to be tr9th=9lQ
o9ght to be taken into acco9nt. +rom a person Bgiven to little s9rprises(C or who pose5 as
a 5iviner i= one o9t o= a h9n5re5 g9esses hit the mark( the evi5ence wo9l5 5eserve no
attention@ =rom a person o= grave an5 reticent character( it is at an> rate worth> o= care=9l
recor5.
In the last e?ample( the i5ea apparentl> trans=erre5 was o= a somewhat abstract kin5Athe
impression o= a mere event( witho9t an> i-2X3! concrete imager>. "9t the i5eal class
incl95es man> instances o= a 5istinctl> pictorial kin5( where a scene is as clearl>
presente5 to the inwar5 e>e as the image o= a car5 or 5iagram in some o= o9r
e?perimental cases. *he =ollowing acco9nt o= a vivi5 mental pict9re o= this sort was
receive5 =rom Mrs. "ettan>( o= U( Eckington Villas( )shbo9rne &rove( $9lwich.
B%ovember( 2773.
PU;Q B,hen I was a chil5 I ha5 man> remarkable e?periences o= a ps>chical nat9re(
which I remember to have looke5 9pon as or5inar> an5 nat9ral at the time.
BOn one occasion PI am 9nable to =i? the 5ate( b9t I m9st have been abo9t 2; >ears ol5Q I
was walking in a co9ntr> lane at ).( the place where m> parents then resi5e5. I was
rea5ing geometr> as I walke5 along( a s9bDect little likel> to pro59ce =ancies or morbi5
phenomena o= an> kin5( when( in a moment( I saw a be5room known as the ,hite 'oom
in m> home( an5 9pon the =loor la> m> mother( to all appearance 5ea5. *he vision m9st
have remaine5 some min9tes( 59ring which time m> real s9rro9n5ings appeare5 to pale
an5 5ie o9t@ b9t as the vision =a5e5( act9al s9rro9n5ings came back( at =irst 5iml>( an5
then clearl>.
BI co9l5 not 5o9bt that what I ha5 seen was real( so( instea5 o= going home( I went at
once to the ho9se o= o9r me5ical man an5 =o9n5 him at home. .e at once set o9t with me
=or m> home( on the wa> p9tting E9estions I co9l5 not answer( as m> mother was to all
appearance well when I le=t home.
BI le5 the 5octor straight to the ,hite 'oom( where we =o9n5 m> mother act9all> l>ing as
in m> vision. *his was tr9e even to min9te 5etails. /he ha5 been sei]e5 s955enl> b> an
attack at the heart( an5 wo9l5 soon have breathe5 her last b9t =or the 5octor4s timel>
a5vent. I shall get m> =ather an5 mother to rea5 this an5 sign it.
BFE)%IE &,#%%E-"E**)%#.C
Mrs. "ettan>4s parents write:A
B,e certi=> that the above is correct.
B/. &. &,#%%E.
BF. ,. &,#%%E.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. "ettan> sa>s:A
P2Q BI was in no an?iet> abo9t m> mother at the time I saw the vision I 5escribe5. /he
was in her 9s9al health when I le=t her.
PUQ B/omething a little similar ha5 once occ9rre5 to m> mother. /he ha5 been o9t ri5ing
alone( an5 the horse bro9ght her to o9r 5oor hanging hal= o== his back( in a =aint. *his was
a long time be=ore( an5 she never ro5e again. .eart-5isease ha5 set in. /he was not in the
habit o= =ainting 9nless an attack o= the heart was 9pon her. "etween the attacks she
looke5 an5 acte5 as i= in health.
P:Q B*he occasion I 5escribe5 was( I believe( the onl> one on which I saw a scene
transporte5 apparentl> into the act9al =iel5 o= vision( to the e?cl9sion o= obDects an5
s9rro9n5ings act9all> present.
BI have ha5 other visions in which I have seen events happening as the> reall, -ere, in
another place( b9t I have been also conscio9s o= real s9rro9n5ings.
i-2XV!
In answer to =9rther inE9iries( she a55s:A
P2Q B%o one co9l5 tell whether m> vision prece5e5 the =act or not. M> mother was
s9ppose5 to be o9t. %o one knew an>thing o= m> mother4s being ill( till I took the 5octor
an5 m> =ather( whom I ha5 enco9ntere5 at the 5oor( to the room where we =o9n5 m>
mother as I ha5 seen her in m> vision.
PUQ B*he 5octor is 5ea5. .e has no living relation. %o one in ). knew an>thing o= these
circ9mstances.
P:Q B*he ,hite 'oom in which I saw m> mother( an5 a=terwar5s act9all> =o9n5 her( was
o9t o= 9se. It was 9nlikel> she sho9l5 be there.
B/he was =o9n5 l>ing in the attit95e in which I ha5 seen her. I =o9n5 a han5kerchie= with
a lace bor5er besi5e her on the =loor. *his I ha5 5istinctl> notice5 in m> vision. *here
were other partic9lars o= coinci5ence which I cannot p9t here.C
Mrs. "ettan>4s =ather has given the =ollowing =9ller acco9nt:A
BI 5istinctl> remember being s9rprise5 b> seeing m> 5a9ghter( in compan> with the
=amil> 5octor( o9tsi5e the 5oor o= m> resi5ence@ an5 I aske5 u,ho is illr4 /he replie5(
uMamma.4 /he le5 the wa> at once to the u,hite 'oom(4 where we =o9n5 m> wi=e l>ing
in a swoon on the =loor. It was when I aske5 when she ha5 been taken ill( that I =o9n5 it
m9st have been a=ter m> 5a9ghter ha5 le=t the ho9se. %one o= the servants in the ho9se
knew an>thing o= the s955en illness( which o9r 5octor ass9re5 me wo9l5 have been fatal
ha5 he not arrive5 when he 5i5.
BM> wi=e was E9ite well when I le=t her in the morning.
B/. &. &,#%%E.C
I= this vision s9ggests clairvo,ance, owing to the amo9nt o= 5etail presente5( we m9st
still notice that it incl95es nothing which was not( or ha5 not recentl> been( within the
conscio9sness o= the s9ppose5 agent. *his point will claim =9rther notice at a later stage.
"9t the case is chie=l> 9se=9l as ill9strating an evi5ential point( which it will be ver>
important to bear in min5 in st95>ing the mass o= narratives in the seE9elAnamel>( that
possible inacc9rac> as to 5etails ma> leave the s9bstantial =act which makes =or telepath>
E9ite 9nto9che5. It might( no 5o9bt be =airl> 9rge5 that the vision 5escribe5 ma> have
ass9me5 its 5istinctness o= 5etail in the percipient4s min5 onl> a=ter the 5etails o= the
act9al scene ha5 met her e>es. ) chil54s min5 might easil> be 9n5iscriminating in this
respect@ an5 moreover Mrs. "ettan> is b> nat9re a goo5 vis9aliser@ which ma> perhaps be
s9ppose5 to involve a slight ten5enc> to retrospective hallucinationAto mistaking
vivi5l>-conceive5 images =or memories o= act9al e?periences. "9t even i= this h>pothesis
be presse5 to the 9ttermost( the =act that she 9ne?pecte5l> =etche5 the 5octor remains@ an5
i= her whole impression o= her mother4s critical con5ition was onl> a s9bseE9ent =anc>(
this ver> e?ceptional i-2X8! step m9st have been taken witho9t a reason. *hat is to sa>(
we can onl> reDect what is the s9bstantial part o= the evi5ence b> s9pposing a 5istinctl>
improbable thing to have happene5. )n5 that being so( the evi5ence is a tr9e stick in the
telepathic =aggot Pp. 28XQ.
I will s9pplement these two last cases b> a thir5( in which their respective points( the
abstract i5ea o= an event an5 the concrete pict9re o= a scene( were both presente5. *his
case will also ill9strate an evi5ential point. It occasionall> happens that a n9mber o=
occ9rrences( perhaps trivial in character( an5 each o= them likel> eno9gh to be 5ismisse5
as merel> a ver> o55 coinci5ence( =all to the e?perience o= one person@ an5 i= he is
observant o= his impressions( he ma> gra59all> become conscio9s o= a certain similarit>
between them( which lea5s him to regar5 them as telepathic( or at an> rate as something
more than acci5ental. "e=ore it can be worth while to consi5er s9ch evi5ence( we m9st
have reason to believe that the witness is a goo5 observer( an5 alive to the ver> general
mistake o= noting hits an5 not misses in these matters. /9ch an observer we believe that
we have =o9n5 in Mr. 0e9lemans( o= :3( Matil5a /treet( "arnsb9r>( %.( a well-known
scienti=ic 5ra9ghtsman( o= whose care an5 acc9rac> we have ha5 several e?amples. .e
has e?perience5 so man> o= these coinci5ences that( even be=ore o9r inE9iries E9ickene5
his interest in the matter( he ha5 been acc9stome5 to keep a recor5 o= his impressionsA
which( accor5ing to his own acco9nt( were invariabl> D9sti=ie5 b> =act. /ome more o= his
cases will be given in the seE9el. *he one here E9ote5 is trivial eno9gh Pe?cept perhaps to
the bab> who =ell o9t o= be5Q( an5 o= little =orce i= it were a single e?perience. #et it will
be seen that the impression was precise in character( was at once written 5own( an5
prove5 to be completel> correct. ,e ma> perhaps ass9me Mrs. 0e9lemans to have been
the agent.
BOctober 28th( 277:.
PU2Q BM> wi=e went to resi5e at the seasi5e on /eptember :;th last( taking with her o9r
>o9ngest chil5( a little bo> 2: months ol5.
BOn ,e5nes5a>( October :r5( I =elt a strong impression that the little =ellow was worse
Phe was in weak health on his 5epart9reQ. *he i5ea then prevaile5 on m> min5 that he ha5
met with a slight acci5ent@ an5 imme5iatel> the pict9re o= the be5room in which he sleeps
appeare5 in m> min54s e>e. It was not the strong sensation o= awe or sorrow( as I ha5
o=ten e?perience5 be=ore on s9ch occasions@ b9t( an>how( I =ancie5 he ha5 =allen out of
the bed, 9pon chairs( an5 then rolle5 5own 9pon the =loor. *his was abo9t 22 a.m.( an5 I
at once wrote to m> wi=e( asking her to let me know how the little =ellow was getting on.
I tho9ght it rather bol5 to tell m> wi=e that the bab> ha5( to m> conviction( reall> met
with an i-2XW! acci5ent( witho9t being able to pro59ce an> con=irmator> evi5ence. )lso
I consi5ere5 that she wo9l5 take it as an insin9ation o= carelessness on her part@ there=ore
I p9rposel> wrote it as a post scriptu(.
BI hear5 no more abo9t it( an5 even =ancie5 that this time m> impression was merel> the
conseE9ence o= an?iet>. "9t on /at9r5a> last I went to see m> wi=e an5 chil5( an5 aske5
whether she ha5 taken notice o= m> a5vice to protect the bab> against s9ch an acci5ent.
/he smile5 at =irst( an5 then in=orme5 me that he ha5 t9mble5 o9t o= be5 9pon the chairs
place5 at the si5e( an5 then =o9n5 his wa> 9pon the =loor( witho9t being h9rt. /he =9rther
remarke5( u#o9 m9st have been thinking o= that when it was D9st too late( beca9se it
happene5 the same 5a> >o9r letter came( some ho9rs previo9sl>.4 I aske5 her what time o=
the 5a> it happene5. )nswer: u)bo9t 22 a.m.4 /he tol5 me that she hear5 the bab> =all(
an5 at once ran 9pstairs to pick him 9p.
BI am certain( witho9t the sha5ow o= a 5o9bt( that I wrote imme5iatel> a=ter the
impression@ an5 that this was between 22 an5 22.:; in the morning.C
I have seen the letter which Mr. 0e9lemans wrote to his wi=e. *he envelope bears the
post-mark o= ,orthing( October :r5@ an5 the postcript containe5 the =ollowing wor5s:A
BMin5 little &aston 5oes not =all o9t o= be5. 19t chairs in =ront o= it. #o9 know acci5ents
soon happen. *he =act is( I am almost certain he has met with s9ch a mishap this ver>
morning.C
Mrs. 0e9lemans4 a9nt s9pplie5 the =ollowing testimon> a 5a> or two a=ter Mr.
0e9lemans4 letter o= October 28th.
B:8( *eville /treet( ,orthing.
BMrs. 0e9lemans Pm> nieceQ an5 her bab> are sta>ing at m> ho9se. *he bab> ha5 =allen
o9t o= be5 the morning o= the 5a> the letter Yi.e.( Mr. 0e9lemans4 letterZ was receive5.
B-. &')#C
*he ne?t acco9nt ill9strates an emotional impression( with a certain amo9nt o= ph>sical
5iscom=ort. *he e?perience appears to have been o= a ver> 9n9s9al sort( an5 the
coinci5ence o= time to have been e?act@ the case is there=ore a strong e?ample o= a weak
class. *he narrator is Miss Mart>n( o= Long Mel=or5 'ector>( /9==olk.
B/eptember 3th( 2773.
PUUQ BOn March 28th( 2773( I was sitting alone in the 5rawing-room( rea5ing an
interesting book( an5 =eeling per=ectl> well( when s955enl> I e?perience5 an 9n5e=ine5
=eeling o= 5rea5 an5 horror@ I looke5 at the clock an5 saw it was D9st W p.m. I was 9tterl>
9nable to rea5( so I got 9p an5 walke5 abo9t the room tr>ing to throw o== the =eeling( b9t
I co9l5 not: I became E9ite col5( an5 ha5 a =irm presentiment that I was 5>ing.
2
*he
=eeling laste5 abo9t hal=-an-ho9r( an5 then passe5 o==( leaving me a goo5 5eal shaken all
the evening@ I went to be5 =eeling ver> weak( as i= I ha5 been serio9sl> ill.
B*he ne?t morning I receive5 a telegram telling me o= the 5eath o= a near an5 ver> 5ear
co9sin( Mrs. 0.( in /hropshire( with whom I ha5 been i-2X7! most intimatel> associate5
all m> li=e( b9t =or the last two >ears ha5 seen ver> little o= her. I 5i5 not associate this
=eeling o= 5eath with her or with an>one else( b9t I ha5 a most 5istinct impression that
something terrible was happening. *his =eeling came over me( I a=terwar5s =o9n5. YsicZ
D9st at the time when m> co9sin 5ie5 PW p.m.Q. *he connection with her 5eath ma> have
been simpl> an acci5ent. I have never e?perience5 an>thing o= the sort be=ore. I was not
aware that Mrs. 0. was ill( an5 her 5eath was pec9liarl> sa5 an5 s955en.
B0. M.C
Mr. ,hite -ooper( thro9gh whose kin5ness we obtaine5 this acco9nt( writes as =ollows:
A
B2X( "erkele> /E9are( ,.
B)pril Wth( 277V.
BI have aske5 Miss Mart>n whether she ha5 tol5 an>one abo9t her =eeling o= horror on
March 28th( before she hear5 o= the 5eath o= her co9sin. /he tol5 me she ha5. /he was
E9ite convince5( an5 per=ectl> remembere5 telling Miss Mason the same evening( a=ter
Miss Mason ha5 come =rom ch9rch( that she ha5 ha5 a pec9liar =eeling o= horror an5
5rea5 =or which she co9l5 give no acco9nt. I then E9estione5 Miss Mason( an5 enclose
what she 5ictate5.C
Miss Mason sa>s:A
B*he 'ector>( Long Mel=or5( /9==olk.
B)pril Vth( 277V.
BI well remember Miss Mart>n telling me that a =eeling o= horror an5 an in5escribable
5rea5 came over her on /9n5a> evening( March 28th( 2773( while we were in ch9rch( an5
she was alone in the 5rawing-room@ that she was 9nable to shake it o==( an5 =elt ver>
restless( an5 got 9p an5 walke5 abo9t the room. /he 5i5 not re=er to an>one( an5 co9l5
give no ca9se =or this pec9liar =eeling. I am 9n5er the impression that she tol5 me the
same evening P/9n5a>Q( an5 be=ore she hear5 o= the 5eath o= her co9sin( bnt I am not
certain whether it was /9n5a> or Mon5a> that she tol5 me abo9t it.
B)%%) M. M)/O%.C
,e have veri=ie5 the 5ate o= the 5eath in two local newspapers. *he 5a> was a /9n5a>(
which is in accor5ance with the evi5ence.
S 3. *he ne?t case ill9strates the class o= drea(s P$Q. I am aware that the ver> mention o=
this class is apt to raise a preD95ice against o9r whole inE9ir>. I shall e?plain later wh> it
is e?tremel> 5i==ic9lt to 5raw concl9sive evi5ence o= telepath> =rom 5reams( an5 wh> we
mark o== the whole class o= 5reams( which are simpl> remembere5 as s9ch( =rom the
cases on which we rest o9r arg9ment@ b9t I shall also hope to show that 5reams( tho9gh
nee5ing to be treate5 with the greatest ca9tion( have a necessar> an5 instr9ctive place in
the conspect9s o= telepathic phenomena. )s to the evi5ential =orce o= the present case( it
will be eno9gh to point o9t that the percipient states the e?perience to have been 9niE9e
in his li=e@ an5 that the violence o= the e==ect pro59ce5( lea5ing to the ver> 9n9s9al entr>
in the 5iar>( p9ts the vision o9tsi5e the common r9n o= 5reams which i-2XX! ma> D9stl>
be hel5 to a==or5 almost limitless scope =or acci5ental coinci5ences. *he narrative is =rom
Mr. +re5erick ,ing=iel5( o= "elle Isle en *erre( -Ltes 59 %or5( +rance.
BU;th $ecember( 277:.
PU:Q BI give >o9 m> most solemn ass9rance that what I am abo9t to relate is the e?act
acco9nt o= what occ9rre5. I ma> remark that I am so little liable to the imp9tation o=
being easil> impresse5 with a sense o= the s9pernat9ral
2
that I have been acc9se5( an5
with reason( o= being 9n59l> sceptical 9pon matters which la> be>on5 m> powers o=
e?planation.
BOn the night o= *h9rs5a>( the UVth o= March( 277;( I retire5 to be5 a=ter rea5ing till late(
as is m> habit. I 5reame5 that I was l>ing on m> so=a rea5ing( when( on looking 9p( I saw
5istinctl> the =ig9re o= m> brother( 'ichar5 ,ing=iel5-"aker( sitting on the chair be=ore
me. I 5reame5 that I spoke to him( b9t that he simpl> bent his hea5 in repl>( rose an5 le=t
the room. ,hen I awoke( I =o9n5 m>sel= stan5ing with one =oot on the gro9n5 b> m>
be5si5e( an5 the other on the be5( tr>ing to speak an5 to prono9nce m> brother4s name.
/o strong was the impression as to the realit> o= his presence an5 so vivi5 the whole
scene as 5reamt( that I le=t m> be5room to search =or m> brother in the sitting-room. I
e?amine5 the chair where I ha5 seen him seate5( I ret9rne5 to be5( trie5 to =all asleep in
the hope o= a repetition o= the appearance( b9t m> min5 was too e?cite5( too pain=9ll>
5ist9rbe5( as I recalle5 what I ha5 5reame5. I m9st have( however( =allen asleep towar5s
the morning( b9t when I awoke( the impression o= m> 5ream was as vivi5 as everAan5 I
ma> a55 is to this ver> ho9r eE9all> strong an5 clear. M> sense o= impen5ing evil was so
strong that I at once ma5e a note in m> memoran59m book o= this uappearance(4 an5
a55e5 the wor5s( u&o5 =orbi5.4
B*hree 5a>s a=terwar5s I receive5 the news that m> brother( 'ichar5 ,ing=iel5-"aker(
ha5 5ie5 on *h9rs5a> evening( the UVth o= March( 277;( at 7.:; p.m.( =rom the e==ects o=
the terrible inD9ries receive5 in a =all while h9nting with the "lackmore Vale ho9n5s.
BI will onl> a55 that I ha5 been living in this town some 2U months@ that I ha5 not ha5
an> recent comm9nication with m> brother@ that I knew him to be in goo5 health( an5
that he was a per=ect horseman. I 5i5 not at once comm9nicate this 5ream to an> intimate
=rien5Athere was 9nl9ckil> none here at that ver> momentAb9t I 5i5 relate the stor>
a=ter the receipt o= the news o= m> brother4s 5eath( an5 showe5 the entr> in m>
memoran59m book. )s evi5ence( o= co9rse( this is worthless@ b9t I give >o9 m> wor5 o=
hono9r that the circ9mstances I have relate5 are the positive tr9th.
B+'E$. ,I%&+IEL$.C
B+ebr9ar> 3th( 2773.
BI m9st e?plain m> silence b> the e?c9se that I co9l5 not proc9re till to-5a> a letter =rom
m> =rien5 the 1rince 5e L9cinge-+a9cign>( in which he mentions the =act o= m> having
relate5 to him the partic9lars o= m> 5ream on the UVth o= March( 277;. .e came =rom
1aris to sta> a =ew i-U;;! 5a>s with me earl> in )pril( an5 saw the entr> in m> note-
book( which I now enclose =or >o9r inspection. #o9 will observe the initials '. ". ,. ".(
an5 a c9rio9s stor> is attache5 to these letters. $9ring that sleepless night I nat9rall>
5welt 9pon the inci5ent( an5 recalle5 the circ9mstances connecte5 with the apparition.
*ho9gh I 5istinctl> recognise5 m> brother4s =eat9res( the i5ea =lashe5 9pon me that the
=ig9re bore some slight resemblance to m> most intimate an5 val9e5 =rien5( -olonel
"igge( an5 in m> 5rea5 o= impen5ing evil to one to whom I am so m9ch attache5( I wrote
the =o9r initials( '. ". =or 'ichar5 "aker( an5 ,. ". =or ,illiam "igge. ,hen the ti5ings
o= m> brother4s 5eath reache5 me I again looke5 at the entr>( an5 saw with astonishment
that the =o9r letters stoo5 =or m> brother4s =9ll name( 'ichar5 "aker ,ing=iel5-"aker(
tho9gh I ha5 alwa>s spoken o= him as 'ichar5 "aker in common with the rest o= m>
=amil>. *he =ig9re I saw was that o= m> brother@ an5 in m> an?io9s state o= min5 I
worrie5 m>sel= into the belie= that possibl> it might be that o= m> ol5 =rien5( as a
resemblance 5i5 e?ist in the =ashion o= their bear5s. I can give >o9 no =9rther
e?planations( nor can I pro59ce =9rther testimon> in s9pport o= m> assertions.
B+'E$. ,I%&+IEL$.C
,ith this letter( Mr. ,ing=iel5 sent me the note-book( in which( among a n9mber o=
b9siness memoran5a( notes o= books( [c.( I =in5 the entr>Au)ppearanceA*h9rs5a>
night( UVth o= March( 277;. '. ". ,. ". &o5 =orbi5sC
*he =ollowing letter was enclose5:A
B-oat-an-nos( U =Hvrier( 2773.
BMon cher ami(AFe n4ai a9c9n e==ort 5e mHmoire G =aire po9r me rappeler le =ait 5ont
vo9s me parle]( car D4en ai conservH 9n so9venir trNs net et tres prHcis. YTranslationZ
BFe me so9viens par=aitement E9e le 5imanche( 3 avril( 277;( Htant arrivH 5e 1aris le
matin mMme po9r passer ici E9elE9es Do9rs( D4ai HtH 5HDetner avec vo9s. Fe me so9viens
a9ssi par=aitement E9e De vo9s ai tro9vH =ort Hm9 5e la 5o9lo9re9se no9velle E9i vo9s
Htait parven9e E9elE9es Do9rs
2
a9paravant( 5e la mort 5e I49n 5es messie9rs vos =rNres. Fe
me rappelle a9ssi comme si le =ait s4Htait passH hier( tant D4en ai HtH =rappH( E9e E9elE9es
Do9rs avant 54appren5re la triste no9velle( vo9s avie] 9n soir( Htant 5HDG co9chH( v9( o9
cr9 voir( mais en to9s cas trNs 5istinctement( votre =rNre( cel9i 5ont vo9s venie]
54appren5re la mort s9bite( to9t prNs 5e votre lit( et E9e( 5ans la conviction o vo9s Ntie]
E9e cHetait bien l9i E9e vo9s percevie]( vo9s vo9s Htie] levH et l9i avie] a55ressH la
parole( et E94G ce moment vo9s avie] cessH 5e le voir comme s4il s4Htait Hvano9i ainsi
E949n spectre. Fe me so9viens encore E9e( so9s l4impression 5e l4Hmotion bien nat9relle
E9i avait HtH la s9ite 5e cet HvNnement( vo9s l4avie] inscrit 5ans 9n petit carnet o vo9s
ave] l4habit95e 54Hcrire les =aits saillants 5e votre trNs paisible e?istence( et E9e vo9s
m4ave] =ait voir ce carnet. -ette apparition( cette vision( o9 ce songe( comme vo9s
vo95re] l4appeler( est inscrit( si D4ai bon so9venir( G la 5ate 59 U3 o9 59 UV =Hvrier(
2
et ce
n4est E9e 5e9? o9 trois i-U;2! Do9rs aprNs E9e vo9s ave] re9 la no9velle o==icielle 5e la
mort 5e votre =rNre. YTranslationZ
BF4ai HtH 54a9tant moins s9rpris 5e ce E9e vo9s me 5isie] alors( et D4en ai a9ssi conservH
9n so9venir 54a9tant pl9s net et prHcis( comme De vo9s le 5isais en commenant( E9e D4ai
5ans ma =amille 5es =aits similaires a9?E9els De crois absol9ment. YTranslationZ
B$es =aits semblables arrivent( cro>e]-le bien( bien pl9s so9vent E94on ne le croit
gHnHralement@ se9lement on ne ve9t pas to9Do9rs les 5ire( parceE9e l4on se mH=ie 5e soi
o9 5es a9tres. YTranslationZ
B)9 revoir( cher ami( G bientLt( De l4espNre( et cro>e] bien G l4e?pression 5es pl9s sincNres
sentiments 5e votre to9t 5evo9H YTranslationZ
B+)U-I&%#( 1'I%-E LU-I%&E.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. ,ing=iel5 a55s:A
BI have never ha5 an> other startling 5ream o= the same nat9re( nor an> 5ream =rom
which I woke with the same sense o= realit> an5 5istress( an5 o= which the e==ect
contin9e5 long a=ter I was well awake. %or have I 9pon an> other occasion ha5 a
hall9cination o= the senses.C
*he Ti(es obit9ar> =or March :;th( 277;( recor5s the 5eath o= Mr. '. ". ,ing=iel5-
"aker( o= Orsett .all( Esse?( as having taken place on the UVth. *he >sse. :ndependent
gives the same 5ate( a55ing that Mr. "aker breathe5 his last abo9t X o4clock.
It will be seen here that the impression =ollowe5 the 5eath b> a =ew ho9rsAa =eat9re
which will =reE9entl> rec9r. *he =act( o= co9rse( slightl> 5etracts =rom the evi5ential =orce
o= a case( as compare5 with the completel> sim9ltaneo9s coinci5ences@ inasm9ch as the
o55s against the accidental occ9rrence o= a 9niE9e impression o= someone4s presence
within a =ew ho9rs o= his 5eath( enormo9s as the> are( are less enormo9s than the o55s
against a similar acci5ental occ9rrence within =ive min9tes o= the 5eath. "9t the
5e=erment o= the impression( tho9gh to this slight e?tent a==ecting a case as an item o=
telepathic evidence, is not in itsel= an> obstacle to the telepathic e.planation. ,e ma>
recall that in some o= the e?perimental cases the impression was never a piece o=
conscio9s e?perience at all@ while in others the latenc> an5 gra59al emergence o= the i5ea
was a ver> noticeable =eat9re Ppp. V8( 8:TW2( 73Q. *his D9sti=ies 9s in pres9ming that an
impression which 9ltimatel> takes a sensor> =orm ma> =ail in the =irst instance to reach
the threshol5 o= attention. It ma> be 9nable to compete( at the moment( with the vivi5
sensor> impressions( an5 the crow5 o= i5eas an5 images( that belong to normal seasons o=
waking li=e@ an5 it ma> th9s remain latent till 5arkness an5 E9iet give a chance =or its
5evelopment. *his view seems at an> rate s9pporte5 b> the =act that it is 9s9all> at night
that the 5ela>e5 impressionAi= s9ch it beAemerges into the percipient4s conscio9sness.
It is i-U;U! s9pporte5 also b> analogies which recognise5 ps>cholog> s9pplies. I ma>
re=er to the e?traor5inar> e?altation o= memor> sometimes observe5 in h>pnotic an5
h>stero-epileptic Bs9bDectsC@ or even to the vivi5 revival( in or5inar> 5reaming( o=
impressions which have har5l> a==ecte5 the waking conscio9sness.
Mr. ,ing=iel54s vision ha5 another 9n9s9al =eat9re besi5es the violence o= its e==ect on
him. It represente5 a single =ig9re( witho9t 5etail or inci5ent. It was( so to speak( the
drea( of an apparition/ an5 in this respect bears a closer a==init> to Bbor5erlan5C an5
waking cases than to 5reams in general. It will be worth while to E9ote here one 5ream-
case o= a more or5inar> t>pe so =ar as its content is concerne5( b9t resembling the last in
its 9n9s9al an5 5istressing vivi5ness. *he s9ppose5 agent in this instance e?perience5
nothing more than a brie= sense o= 5anger an5 e?citement( which( however( ma> have
been s9==icientl> intense 59ring the moments that it laste5. *he acco9nt is =rom Mrs.
,est( o= .il5egar5e( +9rness 'oa5( Eastbo9rne.
B277:.
PU3Q BM> =ather an5 brother were on a Do9rne> 59ring the winter. I was e?pecting them
home( witho9t knowing the e?act 5a> o= their ret9rn. *he 5ate( to the best o= m>
recollection( was the winter o= 27W2TU. I ha5 gone to be5 at m> 9s9al time( abo9t 22 p.m.
/ome time in the night I ha5 a vivi5 5ream( which ma5e a great impression on me. I
5reamt I was looking o9t o= a win5ow( when I saw =ather 5riving in a /pi5s sle5ge(
=ollowe5 in another b> m> brother. *he> ha5 to pass a cross-roa5( on which another
traveller was 5riving ver> =ast( also in a sle5ge with one horse. +ather seeme5 to 5rive on
witho9t observing the other =ellow( who wo9l5 witho9t =ail have 5riven over =ather i= he
ha5 not ma5e his horse rear( so that I saw m> =ather 5rive 9n5er the hoo=s o= the horse.
Ever> moment I e?pecte5 the horse wo9l5 =all 5own an5 cr9sh him. I calle5 o9t u+athers
=athers4 an5 woke in a great =right. *he ne?t morning m> =ather an5 brother ret9rne5. I
sai5 to him( uI am so gla5 to see >o9 arrive E9ite sa=el>( as I ha5 s9ch a 5rea5=9l 5ream
abo9t >o9 last night.4 M> brother sai5( u#o9 co9l5 not have been in greater =right abo9t
him than I was(4 an5 then he relate5 to me what ha5 happene5( which tallie5 e?actl> with
m> 5ream. M> brother in his =right( when he saw the =eet o= the horse over =ather4s hea5(
calle5 o9t( uOhs =ather( =athers4
BI have never ha5 an> other 5ream o= this kin5( nor 5o I remember ever to have ha5
another 5ream o= an acci5ent happening to an>one in whom I was intereste5. I o=ten
5ream o= people( an5 when this happens I generall> e?pect to receive a letter =rom them(
or to hear o= them in the co9rse o= the ne?t 5a>. I 5reamt o= Mrs. &. "i55er the night
be=ore I receive5 her letter asking me =or an acco9nt o= this 5ream@ an5 I tol5 Mr. ,est(
be=ore we went 5own to break=ast( that I sho9l5 have a letter that 5a> =rom her. I ha5 no
other reason to e?pect a letter =rom her( nor ha5 I receive5 one =or some time( I sho9l5
think some >ears( previo9sl>.
B.IL$) ,E/*.C
i-U;:!
Mrs. ,est4s =ather( /ir Fohn -rowe( late -ons9l-&eneral =or %orwa>( is since 5ea5@ b9t
her brother( Mr. /eptim9s -rowe( o= Librola( Mar>4s .ill 'oa5( /hortlan5s( sen5s 9s the
=ollowing con=irmation:A
BI remember vivi5l>( on m> ret9rn once with m> =ather =rom a trip to the north o= %orwa>
in the winter time( m> sister meeting 9s at the hall-5oor as we entere5( an5 e?claiming
how please5 she was to see 9s( an5 that we were sa=e( as she sai5 at once to me that she
ha5 ha5 s9ch an 9npleasant 5ream the evening be=ore. I sai5( u,hat was itr4 /he then
min9tel> e?plaine5 to me the 5ream( as she relate5 it to >o9( an5 which is in accor5ance
with the =acts. It nat9rall> astonishe5 m> =ather an5 m>sel= a goo5 5eal( that she so
vivi5l> in her sleep saw e?actl> what happene5( an5 I sho9l5 sa>( too( she 5reamt it at the
ver> time it happene5( abo9t 22.:; p.m.
B/eptim9s -rowe.C
2
*his( again( is a goo5 e?ample o= a weak class. "9t in the present instance we at an> rate
possess Mrs. ,est4s testimon> that her e?perience was 9niE9e@ an5 we have( =9rther( Mr.
-rowe4s testimon> that the 5ream was acc9ratel> 5escribe5 be=ore the =acts were known.
It was 5escribe5( no 5o9bt( in a conversation with hi(Aa person whose min5 was =9ll o=
the =acts( an5 he probabl> 5i5 not keep silence 59ring the whole co9rse o= his sister4s
narration: I have alrea5> note5 that the 9nprepare5 actors in these cases are not likel> to
con59ct themselves at the moment with a 5eliberate e>e to the =lawlessness o= their
evi5ence =or o9r p9rposes some >ears a=terwar5s. "9t it wo9l5 be straining a sceptical
h>pothesis too =ar to ass9me that his interpose5 comments =orme5 the real basis o= the
scene in Mrs. ,est4s memor>( while he himsel= remaine5 completel> 9nconscio9s that he
was s9ppl>ing the in=ormation which he appeare5 to be receiving.
S V. ,e now come to an e?ample o= the Bbor5erlan5C class PEQAthe class where the
percipient( tho9gh not asleep( was not( or cannot be i-U;3! prove5 to have been( in a
state o= complete normal wake=9lness. *he case was =irst p9blishe5 in the !piritual
'agaAine =or 2782( b> $r. -oll>er( who wrote =rom "eta .o9se( 7( )lpha 'oa5( /t.
Fohn4s ,oo5( %.,.
B)pril 2Vth( 2782.
PUVQ BOn Fan9ar> :r5( 27V8( m> brother Foseph being in comman5 o= the steamer u)lice(4
on the Mississippi( D9st above %ew Orleans( she came in collision with another steamer.
*he conc9ssion ca9se5 the =lagsta== or pole to =all with great violence( which( coming in
contact with m> brother4s hea5( act9all> 5ivi5e5 the sk9ll( ca9sing( o= necessit>( instant
5eath. In October( 27VW( I visite5 the Unite5 /tates. ,hen( at m> =ather4s resi5ence(
-am5en( %ew Ferse>( the melanchol> 5eath o= m> brother became the s9bDect o=
conversation( m> mother narrate5 to me that at the ver> time o= the acci5ent( the
apparition o= m> brother Foseph was presente5 to her. *his =act was corroborate5 b> m>
=ather an5 =o9r sisters. -am5en( %ew Ferse>( is 5istant =rom the scene o= the acci5ent( in a
5irect line( over 2(;;; miles( an5 nearl> 5o9ble that 5istance b> the mail ro9te. M>
mother mentione5 the =act o= the apparition on the morning o= the 3th o= Fan9ar> to m>
=ather an5 sisters@ nor was it 9ntil the 28th( or 2: 5a>s a=ter( that a letter was receive5
con=irming in ever> partic9lar the e?traor5inar> visitation. It will be important to mention
that m> brother ,illiam an5 his wi=e live5 near the localit> o= the 5rea5=9l acci5ent( now
being in 1hila5elphia@ the> have also corroborate5 to me the 5etails o= the impression
pro59ce5 on m> mother.C
$r. -oll>er then E9otes a letter =rom his mother( which contains the =ollowing sentences:
A
B-am5en( %ew Ferse>( Unite5 /tates.
BMarch UWth( 2782.
BM> belove5 /on(AOn the :r5 o= Fan9ar>( 27V8( I 5i5 not =eel well( an5 retire5 to be5
earl>. /ome time a=ter( I =elt 9neas> an5 sat 9p in be5@ I looke5 ro9n5 the room( an5 to m>
9tter ama]ement( saw Foseph stan5ing at the 5oor( looking at me with great earnestness(
his hea5 ban5age5 9p( a 5irt> night-cap on( an5 a 5irt> white garment on( something like
a s9rplice. .e was m9ch 5is=ig9re5 abo9t the e>es an5 =ace. It ma5e me E9ite
9ncom=ortable the rest o= the night. *he ne?t morning( Mar> came into m> room earl>. I
tol5 her that I was s9re I was going to have ba5 news =rom Foseph. I tol5 all the =amil> at
the break=ast table@ the> replie5( uIt was onl> a 5ream( an5 all nonsense(4 b9t that 5i5 not
change m> opinion. It pre>e5 on m> min5( an5 on the 28th o= Fan9ar> I receive5 the news
o= his 5eath@ an5 sing9lar to sa>( both ,illiam an5 his wi=e( who were there( sa> that he
was e?actl> attire5 as I saw him.
B#o9r ever a==ectionate Mother(
B)%%E E. -OLL#E'.C
$r. -oll>er contin9es:A
BIt will no 5o9bt be sai5 that m> mother4s imagination was in a morbi5 state( b9t this will
not acco9nt =or the =act o= the apparition o= m> brother presenting himsel= at the e?act
moment o= his 5eath. M> mother ha5 never seen him attire5 as 5escribe5( an5 the
ban5aging o= the hea5 5i5 not take place 9ntil ho9rs a=ter the acci5ent. M> brother
,illiam tol5 me that his hea5 was nearl> c9t in two b> the blow( an5 that his =ace was
5rea5=9ll> 5is=ig9re5( an5 the night-5ress m9ch soile5.
i-U;V!
BI cannot won5er that others sho9l5 be sceptical( as the evi5ences I have ha5 co9l5 not
have been receive5 on the testimon> o= others@ we m9st( there=ore( be charitable towar5s
the incre59lo9s.
B'obert .. -oll>er( M.$.( +.-./.( [c.C
On o9r appl>ing to $r. -oll>er( he replie5 as =ollows:A
BUV( %ewington -a9sewa>( "oro9gh( /.E.
BMarch 2Vth( 2773.
BIn repl>ing to >o9r comm9nication( I m9st state that( strange as the circ9mstances
narrate5 in the !piritual 'agaAine o= 2782 are( I can ass9re >o9 that there is not a particle
o= e?aggeration. )s there state5( m> mother receive5 the mental impression o= m> brother
on Fan9ar> :r5( 27V8. M> =ather( who was a scienti=ic man( calc9late5 the 5i==erence o=
longit95e between -am5en( %ew Ferse>( an5 %ew Orleans( an5 =o9n5 that the mental
impression was at the e?act time o= m> brother4s 5eath. I ma> mention that I never was a
believer in an> spiritual interco9rse( or that an> o= the phenomena present 59ring e?alte5
con5itions o= the brain are spirit9al. I am( an5 have been =or the last 3; >ears( a
materialist( an5 think that all the so-calle5 spirit9al mani=estations a5mit o= a
philosophical e?planation( on ph>sical laws an5 con5itions. I 5o not 5esire to theorise(
b9t to m> min5 the s>mpathetic chor5 o= relationship e?iste5 between m> mother an5 m>
brother Pwho was her =avo9rite sonQ( when that chor5 was broken b> his s955en 5eath(
she being at the time =avo9rabl> sit9ate5 to receive the shock.
BIn the acco9nt p9blishe5 in the !piritual 'agaAine, I omitte5 to state that m> brother
Foseph( prior to his 5eath( ha5 retire5 =or the night in his berth@ his vessel was moore5
alongsi5e the levee( at the time o= the collision b> another steamer coming 5own the
Mississippi. O= co9rse( m> brother was in his nightgo-n. .e ran on 5eck on being calle5
an5 in=orme5 that a steamer was in close pro?imit> to his own. *hese circ9mstances were
comm9nicate5 to me b> m> brother ,illiam( who was on the spot at the time o= the
acci5ent. I 5o not attempt to acco9nt =or the apparition having a ban5age( as that co9l5
not have been p9t =or some time a=ter 5eath. *he 5i==erence o= time between -am5en(
%ew Ferse>( an5 %ew Orleans is nearl> 2V( or one ho9r.
BM> mother retire5 =or the night on :r5 Fan9ar>( 27V8( at 7 p.m.( which wo9l5 mark the
time at %ew Orleans W p.m. as the time o= m> brother4s 5eath.C
Mr. 1o5more sa>s:A
BI calle5 9pon $r. -oll>er on UVth March( 2773. .e tol5 me that he receive5 a =9ll
acco9nt o= the stor> verball> =rom his =ather( mother( an5 brother in 27VW. )ll are now
5ea5@ b9t two sistersAto one o= whom I have writtenAare still living. $r. -oll>er was
E9ite certain o= the precise coinci5ence o= time.C
*he =ollowing is =rom one o= the s9rviving sisters:A
BMobile( )labama( 2Uth Ma>( 2773.
BI resi5e5 in -am5en( %ew Ferse>( at the time o= m> brother4s 5eath. .e live5 in
Lo9isiana. .is 5eath was ca9se5 b> the collision o= two steamers on the Mississippi.
/ome part o= the mast =ell on him( splitting his hea5 open( ca9sing instantaneo9s 5eath.
*he apparition appeare5 to m> mother at the =oot o= her be5. It stoo5 there =or some time
ga]ing at her i-U;8! an5 5isappeare5. *he apparition was clothe5 in a long white
garment( with its hea5 bo9n5 in a white cloth. M> mother was not a s9perstitio9s person(
nor 5i5 she believe in /pirit9alism. /he was wi5e awake at the time. It was not a 5ream.
/he remarke5 to me when I saw her in the morning( uI shall hear ba5 news =rom Foseph(4
an5 relate5 to me what she ha5 seen. *wo or three 5a>s
2
Y~Z =rom that time we hear5 o=
the sa5 acci5ent. I ha5 another brother who was there at the time( an5 when he ret9rne5
home I inE9ire5 o= him all partic9lars( an5 how he was lai5 o9t. .is 5escription answere5
to what m> mother saw( m9ch to o9r astonishment.
B). E. -OLL#E'.C
.ere we have no 5irect proo= o= the e?actness o= the coinci5ence@ b9t $r. -oll>er is clear
on the =act that the matter was care=9ll> inE9ire5 into at the time. )s to the allege5
resemblances between the phantasm an5 the real =ig9re( we shall =in5 reason =9rther on to
think that the impression o= the white garment ma> have been reall> trans=erre5. "9t the
criticism ma5e above in respect o= Mrs. "ettan>4s narrative again applies: we cannot
acco9nt it certain that points were not rea5 back into the vision( a=ter Mrs. -oll>er ha5
learnt the act9al aspect which the 5ea5 man presente5. It will be observe5( too( that the
more striking 5etailsAespeciall> that o= the ban5ageAco9l5 not in an> case help the
telepathic arg9ment. +or i= the son who was kille5 was the BagentC o= his mother4s
impression( an> correspon5ence o= the phantasmal appearance with =eat9res o= realit>
which 5i5 not come into e?istence till after 5eath m9st plainl> have been acci5ental. ,e
shall a=terwar5s enco9nter plent> o= instances where the percipient s9pplements the
impression that he receives with elements =rom his own min5( an5 especiall>( in 5eath-
cases( with elements s>mbolic o= 5eath@ an5 it is not impossible that in the present
instance the white garment an5 ban5age5 hea5 were a 5im representation o= grave-
clothes.
Mrs. -oll>er wo9l5 probabl> have a==irme5 that at the time o= her vision she was
completel> awake. *hat the percipient in the ne?t e?ample was completel> awake is( I
think( nearl> certain@ b9t as he was in be5( the acco9nt ma> serve as a transition to the
cases where the matter a5mits o= no 5o9bt. Mr. Marchant( o= Link=iel5 /treet( 'e5hill(
=ormerl> a large =armer( wrote to 9s in the s9mmer o= 277::A
i-U;W!
PU8Q B)bo9t U o4clock on the morning o= October U2st( 2772( while I was per=ectl> wi5e
awake( an5 looking at a lamp b9rning on m> washhan5-stan5( a person( as I tho9ght(
came into m> room b> mistake( an5 stoppe5( looking into the looking-glass on the table.
It soon occ9rre5 to me it represente5 'obinson 0else>( b> his 5ress an5 wearing his hair
long behin5. ,hen I raise5 m>sel= 9p in be5 an5 calle5 o9t( it instantl> 5isappeare5.
2
*he
ne?t 5a>
U
I mentione5 to some o= m> =rien5s how strange it was. /o thoro9ghl>
convince5 was I( that I searche5 the local papers that 5a> P/at9r5a>Q an5 the =ollowing
*9es5a>( believing his 5eath wo9l5 be in one o= them. On the =ollowing ,e5nes5a>( a
man( who =ormerl> was m> 5rover( came an5 tol5 me 'obinson 0else> was 5ea5.
)n?io9s to know at what time he 5ie5( I wrote to Mr. ,oo5( the =amil> 9n5ertaker at
Ling=iel5@ he learnt =rom the brother-in-law o= the 5ecease5 that he 5ie5 at U a.m. .e was
m> =irst co9sin( an5 was apprentice5 =ormerl> to me as a miller@ a=terwar5s he live5 with
me as Do9rne>man@ altogether( 7 >ears. I never saw an>thing approaching that be=ore. I
am WU >ears ol5( an5 never =eel nervo9s@ I am not a=rai5 o= the 5ea5 or their spirits. I han5
>o9 a ro9gh plan o= the be5room( [c.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. Marchant replie5:A
B'obinson 0else> ha5 met with an acci5ent. .is horse =ell with him( an5 =rom that time
he seeme5 at times 9n=it =or b9siness. .e ha5 a =arm at 1ensh9rst( in 0ent. .is =rien5s
pers9a5e5 hin to leave it. .e 5i5( an5 went to live on his own propert>( calle5 "atnors
.all( in the parish o= Ling=iel5( /9rre>. I ha5 not been thinking abo9t him( neither ha5 I
spoken to him =or U; >ears. )bo9t : or 3 >ears be=ore his 5eath I saw him( b9t not to
speak to him. I was on the 9p-si5e plat=orm o= 'e5hill /tation( an5 I saw him on the
opposite 5own-si5e. In the morning a=ter seeing the apparition( I spoke abo9t it to a
person in the ho9se. In the evening( I again spoke abo9t it to two persons( how strange it
was. It was several 5a>s a=ter o9r conversation abo9t what I ha5 seen that I hear5 o= the
5eath. *hese people will con=irm m> statement( =or a=ter I hear5 o= his 5eath I spoke o= it
to the same people( that m> relation 5ie5 the same night as I saw the apparition. ,hen I
spoke to these three persons I 5i5 not know o= his 5eath( b9t ha5 m> s9spicions =rom
what I ha5 seen. )s the apparition passe5 between m> be5 an5 the lamp I ha5 a =9ll view
o= it@ it was 9nmistakeable. ,hen it stoppe5 looking in the glass I spoke to it( then it
gentl> sank awa> 5ownwar5s.
B1robabl> it was 2; 5a>s be=ore I =o9n5 o9t( thro9gh Mr. ,oo5( the ho9r he 5ie5( so that
these persons I spoke to knew nothing o= his 5eath at the time.
B&EO'&E M)'-.)%*.C
,e have receive5 the =ollowing con=irmation o= this inci5ent:A
BF9l> 27th( 277:.
B,e are positive o= hearing Mr. Marchant one 5a> sa> that he saw the apparition o=
'obinson 0else> 59ring the previo9s night.
B)%% L)%&E'I$&E( Link=iel5 /treet( 'e5hill.
BM)*IL$) +ULLE'( /tation 'oa5( 'e5hill.
B,ILLI)M MILE/( /tation 'oa5( 'e5hill.C
i-U;7!
Mr. )nthon> 0else>( o= Ling=iel5( /9rre>( brother-in-law an5 co9sin o= 'obinson 0else>(
has con=irme5 October U2st( 2772( as the 5ate o= the 5eath Pwhich we have also veri=ie5
in the 'egister o= $eathsQ( b9t he has =orgotten the ho9r@ an5 Mr. 'obinson 0else>4s
wi5ow having since 5ie5( Mr. Marchant4s recollection on this point cannot now be
in5epen5entl> con=irme5. )s to the ho9r o= the apparition( again( Mr. Marchant4s
statement is onl> a concl9sion( 5rawn =rom his reg9lar habit o= waking once in the mi55le
o= the night at abo9t U. "9t there can be no reasonable 5o9bt that the da, o= the 5eath an5
o= the vision was the same.
On +ebr9ar> 2Uth( 2773( I ha5 an interview with Mr. Marchant( who is a ver> vigoro9s
an5 sensible ol5 man( with a precise min5. .e went thro9gh all the 5etails o= his narrative
in a metho5ical manner( an5 his 5escription correspon5e5 in ever> partic9lar with the
written acco9nt( which was sent to me man> months be=ore. Mr. Marchant was positive
that he never ha5 an> other hall9cination o= the senses( an5 la9ghe5 at the ver> i5ea o=
s9ch things. .e E9ite realise5 the or5inar> criticisms which might be ma5e abo9t a
noct9rnal vision( e.g., that he ha5 ha5 a glass too m9ch( an5 also realise5 their abs9r5it>
as applie5 to his own case. I cannot 5o9bt his statement that he has been a most temperate
man. .e showe5 me in his be5room the precise line that the =ig9re took@ appearing at his
right han5( then passing along in =ront o= a lamp which was on the washhan5-stan5( an5
=inall> stan5ing between the =oot o= his be5 an5 the 5ressing-table. .e 5escribe5 0else>4s
long an5 b9sh> black hair as a ver> 5istinct pec9liarit>. In answer to inE9iries on this
point he sa>s: BI have not an> 5o9bt whatever that 'obinson 0else> 5i5 have that
pec9liarit> o= the hair at the 5a> o= his 5eath. M> recollection o= him is as clear as i= I ha5
his photo be=ore me.C *he =ig9re was visible( he thinks( =or nearl> a min9te@ b9t the
length o= time in s9ch cases is o= co9rse likel> to be over-estimate5.
I likewise saw Mrs. Langeri5ge( a sensible person( witho9t an> belie= in Bghosts(C who at
once vol9nteere5 the remark that Mr. Marchant 5escribe5 his vision to her ne?t morning.
*his case is remarkable =rom the =act that there was no imme5iate interest between the
two partiesAtho9gh it is o= co9rse possible that the 5>ing man4s tho9ghts reverte5 to his
kinsman an5 ol5 emplo>er. "9t comments on this point m9st be reserve5.
S 8. ,e now come to e?amples o= the most important class o= all( -lass )Ae?ternalise5
impressions( occ9rring to persons who are 9p( an5 mani=estl> in the =9ll possession o=
their waking senses. O= this class the most important e?amples are visual impressions( or
apparitions. "9t I will =irst give a case which is on the line between -lasses ) an5 "( a
vision not absol9tel> e?ternalise5 in space( b9t where the mental image took on a sort o=
vivi5ness an5 obDectivit> which the percipient believes to have been 9ne?ample5 in his
e?perience. *he coinci5ence with the 5eath o= the agent was i-U;X! apparentl> E9ite
e?act@ an5 we have the testimon> o= a thir5 person to the =act that the percipient
mentione5 his impression imme5iatel> on its occ9rrence. *he narrator is Mr. 'awlinson(
o= Lans5own -o9rt ,est( -heltenham.
B/eptember 27th( 277:.
PUWQ BI was 5ressing one morning in $ecember( 2772( when a certain conviction came
9pon me that someone was in m> 5ressing-room. On looking ro9n5( I saw no one( b9t
then( instantaneo9sl> Pin m> min54s e>e( I s9pposeQ( ever> =eat9re o= the =ace an5 =orm o=
m> ol5 =rien5( \.( arose. *his( as >o9 ma> imagine( ma5e a great impression on me( an5 I
went at once into m> wi=e4s room an5 tol5 her what ha5 occ9rre5( at the same time
stating that I =eare5 Mr. \. m9st be 5ea5. *he s9bDect was mentione5 between 9s several
times that 5a>. %e?t morning( I receive5 a letter =rom \.4s brother( then -ons9l-&eneral
at O5essa( b9t who I 5i5 not know was in Englan5( sa>ing that his brother ha5 5ie5 at a
E9arter be=ore X o4clock that morning. *his was the ver> time the occ9rrence happene5 in
m> 5ressing-room. It is right to a55 that we ha5 hear5 some two months previo9sl> that
\. was s9==ering =rom cancer( b9t still we were in no imme5iate apprehension o= his
5eath. I never on an> other occasion ha5 an> hall9cination o= the senses( an5 sincerel>
tr9st I never again shall.
B'O". '),LI%/O%.C
*he =ollowing is Mrs. 'awlinson4s acco9nt:A
BF9ne 27th( 277:.
BM> h9sban5 was 5ressing( a =ew months ago( one morning abo9t a E9arter to X o4clock(
when he came into m> room( an5 sai5: uI =eel s9re \.4 Pan ol5 =rien5 o= hisQ uis 5ea5.4 .e
sai5 all at once he =elt as i= there was someone in the room with him( an5 \.4s =ace came
vivi5l> be=ore his (inds e>e@ an5 then he ha5 this e?traor5inar> conviction o= \.4s 5eath.
.e co9l5 not get the i5ea o9t o= his min5 all 5a>. /trange to sa>( the ne?t morning he ha5
a letter sa>ing \. ha5 5ie5 the morning be=ore( at a E9arter to X( D9st the ver> time m>
h9sban5 came into m> room. )bo9t two months be=ore( we ha5 hear5 that \. ha5 an
inc9rable complaint( b9t we ha5 hear5 nothing more( an5 his name ha5 not been
mentione5 b> an>one =or weeks. I o9ght to tell >o9 that m> h9sban5 is the last person in
the worl5 to imagine an>thing( an5 he ha5 alwa>s been partic9larl> 9nbelieving as to
an>thing s9pernat9ral.C
2
) re=erence to the -ons9l4s letter( an5 to the Ti(es obit9ar>( has =i?e5 the 5ate o= the
death as $ecember 2Wth@ b9t the 5ate o= the vision was not written 5own at the time: we
there=ore have to tr9st to Mr. an5 Mrs. 'awlinson4s memor> =or the =act that it took place
on the 5a> be=ore the letter was receive5. %ot( howeverAbe it observe5Ato their
memor> no-, b9t to their memor> at the time when the letter was receive5@ an5
consi5ering the e==ect that the i-U2;! occ9rrence ha5 on their min5s( we can scarcel>
s9ppose them to have agree5 in re=erring it to the prece5ing 5a>( i= several 5a>s ha5 reall>
intervene5.
In the ne?t case the coinci5ence was certainl> close to within a ver> =ew min9tes( an5
ma> have been e?act. *he impression was again completel> 9niE9e in the percipient4s
e?perience( an5 was at once comm9nicate5 to a thir5 person( whose testimon> to that
point we have obtaine5. B%. F. /.(C who( tho9gh he 9ses the thir5 person( is himsel= the
narrator( is personall> known to 9s. Occ9p>ing a position o= consi5erable responsibilit>(
he 5oes not wish his name to be p9blishe5@ b9t it can be given to inE9irers( an5 he Bwill
answer an> E9estions personall> to an>one having a wish to arrive at the tr9th.C *he
acco9nt was receive5 within a =ew weeks o= the occ9rrence.
PU7Q B%. F. /. an5 +. L. were emplo>e5 together in an o==ice( were bro9ght into intimate
relations with one another( which laste5 =or abo9t eight >ears( an5 hel5 one another in
ver> great regar5 an5 esteem. On Mon5a>( March 2Xth( 277:( +. L.( in coming to the
o==ice( complaine5 o= having s9==ere5 =rom in5igestion@ he went to a chemist( who tol5
him that his liver was a little o9t o= or5er( an5 gave him some me5icine. .e 5i5 not seem
m9ch better on *h9rs5a>. On /at9r5a> he was absent( an5 %. F. /. has since hear5 he was
e?amine5 b> a me5ical man( who tho9ght he wante5 a 5a> or two o= rest( b9t e?presse5
no opinion that an>thing was serio9s.
BOn /at9r5a> evening( March U3th( %. F. /.( who ha5 a hea5ache( was sitting at home. .e
sai5 to his wi=e that he was what he ha5 not been =or months( rather too warm@ a=ter
making the remark he leane5 back on the co9ch( an5 the ne?t min9te saw his =rien5( +. L.(
stan5ing be=ore him( 5resse5 in his 9s9al manner. %. F. /. notice5 the 5etails o= his 5ress(
that is( his hat with a black ban5( his overcoat 9nb9ttone5( an5 a stick in his han5@ he
looke5 with a =i?e5 regar5 at %. F. /.( an5 then passe5 awa>. %. F. /. E9ote5 to himsel=
=rom Fob( u)n5 lo( a spirit passe5 be=ore me( an5 the hair o= m> =lesh stoo5 9p.4 )t that
moment an ic> chill passe5 thro9gh him(
2
an5 his hair bristle5. .e then t9rne5 to his wi=e
an5 aske5 her the time@ she sai5( u2U min9tes to X.4 .e then sai5( u*he reason I ask >o9 is
that +. L. is 5ea5. I have D9st seen him.4 /he trie5 to pers9a5e him it was =anc>( b9t he
most positivel> ass9re5 her that no arg9ment was o= avail to alter his opinion.
B*he ne?t 5a>( /9n5a>( abo9t : p.m.( ). L.( brother o= +. L.( came to the ho9se o= %. F. /.(
who let him in. ). L. sai5( uI s9ppose >o9 know what I have come to tell >o9r4 %. F. /.
replie5( u#es( >o9r brother is 5ea5.4 ). L. sai5( uI tho9ght >o9 wo9l5 know it.4 %. F. /.
replie5( u,h>r4 ). L. sai5( u"eca9se >o9 were in s9ch s>mpath> with one another.4
%. F. /. a=terwar5s ascertaine5 that ). L. calle5 on /at9r5a> to see his brother( an5 on
leaving him notice5 the clock on the stairs was UV min9tes to X p.m. +. L.4s sister( on
going to him at X p.m.( =o9n5 him 5ea5 =rom r9pt9re o= the aorta.
i-U22!
B*his is a plain statement o= =acts( an5 the onl> theor> %. F. /. has on the s9bDect is that at
the s9preme moment o= 5eath( +. L. m9st have =elt a great wish to comm9nicate with him(
an5 in some wa> b> =orce o= will impresse5 his image on %. F. /.4s senses.C
In repl> to o9r inE9iries Mr. /. sa>s:A
BMa> 22th( 277:.
BP2Q M> wi=e was sitting at a table in the mi55le o= the room 9n5er a gas chan5elier(
either rea5ing or 5oing some wool work. I was sitting on a co9ch at the si5e o= the room
in the sha5e@ she was not looking in the 5irection I was. I st95io9sl> spoke in a E9iet
manner to avoi5 alarming her@ she notice5 nothing partic9lar in me.
BPUQ I have never seen an> appearance be=ore( b9t have 5isbelieve5 in them( not seeing
an> motive.
BP:Q Mr. ). L. tol5 me that in coming to in=orm me o= his brother4s 5eath( he won5ere5
what wo9l5 be the best wa> o= breaking the matter to me( when( witho9t an> reason
e?cept the knowle5ge o= o9r strong m9t9al regar5( it seeme5 to =lash 9pon his min5 that I
might know it.
B*here ha5 been no instances o= tho9ght-transmission between 9s.
B*here are man> slight 5etails which it is nearl> impossible to 5escribe in writing( so I
ma> sa> that I shall be most willing to give >o9 a personal acco9nt an5 answer an>
E9estions at an> time >o9 sho9l5 be in town.
B*here is one thing which strikes me as sing9larAthe instant certaint> I =elt that m>
=rien5 was 5ea5( as there was nothing to lea5 9p to the i5ea@ an5 also that I seeme5 to
accept all that passe5 witho9t =eeling s9rprise( an5 as i= it were an or5inar> matter o=
co9rse.
B%. F. /.C
Mrs. /. s9pplies the =ollowing corroboration:A
B/eptember 27th( 277:.
BOn the evening o= the U3th March last( I was sitting at a table rea5ing( m> h9sban5 was
sitting on a co9ch at the si5e o= the room@ he aske5 me the time( an5 on m> repl>ing 2U
min9tes to X( he sai5( u*he reason wh> I ask is that L. is 5ea5( I have D9st seen him.4 I
answere5( u,hat nonsense( >o9 5on4t even know that he is ill@ I 5are sa> when >o9 go to
town on *9es5a> >o9 will see him all right.4 .owever( he persiste5 in sa>ing he ha5 seen
L.( an5 was s9re o= his 5eath. I notice5 at the time that he looke5 ver> m9ch agitate5 an5
was ver> pale
BM)'I) /.C
,e =in5 =rom the Ti(es obit9ar> that +. L.4s 5eath took place on March U3th( 277:.
In a later comm9nication Mr. /. sa>s:A
B+ebr9ar> U:r5( 277V.
BIn compliance with >o9r reE9est( I have aske5 Mr. ). L. to sen5 >o9 the statement o=
what came to his knowle5ge with re=erence to the time o= his brother4s 5eath.
BI have o=ten tho9ght the matter over since. I am 9nable to satis=> m> own min5 as to the
-h, o= the occ9rrence( b9t I still a5here to ever> partic9lar( having nothing to a55 or
with5raw.C
i-U2U!
Mr. L.4s brother corroborates as =ollows:A
B"ank o= Englan5.
B+ebr9ar> U3th( 277V.
BMr. /. having in=orme5 me that >o9 have e?presse5 a wish that I sho9l5 corroborate
some statements ma5e b> him relative to m> brother +re5erick4s s955en 5eath( I beg to
sen5 >o9 the =ollowing partic9lars.
BOn /at9r5a>( March U3th( 277:( m> brother having been absent =rom b9siness( I calle5
abo9t 7 p.m. to see him( an5 =o9n5 him sitting 9p in his be5room. I le=t him( apparentl>
m9ch better( an5 came 5own to the 5ining-room abo9t 7.3;( where I remaine5 with m>
sister =or abo9t hal=-an-ho9r( when I le=t( an5 she( going 9pstairs( imme5iatel> 9pon m>
5epart9re( =o9n5 her brother l>ing 5ea5 9pon the be5( so that the e?act time o= his 5eath
will never be known. On m> wa> over to Mr. /. the ne?t 5a>( to break the news to him(
the tho9ght occ9rre5 to meAknowing the strong s>mpath> between themAuI sho9l5 not
be s9rprise5 i= he has ha5 some presentiment o= it4@ an5 when he came to the 5oor to meet
me( I =elt certain =rom his look that it was so( hence I sai5( u#o9 know what I have come
=or(4 an5 he then tol5 me that he ha5 seen m> brother +re5erick in a vision a little be=ore X
on the previo9s evening. I m9st tell >o9 I am no believer in visions( an5 have not alwa>s
=o9n5 presentiments correct@ >et I am per=ectl> certain o= Mr. /.4s veracit>( an5 having
been aske5 to con=irm him( willingl> 5o so( tho9gh I strengthen a ca9se I am not a
5isciple o=.
B). -. L.C
)n attempt to =orm a n9merical estimate o= the probabilit> Por improbabilit>Q that the
coinci5ence in this case was acci5ental will be =o9n5 in a s9bseE9ent chapter on B*he
*heor> o= -hance--oinci5enceC PVol. II( pp. 27TU;Q.
*he ne?t case again e?hibits the slight defer(ent o= the percipient4s e?perience which I
have alrea5> mentione5 Pp. U;2Q. "9t its chie= interest is as ill9strating what ma> be
calle5 a local, as 5istinct =rom a personal, rapport between the parties concerne5.
2
*he
percipient( at the moment o= his impression( was contemplating a spot with which the
agent was speciall> connecte5( an5 which ma> even have ha5 a ver> 5istinct place in her
5>ing tho9ghts@ an5 it is nat9ral to =in5 in this =act a main con5ition wh> he( o= all people(
sho9l5 have been the one impresse5. *he case was th9s narrate5 to 9s b> the 'ev. -. *.
+orster( Vicar o= .in?ton( /a==ron ,al5en:A
B)9g9st 8th( 277V.
PUXQ BM> late parishioner( Mrs. 5e +rHville( was a somewhat eccentric la5>( who was
speciall> morbi5 on the s9bDect o= tombs( [c.
B)bo9t two 5a>s a=ter her 5eath( which took place in Lon5on( Ma> 7th( in the a=ternoon(
I hear5 that she ha5 been seen that ver> night b> )l=re5 "ar5. I sent =or him( an5 he gave
me a ver> clear an5 circ9mstantial acco9nt o= what he ha5 seen.
i-U2:!
B.e is a man o= great observation( being a sel=-ta9ght nat9ralist( an5 I am E9ite satis=ie5
that he 5esires to speak the tr9th witho9t an> e?aggeration.
BI m9st a55 that I am absol9tel> certain that the news o= Mrs. 5e +rHville4s 5eath 5i5 not
reach .in?ton till the ne?t morning( Ma> Xth. /he was =o9n5 5ea5 at W.:; p.m. /he ha5
been le=t alone in her room( being poorl>( b9t not consi5ere5 serio9sl> or 5angero9sl> ill.
B-. *. +O'/*E'.C
*he =ollowing is the percipient4s own acco9nt:A
BF9l> U2st( 277V.
BI am a gar5ener in emplo>ment at /awston. I alwa>s go thro9gh .in?ton ch9rch>ar5 on
m> ret9rn home =rom work. On +ri5a>( Ma> 7th( 277V( I was walking back as 9s9al. On
entering the ch9rch>ar5( I looke5 rather care=9ll> at the gro9n5( in or5er to see a cow an5
5onke> which 9se5 to lie D9st insi5e the gate. In so 5oing( I looke5 straight at the sE9are
stone va9lt in which the late Mr. 5e +rHville was at one time b9rie5. I then saw Mrs. 5e
+rHville leaning on the rails( 5resse5 m9ch as I ha5 9s9all> seen her( in a coal-sc9ttle
bonnet( black Dacket with 5eep crape( an5 black 5ress. /he was looking =9ll at me. .er
=ace was ver> white( m9ch whiter than 9s9al. I knew her well( having at one time been in
her emplo>. I at once s9ppose5 that she ha5 come( as she sometimes 5i5( to the
ma9sole9m in her own park( in or5er to have it opene5 an5 go in. I s9ppose5 that Mr.
,iles( the mason =rom -ambri5ge( was in the tomb 5oing something. I walke5 ro9n5 the
tomb looking care=9ll> at it( in or5er to see i= the gate was open( keeping m> e>e on her
an5 never more than =ive or si? >ar5s =rom her. .er =ace t9rne5 an5 =ollowe5 me. I
passe5 between the ch9rch an5 the tomb Pthere are abo9t =o9r >ar5s between the twoQ(
an5 peere5 =orwar5 to see whether the tomb was open( as she hi5 the part o= the tomb
which opene5. I slightl> st9mble5 on a hassock o= grass( an5 looke5 at m> =eet =or a
moment onl>. ,hen I looke5 9p she was gone. /he co9l5 not possibl> have got o9t o= the
ch9rch>ar5( as in or5er to reach an> o= the e?its she m9st have passe5 me.
2
/o I took =or
grante5 that she ha5 E9ickl> gone into the tomb. I went 9p to the 5oor( which I e?pecte5
to =in5 open( b9t to m> s9rprise it was sh9t an5 ha5 not been opene5( as there was no ke>
in the lock. I rather hope5 to have a look into the tomb m>sel=( so I went back again an5
shook the gate to make s9re( b9t there was no sign o= an> one4s having been there. I was
then m9ch startle5 an5 looke5 at the clock( which marke5 X.U;. ,hen I got home I hal=
tho9ght it m9st have been m> =anc>( b9t I tol5 m> wi=e that I ha5 seen Mrs. 5e +rHville.
B%e?t 5a>( when m> little bo> tol5 me that she was 5ea5( I gave a start( which m>
companion notice5( I was so m9ch taken aback.
BI have never ha5 an> other hall9cination whatever.
B)L+'E$ ")'$.C
Mrs. "ar54s testimon> is as =ollows:A
BF9l> 7th( 277V.
B,hen Mr. "ar5 came home he sai5( uI have seen Mrs. 5e +rHville to-night( leaning with
her elbow on the palisa5e( looking at me. I t9rne5 again to look at her an5 she was gone.
/he ha5 cloak an5 bonnet on.4 i-U23! .e got home as 9s9al between X an5 2;@ it was on
the 7th o= Ma>( 277V
B/)'). ")'$.C
*he Ti(es obit9ar> con=irms the 5ate o= the 5eath.
YMr. M>ers was con59cte5 over .in?ton ch9rch>ar5 b> Mr. +orster( an5 can attest the
s9bstantial acc9rac> o= Mr. "ar54s 5escription o= the relative position o= the ch9rch( the
tomb( an5 the e?its. *he wor5s Bm9st have passe5 me(C however( give a slightl>
erroneo9s impression@ Bm9st have come ver> near meC wo9l5 be the more correct
5escription.Z
*he ne?t case is o= a more abnormal t>pe. ,e receive5 the =irst acco9nt o= itAthe
percipient4s evi5enceAthro9gh the kin5ness o= Mrs. Martin( o= .am -o9rt( Upton-on-
/evern( ,orcester.
B)nton>( *orpoint( $ecember 23th( 277U.
P:;Q B.elen )le?an5er Pmai5 to La5> ,al5egraveQ was l>ing here ver> ill with t>phoi5
=ever( an5 was atten5e5 b> me. I was stan5ing at the table b> her be5si5e( po9ring o9t her
me5icine( at abo9t 3 o4clock in the morning o= the 3th October( 277;. I hear5 the call-bell
ring Pthis ha5 been hear5 twice be=ore 59ring the night in that same weekQ( an5 was
attracte5 b> the 5oor o= the room opening(
2
an5 b> seeing a person entering the room
whom I instantl> =elt to be the mother o= the sick woman. /he ha5 a brass can5lestick in
her han5( a re5 shawl over her sho9l5ers( an5 a =lannel petticoat on which ha5 a hole in
the =ront. I looke5 at her as m9ch as to sa>( uI am gla5 >o9 have come(4 b9t the woman
looke5 at me sternl>( as m9ch as to sa>( u,h> wasn4t I sent =or be=orer4 I gave the
me5icine to .elen )le?an5er( an5 then t9rne5 ro9n5 to speak to the vision( b9t no one
was there. /he ha5 gone. /he was a short( 5ark person( an5 ver> sto9t. )t abo9t 8 o4clock
that morning .elen )le?an5er 5ie5. *wo 5a>s a=ter her parents an5 a sister came to
)nton>( an5 arrive5 between 2 an5 U o4clock in the morning@ I an5 another mai5 let them
in( an5 it gave me a great t9rn when I saw the living likeness o= the vision I ha5 seen two
nights be=ore. I tol5 the sister abo9t the vision( an5 she sai5 that the 5escription o= the
5ress e?actl> answere5 to her mother4s( an5 that the> ha5 brass can5lesticks at home
e?actl> like the one 5escribe5. *here was not the slightest resemblance between the
mother an5 5a9ghter.
B+')%-E/ 'E$$ELL.C
*his at =irst sight might be taken =or a mere 5el9sion o= an e?citable or over-tire5 servant(
mo5i=ie5 an5 e?aggerate5 b> the s9bseE9ent sight o= the real mother. I= s9ch a case is to
have evi5ential =orce( we m9st ascertain be>on5 5o9bt that the 5escription o= the
e?perience was given in 5etail be=ore an> knowle5ge o= the realit> can have a==ecte5 the
percipient4s memor> or imagination. *his necessar> corroboration has been kin5l>
s9pplie5 b> Mrs. 1ole--arew( o= )nton>( *orpoint( $evonport.
B$ecember :2st( 277:.
BIn October( 277;( Lor5 an5 La5> ,al5egrave came with their /cotch mai5( .elen
)le?an5er( to sta> with 9s. Y*he acco9nt then 5escribes how .elen was 5iscovere5 to
have ca9ght t>phoi5 =ever.Z /he 5i5 not seem to be ver> ill in spite o= it( an5 as there
seeme5 no =ear o= 5anger( an5 Lor5 i-U2V! an5 La5> ,al5egrave ha5 to go a long
Do9rne> the =ollowing 5a> P*h9rs5a>Q( the> 5eci5e5 to leave her( as the> were a5vise5 to
5o( 9n5er their =rien5s4 care.
B*he illness ran its 9s9al co9rse( an5 she seeme5 to be going on per=ectl> well till the
/9n5a> week =ollowing( when the 5octor tol5 me that the =ever ha5 le=t her( b9t the state
o= weakness which ha5 s9pervene5 was s9ch as to make him e?tremel> an?io9s. I
imme5iatel> engage5 a reg9lar n9rse( greatl> against the wish o= 'e55ell( m> mai5( who
ha5 been her chie= n9rse all thro9gh the illness( an5 who was E9ite 5evote5 to her.
.owever( as the n9rse co9l5 not convenientl> come till the =ollowing 5a>( I allowe5
'e55ell to sit 9p with .elen again that night( to give her the me5icine an5 =oo5( which
were to be taken constantl>.
B)t abo9t 3.:; that night( or rather Mon5a> morning( 'e55ell looke5 at her watch(
po9re5 o9t the me5icine( an5 was ben5ing over the be5 to give it to .elen( when the call-
bell in the passage rang. /he sai5 to hersel=( u*here4s that tiresome bell with the wire
ca9ght again.4 PIt seems it 5i5 occasionall> ring o= itsel= in this manner.Q )t that moment(
however( she hear5 the 5oor open( an5 looking ro9n5( saw a ver> sto9t ol5 woman walk
in. /he was 5resse5 in a nightgown an5 re5 =lannel petticoat( an5 carrie5 an ol5-=ashione5
brass can5lestick in her han5. *he petticoat ha5 a hole r9bbe5 in it. /he walke5 into the
room( an5 appeare5 to be going towar5s the 5ressing-table to p9t her can5le 5own. /he
was a per=ect stranger to 'e55ell( who( however( merel> tho9ght( u*his is her mother
come to see a=ter her(4 an5 she =elt E9ite gla5 it was so( accepting the i5ea witho9t
reasoning 9pon it( as one wo9l5 in a 5ream. /he tho9ght the mother looke5 anno>e5(
possibl> at not having been sent =or be=ore. /he then gave .elen the me5icine( an5
t9rning ro9n5( =o9n5 that the apparition ha5 5isappeare5( an5 that the 5oor was sh9t. )
great change( meanwhile( ha5 taken place in .elen( an5 'e55ell =etche5 me( who sent o==
=or the 5octor( an5 meanwhile applie5 hot po9ltices( [c.( b9t .elen 5ie5 a little be=ore the
5octor came. /he was E9ite conscio9s 9p to abo9t hal=-an-ho9r be=ore she 5ie5( when she
seeme5 to be going to sleep.
B$9ring the earl> 5a>s o= her illness .elen ha5 written to a sister( mentioning her being
9nwell( b9t making nothing o= it( an5 as she never mentione5 an>one b9t this sister( it
was s9ppose5 b> the ho9sehol5( to whom she was a per=ect stranger( that she ha5 no
other relation alive. 'e55ell was alwa>s o==ering to write =or her( b9t she alwa>s 5ecline5(
sa>ing there was no nee5( she wo9l5 write hersel= in a 5a> or two. %o one at home(
there=ore( knew an>thing o= her being so ill( an5 it is( there=ore( remarkable that her
mother( a =ar =rom nervo9s person( sho9l5 have sai5 that evening going 9p to be5( uI am
s9re .elen is ver> ill.4
B'e55ell tol5 me an5 m> 5a9ghter o= the apparition( abo9t an ho9r a=ter .elen4s 5eath(
pre=acing with( uI am not s9perstitio9s( or nervo9s( an5 I wasn4t the least =rightene5( b9t
her mother came last night(4 an5 she then tol5 the stor>( giving a care=9l 5escription o= the
=ig9re she ha5 seen. *he relations were aske5 to come to the =9neral( an5 the =ather(
mother( an5 sister came( an5 in the mother 'e55ell recognise5 the apparition( as I 5i5
also( =or 'e55ell4s 5escription ha5 been most acc9rate( even to the e?pression( which she
ha5 ascribe5 to anno>ance( b9t which was 59e to 5ea=ness. It was D95ge5 best not to
speak abo9t it to the mother( b9t 'e55ell tol5 the sister( who sai5 the 5escription o= the
=ig9re correspon5e5 i-U28! e?actl> with the probable appearance o= her mother i= ro9se5
in the night@ that the> ha5 e?actl> s9ch a can5lestick at home( an5 that there was a hole in
her mother4s petticoat pro59ce5 b> the wa> she alwa>s wore it. It seems c9rio9s that
neither .elen nor her mother appeare5 to be aware o= the visit. %either o= them( at an>
rate( ever spoke o= having seen the other( nor even o= having 5reamt o= having 5one so.
B+. ). 1OLE--)0E,.C
+rances 'e55ell states that she has never ha5 an> hall9cination( or an> o55 e?perience o=
an> kin5( e?cept on this one occasion. *he .on. Mrs. L>ttelton( o= /elw>n -ollege(
-ambri5ge( who knows her( tells 9s that Bshe appears to be a most matter-o=-=act person(
an5 was apparentl> most impresse5 b> the =act that she saw a hole in the mother4s =lannel
petticoat( ma5e b> the b9sk o= her sta>s( repro59ce5 in the apparition.C
Mrs. 1ole--arew4s evi5ence goes =ar to stamp this occ9rrence as having been something
more than a mere s9bDective hall9cination. "9t it will be observe5 that there is some
5o9bt as to who was the agent. ,as it the motherr I= so( we =in5 nothing more 5e=inite on
the agent4s part( as a basis =or the 5istant e==ect( than a certain amo9nt o= an?iet> as to her
5a9ghter4s con5ition@ while the =act that 'e55ell an5 she were totall> 9nknown to one
another( wo9l5 show( even more concl9sivel> than the two prece5ing narratives( that a
special personal rapport between the parties is not a necessar> con5ition =or spontaneo9s
telepathic trans=erence. *h9s regar5e5( the case wo9l5 consi5erabl> resemble the instance
o= local rapport last E9ote5Athe con5ition o= the telepathic impression being pres9mabl>
the common occ9pation o= the min5 o= both agent an5 percipient with one s9bDect( the
5>ing girl. "9t it is also conceivable that .elen hersel= was the agent@ an5 that in her
5>ing con5ition a =lash o= memor> o= her mother4s aspect conve>e5 a 5irect imp9lse to
the min5 o= her 5evote5 n9rse.
*he last =ive cases have all been recent. I will now give an e?ample which is W; >ears ol5.
It will show the val9e that even remote evi5ence ma> have( i= proper care is e?ercise5 at
the time@ an5 it points the moral which m9st be en=orce5 ad nausea(, as to the
importance o= an imme5iate written recor5 on the percipient4s part. *he acco9nt was
receive5 =rom Mrs. "rowne( o= V7( 1orchester *errace( ,. On Ma> UXth( 2773( Mr.
1o5more wrote:A
BMa> UXth( 2773.
P:2Q BI calle5 to-5a> on Mrs. "rowne( an5 saw P2Q a 5oc9ment in the han5writing o= her
mother( Mrs. -arslake Pnow 5ea5Q( which p9rporte5 to be a cop> o= a memoran59m ma5e
b> Mrs. "rowne4s =ather( the late -aptain Fohn -arslake( o= /i5mo9th. )ppen5e5 to this
was PUQ a note( i-U2W! also in Mrs. -arslake4s han5writing( an5 signe5 b> her@ an5 P:Q a
cop> also in Mrs. -arslake4s han5writing( o= a letter =rom the 'ev. E. "AAr( o=
/i5mo9th.
BMrs. "rowne tol5 me that( as =ar as she knows( the originals o= P2Q an5 P:Q are no longer
in e?istence.
B$oc9ment P3Q is a note =rom Mrs. "rowne hersel=.
B*he Mi55leb9rg re=erre5 to is apparentl> the town o= that name in the %etherlan5s.C
P2Q
B*h9rs5a>( F9l> the 8th( 272V.AOn ret9rning to-5a> =rom Mi55leb9rg with -aptain *.( I
was strongl> impresse5 with the i5ea that between U an5 : I saw m> 9ncle Fohn cross the
roa5( a =ew paces be=ore me( an5 pass into a lane on the le=t lea5ing to a mill( calle5 Oll>
Mo9lin( an5 that when he arrive5 at the e5ge o= the great roa5( he looke5 ro9n5 an5
beckone5 to me.
B}9er>.A)s he has long been 5angero9sl> ill( ma> not this be consi5ere5 as an omen o=
his having 5ie5 abo9t this timer
BFO.% -)'/L)0E.C
PUQ
B.e ha5 not been thinking o= his 9ncle( b9t talking with -aptain *. abo9t a sale where
the> ha5 been@ he was E9ite silent a=terwar5s( an5 wo9l5 not tell the reason. On going on
boar5( he went to his cabin an5 wrote the time he saw his 9ncle( an5 wrote to Mr. ".
B*. -)'/L)0E.C
P:Q
BLong( in all probabilit>( be=ore this can reach >o9( >o9 will have been in=orme5 that(
precisel> at the (inute in which his apparition crosse5 >o9r path in the neighbo9rhoo5 o=
Mi55leb9rg( >o9r 5ear an5 venerable 9ncle e?pire5. I think it proves( be>on5 all
contra5iction( that his last an5 a==ectionate tho9ghts were =i?e5 on >o9. *he =act >o9 have
state5 is the strongest o= the kin5( in which I co9l5 place s9ch =9ll con=i5ence in the
parties( that : ever knew.AE. ".C
YF95ging =rom Mr. -arslake4s own acco9nt( it seems 9nlikel> that the writer o= this can
have 1no-n the coinci5ence to have been as close as he 5escribes.Z
P3Q
BMa> UXth( 2773.
BI remember more than once hearing this stor>( e?actl> as it is tol5 here( =rom m> =ather4s
own lips. I remember that he a55e5 that the =ig9re wore a pec9liar hat( which he
recognise5 as being like one worn b> his 9ncle.
B*. L. "'O,%E.C
*he ne?t e?ample repeats the pec9liarit> that the percipient4s impression( tho9gh 9niE9e
in his e?perience( 5i5 not at the moment s9ggest the agent@ b9t it 5i==ers( as will be seen(
=rom +rances 'e55ell4s case. ,e receive5 it =rom the 'ev. 'obert "ee( now resi5ing at
2U( ,hitworth 'oa5( &rangetown( near /o9thbank( #orkshire.
i-U27!
B-olin /treet( ,igan.
B$ecember :;th( 277:.
P:UQ BOn $ecember 27th( 27W:( I le=t m> ho9se in Lincolnshire to visit m> wi=e4s parents(
then an5 now resi5ing in Lor5 /treet( /o9thport. "oth m> parents were( to all appearance(
in goo5 health when I starte5. *he ne?t 5a> a=ter m> arrival was spent in leis9rel>
observation o= the mani=ol5 attractions o= this =ashionable seasi5e resort. I spent the
evening in compan> with m> wi=e in the ba>-win5owe5 5rawing-room 9pstairs( which
=ronts the main street o= the town. I propose5 a game at chess( an5 we got o9t the boar5
an5 began to pla>. 1erhaps hal=-an-ho9r ha5 been th9s occ9pie5 b> 9s( 59ring which I
ha5 ma5e several ver> =oolish mistakes. ) 5eep melanchol> was oppressing me. )t length
I remarke5: uIt is no 9se m> tr>ing to pla>( I cannot =or the li=e think abo9t what I am
5oing. /hall we sh9t it 9p an5 res9me o9r talkr I =eel literall> wretche5.4
BuF9st as >o9 like(4 sai5 m> wi=e( an5 the boar5 was at once p9t asi5e.
B*his was abo9t hal=-past W o4clock@ an5 a=ter a =ew min9tes4 5es9ltor> conversation( m>
wi=e s955enl> remarke5: u: =eel ver> 59ll to-night. I think I will go 5ownstairs to mamma(
=or a =ew min9tes.4
B/oon a=ter m> wi=e4s 5epart9re( I rose =rom m> chair( an5 walke5 in the 5irection o= the
5rawing-room 5oor. .ere I pa9se5 =or a moment( an5 then passe5 o9t to the lan5ing o=
the stairs.
BIt was then e?actl> 2; min9tes to 7 o4clock. I stoo5 =or a moment 9pon the lan5ing( an5
a la5>( 5resse5 as i= she were going on a b9siness erran5( came o9t( apparentl>( =rom an
a5Doining be5room( an5 passe5 close b> me. I 5i5 not 5istinctl> see her =eat9res( nor 5o I
remember what it was that I sai5 to her.
B*he =orm passe5 5own the narrow win5ing stairs( an5 at the same instant m> wi=e came
9p again( so that she m9st have passe5 close to the stranger( in =act( to all appearance(
br9she5 against her.
BI e?claime5( almost imme5iatel>( u,ho is the la5>( 1oll>( that >o9 passe5 D9st now(
coming 9pr4
B%ever can I =orget( or acco9nt =or( m> wi=e4s answer. uI passe5 nobo5>(4 she sai5.
Bu%onsense(4 I replie5@ u#o9 met a la5> D9st now( 5resse5 =or a walk. /he came o9t o= the
little be5room. I spoke to her. /he m9st be a visitor sta>ing with >o9r mother. /he has
gone o9t( no 5o9bt( at the =ront 5oor.4
BuIt is impossible(4 sai5 m> wi=e. u*here is not an> compan> in the ho9se. *he> all le=t
nearl> a week ago. *here is no one in =act at all in5oors( b9t o9rselves an5 mamma.4
Bu/trange(4 I sai5@ uI am certain that I saw an5 spoke to a la5>( D9st be=ore >o9 came
9pstairs( an5 I saw her 5istinctl> pass >o9@
2
so that it seems incre5ible that >o9 5i5 not
perceive her.4
BM> wi=e positivel> asserte5 that the thing was impossible. ,e went 5ownstairs together(
an5 I relate5 the stor> to m> wi=e4s mother( who was b9s> with her ho9sehol5 59ties. /he
con=irme5 her 5a9ghter4s previo9s statement. *here was no one in the ho9se b9t
o9rselves.
i-U2X!
B*he ne?t morning( earl>( a telegram reache5 me =rom Lincolnshire@ it was =rom m> el5er
sister( F9lia PMrs *. ,. "owman( o= 1rospect .o9se( /tech=or5( "irminghamQ( an5
anno9nce5 the a==licting intelligence that o9r 5ear mother ha5 passe5 s955enl> awa> the
night be=ore@ an5 that we %i.e., m>sel= an5 wi=eQ were to ret9rn home to &ainsboro9gh b>
the ne?t train. *he 5octor sai5 it was heart-5isease( which in a =ew min9tes ha5 ca9se5
her 5eath.C
)=ter giving some 5etails o= his arrival at home( an5 o= the kin5ness o= =rien5s( Mr. "ee
contin9es:A
B,hen all was over an5 -hristmas $a> ha5 arrive5( I vent9re5 to ask m> brother the
e?act moment o= o9r mother4s 5eath.
Bu,ell( =ather was o9t(4 he sai5( uat the school-room( an5 I 5i5 not see her alive. F9lia was
D9st in time to see her breathe her last. It was( as nearl> as I can recollect( 2; (inutes to 7
ocloc1.
BI looke5 at m> wi=e =or a moment( an5 then sai5: u*hen I saw her in /o9thport( an5 can
now acco9nt( 9nacco9ntabl>( =or m> impressions.4
B"e=ore the sai5 2Xth o= $ecember I was 9tterl> careless o= these things@ I ha5 given little
or no attention to spirit9al apparitions or impressions.
B'O"*. "EE.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. "ee a55s:A
BM> mother 5ie5 in her 5ress an5 boots@ she was taken ill in the street( an5 ha5 to be
taken to a neighbo9r4s ho9se in &ainsboro9gh a =ew paces =rom her own ho9se. *he
=ig9re resemble5 m> mother e?actl> as to si]e( 5ress( an5 appearance( b9t it 5i5 not recall
her to m> min5 at the time. *he light was not so 5im that( i= m> mother ha5 act9all>
passe5 me in =lesh an5 bloo5( I sho9l5 not have recognise5 her.C
,e learn =rom the obit9ar> notice in the ;incolnshire Chronicle that Mr. "ee4s mother
5ie5 on $ecember 2X( 27W:( in Mr. /mithson4s shop( in &ainsboro9gh( o= heart-5isease@
an5 that her 9s9al health was prett> goo5.
In answer to the E9estion whether this is the onl> case o= hall9cination that he has
e?perience5( Mr. "ee answers B#es.C
.e =9rther a55s:A
B*he gas light over the hea5 o= the stairwa> shone within a =roste5 globe( an5 was
probabl> not t9rne5 on full,.
B*he =act is( there was ample light to see the =ig9re in( b9t D9st as the =ace might have
been t9rne5 to me( or was t9rne5 to me( I co9l5 not( or 5i5 not( clearl> 5iscern it. Man>(
man> times( m> regret an5 5isappointment when I recall this =act have been 5eepl> =elt.C
Mrs. "ee writes to 9s as =ollows:A
BFan9ar> Xth( 2773.
BI= an>thing I can sa> to >o9 will be o= an> 9se( I will willingl> give m> testimon> to all
m> h9sban5 has sai5. I remember per=ectl> ten >ears ago m> visit to m> mother4s( an5
m> h9sban54s 9nacco9ntable restlessness on the partic9lar evening mentione5( also Mr.
"ee asking me( a=ter I ha5 been 5ownstairs( i= I ha5 met a la5> on the stairs. I sai5( u%o( I
5o not think there is an> one in the ho9se b9t 9s.4 Mr. "ee then sai5( u,ell( a la5> has
passe5 me D9st now on the lan5ing@ she came o9t o= the small i-UU;! be5room an5 went
5ownstairs@ she was 5resse5 in a black bonnet an5 shawl.4 I sai5( u%onsense( >o9 m9st be
mistaken.4 .e sai5( uI am certain I am not( an5 I ass9re >o9 I =eel ver> E9eer.4 I then went
to ask mamma i= there was an>one in the ho9se( an5 she sai5 no( onl> o9rselves@ still Mr.
"ee insiste5 someone ha5 passe5 him on the lan5ing( altho9gh we trie5 to reason him o9t
o= it.
BIn the morning while we were in be5( we receive5 a telegram stating that Mrs. "ee ha5
5ie5 s955enl> the night be=ore. I sai5 at once( u'obert( that was >o9r mother >o9 saw last
night.4 .e sai5 it was. ,hen we got to &ainsboro9gh we aske5 what time she 5ie5@ we
were tol5 abo9t 2; min9tes to 7( which was the e?act time@ also that she was taken
s955enl> ill in the street Pwearing at the time a black bonnet an5 shawlQ an5 5ie5 in 2;
min9tes.
BM)'# )%% "EE.C
Mrs. "o9rne( a sister o= Mr. "ee4s( writes to 9s:A
BEastgate Lo5ge( Lincoln.
BOctober Un5( 277V.
BM> mother 5ie5 on $ecember 2Xth( 27W:( abo9t 2; min9tes to 7 in the evening@ it might
be a little later or a little earlier. .er attack resemble5 a =ainting =it( an5 laste5 =rom :; to
3; min9tes. )t the commencement o= it( she sai5 a =ew wor5s to m> sister( when I was
not present@ a=terwar5s I believe she never opene5 her e>es or spoke again( tho9gh we
trie5 o9r 9tmost to in59ce her to 5o so.
BM)'I)% "OU'%E.C
I= this case is acc9ratel> reporte5( the =ig9re seen cannot be s9ppose5 to have been a real
person@ =orAto sa> nothing o= the 9nlikelihoo5 that a strange la5> wo9l5 be on the 9pper
=loor on some 9nknown erran5AMrs. "ee( who seeme5 to her h9sban5 to come into
act9al contact with the =ig9re( co9l5 har5l> have =aile5 to observe that some one passe5
her on the stairs. *he =act that the =orm 5i5 not at the moment s9ggest Mr. "ee4s mother
ten5s( no 5o9bt( to weaken the case as evi5ence =or telepath>( to this e?tent(Athat i= a
person has the one hall9cination o= his li=e at the moment that a near relative 5ies( this
sing9lar coinci5ence ma> with less violence be ascribe5 to acci5ent i= the hall9cination is
merel> an appearanceAan 9nrecognise5 =ig9reAthan i= it is the appearance o= that@
partic9lar relative. *he phantasm not being in5ivi59alise5( the con5itions =or the
operation o= chance are so =ar wi5ene5. /till( there are two strong evi5ential points. *he
coinci5ence o= time seems to have been precise@ an5 the resemblance to the s9ppose5
agent Bas to si]e( 5ress( an5 appearanceC is 5escribe5 as e?act. )s =or an> theoretic
5i==ic9lt> that might be =elt in the =act o= non-recognition( I will make at this point onl>
one remark.
i-UU2!
I= we are prepare5 Pas e?periment has prepare5 9sQ to a5mit that telepathic impressions
nee5 not even a==ect conscio9sness at allAi= it is possible =or some o= them to remain
completel> 9n=eltAit 5oes not seem speciall> s9rprising that others sho9l5 iss9e on the
mental stage with vario9s 5egrees o= 5istinctness an5 completeness.
S W. /o m9ch =or vis9al e?amples. I will now give an ill9stration o= e?ternalise5
impressions o= the auditor, sort. *he case 5i==ers in another respect =rom the =oregoing
vis9al e?amples@ =or tho9gh( as in most o= them( the agent 5ie5( the percipient4s
e?perience preceded the 5eath b> some ho9rs@ an5 that being so( we m9st clearl> connect
this e?perience with the serio9s con5ition in which her =rien5 act9all> was( not with that
in which he was abo9t to be. *he narrative is =rom a la5> who pre=ers that her name an5
a55ress sho9l5 not be p9blishe5. /he is a person o= thoro9gh goo5 sense( an5 with no
appetite =or marvels.
B2773.
P::Q BOn the morning o= October UWth( 27WX( being in per=ect health an5 having been
awake =or some consi5erable time( I hear5 m>sel= calle5 b> m> -hristian name b> an
an?io9s an5 s9==ering voice( several times in s9ccession. I recognise5 the voice as that o=
an ol5 =rien5( almost pla>=ellow( b9t who ha5 not been in m> tho9ghts =or man> weeks(
or even months. I knew he was with his regiment in In5ia( b9t not that he ha5 been
or5ere5 to the =ront( an5 nothing ha5 recalle5 him to m> recollection. ,ithin a =ew 5a>s I
hear5 o= his 5eath =rom cholera on the morning I seeme5 to hear his call. *he impression
was so strong I note5 the 5ate an5 =act in m> 5iar> be=ore break=ast.C
In answer to inE9iries( the narrator sa>s:A
BI was never conscio9s o= an> other a95itor> hall9cination whatever. I 5o not think I
mentione5 the s9bDect to an> one( as I believe we ha5 =rien5s with 9s. I still have m>
5iar> preserve5.C
*he present writer has seen the page o= the 5iar>( an5 the re=erence to the strange
e?perience( 9n5er the 5ate o= Mon5a>( October UWth( 27WX.
B,e =in5 =rom the >ast :ndia !ervice =egister =or Fan9ar>( 277;( that the 5eath o= -aptain
Fohn ".( %ative In=antr> P"omba> $ivisionQ( took place on October UWth( 27WX( at
Fhel9m. P*his is the gentleman re=erre5 to in the acco9nt.Q *he Ti(es obit9ar> o=
%ovember 3th( 27WX( mentions that the 5eath was 59e to cholera.
O9r in=ormant was reE9este5 to =in5 o9t the e?act ho9r o= the 5eath( an5 learnt that it took
place( not in the morning( as she ha5 s9ppose5( b9t at 2; p.m. Pabo9t V p.m. in Englan5Q.
/he a55s: B/o that wo9l5 not make the time agree with the ho9r o= hearing his call( *he
cr> ma> have come( however( when the illness began =irst.C
In the last-E9ote5 vis9al e?ample( the =ig9re seen was 9nrecognise5. i-UUU! I will now
give a parallel a95itor> case( where the so9n5 hear5 b> the percipient s9ggeste5 at the
moment no partic9lar person. *he acco9nt is =rom a gentleman o= goo5 position( whom I
m9st term Mr. ). J. .e is as =ar remove5 as possible =rom s9perstition( an5 takes no
general interest in the s9bDect. .e has given 9s the =9ll names o= all the persons
concerne5( b9t is 9nwilling that the> sho9l5 be p9blishe5( on acco9nt o= the pain=9l
character o= the event recor5e5.
BMa>( 277V.
P:3Q BIn 27W8( I was living in a small agric9lt9ral parish in the East o= Englan5( one o=
m> neighbo9rs at the time being a >o9ng man( /. ".(
2
who ha5 recentl> come into the
occ9pation o= a large =arm in the place. 1en5ing the alteration o= his ho9se( he lo5ge5 an5
boar5e5 with his groom at the other en5 o= the village( =9rthest remove5 =rom m> own
resi5ence( which was hal= a mile 5istant an5 separate5 b> man> ho9ses( gar5ens( a
plantation( an5 =arm b9il5ings. .e was =on5 o= =iel5 sports( an5 spent m9ch o= his spare
time 59ring the season in h9nting. .e was not a personal =rien5 o= mine( onl> an
acE9aintance( an5 I =elt no interest in him e?cept as a tenant on the estate. I have aske5
him occasionall> to m> ho9se( as a matter o= civilit>( b9t to the best o= m> recollection
was never insi5e his lo5gings.
BOne a=ternoon in March( 27W8( when leaving( along with m> wi=e( o9r railwa> station to
walk home( I was accoste5 b> /. ".@ he accompanie5 9s as =ar as m> =ront gate( where he
kept 9s in conversation =or some time( b9t on no special s9bDect. I ma> now state that the
5istance =rom this gate( going along the carriage 5rive( to the 5ining an5 break=ast room
win5ows is abo9t 8; >ar5s@ both the win5ows o= these rooms =ace the north-east an5 are
parallel with the carriage 5rive.
U
On /. ". taking leave o= 9s m> wi=e remarke5( u#o9ng
". evi5entl> wishe5 to be aske5 in( b9t I tho9ght >o9 wo9l5 not care to be tro9ble5 with
him.4 /9bseE9entl>Aabo9t hal=-an-ho9r laterAI again met him( an5( as I was then on m>
wa> to look at some work at a 5istant part o= the estate( aske5 him to walk with me(
which he 5i5. .is conversation was o= the or5inar> character@ i= an>thing( he seeme5
somewhat 5epresse5 at the ba5 times an5 the low prices o= =arming pro59ce. I remember
he aske5 me to give him some wire rope to make a =ence on his =arm( which I consente5
to 5o. 'et9rning =rom o9r walk( an5 on entering the village( I p9lle5 9p at the crossroa5s
to sa> goo5 evening( the roa5 to his lo5gings taking him at right angles to mine. I was
s9rprise5 to hear him sa>( u-ome an5 smoke a cigar with me to-night.C *o which I
replie5( uI cannot ver> well( I am engage5 this evening.4 u$o come(4 he sai5. u%o(4 I
replie5( uI will look in another evening.4 )n5 with this we parte5. ,e ha5 separate5 abo9t
3; >ar5s when he t9rne5 aro9n5 an5 e?claime5( u*hen i= >o9 will not come( goo5-b>e.4
*his was the last time I saw him alive.
BI spent the evening in m> 5ining-room in writing( an5 =or some ho9rs I ma> sa> that
probabl> no tho9ght o= >o9ng ". passe5 thro9gh m> min5. *he night was bright an5
clear( =9ll or nearl> =9ll moon( still( an5 witho9t i-UU:! win5. /ince I ha5 come in slight
snow ha5 =allen( D9st s9==icient to make the gro9n5 show white.
B)t abo9t V min9tes to 2; o4clock I got 9p an5 le=t the room( taking 9p a lamp =rom the
hall table( an5 replacing it on a small table stan5ing in a recess o= the win5ow in the
break=ast-room. *he c9rtains were not 5rawn across the win5ow. I ha5 D9st taken 5own
=rom the nearest bookcase a vol9me o= uMacgillivra>4s "ritish "ir5s4 =or re=erence( an5
was in the act o= rea5ing the passage( the book hel5 close to the lamp( an5 m> sho9l5er
to9ching the win5ow sh9tter( an5 in a position in which almost the slightest o9tsi5e so9n5
wo9l5 be hear5( when I 5istinctl> hear5 the =ront gate opene5 an5 sh9t again with a clap(
an5 =ootsteps a5vancing at a r9n 9p the 5rive@ when opposite the win5ow the steps
change5 =rom sharp an5 5istinct on gravel to 59ll an5 less clear on the grass slip below
the win5ow( an5 at the same time I was conscio9s that someone or something stoo5 close
to me o9tsi5e( onl> the thin sh9tter an5 a sheet o= glass 5ivi5ing 9s. I co9l5 hear the E9ick
panting labo9re5 breathing o= the messenger( or whatever it was( as i= tr>ing to recover
breath be=ore speaking. .a5 he been attracte5 b> the light thro9gh the sh9tterr /955enl>(
like a g9nshot( insi5e( o9tsi5e( an5 all aro9n5( there broke o9t the most appalling shriekA
a prolonge5 wail o= horror( which seeme5 to =ree]e the bloo5. It was not a single shriek(
b9t more prolonge5( commencing in a high ke>( an5 then less an5 less( wailing awa>
towar5s the north( an5 becoming weaker an5 weaker as it rece5e5 in sobbing p9lsations
o= intense agon>. O= m> =right an5 horror I can sa> nothingAincrease5 ten=ol5 when I
walke5 into the 5ining-room an5 =o9n5 m> wi=e sitting E9ietl> at her work close to the
win5ow( in the same line an5 5istant onl> 2; or 2U =eet =rom the correspon5ing win5ow
in the break=ast-room. !he had heard nothing. I co9l5 see that at once@ an5 =rom the
position in which she was sitting( l knew she co9l5 not have =aile5 to hear an> noise
o9tsi5e an5 an> =ootstep on the gravel. 1erceiving I was alarme5 abo9t something( she
aske5( u,hat is the matterr4 uOnl> someone o9tsi5e(4 I sai5. u*hen wh> 5o >o9 not go o9t
an5 seer #o9 alwa>s 5o when >o9 hear an> 9n9s9al noise.4 I sai5( u*here is something so
E9eer an5 5rea5=9l abo9t the noise. I 5are not =ace it. It m9st have been the "anshee
shrieking.4
B#o9ng /. ".( on leaving me( went home to his lo5gings. .e spent most o= the evening on
the so=a( rea5ing one o= ,h>te Melville4s novels. .e saw his groom at X o4clock an5
gave him or5ers =or the =ollowing 5a>. *he groom an5 his wi=e( who were the onl> people
in the ho9se besi5es /. ".( then went to be5.
B)t the inE9est the groom state5 that when abo9t =alling asleep( he was s955enl> aro9se5
b> a shriek( an5 on r9nning into his master4s room =o9n5 him e?piring on the =loor. It
appeare5 that >o9ng ". ha5 9n5resse5 9pstairs( an5 then came 5own to his sitting-room in
tro9sers an5 nightshirt( ha5 po9re5 o9t hal=-a-glass o= water( into which he emptie5 a
small bottle o= pr9ssic aci5 Pproc9re5 that morning 9n5er the plea o= poisoning a 5og(
which he 5i5 not possessQ. .e walke5 9pstairs( an5 on entering his room 5rank o== the
glass( an5 with a scream =ell 5ea5 on the =loor. )ll this happene5( as near as I can
ascertain( at the e.act ti(e when I ha5 been so m9ch alarme5 at m> own ho9se. It is
9tterl> impossible that an> so9n5 short o= a cannon shot co9l5 have reache5 me =rom ".4s
lo5gings( i-UU3! thro9gh close5 win5ows an5 5oors( an5 the man> intervening obstacles
o= ho9ses an5 gar5ens( =armstea5s an5 plantations( [c.
B.aving to leave home b> the earl> train( I was o9t ver> soon on the =ollowing morning(
an5 on going to e?amine the gro9n5 beneath the win5ow =o9n5 no footsteps on grass or
5rive( still covere5 with the slight sprinkling o= snow which ha5 =allen on the previo9s
evening.
B*he whole thing ha5 been a 5ream o= the momentAan imagination( call it what >o9
will@ I simpl> state these =acts as the> occ9rre5( witho9t attempting an> e?planation(
which( in5ee5( I am totall> 9nable to give. *he entire inci5ent is a m>ster>( an5 will ever
remain a m>ster> to me. I 5i5 not hear the partic9lars o= the trage5> till the =ollowing
a=ternoon( having le=t home b> an earl> train. *he motive o= s9ici5e was sai5 to be a love
a==air.C
In a s9bseE9ent letter 5ate5 F9ne 2Uth( 277V( Mr. ). J. sa>s:A
B*he s9ici5e took place in this parish on *h9rs5a> night( March Xth( 27W8( at or abo9t 2;
p.m. *he inE9est was hel5 on /at9r5a>( 22th( b> AA( the then coroner. .e has been 5ea5
some >ears( or I might perhaps have been able to obtain a cop> o= his notes then taken.
#o9 will probabl> =in5 some notice o= the inE9est in the AA o= March 2Wth. I 5i5 not
m>sel= hear an> partic9lars o= the event till m> ret9rn home on +ri5a> a=ternoon( 2W ho9rs
a=terwar5s. *he slight snow =ell abo9t 7 o4clockAnot later. )=ter this the night was bright
an5 =ine( an5 ver> still. *here was also a rather sharp =rost. I have evi5ence o= all this to
satis=> an> law>er.
BI went earl> the ne?t morning 9n5er the win5ow to look =or =ootsteps( D9st be=ore
leaving home =or the 5a>. 1erhaps it is not E9ite correct to call it snow@ it was small
=ro]en sleet an5 hail( an5 the grass bla5es D9st peepe5 thro9gh( b9t there was E9ite
eno9gh to have shown an> steps ha5 there been an>.
BI was not m>sel= at the inE9est( so in that case onl> speak =rom hearsa>. In m> narrative
I sa> the groom was awoke b> ua shriek.4 I have aske5 the man Yname givenZ( an5 cross-
E9estione5 him closel> on this point@ an5 it is more correct to sa> b> ua series o= noises
en5ing in a crash4 or uheav> =all.4 *his is most probabl> correct( as the son o= the tenant
Yname givenZ( living in the ne?t ho9se( was aro9se5 b> the same sort of sound coming
thro9gh the wall o= the ho9se into the a5Doining be5room in which he was sleeping.
BI 5o not( however( wish it to be 9n5erstoo5 that an> (aterial noises hear5 in that ho9se
or the ne?t ha5 an> connection with the pec9liar noises an5 scream which =rightene5 me
so m9ch( as an>one knowing the localit> m9st a5mit at once the i(possibilit, o= s9ch
so9n5s travelling 9n5er an> con5itions thro9gh intervening obstacles. I onl> sa> that the
scene enacte5 in the one was coinci5ent with m> alarm an5 the phenomena atten5ing it in
the other.
BI =in5 b> re=erence to the book o= AA( chemist( o= AA( that the poison was p9rchase5
b> >o9ng /. ".( on March 7th. I enclose a note =rom Mrs. ). J.( accor5ing to >o9r
reE9est.C
*he enclose5 note( signe5 b> Mrs. ). J.( also 5ate5 F9ne 2Uth( 277V( is as =ollows:A
i-UUV!
BI am able to testi=> that on the night o= March Xth( 27W8( abo9t 2; o4clock( m> h9sban5(
who ha5 gone into the a5Doining room to cons9lt a book( was greatl> alarme5 b> so9n5s
which he hear5( an5 5escribe5 as the gate clapping( =ootsteps on the 5rive an5 grass( an5
heav> breathing close to the win5owAthen a =ear=9l screaming.
BI 5i5 not hear an>thing. .e 5i5 not go to look ro9n5 the ho9se( as he wo9l5 have 5one at
an> other time( an5 when I after-ards aske5 him wh> he 5i5 not go o9t( he replie5(
u"eca9se I =elt I co9l5 not.4 On going to be5 he took his g9n 9pstairs@ an5 when I aske5
him wh>( sai5( u"eca9se there m9st be someone abo9t.4
B.e le=t home earl> in the morning( an5 5i5 not hear o= the s9ici5e o= Mr. /. ". 9ntil the
a=ternoon o= that 5a>.C
)n article which we have seen in a local newspaper( 5escribing the s9ici5e an5 inE9est(
con=irms the above acco9nt o= them.
)ske5 i= he ha5 ha5 an> similar a==ections which ha5 not correspon5e5 with realit>( Mr.
). J. replie5 in the negative.
*he criticism ma5e on Mr. "ee4s case will o= co9rse appl> again here@ the percipient4s
=ail9re to connect his impression with the agent is( pro tanto an evi5ential 5e=ect. "9t the
=act remains that he receive5 an impression o= a vivi5l> 5istress=9l an5 horrible kin5Ao=
a t>pe( too( rarel> met with as a p9rel> s9bDective hall9cination among sane an5 health>
persons
2
Aat the ver> time that his companion o= a =ew ho9rs back was in the agon> o= a
s9preme crisis.
S 7. *elepathic impressions o= the sense o= touch are nat9rall> har5 to establish( 9nless
some other sense is also a==ecte5. In the cases in o9r collection( at all events( a mere
impression o= to9ch has rarel>( i= ever( been s9==icientl> remarkable or 5istinctive =or
p9rposes o= evi5ence. *he case( there=ore( which I select to ill9strate tactile impression is
one where the sense o= hearing was also concerne5. )n5 the e?ample( as it happens( will
serve a 5o9ble p9rpose@ =or it will also ill9strate the phenomenon o= reciprocalit,, which(
as I have sai5( we make the basis o= a separate class P+Q. *he narrator is again the 'ev. 1.
.. %ewnham( o= whose telepathic rapport with his wi=e we have ha5 s9ch striking
e?perimental proo=( an5 who 5escribes himsel= as Ban 9tter sceptic( in the tr9e sense o=
the wor5.C
P:VQ BIn March( 27V3( I was 9p at O?=or5( keeping m> last term( in lo5gings. I was
s9bDect to violent ne9ralgic hea5aches( which alwa>s c9lminate5 in sleep. One evening(
abo9t 7 p.m.( I ha5 an 9n9s9all> violent one@ when it became 9nen59rable( abo9t X p.m.( I
went into i-UU8! m> be5room( an5 =l9ng m>sel=( witho9t 9n5ressing( on the be5( an5
soon =ell asleep.
BI then ha5 a sing9larl> clear an5 vivi5 5ream( all the inci5ents o= which are still as clear
to m> memor> as ever. I 5reame5 that I was stopping with the =amil> o= the la5> who
s9bseE9entl> became m> wi=e. )ll the >o9nger ones ha5 gone to be5( an5 I stoppe5
chatting to the =ather an5 mother( stan5ing 9p b> the =ireplace. 1resentl> I ba5e them
goo5night( took m> can5le( an5 went o== to be5. On arriving in the hall( I perceive5 that
m> fianc4e ha5 been 5etaine5 5ownstairs( an5 was onl> then near the top o= the staircase.
I r9she5 9pstairs( overtook her on the top step( an5 passe5 m> two arms ro9n5 her waist(
9n5er her arms( =rom behin5. )ltho9gh I was carr>ing m> can5le in m> le=t han5( when I
ran 9pstairs( this 5i5 not( in m> 5ream( inter=ere with this gest9re.
BOn this I woke( an5 a clock in the ho9se str9ck 2; almost imme5iatel> a=terwar5s.
B/o strong was the impression o= the 5ream that I wrote a 5etaile5 acco9nt o= it ne?t
morning to m> fianc4e.
BCrossing (, letter, not in answer to it( I receive5 a letter =rom the la5> in E9estion:
u,ere >o9 thinking abo9t me( ver> speciall>( last night( D9st abo9t 2; o4clockr +or( as I
was going 9pstairs to be5( I 5istinctl> hear5 >o9r =ootsteps on the stairs( an5 =elt >o9 p9t
>o9r arms ro9n5 m> waist.4
B*he letters in E9estion are now 5estro>e5( b9t we veri=ie5 the statement ma5e therein
some >ears later( when we rea5 over o9r ol5 letters( previo9s to their 5estr9ction( an5 we
=o9n5 that o9r personal recollections ha5 not varie5 in the least 5egree there=rom. *he
above narratives ma>( there=ore( be accepte5 as absol9tel> acc9rate.
u1. .. %E,%.)M.C
)ske5 i= his wi=e has ever ha5 an> other hall9cinations( Mr. %ewnham replie5( u%o( Mrs.
%. never ha5 an> =anc> o= either m>sel= or an> one else being present on an> other
occasion.C
*he =ollowing is Mrs. %ewnham4s acco9nt:A
BF9ne Xth( 2773.
BI remember 5istinctl> the circ9mstance which m> h9sban5 has 5escribe5 as
correspon5ing with his 5ream. I was on m> wa> 9p to be5( as 9s9al( abo9t 2; o4clock(
an5 on reaching the =irst lan5ing I hear5 5istinctl> the =ootsteps o= the gentleman to
whom I was engage5( E9ickl> mo9nting the stairs a=ter me( an5 then I as plainl> =elt him
p9t his arms ro9n5 m> waist. /o strong an impression 5i5 this make 9pon me that I wrote
the ver> ne?t morning to the gentleman( asking i= he ha5 been partic9larl> thinking o= me
at 2; ouclock the night be=ore( an5 to m> astonishment I receive5 Pat the same time that
m> letter wo9l5 reach himQ a letter =rom him 5escribing his 5ream( in almost the same
wor5s that I ha5 9se5 in 5escribing m> impression o= his presence.
BM. %E,%.)M.C
YIt is 9n=ort9nate that the act9al letters cannot be p9t in evi5ence. "9t Mr. %ewnham4s
5istinct statement that the letters were e?amine5( an5 the coinci5ence veri=ie5( some
>ears a=ter the occ9rrence( strongl> con=irms his own an5 his wi=e4s recollections o= the
original inci5ent.Z
i-UUW!
In this case it wo9l5( no 5o9bt( be possible to s9ppose that Mr. %ewnham was the sole
agent( an5 that his normal 5ream was the so9rce o= his fianc4es abnormal hall9cination.
"9t it is at least eE9all> nat9ral to s9ppose a certain amo9nt o= reciprocal percipienceAa
m9t9al in=l9ence o= the two parties on one another. ,e shall meet with more concl9sive
e?amples o= the m9t9al e==ect =9rther on@ an5 it nee5 in no wa> 5ist9rb o9r conception o=
telepath>. +or i= once the startling =act that )4s min5 can a==ect "4s at a 5istance be
a5mitte5( there seems no 3 priori reason =or either a==irming or 5en>ing that the
con5itions o= this a==ection are =avo9rable to a reverse telepathic comm9nication =rom "4s
min5 to )4s. In5ee5( i= in o9r ignorance o= the nat9re o= these con5itions an> sort o=
s9rmise were legitimate( it might perhaps rather lean to the probabilit> o= the reciprocal
in=l9ence@ an5 the nat9ral E9estion might seem to be( not wh> this =eat9re is present( b9t
wh> it is so generall> absent. Meanwhile it is eno9gh to note the t>pe( an5 observe that
the telepathic theor>( as so =ar evolve5( will s9==icientl> cover it.
S X. +inall>( the class o= collective percipience P&Q ma> be ill9strate5 b> an instance
which Psince vis9al cases have prepon5erate5 in this chapterQ I will again select =rom the
a95itor> gro9p. It was receive5 in the s9mmer o= 277V( =rom Mr. Fohn $one( o= /tockle>
-ottage( /tretton( ,arrington.
P:8Q BM> sister-in-law( /arah E9stance( o= /tretton( was l>ing sick 9nto 5eath( an5 m>
wi=e was gone over to there =rom Lowton -hapel P2U or 2: miles o==Q( to see her an5 ten5
her in her last moments. )n5 on the night be=ore her 5eath Psome 2U or 23 ho9rs be=oreQ I
was sleeping at home alone( an5 awaking( hear5 a voice 5istinctl> call me. *hinking it
was m> niece( 'osanna( the onl> other occ9pant o= the ho9se( who might be sick or in
tro9ble( I went to her room an5 =o9n5 her awake an5 nervo9s. I aske5 her whether she
ha5 calle5 me. /he answere5( u%o@ b9t something awoke me( when I hear5 someone
callings4
BOn m> wi=e ret9rning home a=ter her sister4s 5eath( she tol5 me how an?io9s her sister
ha5 been to see me( ucraving =or me to be sent =or(4 an5 sa>ing( uOh( how I want to see
$one once mores4 an5 soon a=ter became speechless. "9t the c9rio9s part was that abo9t
the same time she was ucraving(4 I an5 m> niece hear5 the call.
BFohn $one.C
In a s9bseE9ent letter Mr. $one writes:A
BIn answer to >o9r E9eries respecting the voice or call that I hear5 on the night o= F9l>
Un5( 2788( I m9st e?plain that there was a strong s>mpath> an5 a==ection between m>sel=
an5 m> sister-in-law( o= p9re brotherl> an5 sisterl> love@ an5 that she was in the habit o=
calling me b> the title o= uUncle $one(4 in the manner o= a h9sban5 calling his wi=e i-
UU7! umother4 when there are chil5ren( as in this case. .ence the call being uUncle( 9ncle(
9ncles4 lea5ing me to think that it was m> niece Pthe onl>-other occ9pant o= the ho9se that
/9n5a> nightQ calling to me.
B-op> o= =9neral car5: uIn remembrance o= the late /arah E9stance( who 5ie5 F9l> :r5(
2788( age5 3V >ears( an5 was this 5a> interre5 at /tretton -h9rch( F9l> 8th( 2788.4
BM> wi=e( who went =rom Lowton that partic9lar /9n5a> to see her sister( will testi=> that
as she atten5e5 9pon her Pa=ter the 5epart9re o= the ministerQ( 59ring the night she was
wishing an5 craving to see me( repeate5l> sa>ing( uOh( I wish I co9l5 see Uncle $one
an5 'osie once more be=ore I gos4 an5 soon a=ter then she became 9nconscio9s( or at least
cease5 speaking( an5 5ie5 the ne?t 5a>@ o= which =act I was not aware 9ntil m> wi=e
ret9rne5 on the evening o= the 3th o= F9l>.
BI hope m> niece will answer =or me@ however( I ma> state that she remin5s me that she
tho9ght I was calling her an5 was coming to me( when she met me in the passage or
lan5ing( an5 I aske5 her i= she calle5 me.
BI 5o not remember ever hearing a voice or call besi5es the above case.C
On )9g9st Wth( 277V( Mr. $one writes:A
BM> wi=e being sick an5 weak o= bo5>( 5ictates the =ollowing statement to me:A
BI( Eli]abeth $one( wi=e o= Fohn $one( an5 a9nt to 'osanna $one Pnow /ewillQ( testi=>
that( on the Un5 o= F9l>( 2788( I was atten5ing 9pon m> 5>ing sister( /arah E9stance( at
/tretton( 2U miles =rom m> home at Lowton -hapel( %ewton le ,illows@ when 59ring the
night previo9s to her 5eath( she crave5 =or me to sen5 =or m> h9sban5 an5 niece( as she
wishe5 to see them once more be=ore she 5eparte5 hence( sa>ing o=ten uOh( I wish $one
an5 'osie were here. Oh( I 5o long to see Uncle $one.4 /oon a=ter she became speechless
an5 seemingl> 9nconscio9s( an5 5ie5 some time 59ring the 5a> =ollowing.
BELIJ)"E*. $O%E.C
Mr. $one a55s:A
B/everal inci5ents have come to m> min5( one o= which is that( =eeling 9nsettle5 in m>
min5 59ring the 5a> a=ter having hear5 the voice calling me( an5 =eeling a presentiment
that m> 5ear sister-in-law was 5ea5( I( towar5s evening( set o== to meet a train at %ewton
"ri5ge( which I believe5 m> wi=e wo9l5 come b>( ret9rning home( if her sister -as dead
as : e.pected. *here was an 9n5erstan5ing that she was to sta> at /tretton to atten5 9pon
Mrs. E9stance 9ntil her 5emise or convalescence.
BI met m> wi=e some =ew h9n5re5 >ar5s =rom the station( an5 co9l5 see b> her
co9ntenance that m> s9rmises were correct. /he then tol5 me the partic9lars o= her
sister4s 5eath( how she longed to see me an5 'osanna. I then tol5 her o= o9r being calle5
b> a voice resembling hers so(e ti(e in the night previous, when she Pm> wi=eQ sai5 she
PMrs. E9stanceQ o=ten repeate5 o9r names 59ring the night be=ore becoming
9nconscio9s.C
*he niece( Mrs. /ewill( writes as =ollows:A
B22( /mith5own Lane( 1a55ington( Liverpool.
B)9g9st U2st( 277V.
B)t m> 9ncle4s an5 >o9r reE9est( I write to con=irm the statement o= 9ncle respecting the
voice I hear5( as =ollows: I was awakene5 s955enl> witho9t apparent ca9se( an5 hear5 a
voice call me 5istinctl>( th9s: u=os,, i-UUX! =os,, =os,T
2
*hinking it was m> 9ncle
calling( I rose an5 went o9t o= m> room( an5 met m> 9ncle coming to see i= I was calling
him.
U
,e were the onl> occ9pants o= the ho9se that night( a9nt being awa> atten5ing
9pon her sister. *he night I was calle5 was between Un5 an5 :r5 o= F9l>( 2788. I co9l5 not
sa> the time I was calle5( b9t I know it was the break o= 5a>. I never was calle5 be=ore or
since.
B'O/)%%) /E,ILL.C
Y*he last wor5sAan answer to the E9estion whether the narrator ha5 ever e?perience5
an> other hall9cinationAperhaps nee5 correction( as I learnt in conversation that on
another occasion she Pan5 two other persons in the same ho9seQ ha5 been woke b> a
voice resembling that o= a 5ecease5 relative. "9t she is b> no means a =anci=9l or
s9perstitio9s witness.Z
*he percipients in this case ma> perhaps have been in a somewhat an?io9s an5 highl>-
wro9ght state. %ow that is a con5ition whichAas we shall see in the seE9elAten5s
occasionall> to pro59ce p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations o= the senses. It is tr9e that the
impression o= a call which was imagine5 to be that o= a health> person close at han5( an5
was in no wa> s9ggestive o= the 5>ing woman( 5oes not seem a likel> =orm =or s9bDective
hall9cination 59e to an?iet> abo9t her to take@ still( the presence o= the an?iet> wo9l5
have prevente5 9s =rom incl95ing s9ch a case in o9r evi5ence( ha5 onl> a single person
been impresse5. "9t it m9st be a5mitte5 as a highl> improbable acci5ent that t-o
startling impressions( so similar in character( an5 each 9niE9e in the li=e o= the person
who e?perience5 it( sho9l5 have so e?actl> coinci5e5.
S 2;. *he above ma> serve as e?amples o= the several gro9ps classi=ie5 with re=erence to
the nat9re o= the percipients impression. "9t it will be seen that the agent has also been
e?hibite5 in a great variet> o= con5itionsAin normal waking health( in apparentl>
5reamless sleep Ppp. 2;:TXQ( in 5ream( in ph>sical pain( in a swoon( in the e?citement o=
5anger( in 5angero9s illness( an5 in articulo (ortis( the 5eath being in one case acci5ental
an5 instantaneo9s( in another the res9lt o= a s955en sei]9re( an5 in others the concl9sion
o= a prolonge5 illness. )n5 ami5 this variet> the rea5er will( no 5o9bt( have been str9ck
b> the large proportion o= death casesAa proportion which 59l> represents their general
prepon5erance among allege5 cases o= spontaneo9s telepath>. *he> constit9te abo9t hal=
o= o9r whole collection. %ow this =act raises a E9estion with respect to the interpretation
o= the phenomena which ma> be convenientl> notice5 at once since it bears an eE9al
relation to nearl> all the i-U:;! chapters that =ollow( while s9ch answer as I can give to it
5epen5s to some e?tent on what has prece5e5.
,e are( o= co9rse( acc9stome5 to regar5 5eath as a completel> 9niE9e an5 incomparabl>
important event@ an5 it might th9s seem( on a s9per=icial glance( that i= spontaneo9s
telepath> is possible( an5 the con5itions an5 occasions o= its occ9rrence are in E9estion(
no more likel> occasion than 5eath co9l5 be s9ggeste5. "9t on closer consi5eration( we
are remin5e5 that the act9al ps>chical con5ition that imme5iatel> prece5es 5eath o=ten
5oes not seem to be speciall> or at all remarkable( still less 9niE9e@ an5 that it is this
act9al ps>chical con5itionAwhile it lasts( an5 not a=ter it has cease5Athat reall>
concerns 9s here. O9r s9bDect is phantasms of the living: we seek the con5itions o= the
telepathic imp9lse on the hither si5e o= the 5ivi5ing line( in the closing passage o= li=e@
not in that h9ge negative =actAthe apparent cessation or absence o= li=eAon which the
common i5ea o= 5eath an5 o= its momento9s importance is base5. )n5 the closing
passage o= li=e( in some o= the cases above E9ote5 an5 in man> others that are to =ollow(
was( to all appearance( one o= more or less complete letharg>@ a state which Pon its
ps>chical si5e at an> rateQ seems in no wa> 5isting9ishable =rom one thro9gh which the
agent has passe5 on n9mero9s previo9s occasionsAthat o= 5eep sleep. %or are the cases
which iss9e in 5eath the onl> ones to which this remark applies: in the more remarkable
cases o= -hap. III.( the agent was act9all> in 5eep sleep@ Mrs. "ettan>4s mother was in a
swoon Pp. 2X3Q@ an5 other similar instances will meet 9s. .ere( then( there appears to be a
real 5i==ic9lt>. +or how can we attrib9te an e?traor5inar> e?ercise o= ps>chical energ> to
a state which on its ps>chical si5e is E9ite or5inar>( an5 in which ps>chical an5 ph>sical
energies alike seem re59ce5 to their lowest limitsr
It ma>( no 5o9bt( be replie5 that we have no right to ass9me that the ps>chical con5ition
is or5inar>@ that the nervous con5ition in the letharg> o= approaching 5eath( an5 even in a
=ainting-=it( ma> 5i==er greatl> =rom that o= normal sleep( an5 that this 5i==erence ma> be
somehow represente5 on the ps>chical si5e( even tho9gh the ostensible ps>chical
con5ition is appro?imatel> nil. "9t a completer answer ma> possibl> be =o9n5 in some
=9rther 5evelopment o= the i5ea o= the B9nconscio9s intelligenceC which was mentione5
above Ppp. 8X( W;Q. ,e there note5 stra> mani=estations o= ps>chical action that seeme5
9nconnecte5 with the more or less coherent stream o= e?perience which we recognise as a
self/ an5 a probable relation o= these was pointe5 i-U:2! o9t to those c9rio9s cases o=
B5o9ble conscio9sness(C in which two more or less coherent streams o= e?perience
replace one another b> t9rns( an5 the same person seems to have two selves. Man> other
cognate =acts might be mentione5( which enable 9s to generalise to some e?tent the
conceptions s9ggeste5 b> the more prominent instances. "9t since =or present p9rposes
the topic onl> concerns 9s at the point where it comes into contact with telepath>( I m9st
ask the rea5er to seek those =9rther =acts elsewhere@ an5 to accept here the statement that
the more these little-known paths o= ps>cholog> are e?plore5( the more 5i==ic9lt will it
appear to ro9n5 o== the i5ea o= personalit>( or to meas9re h9man e?istence b> the limits o=
the phenomenal sel=.
2
%ow the ver> nat9re o= this 5i==ic9lt> cannot b9t s9ggest a 5eeper
sol9tion than the mere connection o= vario9s streams o= ps>chic li=e in a single organism.
It s9ggests the h>pothesis that a single in5ivi59alit> ma> have its ps>chical being( so to
speak( on 5i==erent planes@ that the stra> =ragments o= B9nconscio9s intelligence(C an5 the
alternating selves o= B5o9ble conscio9sness(C belong reall> to a more =9n5amental 9nit>(
which =in5s in what we call li=e ver> imper=ect con5itions o= mani=estation@ an5 that the
sel= which or5inar> men habit9all> regar5 as their proper in5ivi59alit> ma> a=ter all be
onl> a partial emergence. )n5 this h>pothesis wo9l5 rea5il> embrace an5 e?plain the
special telepathic =act in E9estion@ while itsel= 5rawing =rom that =act a =resh s9pport. ">
its ai5 we can at once pict9re to o9rselves how it sho9l5 be that the near approach o=
5eath is a con5ition e?ceptionall> =avo9rable to telepathic action( even tho9gh vital
=ac9lties seem all b9t with5rawn( an5 the =amiliar sel= has lapse5 to the ver> threshol5 o=
conscio9sness. +or to the hi55en an5 completer sel= the imminence o= the great change
ma> be apparent in its =9ll an5 9niE9e impressiveness@ na>( 5eath itsel= ma> be
recognise5( =or a9ght we can tell( not as a cessation b9t as a liberation o= energ>. "9t this
line o= tho9ght( tho9gh worth pointing o9t as that along which the =9ll acco9nt o= certain
phenomena o= telepath> ma> in time be so9ght( is not one that I can here p9rs9e.
i-U:U!
+!P#&R )(.
#R!"$F&R&"+& %F (/&!$ !"/ %F M&"#!' P(+#.R&$.
S 2. *.E a5vance-g9ar5 o= cases in the last chapter has a==or5e5 a glance at the whole
range o= the phenomena. "9t I m9st now start on a metho5ical plan( an5 take the
narratives in gro9ps accor5ing to their s9bDect-matter. *he gro9ps will =ollow the same
or5er as the prece5ing specimens@ b9t tho9gh theoreticall> the best( this or5er has the
practical 5isa5vantage that it p9ts the weakest classes =irst. O= the two great 5ivisions( the
e.ternalised impressions are b>-=ar the most remarkable in themselves( an5 b> =ar the
most concl9sive as evi5ence@ b9t as the> constit9te the e?treme e?amples o= telepathic
action( the> are logicall> le5 9p to thro9gh the non6e.ternalised gro9p( which presents
more obvio9s analogies with the e?perimental basis o= o9r inE9ir>. I m9st( there=ore( beg
the rea5er who ma> be 5isappointe5 b> m9ch o= the evi5ence in this an5 the two
=ollowing chapters( to note that it is no wa> presente5 as concl9sive@ an5 that tho9gh it is
well worth> o= attention i= the case =or spontaneo9s telepath> is once ma5e o9t( it is onl>
when we come to the Bbor5erlan5C e?amples o= -hap. I\. that the strength o= the case
begins rapi5l> to acc9m9late.
*he great point which connects man> o= the more inwar5 impressions o= spontaneo9s
telepath> with the e?perimental cases is thisAthat what enters the percipient4s min5 is
the e?act repro59ction o= the agent4s tho9ght at the moment. It is to this class o= 5irect
trans=erences( especiall> between persons who are in close association with one another(
that pop9lar belie= most rea5il> inclinesAas a r9le( witho9t an> s9==icient gro9n5s.
%othing is commoner than to hear instances o= s>mpathetic =lashes between members o=
the same ho9sehol5Acases where one person s955enl> makes the ver> remark that
another was abo9t to makeAa559ce5 as evi5ence o= some sort o= s9persens9o9s
comm9nication. "9t it is tolerabl> evi5ent that a i-U::! n9mber o= s9ch Bo55
coinci5encesC are s9re to occ9r in a per=ectl> normal wa>. Min5s which are in habit9al
contact with one another will constantl> react in the same wa>( even to the most tri=ling
in=l9ences o= the moment@ an5 the s955en wor5 which proves them to have 5one so
wo9l5 have nothing startling in it( i= the whole train o= association that le5 9p to it co9l5
be e?pose5 to view. Moreover( ph>sical signs which wo9l5 be imperceptible to a stranger(
ma> be easil> an5 hal=-a9tomaticall> interprete5 b> a =amiliar associate@ an5 th9s what
looks sometimes like 5ivination ma> per=ectl> well be 59e to 9nconscio9s in=erence. It is
ver> rarel> that con5itions o= this sort can be with certaint> e?cl95e5. /till( e?perimental
tho9ght-trans=erence wo9l5 certainl> prepare 9s to enco9nter the phenomenon
occasionall> in or5inar> social an5 5omestic li=e@ an5 one or two e?amples ma> be given
which have a strong pri(0 facie air o= being gen9ine specimens.
One =reE9ent =orm o= the allege5 trans=erences is that o= tunes. It is matter o= ver>
common observation that one person begins h9mming the ver> t9ne that is r9nning in
some one else4s hea5. *his a5mits( as a r9le( o= a per=ectl> simple e?planation. It is eas>
to s9ppose that some special t9ne has been a goo5 5eal Bin the airC o= a ho9se( hal=
9nconscio9sl> h9mme5 or whistle5( as t9nes o=ten are( an5 that th9s the coinci5ence is an
acci5ent which ma> ver> rea5il> occ9r. )t the same time( i= the telepathic =ac9lt> e?ists
t9nes sho9l5 apparentl> be a =orm o= Btho9ghtC well calc9late5 =or trans=erence. ,ith
man> people the imagining o= a t9ne is the sort o= i5ea which comes nearest to the
vivi5ness o= act9al sensation. )n5 moreover( it contains not onl> the representation o=
sensor> e?perience( b9t also a 5istinct (otor elementAan imp9lse to repro59ction. )
person with a m9sical ear can silentl> repro59ce a t9ne( with s9ch an inwar5 =orce as
almost pro59ces the ill9sion o= 5riving it into obDective e?istence. /9ch an inci5ent as the
=ollowing there=ore( where there is no E9estion o= a =amil> knowle5ge o= the t9ne( or o=
its having been in an> wa> in the air( is o= 5eci5e5 interest@ tho9gh( o= co9rse( the act9al
=orce o= an> single case o= the sort is ver> small.
2
,e receive5 the acco9nt =rom /ir Lepel
&ri==in( 0.-./.I.
i-U:3!
BV:)( 1all Mall.
B+ebr9ar> 23th( 2773.
P:WQ B-olonel L>ttleton )nnesle>( -omman5ing O==icer o= the 22th .9ssars( was sta>ing
in m> ho9se some time ago( an5 one a=ternoon( having nothing to 5o( we wan5ere5 into a
large 9nocc9pie5 room( given 9p to l9mber an5 packing cases. -olonel ). was at one en5
o= this long room rea5ing( to the best o= m> recollection( while I opene5 a bo?( long
=orgotten( to see what it containe5. I took o9t a n9mber o= papers an5 ol5 m9sic( which I
was t9rning over in m> han5( when I came across a song in which I( >ears be=ore( ha5
been acc9stome5 to take a part( u$al t9o stellato soglio(4 o9t o= uMosH in Egitto(4 i= I
remember right. )s I looke5 at this ol5 song( -olonel ).( who ha5 been pa>ing no
attention whatever to m> procee5ings( began to h9m( u$al t9o stellato soglio.4 In m9ch
astonishment I aske5 him wh> he was singing that partic9lar air. .e 5i5 not know. .e 5i5
not remember to have s9ng it be=ore@ in5ee5 I have not ever hear5 -olonel ). sing(
tho9gh he is e?cee5ingl> =on5 o= m9sic. I tol5 him that I was hol5ing the ver> song in m>
han5. .e was as m9ch astonishe5 as I ha5 been( an5 ha5 no knowle5ge that I ha5 an>
m9sic in m> han5 at all. I ha5 not spoken to him( nor ha5 I h9mme5 the air( or given him
an> sign that I was looking over m9sic. *he inci5ent is c9rio9s( =or it is o9tsi5e all
e?planation on the theor> o= coinci5ence.C
Later( /ir L. &ri==in wrote:A
BU7th )pril( 2773.
BI promise5 to write to >o9 when I receive5 a repl> =rom &eneral L>ttleton )nnesle>( to
whom I ha5 written( in the same wor5s I ha5 9se5 to >o9( the little inci5ent which str9ck
>o9 as noteworth>. I ma> mention that it ha5 never =orme5 the s9bDect o= conversation or
correspon5ence between 9s =rom the 5a> that it happene5 9ntil now. .e sa>s: uI per=ectl>
recollect the inci5ent >o9 re=er to abo9t the song B$al t9o stellato soglio.C I ha5 m> back
to >o9 at the time >o9 were taking o9t the m9sic( an5 5i5 not even know what >o9 were
5oing. I was close to a win5ow an5 >o9 were at the bottom en5 o= the room. In =act >o9r
acco9nt is e?act to the min9test point.4
BLE1EL &'I++I%C
,e have other cases in which the trans=erre5 impression was not o= a t9ne( b9t o= a wor5
or phrase( while still apparentl> o= an a95itor> sort( conve>ing the sound o= the wor5
rather than its meaning. ,hen the two persons concerne5 have been in close pro?imit>( it
is( o= co9rse( 5i==ic9lt to make s9re that some incipient so9n5 or movement o= the lips( on
the part o= the s9ppose5 agent( 5i5 not i-U:V! s9ppl> an 9nconscio9s s9ggestion.
2
"9t
the =ollowing case cannot be so e?plaine5. ,e receive5 it =rom Mr. F. &. 0e9lemans( who
was mentione5 above Pp. 2X8Q as having ha5 a n9mber o= similar e?periences.
B%ovember( 277U(
P:7Q BIn the s9mmer o= the >ear 27WV( abo9t eight in the evening( I was ret9rning to m>
home in the .ollowa> 'oa5( on a tramcar( when it =lashe5 into m> min5 that m>
assistant( .err /ehell( a $9tchman( who knew b9t little English Pwho was coming to see
me that eveningQ( wo9l5 ask me what the English phrase( uto wit(4 meant in $9tch. /o
vivi5 was the impression that I mentione5 it to m> wi=e on arriving at m> ho9se( an5 I
went so =ar as to scribble it 5own on the e5ge o= a newspaper which I was rea5ing. *en
min9tes a=terwar5s /chell arrive5( an5 almost his =irst wor5s were the inE9ir>( u,at is het
.ollan5sch voor Bto -itCr4 P*he wor5s scribble5 on the newspaper were not in his sight(
an5 he was a goo5 man> >ar5s =rom it.Q I instantl> showe5 him the paper( with the
memoran59m on it( sa>ing( u#o9 see I was rea5> =or >o9.4 .e tol5 me that he ha5
resolve5 to ask me D9st be=ore leaving his ho9se in 0entish *own( as he was inten5ing
that evening to 5o a translation o= an English passage in which the wor5s occ9rre5. .e
was in the habit o= making s9ch translations in or5er to improve his knowle5ge o=
English. *he time o= his resol9tion correspon5e5 Pas =ar as we co9l5 reckonQ with that o=
m> impression.C
YUn=ort9natel> no corroboration o= this occ9rrence is now obtainable@ b9t the inci5ent o=
the newspaper 5oes not seem a likel> one to have been 9nconscio9sl> invente5.Z
*he ne?t case( i= correctl> reporte5( is o= a transitional sort@ =or tho9gh it was a 5istinct
i5ea( an5 not a mere so9n5-image( that seems to have been trans=erre5( the trans=erence
was probabl> connecte5 with the =act that the wor5s were act9all> on the tip o= the
agent4s tong9e. *his =act( o= co9rse( s9ggests again the chance o= 9nconscio9s s9ggestion
b> act9al so9n5 or movement o= the lips@ i-U:8! b9t s9ch an e?planation seems here
practicall> e?cl95e5 b> the length o= the sentence. *he case was recor5e5 in the
!pectator o= F9ne U3th( 277U( an5 has been con=irme5 to 9s b> the writer.
B+ern5ene( )bbe>5ale( near /he==iel5.
BF9ne UUn5.
P:XQ BI ha5 one 5a> been spen5ing the morning in shopping( an5 ret9rne5 b> train D9st in
time to sit 5own with m> chil5ren to o9r earl> =amil> 5inner. M> >o9ngest chil5Aa
sensitive( E9ick-witte5 little mai5en o= two >ears an5 si? weeks ol5Awas one o= the
circle. $inner ha5 D9st commence5( when I s955enl> recollecte5 an inci5ent in m>
morning4s e?perience which I ha5 inten5e5 to tell her@ an5 I looke5 at the chil5 with the
=9ll intention o= sa>ing( uMother saw a big( black 5og in a shop( with c9rl> hair(4 catching
her e>es in mine( as I pa9se5 an instant be=ore speaking. F9st then something calle5 o==
m> attention( and the sentence -as not uttered. ,hat was m> ama]ement( abo9t two
min9tes a=terwar5s( to hear m> little la5> anno9nce( uMother saw a big 5og in a shop.4 I
gaspe5. u#es( I 5i5s4 I answere5@ ub9t how 5i5 >o9 knowr4 u,ith =9nn> hair(4 she a55e5(
E9ite calml>( an5 ignoring m> E9estion. u,hat colo9r was it( Evel>nr4 sai5 one o= her
el5er brothers@ uwas it blackr4 /he sai5( u#es.4
B%ow( it was simpl> impossible that she co9l5 have receive5 an> hint o= the inci5ent
verball>. I ha5 ha5 no =rien5 with me when I ha5 seen the 5og. )ll the chil5ren ha5 been
at home( in o9r ho9se in the co9ntr>( =o9r miles =rom the town@ I ha5 ret9rne5( as I sai5(
D9st in time =or the chil5ren4s 5inner( an5 I ha5 not even remembere5 the circ9mstance
9ntil the moment when I =i?e5 m> e>es 9pon m> little 5a9ghter4s. ,e have ha5 in o9r
=amil> circle n9mero9s e?amples o= spirit9al or mental insight or =oresight@ b9t this( I
think( is 5eci5e5l> the most remarkable that has ever come 9n5er m> notice.
B-)'OLI%E ")'"E'.C
Mrs. "arber has shown to Mr. 1o5more the note-book in which she note5 the occ9rrence(
an5 =rom which her letter to the !pectator was taken almost verbatim. *he inci5ent was
recor5e5 on Fan. 22( 277;( as having taken place on Fan. 8. /he a55s that the governess
an5 the other chil5ren at table were positive that she ha5 not sai5 an>thing abo9t the 5og(
an5 were as m9ch astonishe5 as she was.
S U. In the ne?t case Pwhich might =airl> have been incl95e5 9n5er the hea5 o=
e?perimentsQ we break awa> altogether =rom the a95itor> s>mbols o= tho9ght( an5 have a
trans=erence o= an i5ea p9re an5 simple. +or even i= the agent was =orm9lating his tho9ght
to himsel=( he wo9l5 nat9rall> 5o so in English( while the percipient 5escribe5 his
impression in Italian. *he acco9nt is =rom Mr. 'obert "rowning( an5 was =irst cite5 b>
Mr. Fames 0nowles( in a letter to the !pectator o= Fan9ar> :;th( 278X.
P3;Q BMr. 'obert "rowning tells me that when he was in +lorence some >ears since( an
Italian nobleman Pa -o9nt &i9nasi( o= 'avennaQ( visiting at +lorence( was bro9ght to his
ho9se witho9t previo9s intro59ction( b> an intimate =rien5. *he -o9nt pro=esse5 to have
great mesmeric or i-U:W! clairvo>ant =ac9lties( an5 5eclare5( in repl> to Mr. "rowning4s
avowe5 scepticism( that he wo9l5 9n5ertake to convince him( somehow or other( o= his
powers. .e then aske5 Mr. "rowning whether he ha5 an>thing abo9t him then an5 there(
which he co9l5 han5 to him( an5 which was in an> wa> a relic or memento. *his( Mr.
"rowning tho9ght( was( perhaps( beca9se he habit9all> wore no sort o= trinket or
ornament( not even a watch-g9ar5( an5 might( there=ore( t9rn o9t to be a sa=e challenge.
"9t it so happene5( that b> a c9rio9s acci5ent( he was then wearing 9n5er his coat-sleeves
some gol5 wrist-st95s to his shirt( which he ha5 E9ite recentl> taken into wear( in the
absence Pb> mistake o= a sempstressQ o= his or5inar> wrist-b9ttons. .e ha5 never be=ore
worn them in +lorence or elsewhere( an5 ha5 =o9n5 them in some ol5 5rawer( where the>
ha5 lain =orgotten =or >ears. One o= these st95s he took o9t an5 han5e5 to the -o9nt( who
hel5 it in his han5 awhile( looking earnestl> in Mr. "rowning4s =ace( an5 then he sai5( as
i= m9ch impresse5( u-4H E9alche cosa che mi gri5a nellu orecchio( BUccisione(
9ccisionesC4 Y*here is something here which cries o9t in m> ear( uM9r5er( m9r5ers4Z
Bu)n5 tr9l>(4 sa>s Mr. "rowning( uthose ver> st95s were taken =rom the 5ea5 bo5> o= a
great-9ncle o= mine( who was violentl> kille5 on his estate in /t. 0itts( nearl> 7; >ears
ago. *hese( with a gol5 watch an5 other personal obDects o= val9e( were pro59ce5 in a
co9rt o= D9stice( as proo= that robber> ha5 not been the p9rpose o= the sla9ghter( which
was e==ecte5 b> his own slaves. *he> were then transmitte5 to m> gran5=ather( who ha5
his initials engrave5 on them( an5 wore them all his li=e. *he> were taken o9t o= the
night-gown in which he 5ie5( an5 given to me( not m> =ather. I ma> a55 that I trie5 to get
-o9nt &i9nasi to 9se his clairvo>ance on this termination o= ownership( also@ an5 that he
nearl> hit 9pon something like the =act( mentioning a be5 in a room( b9t he =aile5 in
attempting to 5escribe the roomAsit9ation o= the be5 with respect to win5ows an5 5oor.
*he occ9rrence o= m> great-9ncle4s m9r5er was known onl> to m>sel=( o= all men in
+lorence( as certainl> was also m> possession o= the st95s.4C
Mr. "rowning( in a letter to 9s( 5ate5 the U2st o= F9l>( 277:( a==irms that the acco9nt Bis
correct in ever> partic9larCAa55ing( BM> own e?planation o= the matter has been that
the shrew5 Italian =elt his wa> b> the invol9ntar> help o= m> own e>es an5 =ace. *he
g9ess( however attaine5 to( was a goo5 one.C
I= a sp9rio9s 5iviner can th9s =eel his wa> as =ar as m9r5er( an5 even Mr. "rowning4s
e?pression is so ina5eE9ate to veil his tho9ght( then in5ee5 is o9r 5ail> li=e compasse5
with 5angers o= which gen9ine telepath> has shown no trace.
,ith this acco9nt it is interesting to compare the =ollowing( =rom Miss -aroline ".
Morse( o= %orth=iel5( Vermont.
B)pril( 2773.
P32Q BI earl> became conscio9s o= a pec9liar sensitiveness to the 9n5ertonesAthe
9n9ttere5 tho9ghtsAo= others. Later( this ten5enc> 5evelope5 into an occasional
lightning-like rea5ing o= =acts that apparentl> came to me thro9gh none o= the or5inar>
sensor> i-U:7! channels( an5 which alwa>s( whatever their nat9re( gave me a shock o=
s9rprise. )s an instance: )bo9t 2: >ears ago I went with an 9ncle to a Deweller4s shop to
see a won5er=9l clock. I ha5 never met the proprietor o= the shop@ he was known to m>
9ncle( who intro59ce5 him as he came =orwar5 an5 stoo5 with 9s be=ore the clock. )t that
instant came a sensation as i= ever> nerve in m> bo5> ha5 been str9ck. *he a==able
Deweller ha5 e?ten5e5 his han5( b9t with a sh955er( that onl> habit9al sel=-control
represse5( I sai5 within m>sel=: uI cannot to9ch >o9r han5Athere is bloo5 9pon itA>o9
are a m9r5erer.4 O9twar5l>( I merel> bowe5 an5 looke5 at the clock( as i= nothing co9l5
interest me so m9ch( th9s ignoring the pro==ere5 han5. /everal weeks a=ter( I learne5 that
the Deweller an5 a companion( when >o9ng men( ha5 been acc9se5 o= an5 trie5 =or the
m9r5er o= a pe5lar. *he> escape5 conviction thro9gh the garble5 testimon> o= the chie=
witness( who at the preliminar> hearing ha5 ma5e a clear statement strongl> against
them.
B-)'OLI%E ". MO'/E.C
*he =ollowing corroboration is =rom Mr. ". *. Merrill:A
BMontpelier( Vermont.
BMa> :2st( 2773.
BI think it was in the =all o= 27W2 that I aske5 m> niece( Miss -. ". Morse( to go with me
to see a m9sical clock. ,e went into the shop. I intro59ce5 the Deweller@ he reache5 o9t
his han5 to shake han5s with her( b9t she re=9se5 to take his han5. )=ter we le=t the shop(
I aske5 her wh> she 5i5 not shake han5s with him. /he 5i5 not make m9ch repl>( an5 I
5i5 not know the real reason till long a=terwar5s. I 5i5 not then know that the Deweller ha5
been trie5 =or m9r5er( b9t some time a=ter learne5 the =acts =rom some o= the resi5ents o=
this place.
B"E%F)MI% *. ME''ILL.C
2
In contrast to this p9rel> i5eal sort o= horror( I ma> E9ote the =ollowing two cases where
the impression( tho9gh still e?tremel> in5e=inite in character( was >et s9==icientl>
concrete to s9ggest the ver> presence o= the obDect.
*he =irst acco9nt was given to 9s b> Miss -harlotte E. /E9ire( then resi5ing at +eltham
.ill( Mi55lese? Pnow Mrs. +9ller Maitlan5Q.
i-U:X!
BFan9ar> 2Wth( 2773.
P3UQ BM> brother an5 I were travelling together =rom -ologne to +l9shing. ,e were alone
in the carriage when s955enl> m> brother( who ha5 been hal= asleep( sai5 to me that he
ha5 an o55 i5ea that some one else was in the carriage sitting opposite to me. *he ver>
same i5ea ha5 str9ck me D9st be=ore he spoke.
B*ho9gh m> =eet were on the opposite seat( I was certain that some one was there(
tho9gh I was wi5e awake an5 never saw the slightest appearance o= an>thing. *he
impression onl> laste5 =or a moment( b9t it was strange that o9r tho9ghts sho9l5 have
been sim9ltaneo9s. *his happene5 three >ears ago.C
)ske5 i= this impression was a uni2ue e?perience in her li=e( Miss /E9ire replie5 that it
was.
*he =ollowing corroboration is =rom Mr. ,. "arcla> /E9ire:A
B*he inci5ent took place in the secon5 week o= +ebr9ar>( 2772. M> sister an5 m>sel= ha5
been to .anover( an5 were ret9rning home vi0 +l9shing. ,e were alone in a =irst-class
carriage( I sitting with m> =ace to the engine( she with her back( at the 5iagonal corners o=
the carriage. In the evening( as we 5rew near to +l9shing( I was 5o]ing( or rather in that
hal=-awake( hal=-asleep state when 5reams become mi?e5 9p with realit>( an5 act9al
obDects become mingle5 with 5ream images. +rom this state I s955enl> woke( 9n5er the
vivi5 impression that a =ig9re was seate5 in the corner o= the carriage opposite m> sister(
i.e., at the other en5 o= the seat on which I was. *he impression was E9ite transitor>( b9t
so vivi5 as to wake me thoro9ghl>( tho9gh the =ig9re was vag9e an5 5ark( as i= m9==le5
9p in a cloak( no =eat9res being visible. I imme5iatel> mentione5 the hall9cination to m>
sister( when she tol5 me she ha5 a similar one. I was care=9l to note that there were no
bags or r9gs on the seat on which I saw the =ig9re( which co9l5 have given rise to its
appearance b> some =anci=9l combination.
B,. ")'-L)# /}UI'E.C
)ske5 whether he ha5 ever ha5 an> other hall9cinations o= vision( Mr. /E9ire replie5 that
when E9ite a chil5 he ha5 seen =ig9res( which were to be acco9nte5 =or b> an Balmost
contin9al state o= 5elicate health. I never saw =ig9res =rom the time I was abo9t W or 7
9ntil this e?perience in the railwa> carriage.C
It nat9rall> occ9rre5 to 9s that the impression might have been 9nconscio9sl> s9ggeste5
to one o= the two persons b> the other( thro9gh some 9nconscio9s gest9re or s955en
change o= =eat9re. "9t the =ollowing comm9nications seem 5ecisive against this
h>pothesis:A
B:X( 1hillimore &ar5ens( ,.
BMarch 2Vth( 277V.
B*he i5ea o= a thir5 presence in the railwa> carriage occ9rre5 to both m> brother an5
m>sel=( witho9t either o= 9s ever having seen the other4s =ace. I ha5 m> e>es close5 at the
time( an5 as we were sitting on the same si5e o= the carriage we co9l5 not see each
other4s =aces.
B-. E. +ULLE' M)I*L)%$.C
BI am certain the impression on m> part was entirel> spontaneo9s an5 not s9ggeste5 b>
an> action or look o= m> sister.
B,. ")'-L)# /}UI'E.C
i-U3;!
YIt will be seen( however( that there is a 5iscrepanc> as to the positions in the carriage.Z
/9pposing this inci5ent to have been telepathic( it is nat9ral to regar5 Mr. /E9ire as the
agent( an5 his impression o= the strange presence as the momentar> s9rvival o= a 5ream.
"9t in the ne?t e?ample( i= we s9rmise that a sort o= waking nightmare o= one o= the three
sisters a==ecte5 the other two( we cannot at all assign their respective shares in the
occ9rrence. *he writer o= the narrative is well known as an a9thoress an5 practical
philanthropist.
B2773.
P3:Q BIt was on a /at9r5a> night( the en5 o= October( or earl> in %ovember( 2737( that I
was sta>ing at /t. MAA4s Vicarage( Leicester. M> two sisters were at home( at ..( abo9t
23 or 2V miles =rom Leicester. *he room in which I slept was large an5 low( opening into
a broa5( low corri5or@ the n9rser> was on the same =loor@ the rest o= the =amil> slept on
the one below. I ha5 been asleep =or some time( an5 was not conscio9sl> 5reaming at all.
I was awoke instantaneo9sl>( not b> an> so9n5( b9t intensel> awake( starting 9p in a
panicAnot o= =ear( b9t o= horror( knowing that something horrible was close b>. *he
room was still 5iml> lighte5 b> the 5>ing-o9t =ire. I s9ppose it was seeing the room
empt> ma5e me at once know that whatever it was( it was still o9tsi5e the 5oor( =or I
r9she5 at once to lock it. *he impression I ha5 was so vivi5 that I can onl> 5escribe it b>
speaking o= uIt4 as obDective. uIt4 was living( not h9man( not ph>sicall> 5angero9s@ I think
it was malevolent( b9t the overpowering conscio9sness I ha5 was horrible@ I 5i5 not
represent it to m>sel= in an> shape even( e?cept as an in5e=inite blackness( like a clo95>
pillar( I s9ppose. *he presence seeme5 to sta> o9tsi5e the 5oor =ive min9tes Pb9t probabl>
it was a m9ch shorter timeQ( an5 then it simpl> was not there. ,hilst it was there I knew
that it was nearl> U o4clock( an5 the ch9rch bells chime5 U( abo9t ten min9tes( as I
s9ppose( a=ter it cease5. ,hilst it was there I was ver> angr> with m>sel= =or being so
abs9r5@ an5 I remember won5ering whether a >o9ng &erman( who was living there as a
p9pil( a prot4g4 o= -ha9nce> *ownsen54s( co9l5 be mesmerising me. .e ha5 been telling
9s abo9t mesmerism an5 clairvo>ance the 5a> be=ore( b9t I ha5 not the slightest =aith in
either( at an> rate not in -. .. *.4s acc9rac> o= observation.
BI went home on the =ollowing *9es5a>( an5 that night( in talking over m> visit with m>
two sisters( I tol5 them what a strange 5el9sion I ha5 ha5.
B*he> were both astonishe5( an5 relate5 a similar e?perience each ha5 ha5 on the same
/at9r5a> night( or rather /9n5a> morning( =or both agree5 their impression at the time
ha5 been it was abo9t or near U. *he> were sleeping in separate rooms( b9t ne?t each
other.
B'. was awoke in the same s955en manner( with the conscio9sness that something
5rea5=9l or harm=9l was near( not in her room( b9t a little wa> o==. .er impression was
the same in character( b9t less vivi5 than mine.
BE. was awoke s955enl>( as I ha5 been( with a sense o= intense horror( YsicZ i-U32! /ome
presence( =ear=9l( evil an5 power=9l( was stan5ing close b> her si5e@ she was 9nable to
move or cr> o9t@ it seeme5 to her also to be a spirit9al presence. .er room was E9ite 5ark(
so she co9l5 see nothing. .er impression was at the time so m9ch more overpowering(
an5 it was so m9ch closer to her( that it seeme5 to me( on talking it over( to have been the
ca9se o= o9rs. %ot one o= 9s =or a moment connecte5 it with a ghost. *hat notion never
occ9rre5 to 9s.
B'. an5 E. ha5 tol5 each other be=ore m> ret9rn( I believe on the ne?t 5a>. )=terwar5s we
tol5 the strange coinci5ence to m> =ather an5 mother. /he tho9ght she ha5 also been
awoke b> a cr>( i= I remember right( that night@ b9t her recollection was too vag9e to be
relie5 9pon.
B%othing ever came o= it( e?cept that the known 5ate o= the commencement o= E.4s =atal
illness was the /at9r5a> =ollowing. "9t neither she( so =ar as I know( nor we ever tho9ght
o= it in this connection. /he was ver> m9ch intereste5 in it a=terwar5s( b9t not in the
slightest 5egree 9neas> or alarme5 at it( onl> eager to =in5 o9t how the coinci5ence co9l5
be acco9nte5 =or. I was U7 at the time@ E. was D9st UV.C
Y'. remembers this inci5ent vag9el>( an5 can a55 nothing.Z
S :. I now come to cases where the impression was o= a more 5e=inite sort( representing
act9al people an5 act9al events. ,e sometimes enco9nter persons who allege that the>
have repeate5l> e?perience5 some occ9lt sort o= perception o= what was happening to
=rien5s or relatives at a 5istance. )s a r9le their statements have no =orce at all as
evi5ence =or telepath>@ partl> beca9se we have no means o= D95ging how =ar the i5ea o=
the 5istant event ma> have been s9ggeste5 in some normal wa>@ partl> beca9se the
impressions have not been recor5e5 at the time( an5 it is speciall> eas> to s9ppose that
=ail9res ma> have been =orgotten( while a l9ck> g9ess has been remembere5. ,e have(
however( one e?ample o= marke5 correspon5ence where two witnesses were concerne5(
each o= whom pro=esses to have ha5 other similar e?periences( an5 where the partic9lar
inci5ent narrate5 is a5eE9atel> con=irme5. *he witnesses are Mr. an5 Mrs. L. ..
/a9n5ers( o= /t. .elen4s( near '>5e. )s to =ormer e?periences( Mr. /a9n5ers sa>s:A
BI have mentall> note5 =reE9ent uvivi5 impressions4 59ring man> >ears past( an5 in the
maDorit> o= instances( when s9ch impressions have appeare5 to be spontaneo9s an5
int9itive( the =acts have act9all> correspon5e5.C
Mrs. /a9n5ers sa>s:A
BI have ha5 other similar strong impressions at 5istant intervals( an5 as =ar as I can
recollect the> have correspon5e5 with the realit>. I cannot sa> i= I have ha5 an> s9ch
impressions which have not correspon5e5 with the realit>( b9t m> opinion is that I have
ha5 none s9ch.C
Mr. /a9n5ers4 acco9nt o= the partic9lar inci5ent is as =ollows:A
i-U3U!
B/an -la95io( /an5own( Isle o= ,ight.
BMarch 2Uth( 277:.
P33Q BOn *h9rs5a> evening last P7th inst.Q in the ho9se o= =rien5s with whom we were
sta>ing at *avistock( $evon( I s955enl> aske5 m> wi=e u,hat she was thinking o=r4 /he
replie5( uI cannot get M. '. an5 ). +. o9t o= m> hea5 all 5a>@ the> -ill r9n thro9gh all m>
tho9ghts.4 I replie5( u,hat makes >o9 think o= themr4 /he sai5( uI 5on4t know( b9t it
seems D9st as i= the> were marrie5(4 to which I aske5( u.ave >o9 an> reason to s9ppose
the> wo9l5 be marrie5 to-5a>r4 /he replie5( uOh nos I am sure Mar> wo9l5 not be
marrie5 59ring Lent.4 I then allowe5 m> min5 to travel to the ho9se where M. '. resi5e5
in Lon5on( when I became imme5iatel> conscio9s o= receiving the strongest possible
conviction that the> were marrie5 that 5a>( so that I E9ickl> b9t =irml> replie5( uThe, are
(arried to6da,, and -e shall see the -edding announced in the Ti(es on !aturda,,4 at
which there was a general titter. .owever( I was so convince5 o= the acc9rac> o= o9r Doint
tho9ghts that I =oolishl> o==ere5 to wager the whole o= m> belongings on the tr9th o= it(
an5 9ntil seeing the con=irmation( I was an?io9s to risk an>thing in s9pport o= m> belie=. I
ma> here mention that there were present( who co9l5 testi=> to the =oregoing
conversation( three in5epen5ent witnesses( E9ite 9nknown to the persons re=erre5 to as
M. '. an5 ). +. %either o= the latter ha5 been seen nor comm9nicate5 with b> m> wi=e
=or nearl> si? months( b9t I ha5 seen them once abo9t three months be=ore. ,e knew the>
were to be marrie5( b9t 9n5erstoo5 not 9ntil )pril or Ma>. *his knowle5ge an5 the
E9estion o= Lent ma5e m> wi=e 5o9bt=9l as to the =9l=ilment o= her presentiment when I
presse5 her =inall> at noon on /at9r5a>@ soon a=ter which( on reaching E?eter station( I
proc9re5 a cop> o= the Ti(es, an5 be=ore opening it again 5eclare5 m> conviction
absol9tel> 9nshaken. )s >o9 ma> have g9esse5( there was the notice o= marriage( as
having taken place on the 7th inst.( all right. Y,e have veri=ie5 this =act in5epen5entl>.Z I
ma> concl95e b> sa>ing this notice is all we know o= the we55ing( no comm9nication
having passe5 between 9s an5 an> member o= the bri5e4s or bri5egroom4s =amil>( [c.
+9rther( i= >o9 5eem it o= s9==icient importance I will s9ppl> correct names an5 a55resses
o= all parties intereste5( as I =eel s9re o9r *avistock =rien5s co9l5 not obDect to
contrib9ting to scienti=ic tr9th b> testi=>ing to the =acts.C
*he la5ies who were present when Mr. an5 Mrs. /a9n5ers ha5 this impression
corroborate as =ollows( in a letter written to Mr. /a9n5ers =rom .arleigh .o9se(
*avistock:A
B)=ter a length> 5isc9ssion >o9 both emphaticall> concl95e5 that she was marrie5 on that
5a>. ,e were E9ite sceptical at the time( b9t on receipt o= the Ti(es the proo=s were E9ite
convincing.
BLIL# /)M1/O%.
B0)*.LEE% /)M1/O%.C
.ere the state o= the s9ppose5 agent or agents was pres9mabl> e?citement o= a happ>
nat9re. *his( however( is rarel> the caseAwhich ma> perhaps be taken as in5icating the
s9perior vivi5ness o= pains over pleas9res. Impressions o= 5eath( illness( or acci5ent are
i-U3:! the almost 9nbroken r9le. I will =irst E9ote cases where a 5istinct i5ea o= the
partic9lar event was pro59ce5( witho9t an> 5istinct representation o= the act9al scene.
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom Mrs. .erbert $av>( o= 2( "9r5on 1lace( %ewcastle-on-
*>ne.
B$ecember U;th( 277:.
P3VQ B) ver> ol5 gentleman( living at .9rworth( a =rien5 o= m> h9sban54s an5 with whom
I was b9t slightl> acE9ainte5( ha5 been ill man> months. M> sister-in-law( who resi5es
also at ..( o=ten mentione5 him in her letters( sa>ing he was better or worse as the case
might be.
BLate last a9t9mn( m> h9sban5 an5 I were sta>ing at the *>ne5ale .>5ropathic
Establishment. One evening I s955enl> lai5 5own the book I was rea5ing( with this
tho9ght so strong 9pon me I co9l5 scarcel> re=rain =rom p9tting it into wor5s: uI believe
that Mr. -. is at this moment 5>ing.4 /o strangel> was I imb9e5 with this belie=Athere
ha5 been nothing whatever sai5 to lea5 to itAthat I aske5 m> h9sban5 to note the time
partic9larl>( an5 to remember it =or a reason I wo9l5 rather not state D9st then. uIt is
e?actl> W o4clock(4 he sai5( an5 that being o9r 5inner ho9r( we went 5ownstairs to 5ine.
*he entire evening( however( I was ha9nte5 b> the same strange =eeling( an5 looke5 =or a
letter =rom m> sister-in-law ne?t morning. %one came. "9t the =ollowing 5a> there was
one =or her brother. In it she sai5: u1oor ol5 Mr. -. 5ie5 last night at W o4clock. It was past
post time( so I co9l5 not let >o9 know be=ore.4C
Mr. $av> corroborates as =ollows:A
B$ecember UWth( 277:.
BI have a per=ect recollection o= the night in E9estion( the U;th October( 277U( when m>
wi=e aske5 me to tell her the time. I tol5 her the time( as she uha5 a reason =or knowing
it(4 she sai5. /he a=terwar5s tol5 me that reason.
B.E'"E'* $)V#.C
*he =ollowing is a cop> o= an obit9ar> car5( re=erring to the Mr. -. o= the narrative:A
BIn loving memor> o= Fohn -olling( o= .9rworth-on-*ees( who 5ie5 October the U;th(
277U( age5 73 >ears.C
Mrs. $av> has ha5 one other e?perience( to be E9ote5 later Pcase :XVQ( which also
correspon5e5 with a 5eath. ,ith this e?ception( she states that the present case was E9ite
9niE9e in her e?perience.
In an interview with 1ro=essor /i5gwick( on )pril 2Vth( 2773( Mrs. $av> 5escribe5 the
impression as strong an5 s955en( not emotional( b9t merel> the s955en conviction that
Mr. -olling was at that moment 5>ing( tho9gh a strange =eeling o= sa5ness =ollowe5 an5
remaine5 59ring the evening. B/he calle5 it strange(C sa>s 1ro=essor /i5gwick( Bmeaning
Pas I 9n5erstan5Q that her interest in Mr. -. was too slight to acco9nt =or it@ an5 she has no
reason to s9ppose that he tho9ght o= her at the moment o= 5eath. In this case her
recollection o= the 9niE9eness an5 strength o= her conviction is con=irme5 b> her reE9est
to her h9sban5 to note the time: she was certain that she ha5 never on an> other occasion
ma5e a similar reE9est in conseE9ence o= a similar impression. .er belie= at the time i-
U33! was not the res9lt o= an> reasoning process lea5ing her to have con=i5ence in her
impression.C More than two >ears later( in conversation with the present writer( Mrs.
$av> mentione5 the s9rprise which she hersel= a=terwar5s =elt at having ma5e the reE9est
to her h9sban5.
*he ne?t case is =rom Miss ). /. Farr>( o= /ettle( #orkshire.
BF9ne Un5( 2773.
P38Q BI was making a h9rrie5 to9r in the %orth o= Ital>( having le=t a sister at home( who
=or some time past ha5 been s9bDect to s955en attacks o= illness. Owing to short halts( an5
some 9ncertaint> as to these( I ha5 not ha5 an> ti5ings =rom home =or nearl> a =ortnight.
)ltho9gh m9ch 5isappointe5 at this( I can con=i5entl> sa> that I ha5 not 5welt 9pon the
tho9ght so as to in59ce an> nervo9s an?iet>. One evening( in Venice( at abo9t hal=-past
2;( the certain conviction was s955enl> =orce5 9pon me that m> sister was ill. *he
impression was so 5istinct that it wo9l5 have been impossible( in an> case( to 5o9bt the
realit> o= the =act( b9t having ha5 two similar comm9nications some >ears be=ore in the
case o= m> mother4s illness( I knew E9ite well that m> sister was ill. Un5er these
circ9mstances( it wo9l5 be 5i==ic9lt to meas9re time acc9ratel>@ m> impression was that I
ha5 been abo9t two ho9rs arranging in m> own min5 to leave Venice b> the earliest
morning train( when s955enl> an ass9rance as strong as the =irst was conve>e5 that all
ca9se =or an?iet> ha5 passe5 awa>. On m> ret9rn home I =o9n5 that both impressions ha5
been correct( as m> sister4s acco9nt s9bDoine5 will show. I also sen5 the evi5ence o= a
=rien5 to whom( on the =ollowing morning( I comm9nicate5 the impressions o= the night.
B). /. F)''#.C
Miss Farr>4s sister writes:A
B.aving =or some time been liable to s955en attacks in m> hea5( the s>mptoms o= which
were great con=9sion o= tho9ght( an attack was never s9rprising. On the night o= )pril
U2st( 277U( as I was preparing =or be5 Pbeing at the ho9se o= a =rien5Q( I all at once =elt
that I was not in m> own room at home( an5 I co9l5 not acco9nt =or that circ9mstance@
=or some moments( it might be min9tes( I 5i5 not know where I was. )t last I became
clear on that point( b9t not as to the reason o= m> being there. I was so =ar clear as to
know that at the time I was ill( an5 that I m9st hasten into be5 as soon( b9t with as little
movement( as possible. It was abo9t 2;.:; p.m. the attack came on@ it contin9e5 to ca9se
great an5 5istressing con=9sion =or abo9t U ho9rs. *he time I was E9ite aware o=( as a
clock near( striking the E9arters( marke5 the time acc9ratel>. )=ter this( clearness o= min5
gra59all> ret9rne5( an5 I =elt convince5 I was recovering. I hear5 U a.m. strike be=ore I
=ell asleep( b9t be=ore that time I ha5 =elt convince5 all 5anger was over.
BM. L. F)''#.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss ). /. Farr> sa>s:A
BF9ne :;th( 2773.
BM> impression o= m> sister4s illness occ9rre5 on the same night( an5( as e?actl> as can
be ascertaine5 at that 5istance( at the same time as her illness occ9rre5. "> comparing
notes as strictl> as can be( the certaint> o= all 5anger being over coinci5e5 e?actl> with
her conscio9sness that she was going to =all into a re=reshing sleep. I tol5 m> impression
to Miss "arnett on the =ollowing morning. *he previo9s correct impression to i-U3V!
which I all95e5 in the acco9nt I sent >o9( re=erre5 to two comm9nications o= precisel> the
same nat9re in the cases o= two 5istinct illnesses o= m> mother4s.
2
*he impressions were
eE9all> clear an5 9nmistakeable. I have never ha5 an> =alse impression.C
Miss F9lia "arnett con=irms as =ollows:A
B72( +it]william /treet( .955ers=iel5.
BMiss "arnett begs to sa> that she is able to bear testimon> to the acc9rac> o= the
statements containe5 in Miss Farr>4s letter( as she share5 her room the night the strong
impression o= her sister4s illness came over her( an5( on awaking in the morning( receive5
=rom her a vivi5 acco9nt o= the 5istress she ha5 en59re5 whilst Pas it appeare5 to herQ her
sister4s attack laste5.
BMiss "arnett can also state that( on arriving at home( she learne5 =rom the el5er Miss
Farr> that the latter ha5 reall> ha5 an attack on the night( an5 at the ho9r( when the
certaint> o= it was =elt b> her sister.
BFULI) ")'%E**.C
.ere the noteworth> points are( o= co9rse( the s955en resol9tion to start homewar5s ne?t
morning( an5 the 5istinct an5 9nacco9ntable cessation o= the an?iet>. "9t in both these
last cases the percipient was aware that the s9ppose5 agent was in a state where the event
s9rmise5 was not wholl> improbable( which re59ces the =orce o= the evi5ence. *here are
man> cases o= s955en acci5ent where this obDection 5oes not appl>.
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom Mrs. M9ir( o= 3U( .ollan5 1ark( ,.
B)pril Wth( 277V.
P3WQ BIn the >ear 273X I was sta>ing in E5inb9rgh. One /9n5a> as I was 5ressing m>
secon5 bo> Page5 V >earsQ =or ch9rch at abo9t 2;.:; a.m.( he looke5 9p at me an5 sai5(
uMother( -o9sin Fanie is 5ea5.4 I aske5 him which -o9sin Fanie he meant( an5 he
answere5( u-o9sin Fanie at the -ape( she4s 5ea5.4 I then trie5 to make him e?plain wh> he
tho9ght so( b9t he onl> kept repeating the statement. *his u-o9sin Fanie4 was a girl o=
abo9t 28 who ha5 been sta>ing in E5inb9rgh( an5 ha5 gone o9t to the -ape with her
parents some months be=ore. /he ha5 been ver> =on5 o= m> bo>s( an5 ha5 o=ten pla>e5
with them. I was rather str9ck b> the wa> the chil5 kept repeating what he ha5 sai5( an5
wrote 5own the 5a> an5 the ho9r( an5 tol5 m> mother an5 sisters. /ome time a=terwar5s
the -ape mail bro9ght the news that the girl ha5 5ie5 on that ver> /9n5a>. /he ha5 been
ba5l> b9rnt the night be=ore( an5 ha5 lingere5 on till a little a=ter mi55a>.
B)LI-E MUI'.C
In answer to E9estions( Mrs. M9ir sa>s:A
P2Q B*he chil5 was not in the habit o= sa>ing o55 things o= this kin5.
i-U38!
PUQ B)s to the kin5 o= impression I co9l5 5iscover nothing.
P:Q BI have no recor5 in writing( b9t it is possible that m> mother an5 sisters ma>
remember the occ9rrence.C
On %ovember UVth( 277V( Miss M. ). M9ir wrote:A
B)ll that we have gathere5 is that neither m> gran5mother nor m> mother4s two sisters
have an> 5istinct remembrance o= the occ9rrence. *he person who seeme5 to have been
most impresse5 b> it was a sister who 5ie5 some >ears ago. I remember hearing her
5escribe her =eeling o= won5er an5 awe( when the news came an5 the> =o9n5 the chil54s
wor5s were tr9e.C
Ver> similar is the =ollowing inci5ent( o= which the =irst acco9nt was sent to 9s b> Mr. -.
". -9rtis( o= X( East V3th /treet( %ew #ork.
B%ovember U;th( 2773.
P37Q B*he inci5ent I have to relate occ9rre5 27 >ears ago( the present month. M> wi=e at
the time was making a visit at the ho9se o= her sister( abo9t :;; miles =rom this cit>( in
the central part o= the /tate o= %ew #ork. *hirt> miles 5istant a brother resi5e5 with his
=amil>( among them a son( $avi5( abo9t 2U >ears o= age.
BOne a=ternoon( m> wi=e was sitting with her sister( while a chil5 o= the latter( a girl :
>ears o= age( was am9sing itsel= with to>s in another part o= the room. /955enl> the chil5
cease5 its pla> an5 ran to m> wi=e( e?claiming( u)9ntie( $avie4s 5rowne5.4 %ot being
atten5e5 to at once( the chil5 repeate5 the wor5s u$avie4s 5rowne5.4 *he a9nt( thinking
she ha5 not hear5 correctl>( aske5 the mother what the chil5 sai5( when the wor5s were
again repeate5. %othing( however( was tho9ght o= the matter at the time( the mother
simpl> sa>ing the little one was probabl> onl> repeating what it ha5 hear5 =rom some
one.
B) =ew ho9rs later a telegram was receive5( anno9ncing that at D9st abo9t the time these
wor5s were spoken( $avi5( the chil54s co9sin( with a brother( a >ear or two ol5er( were
5rowne5 while skating 3; miles awa>.
B-.)'LE/ ". -U'*I/.C
Y*he *enn an >.press =or Fan9ar> Xth( 278W( 5escribes the acci5ent as having occ9rre5
on the a=ternoon o= Fan9ar> Un5. Mr. -9rtis is( there=ore( not correct in sa>ing that it
occ9rre5 in %ovember.Z
On +ebr9ar> 8th( 277V( Mr. -9rtis sent 9s a cop> o= the =ollowing statement =rom his
sister-in-law( Mrs. Og5en.
B0ings +err>( %ew #ork.
BOn the a=ternoon o= Fan9ar> Un5( 278W( m> little 5a9ghter( )9g9sta( age5 : >ears( was
pla>ing with her 5oll>( sitting near her a9nt( who was spen5ing the 5a> at m> ho9se in
&enoa( %ew #ork. .er little co9sins( $ari9s an5 $avi5 )5ams( age5 22 an5 X >ears( to
the >o9nger o= whom she was ten5erl> attache5( were living in 1enn #an( %ew #ork( UV
miles awa>. *he co9sins ha5 not met since the prece5ing s9mmer or earl> a9t9mn.
B,hile b9s> with her pla>( the chil5 s955enl> spoke( an5 sai5( u)9ntie( $avie is
5rowne5s4 .er =ather who was present( an5 I( hear5 i-U3W! her 5istinctl>. I answere5(
u&9ssie( what 5i5 >o9 sa>r4 /he repeate5 the wor5s( u$avie is 5rowne5s4 .er a9nt( who
was not =amiliar with the chil5ish accent( sai5( u&9ssie( I 5o not 9n5erstan5 >o94@ when
the chil5 repeate5 =or the thir5 time( u)9ntie( $avie is 5rowne5s4 I chance5 to look at the
clock( an5 saw it was D9st 3.
BI imme5iatel> t9rne5 the conversation( as I 5i5 not wish s9ch a pain=9l tho9ght =astene5
on the chil54s min5.
BI cannot recall that an> all9sion ha5 been ma5e to the bo>s that 5a>@ neither was I aware
that m> 5a9ghter even knew the meaning o= the wor5 dro-ned. /he simpl> 9ttere5 the
wor5s witho9t apparent knowle5ge o= their import.
B*hat evening a telegram came =rom m> brother( sa>ing( uM> little bo>s( $ari9s an5
$avie( were 5rowne5 at 3 o4clock to-5a> while skating on 0enks Lake.4
BE. M. O.C
*he impression o= a ver> >o9ng chil5( correspon5ing to s9ch an acci5ent as this( has =ar
more =orce than that o= an a59lt wo9l5 generall> have@ =or seasons when relatives are
s9ppose5 to be skating or boating are likel> times =or nervo9s apprehensions( which will
nat9rall> now an5 then be =9l=ille5.
2
*he =ollowing case is a strong one o= its kin5@ since
the coinci5ence appears to have been close to the ho9r( while the gro9n5 =or nervo9sness(
s9ch as it was( e?ten5e5 over a goo5 man> 5a>s. *he impression( moreover( seems to
have been o= a pec9liarl> 5e=inite an5 startling kin5( being almost i= not E9ite e?ternalise5
as act9al so9n5. *he acco9nt is =rom the 'ev. ). ,. )r9n5el( who wrote =rom -olora5o
/prings( U./.).( in 2773.
P3XQ BIn the =all o= 27WV( I took a trip to Ma5ison( Ohio( to Fohnson4s Islan5( 0ell>4s
Islan5( an5 neighbo9ring points. *here were nine o= 9s in all( an5 o9r conve>ance was a
small sailing vessel. One /9n5a> morning we crosse5 =rom -e5ar 1oint to /an59sk>( in
or5er to atten5 ch9rch. $9ring the service a heav> storm came 9p( an5 when we went
5own to the lan5ing( on o9r ret9rn( we =o9n5 a prett> ro9gh sea. ,e vent9re5( however(
to tr> an5 get across( an5 in the en5 s9ccee5e5@ b9t in the trial we i-U37! ha5 a ver>
narrow escape. ,e ha5 gone abo9t hal=wa>( when a ver> heav> g9st o= win5 str9ck o9r
little vessel( an5 t9rne5 her over on her si5e. *he water r9she5 in( an5 it seeme5 almost
impossible to keep her a=loat. *here we were clinging to the si5e that was still o9t o=
water( an5 e?pecting ever> moment to be swampe5. "> 5int o= almost s9perh9man e==ort(
those who ha5 s9==icient presence o= min5 c9t awa> all the sail we were carr>ing( an5 the
boat righte5 D9st eno9gh to allow the men to bale o9t some o= the water. ,e manage5(
a=ter one or two almost hopeless str9ggles( to get ashore. %ow D9st at the moment o=
greatest 5anger( when escape seeme5 impossible( I tho9ght o= m> wi=e an5 chil5 a
h9n5re5 miles awa>. I tho9ght o= them in a sort o= agon>( an5 =elt that to leave them was
impossible. I= ever there was an 9n9ttere5 cr> =or love5 ones( it was at that moment. *his
was on the /9n5a> a=ternoon.
BI reache5 home on the =ollowing /at9r5a> a=ternoon. .aving to preach that /9n5a>( I
hel5 no conversation with m> wi=e that morning( an5 it was not 9ntil /9n5a> a=ter 5inner
that we ha5 an opport9nit> =or a chat. F9st as I was abo9t to commence an acco9nt o= m>
trip( m> wi=e sai5( u">-the-wa>( I ha5 a ver> pec9liar e?perience last /9n5a>( D9st abo9t
this time. I was l>ing on the lo9nge( when all at once I ha5 a startling impression that >o9
wante5 me( an5 even =ancie5 I hear5 >o9 call. I starte5 9p an5 listene5( an5 went o9t on
to the porch( an5 looke5 9p an5 5own the roa5( an5 acte5 altogether in a ver> agitate5
wa>.4
B*his happene5( as nearl> as we co9l5 5etermine b> comparing notes( at precisel> the
same ho9r that I was clinging to that si5e o= the sinking boat( an5 =acing what seeme5 to
be the possibilit> o= a water> grave. I 5o not believe it was coinci5ence. It m9st( I think(
be e?plaine5 in some other wa>.
B)L+'E$ ,. )'U%$EL(
B1astor 2st U.E. -h9rch.C
Y+or Mrs. )r9n5el4s testimon>( see the B)55itions an5 -orrections.C Y~ZZ
*he ne?t case is well-known( having been p9blishe5 in the ;ife of Bishop "ilberforce,
Vol. I.( p. :XW.
PV;Q B*he "ishop was in his librar> at -955es5on( with three or =o9r o= his clerg>( writing
with him at the same table. *he "ishop s955enl> raise5 his han5 to his hea5( an5
e?claime5( uI am certain that something has happene5 to one o= m> sons.4 It a=terwar5s
transpire5 that D9st at that time his el5est son4s =oot Pwho was at seaQ was ba5l> cr9she5
b> an acci5ent on boar5 his ship. *he "ishop himsel= recor5s the circ9mstance in a letter
to Miss %oel( 5ate5 March 3th( 27W3@ he writes: uIt is c9rio9s that at the time o= his
acci5ent I was so possesse5 with the 5epressing conscio9sness o= some evil having
be=allen m> son .erbert( that at last on the thir5 5a> a=ter( the 2:th( I wrote 5own that I
was E9ite 9nable to shake o== the impression that something ha5 happene5 to him( an5
note5 this 5own =or remembrance.4C
YI= the "ishop was correct in stating that he connecte5 the impression at the time with the
partic9lar son who was h9rt( the e?clamation p9t into his mo9th in the earlier part o= the
acco9nt is perhaps not e?actl> what he 9ttere5. ,e have not been able to learn who were
present at the scene. .ere( as in other cases( I shall be most grate=9l =or =9rther testimon>(
sho9l5 this book =all into the han5s o= an>one able to s9ppl> it.Z
i-U3X!
In the ne?t case( tho9gh it seems certain that the percipient4s e?perience was mentione5 at
the moment( we 9n=ort9natel> cannot obtain her own acco9nt( or her =rien54s
con=irmation( as Mr. /mith has change5 his resi5ence( an5 we have =aile5 to trace him.
.e was personall> known to 1ro=essor "arrett( to whom the acco9nt was sent.
BLeslie Lo5ge( Ealing( ,.
BOctober 2;th( 27W8.
PV2Q BI ha5 le=t m> ho9se( 2; miles =rom Lon5on( in the morning as 9s9al( an5 in the
co9rse o= the 5a> was on m> wa> to Victoria /treet( ,estminster( having reache5
"9ckingham 1alace( when in attempting to cross the roa5( recentl> ma5e m955> an5
slipper> b> the water cart( I =ell( an5 was nearl> r9n over b> a carriage coming in the
opposite 5irection. *he =all an5 the =right shook me consi5erabl>( b9t be>on5 that I was
9ninD9re5. On reaching home I =o9n5 m> wi=e waiting an?io9sl>( an5 this is what she
relate5 to me: /he was occ9pie5 wiping a c9p in the kitchen( which she s955enl>
5roppe5( e?claiming( uM> &o5s he4s h9rt.4 Mrs. /. who was near her hear5 the cr>( an5
both agree5 as to the 5etails o= time an5 so =orth. I have o=ten aske5 m> wi=e wh> she
crie5 o9t( b9t she is 9nable to e?plain the state o= her =eelings be>on5 sa>ing( uI 5on4t
know wh>@ I =elt some great 5anger was near >o9.4 *hese are simple =acts( b9t other
things more p9]]ling have happene5 in connection with the sing9lar int9itions o= m>
wi=e.
B*. ,. /MI*..C
)s Mr. /mith was cognisant o= his wi=e4s 5istress( an5 probabl> hear5 her tale be=ore
in=orming her o= what ha5 be=allen him( this evi5ence is practicall> =irst-han5 Psee p.
237Q@ b9t it is incomplete( since( =or a9ght we can tell( Mrs. /mith ma> have ha5 similar
alarms that 5i5 not correspon5 with realit>Awhich wo9l5 5iminish the improbabilit> o=
an acci5ental s9ccess.
*here is a similar 5e=ect in the ne?t piece o= evi5enceAthis time owing to the =act that M.
Ollivier will not answer o9r letters. .e probabl> thinks his own acco9nt s9==icient( an5
5oes not see the importance( =or o9r p9rposes( o= =9ller in=ormation. Y~Z
BFanvier U;( 277:.
PVUQ BLe 2; octobre( 2772( De =9s appelH po9r service mH5ical G la campagne G trois lie9es
5e che]-moi. -Htait a9 milie9 5e la n9it( 9ne n9it trNs sombre. Fe m4engageai 5ans 9n
petit chemin cre9?( 5ominH par 5es arbres venant =ormer 9ne vo9te a9 5ess9s 5e la ro9te.
La n9it Htait si noire E9e De ne vo>ais pas G con59ire mon cheval. Fe laissai l4animal se
5iriger G son instinct. Il Htait environ X he9res@ le sentier 5ans leE9el De me tro9vais en le
moment Htait parsemH 5e grosses pierres ron5es et prHsentait 9ne pente trNs rapi5e. Le
cheval allait a9 pas trNs lentement. *o9t G co9p( les pie5s 5e 5evant 5e l4animal
=lHchissent et il tombe s9bitement( la bo9che portant s9r le sol. Fe =9s proDetH
nat9rellement par-5ess9s sa tMte( mon Hpa9le porta G terre( et De me =ract9rai 9ne
clavic9le. YTranslationZ
i-UV;!
BEn le moment mMme( ma =emme( E9i se 5Hshabillait che] elle et se prHparait G se mettre
a9 lit( e9t 9n pressentiment intime E94il venait 5e m4arriver 9n acci5ent@ 9n tremblement
nerve9? la saisit( elle se mit G ple9rer et appelle la bonne. uVene] vite( D4ai pe9r@ il est
arrivH E9elE9e malhe9r@ mon mari est mort o9 blessH.4 F9sE94G mon arrivHe elle retint la
5omestiE9e prNs 54elle( et ne cessa 5e ple9rer. Elle vo9lait envo>er 9n homme G ma
recherche( mais elle ne savait pas 5ans E9el village D4Htais allH. Fe rentrai che] moi vers 2
he9re 59 matin. F4appela la 5omestiE9e po9r m4Hclairer et 5esseller mon cheval. uFe s9is
blessH(4 5is-De( uDe ne p9is bo9ger l4Hpa9le.4 YTranslationZ
BLe pressentiment 5e ma =emme Htait con=irmH. YTranslationZ
BVoilG( monsie9r( les =aits tels E94ils se sont passHs( et De s9is trNs he9re9? 5e po9voir
vo9s les envo>er 5ans to9te le9r vHritH. YTranslationZ
B). OLLIVIE'(
BMH5ecin G .9elgoat( +inistNre.C
I have mentione5 that occasionall>( where the same percipient has ha5 several s9ch
impressions( all o= them are allege5 to have correspon5e5 with a real eventAor Pas we
ma> sa> =or brevit>Q to have been veridical@ an5 this special s9sceptibilit>( tho9gh o=ten
imagine5 or e?aggerate5( is more likel> to have been correctl> observe5( i= the
impressions have been connecte5 with marke5 inci5ents( be=alling one or more members
o= the witness4s imme5iate circle. ,e =o9n5 s9ch a percipient in Mrs. &ates( o= 33(
Montpelier 'oa5( "righton( who has given 9s several instances o= the sing9lar s>mpath>
e?isting between hersel= an5 her chil5ren( an5 mani=esting itsel= b> marke5 5isE9iet at
moments when the> are in 5anger or pain( altho9gh she ma> have no means o= knowing
it.
*o o9r inE9iries whether she ha5 ever notice5 an> =ail9res( she sai5:A
BI cannot recall an> occasion o= m> e?periencing omino9s sensations with regar5 to
certain o= m> chil5ren that have been entirel> gro9n5less@ still( the res9lts have been o=
less importance than m> emotions presage5. +or instance( on a certain evening( abo9t
three months ago( I was tro9ble5 abo9t m> son 'oss. I receive5 a letter( which he m9st
have been writing while I was so nervo9s abo9t him( an5 this is the postcript:A
BuE?c9se ba5 writing. I am =eeling 5ownright ill to-night( col5 shivers( hea5ache( an5
intense thirst. I think I4m in =or a =ever( [c.( [c.4
B.e ha5( however( no illness@ the =everish s>mptoms passe5 awa>.4
%ow( this( o= co9rse( is E9ite 9navailable as evi5ence@ b9t several s9ch inconcl9sive
inci5ents co9l5 har5l> be hel5 to -ea1en the =orce o= more striking ones. .ere( =or
instance( is a case where the coinci5ent crisis was more s955en an5 serio9s.
B%ovember U2st( 277U.
BM> son 'oss( a =ine( tall >o9ng =ellow( is m9sical atten5ant at an establishment =or the
mentall> a==licte5 near "ath. /itting with m> i-UV2! =amil>( on Mon5a> a=ternoon( I
remarke5 to m> son-in-law( Mr. Evel>n $ering( uI4m so 9nhapp> this a=ternoon abo9t
'oss( I can think o= nothing b9t him. ,hat a n9isance I am to peoples4 *his morning I
receive5 a letter =rom m> son in which he sa>s( uI ha5 a narrow escape on Mon5a>
a=ternoon@ one o= o9r patients( name5 '9mmell( attacke5 me with a chair. )=ter a close
str9ggle( I manage5 to blow m> whistle( an5 get help =rom the ne?t apartment. I was b>
m>sel= with a large n9mber o= men( the other atten5ants being o9t an5 on 59t> in other
places@ b9t thank goo5ness I 5i5 not get h9rt(4 [c.( [c. *his( then( was happening at the
ver> time those sing9lar =eelings possesse5 me.C
Mr. Evel>n $ering corroborates as =ollows:A
BV( .ova Villas( ,est "righton.
BI write to con=irm what Mrs. .. /. &ates gave >o9 partic9lars o=. It was certainl>
previo9s to receiving the letter =rom her son 'oss that she e?presse5 to me the pain=9l
an?iet> she was s9==ering on his acco9nt.C
*he ne?t instance is more 5e=inite still( an5 ma> be n9mbere5 as an evi5ential case.
PV:Q BOne )9g9st morning( in 27W3 or 27WV( at break=ast( the well-known =eeling stole
over me. ,aiting till all ha5 le=t the table e?cepting m> secon5 5a9ghter( I remarke5 to
her( uI am =eeling so restless abo9t one o= m> absent bo>ss It is AA@ an5 I =eel as i= I was
looking at bloo5s4C
*he son in E9estion( in a letter receive5 a =ew 5a>s later( inE9ire5 o= Mrs. &ates as
=ollows: B,rite in >o9r ne?t i= >o9 ha5 an> presentiments 59ring last week. ,e were
going to AA canal( =ishing( an5 I got 9p at the =irst so9n5 o= the bell( an5 taking m>
ra]or to shave( began to sharpen it on m> han5( an5 being( I s9ppose( onl> hal= awake(
=aile5 to t9rn the ra]or( an5 c9t a piece clean o9t o= m> le=t han5. )n arter> was c9t in two
places( an5 ble5 5rea5=9ll>.C
*he =act o= Mrs. &ates4s alarm an5 vision o= bloo5 has been con=irme5 to 9s
in5epen5entl> b> the 5a9ghter( Mrs. $arnle>( to whom she 5escribe5 it at the moment.
*he letter( which we have seen( was 5ate5 )9g9st 28th( b9t witho9t the >ear. *he =9ll
5escription shows that the pain was e?cee5ingl> severe( an5 that the writer ha5 =ainte5.
S 3. *here is one interesting gro9p o= cases where the i5ea apparentl> impresse5 on the
percipient has been simpl> that o= the agent4s approach. "9t here( again( great ca9tion is
necessar>. 1op9lar opinion is e?tremel> apt to invest presentiments o= this sort with a
character to which the> have no claim. Ever> 5a>( probabl>( a large n9mber o= people
have a more or less strong impression( =or which the> can assign no 5istinct reason( that
some partic9lar person is near them or is coming to see them. *hat with some people s9ch
an impression sho9l5 prove correct o=ten eno9gh to be remarke5 on( is onl> what we
sho9l5 nat9rall> e?pect@ an5 it is probable that the impression( when apparentl>
con=irme5 in this wa>( wo9l5 look to memor> more i-UVU! 5e=inite an5 con=i5ent than it
ha5 reall> been. ,hen it is alwa>s abo9t the same person that the impression is =elt( there
is more pri(0 facie gro9n5 =or s9pposing that it ma> be telepathic. "9t still the
circ9mstances ma> make it E9ite 9navailable as evi5ence. +or instance( Mr. 'owlan5
'owlan5s( o= "r>ncethin( "ri5gen5( tells 9s that when he was manager o= the 1en->-graig
-ollieries( a man who was acting 9n5er him as =oreman Psince 5ea5Q ha5 constantl> to
come to his ho9se on b9siness in the mi55le o= the night.
BI was invariabl> aware o= his coming( in 5ream( be=ore he act9all> appeare5( an5 wo9l5
leave m> be5 an5 watch =or him at the win5ow. .e himsel= notice5 this( an5 tol5 the
other men that he never came b9t he =o9n5 me at the win5ow watching =or him.C
"9t those who are in the habit o= being wake5 at night =or a special p9rpose know the
wa> in which the e?pectation will o=ten ha9nt their 5reams@ an5 in the absence o= more
5e=inite ass9rance that the man was never e?pecte5 when he 5i5 not come( an5 that he
never came 9ne?pecte5( acci5ent is the reasonable e?planation o= the coinci5ences. Mrs.
,heeler( o= 2;8( .igh /treet( O?=or5( tells 9s that in the s9mmer o= 278X( she ha5 a
similar impression B5o]ens o= timesC with respect to the coming o= a =rien5 =rom I==le>(
an5 that it never pla>e5 her =alse. "9t this =rien5 was a constant visitor( an5 i= she came
thirt> times in the co9rse o= a =ew months( an5 Mrs. ,heeler ha5 the impression on si? o=
these occasions Pwhich is( perhaps( a =air scienti=ic translation o= B5o]ensCQ( acci5ent
again wo9l5 easil> acco9nt =or the case. Mrs. /tella( o= -hieri( Ital>( tells 9s how( when
she was ill >ears ago( a son( who was E9artere5 si? miles o==( got awa> at night on =ive or
si? occasions( against r9les an5 at consi5erable risk( to inE9ire abo9t her at the lo5ge.
B)ltho9gh 9nconscio9s an5 =reE9entl> 5elirio9s( I alwa>s knew when he came( an5
calle5 him( showing signs o= eagerness an5 restlessness. )t =irst the> treate5 it as p9re
raving on m> part( b9t on inE9ir> the> =o9n5 that he ha5 been there 59ring the night.C
*his is a more pla9sible sample( since telepathic sensibilit> seems o=ten heightene5 in
illness@ still( the necessar> precision is wholl> lacking. ,e have( however( stronger cases(
o= which a co9ple ma> be worth E9oting here. *he =irst is remarkable =rom the e?treme
improbabilit> o= the visit@ the secon5 =rom the n9mber o= times in s9ccession that the
impression prove5 correct.
Miss M. E. 1ritchar5( o= *an->-coe5( "angor( sa>s:A
i-UV:!
BFan9ar> :;th( 2773.
PV3Q BOne night( at 2U o4clock( I =elt a conviction that a =rien5 o= o9rs( Mr. Fephson( was
coming to see 9s ver> shortl>. I mentione5 it to m> sister( who merel> sai5 it was ver>
improbable( as he m9st be on his wa> to -ana5a( as s9ch was his intention when we ha5
last seen him.
BIt was greatl> to her astonishment when he act9all> arrive5 ne?t morning at X a.m. ,hen
E9estione5 as to the time o= his arrival( we =o9n5 it correspon5e5 to the time o= m>
remark( an5( still more c9rio9s( he was then thinking o= coming straight 5own to see 9s(
b9t 5eci5e5 to wait till morning. *his was in March( 277;( as =ar as I can remember.C
In repl> to inE9iries( Miss 1ritchar5 a55s:A
B+ebr9ar> Wth( 2773.
BIn repl> to >o9r E9estion as to whether an> other previo9s impressions ha5 not t9rne5
o9t tr9e( I think( as =ar as I can remember( an> 5eep impression I have ever ha5 as to
an>one calling has invariabl> been tr9e.C
*he =ollowing corroboration is =rom Miss 1ritchar54s sister:A
B*an->-coe5( +ebr9ar> 7th( 2773.
BI 5istinctl> remember m> sister telling me Pat the timeQ o= her impression that a =rien5
was on his wa> to see 9s( which t9rne5 o9t to be the =act.AE. ". 1'I*-.)'$.C
Mr. 'obert -astle( estate agent to man> o= the O?=or5 colleges( an5 well known to Mr.
1o5more( writes as =ollows:A
BO?=or5( 2:th October( 277:.
PVVQ BIn the >ears 27V2 an5 27VU( when I was =rom 2V to 2W >ears o= age( I was le=t in
charge o= a consi5erable e?tent o= b9il5ing an5 other estate work at $i5cot( "erks( at
which some V; or 8; men were emplo>e5@ an5 =or so >o9ng a person a goo5 5eal o=
responsibilit> was p9t 9pon me( as I was onl> visite5 occasionall>( abo9t once a =ortnight
on an average( b> one o= the seniors responsible =or the work.
BOccasionall> this senior was m> brother Foseph( abo9t eight >ears ol5er than m>sel=(
an5 who ha5 alwa>s taken( even =or a brother( a ver> great 5eal o= interest in m> wel=are(
an5 between whom an5 m>sel= a ver> strong s>mpath> e?iste5.
BI was ver> rarel> apprise5 b> letter o= these visits( b9t almost invariabl> be=ore m>
brother came Psometimes the 5a> be=ore( at other times at some previo9s ho9r on the
same 5a>Q it wo9l5 s955enl> come into m> min5 as a E9ite clear an5 certain thing( how( I
cannot sa>( that m> brother was coming to see me( an5 wo9l5 arrive abo9t a certain ho9r(
sometimes in the morning an5 sometimes in the a=ternoon( an5 I cannot remember a
single occasion on which I ha5 receive5 one o= these vivi5 impressions( on which he 5i5
not arrive as e?pecte5.
BI ha5( witho9t thinking partic9larl> abo9t it( got to act 9pon the =aith o= these
impressions as m9ch as i= I ha5 receive5 a letter@ an5 the sing9larit> o= the occ9rrence
was not bro9ght ver> =orcibl> to m> own min5 9ntil one 5a> when the =oreman aske5 me
to give him instr9ctions as to how a portion o= the work sho9l5 be carrie5 o9tAwhen I
answere5 i-UV3! him E9ite nat9rall>( uOh( leave it to-5a>( Foe will be here abo9t 3
o4clock this a=ternoon( an5 I wo9l5 rather wait an5 ask his a5vice abo9t it.4
B*he =oreman( who ha5 access to m> o==ice( an5 9s9all> knew what letters I receive5(
sai5( u1erhaps it wo9l5 be as well( b9t I 5i5n4t know that >o9 ha5 receive5 a letter =rom
O?=or5.4
BI ha5 to e?plain to him that I ha5 not receive5 a letter( an5 that it was merel> b> an
impression I knew m> brother was coming( an5 9pon this I got a heart> la9gh onl> =or m>
cre59lit>.
B)s m> brother t9rne5 9p all right at the time name5( the =oreman wo9l5 not be
convince5 that I ha5 not been pla>ing a trick 9pon him( an5 that I ha5 not receive5 a
letter an5 p9t it awa> so that he might not know o= it.
B*he strangeness o= the matter then in59ce5 me to arrange with the =oreman alwa>s to let
him know( as soon as I might have the opport9nit>( o= the occ9rrence o= these
impressions( so that he might check them as well as m>sel=@ an5 he( altho9gh he gave 9p
all attempts to e?plain the sing9larit> o= the thing( came a=terwar5s to tr9st the certaint>
o= their being right as m9ch as I 5i5 m>sel=.
BI tol5 m> brother o= them( who was ver> m9ch p9]]le5( an5 co9l5 not acco9nt =or so
strange an occ9rrence@ b9t on comparing m> statements as to the time when the
impressions occ9rre5 to me( in a n9mber o= cases( he sai5 that( so =ar as he co9l5 check
the time( it wo9l5 seem to have been alwa>s at or abo9t the time when he =irst receive5
his instr9ctions( or knew o= the arrangement having been ma5e =or him to come.
B)s both the =oreman an5 m> brother have been 5ea5 =or some >ears past( I have no
means o= comparing their recollections o= these matters with m> own.
B1erhaps I sho9l5 a55 that m> brother was living at O?=or5 at the time( 2; miles or so
=rom $i5cot@ an5 that altho9gh I was visite5 =rom time to time b> other gentlemen besi5e
m> brother( I cannot remember having ha5 these previo9s impressions in an> case e?cept
his.
B'O"E'* -)/*LE.C
.ere real pains seem to have been taken to test the phenomenon =airl>@ b9t the case is
rather remote( an5 it is ver> 9n=ort9nate that no notes were taken at the time. /ome
=9rther specimens will be =o9n5 in the /9pplement@ an5 parallel cases where there was an
act9al sensor> impression o= the person abo9t to arrive will be =o9n5 in -hap. \IV( S W.
S V. /o =ar( the impressions that correspon5e5 with real events have all been i5eas o= a
more or less abstract kin5@ the fact was realise5( b9t no image o= the act9al scene was
calle5 9p in the percipient4s min5. ,e now come to a series o= more concrete impressions
Astill belonging( however( to the non-sensor> =amil>@ =or tho9gh the> have evoke5
sensor> images with more or less 5istinctness( the> have not s9ggeste5 i-UVV! to the
percipient an> act9al a==ection o= the senses. )n5 the> contin9e to present this marke5
point o= analog> to the res9lts o= e?perimental tho9ght-trans=erence( that the images or
the scene evoke5 be=ore the percipient4s min5 re=lecte5 Peither wholl> or in great partQ the
images or scene with which the agent4s attention was act9all> occ9pie5.
In allege5 trans=erences o= this 5istinct an5 5etaile5 sort( it is( o= co9rse( essential to the
evi5ence that the scene. with which the percipient is inwar5l> impresse5 sho9l5 not be
one that might( in the or5inar> co9rse o= things( have been pict9re5 correctl>( or with
s9==icient correctness =or the 5escription to seem applicable. *he ten5enc> to make the
most o= s9ch correspon5ences m9st here be care=9ll> borne in min5. +or instance( a la5>
o= o9r acE9aintance comm9nicate5 the =ollowing e?perience. )n ol5 =rien5 o= hers in
,ales ha5 been earnestl> longing to receive the -omm9nion on a partic9lar /9n5a>( b9t
was prevente5 b> illness. On this /9n5a>( o9r in=ormant( who was in Lon5on( an5 who
was 9naware o= her =rien54s 5esire( an5 ha5 never seen the ch9rchA
B.a5 a vision o= her sitting E9ietl> in her place in the little village ch9rch( waiting to
receive the rite. *he ch9rch was evi5entl> m9ch neglecte5( an5 the =loor an5 the matting
were thickl> covere5 with 59st. On inE9ir>( I was ass9re5 that s9ch was the con5ition o=
the ch9rch. *he phantasm appeare5 as reall> present at the spot to which m> =rien54s
5esire ha5 =oc9sse5 her tho9ghts.C
"9t here( it will be seen( the one 5etail that the narrator Pwho was m9ch given to
visualising& wo9l5 not have been E9ite likel> to imagine spontaneo9sl>( was the 59st>
con5ition o= the ch9rch. Even that is a 5o9bt=9l e?ception@ an5 it is moreover a point
which wo9l5 be ver> likel> to get 9nconscio9sl> worke5 into the vision after the act9al
state o= the case was learnt. *he =ollowing cases seem to be =ree =rom these obDections.
*he =irst shall be another specimen =rom the remarkable series o= impressions which have
been e?perience5 b> Mr. F. &. 0e9lemans Psee pp. 2U8 an5 U:VQ.
B%ovember( 277U.
PV8Q BOne morning( not long ago( while engage5 with some ver> eas> work( I saw in m>
min54s e>e a little wicker basket( containing =ive eggs( two ver> clean( o= a more than
9s9all> elongate5 oval an5 o= a >ellowish h9e( one ver> ro9n5( plain white( b9t sm95ge5
all over with 5irt@ the remaining two bore no pec9liar marks. I aske5 m>sel= what that
insigni=icant b9t s955en image co9l5 mean. I never think o= similar obDects. "9t that
basket remaine5 =i?e5 in m> min5( an5 occ9pie5 it =or some moments. )bo9t two ho9rs
later I went into another room =or l9nch. I was at once i-UV8! str9ck with the remarkable
similarit> between the eggs stan5ing in the egg-c9ps on the break=ast table( an5 those two
ver> long ones I ha5 in m> imagination previo9sl> seen. u,h> 5o >o9 keep looking at
those eggs so care=9ll>r4 aske5 m> wi=e@ an5 it ca9se5 her great astonishment to learn
=rom me how man> eggs ha5 been sent b> her mother hal= an ho9r be=ore. /he then
bro9ght 9p the remaining three@ there was the one with the 5irt on it( an5 the basket( the
same I ha5 seen. On =9rther inE9ir>( I =o9n5 that the eggs ha5 been kept together b> m>
mother-in-law( that she ha5 place5 them in the basket an5 tho9ght o= sen5ing them to me@
an5( to 9se her own wor5s( uI 5i5 o= co9rse think o= >o9 at that moment.4 /he 5i5 this at
2; in the morning( which Pas I know =rom m> reg9lar habitsQ m9st have been D9st the time
o= m> impression.
BF. &. 0EULEM)%/.C
Mrs. 0e9lemans tells 9s that she has almost =orgotten the inci5ent. B)ll I can sa> is that
m> h9sban5 looke5 at some eggs an5 ma5e the remark that he ha5 seen them be=ore. I
know he tol5 me m> mother ha5 sent them.C
.ere the ver> trivialit> o= this inci5ent( as well as the smallness an5 5e=initeness o= the
obDect vis9alise5( makes the resemblance to cases o= e?perimental tho9ght-trans=erence
speciall> close.
2

In the e?amples which =ollow( the i5ea o= something less circ9mscribe5 than a single
obDect( an5 more o= the nat9re o= a complete scene( seems to have been transmitte5. I will
begin with a case where the vis9alisation( i= there was an>( was e?tremel> vag9e. Miss M.
E. 1ritchar5( *an->-coe5( "angor( Pthe contrib9tor o= case V3 above(Q writes:A
BFan9ar> :;th( 2773.
PVWQ B*wo >ears ago I awoke( one night( with a c9rio9s sensation o= being in a sick room(
an5 o= the presence o= people who were an?io9sl> watching the be5si5e o= some person(
who was 5angero9sl> ill. It was not till some time a=ter that we hear5 that one o= the
sisters( then living in +lori5a( ha5 been ver> ill o= a =ever( an5 was at the time o= the
inci5ent in a most critical state.
BM)&&IE E. 1'I*-.)'$.C
In repl> to inE9iries( Miss 1ritchar5 a55s:A
BI have never ha5 an> other e?perience o= an impression o= sickness or 5eath.
B*he impression o= sickness was not the contin9ation o= a 5ream( an5 har5l> a 5istinct
waking impression. I woke =rom a heav> sleep with a i-UVW! great sense o= oppression(
which gra59all> seeme5 to ass9me a 5istinct impression. It laste5 abo9t hal= an ho9r( that
is the act9al impression( b9t I ha5 a great =eeling o= 9neasiness =or several 5a>s. I have
never ha5 an> hall9cinations or 5reams o= 5eath.C
*he =ollowing corroboration is =rom Miss 1ritchar54s sister:A
B+ebr9ar> 7th( 2773.
BI recollect m> sister telling me o= her =eeling o= being in a sick room with people
watching ro9n5 a be5si5e. /he 5i5 not mention it to me till the morning Pit occ9rre5
59ring the nightQ. It 5i5 not make m9ch impression on me at the timeAnot till a=terwar5s(
when we hear5 o= o9r sister4s 5angero9s illness.
BE. ". 1'I*-.)'$.C
*he ne?t instance is somewhat more 5e=inite. It is =rom Mr. Fohn .opkins( o= U:( 0ing
/treet( -armarthen.
BMa> Un5( 2773.
PV7Q BOne evening( in the earl> spring o= last >ear P277:Q( as I was retiring to be5( an5
whilst I was in the =9ll enDo>ment o= goo5 health an5 active sensesAI 5istinctl> saw m>
mother an5 m> >o9nger sister cr>ing. I was here in -armarthen( an5 the> were awa> in
Monmo9thshire( 7; miles 5istant. *he> 5istinctl> appeare5 to me to be giving wa> to
grie=( an5 I was at once positive that some 5omestic bereavement ha5 taken place. I sai5
to m>sel=( uI shall hear something o= this in the morning.4 ,hen the morning came( the
=irst thing which was han5e5 to me was a letter =rom m> =ather in Monmo9thshire( stating
that the> ha5( on the 5a> o= writing( ha5 intelligence that m> nephew ha5 D9st 5ie5. *he
little bo> was the son o= m> el5er sister( living in %orth $evon. *here was no 5o9bt b9t
that m> mother an5 >o9nger sister ha5 both given wa> to grie= on the 5a> o= m> strange
ill9sion( an5 it was in some m>sterio9s manner comm9nicate5 to m> min5Atogether
with a certain presentiment that I was on the eve o= intelligence o= a 5eath in the =amil>. I
tho9ght it most probable( tho9gh( that the imaginative =ac9lt> a55e5Ain a p9rel> local
mannerAthe i5ea o= spee5> intelligence to the comm9nication which the min5 receive5
in some wa> =rom Monmo9thshire.
BIt was the onl> occ9rrence o= the sort I have ever e?perience5.
BFO.% .O10I%/.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. .opkins writes( on Ma> 2V( 2773:A
BI( at -armarthen( ha5 news on the =ollowing morning( as I thoro9ghl> e?pecte5 to( o= a
5eathAthat o= a nephew. I ha5 no opport9nit> o= mentioning the circ9mstance to an>one
be=ore the letter came. I am sorr> to sa>( too( that I have 5estro>e5 the letter.
B)s to the realit> o= the scene in m> min5Aspeaking as correctl> as I can at this 5istance
o= time =rom the occ9rrence Pabo9t a >ear agoQAI 5on4t think the a==air 5i5 pro59ce a
pict9re on m> min5 (ore vivi5 than might have been s9mmone5 there b> closing the
e>es an5 p9tting some strain 9pon the imagination. It certainl> 5i5 not make the o9twar5
e>e =anc> it saw something( as the "ishop o= -arlisle has s9ggeste5 ma> be the case in
some instances. "9t there was this pec9liarit>. *he scene was impresse5 9pon m> min5
witho9t closing o= the e>es or an> other i-UV7! in59cement to absent-min5e5ness( an5
witho9t the i(agination =rom m>sel=( so =ar as I can sa>( going o9t in that 5irection. It
was also more =irml> rivette5 9pon m> min5 than an> passing( or what one ma> term
acci5ental( impression wo9l5 be. It was fi.ed there. I co9l5 not get ri5 o= it( an5 I =elt
certain it meant something( which it certainl> 5i5.
B)ltho9gh the locale was =amiliar to me( I 5on4t think there ha5 been more wan5erings o=
memor> to it than to other places I knew( an5 the state o= grie= which m> relatives were in
ma> be sai5 to have been the onl> e?ceptional =eat9re.C
In conversation with Mr. .opkins( I learnt that his =ather( mother( an5 >o9nger sister were
the onl> three relatives at home@ an5 that his impression as to the grie= o= the two latter
res9lte5 in apprehension abo9t his =atherAle5 him( that is( to a wrong g9ess. On the other
han5 I am s9re( =rom his acco9nt( that the impression itsel= was o= a ver> strong an5
pec9liar kin5.
*he scene( however( sometimes makes a m9ch more vivi5 impression than this. .ere are
a co9ple more cases =rom the rather consi5erable gro9p where the event that be=alls the
agent is either 5eath or a near approach to 5eath b> 5rowning. One e?ample o= this sort
has alrea5> occ9rre5 Pp. U38Q@ an5 their n9mber altogether is s9==icient to s9ggest that this
partic9lar con5ition on the agent4s part is( =or some 9nknown reason( a speciall>
=avo9rable one =or the generation o= the telepathic imp9lse.
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom Mrs. 1aris %n4e &ri==ithsQ( o= ::( .igh /treet( Lowesto=t.
B)pril :;th( 2773.
PVXQ B,e were a =amil> o= eight. *went> >ears ago we were all at home b9t one( .. *his
was b> no arrangement( b9t b> what seeme5 a series o= coinci5ences. .. was to Doin 9s on
,e5nes5a>( )9g9st :r5( to leave his sit9ation( an5 spen5 a =ew 5a>s at home be=ore
entering on his new one. On the /9n5a> previo9s to his coming we ha5 been to ch9rchAI
=or the =irst time a=ter a protracte5 illness. M> sister was too m9ch occ9pie5 with her
in=ant niece( an5 ha5 not been with 9s. ,e met m> sister4s =rien5( Miss F.( a '9ssian la5>(
highl> accomplishe5( an5 ver> intelligent. /he walke5 home with 9s( an5 we insiste5 on
her sta>ing to o9r earl> 5inner. M> sister was 5elighte5 to have her to reco9nt the
precocio9s charms o= o9r in=antile treas9re. It was a ver> pleasant morning(
BI have given these 5etails rather min9tel> to show that there was nothing in the
s9rro9n5ing circ9mstances to ca9se 5epression. M> sister was in goo5 health( even better
than 9s9al. ,ell( we ha5 gone thro9gh the =irst co9rse( the secon5 was being place5 on
the table( when Miss F. aske5 u,here is Marianner4Am> sister. M> mother remarke5
that she ha5 le=t the room some min9tes since( an5 5i5 not seem well. I imme5iatel> went
o9t( an5 a=ter looking all thro9gh the ho9se an5 not =in5ing her( went into the gar5en.
*here I =o9n5 her sitting with her hea5 resting on her han5s( looking into what was calle5
the uE9arr>4Aan 9n9se5 working( i-UVX! then an5 =or >ears be=ore =loo5e5. +rom where
she sat she co9l5 see the water looking so still an5 black. /he was E9ite 9naware o= m>
presence. I p9t m> han5s on her sho9l5ers( an5 aske5( u,hat is the matterr4 /he evi5entl>
neither =elt nor hear5 me. I then went to her si5e an5 shall never =orget the e?pression o=
her =ace. /he looke5 per=ectl> paral>se5 with =ear an5 horror. .er e>es seeme5 rivette5 to
that water( as i= she was witnessing an aw=9l scene( an5 co9l5 give no help. u"hat is the
matter( m> 5earr4 /he was still insensible to m> presence an5 to9ch. In a =ew secon5s she
gave s9ch a cr> o= s9ppresse5 agon> an5 sai5(4 YsicZ uOh( he4s gone.4 /he then seeme5 to
become aware o= m> presence an5 t9rne5 a look o= agonise5 entreat> on me( an5 >et
there was a little relie=. 1resentl> she sai5( uOh( F.( 5o go awa> an5 leave me.4 I begge5
her to come in( an5 then as i= she co9l5 bear it no longer she sai5(4 YsicZ uOh( F.( he4s gone.
Oh( &o5( he4s gone( m> poor 5ear ..4 I begge5 her not to restrain hersel= so terribl>( b9t
to tell me what was wrong. Ver> slowl>( as i= it cost her 9nspeakable s9==ering( she sai5(
u*here is something terrible taking place.4 I lightl> answere5( uO= co9rse( that is tr9e all
the >ear ro9n5. ,hen is the moment b9t that some so9l is meeting its )9thorr4 /he
shivere5( an5 a=ter a goo5 5eal o= pers9asion she ret9rne5 with me into the roomAshe
evi5entl> not wishing to e?cite or tro9ble me. I tho9ght no more o= it. Miss F. ha5 gone
with her to her room an5 ha5 insiste5 on her l>ing 5own( an5 in59ce5 her to relieve
hersel= b> telling her( Miss F.( all abo9t it. !he was so m9ch impresse5 with what she ha5
hear5 that she le=t m> sister( promising to ret9rn a=ter a=ternoon service.
B)t abo9t : o4clock that a=ternoon( we receive5 the news o= the 5eath o= o9r 5ear .. b>
5rowning. .e was on his wa> to ch9rch with the other members o= the choir. *empte5 b>
the 5elight=9l weather( an5 the inviting look o= the water( several o= them propose5 a
u5ip(4 uD9st one =or the last time( ..4 .e complie5( was =irst in( an5 ha5 onl> gone into
water 9p to his knees( when he calle5 o9t that he was 5rowning. .is companions were
panic-stricken( an5 5eclare5 a=terwar5s that the> co9l5 not move. One at last recovere5
presence o= min5 s9==icient to sho9t( an5 then to r9n the short 5istance to the ch9rch( an5
calle5 o9t( u&.( .. is 5rowning( come( E9ick.4 &. r9she5 o9t( 9n5ressing as he went( an5
throwing his clothes along the roa5( D9mpe5 in( an5 wo9l5 9n5o9bte5l> have save5 him(
b9t .. cl9tche5 hol5 o= him( an5 the> both sank to rise no more( D9st a =ew min9tes be=ore
U o4clock( an5 at the moment m> sister calle5 o9t( u.e4s gone.4
B,e =o9n5 her in a 5eep sleep( looking >ears ol5er( b9t E9ite prepare5 =or the news( =or
when m> brother ro9se5 her( she sai5( u.ave the> comer *he> have not bro9ght him
home >et( have the>r4 Miss F. came( seemingl> E9ite prepare5 to hear o= o9r sorrow. /he
tol5 me a=terwar5s that m> sister ha5 5escribe5 the scene an5 the place( altho9gh she ha5
certainl> never been there. *here was no prece5ent =or his bathing on /9n5a>( nothing to
s9ggest to her min5 the possibilit> o= his 5oing so.
B.a5 I been the recipient o= this uwarning(4 upresentiment(4 urevelation(4 or whatever it
ma> be calle5( weakness an5 conseE9ent nervo9sness might have been 9rge5 as a
pre5isposing ca9se( b9t it co9l5 not be 9rge5 in m> sister4s case. /he was twent>-seven at
the time( an5 we have alwa>s been prono9nce5 usensible women with no nonsense abo9t
them.4C
i-U8;!
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. 1aris writes( on Ma> 2;( 2773:A
BM> sister an5 Miss F. are both 5ea5. w In answer to >o9r ne?t inE9ir> I have written to
m> =ather to ask the E9estions as to the 5istance( [c. .e thinks u"o4ness(4 where the
acci5ent took place( was abo9t 2: or 23 miles =rom "lackhall Pwhere the =amil> were
then resi5ingQ. I think I sai5 : o4clock the news reache5 9s. .e p9ts it a little later. )s to
the character o= the water( it was the +irth o= +orth@ b9t I know nothing o= the place. M>
=ather sa>s there was a steep place( ca9se5 b> water r9nning in =rom an engine in
connection with Mr. ,ilson4s works there( an5 that .. got into that 5eep pool. *he time
o= a=ternoon service was =rom U till :.:;. 1erhaps >o9 know that in the /cotch ch9rches
there is onl> a short interval between the services. M> brother was nearl> 2X. )s to there
being an> special reason wh> m> sister sho9l5 have ha5 the e?perience rather than
m>sel=( there are( to m> min5( two. +irst( she was o= a m9ch more contemplative cast o=
min5. /he was 5ream>( I ver> active. "9t the secon5 is( to m> min5( the most power=9l
reason in this instance. #o9 will have observe5 in all large =amilies the members pair o==(
on the principle o= like 5rawing to like( I s9ppose. /he an5 .. paire5 o==.
BF)%E 1)'I/.C
*he )irdrie )dvertiser =or /at9r5a>( )9g9st 8th( 2783( con=irms the =act that the acci5ent
took place on the a=ternoon o= the previo9s /9n5a>.
In conversation( Mrs. 1aris tol5 me o= another apparentl> veri5ical impression which her
sister mentione5 to her at the time o= its occ9rrence( relating to the 5eath o= a co9sin who
was 5rowne5 at sea.
*he =ollowing case is given on the a9thorit> o= the late $r. &oo5all Fones( o= 8( 1rince
E5win /treet( Liverpool@ an5 as he was not onl> ma5e cognisant o= the percipient4s
impression imme5iatel> a=ter its occ9rrence( b9t also act9all> saw the percipient in the
state o= e?citement which the impression ha5 pro59ce5( an5 man> ho9rs be=ore the
coinci5ent event ha5 been hear5 o=( his acco9nt ma> be taken as on a level with =irst-han5
evi5ence( an5 perhaps even in this partic9lar instance as pre=erable to =irst-han5 evi5ence.
$r. Fones wrote to 9s:A
B%ovember U7th( 277:.
P8;Q BMrs. Fones( wi=e o= ,illiam Fones( a Liverpool pilot( living at 38( Virgil /treet
Ysince remove5 to 2V( /t. &eorge4s /treet( EvertonZ( was con=ine5 on /at9r5a>( +ebr9ar>
UWth( 278X. On m> calling ne?t 5a>( /9n5a>( +ebr9ar> U7th( at : p.m.( her h9sban5 met
me( sa>ing he was D9st coming =or me( his wi=e was 5elirio9s. .e sai5 that abo9t hal=-an-
ho9r be=ore( he was rea5ing in her room( when she s955enl> woke 9p =rom a so9n5 sleep(
sa>ing that her brother( ,illiam 'o9lan5s Palso a Liverpool pilotQ( was 5rowning in the
river PMerse>Q. .er h9sban5 trie5 to soothe her b> telling her that 'o9lan5s was on his
station o9tsi5e( an5 co9l5 not be in the river at the time. /he( however( persiste5 that she
ha5 seen him 5rowning. %ews arrive5 in the evening that abo9t the time name5( U.:;
p.m.( 'o9lan5s was 5rowne5. *here was a heav> gale o9tsi5e@ the pilot boat was 9nable
to p9t a pilot on boar5 an inwar5-bo9n5 ship( an5 i-U82! ha5 to lea5 the wa> in. ,hen
in the river( opposite the rock lightho9se( another attempt was ma5e( b9t the small boat
9pset( an5 'o9lan5s an5 another pilot were 5rowne5. ,hen Mrs. Fones was in=orme5 o=
his 5eath she calme5 5own( an5 ma5e a goo5 recover>.C
*he =ollowing two cases 5i==er =rom most o= the prece5ing( in that the con5ition o= the
agent was onl> slightl> abnormal( an5 the probabilit> that the impressions o= the
percipients were telepathic rests entirel> on the e?actit95e o= 5etail in the
correspon5ence. *he =irst is =rom Mr. an5 Mrs. ,ilson( o= ,ale .o9se( ,in5ing 'oa5(
.ali=a?.
BMa>( 2773.
P82Q B)bo9t the >ear 27V7( on a /9n5a> a=ternoon( as I sat with m> wi=e b> m> =iresi5e in
.ali=a? Pm> brothers *om an5 &eorge having gone to )=ricaQ( in awaking =rom a nap( I
saw m> brothers in 1ort9gal
2
Y~Z in a row in the street over a 5og which I saw *om take
b> the tail( an5( with a swing ro9n5( pitch over a bri5ge into the water. I tol5 m> wi=e
what I ha5 seen( an5 the impression was so strong that I wrote the partic9lars( together
with the 5ate( with a pencil on the c9pboar5 5oor. In abo9t a month a=ter( I ha5 a letter
=rom m> brothers stating that the> ha5 arrive5 sa=el> in )=rica( an5 mentioning that on
their wa> the> calle5 at Lisbon( an5 there got into a row thro9gh *om4s throwing a 5og
over a bri5ge into the water( an5 that the> ha5 narrowl> escape5 getting locke5 9p abo9t
it. *he in=ormation containe5 in the letter showe5 also that the time o= the inci5ent
correspon5e5 e?actl> to the time o= m> vision.
BFO.% )M"LE' ,IL/O%.C
B*he =oregoing statement is E9ite tr9e.A/)'). )%% ,IL/O%.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. ,ilson sa>s:A
BMarch :;th( 277V.
BI 5i5 not know that m> brothers were likel> to go near Lisbon. I 5o not remember either
ch9rches or ships. I was stan5ing on a bri5ge over a river( an5 all along( so =ar as I saw(
were woo5>ar5s with woo5en workshops. ,ith regar5 to the letter in which m> brother
spoke o= the acci5ent( I never keep letters.C
*he =ollowing is =rom a 5a9ghter o= Mr. ,ilson:A
B.eath Villas( .ali=a?.
B)pril 2Uth( 277V.
BI remember( when a chil5( seeing m> =ather start 9p( open the c9pboar5 5oor( an5 write
there something which he ha5 D9st relate5 to m> mother that he ha5 seen in a vision. )n5
I remember that a letter came =rom m> 9ncles( which was sai5 to con=irm the tr9th o= the
vision. I have o=ten hear5 the partic9lars re=erre5 to b> m> =ather since.
B)%%IE /. O)0E/.C
*he ne?t case is m9ch =9ller o= 5etail. *he name o= the narrator( Mrs. L.( is onl> withhel5
=rom p9blication beca9se her =rien5s wo9l5 i-U8U! obDect to its appearance. /he has ha5
other similar e?periences( b9t the =ollowing is the onl> one that she can acc9ratel> recall.
BFan9ar>( 277V.
P8UQ B/ome >ears ago( the writer( when recovering =rom an illness( ha5 a remarkable
e?perience o= usecon5-sight.4 It was th9s:A
B) =rien5 ha5 been invite5 to 5inner( whom the writer was most an?io9s to cons9lt on a
s9bDect o= grave an?iet>. )t W o4clock the servant came to ask( uI= 5inner sho9l5 be serve5
or not( as the g9est ha5 not arrive5.4
B*he writer sai5 at once( an5 witho9t hesitation( u%o( p9t o== the 5inner till 7 o4clock. Mr.
). will arrive at AA /tation b> W.3V train@ sen5 the carriage there to meet him.4
B*he writer4s h9sban5( s9rprise5 at this anno9ncement( sai5( u,h> 5i5 >o9 not tell 9s this
be=ore( an5 when 5i5 Mr. ). let >o9 know o= the 5ela> in his arrivalr4
B*he writer then e?plaine5 that there ha5 been no intimation =rom Mr. ).( b9t that as she
ha5 been l>ing there( on the co9ch( an5 an?io9sl> hoping to see her g9est( she ha5 ha5 a
5istinct vision o= him( at a certain place Pmentioning the name o= the townQ@ that she ha5
seen him going over a u.o9se to Let4@ that( having misse5 the train an5 also the =err>( he
ha5 crosse5 the river in a small boat an5 scramble5 9p the steep bank( tripping in 5oing
so( an5 that he ha5 r9n across a plo9ghe5 =iel5( taking 9p the train at a si5e station( which
wo9l5 arrive at AA a E9arter to 7 p.m.
B*he writer gave all these partic9lars witho9t an> sort o= mental e==ort( an5 =elt s9rprise5
hersel= at the time that the> sho9l5 arise to her min5 an5 tong9e.
B1resentl> Mr. ). arrive5 =9ll o= apologies( an5 s9rprise5 be>on5 meas9re to =in5 his
=rien54s carriage awaiting him at the station. .e then went on to e?plain that he ha5 that
morning E9ite s955enl> taken it into his hea5 to leave town =or AA( an5 =in5ing it so
=resh an5 health> a place( he ha5 been tempte5 to look over some ho9ses to let( hoping to
be able to get one =or a =ew weeks in the season@ that he ha5 lost time in 5oing this( an5
misse5 both train an5 =err>@ that he ha5 bribe5 a small boat to row him over@ that in
getting 9p the si5e bank( he =ell( which 5ela>e5 him again( b9t that he ha5 D9st contrive5
to catch the train at a si5ing( b> r9nning breathless over a =iel5@ that he ha5 inten5e5 to
telegraph on arriving at the station( b9t( meeting the carriage there( he ha5 =elt bo9n5 to
come on( to e?plain an5 apologise( in spite o= 5ela>( an5 umorning 5ress(4 [c.( [c.C
*he =ollowing is a letter =rom Mr. ). to Mrs. L.:A
B+ebr9ar> 28th( 277V.
B$ear Mrs. L.(A)nent that In5ian inci5ent( >o9r seeing me( an5 what I was 5oing at
"arrackpore one evening( >o9 >o9rsel= being in -alc9tta at the time.
BIt is now so long ago( 2: >ears( I think( that I cannot recall all the circ9mstances( b9t I
5o remember generall>.
BI le=t home one morning witho9t the intention o= going =rom -alc9tta 59ring the 5a>( b9t
I 5i5 go =rom -alc9tta to "arrackpore an5 spent some time in looking thro9gh the
b9ngalows to let.
i-U8:!
BI remember I crosse5 in a small boatAnot b> the =err>( an5 m> impression is that I 5i5
not lan5 at the 9s9al Dett>( b9t( instea5( at the bank opposite the ho9ses which I wishe5 to
see.
BI misse5 the train b> which I wo9l5 or5inaril> have travelle5( an5 conseE9entl> arrive5
in -alc9tta consi5erabl> later than >o9r 9s9al 5inner-ho9r.
BI cannot remember 5istinctl> that I =o9n5 an> gharr> at the "arrackpore train( -alc9tta
/tation( b9t >o9 ma> probabl> remember whether >o9 sent the gharr>@ b9t I 5o remember
m> astonishment that >o9 ha5 p9t back 5inner against m> ret9rn =rom "arrackpore b>
that partic9lar train( >o9 having ha5 no previo9s 5irect knowle5ge o= m> having gone to
"arrackpore at all.
BI remember( too( >o9r telling me generall> what I ha5 been 5oing at "arrackpore( an5
how I ha5 misse5 the earlier train. )n5 on m> inE9ir>( u.ow on earth 5o >o9 know these
thingsr4 >o9 sai5( uI saw >o9.4 E?pecting me b> that train( I can E9ite 9n5erstan5 >o9r
having sent the carriage =or me( altho9gh that partic9lar item is not clearl> on m>
memor>.
BI can well remember that at the time o= the inci5ent >o9 were in a ver> 5elicate state o=
health.
B$o >o9 remember that other occasion in -alc9tta( a holi5a>( when Mrs. AA calle5( I
being o9t( an5 on her inE9iring =or me >o9r in=orming her that I ha5 gone to the
bootmakers an5 the hatters( >o9 having ha5 no previo9s intimation =rom me o= an> s9ch
intention on m> partr an5 o9r astonishment an5 am9sement when I 5i5 a little later t9rn
9p( a new hat in m> han5( an5 =resh =rom registering an or5er at the bootmakersr
B*hese have alwa>s appeare5 to me ver> e?traor5inar> inci5ents( an5 the =irst( especiall>(
incapable o= e?planation in an or5inar> wa>.C
Mrs. L. recollects the other inci5ent re=erre5 to( b9t she is not incline5 to think it o= m9ch
importance.
/he a55s:A
B*he river crosse5 was the .ooghl> =rom /erampore to "arrackpore( where the ho9se
was sit9ate5 which Mr. ). looke5 over. *he station he arrive5 at was in -alc9tta( I think
calle5 the /o9th Eastern( b9t o= this I am not s9re.C
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom a la5> who is an active philanthropist( an5 as practical an5
9nvisionar> a person as co9l5 be =o9n5. /he has no special interest in o9r work( an5
withhol5s her name on the gro9n5 that her =rien5s wo9l5 5islike or 5espise the s9bDect.
*his is one o= the wa>s in which the present state o= tho9ght an5 =eeling o=ten prevents
the =acts =rom having their legitimate =orce.
BMa> Xth( 277:.
P8:Q BIt happene5 one *9es5a> last Fan9ar>. I was going to start =or one o= m> 9s9al visits
to /o9thampton. In the morning I receive5 a letter =rom a =rien5 sa>ing he was going to
h9nt that 5a>( an5 wo9l5 write ne?t 5a>( so that I sho9l5 get the letter on m> ret9rn home.
In the train( being tire5( I p9t 5own m> book an5 sh9t m> e>es( an5 presentl> the i-U83!
whole scene s955enl> occ9rre5 be=ore meAa h9nting =iel5 an5 two men ri5ing 9p to
D9mp a low stone wall. M> =rien54s horse r9she5 at it( co9l5 not clear it( an5 bl9n5ere5 on
to his hea5( throwing o== his ri5er( an5 the whole scene vanishe5. I was wi5e awake the
whole time. M> =rien5 is a great ri5er( an5 there was no reason wh> s9ch an acci5ent
sho9l5 have be=allen him. $irectl> I arrive5 at /o9thampton I wrote to him( simpl>
sa>ing I knew he ha5 ha5 a =all( an5 hope5 he was not h9rt. On m> ret9rn late on
,e5nes5a> night( not =in5ing the promise5 letter( I wrote a =ew lines( merel> sa>ing I
sho9l5 e?pect to hear all abo9t his spill ne?t 5a>( an5 I mentione5 to two people that
evening on m> ret9rn what I ha5 seen@ also that *9es5a> evening( 5ining with =rien5s( I
spoke o= what ha5 happene5 in the train( an5 the> all promptl> la9ghe5 at me. On
*h9rs5a> morning I receive5 a letter =rom m> =rien5( telling me he ha5 ha5 a =all( ri5ing
at a low stone wall( that the horse ha5 not been able to clear it( an5 ha5 bl9n5ere5 on to
his hea5( that he was not m9ch h9rt( an5 ha5 later on remo9nte5. .e ha5 not( when he
wrote( receive5 either o= m> letters( as m> *9es5a> one onl> arrive5 in /cotlan5 on
*h9rs5a> morning( an5 m> ,e5nes5a> one on +ri5a>. ,hen he receive5 m> letters( he
onl> 5eclare5 I m9st have been asleep. %othing o= the sort ever happene5 to me be=ore or
since. It all seeme5 ver> nat9ral an5 5i5 not alarm me.
B.. &. ".C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. ". a55s:A
BM> =rien5( who is a har5-hea5e5 /cotchman( 5ecline5 to sa> another wor5 abo9t it. )ll I
know is that there were two horsemen ri5ing 9p to the same spot.C
In a personal interview( Mrs. ". tol5 the present writer that her vision took place abo9t :
o4clock in the a=ternoon( an5 that she ha5 hear5 =rom her =rien5 that his acci5ent took
place Ba=ter l9nch.C /he ha5 no i5ea o= disaster, an5 =elt s9re he was not m9ch h9rt. /he
cannot sa> whether her e>es were open or sh9t( b9t is certain that the e?perience was an
altogether 9niE9e one.
Ver> similar to this inci5ent is the =ollowing( which seems to take 9s 9p to the ver>
=9rthest point where the e?perience can still be 5escribe5 as a mental pict9re. *he
percipient hersel= might have been p9]]le5 to sa> a=terwar5s whether the vision ha5 or
ha5 not seeme5 to engage her bo5il> e>e. P-ompare the parallel E9asi-a95itor>
impression above( case 3X.Q *he acco9nt is in /ir AA L.4s own wor5s. .is reason =or
withhol5ing his name is La5> L.4s 5islike o= the s9bDect.
P83Q B/ome time ago Mr. an5 Mrs. Ynow /ir A an5 La5>Z L. were at his =ather4s co9ntr>
ho9se at /.( where the> generall> spent the a9t9mn. Mrs. L. was not =eeling well( an5 la>
on the so=a or be5 all the 5a>.
B)bo9t 22 o4clock Mr. L. tol5 her he was going to 5rive in the dog6cart to the
neighbo9ring town( abo9t nine miles o==. *his was not an 9n9s9al thing( an5 he le=t her to
go. /ome =o9r or =ive ho9rs a=terwar5s( on his ret9rn home( he went straight 9p to her
room to see how she was( an5 =o9n5 her greatl> 5ist9rbe5. /he sai5( uOh( I am so gla5 to
see >o9 back@ i-U8V! I have ha5 s9ch a horri5 =right( a sort o= 5ream( or rather vision( =or
I was not asleep. I tho9ght I saw >o9 r9n awa> with@ b9t it was E9ite abs9r5( =or I knew
>o9 were in the 5og-cart( an5 : fancied : sa- t-o horses.4 Mr. L. inE9ire5 when she saw
it( an5 she sai5 abo9t an ho9r ago.
B%ow the =acts were these: On leaving Mrs. L. abo9t 22 that morning( Mr. L.4s =ather sai5
he wo9l5 accompan> him( an5 Mr. L. accor5ingl> co9nter-or5ere5 the 5og-cart an5
or5ere5 a phaeton an5 pair( b9t nat9rall> he 5i5 not think o= telling Mrs. L. o= the change
o= plan. -oming o9t o= the town( Mr. L. was 5riving( an5 the> -ere run a-a, -ith, one o=
the horses having bolte5( an5 =or abo9t U;; >ar5s or more it was =o9n5 impossible to stop
the horses( when an intervening hill gave them the opport9nit>. *he time when this
happene5( as nearl> as possible( coinci5e5 with the time when Mrs. L. saw what she
5escribe5 as a vision, not a drea(, an5 the 5etail as to the two horses is remarkable(
beca9se Mrs. L. was ignorant o= the change o= plan.C
In answer to inE9iries( /ir AL. a55s:A
B/eptember 2Vth( 2773.
B*he narrative has o=ten been tol5 b> me in m> wi=e4s presence( an5 there can be no
5iscrepanc> or 5o9bt. It is a tr9e an5 circ9mstantial acco9nt o= what happene5( abo9t
2788 or 278W( I think.C
,e receive5 the ne?t acco9nt thro9gh the kin5ness o= Mr. F. "ra5le> $>ne( o= U( %ew
/E9are( Lincoln4s Inn. *he inci5ent took place in his ho9se at .ighgate( an5 the narrator
is his sister-in-law. *he case brings 9s again to the ver> verge o= act9al sensor>
hall9cination. It seems also to be an e?treme instance o= a deferred or a latent telepathic
impressionAthe 5eath o= the agent Pallowing =or longit95eQ having prece5e5 the
percipient4s e?perience b> abo9t 2; ho9rs. *his =eat9re 5oes not seem speciall>
s9rprising( when we remember how act9al impressions o= sense ma> pass 9nnote5( an5
>et emerge into conscio9sness ho9rs a=terwar5s( either in 5ream or in some moment o=
silence or recueille(ent. P/ee above( pp. U;2TU.Q
B277:.
P8VQ BI ha5 known Mr. AA as a me5ical man( 9n5er whose treatment I ha5 been =or
some >ears( an5 at whose han5s I ha5 e?perience5 great kin5ness. .e ha5 cease5 to
atten5 me =or consi5erabl> more than a >ear at the time o= his 5eath. I was aware that he
ha5 given 9p practice( b9t be>on5 that I knew nothing o= his procee5ings( or o= the state
o= his health. )t the time I last saw him( he appeare5 partic9larl> well( an5 even ma5e
some remark himsel= as to the amo9nt o= vigo9r an5 work le=t in him.
BOn *h9rs5a>( the 28th 5a> o= $ecember( 27WV( I ha5 been =or some little time on a visit
at m> brother-in-law4s an5 sister4s ho9se near Lon5on. I was in goo5 health( b9t =rom the
morning an5 thro9gho9t the 5a> I =elt 9nacco9ntabl> 5epresse5 an5 o9t o= spirits( which I
attrib9te5 to the gloominess o= the weather. ) short time a=ter l9nch( abo9t U o4clock( I
tho9ght I wo9l5 go 9p to the n9rser> to am9se m>sel= with the chil5ren( an5 tr> to
recover m> spirits. *he attempt =aile5( an5 I ret9rne5 to the i-U88! 5ining-room( where I
sat b> m>sel=( m> sister being engage5 elsewhere. *he tho9ght o= Mr. AA came into m>
min5( an5 s955enl>( with m> e>es open( as I believe( =or I was not =eeling sleep>( I
seeme5 to be in a room in which a man was l>ing 5ea5 in a small be5. I recognise5 the
=ace at once as that o= Mr. AA( an5 =elt no 5o9bt that he was 5ea5( an5 not asleep onl>.
*he room appeare5 to be bare an5 witho9t carpet or =9rnit9re. I cannot sa> how long the
appearance laste5. I 5i5 not mention the appearance to m> sister or brother-in-law at the
time. I trie5 to arg9e with m>sel= that there co9l5 be nothing in what I ha5 seen( chie=l>
on the gro9n5 that =rom what I knew o= Mr. AA4s circ9mstances it was most improbable
that( i= 5ea5( he wo9l5 be in a room in so bare an5 9n=9rnishe5 a state. *wo 5a>s
a=terwar5s( on $ecember 27th( I le=t m> sister4s ho9se =or home. )bo9t a week a=ter m>
arrival( another o= m> sisters rea5 o9t o= the 5ail> papers the anno9ncement o= Mr. AA4s
5eath( which ha5 taken place abroa5( an5 on $ecember 28th( the 5a> on which I ha5 seen
the appearance.
BI have since been in=orme5 that Mr. AA ha5 5ie5 in a small village hospital in a warm
=oreign climate( having been s955enl> attacke5 with illness whilst on his travels.C
In answer to an inE9ir> Mr. $>ne sa>s:A
BM> sister-in-law tells me that the occasion which I mentione5 to >o9 is absol9tel> the
onl> one on which she has seen an> vision o= the kin5.C
,e learn =rom Mr. AA4s wi5ow that the room in which he 5ie5 =airl> correspon5e5 with
the above 5escription( an5 that the ho9r o= 5eath was :.:; a.m.
*hese latter narratives might s9ggest a sort o= incipient clairvo,ance.
1
"9t in the present
state o= o9r knowle5ge( it wo9l5 be rash to ascribe an> phenomenon to in5epen5ent
clairvo>ance( which co9l5 b> an> possibilit> be regar5e5 as telepathic@ =or the simple
reason that the phenomena on recor5 which Pi= correctl> reporte5Q m9st be>on5 5o9bt
have been 59e to in5epen5ent clairvo>ance( are e?tremel> rare in comparison with those
which( i= correctl> reporte5( can be acco9nte5 =or b> tho9ght-trans=erence. *h9s in the
last e?ampleAgranting the possibilit> o= 5e=erre5 impressionsAthere is no 5i==ic9lt> in
connecting the i5ea o= the room( an5 even the i5ea o= act9al 5eath( with the perceptions
an5 tho9ghts o= the 5>ing man. It wo9l5 be inconvenient( however( to re=9se the term
clairvo,ance to cases where telepathic action reaches s9ch a pitch that the percipient
seems act9all> to be 9sing the senses o= some person or persons at the 5istant scene. )n5
it will perhaps s9==ice to save con=9sion( i= I note at once the 5i==erence between
clairvo>ance o= this e?treme telepathic t>pe Pwhich is still =airl> i-U8W! within the scope
o= this bookQ( an5 an> s9ppose5 e?tension( =or which no con5itioning Bagenc>C can be
assigne5( o= the percipient4s own senses.
)mong the cases to be here E9ote5( none perhaps strains the h>pothesis o= a con5itioning
Bagenc>C more than the =ollowing. It is =rom a +ellow o= the -ollege o= 1h>sicians( who
=ears pro=essional inD9r> i= he were Bs9ppose5 to 5e=en5 opinions at variance with general
scienti=ic belie=(C an5 5oes not there=ore allow his name to appear. .e is can5i5 eno9gh to
a5mit that i= ever> one arg9e5 as he 5oes( Bprogress wo9l5 be impossible.C
BMa> U;th( 2773.
P88Q B*went> >ears ago Yabroa5Z I ha5 a patient( wi=e o= a parson. /he ha5 a pec9liar kin5
o= 5eliri9m which 5i5 not belong to her 5isease( an5 perple?e5 me. *he ho9se in which
she live5 was close5 at mi5night( that is( the o9ter 5oor ha5 no bell. One night I saw her
at X. ,hen I came home I sai5 to m> wi=e( uI 5on4t 9n5erstan5 that case@ I wish I co9l5
get into the ho9se late.4 ,e went to be5 rather earl>. )t abo9t 2 o4clock I got 9p. /he sai5(
u,hat are >o9 abo9t@ are >o9 not wellr4 I sai5( u1er=ectl> so.4 u*hen wh> get 9pr4
u"eca9se I can get into that ho9se.4 u.ow( i= it is sh9t 9pr4 uI see the proprietor stan5ing
9n5er the lamp-post this si5e o= the bri5ge( with another man.4 u#o9 have been 5reaming.4
u%o( I have been wi5e awake@ b9t 5reaming or waking( I mean to tr>.4 I starte5 with the
=irm conviction that I sho9l5 =in5 the in5ivi59al in E9estion. /9re eno9gh there he was
9n5er the lamp-post( talking to a =rien5. I aske5 him i= he was going home. PI knew him
ver> well.Q .e sai5 he was( so I tol5 him I was going to see a patient( an5 wo9l5
accompan> him. I was positivel> ashame5 to e?plain matters@ it seeme5 so abs9r5 that I
knew he wo9l5 not believe me. On arriving at the ho9se I sai5( u%ow I am here( I will
5rop in an5 see m> patient.4 On entering the room I =o9n5 the mai5 giving her a t9mbler
o= strong grog. *he case was clear@ it was as I s9specte5A5eliri9m =rom 5rink. *he ne?t
5a> I 5elicatel> spoke to the h9sban5 abo9t it. .e 5enie5 it( an5 in the a=ternoon I
receive5 a note reE9esting me not to repeat the visits. *hree weeks ago I was reco9nting
the stor> an5 mentione5 the name. ) la5> present sai5: u*hat is the name o= the
clerg>man in m> parish( at ".( an5 his wi=e is in a l9natic as>l9m =rom 5rinks4C
In conversation with the present writer( the narrator e?plaine5 that the visionAtho9gh
giving an impression o= e?ternalit> an5 seen( as he believes( with open e>esAwas not
5e=initel> locate5 in space. .e ha5 never enco9ntere5 the proprietor on the spot where he
saw him( an5 it was not a likel> thing that he sho9l5 be stan5ing talking in the streets at
so late an ho9r.
*his is certainl> a perple?ing inci5ent. "9t i= we regar5 it as more than an acci5ental
coinci5ence( we can har5l> help s9pposing that the connection between the proprietor o=
the ho9se an5 the 5esire with which the ph>sician was preocc9pie5 was at an> rate one o=
the i-U87! con5itions which enable5 the pro?imit> o= the =ormer to a==ect the latter@ so
that we ma> still be within the limits o= telepathic comm9nication between min5 an5
min5.
I ha5 hope5 to concl95e this chapter with a case showing how a special con5ition o= the
percipient4s min5 ma> open the 5oor Pso to speakQ to a telepathic impression( an5 also
e?empli=>ing the occ9rrence o= a series o= these vivi5 mental pict9res to a single
percipient. On the occasions re=erre5 to( a 5eliberate e==ort on the percipient4s part seems
to have been involve5 in receiving( or rather in obtaining( a tr9e impression o= the aspect
an5 s9rro9n5ings o= absent persons@ b9t 9nless we wo9l5 assert Pwhich we have no
gro9n5s =or 5oingQ that the contin9e5 e?istence o= those persons( an5 their pre-establishe5
relation to the percipient( were not necessar> con5itions =or the impression( we m9st still
hol5 them to have been technicall> the agents. One o= these agents( howeverAa me5ical
manAwhile 9nable to resist the proo=s which he has receive5 o= this sort o= telepathic
invasion( has so invincible a 5rea5 an5 5islike o= the s9bDect that =or the present( in
5e=erence to his wishes( the acco9nt is withhel5 =rom p9blication. *o Bbelieve an5
trembleC is not a ver> scienti=ic state o= min5( an5 it is one =or which we tr9st that there
will be less an5 less e?c9se( as ps>chical research is gra59all> re5eeme5 =rom
s9pernat9ral an5 s9perstitio9s associations. Meanwhile( we m9st treat it with in59lgence@
merel> noting how the ver> E9alities which have so o=ten operate5 to swell lists o=
sp9rio9s marvels ma> eE9all> operate to hamper the recor5 an5 recognition o= =acts.
i-U8X!
+!P#&R )((.
&M%#(%"!' !"/ M%#%R &FF&+#$.
S 2. ,E come ne?t to a class o= cases which are characterise5 not so m9ch b> the
5istinctness o= the i5ea as b> the strength o= the emotion pro59ce5 in the percipient. In
some o= these the emotion has 5epen5e5 on a 5e=inite i5ea( an5 has been connecte5 with
a sense o= calamit> to a partic9lar in5ivi59al( or a partic9lar ho9sehol5: in others it has
not ha5 re=erence to an> 5e=inite i5ea( an5 has seeme5 at the time E9ite ca9seless an5
9nreasonable. /ometimes( again( the analog> with e?perimental cases( in the 5irect
re=lection o= e?perience =rom min5 to min5( is 5istinctl> retaine5(
2
the e?perience o= the
percipient seeming act9all> to repro59ce that o= a relative or =rien5 who is in some
ph>sical or mental crisis at a 5istance@ while in other cases a pec9liar 5istress on the one
si5e is so strikingl> contemporaneo9s with a 9niE9e con5ition on the other( that we
cannot re=9se to consi5er the h>pothesis o= a ca9sal connection.
+rom the point o= view o= evi5ence( this class o= emotional impressions clearl> reE9ires
the most care=9l treatment. *here is all the 5i==erence between a sensor> impression( an5
even between the more 5istinct Bmental pict9resC o= the last chapter( an5 a mere moo5.
,e have no gro9n5s =or ass9ming that the news P=or instanceQ o= a i-UW;! =rien54s 5eath
will incite a man o= sense an5 honest> to sa> that he saw( hear5( =elt( or strongl> pict9re5(
something 9n9s9al at or near the time o= its occ9rrence( 9nless he reall> 5i5 so@ b9t it is
eas> to s9ppose that( having chance5 to be slightl> o9t o= spirits at the time( he a=terwar5s
seems to remember that he was ver> m9ch 5epresse5 in5ee5( an5 even =ille5 with a
bo5ing o= some impen5ing calamit>. %a>( since a person who is oppresse5 b> gloom an5
apprehension will o=ten embrace in mental glances the small gro9p o= persons with whom
his emotional connection is strongest( he ma> recall( when one o= these persons proves
act9all> to have been passing thro9gh a crisis at the time( that this partic9lar one was
present to his min5( an5 ma> easil> gli5e on into thinking that it was with him that the
sense o= apprehension was speciall> connecte5. In these cases( then( it is o= prime
importance that the percipient4s impression shall be mentione5 or otherwise note5 b> him
in an 9nmistakeable wa>( be=ore the receipt o= news as to the s9ppose5 agent4s con5ition.
)n5 even when we have clear proo= that the emotion was reall> o= a strongl>-marke5
character( it is necessar> =9rther to obtain some ass9rance that s9ch moo5s are not o=
common occ9rrence in the percipient4s e?perience. +ailing this( it is sa=est to regar5 an>
9n9s9al character that ma> a=terwar5s be attrib9te5 to the emotion as the res9lt o= its
being a=terwar5s 5welt on in connection with the coinci5ent event.
It nee5 har5l> be a55e5 that all cases m9st be reDecte5 where there has been an>
appreciable ca9se =or an?iet>( however 9nmistakeable an5 9niE9e the impression ma> be
shown to have been. *h9s it cannot be regar5e5 as 9s9al =or a la5> who is at a =rien54s
ho9se( an5 inten5ing to remain there =or a week or two( to =in5 hersel= s955enl> an5
irrationall> impelle5( b> the certaint> o= a 5omestic calamit>( to pack her bo?es an5 sit
waiting =or a telegramAwhich Pto borrow the phrase o= a b9siness-like in=ormantQ was
shortl> 5elivere5 Bas per presentiment.C "9t the s9rmise which was th9s con=irme5
relate5 to a bab> gran5chil5 at home@ an5 tho9gh she ha5 not hear5 that it was ailing(
those who watch over the health o= >o9ng chil5ren are o=ten( o= co9rse( in a more or less
chronic state o= nervo9sness.
S U. I will =irst E9ote a case where the emotional impression ha5 a certain 5e=initeness o=
embo5iment. *he narrator 9n=ort9natel> 5oes not allow the p9blication o= his complete
name@ b9t he impresse5 1ro=essor /i5gwick( who e?amine5 him personall>( as a sensible
an5 tr9stworth> witness.
i-UW2!
BE5inb9rgh.
B$ecember UWth( 277:.
P8WQ BIn Fan9ar>( 27W2( I was living in the ,est In5ies. On the Wth o= that month I got 9p
with a strange =eeling that there was something happening at m> ol5 home in /cotlan5. )t
W a.m. I mentione5 to m> sister-in-law m> strange 5rea5( an5 sai5 that even at that ho9r
what I 5rea5e5 was taking place.
B"> the ne?t mail I got wor5 that at 22 a.m. on the Wth Fan9ar> m> sister 5ie5. *he islan5
I live5 in was /t. 0itts( an5 the 5eath took place in E5inb9rgh. 1lease note the ho9rs an5
allow =or 5i==erence in time( an5 >o9 will notice at least a remarkable coinci5ence. I ma>
a55 I never knew o= her illness.
B)%$'E, -AA%.C
*he longit95e o= /t. 0itts is abo9t 8UAwhich makes 3 ho9rs an5 a =ew min9tes
5i==erence o= time.
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. -AAn a55s:A
BFan9ar> 7th( 2773.
BI never at an> other times ha5 a =eeling in an> wa> resembling the partic9lar time I
wrote abo9t.
BIt wo9l5 be ver> 5i==ic9lt to get the note =rom m> sister-in-law( as she now lives in
-incinnati( Ohio( an5 I sel5om hear o= her.
B)t the time I wrote abo9t I was in per=ect health( an5 in ever> wa> in com=ortable
circ9mstances.C
Y,e have( o= co9rse( repeate5l> 9rge5 o9r in=ormant to appl>( or to allow 9s to appl>( =or
his sister-in-law4s recollection o= this inci5ent@ b9t witho9t s9ccess.Z
*he ne?t case( =rom o9r =rien5 the .on. Mrs. +o? 1ow>s( is still more in5e=inite( an5
wo9l5 not be worth E9oting b9t =or o9r own well-gro9n5e5 ass9rance that the acco9nt is
=ree =rom e?aggeration.
BMil=or5 Lo5ge( &o5alming.
B+ebr9ar> 28th( 2773.
P87Q B)bo9t : months ago as I was sitting( E9ietl> thinking( between V an5 W p.m.( I
e?perience5 a ver> c9rio9s sensation. I can onl> 5escribe it as like a clo95 o= calamit>
gra59all> wrapping me ro9n5. It was al(ost a ph>sical =eeling( so strong was it@ an5 I
seeme5 to be certain( in some ine?plicable wa>( o= 5isaster to some one o= m> relations or
=rien5s( tho9gh I co9l5 not in the least =i? 9pon an>bo5> in partic9lar( an5 there was no
one abo9t whom I was an?io9s at the time. I 5o not remember ever e?periencing s9ch a
thing be=ore. I sho9l5 sa> it laste5 abo9t hal=-an-ho9r. *his happene5 on a /at9r5a>( an5
on Mon5a> I got a letter =rom m> sister( written on the /at9r5a> evening to go b> the post
which leaves at W p.m.( in which she tol5 me she ha5 receive5 a telegram( an ho9r or so
ago( in=orming her o= the 5angero9s illness o= her brother-in-law( at which she was
greatl> 9pset. *his appeare5 to be a ver> probable e?planation o= m> e?traor5inar>
presentiment( an5 I wrote an5 tol5 her all abo9t it at once.
B). -. 1O,#/.C
YMrs. 1ow>s tells 9s that she mentione5 her impression at the time to her h9sban5@ b9t he
cannot recall the =act.Z
i-UWU!
) single impression o= so vag9e a kin5 as this cannot( o= co9rse( go =or m9ch. )n5 tho9gh
it is so =ar against the h>pothesis o= acci5ental coinci5ence that the narrator statesAan5
we believe( acc9ratel>Athat the e?perience was 9niE9e( >et this ver> 9niE9eness
involves a certain 5i==ic9lt>. +or i= she co9l5 be once telepathicall> impresse5 b> an agent
whose emotional e?citement at the time( tho9gh consi5erable( was clearl> not e?treme(
we cannot b9t won5er that so remarkable a sensibilit> sho9l5 have =o9n5 no other
occasion to mani=est itsel=. *here is more evi5ential =orce in the occ9rrence o= several
s9ch impressions to the same personAprovi5e5( o= co9rse( that the> have all
correspon5e5 with =acts. /9ch seems to have been the e?perience o= Mr. F. $. .arr>(
whom we 5o not know personall>( b9t who has been 5escribe5 to 9s b> two common
acE9aintances as an ac9te man o= the worl5. .e wrote to 9s as =ollows( in 277U( =rom *he
1alms( /t. F9lian4s( Malta:A
P8XQ BI lost m> brother in -ornwall( an5 m> 9ncle in $evonshire. %either o= them ha5
been ill more than three 5a>s( an5 no comm9nication whatever ha5 taken place with me
=rom the time the> were =irst attacke5 9ntil their 5eaths@ nevertheless I =elt so 5epresse5
on each occasion( =rom the time the> were taken ill( that I co9l5 scarcel> per=orm the
59ties o= m> o==ice( the pec9liar =eeling lasting 9ntil the anno9ncements in each case were
ma5e. It was nearl> the same =eeling o= 5epression previo9s to m> mother4s 5eath( whose
illness was likewise ver> s955en an5 9nknown to me.
BFO.% $. .)''#.C
In answer to the E9estion whether he ha5 ever ha5 similar 5epressions which ha5 not ha5
an> correspon5ence with realit>( Mr. .arr> replie5:A
B#o9 ask i= I ever =elt similarl> 5epresse5. #o9 have m> ass9rance that I never
e?perience5 a like =eeling( e?cept in the three instances name5@ in5ee5( all those who
know me well wo9l5 tell >o9 that in their belie= I am the last person to become so
a==ecte5. $9ring the three or =o9r serio9s illnesses I have 9n5ergone( when the hopes o=
m> =amil> an5 =rien5s were 5espaire5 o=( I was still cheer>.C
Y.ere we have to 5epen5 entirel> on the narrator4s memor>@ an5 the case 5oes not
con=orm to the r9le that the marke5 character o= the e?perience shall be en 4vidence
be=ore the news is known.Z
In the ne?t e?ample there can no 5o9bt as to the striking nat9re o= the percipient4s
e?perience@ which( in5ee5( was so 5istinctl> ph>sical in character as to s9ggest the act9al
sensor> trans=erence o= which Mrs. /evern4s case Pp. 277Q was o9r most precise e?ample.
*he narrator is Mrs. 'ea>( o= XX( .ollan5 'oa5( 0ensington.
i-UW:!
B)9g9st 23th( 2773.
PW;Q BI will en5eavo9r to write >o9 an acco9nt o= the inci5ent( relate5 =or >o9 b> m>
=rien5( Mr. E. Moon. .is sister was sta>ing with me at the time. It was in +ebr9ar>( b9t I
5on4t remember what >ear. ,e were sitting chatting over o9r V o4clock tea@ I was
per=ectl> well at the time( an5 m9ch am9se5 with her conversation. )s I ha5 several notes
to write be=ore 5inner( I aske5 her to leave me alone( or I =eare5 I sho9l5 not get them
=inishe5. /he 5i5 so( an5 I went to the writing-table an5 began to write.
B)ll at once a 5rea5=9l =eeling o= illness an5 =aintness came over me( an5 I =elt that I was
5>ing. I ha5 no power to get 9p to ring the bell =or assistance( b9t sat with m> hea5 in m>
han5s 9tterl> helpless.
BM> mai5 came into the room =or the tea things. I tho9ght I wo9l5 keep her with me( b9t
=elt better while she was there( so 5i5 not mention m> illness to her( thinking it ha5
passe5 awa>. .owever( as soon as I lost the so9n5 o= her =ootsteps( it all came back 9pon
me worse than ever. In vain I trie5 to get 9p an5 ring the bell or call =or help@ I co9l5 not
move( an5 tho9ght I was certainl> 5>ing.
B,hen the 5ressing bell rang it ro9se5 me again( an5 I ma5e a great e==ort to rise an5 go
to m> room( which I 5i5@ b9t when m> mai5 came in I was stan5ing b> the =ire( leaning
9pon the mantelpiece( trembling all over. /he at once came to me an5 aske5 what was the
matter. I sai5 I 5i5 not know( b9t that I =elt ver> ill in5ee5.
B*he 5inner-ho9r ha5 arrive5( an5 m> h9sban5 ha5 not come home. *hen( =or the =irst
time( it =lashe5 9pon m> min5 that something ha5 happene5 to him when I was taken ill
at the writing-table. *his was the =irst time I ha5 tho9ght abo9t him( so that it was no
an?iet> on m> part abo9t him that ha5 ca9se5 m> illness. *he ne?t hal=-ho9r was spent in
great s9spense@ then he arrive5 home with his messenger with him@ he was almost in an
9nconscio9s state( an5 remaine5 so =or abo9t U3 ho9rs. ,hen he was well eno9gh =or me
to ask him abo9t his illness( he sai5 he ha5 been ver> well in5ee5 all 5a>( b9t D9st as he
was preparing to leave his o==ice he became s955enl> ver> ill PD9st the same time that I
was taken ill at the writing-tableQ( an5 his messenger ha5 to get a cab an5 come home
with him@ he was E9ite 9nable to be le=t b> himsel=.
BEMIL# 'E)#.C
Mr. 'ea>( /ecretar> o= the Lon5on an5 %orth-,estern 'ailwa>( con=irms as =ollows:A
B/eptember 27th( 2773.
BI per=ectl> well recollect( on the evening o= m> severe an5 s955en attack o= illness( m>
wi=e asking me some E9estions abo9t it( when( a=ter hearing what I ha5 to sa>( she tol5
me that almost at the same instant o= time Psoon a=ter V p.m.Q( when writing( she was
sei]e5 with a =it o= trembling an5 nervo9s 5epression( as i= she were 5>ing. /he went to
her room an5 remaine5 there in the same state 9ntil the 5inner ho9r( an5 as I 5i5 not
arrive b> that time she instinctivel> =elt that something ha5 happene5 to me( an5 was on
the point o= sen5ing to the o==ice to inE9ire when I le=t( when I was bro9ght home in a
cab. )t the time o= m> sei]9re I was writing( an5 it was with m9ch 5i==ic9lt> that I was
enable5 to =inish the letter.
B/. 'E)#.C
i-UW3!
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. 'ea> a55s:A
BI never at an> other time in m> li=e ha5 the slightest approach to the sensations I
e?perience5 when the s955en illness came over me( 9n5er the circ9mstances mentione5
to >o9. I never in m> li=e =ainte5( nor have I an> ten5enc> that wa>. *he =eeling which
came over me was a 5rea5=9l trembling( with prostration( an5 a =eeling that I was going
to 5ie@ an5 I ha5 no power to rise =rom the writing-table to ring =or assistance. I have
never ha5 the same =eeling since( an5 never be=ore that time.C
*he 9niE9eness o= the e?perience ma> be rea5il> accepte5 as state5( in a case where its
ph>sical character was so 5istinct as this. "9t even in D95ging o= more 5o9bt=9l cases( an
in=erence which the percipient4s 5escription might har5l> warrant ma> sometimes be
=airl> 5rawn =rom the permanent e==ect ma5e on his min5. *he =ollowing acco9nt( =or
instance( is ver> likel> to provoke a smile( an5 is in itsel= wholl> inconcl9sive@ >et the
impression was at an> rate s9==icientl> marke5 to =orce the realit> o= s>mpathetic
trans=erences on the min5 o= a scienti=ic witness( who can5i5l> recor5s it in a book
largel> 5evote5 to the e?pos9re o= sp9rio9s Bps>chicalC marvels. $r. E. L. +ischer( o=
,Rr]b9rg( in his Der !ogenannte ;ebens6'agnetis(us oder 9,pnotis(us PMain]( 277:Q(
sa>s that as a st95ent at the Universit> he enDo>e5 e?tremel> goo5 spirits( b9t was one
morning oppresse5 b> an e?traor5inar> gloom( which his companions notice5.
PW2Q B$9ring the whole a=ternoon I remaine5 in this state o= 5ismal wretche5ness. )ll at
once a telegram arrive5 =rom home( in=orming me that m> gran5mother was taken ver>
ill( an5 that she was earnestl> longing =or me. *here I ha5 the sol9tion o= the ri55le.
%evertheless =rom that ho9r m> melanchol> gra59all> 5ecrease5( an5 in spite o= the
telegram it completel> 5isappeare5 in the co9rse o= the a=ternoon. In the evening I
receive5 a secon5 message( to the e==ect that the 5anger was over. In this wa> the secon5
phenomenon( the rapi5 5ecrease o= m> wretche5nessAa circ9mstance which in itsel= was
s9rprising( inasm9ch as the melanchol> sho9l5 nat9rall> rather have increased a=ter the
receipt o= the =irst newsAreceive5 its e?planation. +or the a=ternoon was D9st the time
when the change in the patient4s con5ition =or the better took place@ an5 the 5anger to her
li=e once over( her >earning =or m> presence ha5 5ecrease5@ while sim9ltaneo9sl> m>
an?iet> was 5ispelle5.C
$r. +ischer was( I think( wrong in accepting this inci5ent( Pan5 a ver> =ew more like itQ( as
s9==icient evi5ence =or the =act o= telepath>@ b9t right in placing it on recor5 =or what it is
worth.
In the maDorit> o= the emotional cases( the nat9ral bon5 between the two persons
concerne5 has been o= the closest. )n5( ceteris i-UWV! paribus( the nearer tie o= bloo5
increases the probabilit> o= the telepathic e?planation( wherever the h>pothesis o= nat9ral
an?iet> =or a belove5 relative is e?cl95e5 b> the =act that the emotion is connecte5 with
no special person. ,e receive5 the =ollowing case =rom Mrs. "9ll( o= Mossle> Vicarage(
-ongleton.
BFan9ar> :r5( 277V.
PWUQ BOn the evening o= Fan9ar> U7th( 278:( I ha5 met several ol5 =rien5s at 5inner at a
=rien54s ho9se near Manchester( in which neighbo9rhoo5 I ha5 been pa>ing visits. M>
ret9rn home to m> =ather4s ho9se was =i?e5 =or the ne?t a=ternoon. I o9ght to sa> that
between that =ather an5 me( his =irst-born chil5( a more than common bon5 o= a==ection
an5 s>mpath> e?iste5( arising =rom circ9mstances I nee5 not mention( an5 I was looking
=orwar5 to m> ret9rn with earnest longing. *he evening ha5 been bright an5 happ>(
s9rro9n5e5 b> =rien5s I val9e5. ,hen I was abo9t to leave( m> hostess presse5 me to
pla> =or her a ver> =avo9rite ol5 march. I 5ecline5( on acco9nt o= the lateness o= the ho9r(
an5 keeping horses stan5ing. /he sai5( uIt is not >et 2U( an5 I have sent the carriage awa>
=or a E9arter o= an ho9r.4 I sat 5own la9ghing( an5 be=ore I pla>e5 man> bars( s9ch an
in5escribable =eeling came over me( intense sa5ness heral5e5 a complete break 5own(
an5 I was le5 awa> =rom the piano in h>sterics. "> 2; o4clock the ne?t morning I got a
telegram( to sa> m> =ather ha5 gone to be5 in his 9s9al health( an5 at a E9arter to 2U the
night be=ore ha5 passe5 awa> in an epileptic =it( having previo9sl> sai5 to m> sister how
gla5 he was to think o= seeing me so soon( an5 when she bi5 him goo5-night( pra>ing
&o5 to give them both a E9iet night an5 sleep.
B). M. "ULL.C
*he Chester Courant =or +ebr9ar> 3th( 278:( sa>s that the 5eath o= the 'ev. F. Fackson
took place on Fan9ar> U7th( ver> s955enl>. .e ha5 preache5 on the /9n5a>( an5 ha5 been
o9t on the *9es5a> prece5ing the ,e5nes5a> night when his =atal =it attacke5 him.
In repl> to inE9iries( Mrs. "9ll sa>s:A
B/ince rea5ing >o9r letter last night( I have care=9ll> gone over the g9ests o= that 5inner
part>( an5 =in5 them all gone b9t one( +rank )shton( EsE.( *he La9rels( *wickenham( an5
he is too ill to rea5 or to answer a letter. )t the time I speak o=( I was the wi5ow o= the
'ev. F. Lowthian( vicar o= ,harton. M> =ather was the 'ev. Fohn Fackson( vicar o= Over.
: never e.perienced a similar =eeling. I am not at all nat9rall> incline5 to 5epression( an5
am perfectl, free =rom what is commonl> 9n5erstoo5 b> s9perstition.C
In conversation( Mrs. "9ll tol5 me that she has never in her li=e ha5 a =it o= h>sterics( or
o= 9nacco9ntable weeping( e?cept on this occasion.
*he writer o= the =ollowing narrative is the e5itor o= a well-known northern newspaper(
an5 was =ormerl> special =oreign correspon5ent o= a Lon5on paper. ) =ew weeks be=ore
the occ9rrence here 5escribe5( he ha5 a c9rio9s impression correspon5ing with the 5eath
o= a =rien5( which is narrate5 in the =ollowing chapter Pcase 2;:Q.
i-UW8!
B$ecember 22th( 2773.
PW:Q BOn the :r5 o= Ma> in the same spring Y277UZ( m> wi=e( while taking tea with m>
5a9ghter( was s955enl> sei]e5 with an epileptic =it( an5 =ell heavil> to the =loor( striking
her =orehea5 on the =en5er@ she was never conscio9s again( b9t 5ie5 the ne?t 5a>. *his
acci5ent happene5 between : an5 3 o4clock in the a=ternoon. +or nearl> V >ears m> wi=e
ha5 intermittentl> s9==ere5 =rom epileps>( b9t =or some : months be=ore her 5eath seeme5
to have completel> recovere5( which apparent =act ha5 ca9se5 m9ch Do> in o9r little
=amil> circle( as the poor 5ear ha5 been a great s9==erer. I set this 5own to show that her
5eath or serio9s illness was not at all e?pecte5 at the time it happene5.
BOn the morning o= the :r5 o= Ma> I le=t =or the -it>( an5 as m> wi=e kisse5 her han5 to
me at the win5ow( I tho9ght how remarkabl> well an5 ulike her ol5 sel=4 she appeare5. I
went to b9siness in uhigh spirits(4 an5 le=t her in the same@ b9t so(e-here abo9t the time
she =ellAneither m> 5a9ghter nor I have been able to =i? the time within an ho9rAI
s955enl> =ell into s9ch a =it o= gloom that I was powerless to go on with m> work( an5
co9l5 onl> sit with m> =ace between m> han5s( scarcel> able to speak to m> colleag9es in
the same o==ice( who became alarme5 as the> ha5 never seen me in an> b9t a cheer=9l
moo5. I was at the time e5iting >ngland, an5 as =rien5 a=ter =rien5 5roppe5 into m> room(
an5 wante5 to know what aile5 me( I co9l5 onl> e?plain m> sensation in a phrase Pwhich
the> an5 I well rememberQ which I kept repeating( namel>( uI have a horrible sense o=
some impen5ing calamit>.4 /o =ar as I am aware( m> tho9ghts never once t9rne5 to m>
home. I= the> ha5( I think I sho9l5 not have accepte5( as I 5i5( an invitation to 5ine with a
=rien5 at a resta9rant in the /tran5( presse5 on me =or the e?press p9rpose o= ucheering me
9p.4
BI was telegraphe5 =or to o9r o==ice in the /tran5( b9t b> an acci5ent it was not =orwar5e5
to me to ,hite=riars /treet at m> e5itorial room: so that I never saw m> wi=e 9ntil a=ter
2U at night( when m> 7 or X ho9rs o= =ear=9l 5epression o= spirits Pas it instantl> str9ck
meQ were acco9nte5 =or. I ma> a55 that I am nat9rall> o= a b9o>ant temperament( in =act I
ma> sa> =ar above the average o= people in that respect( an5 I was never to m> knowle5ge
ever so s955enl> or similarl> 5epresse5 be=ore. M> wi=e( in this case( >o9 will observe(
was not 5ea5 b9t simpl> 9nconscio9s when m> =it o= low spirits set in.
B*here are several witnesses who can testi=> to these =acts( =or when it became known at
the o==ice that m> wi=e was 5ea5 the strong coinci5ence o= m> s955enl> ut9rning so
E9eer4 was a topic o= conversation there. I have nothing to a55 b9t that we Pm> wi=e an5
IQ ha5 been marrie5 =or UV >ears( an5 were e?tremel> =on5 o= each other( an5 we were
both( I sho9l5 sa>( o= a s>mpathetic temperament( perhaps more than or5inaril> so.C
Mr. 1o5more writes on /ept. 2( 277V:A
BI calle5 to-5a> at Mr. AA4s ho9se. .e was o9t o= town( b9t his son an5 5a9ghter were
at home.
2

Y) =9ll viv0 voce acco9nt o= the inci5ent has been given b> the narrator to o9r =rien5 an5
helper( Mr. ). &. Leonar5.Z
B)s regar5s Mr. AA4s 5epression on the 5a> o= his wi=e4s =atal attack( i-UWW! the> both
ass9re5 me that he spoke o= this imme5iatel> a=ter his ret9rn home on the evening o= that
5a>( an5 has =reE9entl> mentione5 it since *he son has also hear5 one o= his =ather4s
colleag9es( Mr. &reen( 5escribe the circ9mstance as something E9ite remarkable. Mr.
&reen tol5 him that both himsel= an5 others present in the o==ice 5i5 all the> co9l5 to rall>
Mr. AA b9t =aile5.C
Mr. &reen writes:A
B%etherworton .o9se( /teeple )ston( O?on.
B$ecember 28th( 277V.
B$E)' /I'(AM> =rien5( Mr.AA( o= >ngland, has aske5 me to corroborate the =act that
he s9==ere5 =rom a sing9lar 5epression all the 5a> o= his wi=e4s =atal sei]9re. I was in his
compan> most o= the 5a>( an5 can =9ll> corroborate his statement.A#o9rs tr9l>(
B-. E. &'EE%.C
*he ne?t case is =rom a la5> who is willing that her name sho9l5 be given to an> one
gen9inel> intereste5 in this case. /he is known to the present writer as a sensible an5
clear-hea5e5 witness( as =ar =rom sentimentalit> or s9perstition as can well be conceive5.
BOctober UWth( 277V.
PW3Q BOn the /at9r5a> be=ore Easter( 2772( m> h9sban5 le=t Lon5on =or 1aris. On the
/at9r5a> or /9n5a> evening he was taken ill( at the hotel( with congestion o= the brain(
an5 wan5ere5 abo9t the place 5elirio9s. /9bseE9entl> he was p9t in a room( an5 altho9gh
a man was in atten5ance( he was( in regar5 to me5ical a5vice( [c.( E9ite neglecte5. .e
remaine5 there some 5a>s( an5 b> looking in his papers his name was 5iscovere5( an5 his
=amil> were comm9nicate5 with.
BOn the a=ternoon o= Easter Mon5a>( m> sons an5 m> 5a9ghter ha5 gone o9t( leaving me
at home. I =ell into an altogether e?traor5inar> state o= 5epression an5 restlessness. I trie5
in vain to 5istract m>sel= with work an5 books. I went 9pstairs an5 =elt besi5e m>sel=
with 5istress( =or what reason I co9l5 not tell@ I arg9e5 with m>sel=( b9t the =eeling
increase5. I even ha5 a violent =it o= weepingAa thing absol9tel> alien to m> character. I
then p9t on m> things( an5( in the hope o= ri55ing m>sel= o= the 9ncom=ortable =eeling(
took a hansom cab( an5 5rove abo9t .>5e 1ark =or abo9t three ho9rsAa thing which I
sho9l5 have consi5ere5 m>sel= stark ma5 =or 5oing at an> other time. I sho9l5 have been
the last person to spen5 eight shillings on cab =are =or nothing. On receiving the news I
went over to 1aris( where I arrive5 on the *h9rs5a>( an5 m> h9sban5 D9st knew me. *he
n9rse engage5 to n9rse him tol5 me that she was aske5 b> the waiter i= m> -hristian
name was M. Y Mrs. /.4s name( an5 a not ver> common oneZ( as that was the name that
m> h9sban5 was constantl> calling o9t 59ring his 5eliri9m. .e 5ie5 some 5a>s
a=terwar5s.
BM. /.C
I learn =rom both Mrs. /. an5 her son that she mentione5 her remarkable e?perience to
her =amil> on the Mon5a> evening. .er son writes as =ollows:A
i-UW7!
BI beg to corroborate m> mother4s acco9nt o= the circ9mstances mentione5. .er 5istress
an5 the circ9mstances o= the cab 5rive are entirel> =oreign to her character. M> =ather was
in 5elicate health( altho9gh sel5om act9all> ill.
BE. /.C
In answer to some E9estions a55resse5 to Mrs. /.( Mr. E. /.( replies:A
BM> mother ha5 no partic9lar an?iet> abo9t m> =ather4s health. .e le=t on the /at9r5a>
=or 1aris( an5 was then in his 9s9al health( an5 she 5i5 not partic9larl> connect her
=eelings with him.C
YI s9ggeste5 a 5i==ic9lt> as to the 5riving about .>5e 1ark( since it is onl> in a restricte5
portion o= that park that cabs are permitte5 to pass. "9t Mrs. /. a5heres to the wor5.Z
In the =ollowing case a ver> marke5 5epression o= spirits was =ollowe5 b> a vivi5 5ream.
*he latter ma> o= co9rse be easil> acco9nte5 =or as =ollowing nat9rall> on the =ormer@ b9t
the emotional 5epression( which coinci5e5 in time with the =atal t9rn in the illness o= a
near relative( seems to have been a 9niE9e e?perience in the li=e o= a person o= strong
mental an5 ph>sical health. *he narrator( a ph>sician( re=9ses permission to p9blish his
name on the gro9n5 that he is a Bcon=irme5 9nbelieverC@ tho9gh in conversation with him
I was 9nable to learn what e?actl> his 9nbelie= was o=( an5 in what e?actl> its
con=irmation ha5 consiste5.
BMarch Wth( 277V.
PWVQ B,hen a bo> abo9t 23 >ears o= age( I was in school in E5inb9rgh( m> home being in
the ,est o= /cotlan5. ) tho9ghtless bo>( =ree =rom all care or an?iet>( in the uEleven4 o=
m> school( an5 pop9lar with m> companions( I ha5 nothing to worr> or anno> me. I
boar5e5 with two ol5 la5ies( now both 5ea5.
BOne a=ternoonAon the 5a> previo9s to a most important cricket match in which I was to
take partAI was overwhelme5 with a most 9n9s9al sense o= 5epression an5 melanchol>. I
sh9nne5 m> =rien5s an5 got ucha==e54 =or m> most 9n9s9al 59lness an5 s9lkiness. I =elt
9tterl> miserable( an5 even to this 5a> I have a most vivi5 recollection o= m> miser> that
a=ternoon.
BI knew that m> =ather s9==ere5 =rom a most 5angero9s 5isease in the stomachAa gastric
9lcerAan5 that he was alwa>s more or less in 5anger( b9t I knew that he was in his 9s9al
ba5 health( an5 that nothing e?ceptional aile5 him.
B*hat same night I ha5 a 5ream. I was engage5 in the cricket match. I saw a telegram
being bro9ght to me while batting( an5 it tol5 me that m> =ather was 5>ing( an5 telling
me to come home at once. I tol5 the la5ies with whom I boar5e5 what m> 5ream ha5
been( an5 tol5 them how real the impression was. I went to the gro9n5( an5 was engage5
in the game( batting( an5 making a score. I saw a telegram being bro9ght o9t( rea5 it( an5
=ainte5. I at once le=t =or home( an5 =o9n5 m> =ather ha5 D9st 5ie5 when I reache5 the
ho9se. *he 9lcer i-UWX! in the stomach ha5 s955enl> b9rst abo9t 3 o4clock on the
previo9s 5a>( an5 it was abo9t that ho9r that I ha5 e?perience5 the most 9n9s9al
5epression I have 5escribe5. *he sensations I ha5 on that a=ternoon have le=t a most clear
an5 5istinct impression on m> min5( an5 now( a=ter the lapse o= 2V >ears( I well
remember m> miserable =eelings.
BF. $.( M.$.C
In repl> to inE9iries( $r. $. sa>s:A
BI most certainl> never ha5 a similar e?perience o= 5epression( or s9ch a vivi5 5ream as
the one I trie5 in m> letter to e?plain. "oth the 5epression an5 the 5ream were E9ite
e?ceptional( an5 have le=t a most clear impression on m> memor>.
BI =ear I cannot name an> in5ivi59al school=ellow who notice5 m> most 9nwonte5
silence an5 E9ietness on that a=ternoon( b9t I 5istinctl> remember their cha==ing me =or
not Doining as 9s9al in the a=ternoon4s practice.C
S :. On the s9pposition that a close nat9ral bon5 between two persons is a =avo9rable
con5ition =or telepathic in=l9ence( there is one gro9p o= persons among whom we might
e?pect to =in5 a 5isproportionate n9mber o= instancesAnamel>( t-ins. )s a matter o= =act(
we have a certain n9mber o= twin cases( which( tho9gh act9all> small( is in5isp9tabl>
5isproportionate( i= we remember what an in=initesimall> small proportion o= the
pop9lation twins =orm. I will E9ote here the three e?amples which properl> belong to this
chapter. It ma> be o= interest to compare them with the cases given b> Mr. +. &alton
%:n2uiries into 9u(an <acult,, pp. UU8T:2Q( o= consentaneo9s tho9ght an5 action on the
part o= twins. Mr. &alton attrib9tes the coinci5ences to a speciall> close similarit> o=
constit9tion. *he pair ma> be ro9ghl> compare5 to two watches( which begin to go at the
same ho9r( an5 keep parallel with one another in their a5vance thro9gh li=e. *his theor>
seems =airl> to acco9nt =or the occ9rrence o= special ph>siological or pathological crises
at the same point o= the two lives. *he twins( tho9gh separate5( have their cro9p or their
whooping-co9gh sim9ltaneo9sl>. *he e?planation( however( seems a little straine5 when
applie5 to the sim9ltaneo9s p9rchase in 5i==erent towns o= two sets o= champagne-glasses
o= similar pattern( owing to a s955en imp9lse on the part o= each o= the twins to s9rprise
the other with a present. I= it were possibleAwhich it can har5l> beAto make s9re that
there ha5 been no previo9s mention o= the s9bDect between the brothers( an5 that the i5ea
was reall> an5 completel> imprompt9( one might hint that the coinci5ence here was
telepathic. )n5( at an> rate( the cases to be now E9ote5 seem o9tsi5e i-U7;! the range o=
a pre-establishe5 ph>siological harmon>@ with them( the alternative is between telepath>
an5 acci5ent.
*he =irst acco9nt is =rom the 'ev. F. M. ,ilson( hea5-master o= -li=ton -ollege( a /enior
,rangler an5 well-known mathematician.
B-li=ton -ollege.
BFan9ar> Vth( 2773.
PW8Q B*he =acts were these( as nearl> as I can remember.
BI was at -ambri5ge at the en5 o= m> secon5 term( in =9ll health( boating( =ootball-
pla>ing an5 the like( an5 b> no means s9bDect to hall9cinations or morbi5 =ancies. One
evening I =elt e?tremel> ill( trembling( with no apparent ca9se whatever@ nor 5i5 it seem
to me at the time to be a ph>sical illness( a chill o= an> kin5. I was =rightene5. I was
totall> 9nable to overcome it. I remember a sort o= str9ggle with m>sel=( resolving that I
-ould go on with m> mathematics( b9t it was in vain: I became convince5 that I was
5>ing.
BI went 5own to the rooms o= m> =rien5( ,. E. M9llins( who was on the same staircase(
an5 I remember that he e?claime5 at me be=ore I spoke. .e p9t awa> his books( p9lle5
o9t a whisk> bottle an5 a backgammon boar5( b9t I co9l5 not =ace it. ,e sat over the =ire
=or a bit( an5 then he =etche5 some one else PMr. E. &. 1eckoverQ( to have a look at me. I
was in a strange 5iscom=ort( b9t with no s>mptoms I can recall( e?cept mental
5iscom=ort( an5 the conviction that I sho9l5 5ie that night.
B*owar5s 22( a=ter some : ho9rs o= this( I got better( an5 went 9pstairs an5 got to be5(
an5 a=ter a time to sleep( an5 ne?t morning was E9ite well.
BIn the a=ternoon came a letter to sa> that m> twin brother ha5 5ie5 the evening be=ore in
Lincolnshire. I am E9ite clear o= the =act that I never once tho9ght o= him( nor was his
presence with me even 5iml> imagine5. .e ha5 been long ill o= cons9mption@ b9t I ha5
not hear5 o= him =or some 5a>s( an5 there was nothing to make me think that his 5eath
was near. It took me altogether b> s9rprise.
BF)ME/ M. ,IL/O%.C
,e have applie5 to Mr. M9llins( b9t he cannot now recall the inci5ent.
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. ,ilson sa>s:A
BI never e?perience5 an> similar nervo9s 5epression. It was a sort o= panic =ear( the chill
o= approaching 5eath that was on me. *he ho9rs 5i5 not e?actl> coinci5e@ m> brother 5ie5
some 3 ho9rs be=ore I was so sei]e5.C
I= we are right in regar5ing this inci5ent as probabl> telepathic( it is one o= the n9mero9s
cases where the impression has lain latent =or a consi5erable time be=ore a==ecting
conscio9sness. Mr. ,ilson4s 5escription o= his e?perience strongl> recalls case UU( where
the percipient( it will be remembere5( Bbecame E9ite col5( an5 ha5 a =irm presentiment
that she was 5>ingC@ an5 compare also case W;.
i-U72!
*he ne?t case is =rom Mr. Fames -arroll( who( when he wrote( was in atten5ance on an
invali5( 9n5er the care o= $r. ,oo5( *he 1rior>( 'oehampton. I have ha5 a long interview
with him( as well as a goo5 5eal o= correspon5ence@ an5 I have no 5o9bt whatever that
the =acts are correctl> recor5e5.
BF9l>( 2773.
PWWQ BI beg to =orwar5 m> e?perience o= abo9t si? >ears ago( while living in the
emplo>ment o= -olonel *9rbervill( near "ri5gen5( &lamorgan( an5 a twin brother in the
same capacit> with a la5> at -hobham 1lace( "agshot( /9rre>.
BI ma> mention that m> brother an5 I were 5evote5l> attache5 =rom chil5ren( an5 o9r
resemblance to each other so remarkable that onl> one or two o= o9r =amil> then living(
an5 ol5est =rien5s( co9l5 5isting9ish an> 5i==erence between 9s. Up to F9ne 2Wth( 27W7( I
ha5 not known m> brother to have one 5a>4s illness( an5 in conseE9ence o= having abo9t
this time recovere5 heav> =inancial loss( there was this an5 other 9n9s9al ca9se =or
cheer=9lness. "9t on the morning o= the 5ate given( abo9t hal=-past 22( I e?perience5 a
strange sadness an5 5epression. Unable to acco9nt =or it( I t9rne5 to m> 5esk( thinking o=
m> brother. I looke5 at his last letter to see the 5ate( an5 trie5 to 5etect i= there was
an>thing 9n9s9al in it b9t =aile5. I wrote o== to m> brother( close5 m> 5esk( an5 =elt
compelle5 to e?claim E9ite alo95( uM> brother or I will break 5own.4 *his I a=terwar5s
=o9n5 was the =irst 5a> o= his =atal illness.
BI wrote again to him( b9t in conseE9ence o= his being ill I receive5 no repl>. ,e 9s9all>
wrote twice a-week. I trie5 to pers9a5e m>sel= his silence was 59e to being b9s>. On the
=ollowing /at9r5a>( the UUn5( while speaking to Mr. *9rbervill( a s955en 5epression(
which I ha5 never be=ore realise5( an5 which I =eel impossible to 5escribe( came over me.
I =elt strange an5 9nwell. I retire5 as soon as possible( thank=9l m> state o= min5 ha5 not
been notice5. I wo9l5 have gone to m> room( b9t =elt it might be notice5( an5 =elt
=rightene5 too( as i= something might s955enl> happen to me.
BI went( instea5( into the =ootman4s pantr>( where the> were cleaning the plate( an5 sat
5own( s9ppresse5 m> =eelings( b9t all95e5 to a 59lness an5 concern =or m> brother. I was
speaking( when a messenger entere5 with a telegram to anno9nce m> brother4s 5angero9s
state( an5 reE9esting m> imme5iate presence. .e 5ie5 on the =ollowing Mon5a> morning.
It is clearl> prove5 that at the time I =elt the melanchol> 5escribe5 he was speaking o= me
in great 5istress. ,e were never consi5ere5 s9perstitio9s( an5 I was never apt to =eelings
o= melanchol>.
BM> brother an5 I were well known to $r. #o9ng( o= :;( ,est-bo9rne /E9are(
1a55ington@ an5 to Mr. *rollope( /olicitor( :2( )bing5on /treet( ,estminster.
BF)ME/ -)''OLL.C
In repl> to inE9iries Mr. -arroll sa>s:A
B)9g9st 7th( 2773.
BI =in5 it 5i==ic9lt now( a=ter the lapse o= time an5 man> changes( to get the memor> o=
=rien5s to recall the s9bDects o= o9r correspon5ence. I le=t /o9th ,ales on the 5eath o= m>
brother( an5 have been moving abo9t i-U7U! among strangers ever since@ circ9mstances
on this part o= the matter are sing9larl> against me.
B#o9 aske5 in >o9r previo9s letter( was the impression o= 5istress an5 apprehension
which I 5escribe5( rare to me in m> e?periencer I never be=ore =elt an>thing like it(
e?cept in a mil5er =orm( be=ore the 5eath o= m> mother( abo9t 23 >ears ago( while I was
at Lor5 'obarts4 seat in )rnhill( an5 m> mother in Lon5on. *he sensation then was abo9t
two or three 5a>s previo9s to her 5eath. I have alwa>s been an opponent to ghost theor>(
an5 till m> brother4s 5eath I never tho9ght to entertain the i5ea that there co9l5 be an>
9nseen power in the tho9ght o= apparitions.
BM> brother4s 5eath was =rom a col5 neglecte5( an5 in=lammation rapi5l> setting in. ,e
were twins( his age at time o= 5eath :X abo9t. +rom o9r e?traor5inar> resemblance we
were well known. I ma> mention m> brother being the onl> near relation le=t.
BI sent to Irelan5 =or signat9res to a 5istant relative( who was with me as an a5opte5 son
shortl> a=ter m> brother4s 5eath( =or abo9t two >ears. .e is abo9t 27 >ears o= age@ his
name( too( is Fames -arroll. .is corroboration comes ver> close to the time.
B)n ol5 =rien5( o= UV >ears( :; I think( hol5ing a goo5 position in one o= o9r chie=
banking ho9ses( also promise5 to corroborate( a 5a> or two ago. I enclose now a note
=rom him( D9st receive5. .e remembers the s9bDect. I o=ten( D9st a=ter m> brother4s 5eath(
spoke o= it to him.
BF. -.C
) nephew an5 namesake o= Mr. -arroll4s writes as =ollows:A
B-lonmel( Irelan5.
B)9g9st 2;th( 2773.
BI hereb> certi=> that Mr. -arroll =reE9entl>( 59ring the earl> part o= m> resi5ence with
him( abo9t V >ears ago( spoke o= the presentiment he 5escribes in a letter written to >o9( a
cop> o= which he has sent me.
BF)ME/ -)''OLL.C
*he =ollowing is a letter to Mr. -arroll =rom Mr. Fames Martin( o= 2( Oak Villa( )ven9e
'oa5( )cton.
B)9g9st 28th( 2773.
B$E)' F)ME/(A+rom the time o= >o9r brother4s 5eath till the present( I have spent m9ch
time in >o9r societ>. I remember well the acco9nt >o9 gave me o= the 5rea5=9l 5epression
o= min5 >o9 passe5 thro9gh D9st previo9s to his 5eath. It was sing9lar( b9t tr9e.
BF)ME/ M)'*I%.C
Mr. -arroll showe5 me a letter written b> Mrs. "en>an( his brother4s emplo>er( at the
time when the brother was 5angero9sl> ill. *he letter is to a solicitor( an5 e?presses a
5esire that he( Fames -arroll( sho9l5 be in=orme5 o= the illness. It proves that the illness
was s955en an5 that Mr. -arroll was 9naware o= it.
*he =ollowing case is less striking( b9t is worth giving in connection with the others. ,e
receive5 it =rom Mr. Pnow the 'ev.Q ). F. Maclean( o= *ewkesb9r>.
i-U7:!
B-lerg> /chool( Lee5s.
BF9ne 7th( 2773.
PW7Q B)bo9t three >ears ago m> twin brother was >achting o== %orwa> =or si? weeks. One
/9n5a> I Pwho was then at collegeQ =elt certain that there was something wrong with m>
brother an5 spoke o= it =reel> PI cannot remember to whomQ. ,hen I saw m> brother I
mentione5 this circ9mstance. M> brother ha5 kept a 5iar>( an5 on the 5a> in E9estion
the> ha5 enco9ntere5 a storm( in which the masts were inD9re5 an5 things washe5 awa>.
*he> gave 9p all =or lost.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. Maclean sa>s:A
BF9ne( 2773.
BI co9l5 not sa> whether m> brother ha5 an> tho9ghts abo9t me on the 5a> he was in
5anger o= being shipwrecke5( b9t I certainl> ha5 a vivi5 impression that he was in 5anger
the same 5a> on which it happene5. .e was >achting at the time( an5 was o== the coast o=
%orwa>. .e is not the sort o= man to e?perience an>thing in the wa> o= hall9cination( an5
i= he 5i5 think o= me at the time he wo9l5 take no notice o= it( or even =orget it altogether
the ne?t min9te. I =eel s9re I sho9l5 get ver> little in=ormation bearing on the s9bDect
=rom him. I onl> know that he -as in act9al 5anger( an5 =9rthermore that I m>sel= was
convince5 at the time that something was happening to him( an5 mentione5 the =act to
several =rien5s at the timeAbeing at O?=or5Atho9gh I cannot possibl> remember to
whom I e?presse5 m> =ears. .e is a twin brother.
B)'*.U' F. M)-LE)%.C
In answer to =9rther inE9iries( especiall> as to whether he ha5 ever ha5 similar
impressions which ha5 not correspon5e5 with realit>( Mr. Maclean sa>s:A
BF9ne U;th( 2773.
BM> impression with regar5 to m> brother4s 5anger is the onl, one I ever remember
having.
BI am a=rai5 I cannot possibl> remember to whom I mentione5 m> =ears at the time( as I
was at college( an5 there were so man> I might have tol5.C
S 3. ,e ma> now pass to a gro9p o= these cases in which the primar> element o= the
emotional impression is a sense o= being -antedAan imp9lse to go somewhere or 5o
something.
*he =irst e?ample is =rom the 'ev. E. $. "anister( o= ,hitechapel Vicarage( 1reston.
B%ovember 2Uth( 277V.
PWXQ BM> =ather on the 5a> o= his 5eath ha5 gone o9t o= the ho9se abo9t U.:; p.m.( to
have his 9s9al a=ternoon stroll in the gar5en an5 =iel5s. .e ha5 not been absent more than
W or 7 min9tes when( as I was talking to m> wi=e an5 sister( I was sei]e5 with a ver>
9rgent 5esire to go to him. P*he conversation relate5 to a visit which we propose5 to pa>
that a=ternoon to a neighbo9r( an5 no all9sion was ma5e to m> =ather.Q *he =eeling that I
o9ght to go an5 see him came 9pon me with irresistible =orce. I insiste5 9pon all in the
ho9se going o9t to =in5 m> =ather. I was remonstrate5 withAm> ver> an?iet> seeming so
9nreasonable. M> =ather4s a=ternoon stroll was a reg9lar habit o= li=e in =ine i-U73!
weather( an5 I ha5 no reason to give wh> on that partic9lar occasion I m9st insist on his
being =o9n5. /earch was ma5e( an5 it was m> sa5 lot to =in5 him 5ea5 in the =iel5( in a
place which( accor5ing to the ro9te he or5inaril> a5opte5( he wo9l5 have reache5 abo9t W
or 7 min9tes a=ter leaving the ho9se.
BM> i5ea is that when he =elt the stroke o= 5eath coming 9pon him he earnestl> 5esire5 to
see me( an5 that( b> the operation o= certain ps>chical laws( the 5esire was comm9nicate5
to me.
BE. $. ")%I/*E'.C
In repl> to inE9iries Mr. "anister a55s:A
BIn repl> to >o9r letter I have to state:A
B2. Vivi5 impressions o= the kin5 I have relate5 are 9tterl> 9nknown to me@ the one
relate5 is 9niE9e in m> e?perience.
BU. *here was not the least ca9se =or an?iet> owing to the absence o= m> =ather. It onl>
seeme5 a short time since he ha5 gone o9t o= the room( an5 on this acco9nt m> 9rgenc>
was 5eeme5 9nreasonable.
B:. *he 5ate was Fan9ar> Xth( 277:.C
,e have con=irme5 this 5ate b> the obit9ar> notice in the *reston Chronicle.
Mr. "anister4s wi=e an5 sister s9ppl> the =ollowing corroboration:A
B,e have seen the statement which Mr. "anister has =orwar5e5 to the 1s>chical 'esearch
/ociet>( relating to the strong impression b> which he was irresistibl> 9rge5 in search o=
his =ather on the a=ternoon o= Fan9ar> Xth( 277:( an5 we are able to con=irm all 5etails
given in that statement.
BM)'# ")%I/*E'.
B)&%E/ ")%I/*E'.C
In conversation Mr. "anister in=orme5 me that his =ather was a remarkabl> hale ol5 man(
an5 there ha5 never been the slightest an?iet> abo9t his being o9t alone. .e =9rther
mentione5 that the comp9lsion seeme5 to come to him B=rom o9tsi5e.C
*he =ollowing instance is =rom Mrs. -.( o= 22( Upper .amilton *errace( %.,.
B$ecember 2Wth( 277:.
P7;Q BOn $ecember Un5( 27WW( I was at ch9rch. M> chil5ren wishe5 to remain to a
christening. I sai5( uI cannot( somebo5> seems calling me@ something is the matter.4 I
ret9rne5 home to =in5 nothing@ b9t ne?t morning two telegrams s9mmone5 me to the
5eathbe5 o= m> h9sban5( =rom whom I ha5 ha5 a cheer=9l letter on the /at9r5a>( an5 who
le=t me in e?cellent spirits the *h9rs5a> be=ore. I onl> arrive5 in time to see him 5ie.C
*he =ollowing is the sons4 corroboration:A
B,e remember( per=ectl>( o9r mother leaving the ch9rch( sa>ing she =elt she was wante5(
someone was calling her. *he ne?t 5a> o9r =ather 5ie5( $ecember :r5( 27WW.
B&EO'&E -.
BFO.% ). -.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. -. sa>s:A
B+ebr9ar> 2Xth( 2773.
P2Q BI cannot sa> that the e?perience o= some one calling me was i-U7V! 9niE9e. I have
o=ten ha5 strong impressions o= things occ9rring( an5 s9ch things have happene5( b9t not
having set 5own the 5ates( I co9l5 not be s9==icientl> certain to satis=> m>sel=.
2

PUQ BM> h9sban5 wrote me a cheer=9l letter on the +ri5a>( %ovember :;th( an5 on the
/at9r5a>( $ecember 2st( onl> mentioning that he was a little bilio9s( b9t that he was
going to Leicester that a=ternoon. .e was( however( so m9ch worse that a=ternoon that he
went to be5. In the night he was =o9n5 b> a gentleman to be o9t o= be5( an5 9nable to get
in( an5 he mistook the gentleman =or me. )ll /9n5a> he was 5>ing( an5 m> =rien5s co9l5
not telegraph( an5 there was no train. On Mon5a> I receive5 two telegrams( earl> in the
morning. )s soon as I rea5 >o9r letter m> sons both sai5 the> remembere5 the
circ9mstance E9ite well an5 signe5 the enclose5. &eorge was 2; >ears ol5( Fohn 2U
>ears.C
)ske5 whether she wo9l5 have been certain to sta> =or the christening 9n5er or5inar>
circ9mstances( Mrs. -. replie5 in the a==irmative@ an5 that the bo>s were 5isappointe5.
/he is witho9t an> theor> on these matters@ an5 simpl> reports an 9n5o9bte5 e?perience.
*he =ollowing case is ver> similar. *he narrator is Mr. ). /kirving( =oreman at
,inchester -athe5ral.
B-athe5ral #ar5( ,inchester.
BFan9ar> :2st( 2773.
P72Q BI respect=9ll> beg to o==er >o9 a short statement o= m> e?perience on a s9bDect
which I 5o not 9n5erstan5. Let me premise that I am not a scholar( as I le=t school when
2U >ears o= age in 27UW( an5 I there=ore hope >o9 will =orgive all sins against composition
an5 grammar. I am a working =oreman o= masons at ,inchester -athe5ral( an5 have been
=or the last X >ears a resi5ent in this cit>. I am a native o= E5inb9rgh.
BIt is now more than :; >ears ago that I was living in Lon5on( ver> near where the &reat
,estern 'ailwa> now stan5s( b9t which was not then b9ilt. I was working in the 'egent4s
1ark =or Messrs. Mowlem( "9rt( an5 +reeman( who at that time ha5 the &overnment
contract =or : >ears =or the masons4 work o= the capital( an5 who >et carr> on a might>
b9siness at Millbank( ,estminster. I think it was &lo9cester &ate( i= I mistake not. )t all
events( it was that gate o= 'egent4s 1ark to the eastwar5 o= the Joological &ar5ens( at the
north-east corner o= the park. *he 5istance =rom m> home was too great =or me to get
home to meals( so I carrie5 m> =oo5 with me( an5 there=ore ha5 no call to leave the work
all 5a>. On a certain 5a>( however( I s955enl> =elt an intense 5esire to go home( b9t as I
ha5 no b9siness there I trie5 to s9ppress it(Ab9t it was not possible to 5o so. Ever>
min9te the 5esire to go home increase5. It was 2; in the morning( an5 I co9l5 not think o=
an>thing to call me awa> =rom the work at s9ch a time. I got =i5get> an5 9neas>( an5 =elt
as i= I m9st go( even at the risk o= being ri5ic9le5 b> m> wi=e( as I co9l5 give no reason
wh> I sho9l5 leave m> work an5 lose 85. an ho9r =or nonsense. .owever( I co9l5 not
sta>( an5 I set o== =or home 9n5er an imp9lse which I co9l5 not resist.
i-U78!
B,hen I reache5 m> own 5oor an5 knocke5( the 5oor was opene5 b> m> wi=e4s sister( a
marrie5 woman( who live5 a =ew streets o==. /he looke5 s9rprise5( an5 sai5( u,h>(
/kirving( how 5i5 >o9 knowr4 u0now whatr4 I sai5. u,h>( abo9t Mar> )nn.4 I sai5( uI
5on4t know an>thing abo9t Mar> )nn4 Pm> wi=eQ. u*hen what bro9ght >o9 home at
presentr4 I sai5( uI can har5l> tell >o9. I seeme5 to want to come home. "9t what is
wrongr4 I aske5. /he tol5 me that m> wi=e ha5 been r9n over b> a cab( an5 been most
serio9sl> inD9re5 abo9t an ho9r ago( an5 she ha5 calle5 =or me ever since( b9t was now in
=its( an5 ha5 several in s9ccession. I went 9pstairs( an5 tho9gh ver> ill she recognise5 me(
an5 stretche5 =orth her arms( an5 took me ro9n5 the neck an5 p9lle5 m> hea5 5own into
her bosom. *he =its passe5 awa> 5irectl>( an5 m> presence seeme5 to tranE9illise her( so
that she got into sleep( an5 5i5 well. .er sister tol5 me that she ha5 9ttere5 the most
piteo9s cries =or me to come to her( altho9gh there was not the least likelihoo5 o= m>
coming. *his short narrative has onl> one merit@ it is strictl> tr9e.
B)LE\)%$E' /0I'VI%&.C
In answer to the E9estion whether the time o= the acci5ent correspon5e5 with the time
when he =elt a 5esire to go home( Mr. /kirving sa>s:A
BI aske5 m> wi=e4s sister what time the acci5ent occ9rre5( an5 she sai5( u)n ho9r an5 a-
hal= ago4Athat is =rom the time I came home. %ow( that was e?actl> coinci5ent with the
time I wante5 to leave work. It took me an ho9r to walk home@ an5 I was E9ite hal=-an-
ho9r str9ggling in m> min5 to overcome the wish to leave work be=ore I 5i5 so.C
.e a55s: B#o9 ask me i= I ever ha5 a similar impression on an> other occasion. I never
ha5. It was E9ite a single an5 9niE9e e?perience.C
Mr. /kirving4s wi=e is 5ea5. .is sister-in-law( Mrs. V>e( is in %ew Jealan5. .er h9sban5(
writing =rom Otago on F9l> 2st( 277V( sa>s that she cannot now give partic9lars o= the
occ9rrence( tho9gh she remembers the acci5ent ver> well.
In the ne?t caseA=rom Mrs. ,irgman( o= 2U2( $awson 1lace( ,estbo9rne 1ark( ,.Athe
percipient4s line o= action was still more abnormal.
P7UQ BIn 273V I ha5 move5 =rom &erman> to a small town in "elgi9m@ on m> arrival an
English la5> calle5 on me to o==er her ai5 in =in5ing a ho9se. ,hile talking to her I
s955enl> e?claime5( uI m9st go to Englan5.4 I then an5 there starte5 in or5er to catch the
boat =rom )ntwerp. On reaching Lon5on I remarke5 the n9mero9s persons I saw in
mo9rning.
2
I 5rove to m> parents4 lo5gings at the ,est En5( an5 on m> co9sin coming to
the cab 5oor( I inE9ire5 who it was( m> =ather or m> mother. I =o9n5 m> mother well( m>
=ather 5>ing@ his last conscio9s wor5s ha5 been( u+an will be here on *h9rs5a>(4 an5 so I
was( to the intense s9rprise o= m> relations( some o= whom ha5 written( not anticipating
imme5iate 5anger( an5 ha5 it not been =or the ine?plicable i-U7W! imp9lse( I certainl>
sho9l5 not have reache5 Lon5on in time to see m> =ather again.C
In conversation Mrs. ,irgman 5escribe5 to Mr. M>ers the e?treme inconvenience( an5
apparent =oll>( o= her ret9rn to Englan5( which she 9n5ertook witho9t an> 5e=inite notion
as to its obDect( an5( as it were( in spite o= hersel=.
In the ne?t caseA=rom Mr. 1ae( o= :;( &or5on /treet( &ateshea5-on-*>neAthere ma>
have been a certain amo9nt o= latent an?iet> on the narrator4s part respecting his =ather4s
con5ition o= health. On the other han5 his impression seems to have reache5 the pitch o=
act9al ph>sical 5iscom=ort( an5 certainl> a==ecte5 his actions in an 9ne?pecte5 wa>.
P7:Q BI 5reamt that m> =ather 5ie5 be=ore I got his portrait painte5. *his 5ream I tol5 so
o=ten when m> =ather was in goo5 health that it became a stan5ing Dest. *hree months
be=ore he 5ie5 he took a slight pain in his sho9l5er( an5 I sai5 to m>sel=( uIs he going to
5ier4 /o I did begin to paint his portrait( b9t ne?t 5a> he was all right again( so the portrait
5i5 not make hea5wa>. *hree months a=ter( Isabella Pm> wi=eQ an5 I ha5 arrange5 to go to
the theatre one night. It was arrange5 that I wo9l5 get tea in %ewcastle( an5 meet Isabella
at the .igh Level "ri5ge en5 Pshe ha5 to come in =rom the Low +ell( where we live5Q. )ll
went well. I got to the .igh Level. )s I was stan5ing waiting =or her( I =elt all o= a s955en
that i= I co9l5 wish m>sel= an>where in the worl5 at that moment it wo9l5 be in o9r
kitchen at the Low +ell. I trie5 to shake the =eeling o==( b9t it got worse an5 worse. ,hen
Isabella came( I 5i5n4t make an> movement in the 5irection o= the theatre. /he saw
something was the matter. I e?plaine5 the =eeling. /he sai5( u*r> an5 shake it o==.4 "9t nos
I co9l5n4t. /he sai5( u*hen let 9s go home.4 ,hen we got home to the kitchen we =o9n5
m> =ather in an apoplectic =itA-E9ite powerless. .e ha5 remaine5 to take care o= the
chil5ren. .e 5ie5 the ne?t 5a>. .e never spoke@ an5 o= co9rse the portrait was never
=inishe5.
B,ILLI)M 1)E.C
BI 5istinctl> remember m> h9sban54s concern when I met him at the .igh Level( an5
con=irm all he relates abo9t his =ather4s 5eath.
BI/)"ELL) 1)E.C
YO9r active helper( Mr. E. *. %isbet( o= V2( El5on /treet( %ewcastle-on-*>ne( mentions
that BMr. 1ae( when 5escribing the =eeling that came over him while waiting at the .igh
Level( p9t his han5s on his chest an5 presse5 them against it at short intervals( sa>ing(
uF9st like that.4CZ
*he late Mr. -romwell +. Varle>( +.'/.( the well-known electrician( recor5s an e?perience
in which( as he believe5( he ma5e a 5eliberate an5 s9ccess=9l attempt to impress his
wi=e4s min5( not( however( b> wa> o= e?periment( b9t in a crisis o= great 5anger %=eport
of i-U77! a Co((ittee of the Dialectical !ociet, on !piritualis(, p. 28UQ. .e ha5 been
in the habit o= inhaling chloro=orm to relieve constriction o= the throat( an5 one 5a> =ell
back on his be5( powerless to move( with the sponge on his mo9th. Mrs. Varle> was in
the room above( n9rsing a sick chil5.
P73Q BI ma5e( o= m> will( a 5istinct impression on her brain that I was in 5anger. *h9s
aro9se5( she came 5own( an5 imme5iatel> remove5 the sponge( an5 was greatl> alarme5.
I then 9se5 m> bo5> to speak to her( an5 I sai5( uI shall =orget all abo9t it( an5 how this
came to pass( 9nless >o9 remin5 me in the morning( b9t be s9re to tell me what ma5e >o9
come 5own( an5 I shall then be able to recall the circ9mstances.4 *he =ollowing morning
she 5i5 so( b9t I co9l5 not remember an>thing abo9t it@ I trie5 har5 all the 5a>( however(
an5 at length I s9ccee5e5 in remembering( =irst a part( an5 9ltimatel> the whole.C
,ith so m9ch =orcing o= the memor>( however( the evi5ence here cannot be ranke5 as
m9ch better than secon5-han5@ an5 Mrs. Varle>4s acco9nt o= the inci5ent has not( I
believe( been place5 on recor5.
2

*he ne?t case involves a less momento9s e?perience( b9t perhaps a more improbable
coinci5ence. /till( it is scarcel> too m9ch to sa> that cases o= this character( in whatever
n9mber acc9m9late5( co9l5 never 5ecisivel> e?cl95e the h>pothesis o= acci5ent. *he
narrator is "t. MaDor 0obbH( U./. )rm>.
BMt. Vernon "arracks( )la.
BF9l> :2st( 2773.
P7VQ BIn 27V7 or 27VX( while at home in %ew #ork cit>( I one 5a> =elt a 5esire to visit
&reenwoo5 -emeter> some si? or seven miles 5istant( on Long Islan5( where m> =amil>
owne5 a va9lt( [c.
B,hen I arrive5 there I =o9n5 m> =ather stan5ing 9ncovere5 at an open grave( in which
he ha5 D9st ha5 place5 the remains o= an in=ant son( who ha5 5ie5 be=ore m> birth@ he ha5
ha5 the remains remove5 =rom the va9lt an5 place5 in the grave =or =inal interment( an5
the workmen were on the point o= p9tting in the =irst spa5e=9l o= earth as I came 9p.
B,hen we le=t the cemeter> together I remarke5 on the sing9lar coinci5ence which ha5
bro9ght me there at the nick o= time@ it E9ickl> an5 nat9rall> came o9t that m> =ather ha5
le=t a message at home =or me to meet him there at the time I reall> 5i5 5o so. This
(essage : never received, =or the simple reason that I ha5 not gone home.
B*he ucoinci5ence4 is remarkable beca9seA
B2. In those 5a>s the cemeter> was not pleasant or convenient o= access.
i-U7X!
BU. %either m> =ather( m>sel=( nor other members o= the =amil> ever went there( or =or
that matter ever spoke o= the place. ,ith the e?ception o= two in=ant chil5ren who ha5
5ie5 man> >ears be=ore( none o= o9r relatives were b9rie5 there( an5( as =ar as I know( no
one o= the =amil> ha5 been there =or man> >ears. Most o= them ha5 never been there.
B:. *here was an5 ha5 been no reason wh> I sho9l5 ever think o= the place( an5 I ha5
never ha5 an> intention or 5esire to visit it.
B3. .a5 I been a =ew min9tes earlier or later Psa> hal=-an-ho9r at the mostQ I wo9l5 not
have met m> =ather( an5 it is probable wo9l5 never have hear5 o= the matter. .is
messenger wo9l5 have reporte5 to him that I ha5 not receive5 his message( an5 he wo9l5
probabl> not have mentione5 it to me.
B*o p9t the matter in a n9tshell( a message was le=t =or me to be at a certain 9n5esirable
an5 9n=reE9ente5 place( inconvenient o= access an5 taking some ho9rs to reach b> boat
an5 other conve>ance. I 5o not receive the message( b9t obe> it implicitl> to the min9te.
B,ILLI)M ). 0O""K.C
In answer to inE9iries( MaDor 0obbH sa>s:A
BM> =ather 5ie5 abo9t 3 >ears ago. /ince m> ver> remarkable meeting with him in the
cemeter> I have been at home at long intervals onl>( an5 =or short perio5s o= time( an5 =or
this reason( I s9ppose( never ha5 occasion to mention the matter to him( or to an> other
member o= the =amil>. I have( since his 5eath( spoken o= it to others. I am now( an5
alwa>s have been( entirel> =ree =rom s9perstition o= an> kin5( an5 have( in common with
all o= m> relatives an5 race( 9ncommonl> strong nerves( 9ne?citable temperament( an5 an
aversion to uisms4 o= all kin5s. %othing o= a similar nat9re ever happene5 to me be=ore or
since( an5 I never ha5 an> premonition or impression o= an> kin5 that I co9l5 not an5 5i5
not care=9ll> an5 easil> trace to its so9rce.C
,e reE9este5 MaDor 0obbH to =in5 o9t i= his mother remembere5 the inci5ent. .e =in5s
that she 5oes not remember it( a55ing( B*he part m> mother pla>e5 in the matter( while
all-important as evi5ence( was a matter o= slight moment to her at the time.C
It is necessar>( o= co9rse( to be s9re that the line o= action a5opte5 b> the percipient was
reall> an 9nlikel> one. It ma> look so( witho9t reall> having been so. +or instance( Miss
Lin5sa>( o= V7( Llo>5 /treet( &reenhe>s( Manchester( has given 9s an acco9nt o= an
9n9s9all> long walk which she s955enl> 9n5ertook against a5vice( with the view o=
seeing an a9nt who was almost a stranger to her.
B*he 5a> was ver> 9ns9itable =or a walk o= a n9mber o= miles. It threatene5 to rain( an5
began be=ore I ha5 got =ar on m> wa>. I took a wrong t9rning( too( in a brown st95>( an5
ret9rne5 in a loop to the same roa5( so that I =o9n5 m>sel=( late in the a=ternoon( again
near the tram termin9s( b> which I might have gone home( instea5 o= near m> 5estination.
"> this time m> thin print 5ress was soake5 thro9gh b> the rain( =or I ha5 i-UX;! no
cloak( >et I never tho9ght o= t9rning homewar5s. )=ter walking some 23 miles( I arrive5
at the ho9se( to =in5 that m> a9nt ha5 5ie5 s955enl> o= ac9te rhe9matism that morning.
B%ow( looking back on the matter( I see that native obstinac> might acco9nt =or m>
starting in spite o= co9nsel an5 weather( b9t it wo9l5 not acco9nt =or m> visiting a
relation I 5i5 not know well( an5 whom I 5i5 know to be partic9lar abo9t appearances( in
a 5ripping 5ress. ,hat I am partic9larl> s9re abo9t is that it never once str9ck me that m>
procee5ing was o55@ which( to m> min5( proves concl9sivel> that the initial imp9lse m9st
have been stronger than an ever>-5a> =reak.C
/till( it ma> have been a =reak( tho9gh not an Bever>-5a>C one. Miss Lin5sa> ha5 D9st
ret9rne5 =rom the seasi5e Bin e?cellent health( tho9gh in circ9mstances o= consi5erable
worr>.C *h9s an e?c9se =or a long walk ma> have been rea5il> ca9ght at( an5 the Bnative
obstinac>C ma> have 5one the rest. *he case( moreover( lacks the important evi5ential
point which marke5 those that prece5e5 itAthe desire on the part o= the s9ppose5 agent
=or the other person4s presence. ,e have another case where a walk was s955enl> taken(
an5 p9rs9e5 in torrents o= rain( in spite o= two attempts to ret9rn( 9n5er an i5ea that an
acE9aintance was on the point o= 5eath. /he 5ie5 the same evening. "9t she ha5 been =or
some >ears an obDect o= care to the person who visite5 her( an5 tho9gh the latter sa>s( BI
ha5 not seen her =or some weeks( possibl> months be=ore( an5 I 5i5 not know she was ill
or likel> to 5ie(C the case is one which we can har5l> incl95e.
*he 5o9bt as to what can be consi5ere5 9nlikel> con59ct on the percipient4s part has
relegate5 several allege5 cases o= this class to the /9pplement. )mong these are two o=
consi5erable interest. One o= them is =rom Mr. +re5erick Morgan( o= %9gent .ill( "ristol(
who recor5s how he once ma5e a s955en an5 9nacco9ntable e?it in the mi55le o= a
lect9re( an5 walke5 home( 9nconscio9s o= having 5one an>thing 9n9s9al( to =in5 his
ho9se in imminent 5anger =rom =ire( an5 his mother strongl> 5esiring his presence. ,e
have Mr. Morgan4s ass9rance that he was thoro9ghl> intereste5 in the 5isco9rse( an5 ha5
even notice5 a =rien5 with whom he ha5 planne5 to walk home when it was over@
otherwise the imp9lse to leave a lect9re-room might not seem the best possible specimen
o= an abnormal e?perience. *he secon5 case is =rom the $r. +ischer E9ote5 a =ew pages
back@ who went to a D9bilee 5inner( an5 Bha5 not been at table more than an ho9r(C when
he was =orce5 to go o9t b> an overpowering conviction that some one was in nee5 o= his
assistance. *his heroic step( taken i-UX2! on a comparativel> empt> stomach( was Pas it
t9rne5 o9tQ =9ll> D9sti=ie5. "9t we m9st remember that an impression o= being wante5 is a
ver> 5eep an5 abi5ing element o= a me5ical man4s e?perience.
*he =ollowing case is better worth E9otation( =or the ver> reason that the percipient was
not a 5octor. ,e receive5 it =rom Mr. 'owlan5s( o= "r>ncethin( near "ri5gen5(
mentione5 above Pp. UVUQ.
BF9l> Un5( 2773.
P78Q B*here was a -alvinistic Metho5ist minister( name5 *homas .owell( 0in==ig .ill(
near "ri5gen5. .e was preaching at 1en->-graig( an5 resi5e5 not =ar =rom m> ho9se. I
was 5ist9rbe5 in m> min5 abo9t him abo9t 2U or 2 o4clock in the morning. I rose =rom
be5( an5 p9t m> clothes on( went to his lo5gings an5 knocke5 at his 5oor( an5 tol5 them
that I was 5ist9rbe5 abo9t the minister. I went in an5 9p to his be5room( an5 =o9n5 him
sitting 5own on the si5e o= the be5( sweating( an5 as ill an5 as pain=9l as co9l5 be. *his
happene5 abo9t 8 >ears ago. #o9 can write to Mr. .owell i= >o9 wish.
B'O,L)%$ 'O,L)%$/.C
Mr. .owell writes to 9s as =ollows:A
BLonglan5s( ,>le.
BF9l> 28th( 2773.
BI beg to in=orm >o9 that the contents o= the enclose5 letter( which I receive5 =rom >o9(
sent to >o9 =rom Mr. 'owlan5 'owlan5s( are E9ite tr9e( an5 more than is state5 in his
letter. *he night it took place( )9g9st 2;th( 27WX( I shall never =orget( =or( I believe( ha5 it
not been that some 9nknown agenc> sent me assistance( that I wo9l5 have realise5 the
m>steries o= another worl5 in a short time.
B*he narrative is simpl> this. I was preaching at 1en->-graig( the /abbath re=erre5 to. I
slept in a ho9se near the chapel. )=ter the service a =ew =rien5s sat awhile with me
conversing. )=ter the> le=t( abo9t 2; o4clock( I took a little =oo5( a c9p o= tea an5 a small
bit o= brea5 an5 b9tter( an5 retire5 to sleep abo9t hal=-past 2;( E9ite health>( =eeling no
pain or 9neasiness whatever. /omewhere between 2U an5 2 o4clock I awoke with a severe
attack o= pain in the stomach(Aremaine5 a little in be5( b9t thinking 5eath ha5 str9ck me(
I t9rne5 o9t on the be5si5e an5 attempte5 to call the lan5la5>( b9t =aile5 to 5o so. I co9l5
not move an> =9rther nor speak. In a =ew min9tes I hear5 a voice at the 5oor( o9tsi5e(
calling the lan5la5>( who was in be5. .e s9ccee5e5 in awaking her an5 she replie5 =rom
the lan5ingAu,ho is therer4 *o which Mr. 'owlan5s replie5( uOpen the 5oor at once@ I
have been 5ist9rbe5 in be5@ there is something the matter with the preacher.4 *o which
she replie5( uI 5on4t think so@ he has not calle5.4 I hear5 Mr. 'owlan5s speak again:
uMake haste( Mrs. 1hillips(4 which time I believe( Mrs. 1hillips( the lan5la5>( was
5ressing hersel=( an5 ran 5ownstairs an5 opene5 the 5oor. Mr. 'owlan5s an5 hersel= came
to m> be5room at once an5 knocke5 at m> 5oor. 'eceiving no answer( Mr. 'owlan5s
opene5 the 5oor( an5 =o9n5 me in the position mentione5 in his letter to >o9. .e aske5
me( u,hat is the matter with >o9( Mr. .owellr4 to which I co9l5 not repl>. I was b> this
time speechless. .e tol5 me again( uI was 5ist9rbe5 in m> be5 i-UXU! abo9t >o9@ shall
we have a 5octorr4 to which I shook m> hea5( meaning u%o.4 I tho9ght ever>thing was
almost over. ) =ew moments again I was 9nconscio9s an5 =or ho9rs a=ter knew nothing.
,hen I came to m>sel=( I saw Mr. 'owlan5s an5 Mrs. 1hillips in the room. *he>
remaine5 with me till the morning. I gra59all> got better( an5 when Mr. 'owlan5s le=t me
between W an5 7 o4clock he remarke5 to me( uI reall> tho9ght >o9 were going to 5ie. .ow
strange( was it not( that I was 5ist9rbe5 sos -an >o9 acco9nt =or itr4 I replie5 u%o( i= it
was not that the )lmight> ha5 sent >o9 to save me.4
BI have no more to sa> nor e?plain( b9t I know the =acts are tr9e.
B*.O/. .O,ELL.C
)nother letter o= Mr. .owell4s e?plains that the illness consiste5 in pain=9l spasms( =rom
which he ha5 occasionall> s9==ere5( an5 that Mr. 'owlan5s Bhel5 him E9iet.C It is not
clear that Mr. 'owlan5s4 presence ha5 an>thing to 5o with his recover>( tho9gh it was a
great s9pport to him. "9t as the illness an5 pain seem to have been e?tremel> s955en( the
coinci5ence is striking.
)n5 here I ma> recall what was sai5 above Pp. XUQ on the s9bDect o= -ill in relation to
telepath>. *he remarks which were ma5e 3 propos o= e?perimental cases 5erive strong
con=irmation =rom the more recent evi5ence. It is clear( I think( that in the cases last
consi5ere5 the telepathic in=l9ence sho9l5 be interprete5 as primaril> e(otional, rather
than controlling or 5irective. In none o= them sho9l5 I regar5 the 5etermination o= the
percipient4s motor-imp9lse as at all 5irectl> 59e to the strong 5esire o= the agent that he
sho9l5 act in that partic9lar manner. I 5o9bt i= an> amo9nt o= the most 5etermine5
Bwilling(C on the part o= the strongest-min5e5 =rien5 or relative( wo9l5 have bro9ght Mr.
/kirving =rom his work( Mr. 'owlan5s =rom his be5( or $r. +ischer =rom his 5inner. "9t
we ma> E9ite conceive that Mrs. /kirving4s 5istress an5 agitation might set 9p in her
h9sban54s min5 a 5ist9rbance associate5 with the i5ea that he was nee5e5@ an5 this might
nat9rall> a==ect his behavio9r in the same wa> as an act9al knowle5ge o= the
circ9mstances wo9l5 have 5one( witho9t the slightest abrogation o= his normal power o=
choice. In Mr. Morgan4s case the trans=erre5 impression Pi= it was oneQ 5i5 not reach the
level o= an i5ea at all( nor 5i5 the 5ist9rbance even take the =orm o= 5istress( b9t onl>
ma5e itsel= =elt in the complete 5istraction o= his min5 =rom its obvio9s an5 normal
activities. "9t s9ch 5istraction implies a gen9ine 5ist9rbance@ an5 since the i5ea o= the
localit>AhomeAwo9l5 nat9rall> have a permanent place at the backgro9n5 o= his min5(
it is not har5 to see how the 5ist9rbance i-UX:! might be attracte5 into this obvio9s
channel( an5 might th9s trans=orm itsel= into a motor-imp9lse b> a process which E9ite
el95e5 conscio9sness.
I will ill9strate this view b> a =inal an5 e?treme case( where the movements pro59ce5 in
the percipient were not s9ch as the agent can have 5esire5( or even tho9ght o=. *he
narrator is $r. LiHbea9lt( o= 3( '9e "ellev9e( %anc>.
B3 /eptembre( 277V.
P7WQ BFe m4empresse 5e vo9s Hcrire a9 s9Det 59 =ait 5e comm9nication 5e pensHe 5ont De
vo9s ai parlH( lorsE9e vo9s muave] =ait l4honne9r 54assister G mes sHances h>pnotiE9es G
%anc>. -e =ait se passa 5ans 9ne =amille =ranaise 5e la %o9velle-OrlHans( et E9i Htait
ven9e habiter E9elE9e temps %anc>( po9r > liE9i5er 9ne a==aire 54intHrMt. F4avais =ait
connaissance 5e cette =amille parceE9e son che=( M. &( m4avait amenH sa niHce( Mile. ".(
po9r E9e De la traitasse par les procH5Hs h>pnotiE9es. Elle Htait atteinte 549ne anHmie
lHgNre et 549ne to9? nerve9se contractHes G -oblent]( 5ans 9ne maison 54H59cation o
elle Htait pro=esse9r. Fe parvins =acilement G la mettre en somnamb9lisme( et elle =9t
g9Hrie en 5e9? seances. La pro59ction 5e cet Htat 5e sommeil a>ant 5HmontrH G la =amille
&. et G Mile. ". E94elle po9rrait =acilement 5evenir me5i9m PMme. &. Htait mH5i9m
spiriteQ( cette 5emoiselle s4e?era G evoE9er( G l4ai5e 5e la pl9me( les esprits( a9?E9els
elle cro>ait sincHrement( et a9 bo9t 5e 5e9? mois elle =9t 9n remarE9able me5i9m
Hcrivante. -4est elle E9e D4ai v9e 5e mes >e9? tracer rapi5ement 5es pages 54Hcrit9re
E94elle appelait 5es messages( et cela en 5es termes choisis et sans a9c9ne rat9re( en
mMme temps E94elle tenait conversations avec les personnes E9i l4ento9raient. -hose
c9rie9se( elle n4avait n9llement conscience 5e ce E94elle Hcrivait@ ua9ssi(4 5isait-elle( uce
ne pe9t Mtre E949n esprit E9i 5irige ma main( ce n4est pas moi.4
2
YTranslationZ
BUn Do9rAc4Htait( De crois( le W +Hvrier( 2787Avers 7 he9res 59 matin( a9 moment 5e se
mettre G table po9r 5HDetner( elle sentit 9n besoin( 9n E9elE9e chose E9i la po9ssait a
Hcrire Pc4Htait ce E94elle appelait 9ne trance&Aet elle co9r9t immH5iatement vers son
gran5 cahier( o elle traa =Hbrilement( a9 cra>on( 5es caractNres in5Hchi==rables. Elle
retraa les mMmes caractNres s9r les pages s9ivantes( et en=in l4e?citation 5e son esprit se
calmant( on p9t lire E949ne personne nommHe Marg9Hrite l9i annonait sa mort. On
s9pposa a9ssitLt E949ne 5emoiselle 5e ce nom E9i Htait son amie( et habitait( comme
pro=esse9r( le mMme pensionnat 5e -oblent] o elle avait e?ercH les mMme =onctions(
venait 54> mo9rir. *o9te la =amille &.( compris Mlle. ".( vinrent immH5iatement che]
moi( et no9s 5eci5mes 5e vHri=ier( le Do9r mMme( si ce =ait 5e mort avait rHellement e9
lie9. Mlle. ". Hcrivit G 9ne 5emoiselle anglaise 5e ses amis( E9i e?erait a9ssi les mMmes
=onctions 54instit9trice 5ans le pensionnat en E9estion@ elle prHte?ta 9n moti=( a>ant bien
soin 5e ne pas reveler le moti= vrai. 1oste po9r poste( no9s reimes 9ne rHponse en
anglais( 5ont on me copia la partie essentielleArHponse E9e D4ai retro9vHe 5ans 9ne
porte=e9ille il > i-UX3! a G peine E9in]e Do9rs( et HgarHe 5eno9vea9. Elle e?primait
l4etonnement 5e cette 5emoiselle anglaise a9 s9Det 5e la lettre 5e Mlle. ".( lettre E94elle
n4atten5ait pas sitLt( v9 E9e le b9t ne l9i en paraissait pas asse] motive. Mais en mMme
temps( l4amie anglaise se htait 54annoncer G notre mH5i9m E9e le9r amie comm9ne(
Marg9Hrite( Htait morte le W +Hvrier vers les 7 he9res 59 matin. En o9tre( 9n petit carrH 5e
papier imprimH Htait interrH 5ans la lettre@ c4Htait 9n billet 5e mort et 5e =aire part. In9tile
5e vo9s 5ire E9e De vHri=iai l4enveloppe 5e la lettre( et E9e la lettre me par9t venir
rHellement 5e -oblent]. YTranslationZ
B/e9lement D4ai e9 5ep9is 5es regrets. -4est 5e n4avoir pas( 5ans l4intHrMt 5e la science(
5eman5H G la =amille &. 54aller avec e9? vHri=ier a9 b9rea9 tHlHgraphiE9e si( rHellement(
ils n4a9raient pas re9 9ne 5HpMche tHlHgraphiE9e 5ans la matinee 59 W +Hvrier. La
science ne 5oit pas avoir 5e p95e9r@ la veritH ne craint pas 54Mtre v9e. Fe n4ai comme
pre9ve 5e la vHracitH 59 =ait E949ne pre9ve morale: c4est l4honorabilitHu5e la =amille &.(
E9i m4 a par9 to9Do9rs a9 5ess9s 5e to9t so9pon. YTranslationZ
B). ). LIK"E)UL*.C
Y)part =rom the improbabilit> that the whole =amil> wo9l5 Doin in a conspirac> to 5eceive
their =rien5( the nat9re o= the answer receive5 =rom -oblent] shows that the writer o= it
cannot have been aware that an> telegraphic anno9ncement ha5 been sent. )n5 it is in
itsel= 9nlikel> that the a9thorities o= the school wo9l5 have =elt it necessar> instantl> to
comm9nicate the news to M5lle. ".Z
*his e?ample( it will be seen( 5i==ers =rom the prece5ing in the 5istinctness o= the i5ea
whichAalbeit latent in the percipient4s min5Awe m9st hol5 to have been trans=erre5. Its
chie= interest( however( lies in the completeness an5 comple?it> o= the a9tomatism
evolve5. It e?hibits a spontaneo9s telepathic imp9lse taking e==ect thro9gh the motor-
s>stem o= the percipient in the ver> wa> that M. 'ichet4s or o9r own 5eliberate e==orts
took e==ect on the Bme5i9mC Ppp. WUT7Q. *he parallel co9l5 not well be closer@ an5 o9r
view o= the essential contin9it> o= e?perimental an5 spontaneo9s telepath>
2
co9l5 har5l>
receive stronger s9pport.
i-UXV!
+!P#&R )(((.
/R&!M$.
1)'* I.A*.E 'EL)*IO% O+ $'E)M/ *O *.E )'&UME%* +O' *ELE1)*.#.
S 2. *.E inwar5 impressions o= 5istant events with which I have so =ar 5ealt have all been
-a1ing impressions. *he> have visite5 the percipient in the mi5st o= his 5ail>
emplo>ments( an5 have o=ten ca9se5 emotions that seeme5 E9ite incongr9o9s with the
normal c9rrent o= li=e in which the> mingle5. "9t there is another 5epartment o=
e?perience which we are acc9stome5 to consi5er as par e.cellence the 5omain o= inwar5
impressions( an5 =rom which the normal c9rrent o= li=e is altogether sh9t o==Athe
5epartment o= 5reams. )n5 this 5epartment( where inwar5 i5eas an5 images 5ominate
9nchecke5( is also one which covers so large a perio5 o= h9man e?istence as to make it 3
priori probable that a consi5erable n9mber o= Btrans=erre5 impressionsC Ps9pposing s9ch
things to e?istQ wo9l5 =all within it. It wo9l5 nat9rall>( there=ore( s9ggest itsel= as o9r ne?t
=iel5 o= inE9ir>.
"9t 5reams not onl> =all in nat9rall> at this point@ the> are a means o= a5vance. *he>
comprise in themselves the whole range o= transition =rom ideal and e(otional to
5istinctl> sensor, a==ections@ an5 the> th9s s9ppl> a most convenient link between the
vag9er sort o= trans=erre5 impressions an5 the more concrete an5 5e=initel> embo5ie5
sort. *he telepathic comm9nications o= the last two chapters( even where connecte5 with
recognisable images o= persons an5 things( 5i5 not a==ect sight or hearing in s9ch a wa>
as to s9ggest the ph>sical presence o= the obDects. %ow man> 5reams are o= D9st this
impalpable kin5. *he material obDects which =ig9re in them are o=ten the ver> vag9est o=
images( not localise5 in an> partic9lar spot. It is the general i5ea( the generalise5 =orm( o=
a person that presents itsel=( not a =ig9re in a special attit95e or cla5 in a special 5ress@
events pass thro9gh the min5 clothe5 in the =aintl> represente5 imager> in which a
waking train o= memor> or o= i-UX8! reverie will embo5> its contents. /9ch a 5ream
onl> 5i==ers =rom a waking reverie in that it has not to compete( on the =iel5 o= attention(
with an> obDective =acts@ it is not contraste5 with the imme5iate e?perience which the
e?ternal worl5 =orces at ever> moment on the waking senses@ an5 it is( there=ore( itsel=
accepte5 as imme5iate e?perience. ,ith some persons it is rare =or their 5reams ever to
emerge into more concrete act9alit> than this@ an5 telepath> o=ten seems to act in 5reams
o= D9st s9ch a veile5 an5 abstract kin5. +rom this lowest stage the transition is a gra59al
one 9p to the most vivi5 an5 5etaile5 5ream-imager>( the =eat9res o= which are engrave5
on the memor> as sharpl> as those o= a striking scene in waking li=e@
2
an5 at ever> step o=
the transition we =in5 evi5ence Phow =ar concl9sive will be seen laterQ to the action o=
telepath>.
It is onl>( however( when we come to the most 5istinctl> sensor> class o= all( that the =9ll
theoretic importance o= 5reams can be realise5. *o make this clear( I m9st ask a moment4s
in59lgence =or a statement o= some ver> obvio9s =acts. Vivi5 5reams present themselves
to 9s in t-o ver> 5i==erent aspects. *here is =irst the stan5point which we occ9p> when
we are 5reaming them. +rom that stan5point( the worl5 with which the> present 9s is
o=ten as e?ternal as the real one@ an5 o9r perceptions in that worl5 are perceptions o=
o9twar5 an5 abi5ing things( among which we live an5 move with as m9ch sense o=
realit> as i= we ha5 never known the 5isill9sion o= waking. *o the 5reamer( his more vivi5
an5 concrete images are act9al percepts, calling his senses Pin ph>siological lang9age his
sensor> centresQ into pla> D9st as e?ternal realit> wo9l5. "9t there is o= co9rse a totall>
5i==erent stan5point =rom which to regar5 5reams( namel>( the e?ternal an5 critical one
that we habit9all> ass9me 59ring waking li=e. ,e then think o= them merel> as that
=loating phantasmagoria whose transience an5 9nrealit> have been the theme o=
philosophers an5 poets@ which has ver> sing9lar relations to time( an5 no real relations i-
UXW! at all to o9r =amiliar spaceA9nless( in5ee5( we loosel> i5enti=> it with its ph>sical
con5itions( an5 localise it in the brain. $reams( then( have this pec9liarit>: the> are
5istinct a==ections o= the senses( which >et( in re=lecting on them( we rarel> or never
con=o9n5 with obDective =acts@ waking hall9cinations( on the other han5Aspectral
ill9sions or ghostl> visitantsAare o=ten so con=o9n5e5. *he sleeping e?periences are
marke5 o== =rom e?ternal realit> in the min5s o= all o= 9s b> the ver> =act that we wake
=rom them@ o9r change o= con5ition makes their vanishing seem nat9ral@ an5 th9s looke5
back on( the> will o=ten seem to have been mere vag9e representations( i.e., something
less than a==ections o= the senses. *he waking e?periences cannot be woke =rom@ their
vanishing seems 9nconnecte5 with the percipient an5 there=ore unnat9ral@ an5 th9s
looke5 back on( the> will o=ten seem to have been in5epen5ent realities( i.e., something
(ore than a==ections o= the senses.
%ow it is as a==ections o= the senses( an5 not as in5epen5ent realities( that o9r -lass )(
the e?ternalise5 sort o= Bphantasms o= the living(C are treate5 in this book. In the theor>
that the percipient is impresse5 fro( a distance, an5 in the ver> wor5 phantas(, it is
implie5 that what he sees or hears has no obDective basis or e?istence in that part o= the
e?ternal worl5 where his bo5> is sit9ate5@ an5 whether he be asleep or awake( his relation
to what he perceives( an5 o= this to realit>( is the same. "9t I shall be procee5ing b> the
easiest ro9te i= Pso =ar as the evi5ence will allowQ I =irst trace the occ9rrence o= the
telepathic phantasms in the region o= e?perience where sensor> phantasms o= some sort
are normal an5 =amiliar( an5 are habit9all> D95ge5 o= rightl> as a==ections o= the inner
sense(
2
be=ore passing to the region where phantasms o= an> sort are abnormal an5
9n=amiliar( an5 are perpet9all> D95ge5 o= wrongl> as a==ections o= the outer sense. *he
rapproche(ent which will th9s be establishe5 between the sleeping an5 the waking cases
will receive =9rther an5 interesting ill9stration in certain interme5iate stages which we
shall enco9nter on the wa>. ,e shall =in5 that one set o= phenomena merges into the other
b> gra59al steps( an5 that this Bbor5erlan5C is itsel= a region speciall> rich in the
telepathic impressions.
i-UX7!
S U. "9t tho9gh 5reams th9s present a logical point o= 5epart9re( the> also =orm in man>
wa>s the most assailable part o= o9r case. *he> are place5 almost in a separate categor>
b> their intimate connection with the lowest ph>sical( as well as the highest ps>chical(
operations. *he grotesE9e me5le> which constantl> throng thro9gh the gate o= ivor>
thr9st into 5iscre5it o9r rarer visitants thro9gh the gate o= horn. )n5 be=ore procee5ing
=9rther( it will be well to e?amine with some care the general evidential value o= 5reams(
in relation to a theor> o= trans=erre5 impressions. *he =iel5 ma> seem a =air one eno9gh(
as long as we keep to general e?pectations@ i= telepath> is a realit>( here is a probable
scene o= telepathic events. "9t what opport9nities 5oes it a==or5 =or con=irming these
e?pectations b> acc9rate an5 convincing evi5encer *his is a E9estion which ma> rapi5l>
convert o9r hopes into 5o9bts.
*he =irst obDection to 5reams( as evi5ence =or trans=erre5 impressions o= 5istant
con5itions or events( is thisAthat 5reams being o=ten somewhat 5im an5 shapeless
things( s9bseE9ent knowle5ge o= the con5itions or events ma> easil> have the e==ect o=
giving bo5> an5 5e=initeness to the recollection o= a 5ream. ,hen the act9al =acts are
learnt( a =aint amo9nt o= resemblance ma> o=ten s9ggest a past 5ream( an5 set the min5
on the track o= tr>ing acc9ratel> to recall it. *his ver> act involves a search =or 5etails( =or
something tangible an5 5istinct@ an5 the real =eat9res an5 5e=inite inci5ents which are
now present in the min5( in close association with some general scene or =act which
act9all> =ig9re5 in the 5ream( will be apt to be 9nconscio9sl> read bac1 into the 5ream.
*he> make part o= the original( o= which the min5 conceives the 5ream to have been a
pict9re@ an5 the pict9re( when evoke5 in memor>( will onl> too probabl> incl95e 5etails
5rawn =rom the original. )=ter we have once realise5 the matter in its =9ll 5istinctness( it
becomes almost impossible to recall with 59e in5istinctness the 5istant an5 sha5ow>
s9ggestion o= it.
2
$reams in this wa> resemble obDects seen in the 59sk@ which begin b>
p9]]ling the e>e( b9t which( when once we i-UXX! know or think we know what the>
are( seem E9ite 9nmistakeable an5 even =9ll o= =amiliar 5etail. +or o9r p9rposes(
there=ore( it is o= prime importance that the 5ream shall be tol5 in 5etail to some one on
whose memor> we can rel>@ or( better still( written 5own( or in some wa> acte5 on( at the
time( an5 be=ore the con=irmation arrives. %earl> all the evi5ence to be bro9ght =orwar5
has( at an> rate( this mark o= acc9rac>.
"9t there is a more general an5 sweeping obDection. Millions o= people are 5reaming
ever> night@ an5 in 5reams( i= an>where( the range o= possibilities seems in=inite@ can an>
positive concl9sion be 5rawn =rom s9ch a chaos o= meaningless an5 =ragmentar>
impressionsr M9st not we a5mit the =orce o= the obvio9s 3 priori arg9ment( that among
the co9ntless m9ltit95e o= 5reams( one here an5 there is likel> to correspon5 in time with
an act9al occ9rrence resembling the one 5reame5 o=@ an5 that when a 5ream th9s Bcomes
tr9e(C 9nscienti=ic min5s are s9re to note an5 store 9p the =act as something e?traor5inar>(
witho9t taking the tro9ble to re=lect whether s9ch inci5ents occ9r o=tener than p9re
chance wo9l5 allowr -an the chances be at all estimate5r )re an> vali5 means at han5
=or 5isting9ishing between a trans=erre5 impression an5 a l9ck> coinci5encer ,hat
5egree o= e?actit95e o= 5ate an5 circ9mstance i-:;;! m9st be reache5( be=ore we
consi5er even a striking correspon5ence as worth attentionr )n5 what proportion o=
striking correspon5ences are we to 5eman5( be=ore we consi5er that the h>pothesis o=
chance is straine5 in acco9nting =or themr
In the =irst place( it is to be note5 that there has( so =ar( been a complete lack o= the
statistics which alone co9l5 =orm the basis =or an answer to these E9estions. It has never
been known with an> certaint> what proportion o= people habit9all> 5ream( what
proportion o= 5reams are remembere5 at all( in what proportion o= these remembere5
5reams the memor> is evanescent( an5 in what proportion it is pro=o9n5 an5 59rable. *his
latter point ma> be speciall> har5 to establish satis=actoril> in a partic9lar case( as it is
a==ecte5 b> the E9estion whether a person4s attention is habit9all> 5irecte5 to his 5reams(
an5 also b> the E9estion whether he has happene5 to reco9nt a partic9lar 5ream to others(
an5 so to stamp it on his own memor>. "> making inE9iries on a large scale( however( a
consi5erable appro?imation to certaint> ma> be attaine5 on these an5 vario9s other points
o= importance. ) goo5 5eal has been 5one in this wa> 59ring the last three >ears@ an5
tho9gh I cannot sa> that the res9lts are s9ch as wo9l5 allow 9s to base a theor> o=
telepath> 9pon the =acts o= 5reams alone( I think that the> 5o m9ch to 5iminish the 3
priori pla9sibilit> o= the theor> o= chance( as a s9==icient e?planation o= all cases o=
marke5 correspon5ence between a 5ream an5 an e?ternal event.
S :. *he points to be consi5ere5 have to 5o both with the intensit, an5 with the content o=
the 5ream@ let 9s consi5er them in or5er.
+irst as to intensit>. )n e?cee5ingl> small proportion o= 5reams are remembere5 with
5istinctness several ho9rs a=ter waking. Even o= the 5reams which 5well in the memor>(
an e?cee5ingl> small proportion pro59ce an> appreciable amo9nt o= 5istress or
e?citement. )n5 o= these more impressive 5reams( an e?cee5ingl> small proportion prove
their intensit> b> being in an> wa> acte5 on. ,hat I have terme5 intensit> ma> be
in5icate5 in another wa>( b> the rapi5 repetition o= a 5istinct 5ream two or three times on
the same night@ an5 this( too( when there is no apparent ca9se to prompt the 5ream( seems
to be a comparativel> rare occ9rrence Psee p. :VWQ. *he 5reams to be cite5 in this book
will nearl> all( I think( be 5isting9ishable b> one or other o= these tests o= e?ceptional
intensit>. )n5 in proportion i-:;2! as the 5reams which coinci5e with the event 5reame5
o= are th9s =o9n5 to be in some other wa> e?ceptionalAin proportion as the class to
which the> belong is =o9n5 to =orm a small an5 sparse minorit> among the swarming
m9ltit95e o= 9nmarke5 5reamsAin that proportion 5oes it clearl> become 9nreasonable
to arg9e that the coinci5ences are s9==icientl> acco9nte5 =or b> the law o= chances. *he
arg9ment which might seem e==ective so long as we ha5 the whole m9ltit95e o= 5reams to
range overAthat m9ltit95e seeming s9==icient to give the law o= chances ample scopeA
ass9mes E9ite a 5i==erent aspect when we =in5 o9rselves limite5 to the comparativel>
small gro9p o= intense 5reams.
%e?t as to content. "e=ore we can give weight to a 5ream-coinci5ence as pointing to
an>thing be>on5 the operation o= chance( we sho9l5 inE9ire whether the event 5reame5
o= is 5istinct( 9ne?pecte5( an5 9n9s9al. I= it combine all three characteristics in a high
5egree( its evi5ential val9e ma> be ver> consi5erable@ in proportion as the 5egree =alls
short( or the combination =ails( the evi5ential val9e sinks@ an5 none o= the characteristics
taken alone( even tho9gh present in a high 5egree( wo9l5 lea5 9s to incl95e a 5ream in
the present collection. *h9s( the 5ream-content m9st be neither a vag9e impression o=
calamit> nor o= happiness@ nor a catastrophe on which the sleeper4s min5 is alrea5> =i?e5@
nor some s9ch or5inar> event as has =reE9entl> occ9rre5 in waking e?perience. It ma>(
in5ee5( be not the less signi=icant =or being trivial@ b9t in that case it m9st be o= a bi]arre
or 9nlikel> kin5.
2
*hen again( amo9nt o= 5etail( an5 the n9mber o= connecte5 events( are
o= immense importance( as each s9bseE9entl> veri=ie5 5etail tells with ever-mo9nting
strength against the h>pothesis o= acci5ental coinci5ence. Once more( 5ream-content
m9st be consi5ere5 to some e?tent in relation to the 5ream-habits o= the partic9lar
5reamer. "e=ore estimating the val9e o= the =act that a person has 5reamt o= the s955en
5eath o= a =rien5 on the night when the 5eath took place( we sho9l5 have to ascertain that
that i-:;U! person is not in the habit o= 5reaming o= 5istressing or horrible events.
2
In
respect o= these vario9s points( the instances to be cite5( here an5 in the /9pplement( are
the si=te5 s9rvival o= man> less 5e=inite coinci5ences in which the pop9lar imagination
wo9l5 =in5 a marvel. )n5 in the case o= this resi59e( where we have complete =9l=ilment
o= some o= the above con5itions( over an5 above the close pro?imit> in time( or Pit ma>
beQ absol9te s>nchronism( o= the event an5 the 5ream( the E9estion as to a ca9sal
connection between the two is( at an> rate( not to be swept o9t o= co9rt b> a mere general
appeal to the 5octrine o= chances.
"9t there is a =9rther point in the content o= the 5reams that correspon5 with real eventsA
tr9e 5reams( as we ma> =or brevit> call i-:;:! themAwhich cannot b9t strike the
attention as soon as we begin to e?amine act9al specimens. It is that( among tr9e 5reams(
b> ver> =ar the largest class is the class where the tr9th is deathAi.e., where the event
5reamt o= as happening to another is o= that most restricte5 kin5 which can onl> happen
once in each in5ivi59al4s e?perience. O9t o= the 23X coinci5ent 5reams which are
incl95e5 in this bookAas at least clearl> =in5ing in telepath>( i= it e?ists( their most
nat9ral e?planationAno less than WX have represente5 or s9ggeste5 5eath. *his( it will be
seen( is entirel> in accor5ance with a theor> o= ca9sal connection between event an5
5ream( where the abnormal state o= the person 5reamt o= is regar5e5 as part o= the ca9se@
b9t it is not at all in accor5ance with what we sho9l5 e?pect acci5ent to bring abo9t. %or
co9l5 this arg9ment well be met b> the ass9mption that it is onl> in the case o= a ver>
grave event that the acci5ental correspon5ence attracts attention an5 gets recor5e5. +or
this wo9l5 mean that the 5reams o= 5eath which happen to correspon5 with realit> are
one speciall>-remembere5 class among the total n9mber o= acci5entall>-tr9e 5reams.
%ow it will be a5mitte5 that 5reams o= 5eath constit9te a min9te proportion o= all
5reams@ it wo9l5 =ollow( then( on the above ass9mption( that acci5entall>-tr9e 5reams o=
5eath constit9te a similarl> min9te proportion o= all acci5entall>-tr9e 5reams. "9t at this
rate the total n9mber o= Btr9e 5reamsCAin other wor5s( the n9mber o= coinci5ences
which the 5octrine o= chances will have to coverAswells to a most pro5igio9s an5
9nmanageable =ig9re. It is D9st beca9se a Btr9e 5reamC is a ver> e.ceptional occ9rrence(
that it was possible even to attempt to acco9nt =or it as an acci5ent@ i= the Bacci5entC is =or
ever Bcoming o==(C so m9ch the worse =or that attempt.
S 3. "9t the =act that a sing9lar an5 marke5 event( s9ch as 5eath( is in so large a
proportion o= cases the central =eat9re o= the Btr9eC 5reams( s9pplies more than a general
arg9ment@ it s9pplies the means =or an act9al n9merical estimate whereb> the a5eE9ac> o=
the chance-h>pothesis ma> be teste5. +or 5reams o= so 5e=inite a character( an5 which
a5mit o= being so clearl> an5 brie=l> 5escribe5( are E9ite a =it s9bDect =or statistics@ there
is a possibilit> o= =in5ing o9t appro?imatel> what the act9al =reE9enc> o= a 5ream o= this
sort is@ an5 we shall then have the =irst necessar> 5at9m =or 5eci5ing whether the
=reE9enc> o= the cases where it coinci5es with realit>( is( or is not( greater than chance
wo9l5 =airl> allow. I= it t9rne5 o9t that i-:;3! all o= 9s abo9t once a week ha5 a marke5
an5 5istressing 5ream o= the 5eath o= some =rien5 or other( then( since people who are
somebo5>4s =rien5s are perpet9all> 5>ing( the coinci5ence o= s9ch a 5ream with the real
event might be e?pecte5 to occ9r b> p9re acci5ent in a large n9mber o= cases. "9t i= onl>
a small minorit> o= 9s co9l5 recall ever having ha5 s9ch a 5ream at all( the case wo9l5 be
reverse5. *he obDect( then( is to ascertain =rom a n9mber o= people( large eno9gh an5
promisc9o9s eno9gh to be accepte5 as a =air specimen o= the whole pop9lation( what
percentage o= them have ha5 the e?perience in E9estion. ,ith this view( e==orts have been
ma5e( 5ating =rom the winter o= 277:( to obtain a large n9mber o= answers to the
=ollowing E9estion:A
!ince Januar, 2st, 27W3( have ,ou ever had a drea( of the death of so(e person 1no-n
to ,ou, -hich drea( ,ou (ar1ed as an e.ceptionall, vivid one, and of -hich the
distressing i(pression lasted for as long as an hour after ,ou rose in the (orningJ
*his E9estion has been p9t to V:8; persons( as to whom it was not known be=orehan5
whether their answer wo9l5 be B#esC or B%o.C O= these persons( 2W: answere5 B#es.C
E?cl95ing W o= these cases( in which the 5reamer was at the time in a state o= 5istinct
an?iet> as to the person whose 5eath was 5reamt o=( we have a remain5er o= 288. *hese
incl95e a goo5 man> cases where it prove5( on =9rther inE9ir>( that the terms o= the
E9estion ha5 not been e?actl> met( as the impression ha5 not en59re5 in an> vivi5 or
5istressing wa>. *he> also incl95e : cases where the min5 o= the 5reamer ha5 been
e?ceptionall> 5irecte5 to the person 5reamt o=@ an5 : cases where the person 5reamt o=
was in the same room as the 5reamer( which ma> have ha5 some ten5enc> to pro59ce the
5reamAone gentleman e?pressl> stating his s9spicion that his 5ream was ca9se5 b>
some so9n5 ma5e b> his companion. ,e ma>( there=ore( accept the 288 as a liberal
estimate. "9t 27 o= these persons pro=esse5 to have ha5 a 5ream o= the sort inE9ire5 abo9t
more than once. It will be again a liberal estimate i= we s9ppose each o= these to have
e?perience5 : 5istinct e?amples within the speci=ie5 time@ an5 the most convenient wa>
o= taking acco9nt o= these repetitions will be to a55 :8 to the 288( making U;U. ,ith this
s9bstit9tion( 2 v U8 o= the whole n9mber o= persons aske5 ma> be taken to have given an
a==irmative answer.Y~Z %ow( the persons aske5 were a E9ite promisc9o9s bo5>( an5 a
bo5> large eno9gh to be sa=el> regar5e5 as a =air average i-:;V! sample o= the
pop9lation@ D9st as a similar n9mber o= persons( taken at ran5om( wo9l5 be accepte5 as a
=air sample =or p9rposes o= statistics on short sight( or colo9r-blin5ness. ,e ma>
concl95e( then( that the n9mber o= persons who can recall having ha5A59ring the twelve
>ears 27W3T277V( an5 witho9t special assignable ca9seAthe e?perience name5 in the
E9estion( amo9nt to abo9t 2 in U8 o= the pop9lation o= this co9ntr>.
*he E9estion ne?t occ9rs( o9ght we( in making o9r calc9lation( to assign an> limit to the
area o= acE9aintances =rom whom the person 5reamt o= ma> be 5rawn( an5 o= whom a
certain proportion will( in the nat9ral co9rse o= things( 5ie within a perio5 o= 2U >earsr
On general gro9n5s it ma> =airl> be arg9e5 that the slightness o= connection between two
persons wo9l5 5iminish the chance that one wo9l5 5ream accidentall,, no less than the
chance that he wo9l5 5ream telepathicall,, o= the 5eath o= the other@
2
an5 that there=ore a
vivi5 5ream o= the 5eath o= a stranger( or o= a slight acE9aintance( when it coinci5es with
the 5eath( tells neither more nor less in =avo9r o= the action o= something be>on5 chance
than a similarl> vivi5 an5 coinci5ent 5ream o= the 5eath o= a near relative. It will be seen(
moreover( that( as =ar as the n9merical estimate goes( it is 9nimportant how large or how
small we take the area to be@ beca9se whatever n9mber o= persons we incl95e( on the
average the same proportion o= the n9mber will 5ie within an> given time. *h9s ass9ming
this proportion who 5ie to be one-=o9rth o= the whole n9mber( then( i= we took a ver>
large circle o= acE9aintances( sa> 3;;Athe 5eath o= an> o= whom( i= 5reamt o= when it
occ9rre5( wo9l5 co9nt as one o= o9r coinci5encesAwe sho9l5 have to reckon that 2;; o=
them act9all> 5ie in the co9rse o= the time@ an5 i= we took a ver> small circle o= D9st the
imme5iate relatives o= the 5reamer( sa> 3( we sho9l5 have to reckon that 2 o= them 5ies in
the co9rse o= the time. )n5 the chance o= an acci5ental coinci5ence in the speci=ie5
perio5 between the single 5ream o= 5eath an5 the 5eath itsel= is practicall> i-:;8! the
same in both these cases. +or tho9gh there will be( on the one han5( m9ch less chance o=
its being the right in5ivi59al that is 5reamt o= when the choice is among 3;; than when it
is among 3( on the other han5 the 2;; 5eaths will give 2;; Por nearl> 2;;Q nights on
which the coinci5ent 5ream will have its chance o= being 5reamt( instea5 o= onl> 2 night.
Logicall>( there=ore( there is no necessit> =or limiting the area in E9estion. Let the n9mber
o= an> one4s acE9aintance be calle5 .. *hen( whether . be large or small( all that concerns
9s is the proportion o= the . persons who 5ie within the speci=ie5 perio5 o= 2U >ears@ an5
this proportion( since the 5eath-rate per >ear is abo9t {;UU( ma> be taken as {U83( or a
little more than one-=o9rth.
*he estimate =rom the above 5ata is as =ollows. *he probabilit> that a person( taken at
ran5om( will have a vivi5 5ream o= 5eath in the co9rse o= 2U >ears is 2 v U8@ the
probabilit> that an> assigne5 member o= the general pop9lation( an5 there=ore that an>
partic9lar 5reamt-o= person( will 5ie within 2U ho9rs o= an assigne5 point o= time is
UU v 2;;; y 2 v :8V@ hence the probabilit> that( in the co9rse o= 2U >ears( a vivi5 5ream o=
5eathY~Z and the 5eath o= the person 5reamt o= will =all within 2U ho9rs o= one another is
2 v U8 y UU v 2;;; y 2 v :8V 2 v 3:2(:8:. PI= ., the n9mber o= the 5reamer4s circle o=
=rien5s( be taken into acco9nt( we then have( as the probabilit> that an, one o= the
5reamer4s circle sho9l5 5ie within the partic9lar U3 ho9rs 5e=ine5 b> the 5ream( . y 2 v UW
y UU v 2;;; y 2 v :8V@Y~Z an5 as the probabilit> that( i= some one o= the 5reamer4s circle
5ies within the partic9lar U3 ho9rs( it sho9l5 be the particular one 5reamt o=( 2 v ?@
whence the probabilit> o= this 5o9ble event 2 v ? y . y 2 v UW y UU v 2;;; y 2 v :8V( i.e.,
the res9lt is 9naltere5.Q *hat is to sa>( each gro9p o= 372(:8: persons in the pop9lation o=
the Unite5 0ing5om willY~Z pro59ce one s9ch coinci5ence in the given time. %ow let it
be s9ppose5 =or a moment that o9r appeal =or evi5ence has e==ectivel> reache5 as large a
section o= the pop9lation as this: let it be s9ppose5( that is to sa>( that the n9mber o=
persons =rom whom we sho9l5( 5irectl> or in5irectl>( have receive5 e?amples o= s9ch
coinci5ences( i= the> ha5 ha5 them to comm9nicate( amo9nt to 3:2(:8:. In that case(
then( the n9mber o= s9ch coinci5ences which we o9ght( b> the 5octrine o= chances( to
have enco9ntere5 is 2. *he n9mber which we have act9all> enco9ntere5( o= vivi5 5reams
o= 5eath( narrate5 to 9s at =irst-han5(
2
5reamt since Fan9ar> 2st( 27W3( b> persons =ree
=rom an?iet>( an5 =alling within 2U ho9rs o= the 5eath o= the person 5reamt i-:;W! o=
2
A
is U3: that is( a n9mber U3 times larger than the 5octrine o= chances wo9l5 have allowe5
9s to e?pect.
U
)n5 this n9mber is ver> m9ch below what we are D9sti=ie5 in ass9ming. +or
while m> colleag9es an5 I are probabl> 5ispose5 rather to overrate than to 9n5errate the
e?tent to which the worl5 is acE9ainte5 with o9r procee5ings( we cannot s9ppose that the
act9al n9mber o= persons =rom whose collective e?periences o9r e?amples are 5rawn
reall> approaches hal= a million( as above s9ppose5. PIn -hap. \III.( I shall show gro9n5s
=or thinking that a E9arter o= the n9mber ass9me5 wo9l5 still probabl> be m9ch above the
mark.Q Moreover( W o= the U3 coinci5ences are represente5 as having been e?tremel>
close@ in : other cases the interval was at an> rate not more than 3 ho9rs( an5 in another
was =rom : to 8 ho9rs@ while in X more( where 5eath an5 5ream are merel> state5 to have
=allen on the same night( the coinci5ence ma> have been e?act( an5 is not likel> to have
been ine?act to the e?tent o= an>thing like 2U ho9rs. )gain( 5reams are e?cl95e5 where
the act9al fact o= 5eath was not in some wa> presente5( even tho9gh the 5>ing person was
5reamt o= in a remarkable wa>.
:
"9t most marke5l> have I 9n5erstate5 the case in this
respect( that I i-:;7! have intro59ce5 nothing b9t the bare =act o= 5eath( an5 have
neglecte5 the points o= 5etail which in some instances a55 in5e=initel> to the 5i==ic9lt> o=
regar5ing the coinci5ence as a chance.
*he above is a tolerabl> clear comp9tation@ an5 its vali5it> co9l5 onl> be reb9tte5 in two
wa>sAP2Q b> imp9gning( on evi5ential gro9n5s( the cases o= coinci5ence that are
allege5@ PUQ b> imp9gning the appro?imate acc9rac> o= the initial datu(Athat within the
last 2U >ears not more than 2 person in U8 has( witho9t clear ca9se( ha5 a marke5l>
5istressing an5 ha9nting 5ream o= the 5eath o= an acE9aintance.
*he evi5ential val9e o= the allege5 coinci5ences will be better estimate5 when we
consi5er some o= the act9al specimens. "9t as regar5s the initial 5at9m( on which the
calc9lation 5epen5s( there are obDections the =orce o= which m9st be at once a5mitte5.
$reams in general( it ma> be sai5( =a5e awa> =rom o9r memor> beca9se there is nothing
to stamp them there@ b9t i= it happens that some real event recalls a recent 5ream( then( b>
the principle o= association( this 5ream will obtain a more permanent lo5gment in o9r
min5. %ow the 5eath o= relatives or =rien5s is the sort o= real event which it is practicall>
certain that we shall hear o= ver> soon a=ter it occ9rs. ) 5ream o= s9ch an occ9rrence is
there=ore practicall> certain to get stampe5 in the wa> 5escribe5( i= it has been at all
s>nchrono9s with the =act. )n5 it is th9s allowable to s9ppose that a large n9mber o= s9ch
5reams ma> occ9r which lapse 9nnote5 =rom the min5( b9t an> one o= which( ha5 news
o= the real event been receive5 imme5iatel> a=terwar5s( wo9l5 have been recalle5 an5
associate5 with it( an5 wo9l5 have then a55e5 a case to the list o= Bremarkable
coinci5ences.C
*his arg9ment is to a consi5erable 5egree met b> the terms o= the E9estion. ,hat is aske5
is not merel> whether people have ha5 a 5ream o= 5eath@ b9t whether the> have ha5 one
which has ha9nte5 them =or at least an ho9r a=ter rising in the morning@ an5 it will not be
maintaine5 that an e?perience o= that sort is so likel> to vanish 9tterl> =rom the memor>
as an or5inar> 5ream. "9t it might( no 5o9bt( be reDoine5 that perhaps a goo5 man> o= the
coincident 5reams were not marke5 at the time b> an> special vivi5ness or
impressiveness@ an5 that the 5reamer came to i(agine this pec9liarit> o= character in his
5ream( after it ha5 come to ass9me importance in his e>es =rom the 5iscover> that it ha5
coinci5e5 with the realit>. )n5 I most =9ll> recognise that when the arg9ment begins to
t9rn on s9ch a point as the 5egree o= vivi5ness which a 5reamer( looking back i-:;X! to
a 5ream thro9gh the me5i9m o= s9bseE9ent impressions( can swear that it possesse5(
an>thing like positive proo= becomes impossible. ) 5ream so looke5 back to ma> get
charge5 with an emotional character( D9st as we saw above that it might get =ille5 in with
a precision o= 5etail( which it 5i5 not reall> possess. "9t I m9st here 5raw special
attention to the sa=eg9ar5s alrea5> mentione5. O9r collection incl95es a remarkabl> high
proportion o= cases where the coinci5ent 5ream was marke5 as e?ceptional in characterA
at the ti(e, an5 before the real event was knownAb> being imme5iatel> narrate5 as s9ch
to someone else( Pwho( i= accessible( has o= co9rse been E9estione5 as to his memor> o=
the =actQ@ or b> being note5 in writing@ or b> being in some wa> acte5 on. O= the 2;W
5ream-e?amples recor5e5 in this book on the =irst-han5 testimon> o= the 5reamer( WU are
allege5 to have been 5escribe5( 22 more to have been recor5e5 in writing Pin one instance
b> a relative o= the 5reamer4sQ( an5 X more to have been in some marke5 wa> acte5 on(
be=ore the correspon5ing event was known@ an5 in 38 o= the WU cases where the 5ream
was at once 5escribe5( we have also the in5epen5ent testimon> o= the person to whom it
was 5escribe5. In 27 other cases( we have the testimon> o= the person to whom the 5ream
was 5escribe5 be=ore the correspon5ing event was known( b9t not the 5reamer4s own
acco9nt. O= the U3 5reams 9se5 in m> n9merical estimate( : were note5 in writing( an5
U; Pincl95ing U o= the previo9s :Q are allege5 to have been mentione5( be=ore the =act o=
the 5eath was known@ an5 in 2V o= these U; cases( we have in5epen5ent testimon> to this
mention =rom the person to whom it was ma5e. )n5 I m9st =9rther point o9t that( in or5er
to e?plain awa> the res9lt o= the above comp9tation in the wa> s9ggeste5( it wo9l5 have
to be ass9me5 not onl> that a great (an, 5reams o= 5eath pass 9nnote5 an5 leave no
impression( while still o= s9ch a nat9re that a vivi5 impression o= them wo9l5 revive i=
news correspon5ing to them were s9bseE9entl> hear5@ it wo9l5 have to be ass9me5 that
s9ch an e?perience be=alls ver, nearl, ever, adult in the countr, at least once within the
twelve >ears. +or o9r concl9sion was that coinci5ent 5reams o= 5eath in this co9ntr> were
U3 times as n9mero9s as the law o= chancesAaccor5ing to the datu( which the cens9s
gave 9sAwo9l5 allow. *here=ore to make the law o= chances applicable as an
e?planation( we m9st m9ltipl> o9r initial datu( b> U3@ that is( instea5 o= ass9ming 2
person o9t o= ever> U8 to have ha5 the reE9ire5 5ream( we m9st ass9me U3 o9t o= ever>
U8Athat is nearl> ever> oneAto have ha5 it@ na>( on the more probable estimate o= i-
:2;! o9r area o= inE9ir> Pp. :;WQ( we m9st ass9me that on the average ever> one has ha5
it as man> as four ti(es within the given perio5@ tho9gh X8 per cent. o= them =orget all
abo9t it.
2
) goo5 man> o= m> rea5ers will( I think( altogether rep95iate s9ch a s9pposition
in their own case. I believe( in5ee5( that a per=ectl> impartial cens9s wo9l5 have given a
5eci5e5l> smaller proportion than 2 in U8. +or it is practicall> impossible to carr> o9t a
cens9s o= the sort reE9ire5 witho9t getting an 9n=air proportion o= eses. 1ersons who
have onl> No to sa> in answer to s9ch a E9estion as was propo9n5e5( are apt to think that
there is no goo5 in sa>ing it@ an5 i= the> receive a printe5 =orm( instea5 o= writing their
answer on it an5 ret9rning it( the> are apt to consign it to the waste-paper basketA
probabl> o=ten with a vag9e notion that what was wante5 was a es, an5 that sensible
people( who 5o not have e?ceptional e?periences( o9ght not to enco9rage the
s9perstitions o= those who 5o.
U

S V. )s pointe5 o9t above( it is onl> where the coinci5ent 5ream e?hibits some sort o=
uni2ue event( s9ch as 5eath( that we can obtain the statistical basis necessar> =or an
arithmetical estimate o= chances. ) ver> =ew remarks( however( seem worth making on
5reams which o==er less hope o= a 5e=inite concl9sion.
-ertain other marke5 events( s9ch as 9ne?pecte5 5angers an5 acci5ents( are comparable
to 5eath( tho9gh stan5ing m9ch below it( in the two main pointsAthe co(parative
in=reE9enc> o= their =orming the s9bDect o= a marke5l> 5istressing 5ream( an5 the
co(parativel, large proportion Ptho9gh absolutel,, o= co9rse( a ver> small proportionQ o=
cases in which s9ch a 5ream( when it 5oes occ9r( coinci5es with realit>. )n5 even when
we come 5own to 9n9s9al events o= a more commonplace t>pe( or to a 5etaile5 ne.us o=
more or less =amiliar inci5entsAwhere it is( o= co9rse( o9t o= the E9estion to get an> sort
o= n9merical basis =or comp9tationAthe same sort o= arg9ment ma> still be ca9tio9sl>
applie5. It is tr9e that the coinci5ences 5o not now occ9r among an> comparativel> small
gro9p o= drea(ers, s9ch as the 5reamers o= 5eathAthe or5er o= 5ream which is now in
E9estion being common to all who 5ream at all@ i-:22! b9t the> still occ9r among a
comparativel> small gro9p o= drea(s. In the cases which =orm a consi5erable proportion
o= o9r collection( where the 5ream was at once narrate5 as an e?ceptionall> o55 or vivi5
one( the proo= o= its e?ceptional o55ness or vivi5ness is at once s9pplie5. )n5 =9rther( an
immensel> large class( the p9rel> =antastic 5reams( to which no real event co9l5 possibl>
be recognise5 as correspon5ing( are e?cl95e5@ as also are the commonest class o= all
where the 5reamer is not the spectator b9t the hero o= the 5ream( an5 no 9n9s9al inci5ent
or precise series o= inci5ents is presente5 as occ9rring in5epen5entl> to othersAwho( i=
present( merel> make a necessar> backgro9n5( or take their share o= speech an5 action in
conD9nction with the 5reamer. *he 5istant event( or series o= events( with which the 5ream
correspon5s( m9st both be possible P=or it act9all> occ9rsQ( an5 m9st centre ro9n5 some
one other than the 5reamer@ an5 the conseE9ent necessit> that the marke5 point or points
o= the 5ream shall both be possible an5 shall centre ro9n5 some one other than the
5reamer( immensel> re59ces the list o= 5reams which come into the reckoning@ an5 to the
same e?tent re59ces the pri(0 facie pla9sibilit> o= the h>pothesis that the coinci5ence is
59e to chance. %o 5o9bt( a=ter all 5e59ctions( the n9mber o= 5reams which remain to be
taken into acco9nt( be=ore we can 5eci5e as to the chances o= acci5ental coinci5ences
with realit>( is here man> times larger than o9r =ormer restricte5 class( which was
concerne5 with a single 9niE9e event: it ma> conceivabl> be man> tho9san5s o= times
larger. "9t( whatever the m9ltiple( it is har5 to believe that the n9mber o= eventsAeven o=
more or less c9rio9s eventsAwhich it is possible to drea( of as occ9rring to other
people( 5oes not bear an even larger ratio to the single event o= 5eath. +or what limit can
we so m9ch as conceive to the s9m o= the 5etails o= circ9mstance which the whole
5reaming pop9lation o= the co9ntr> can connect in imagination with the vario9s members
o= their respective acE9aintancer
/9ch consi5erations 5o not( o= co9rse( amo9nt to an arg9ment =or telepathic
correspon5ences on this wi5er gro9n5Athe data are =ar too in5e=inite =or that. "9t the> at
least s9ggest that the a5eE9ac> o= the chance-theor> is not E9ite so obvio9s as is
sometimes ass9me5.
*his preliminar> sketch o= the evi5ential aspect o= 5reams ma>( perhaps( prevent
mis9n5erstan5ing. )mong consi5erations so comple? an5 5ata so 9ncertain( it is not eas>
to s9m 9p a view in ver> precise terms@ b9t o9r general position has been ma5e
s9==icientl> clear b> m> i-:2U! statement that we sho9l5 not( with o9r present evi5ence(
have 9n5ertaken to make o9t a case =or telepath> on the gro9n5 o= 5reams alone. *he
E9estion whether a case co9l5 be completel> ma5e o9t on that gro9n5( tho9gh it ma> be
worth 5ebating( seems incapable o= =inal settlement( 9ntil a ver> large section o= the
pop9lation takes to keeping a 5ail> recor5 o= their 5ream-e?periences. ) m9ch larger
n9mber o= e?amples is nee5e5 =or which( even taken in isolation( a high evi5ential rank
co9l5 be claime5Awhether =rom the amo9nt o= 5etail in the coinci5ence( as in cases 2:3(
2:7( an5 23U( or =rom some s9ch e?ceptional =eat9res as marke5 Mr. ,ing=iel54s case Pp.
2XXQ. "9t meanwhile an arg9ment o= a E9ite 5i==erent sort can be importe5 =rom the
5epartment o= evi5ence on which we mainl> rel>Athe evi5ence o= telepathic impressions
o= 5istant events receive5 in the waking state. *he probabilities o= some real ca9sal
connection between event an5 impression in the less concl9sive cases cannot be =airl>
weighe5 witho9t regar5 to the e?istence o= the (ore concl9sive@ an5 that 5reams =orm( on
the whole( the less evi5entiall> concl9sive class can be no gro9n5 =or tabooing them(
9nless we can assign special reasons wh> sleep sho9l5 be a con5ition a5verse to
telepathic in=l9ence. In the conception o= telepath> which it is hope5 that the rea5er will
b> 5egrees come to share( no s9ch reasons appear@ while the resemblances an5 the
transition-cases( alrea5> re=erre5 to( between the sleeping an5 the waking phenomena(
make it practicall> impossible to reDect in the one class an e?planation which we a5mit in
the other. *he e?amples which I shall procee5 to give reE9ire no =9rther D9sti=ication.
*he> are not nee5e5 to prove o9r theor>@ b9t man> o= them almost inevitabl> =all 9n5er it
as soon as it is prove5@ an5 we have no right to 5isregar5 an> light which the> ma> throw
on it.
i-:2:!
1)'* II.AE\)M1LE/ O+ $'E)M/ ,.I-. M)# "E 'E)/O%)"L# 'E&)'$E$ )/
*ELE1)*.I-.
S 2. On s9rve>ing a large n9mber o= cases where a 5ream has correspon5e5 in time with
the real occ9rrence o= the event or events which it represente5( in s9ch a wa> as strongl>
to s9ggest that it ha5 its so9rce in a telepathic imp9lse( we =in5 that the> at once =all into
5istinct classes. In the =irst class( the agent is in a normal state( or is himsel= also
5reaming: the e?ternal event here is simpl> the occ9rrence to the agent o= a partic9lar
tho9ght or 5ream@ an5 the percipient4s impression is concerne5 simpl> with the content o=
that tho9ght or 5ream( not with the agent himsel=. In all other classes the agent is in some
con5ition or sit9ation which is more or less abnormal@ an5 the percipient has an
impression o= the agent as in this sit9ation( b9t an impression which ma> take vario9s
=orms. %ot in=reE9entl> the central =act is 5reamt o= merel> as a =actAas something the
5reamer hears o=( or becomes aware o=( as having occ9rre5( witho9t himsel= in an> wa>
coming into contact with it. In another class o= cases( he perceives the principal actor in
the matter 5reamt o=Athe 5>ing person( i= 5eath is the occasionAin s9ch a manner as to
s9ggest the act9al catastrophe@ this s9ggestion being o=ten connecte5 with some special
imager> or s>mbolism. )n5 in >et another class( he seems himsel= transporte5 into the
act9al sceneAto be an act9al spectator o= the event.
I will begin then with some specimens o= the =irst class( where the 5ream has close
relation to something that is in the agent4s min5( b9t the agent4s own personalit> 5oes not
speciall> =ig9re in it.
2
*hese are( o= co9rse( the cases which come nearest to e?perimental
tho9ght-trans=erence@ an5 an a55itional point o= resemblance is that the> are especiall>
apt to occ9r when the agent an5 percipient are in tolerabl> close pro?imit>. One marke5
gro9p o= these cases is the sim9ltaneo9s occ9rrence o= the same 5ream to two persons.
/9ch an occ9rrence wo9l5 not be likel> to be hear5 o= e?cept when the two 5reamers i-
:23! were nearl> relate5 or were living in the same ho9se@ in5ee5( 9nless the
correspon5ence were e?traor5inaril> close an5 5etaile5( it is onl> the =act o= the
5reamers4 belonging to a narrowl> restricte5 circle that co9l5 D9sti=> one in attaching the
slightest importance to it. In a wi5er circle( coinci5ences o= the sort might obvio9sl>
happen( an5 perhaps o=ten 5o happen( b> p9re acci5ent. "9t relationship or habit9al
propinE9it> involves( o= co9rse( the chance that some item o= Doint waking e?perience has
been the in5epen5ent so9rce o= both 5reams@ an5 no case wo9l5 be a5missible where an>
recent ca9se o= this sort co9l5 be trace5.
2
One o= the strongest evi5ential =eat9res wo9l5
be the repetition o= the occ9rrence with the same two persons@ as recor5e5( =or instance(
in a comm9nication rea5 to the 1s>chological /ociet> on +ebr9ar> 2Vth( 27WW( Mr.
/erDeant -o? presi5ing.
P77Q BMr. E. 1. *o> state5 that he an5 his wi=e were in the habit o= 5reaming 9pon the
same s9bDect at the same time@ this 5i5 not arise =rom mere coinci5ence( or in
conseE9ence o= certain matters being nat9rall> 9ppermost in their min5s( =or tri=ling
things were 5reamt o= which ha5 not been in their tho9ghts previo9sl>. One night he
5reamt that he ha5 been charge5 b> a b9ll( an5 so 5i5 she@ on another occasion he 5reamt
that he was at the =9neral o= a =avo9rite chil5( an5 he 5i5 not grieve( altho9gh he like5 the
chil5 ver> m9ch@ his wi=e 5reamt the same thing@ an5 the> o=ten ha5 similar e?periences.C
Mr. *o> wrote to 9s( =rom Littlehampton( in %ovember( 277::A
B*he circ9mstances occ9rre5 some 7 or 2; >ears ago an5 the partic9lars have =a5e5 =rom
m> memor>( as also =rom Mrs. *o>4s. I can onl> con=irm the general =acts as relate5 in
m> note to /erDeant -o?.
B,hile writing( I ma> mention a still more e?traor5inar> 5ream. I 5reame5 that =or some
reason or other I ha5 poisone5 a woman( an5 the same night Mrs. *o> ha5 a ver> vivi5
5ream( in which she tho9ght I was going to be trie5 =or having committe5 a m9r5er. I 5o
not think I am o= a bloo5-thirst> 5isposition( an5 5o not remember to have been rea5ing
an>thing to have s9ggeste5 the 5ream( so the coinci5ence was( to sa> the least( ver>
striking.
BE$MU%$ *O#.C
Y*he =orce o= these coinci5ences is 5iminishe5 b9t not 5estro>e5 b> the =act( which Mr.
1o5more elicite5 in conversation( that both Mr. an5 Mrs. *o> have =reE9ent an5 vivi5
5reams.Z
i-:2V!
*he =ollowing case is =rom the 'ev. F. 1age .opps( o= Lea .9rst( Leicester.
B/eptember 2Vth( 2773.
P7XQ BLast week I 5reamt o= a u5ea54 =rien5( an5 o= this =rien5 5oing an e?cee5ingl>
strange thing. It impresse5 me ver> m9ch( b9t I sai5 not a wor5 concerning it to an> one.
%e?t morning( at break=ast( m> wi=e hastene5 to tell me that she ha5 5reamt a sing9lar
5ream Pa ver> 9n9s9al thing =or her to sa> an>thing abo9tQ( an5 then she staggere5 me b>
telling me what she ha5 5reamt. It was the ver> thing that I ha5 5reame5. ,e slept in
5i==erent rooms( she having to atten5 to a sick chil5( an5 I not being ver> well. I 5o not
care to tell >o9 the 5ream@ b9t the special action in both 5reams was something e?tremel>
c9rio9s an5 monstro9sl> improbable. M> wi=e en5e5 her 5escription b> sa>ing( u*hen she
trie5 to sa> something( b9t I co9l5 not make it o9t.4 I hear5 an5 remembere5 what was
sai5( an5 that was the onl> 5i==erence in o9r 5reams. ,e ha5 not been in an> wa> talking
abo9t o9r u5ea54 =rien5.
BF. 1)&E .O11/.
BM)'# .O11/.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. .opps sa>s:A
BI wo9l5 rather not go into 5etails( especiall> in writing( tho9gh I think Mr. &9rne> is
right in wishing =or them. /ome 5a> I ma> give them( b9t what I tol5 him in m> =irst
letter is literall, tr9e. *he 5ream was an intensel> improbable one. One c9rio9s thing
abo9t it was that( while looking at the appearance( I knew per=ectl> well I was l>ing in
the partic9lar be5 I was in( an5 on the le=t-han5 si5e( with m> hea5 towar5s the 5oor.
,hen I awoke( I was in precisel> that position.C
Mrs. +iel5ing( o= #arlington 'ector>( near "ath( writes:A
B%ovember 277V.
PX;Q B*he other night m> h9sban5 an5 I 5reamt at the sa(e hour, the same 5reamAa
s9bDect which neither o= 9s ha5 been thinking o= =or months. It was a 5ream o= wan5ering
abo9t o9r =irst home( an5 in it looking at the same spot.
BF)%E E. +IEL$I%&.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. +iel5ing a55s:A
BI 5o not remember an>thing more abo9t the 5ream I spoke o=. It was 2W >ears since we
le=t Linacre -o9rt( near $over( the place m> h9sban5 an5 I 5reamt o= at the sa(e ho9r.
,e both 5reamt o= walking abo9t the ol5 placeAan5 the ol5 woo5manA5ust before we
awoke@ an5 we ha5 not been either o= 9s thinking o= it in the least.
BM> h9sban5 la9ghs at all s9ch things as having an> import( b9t to please me wrote the
enclose5.C
*he enclos9re was:A
BI remember awaking one morning abo9t three weeks ago( an5 m> wi=e telling me she
ha5 ha5 a long 5ream abo9t o9r =irst marrie5 home. I sai5 u.ow strange( as I have been
5reaming the same D9st be=ore I awoke.4
BF. M. +IEL$I%&.C
)ske5 as to the 5etail o= the woo5man( Mrs. +iel5ing replies( B,e both saw the woo5man
in o9r 5ream.C
i-:28!
Mr. Merri=iel5( o= U3( Vernon *errace( "righton( tells 9s that( abo9t 278V( he ha5 a most
5istressing 5ream Pwith one e?ception totall> 9nlike an> other that he can recallQ( in
which his 5eath was =oretol5 to him as abo9t to happen within U3 ho9rs. *he impression
was so pain=9ll> ac9te that he co9l5 not shake it o== 59ring the =ollowing 5a>@ an5 he
act9all> ha5 an irrational =eeling o= relie= when he woke on the secon5 morning( an5
realise5 that the U3 ho9rs were over. .e then tol5 the whole stor> to his wi=e.
PX2Q B/he imme5iatel> sai5( uI notice5 that >o9 woke 9p the night be=ore last( an5 I ha5
awakene5 =rom the same ca9se. I ha5 5reame5 most vivi5l> that I was a wi5ow( an5 the
pillow was act9all> wet with tears. I never ha5 s9ch a vivi5 5ream be=ore( an5 it has
tro9ble5 me ever since. I wo9l5 not tell >o9( b9t it was a relie= to me when I saw >o9
coming home to 5inner last night.4C
Mrs. Merri=iel5 a55s:A
BI saw m>sel= 5resse5 in wee5s.AM. ). M.C
In answer to inE9iries( she sa>s that she 5reams a great 5eal( b9t that her 5reams Bare
almost alwa>s o= a pleasant nat9re. I never ha5 an> 5ream which was as vivi5 an5 the
remembrance o= which laste5 as 5i5 that one. M> pillow was E9ite wet with the tears I
ha5 she5.C
*he =ollowing e?ampleA=rom Mrs. ,illmore( o= ::( -astellain 'oa5( Mai5a .ill( ,.Ais
c9rio9sl> similar( b9t 5epen5s on a single memor>.
B2773.
PXUQ B*he 5ream >o9 ask me to narrate took place in 27V8( at %e9ill>( near 1aris. I ha5 a
vivi5 impression that I was 5>ing( an5 awoke with a start to hear m> h9sban5 sobbing so
pain=9ll> that I aro9se5 him to ask what was the matter( 9pon which he sai5 that he ha5
5reamt that I was D9st on the point o= 5>ing. *hese two 5reams m9st have occ9rre5 to
both o= 9s sim9ltaneo9sl>( an5 seem to me to be a c9rio9s instance o= tho9ght-
trans=erence. I ma> a55 that there was s9ch great s>mpath> between m> h9sban5 an5
m>sel= that( one 5a> not long be=ore his 5eath( I well remember his sa>ing that we sho9l5
soon not nee5 the comm9nication o= speech.C
*he ne?t e?ample is pec9liar in that the percipient4s impression seems 59e to a 5ream o=
the agent4s o= which the latter retaine5 no memor>. It will be seen that the amo9nt o=
in=ormation conve>e5 e?cee5s what we can reasonabl> acco9nt =or b> the agent4s having
talke5 in his sleep. It is =rom o9r =rien5 Mr. +. -or5er( o= 38( -harlwoo5 /treet( /. ,.( a
gentleman o= ver> high rep9tation in the m9sical worl5. .e was at one time in the habit
o= h>pnotising his wi=e =or her health@ an5 Bat the time(C he sa>s( Bshe gave me repeate5
proo=s that she was able to ransack m> min5 an5 memor> i-:2W! =ar better than I m>sel=
co9l5@ b9t this was when 5esire5 to 5o soCAwhereas the case to be cite5 was
spontaneo9s.
PX:Q E?tract =rom Mr. -or5er4s 5iar>( )9g9st 2Xth( 277U:A
B.ealth s>mptoms m9ch the same. 19t her PMrs. -or5erQ to sleep be=ore she got 9p( in
or5er to know the e?act ho9rs at which restoratives were to be given. /he =irst sai5( uI
can4t atten5 >et to those things@ I am thinking o9t >o9r tho9ght.4 I reE9este5 an
e?planation. u)bo9t Fimm> ".@ it is so strange( beca9se I never saw him in m> li=e@ b9t
>o9 were thinking abo9t him.4 I was rea5> to swear that I ha5 not been thinking o= m> ol5
school=ellow =or man> a long 5a>( an5 was abo9t to sa> so when she went on: u#o9 were
5reaming o= him last night( an5 sai5( B1oor Fimm>C in >o9r sleep( so I was oblige5 to
=ollow o9t >o9r tho9ght this morning.4 /he then went on to remin5 me how the sai5
Fimm> ha5 gone to a part> with m> brothers( sisters an5 sel= Pthis was at -hristmas( 278V(
long be=ore I knew herQ@ how he 5rank too m9ch( an5 was ill =or several 5a>s at o9r
ho9se( m> mother n9rsing him. %ot onl> ha5 I absol9tel> no remembrance o= the 5ream
Pnor in5ee5 o= having 5reame5 at allQ( b9t the inci5ent itsel= ha5 so completel> =a5e5
=rom m> min5 that it was onl> b> the greatest e==ort o= memor> that I co9l5 recall it.C
Mr. -or5er =9rther sa>s:A
BOn E9estioning m> el5est sister some weeks later( all these 5etails( which I ha5
absol9tel> =orgotten( were corroborate5. It is impossible( o= co9rse( that m> wi=e can(
even in cas9al talk( have ever hear5 o= this trivial inci5ent o= m> bo>hoo5( an> more than
o= other matters connecte5 with the same event which she also 5etaile5. "9t more c9rio9s
than an>thing is the =actA=or =act I s9ppose it isAthat I co9l5 have 5reame5 o= these
entirel> =orgotten matters( that the> sho9l5 again have passe5 awa>( leaving no trace( an5
that >et she sho9l5 rea5 them in m> min5 the ne?t morningsC
In another comm9nication Mr. -or5er a55s:A
BMarch 2Xth( 2773.
BI ma> sa> that I was absol9tel> incre59lo9s both as to the tr9th o= the 5ream-inci5ent(
an5 m> having 5reame5 it@ b9t the moment I aske5 m> sister abo9t F. ". having been ill in
o9r ho9se( she Pwhose memor> =or >o9th=9l scenes is ver> strongQ sai5 9nhesitatingl>(
uO= co9rse@ 5on4t >o9 remember it was at the McAAs4 ballr .e 5rank too m9ch wine
an5 came home in o9r cab. M. an5 -. carrie5 him 9p to be5.4 *hose are nearl> m> sister4s
ver> wor5s. *here was no 5iscrepanc> whatever between her acco9nt o= the matter an5
m> wi=e4s( b9t I cannot now remember whether the latter relate5 it with especial
min9teness o= 5etail. -ertainl> the least 5iscrepanc> in the two acco9nts wo9l5 have
str9ck me( asAthe inci5ent being so entirel> =orgotten b> m>sel=AI applie5 ever> wor5
9ttere5 b> both to m> min5( to revive the 5ormant recollection.C
Miss -or5er corroborates as =ollows( in a letter to her brother:A
B*he 'ocks( East "e5=ont( near +eltham( Mi55lese?.
B)pril 3th( 277V.
B)s >o9 ask me to give >o9 an acco9nt o= the inci5ent so strangel> i-:27! re=erre5 to b>
1a9line( I will p9t 5own what I remember. One night when we were living either at
.a55o or -anterb9r> Villas Pthe latter( I thinkQ the bo>s went to a part> at the McAAs4(
an5 there( it appeare5( o9r >o9ng =rien5 Fimm> ". took too m9ch re=reshment. I =orget i=
he was still with the 'ev. &. M. or in rooms@ b9t at all events the> were a=rai5 to take him
home( an5 bro9ght him to o9r place. I an5 '. were awakene5 b> the noise the bo>s ma5e
in conve>ing F. 9p to -.4s room on the =loor above 9s@ so we listene5( an5 became aware
o= the procee5ings( which we 5i5 not then =9ll> 9n5erstan5. %e?t 5a> F. ha5 to keep in
be5( an5 the mother went 9p an5 waite5 on him. .e was ver> 9nwell( an5 i= I remember
rightl> onl> got 9p at tea-time( when he took a c9p o= tea with 9s( an5 then ret9rne5 to his
place. I have an impression that the mother sent =or $r. "9rton( who a5ministere5
something. )s to the notion that I or '. co9l5 ever have tol5 1a9line this stor> in an> o=
o9r =ormer talks( I am certain that we have never 5one so. F. le=t Englan5 so long be=ore
we met 1a9line that he was onl> mentione5 once or twice( as the chie= instigator o= o9r
5ramatic per=ormances in earl> 5a>s. Moreover( this stor> is not at all what I sho9l5 relate
abo9t a =rien5@ an5 I can sa=el> swear that it was never mentione5 to an>one.
B*his is all I remember( an5 it is E9ite 5istinct in m> remembrance now.
B-.)'LO**E -O'$E'.C
YIn spite o= what Miss -or5er sa>s( it is( o= co9rse( within the range o= possibilit> that the
inci5ent ha5 been 5escribe5 in Mrs. -or5er4s presence@ b9t it wo9l5 then be e?tremel>
o55 that( on its rec9rring to her( it sho9l5 not have rec9rre5 as a thing previo9sl> hear5 o=(
b9t sho9l5 have seeme5 to her like entirel> new in=ormation. ,e have( moreover( in Mr.
-or5er4s e?clamation( B1oor Fimm>(C a consi5erable pres9mption that his 5reaming
tho9ghts 5i5 act9all> revert to his ol5 =rien5. *he case( however( wo9l5 har5l> have been
incl95e5( ha5 we not =elt able to rel> on Mr. -or5er4s statement as to the pec9liar rapport
which at that time e?iste5 between himsel= an5 his wi=e.Z
*he ne?t case is perhaps best regar5e5 as one o= sim9ltaneo9s 5reams( tho9gh the one o=
the two parties who wo9l5 most nat9rall> be regar5e5 as the percipient =eels positive that
she was awake. It belongs in one respect to a later class( since the agent4s personalit> an5
presence 5istinctl> =ig9re5 in the percipient4s e?perience.
Miss -onstance /. "evan( o= W3( Lancaster &ate( ,.( sa>s:A
B+ebr9ar> 27th( 2773.
PX3Q BOn F9ne 2;th( 277:( I ha5 the =ollowing 5ream. /omeone tol5 me that Miss Elliott
was 5ea5. I instantl>( in m> 5ream( r9she5 to her room( entere5 it( went to her be5si5e
an5 p9lle5 the clothes =rom o== her =ace. /he was E9ite col5@ her e>es were wi5e open an5
staring at the ceiling. *his so =rightene5 me that I 5roppe5 at the =oot o= her be5( an5
knew no more 9ntil I was hal= o9t o= be5 in m> own room an5 wi5e awake. *he time was
V o4clock a.m. "e=ore leaving m> room I tol5 this 5ream to m> sister( as it ha5 been s9ch
an 9npleasant one.
B-O%/*)%-E /. "EV)%.C
i-:2X!
Miss Elliott sa>s:A
B+ebr9ar>( 2773.
BI awoke on the morning o= F9ne 2;th( an5 was l>ing on m> back with m> e>es =i?e5 on
the ceiling( when I hear5 the 5oor open an5 =elt some one come in an5 ben5 over me( b9t
not =ar eno9gh to come between m> e>es an5 the ceiling@ knowing it was onl> -( I 5i5
not move( b9t instea5 o= kissing me she s955enl> 5rew back( an5 going towar5s the =oot
o= the be5( cro9che5 5own there. *hinking this ver> strange( I close5 an5 opene5 m> e>es
several times( to convince m>sel= that I was reall> awake( an5 then t9rne5 m> hea5 to see
i= she ha5 le=t the 5oor open( b9t =o9n5 it still sh9t. Upon this a sort o= horror came over
me( an5 I 5are5 not look towar5s the =ig9re( which was cro9ching in the same position(
gentl> moving the be5-clothes =rom m> =eet. I trie5 to call to the occ9pant o= the ne?t
room( b9t m> voice =aile5. )t this moment she to9che5 m> bare =oot( an5 a col5 chill ran
all over me an5 I knew nothing more till I =o9n5 m>sel= o9t o= be5 looking =or -.( who
m9st( I =elt( be still in the room. I never 5o9bte5 that she ha5 reall> been there 9ntil I saw
both 5oors =astene5 on the insi5e. On looking at m> watch it was a =ew min9tes past V.
BE. ELLIO**.C
*he =ollowing corroboration is =rom Miss -. /. "evan4s sisters:A
B"e=ore leaving o9r room( m> sister -onstance tol5 all abo9t the 5ream she ha5 ha5 in
the earl> morning.
B-. EL/IE "EV)%.C
B*he =irst thing in the morning( Miss Elliott tol5 me all abo9t her 9npleasant 5ream(
be=ore speaking to an>one else.
B)%*O%I) "EV)%.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss -. /. "evan sa>s:A
B*his is the =irst e?perience I have ever ha5 o= the kin5( an5 I have not walke5 in m>
sleep more than three times in m> li=e@ the last time was abo9t a >ear ago@ on no occasion
have I le=t the room. I 5o not have startling or vivi5 5reams as a r9le. I 5i5 not look at m>
watch a=ter waking( b9t the clock str9ck V o4clock.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss Elliott sa>s:A
B)ltho9gh I am acc9stome5 to have ver> vivi5 5reams( I have never ha5 one o= this kin5
be=ore. ,hen I =o9n5 m> =rien5 was not in the room( an5 that the 5oors were sec9rel>
=astene5 on the insi5e( I looke5 at m> watch@ it was a =ew min9tes past V.
BI have never( I believe( walke5 in m> sleep. *here are two 5oors to m> be5room. One
was locke5 on the insi5e@ the han5le was broken o== the other on the o9tsi5e. *h9s it was
impossible =or an>one to open it e?cept =rom the insi5e.C
Y%o one( probabl>( will regar5 this as an acci5ental coinci5ence@ b9t the h>pothesis o=
sleep-walking ha5 to be care=9ll> consi5ere5. I have seen the rooms( an5 e?amine5 the
5oor o= which the han5le is 5escribe5 as having been broken o==. Miss "evan ha5 been
Pas was o=ten the caseQ in i-:U;! Miss Elliott4s room over-night( an5 on her sh9tting the
5oor at her 5epart9re( the o9tsi5e han5le =ell o==. /he remembers its 5oing so@ an5 Miss
Elliott hear5 it =all( an5 saw it on the =loor o9tsi5e when she le=t her room in the morning.
Miss Elliott sa>s that it remaine5 9nscrewe5( an5 so liable to be shaken o== ever> time the
5oor close5( =or abo9t two months that s9mmer. I 9nscrewe5 it( an5 trie5 to move the
latch b> t9rning the st9mp( b9t =o9n5 it 9tterl> impossible@ an5 to =it the han5le on again
witho9t p9shing the st9mp inwar5s( an5 so losing all chance o= opening the 5oor( was a
work o= ver> consi5erable care. "9t even on the violent s9pposition that Miss "evan le=t
her room noiselessl> in her sleep( picke5 9p the han5le( 5e=tl> a5D9ste5 it( t9rne5 it( an5
entere5Athere remains an a55itional 5i==ic9lt>. +or( in 5eparting( she m9st have sh9t the
5oor a=ter her in s9ch a wa> as to Derk the han5le o== again. *his wo9l5 make a lo95
so9n5@ >et it was not hear5 b> Miss Elliott( who( on the h>pothesis in E9estion( was
awake@ nor 5i5 it wake Miss "evan hersel=( nor an a9nt o= hers who was sleeping in a
room with which Miss Elliott4s comm9nicate5. It seems almost incre5ible that she sho9l5
have sh9t the 5oor care=9ll> a=ter her( ta1en off the han5le( an5 deposited it on the floor.
"oth the 5oor o= comm9nication between Miss Elliott4s an5 the a9nt4s rooms( an5 the
=ree 5oor o= the latter room were locke5( the =ormer on Miss Elliott4s si5e. Miss "evan
has never left her roo(, or an>thing like it( on the three occasions on which she has
walke5 in her sleep. Moreover( she was sleeping in the same room as a sister who is a
ver> light sleeper( an5 she consi5ers that it is absol9tel> impossible that she sho9l5 have
le=t her room witho9t waking this sister. .er room is separate5 =rom Miss Elliott4s b> a
passage an5 a long staircase. Miss "evan is not a B5reamer(C an5 ver> rarel> has a 5ream
which she thinks it worth while to mention.Z
*wo points in this case 5eserve special notice. In the =irst place( whatever we call Miss
Elliott4s e?perience( it was wholl> 9nlike an or5inar> 5ream@ it was in itsel= as 9n9s9al in
character as a Bspectral ill9sion(C or 5istinct waking hall9cination o= vision. Evi5entiall>(
this is ver> important@ =or it at once ren5ers irrelevant the theor> o= acci5ental
coinci5ence( so =ar as that theor> 5epen5s on the scope =or acci5ent which the vast
nu(ber o= 5reams a==or5s. *he secon5 point is the possibilit>( at an> rate( that the two
e?periences were not onl> sim9ltaneo9s b9t reciprocal/ that is to sa>( that Miss "evan4s
5ream ma> not have been simpl> the in5epen5ent so9rce o= Miss Elliott4s impression( b9t
ma> have itsel= been mo5i=ie5 b> that impression.
S U. 1assing now to e?amples where the s9ppose5 agent was awake( b9t in a per=ectl>
or5inar> an5 9ne?cite5 state( we m9st still( o= co9rse( reDect cases where an> normal
ca9se =or the 5ream can be pla9sibl> assigne5. *h9s Mr. +. F. Fones( o= .eath "ank( i-
:U2! Mossle> 'oa5( )shton-9n5er-L>ne( tells 9s how his little 5a9ghter astonishe5 him
b> starting 9p =rom her sleep( sa>ing( B/omething has gone wrong with the u&ogo4s4
boilers.C *he B&ogoC belonge5 to a =irm with which Mr. Fones was connecte5( an5 it was
a=terwar5s 5iscovere5 that the boilers ha5 at that ver> time s9==ere5 an acci5ent in the
"a> o= "isca>. *he coinci5ence remains( there=ore( an o55 one@ b9t we sho9l5 certainl>
be incline5 to re=er the chil54s 5ream to some scrap o= grown-9p conversation that ha5
been =orgotten. Mr. E. ,. 1.( o= "arton En5 &range( %ailsworth( 5escribes how in a hal=-
wake=9l state he ha5 been imagining himsel= to be rea5ing B*he "ook o= $a>s(C till it
seeme5 to become too 5ark to seeAwhen all at once his wi=e sai5 in her sleep( B#o9
sho9l5 not rea5 in be5( it is so ba5 =or the e>es.C On inE9ir>( we =in5 that Mrs. 1. is not in
the habit o= talking in her sleep@ b9t we =in5 also that Mr. 1. has o=ten rea5 in be5( an5
that his wi=e has o=ten remonstrate5 with him abo9t it. *he =ollowing cases seem =ree
=rom s9ch obDections.
Mrs. -rellin( o= 8U( .ill5rop -rescent( %.( sa>s:A
BFan9ar>( 2773.
PXVQ BM> h9sban5 an5 I o=ten =in5 o9r tho9ghts occ9pie5 b> the same s9bDect( tho9gh
there has been no apparent 5irection given to o9r tho9ghts b> s9rro9n5ing circ9mstances(
an5 the s9bDect o= o9r tho9ghts ma> be 5istant in time an5 place. *his rather c9rio9s
inci5ent occ9rre5 2U >ears ago. In the mi55le o= the night I awoke( an5 remaining awake
I trie5 to recall one o= *enn>son4s poems( b9t was p9]]le5 as to the =irst wor5. ,as it
u9o(e the> bro9ght(4 or uBac1 the> bro9ght her warrior 5ea54r M> h9sban5 ha5 been
so9n5l> asleep( b9t s955enl> t9rne5 ro9n5( an5 on m> sa>ing u)re >o9 awaker4 he
replie5( u#es( an5 I awoke with the wor5s on m> lips( uB.ome the> bro9ght her warrior
5ea5.C4 )s we ha5 not been rea5ing the poem together( it seeme5 a c9rio9s occ9rrence o=
s>mpath>. I am E9ite s9re that I ha5 not 9ttere5 a wor5 o= the poem alo95( =or I was ver>
an?io9s not to 5ist9rb m> h9sban54s rest in his then rather 5elicate state o= health.C
Mr. -rellin corroborates as =ollows:A
BFan9ar> 2Xth( 2773.
BI have a 5istinct recollection o= the inci5ent( reporte5 to >o9 b> m> wi=e( re=erring to
*enn>son4s lines. u.ome the> bro9ght her warrior 5ea5.4
BOn m> awaking =rom sleep she aske5 me( u)re >o9 awaker4 I replie5( u#es( an5 with
these wor5s on m> lips( B.ome(C4 [c. /he sai5( u*hose are the ver> wor5s I want to be
s9re abo9t. I have been tr>ing to recollect whether B.omeC or B"ackC is the wor5 with
which the poem begins.4
i-:UU!
BI ha5 not recentl> been rea5ing *enn>son( an5 cannot acco9nt =or what I have D9st
narrate5.
B1.ILI1 -'ELLI%.C
YIt is( no 5o9bt( possible to s9ppose that Mrs. -rellin 9nconscio9sl> recite5 the line alo95@
b9t not onl> is she certain that she 5i5 not( b9t she ha5 at the time a special reason =or
silence.Z
*he ne?t inci5ent concerns the same two persons@ b9t here possibl> it was the 5reamer
who was the agent. Mrs. -rellin sa>s:A
B)9g9st( 2773.
PX8Q BI mentione5 to >o9 m> h9sban54s awaking =rom sleep an5 repeating the line =rom
*enn>son which I ha5 been tr>ing to remember. *hat seeme5 to me a brain-wave( an5 it
was imme5iate in its action@ b9t what o= a deferred brain-waver *h9s( three weeks ago( I
was 9nable to sleep 59ring the earl> ho9rs o= the night. I tho9ght( amongst other things(
o= a rather comic piece o= poetr> which m> h9sban5 9se5 to repeat >ears ago. I st9ck at
one line an5 co9l5 not recall it. .owever( I =ell asleep( an5 three or =o9r ho9rs a=ter
awoke( to =in5 it was time to rise. M> h9sban5( a=ter a goo5 night4s restA9n5ist9rbe5 b>
poetr> or proseAawoke also@ he stretche5 o9t his han5 towar5s me( an5 repeate5 the line
I ha5 =aile5 to remember in the night( an5 which 5i5 not occ9p> m> tho9ghts when I
awoke in the morning. *his seeme5 a strange 5ela> in giving the response.C
2

Mr. -rellin sa>s:A
B8U( .ill5rop -rescent( %.
B)9g9st U;th( 2773.
BM> wi=e has tol5 >o9 o= an inci5ent which I am able to con=irm. I awoke one morning
recentl>( an5 imme5iatel> sai5 to her( u)n5 his skin( like a la5>4s loose gown( h9ng abo9t
him4Athis being a line o= some h9moro9s verses learnt b> me when a >o9th( an5 which I
have occasionall> recite5 =or the am9sement o= m> =rien5s( b9t which I ha5 not repeate5
or tho9ght o= =or a long perio5. M> wi=e at once sai5 that whilst l>ing awake 59ring the
night PI being asleepQ she ha5 been tr>ing to recall this ver> line. I know o= nothing that
can have bro9ght the line to m> min5 an5 lips at the moment.
B1.ILI1 -'ELLI%C
S :. ,e come now to cases where the agent4s min5 was in a more or less 5ist9rbe5 state.
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom o9r =rien5 Miss Mason( o= Morton .all( 'et=or5( %otts. It
was =irst printe5 in connection with a recor5 o= some tho9ght-trans=erence e?periments(
in 'ac(illans 'agaAine =or October( 277U.
PXWQ B*he most remarkable case I have ever come across was an acci5ental one( where I
ha5 no intention o= e?perimenting. $9ring the s9mmer o= 27W7 I happene5 to be sta>ing
at Oban( an5 on the 2st o= )9g9st went to see the +alls o= Lora( so well-known that I shall
not i-:U:! 9n5ertake a long 5escription o= them. Loch Etive( which is a branch o= the
larger Loch Linnhe( is on a lower level. *his 5i==erence in level occ9rs at its mo9th( an5 is
so abr9pt that( when the ti5e is o9t( it leaves an irreg9lar water=all between the two. *he
mass o= sea-water r9shes =rom Loch Linnhe into Loch Etive( shape5 into all kin5s o=
cataracts an5 hollow whirlpools( an5 is approache5 either b> stan5ing on rocks o= some
height above the +alls( or on lower ones( almost on a level with the e55ies below them.
BIt is nat9ral( on looking into s9ch whirlpools an5 watching how irresistibl> an>thing
thrown into them is s9cke5 5own( to won5er whether an>one who =ell in co9l5 possibl>
be save5. I was at the time in e?treme an?iet> abo9t some =rien5s o= mine who were in
great tro9ble( o= which I alone knew( an5 might not tell@ an5 witho9t inten5ing it( I
applie5 the pict9re metaphoricall> to the case( =anc>ing m> =rien5s in the whirlpools an5
m>sel= tr>ing to save them. *he pict9re impresse5 me so =orcibl> in this state o= min5(
that =or the rest o= the 5a> I never got ri5 o= it. /oon a=ter I ret9rne5 to a place where I
ha5 le=t m> mai5( more than 2U; miles =rom Oban( an5 on the Wth o= the same month
something bro9ght m> an?iet> an5 its accompan>ing pict9re be=ore me even more
vivi5l> than be=ore. I co9l5 think o= nothing else the whole evening. *o speak abs9r5l>( I
=elt possesse5 b> that scene to m> =ingers4 en5s. )ll night long I never close5 m> e>es(
b9t la> awake( seeing m> =rien5s in the whirlpools an5 tr>ing to p9ll them o9t. M> mai5(
who slept in a room above mine( ha5 9n5resse5 me as 9s9al( b9t I har5l> spoke to her( =or
I co9l5 not tell her o= m> an?iet>( an5 ha5 not another i5ea in m> hea5 to talk abo9t.
,hen she calle5 me in the morning( she at once began to sa> that she ha5 never passe5 so
strange a night( =or ever> time she =ell asleep she awoke 5reaming o= the same place
Au,ater r9shing over rocks( an5 the most 5rea5=9l whirlpools(4 an5 that she was
ustan5ing on high rocks( tr>ing to save people o9t o= them with ropes.4 u)n5(4 she sai5( uit
was not a water=all o= a river( it was a -aterfall of the sea.4
B*his e?pression is remarkable( =or there is perhaps har5l> a place in the worl5( e?cept
the +alls o= Lora( to which it wo9l5 e?actl> appl>. ,itho9t telling her wh>( I E9estione5
her in 5etail as to all the =eat9res o= the place she ha5 5reame5 o=( an5 an>one who
wishes =or the =9ll an5 min9te 5escription she gave me has onl> to look at that given b>
an> local g9i5e-book o= the +alls o= Lora. *he onl> part o= her 5ream which 5i5 not
re=lect m> tho9ghts was that the persons whom she was tr>ing to save =rom 5rowning
were not the same that I was thinking o=. It was not 9ntil she ha5 tol5 me all she co9l5(
that I gave her m> reason =or wishing to know so m9ch abo9t her 5ream( an5 sai5 I ha5
been thinking o= the place she ha5 5escribe5. %ow she ha5 never been to Oban( an5 ha5
never hear5 or rea5 an>thing abo9t the +alls. I ha5 never so m9ch as mentione5 them to
her( an5 she ha5 seen no one else at an> time who ha5 been there( nor ha5 she ever seen a
pict9re or a photograph o= the place. O= this( both she an5 I were absol9tel> certain. I=(
there=ore( the pict9re was not impresse5 b> m> min5 5irectl> 9pon hers( the onl> possible
alternative is that o= coinci5ence@ an5 the coinci5ence o= her 5reaming o= s9ch an 9n9s9al
scene an5 circ9mstances at the same time that I was thinking o= them so intentl>( wo9l5
be 5o9bl> e?traor5inar>( beca9se it was not a single 5ream( b9t one repeate5 i-:U3!
thro9gho9t the night( her an?iet> to save the 5rowning persons waking her again an5
again. *he mai5 is a matter-o=-=act( mi55le-age5 woman( who has live5 nearl> all her li=e
in m> =amil>( an5 was m> n9rse. *ho9gh a ,elshwoman( she has none o= the imagination
s9ppose5 to be an en5owment o= her race( an5 has 5ispla>e5 no talent =or tho9ght-
rea5ing@ her position enables her to 5ispense with ceremonies( an5 she re=9ses to ube
bothere5 with s9ch nonsense.4 /he still lives with 9s( is in the ho9se at this moment( an5
wishes she 5i5 not remember the circ9mstances. I am not tr9sting to memor> alone( =or I
not onl> entere5 the =acts in m> 5iar>( b9t wrote a =9ll acco9nt o= them the ne?t 5a> in a
letter to a =rien5( an5( having tol5 the stor> at the time( have other witnesses to prove that
I 5o not e?aggerate.C
*he 5reamer sa>s:A
B*his acco9nt o= the circ9mstances is correct. I ha5 never hear5 Miss Mason mention her
tro9ble. "9t I have =orgotten man> o= the 5etails o= the 5ream.
2

BM)'&)'E* .E'"E'*.C
Miss Mason4s mother sa>s:A
BI have hear5 both m> 5a9ghter an5 m> mai5 speak o= the occ9rrence an5 5escribe it.
BM. M)/O%.C
*o pass =rom water to =ireAthe evi5ential =orce o= the =ollowing case is not eas> to
estimate( witho9t knowing how =reE9ent 5reams o= con=lagrations are@ b9t this partic9lar
5reamer( at an> rate( can recall no similar e?perience( an5 has never in his li=e ma5e a
written note o= a 5ream e?cept on this occasion. Mr. $. ". ,. /la5en( o= U8( -amp5en
&rove( 0ensington( ,.( writes:A
BFan9ar> 3th( 2778.
PX7Q BIn $ecember( 2772( we were living at 8( &eorge /treet( PEastQ Melbo9rne( Victoria.
M> =ather resi5e5 then( as he 5oes now( at 1hillimore Lo5ge( 0ensington( ,. In those
5a>s I alwa>s went to be5 abo9t mi5night. I awoke s955enl>( tremen5o9sl> startle5 b> a
5ream that m> =ather4s ho9se was on =ire. *he 5ream impresse5 me so vivi5l> that I =elt
convince5 that a =ire ha5 act9all> happene5 there( an5( striking a light( I walke5 across
the room to the 5ressing-table( on which m> 5iar> la> PI 9se5 generall> to Dot 5own the
events o= the 5a> D9st be=ore t9rning inQ( an5 ma5e a brie= entr> o= it( there an5 then( =irst
looking at m> watch in or5er to be able to set 5own the time( which I =o9n5 to be 2 a.m. I
ha5( there=ore( been in be5 less than an ho9r( which o= itsel= seems to a55 an
e?traor5inar> =eat9re to the case PI re=er to m> sinking to sleep( 5reaming( i-:UV! an5
waking 9p( as a=ter a long sleep( in so short a space o= timeQ. *he entr> in m> 5iar> is( as
it was likel> to be when stan5ing o9t o= be5( ver> brie=: u)t night : drea(t that the
1itchen in (, fathers house -as on fire. : a-o1e and found that it -as 2 a.(.4 I kept m>
5iar> in a plain paper book@ an5 the entr> comes below what I 5i5 9p to mi5night on
$ecember UUn5. ,hat I =9rther still remember 5istinctl> o= the vision is thisAthat in it(
the servants4 be5rooms Pwhich are reall> at the top o= m> =ather4s ho9se( while the
kitchen( [c.( are at the bottomQ were a5Doining the kitchen s9ite( all on one =loor( an5 that
the smoke an5 bla]e seeme5 general. +9rther( I remember 5istinctl>( tho9gh I D9st ma5e a
bare entr> in m> 5iar> an5 h9rrie5 back to be5( that two o= m> =ather4s mai5s( name5
-oombes an5 -aroline respectivel>( were the onl> persons e?cept m>sel= present in the
vision( an5 that I seeme5 to have no imp9lses an5 no power o= moving( b9t was merel> a
spectator@ nor 5i5 the i5ea o= an> risk to m>sel= =orm part o= the impression.
B/i? or seven weeks a=terwar5s Pmail contract between Lon5on an5 Melbo9rne is 3U
5a>sQ I receive5 a letter =rom m> =ather( 5ate5 $ecember UUn5( 2772. .e wrote( u,e ha5
a =ire on /9n5a> evening while we were at ch9rch. -oombes went with a wa?-taper to
ti5> her room( an5( I s9ppose( blew it o9t an5 p9t it 5own with sparks. Ver> soon a=ter she
le=t( a ring at the bell that the attic was on =ire p9t -aroline on her mettle( while the other
lost her hea5. /he 5ashe5 it o9t with water be=ore the win5ow-=rame was b9rnt thro9gh(
an5 s9b59e5 it. +i=teen po9n5s will repair the 5amageAtwo chests o= 5rawers m9ch
b9rnt( wearing apparel( [c. I gave her a sovereign =or her pl9ck( as the roo= wo9l5 have
been on =ire in another =ive min9tes.4
B%ow I wish to 5raw >o9r attention to what has attracte5 m> attention most. *he /9n5a>
be=ore $ecember UUn5( 2772( was $ecember 27th. I ha5 the comm9nication( there=ore( in
m> sleep( not on the act9al 5a> o= the =ire( b9t on the 5a> on which m> =ather wrote the
letter. )t 0ensington( where m> =ather was writing( )9stralian letters have to be poste5 in
the branch o==ices abo9t V p.m. M> 5ream was at 2 a.m. *ime in Victoria is X ho9rs
ahea5 o= English time. ,hen I was having the comm9nication( there=ore( it was abo9t
:.:; p.m. in 0ensington. %ow with the mail going o9t at V p.m.( :.:; wo9l5 have been a
ver> nat9ralAI think I ma> sa> a most nat9ral time =or m> =ather to be =inishing a letter
to me. YMr. /la5en( sen.( con=irms this.Z I( there=ore( ha5 m> magnetic comm9nication
when he was at once =oc9ssing his min5 on me( an5 =oc9ssing his min5 on the =ire( in
or5er to tell me abo9t it.
BI have aske5 m> wi=e( an5 she remembers per=ectl> m> waking her 9p( an5 telling her
that I ha5 5reamt that m> =ather4s ho9se was on =ire( an5 was so convince5 o= its
betokening an act9al occ9rrence that I sho9l5 make a note o= it in m> 5iar> there an5
then.C
B$OU&L)/ ". ,. /L)$E%.C
YMr. /la5en has kin5l> allowe5 me to inspect the 5iar> an5 letter.Z
In the ne?t e?ample the correspon5ence is o= a more 5istinct kin5. Mrs. ,alsh( o= the
1rior>( Lincoln( writes:A
B+ebr9ar>( 2773.
PXXQ B*he gentleman who teaches m9sic in m> ho9se tells me that i-:U8! i= an>thing sa5
or terrible happens to an>one he loves( he alwa>s has an intimation o= it.
BI am ver> =on5 o= him( an5 I know he looks on me as a ver> tr9e ol5 =rien5( an5 one o=
m> sons( now in In5ia( is the 5earest =rien5 he has.
BI went o9t one morning abo9t X o4clock( carr>ing books =or the librar>( an5 being ver>
b9s>( took the short wa> to town. On some =lags in a ver> steep part o= the roa5( some
bo>s ha5 ma5e a sli5e. "oth m> =eet =lew awa> at the same moment that the back o= m>
hea5 reso9n5e5 on the =lags. ) policeman picke5 me 9p( saw I was h9rt( an5 rang at the
%9rses4 .ome close b>( to get me looke5 to. M> hea5 was c9t( an5 while the> were
washing the bloo5 awa>( I was worr>ing m>sel= that I sho9l5 be ill( an5 how sho9l5 I
manage m> school till the en5 o= the term. I tol5 no one in m> ho9se b9t m> 5a9ghter(
an5 no one b9t the policeman ha5 seen me =all. I aske5 m> 5a9ghter to tell no one. I ha5 a
miserable nervo9s =eeling( b9t I preten5e5 to her it was nothing. *he ne?t morning a=ter a
sleepless night( I co9l5 not get 9p. It was m> habit to sit in the 5rawing-room while the
m9sic lessons were given( so m> 5a9ghter went in to tell Mr.AA that I ha5 ha5 a ba5
night( an5 was not >et 9p. .e sai5( uI ha5 a wretche5 night( too( an5 all thro9gh a most
vivi5 5ream.4 u,hat was itr4 she aske5. uI 5reame5 I was walking b> the %9rses4 .ome(
an5 I came on a sli5e( both m> =eet slippe5( an5 I =ell on the back o= m> hea5. I was
helpe5 to the .ome( an5 while m> hea5 was being bathe5 I was worr>ing m>sel= how I
sho9l5 manage m> lessons till the en5 o= the term( an5 the worr>ing =eeling wo9l5 not
go.4C
*he percipient( Mr. *. F. .oare( writes:A
B2U( /t. %icholas /E9are( Lincoln.
BMarch :r5( 2773.
BI shall be ver> please5 to relate the acco9nt o= a 5ream( as 5escribe5 b> Mrs. ,alsh most
acc9ratel>( which took place on a *9es5a> evening earl> in %ovember( 277U. *he 5ream
consiste5 o= this: I s9ppose5 I was going 5own the &re>stone /tairs( when I ha5 a =all at
the =irst =light( was picke5 9p( an5 helpe5 b> a policeman to the %9rses4 Instit9te( abo9t
U; >ar5s =rom the imaginar> =all( being there atten5e5 b> a n9rse. I was m9ch perple?e5
as to how I sho9l5 manage to =inish m> work 59ring the term. *his was =ollowe5 the ne?t
morning b> a severe hea5ache in the region o= the imaginar> blow.
BOn seeing Miss ,alsh the =ollowing morning( I was tol5 b> her that Mrs. ,alsh was
9nwell( b9t not the ca9se. I replie5 I too =elt 9nwell an5 acco9nte5 =or it thro9gh the
5ream. Mrs. ,alsh relate5 to me the same evening her own a5vent9re( which in ever>
5etail e?actl> coinci5e5 with m> 5ream as happening to m>sel=. I in no wa> knew o= Mrs.
,alsh4s mishap till the evening a=ter( when tol5 b> hersel=.
BIn another instance( whilst sta>ing in $evonshire( I receive5 an impression( or =elt a
conviction( that something ha5 happene5 to Mrs. ,alsh. I think I wante5 to write( so
con=i5ent was I o= something having taken place( b9t 5esiste5 beca9se I ha5 le=t Lincoln
thro9gh an o9tbreak o= small-po? in the ho9se ne?t m> rooms( onl> the previo9s week( so
was 9nwilling to correspon5. On m> ret9rn here( I =o9n5 o9t i-:UW! that both m> 5a>
Ui.e., the 5a> o= the impressionZ an5 the acci5entAa =allAwere tr9e.
BIn man> other instances have I receive5 similar e?periences( an5 so con=i5ent have I
been alwa>s o= their acc9rac> that I have written to the persons an5 places( an5 alwa>s
receive5 con=irmation o= m> impressions. I have ha5( I think( 2; or 2U impressions. *he>
are E9ite 9nlike =its o= low spirits an5 in5igestion( an5 I can easil> 5isting9ish them =rom
s9ch( as in ever> case I have been most conscio9s o= o9tsi5e action.
B*. F. .O)'E.C
In conversation Mr. .oare state5 that he 9n5o9bte5l> ha5 a positive pain at the back o=
his hea5( as i= =rom a blow( on the 5a> =ollowing this e?perience.
*he =ollowing case is an interesting 5ream-parallel to the waking cases o= the last chapter
where the impression on the percipient4s min5 was o= being wante5. P/ee especiall> Mr.
'owlan5s4 case( p. UX2.Q *he acco9nt is =rom Mr. Foseph )lbree( o= 3;( ,oo5 /treet(
1ittsb9rgh( 1a.( U./.).
B/eptember UVth( 2773.
P2;;Q BIn the winter o= 278:T3( a captain in the reg9lar arm> o= the Unite5 /tates came to
1AA on recr9iting service( accompanie5 b> a secon5 lie9tenant. Ver> soon a=ter his
arrival the captain was taken sick with in=lammation o= the l9ngs. )s I ha5 known him
intimatel> since his bo>hoo5( he sent =or me. I ha5 him remove5 to a private ho9se( an5
care5 =or him 9ntil he 5ie5( two 5a>s a=ter. .is companion( the lie9tenant( remaine5 in the
cit> =or 2; 5a>s a=ter the captain4s 5eath( awaiting or5ers. .e was a man o= 9n9s9all>
reticent 5isposition@ an5 being an entire stranger in the cit>( an5 knowing no one b9t the
person who ha5 been at the 5eath o= his associate o==icer( he spent m9ch time in m>
compan>. )t length he receive5 or5ers to procee5 at once to a 5istant point. I ba5e him
goo5-b>e one evening( he inten5ing to take an earl> train on the =ollowing morning( an5 I
never e?pecting to see him again.
B*hree nights a=ter that( on /at9r5a>( I awakene5 s955enl> with the i5ea that some person
was calling me( an5 that I was wante5 imme5iatel>. I was conscio9s o= having ha5 a ver>
vivi5 5ream( b9t co9l5 not recall an> part o= it. *here was present in m> min5 the ver>
9ncom=ortable =eeling that I was wante5 at once. ,hile sitting 9p in be5( en5eavo9ring to
collect m> tho9ghts( the cit> bell str9ck mi5night. )=ter looking into the rooms where the
chil5ren were( an5 =in5ing them all asleep( I la> 5own again( striving 9ns9ccess=9ll> to
recall a single inci5ent o= the 5ream. )ll /9n5a> an5 Mon5a> I was impresse5 with a
conscio9sness o= some 59t> 9nper=orme5.
BOn *9es5a> evening( on m> wa> home( an almost irresistible imp9lse came over me to
t9rn asi5e =rom m> 5irect wa>( 5own a little street lea5ing in another 5irection. /tan5ing a
moment on the street corner at the parting o= wa>s( I t9rne5 o==( walke5 a =ew blocks( an5
came to the hotel where the lie9tenant ha5 lo5ge5. I went into the o==ice( an5 having no
b9siness or obDect in going there( I aske5 the clerk when Lie9tenant O. le=t. *he clerk
sai5( u*here he sits( in the rea5ing-room.4 )=ter a ver> brie= greeting he aske5 me to go to
his room. +ollowing him 9p the i-:U7! stairwa>( the corner o= a panel on the lan5ing
seeme5 to bring clearl> to m> min5 the =9ll 5etails o= m> /at9r5a> night4s 5ream. +rom
that point the stairs( hall wa>s( the room into which he le5 me( the =9rnit9re an5 general
appearance( all were strangel> =amiliar( altho9gh I ha5 never been there be=ore. *he
lie9tenant4s =irst wor5s on closing the 5oor were uF.( 5i5 >o9 ever =aintr4 .e then tol5 me
that his transportation or5er not having arrive5( he ha5 not been able to leave at the time
=i?e5@ that on the prece5ing /at9r5a>( while rea5ing in the rea5ing-room( he glance5 at
the clock( an5 noticing it was V min9tes o= 2U o4clock( took a light( went imme5iatel> to
his room( place5 the lamp on the table( =ell on the be5( losing conscio9sness an5 knowing
nothing 9ntil broa5 5a>light on the /9n5a> winter morning( when he =o9n5 himsel=
5resse5( l>ing across the be5( s9==ering intense pain in his =orehea5. .is last conscio9s
tho9ght ha5 been( uI= F. was here he co9l5 help me.4 )ll that he tol5 me was D9st what I
ha5 5reame5 on the prece5ing /at9r5a> nightAthe e?act ho9r o= the occ9rrence with the
lie9tenant( an5 the vivi5 5ream with me( being =i?e5 at mi5night.
BI have seen or hear5 nothing o= the lie9tenant since that evening.
BFO/E1. )L"'EE.C
Y)s the 5etails o= the 5ream were not in5epen5entl> remembere5( we sho9l5 not be
D9sti=ie5 in attaching an> importance to the apparent recognition o= the scene when the
percipient act9all> saw it.Z
In repl> to inE9iries( Mr. )lbree writes( on Oct. U;( 2773:ABIn repl> to >o9r =avo9r o=
the Wth inst.( I can onl> sa> that m> e?perience was s9ch that no person co9l5 ai5 me( an5
I probabl> 5i5 not mention it to an> one b9t m> wi=e. ,hile she =9ll> recalls what I tol5
her a=ter m> ret9rn =rom the hotel( she 5oes not remember that I spoke to her before I saw
the lie9tenant. )n5 >et I can scarcel> think it probable that I 5i5 not( in the morning(
speak o= m> tro9ble5 =eelings( o= m> arising( t9rning 9p the gas( an5 going into the
chil5ren4s room. I have never seen or hear5 o= the lie9tenant since. *he circ9mstances o=
o9r acE9aintance were so pec9liar an5 to9ching( an5 o9r relations so intimate =or three
weeks( that =ailing to hear =rom him I long since concl95e5 that he =ell in the active
service to which he ha5 been or5ere5.
B#o9 ask i= I have ever ha5 an e?perience that was not similarl> con=irme5. Onl> once. I
ver, sel5om 5ream( b9t when I 5o the 5reams are vivi5. Once I 5reame5 that a la5> =rien5
ha5 been m9r5ere5. *he time( place( circ9mstances( an5 persons concerne5 were strongl>
marke5. "9t the la5> ha5 been in no 5anger( an5 is still living.C
*he ne?t e?ampleA=rom Mrs. Montgomer>( o= "ea9lie9( -o. Lo9thAis remarkable in
several wa>s.
B+ebr9ar>( 2773.
P2;2Q B%earl> :; >ears ago I lost a sister. *he place where she 5ie5 being at some
5istance( m> h9sban5 went to the =9neral witho9t me. I went to be5 earl>( an5 ha5 a
=right=9l 5ream o= the =9neral ceremon>. I saw m> brother =aint awa> at the service( an5
=all into the grave. I awoke with the horror o= the 5ream( D9st as m> h9sban5 entere5 the
room on his ret9rn =rom the =9neral( which ha5 taken place at least eight ho9rs be=ore. I
aske5 him to tell me i= an>thing 9n9s9al ha5 happene5( as I ha5 ha5 a i-:UX! terrible
5ream( an5 I relate5 it. .e sai5( u,ho in the worl5 tol5 >o9 thatr I never inten5e5 telling
>o9.4 I sai5( uI onl> 5reamt it. F9st as >o9 were coming in I awoke.4C
YIn this narrative a =ew wor5s are taken =rom an acco9nt receive5 =rom the .on. Mrs.
Montgomer> Moore( as the letter receive5 =rom Mrs. Montgomer> hersel=( giving the
greater part o= the 5etails( took this previo9s acco9nt =or grante5. *he acco9nt( as it
stan5s( was sent to Mrs. Montgomer>( who then replie5( B*he paper is E9ite acc9rateCA
making one tri=ling correction. Mr. Montgomer> gave Mrs. Montgomer> Moore a verbal
con=irmation o= the occ9rrence( which ha5 greatl> impresse5 both him an5 his wi=e.Z
.ere the pict9re trans=erre5 to the percipient4s 5ream was a precise an5 5etaile5 one. It
was o= a sort which might at =irst sight seem more =itl> to belong to a later class( where
something o= the nat9re o= clairvo>ance is s9ggeste5. %or wo9l5 the eight ho9rs4 interval
between the event an5 the 5ream be an obDection to this view( =or I have alrea5>
mentione5 that the 5e=erment or latenc> o= telepathic impressions is speciall> =reE9ent in
5ream an5 Bbor5erlan5C cases@ as tho9gh the i5ea or image ha5 been 9nable to compete
with the vivi5 sensations which e?ternal realities =orce on the min5( an5 onl> got its
chance o= emerging into conscio9sness when the senses were close5 to these conten5ing
in=l9ences.
2
"9t seeing that at the moment o= Mrs. Montgomer>4s 5ream her h9sban5 was
D9st abo9t to enter her room( with the shock o= the b9rial-scene probabl> still =resh in his
min5( it is at an> rate conceivable that he then( an5 not the brother at the earlier time(
transmitte5 the impression.
S 3. ,e come now to the larger =amil> o= cases( in which the agent4s personalit>( an5 not
merel> his partic9lar tho9ght( is re=lecte5( an5 the 5ream conve>s a tr9e impression o= his
state( or o= some event connecte5 with him. I will =irst give a =ew e?amples where the
=act which is a realit> is presente5 or s9ggeste5 witho9t the agent4s visible appearance in
the 5ream( an5 witho9t an> 5istinct sense on the percipient4s part o= being present at the
scene. *he =ollowing narrative( =rom Mrs. Lincoln( now resi5ing at X2( /o9th -irc9lar
'oa5( $9blin( was sent to 1ro=essor "arrett in 27WV.
P2;UQ BOn the morning o= +ebr9ar> Wth( 27VV( at Mo9nt 1leasant /E9are( $9blin( where I
live5( I awakene5 =rom a tro9ble5 sleep an5 5ream( e?claiming( uFohn is 5ea5.4 M>
h9sban5 sai5( u&o to sleep( >o9 i-::;! are 5reaming.4 I 5i5 sleep( an5 again awoke
repeating the same wor5s( an5 asking him to look at the watch an5 tell me what o4clock it
was then@ he 5i5 so an5 sai5 it was U o4clock. I was m9ch impresse5 b> this 5ream( an5
ne?t 5a> went to the cit> to inE9ire at the ho9se o= b9siness@ Mr. Fohn -. being at
$9n5r9m =or the previo9s month. Y.e was not a relative( b9t a ver> intimate =rien5.Z
,hen I got to the ho9se I saw the place close5 9p( an5 the man who answere5 the 5oor
tol5 me the reason. uOhs ma4am( Mr. Fohn O. is 5ea5.4 u,hen 5i5 he 5ier4 I sai5. u)t U
this morning(4 he sai5. I was so m9ch shocke5( he ha5 to assist me to the waiting-room to
give me water. I ha5 not hear5 o= Mr. -.4s illness( an5 was speaking to him a =ortnight
previo9sl>( when he was complaining o= a slight col5( an5 e?pecte5 the change o=
$9n5r9m wo9l5 bene=it him( so that he sho9l5 ret9rn to town imme5iatel>. I never saw
nor hear5 o= him a=ter( 9ntil I 5reamt the =oregoing.
BEMIL# LI%-OL%.C
Mr. Lincoln sa>s:A
BI certi=> to the correctness o= the =acts o= m> wi=e4s awakening me at the 5ate state5(
asking me the time( [c.( an5 to the =9rther =act o= the 9ne?pecte5 5eath o= Mr. -. at the
time.
B.E%'# LI%-OL%.C
,e =in5 =rom the obit9ar> o= the <ree(ans Journal that Mr. -. 5ie5 on +eb. Wth( 27VV.
YIn conversation( Mr. 1o5more learnt =rom Mr. Lincoln that his wi=e never talke5 in her
sleep@ an5 she( when aske5 whether her or5inar> 5reams were as vivi5 as this( replie5 in
the negative. It appeare5( however( that she ha5 ha5 several 5reams which she regar5e5
as premonitor>( an5 as having been =9l=ille5.Z
*he ne?t acco9nt was =irst given in >ngland, )pril 2st( 277U( b> its then e5itor( 9n5er the
no( de plu(e B-oriolan9s.C .e tells 9s that the p9blication o= his name wo9l5 5eprive
him o= an act9al bene=it@ b9t he allows 9s to sa> o= him what is sai5 above in connection
with case W: Pp. UWVQ. *he e?perience here 5escribe5 is again his own.
P2;:Q BIn connection with the aw=9ll> s955en 5eath o= m> =rien5( Mr. E. -. "arnes( the
artist( I can vo9ch =or the tr9th o= the =ollowing e?traor5inar> coinci5ence. )t 8 o4clock
last /9n5a> morning Yi.e.( March U8th( 277UZ( the e?act time o= his 5ecease( an intimate
=rien5 o= the late artist( who was 9naware o= the =act that "arnes was ill( s955enl>
alarme5 an entire ho9sehol5 b> sitting 9p in be5 whilst =ast asleep an5 sho9ting lo95l>
twice( as i= in intense agon>. *hree members o= his =amil> ran to his be5si5e to inE9ire i=
he were ill( when slowl> awaking an5 r9bbing his e>es( he sai5 he was per=ectl> well( b9t
s9ppose5 it was the storm which ha5 a==ecte5 him. )t break=ast he was pla>=9ll> rallie5
9pon the occ9rrence( an5 more than once e?presse5 the hope that nothing was amiss with
his ol5 =rien5 "arnes. )t 5inner time a messenger arrive5 with the 5rea5=9l news. I have
set this 5own =or the i-::2! bene=it o= thinkers. I know the =acts to be as I have state5
them. ,as there a m>sterio9s cor5 o= s>mpath> s955enl> snappe5 when the artist
breathe5 his last( an5 his =rien5 was at that ver> moment so m>sterio9sl> conv9lse5r
,ho knowsrC
,riting to 9s on $ecember 22th( 2773( the narrator a55s:A
B*he occ9rrence ma5e the more impression on m> =amil>( as( on acco9nt o= the great
attachment the> knew to e?ist between Mr. "arnes an5 me( the> 5rea5e5 to tell the sa5
news( an5 in =act onl> gentl> broke it at break=ast time on the Mon5a> morning. *he>
were m9ch str9ck b> m> =reE9ent re=erences to "arnes 59ring /9n5a>( a=ter the> ha5
receive5 the intelligence =rom his el5est son( who calle5 at m> ho9se abo9t 2 o4clock.
*he 5ecease5 an5 I ha5 known one another =or man> >ears.C
Mr. 1o5more calle5 at the witness4s ho9se on /eptember 2st( 277V( b9t =o9n5 onl> his son
an5 5a9ghter at home. ,riting on the 5a> o= his call( he sa>s: BI E9estione5 the 5a9ghter
on the "arnes inci5ent. /he co9l5 at =irst remember no 5etails at all@ b9t a=ter rea5ing
thro9gh the e?tract =rom >ngland, she tol5 me that she ha5 a 5istinct recollection o= going
to her =ather4s room( when ro9se5 b> his cr>( to ascertain whether he or her brother were
ill. /he 5i5 not remember his mentioning the name o= "arnes at break=ast( or that the
news o= the 5eath ha5 been withhel5 =rom her =ather 9ntil the Mon5a> morning. "9t she
tol5 me that she remembere5 rea5ing( a =ew 5a>s a=terwar5s( the paragraph in >ngland
5escribing the occ9rrence@ an5 that( ha5 an> o= the 5etails been incorrect( the =act that her
=ather ha5 ma5e a mistake wo9l5 certainl> have 5welt in her memor>. *he son ha5 been
absent =rom home at the time.C
It is worth> o= note that s9ch s955en startings =rom sleep( with the strong impression o= a
5e=inite event( b9t witho9t the memor> o= an> 5ream lea5ing 9p to the impression( seem
b> no means common occ9rrences( o9tsi5e the cases which have coinci5e5 with some
weight> realit>. +or ever> =resh point Pbe>on5 the =act o= coinci5ing with realit>Q that
5isting9ishes the 5reams that we are consi5ering =rom or5inar> 5reams( goes( o= co9rse(
to strengthen the arg9ment against chance as the so9rce o= the coinci5ences( an5 to
establish these cases as a 5istinct nat9ral class.
*he ne?t case( in its abs9r5it> an5 precision( is a great contrast to the last. ,e receive5 it
=rom the 'ev. ). ". Mc$o9gall( now o= .emel .empste5( an5 at that time a scholar o=
Lincoln -ollege( O?=or5.
B%ovember( 277U.
P2;3Q BOn the night o= Fan9ar> 2;th( 277U( I was sleeping in one o= the s9b9rbs o=
Manchester in the ho9se o= a =rien5( into which ho9se several rats ha5 been 5riven b> the
e?cessive col5. I knew nothing abo9t these rats( b9t 59ring the night I was wake5 b>
=eeling an 9npleasantl> col5 something slithering 5own m> right leg. I imme5iatel>
str9ck a light an5 i-::U! =l9ng o== the be5-clothes( an5 saw a rat r9n o9t o= m> be5
9n5er the =ireplace. I tol5 m> =rien5 the ne?t morning( b9t he trie5 to pers9a5e me I ha5
been 5reaming. .owever( a =ew 5a>s a=terwar5s
2
a rat was ca9ght in m> room. On the
morning o= Fan9ar> 22th( a co9sin o= mine YMiss E. F. M. Mc$o9gall( since marrie5Z(
who happene5 to be sta>ing in m> own home on the so9th coast( an5 to be occ9p>ing m>
room( came 5own to break=ast( an5 reco9nte5 a marvello9s 5ream( in which a rat
appeare5 to be eating o== the e?tremities o= m> 9n=ort9nate sel=. M> =amil> la9ghe5 the
matter o==. .owever( on the 2:th( a letter was receive5 =rom me giving an acco9nt o= m>
9npleasant meeting with the rat an5 its s9bseE9ent capt9re. *hen ever>one present
remembere5 the 5ream m> co9sin ha5 tol5 certainl> V7 ho9rs be=ore( as having occ9rre5
on the night o= Fan9ar> 2;th. M> mother wrote me an acco9nt o= the 5ream( en5ing 9p
with the remark( u,e alwa>s sai5 E. was a witch: she alwa>s knew abo9t ever>thing
almost be=ore it took place.4
B). ". M-$OU&)LL.C
.ere the point( o= co9rse( is that an e?cee5ingl> improbable inci5ent is associate5 in the
5ream with the right person. It is worth noting that we have no e?act parallel to s9ch an
inci5ent as this among o9r -a1ing cases. *h9s( i= the 5ream was telepathic( its ver>
trivialit> ma> ill9strate in a new wa> the =avo9rable e==ect o= sleep on the percipient
=ac9lt>.
$reams happening at times when the person 5reamt o= is known to be in peril are( as a
r9le( ina5missible as evi5ence. *h9s we have a case where the mother o= a lie9tenant in
the arm> 5reamt( on the night o= the storming o= the 'e5an( that her son was wo9n5e5 in
the left arm. *he s9bseE9ent newspaper acco9nt 5escribe5 him as having been severel>
inD9re5 in the right arm@ b9t his mother persiste5 in her view that the 5ream was correct(
an5 it prove5 to have been so. "9t a 5ream concerning a wo9n5 is a ver> likel> one =or a
mother to have 9n5er the circ9mstances@ an5 the 5etail is E9ite ins9==icient. In the same
class we m9st incl95e mothers4 5reams o= acci5ents to chil5ren( even apart =rom an>
special gro9n5s o= an?iet>Athe =orm o= 5ream being not 9ncommon( an5 real acci5ents
Pi= we incl95e trivial onesQ being =reE9ent eno9gh to make it certain that striking
coinci5ences will ever> now an5 then occ9r b> chance. *h9s the wi=e o= a rector in the
,est o= Englan5 tells 9s how she once 5reamt that one o= her little girls( who was on a
visit( ha5 =allen 5own in the street an5 c9t her =orehea5 over the le=t e>e( an5 how the
morning4s post i-:::! bro9ght the news o= that precise acci5ent. *he rector Pwho is
sceptical on these mattersQ testi=ies to the =act that his wi=e mentione5 to him her 5ream
Bthat the chil5 ha5 =allen 5own an5 c9t her =orehea5@C an5 also to the =act that Bthe ne?t
post bro9ght the news.C .e sa>s nothing abo9t the street or the left e,eA5etails which
ma> have been rea5 back into the 5ream a=terwar5s. "9t in an> case the acci5ent is o= a
common t>pe@ the amo9nt o= correct 5etail is small@ an5 moreover it came o9t in
conversation with the la5> that she 5reams a goo5 5eal( an5 pa>s attention to her 5reams.
.owever completel> telepath> were establishe5( it might still be 5o9bte5 whether s9ch a
coinci5ence as this o9ght to be re=erre5 to it.
)s an interesting contrast( I ma> E9ote the =ollowing case( which is =rom Mrs. .obbs(
Pwi=e o= the 'ev. ,. ). .obbs( =ormerl> a missionar> at "eerbhoom( "engal(Q now
resi5ent at *enb9r>( in ,orcestershire. *he narrative was =irst written o9t =or a =rien5(
probabl> in 27WW.
P2;VQ B$9ring o9r resi5ence in In5ia as missionaries( o9r chil5ren remaine5 at home(
either resi5ing with m> sister or at school( an5 abo9t the >ears 2783 or 278V o9r el5est
bo> was at school at /hirelan5 .all near to "irmingham. *he principal was the 'ev. *. ..
Morgan( now "aptist minister at .arrow-on-the-.ill.
BOne night( 59ring the s9mmer o= one o= the >ears I have mentione5( I was awakene5
=rom m> sleep b> m> h9sban5 asking( u,hat is the matter( F.r ,h> are >o9 weeping sor I
co9l5 let >o9 sleep no longer( >o9 were cr>ing so m9ch.4 I replie5 that I was 5reaming(
b9t co9l5 not tell the 5ream =or some min9tes. It ha5 seeme5 so like a realit> that I was
still weeping bitterl>.
BI 5reame5 that the sister Pwho acte5 as g9ar5ian to o9r bo>s in o9r absenceQ was rea5ing
to me a letter giving a 5etaile5 acco9nt o= how o9r .arr> 5ie5 o= choking( while eating
his 5inner one 5a> at school.
B,hen s9==icientl> compose5 I again went to sleep@ b9t when I awoke in the morning( the
e==ect o= m> 5ream was still 9pon me. M> h9sban5 trie5 to rall> me( sa>ing( uIt is onl, a
drea(, think no more abo9t it.4 "9t m> heart was sa5( an5 I co9l5 not shake it o==.
BIn the co9rse o= the 5a> I calle5 on a =rien5( the onl> other E9ropean la5> in the station.
I tol5 her wh> I =elt tro9ble5( an5 she a5vise5 me to make a note o= the 5ate( an5 then I
sho9l5 know how to 9n5erstan5 m> 5ream when a letter o= that 5ate came to han5. O9r
letters at that time came to 9s vi0 /o9thampton( an5 nearl> si? weeks (ust elapse be=ore I
co9l5 hear i= an>thing ha5 transpire5 on that partic9lar 5ate( even i= a letter co9l5 have
been 5ispatche5 at once@ b9t it might not have been the umail 5a>(4 an5 that wo9l5 give
some a55itional 5a>s =or me to wait. *he> were wear> weeks( b9t at length the looke5-=or
letter arrive5( an5 it containe5 no re=erence to what I ha5 anticipate5. I =elt tr9l> ashame5
that I ha5 permitte5 a 5ream to in=l9ence me( an5 tho9ght no more abo9t it.
i-::3!
B) =ortnight later another letter =rom m> sister came in( bearing an apolog> =or not having
tol5 me in her last what a narrow escape =rom 5eath o9r .arr> ha5 e?perience5( an5 then
went on to 5etail what I ha5 5reame5( with the a55itional piece o= intelligence that D9st as
his hea5 ha5 5roppe5 on the person s9pporting him( an5 he was s9ppose5 to be 5ea5( the
piece o= meat passe5 5own his throat( an5 he shortl> a=ter revive5( an5 was E9ite well at
the time o= her writing.
B*hat bo> is now a minister o= the &ospel( an5 abo9t a >ear ago I was talking with him
abo9t m> strange 5ream( when a =rien5 who was present sai5 to him( u$o >o9 remember
what >o9 tho9ght abo9t when >o9 were chokingr4 .e replie5( u#es( I 5istinctl> remember
thinking( I won5er what m> mother will 5o when she hears I am 5ea5.4C
In answer to o9r inE9iries( Mrs. .obbs sa>s:A
BF9l> U3th( 2773.
BI have not ha5 an> other 5ream o= a like kin5. I am not able to sa> how near in time the
5ream was to the event@ b9t that it was ver> near to the event is clear =rom the =act that I
reckone5 9p the earliest time when I co9l5 get an> in=ormation =rom Englan5( s9pposing
that the 5ream reall> pointe5 to an>thing@ an5 tho9gh no news came to the time e?pecte5(
>et the ne.t letter that came apologise5 =or not having mentione5 it in the for(er letter.
/o that the space between the event an5 the 5ream wo9l5 be( at most( the space between
the 5ream an5 the ne?t mail leaving Englan5 =or In5ia.C
Mr. .obbs sa>s:A
B/o =ar as I am concerne5 in the above acco9nt( written b> m> wi=e( Fane )nn .obbs( I
5eclare it to be E9ite correct.
B,ILLI)M )#E'/ .O""/.C
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom the son( who is a "aptist minister at *enb9r>.
BF9l> UXth( 2773.
BI remember that I ha5 a sharp( short str9ggle =or breath( accompanie5 b> a b9rsting
sensation in the hea5 an5 singing in the ears@ then I rolle5 over@ the pain in the hea5 was
s9ccee5e5 b> a 5rows>( 5ream> =eeling@ a mist gathere5 be=ore m> e>es( an5 I was D9st on
the point o= losing conscio9sness( when the persistent th9mps( which were being
a5ministere5 to m> back b> the an?io9s spectators( Derke5 the bee= o9t o= m> throat( an5 I
revive5. I ha5 no 5irect tho9ght o= m> mother( as I imagine( =or this reason: I was le=t in
the care o= an a9nt( when m> parents went to In5ia@ an5 as the whole o= m> training since
I was =o9r >ears ol5 ha5 been 9n5ertaken b> this a9nt( prior to m> going to "irmingham(
it was to her that m> tho9ghts reverte5 when I was choking@ an5 I 5istinctl> remember
that the tho9ght =lashe5 thro9gh m> min5( u.ow ever will )9nt Maria write to In5ia
abo9t this.4 I E9ite believe5 I was 5>ing.
B.. V. .O""/.C
YIn conversation( Mr. 1o5more ascertaine5 that the =amil> are in no wa> given to real or
s9ppose5 Bps>chicalC e?periences.Z
i-::V!
.ere the 9n9s9alness o= the acci5ent( an5 the 9niE9eness an5 emotional vivi5ness o= the
5ream ma>( we think( be sa=el> accepte5. *he slight amo9nt o= 5iscrepanc> between the
=inal sentences o= the mother4s an5 the son4s acco9nt can har5l> be hel5 to a==ect the
general tr9stworthiness o= Mrs. .obbs4 narrative@ an5 it will be notice5 that the agent4s
acco9nt o= his own tho9ghts harmonises speciall> well with the act9al nat9re o= the
percipient4s impression( which was that the news was conve>e5 to her b> her sisterAthe
ver> person on whom her son imagine5 that sa5 59t> as 5evolving.
*he =ollowing case( tho9gh the 5ream was o= an acci5ent to a son( is strong o= its kin5A
the =orm o= the acci5ent being 9ncommon( an5 the i5ea o= it partic9larl> strongl>
impresse5. It is =rom Mrs. ). &. /parrow( o= $erwent /E9are( Liverpool.
B%ovember( 277U.
P2;8Q B*hree or =o9r >ears ago( I 5reamt that m> el5est son ha5 broken his han5 at
=ootball. %e?t 5a> came a letter sa>ing he ha5 sprained his le=t han5. I was so impresse5
b> m> 5ream that I telegraphe5 to the hea5 master( asking i= the bo>4s han5 was bro1en. I
receive5 a reass9ring repl> sa>ing( uOnl> a ba5 sprain( an5 5oing well.4 ,hen he ret9rne5
home at the holi5a>s we at once saw that the han5 ha5 been broken an5 ha5 Doine5
witho9t being properl> set( an5 he will carr> the ri5ge( ca9se5 b> the Doin( to his grave.C
YMrs. /parrow tells 9s that she has ha5 no other 5reams which impresse5 her similarl>.
*he inci5ent o= the telegram is not likel> to have been 9nconscio9sl> invente5.Z
1erils b> sea are another ver> common s9bDect o= 5reams@ an5 where a large n9mber o=
people are living a li=e o= more than average risk( an5 a large n9mber o= relatives on lan5
are living 9n5er a more or less constant sense o= this risk( acci5ental coinci5ences
between 5reams an5 cas9alties are( o= co9rse( certain to occ9r. Especiall> will this be the
case where the relatives live b> the seasi5e( an5 where the ver> storm that 5estro>s li=e on
one element ma> 5ist9rb sl9mber on the other. ,e have E9ite a little collection o= cases
where wives or mothers o= sea=aring men have 5reamt o= =atal acci5ents which then
prove5 to have act9all> occ9rre5.
2
/9ch inci5ents have not 9s9all> i-::8! an> claim to
be consi5ere5 as even pri(0 facie evi5ence =or telepath>. Ever> now an5 then( however(
Bsea-5reamsC present an amo9nt o= correct 5etail that prevents 9s =rom reDecting them.
/9ch a case is the =ollowing( =rom Mr. ). )shb>( o= :3( ,in5mill 'oa5( -ro>5on( /9rre>.
BOctober 2Wth( 277U.
P2;WQ B*he =ollowing inci5ent happene5 in abo9t 27W;. I awoke in the morning an5 sai5
to m> wi=e( uI have been with o9r son )le?an5er4Phe was chie= mate o= a ship on a
vo>age to 1ort %atal( /o9th )=ricaQ. ,ith great interest she listene5 to m> 5ream. u,ell(4
I sai5( uhe is in an>thing b9t a com=ortable position. *he captain is con=ine5 to his cabin(
not able to come on 5eck@ the men( with the e?ception o= one an5 a bo>( likewise ill@ he
has the whole 59t> o= the ship to atten5 to( cook( navigator( an5( in =act( ever>thing to
atten5 to@ n9rsing reE9ires a consi5erable part o= his time.4 *he ship( i= m> memor> is
correct( was =o9r or =ive h9n5re5 tons b9r5en. ,ell( sir( I 5ream b9t ver> little@ an5 on
more than one occasion m> 5reams have been veri=ie5 b> coming events.
B,e got a letter =rom m> son in 59e co9rse( an5 i= I ha5 been on boar5 an5 seen( I co9l5
not have more acc9ratel> 5escribe5 the position o= a==airs on boar5@ =ort9natel>( weather
an5 win5 were Pas m> 5ream in5icate5Q =avo9rable( or the res9lt o= this complication o=
a5verse circ9mstances might have ha5 a 5isastro9s termination.
B). )/."#.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. )shb> sa>s:A
B%ovember UXth( 277U.
BI have nothing to a55 to the narrative o= m> 5ream. I 5i5 not( as I sho9l5 now 5o( make a
min9te o= s9ch a 5ream. )t the time( I tho9ght( as o= other 5reams( it is onl> a 5ream.
Onl> on receipt o= m> son4s letter( 5ate5 =rom 1ort %atal( /o9th )=rica( 5i5 the
coinci5ence an5 sing9larit> o= the phenomena bring to m> min5 the 5ream( an5 how it
e?actl> correspon5e5 with the act9al state o= a==airs on boar5 the ship at the time it
occ9rre5. I ma> mention m> wi=e an5 5a9ghter have reviewe5 the time an5 circ9mstance(
an5 their memor> is clear as to m> relating the 5ream in the morning. *he scene is as
=resh on min5 an5 memor> as i= it ha5 occ9rre5 >ester5a>.C
In an interview with Mr. 1o5more on October 7th( 277:( Mr. )shb> mentione5 that he
5reams ver> little. )t this interview his wi=e an5 5a9ghter both state5 that the>
recollecte5 hearing o= the 5ream i-::W! imme5iatel> a=ter its occ9rrence an5 be=ore its
veri=ication( b9t the> co9l5 a55 nothing to the above narrative.
S V. *his case =orms a nat9ral transition to the gro9p where the realit> is not onl>
presente5 in a pictorial wa>( b9t the 5ream-scene correspon5s Pin whole or in partQ with
what the e>es o= the s9ppose5 agent are act9all> behol5ing. *he maDorit>( perhaps( o= the
allege5 5ream-cases are o= this pictorial sort@ b9t most o= them have to be set asi5e( on the
gro9n5 either o= inacc9rac> o= 5etail( or o= the connection o= the 5ream with matters that
have been recentl> occ9p>ing the waking min5. *h9s a wi5ow whose h9sban5 was kille5
b> an acci5ent at sea gives 9s a circ9mstantial acco9nt o= her coinci5ent 5reamABa
vessel( like her h9sban54s( wholl> 5ismaste5Athe bare h9ll merel>Abeing lowere5 b>
ropes 5own a beach( an5 all the crew assistingC@ an5 5eclares that the scene o= her 5ream
was e.actl, -hat -as described in the letter which a=terwar5s bro9ght her the news. It
appears( however( that the narrator ha5 never seen the act9al ship@ an5 inspection o= the
letter shows that( e?cept the 5ismasting( the 5etails o= the 5ream ha5 no co9nterpart
whatever in realit>. *h9s all that remains is the simple coinci5ence o= the 5ream an5 the
5eath@ an5 s9ch coinci5ences( in the case o= cas9alties at sea( m9st( as we have seen( be
generall> e?cl95e5. ,e appl> this r9le even where the 5ate o= the 5ream has been
imme5iatel> note5 in a 5iar>( an5 where we have ever> ass9rance that it was 9niE9e in
the 5reamer4s e?perience. )gain( Mrs. "arter( o= -are>stown( ,hitegate( -o. -ork( has
kin5l> given 9s an acco9nt o= a 5ream which she ha5 at the time o= the In5ian M9tin>.
/he seeme5 to see her h9sban5( then a5D9tant in the WVth +oot( wo9n5e5( an5 in the act o=
bin5ing 9p his leg with his p9ggeree( when =o9r men o= his regiment li=te5 him 9p an5
took him into a batter>. BI at once wrote it to him an5( in repl> to m> letter( hear5 that
s9ch an event ha5 act9all> taken place.C *he coinci5ence was e?tremel> close( an5
-olonel "arter( -.".( has con=irme5 the acco9nt. .e was carrie5 into a batter> b> =o9r
sergeants@ an5 he is nearl> s9re that his wi=e mentione5 sergeants in her =irst acco9nt o=
her 5ream. "9t( on being speciall> aske5 as to the p9ggeree( he state5 that he bo9n5 9p
his leg not with a p9ggeree( b9t with a black silk necktie. *his 5e=ect( combine5 with the
=act that Mrs. "arter was in a nervo9s state( an5 ha5 another 5ist9rbing an5 E9ite
9nveri5ical 5ream abo9t her h9sban5 59ring the same campaign( i-::7! prevents 9s
=rom allowing weight to the correspon5ence. /o( again( Mrs. 1owles( o= ,a5h9rst( ,est
$9lwich( has given 9s an acco9nt o= a 5ream which her late h9sban5 narrate5 to her at the
time( in which he saw his brother( $r. 'alph .ol5en( who was e?ploring in the interior o=
)=rica( l>ing 9n5er a large tree( s9pporte5 b> a man( an5 either 5ea5 or 5>ing. *he> learnt
=rom another e?plorer( Mr. &reen( that $r. .ol5en ha5 5ie5 at D9st abo9t that time( 9n5er
a large tree( in the arms o= his native servant@ an5 Mr. .ol5en recognise5 the scene o= his
5ream in a sketch o= the spot which Mr. &reen ha5 taken. "9tAto sa> nothing o= the
in5e=initeness o= the time-coinci5enceAthe entourage is s9ch as the i5ea o= the 5eath o=
an )=rican traveller might rea5il> eno9gh s9ggest( E9ite apart =rom telepath>@ an5 the
sight o= the sketch wo9l5 be precisel> calc9late5 to give sp9rio9s retrospective
5e=initeness to the 5ream-scene. )n5 once more( a most vivi5 5ream Pwith a remarkable
amo9nt o= correct 5etail( as well as several important 5iscrepancies(Q in which a
coachman( sleeping at a 5istance =rom his stables( saw a pon> taken o9t( harnesse5( an5
then a=ter a time bro9ght back( on the one single night on which this ever act9all>
happene5( has been 5ismisse5( as too m9ch connecte5 with the 5reamer4s normal train o=
i5eas@ tho9gh his master PMr. F. /. $ismorr( o= *helcrest Lo5ge( &ravesen5Q an5 another
witness both testi=> to the =act that the 5ream was 5escribe5 be=ore the realit> was known.
*he =ollowing cases seem =ree =rom these obDections( there having been no ca9se =or
an?iet> on the percipient4s part( an5 nothing to s9ggest the scene. *he =irst is =rom the
'ev. -anon ,arb9rton.
B*he -lose( ,inchester.
BF9l> 28th( 277:.
P2;7Q B/omewhere abo9t the >ear 2737( I went 9p =rom O?=or5 to sta> a 5a> or two with
m> brother( )cton ,arb9rton( then a barrister( living at 2;( +ish /treet( Lincoln4s Inn.
,hen I got to his chambers( I =o9n5 a note on the table apologising =or his absence( an5
sa>ing that he ha5 gone to a 5ance somewhere in the ,est En5( an5 inten5e5 to be home
soon a=ter 2 o4clock. Instea5 o= going to be5( I 5o]e5 in an arm-chair( b9t starte5 9p wi5e
awake e?actl> at 2( eDac9lating( u"> Foves he4s 5owns4 an5 seeing him coming o9t o= a
5rawing-room into a brightl> ill9minate5 lan5ing( catching his =oot in the e5ge o= the top
stair( an5 =alling hea5long( D9st saving himsel= b> his elbows an5 han5s. P*he ho9se was
one which I ha5 never seen( nor 5i5 I know where it was.Q *hinking ver> little o= the
matter( I =ell a-5o]e again =or hal=-an-ho9r( an5 was awakene5 b> m> brother s955enl>
coming in an5 sa>ing( uOh( there >o9 ares I have D9st ha5 as narrow an escape o= breaking
m> neck as I ever ha5 in m> li=e. i-::X! -oming o9t o= the ballroom( I ca9ght m> =oot(
an5 t9mble5 =9ll length 5own the stairs.4
B*hat is all. It ma> have been uonl> a 5ream(4 b9t I alwa>s tho9ght it m9st have been
something more.
B,. ,)'"U'*O%.C
In a secon5 letter -anon ,arb9rton a55s:A
BF9l> U;th( 277:.
BM> brother was h9rr>ing home =rom his 5ance( with some little sel=-reproach in his
min5 =or not having been at his chambers to receive his g9est( so the chances are that he
was thinking o= me. *he whole scene was vivi5l> present to me at the moment( b9t I 5i5
not note partic9lars an> more than one wo9l5 in real li=e. *he general impression was o= a
narrow lan5ing brilliantl> ill9minate5( an5 I remember veri=>ing the correctness o= this
b> E9estions at the time.C
In conversation( however( -anon ,arb9rton tol5 me that the scene which he saw
incl95e5 a clock( an5 tables set ro9n5 =or re=reshment( an5 that his brother con=irme5 the
acc9rac> o= these 5etails.
)ske5 whether he ha5 ha5 similar vivi5 visions which ha5 not correspon5e5 with an>
real event( -anon ,arb9rton replie5( B*his is m> sole e?perience o= the kin5.C
+or the ne?t case we are in5ebte5 to Mrs. /withinbank( o= Ormleigh( Mowbra> 'oa5(
Upper %orwoo5( who is well acE9ainte5 with Mrs. +leming( the narrator.
BOctober 2Wth( 277U.
P2;XQ B*hree >ears ago when sta>ing at Ems =or m> health( one morning a=ter having m>
bath( I was resting on the so=a rea5ing. ) slight 5rowsiness came over me an5 I 5istinctl>
saw the =ollowing:A
BM> h9sban5( who was then in Englan5( appeare5 to me ri5ing 5own the lane lea5ing to
m> =ather4s ho9se. /955enl> the horse grew restive( then pl9nge5 an5 kicke5( an5 =inall>
9nseate5 his ri5er( throwing him violentl> to the gro9n5. I D9mpe5 9p hastil>( thinking I
ha5 been asleep@ an5 on m> going 5own to l9ncheon I relate5 to a la5> who was seate5
ne?t to me what I ha5 seen( an5 ma5e the remark( uI hope all is well at home.4 M> =rien5(
seeing I was an?io9s( la9ghe5 an5 tol5 me not to be s9perstitio9s( an5 so I =orgot the
inci5ent( 9ntil U 5a>s a=terwar5s I receive5 a letter =rom home sa>ing m> h9sban5 ha5
been thrown =rom his horse an5 ha5 5islocate5 his sho9l5er. *he time an5 place o= the
acci5ent e?actl> agree5 with m> vision.
BL)U') +LEMI%&.C
Y)ske5 whether she can recall other 5reams o= a similarl> vivi5 an5 realistic kin5( Mrs.
+leming answers in the negative.Z
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom Mrs. -hambers Leete( o= U7( )ber5een 1ark 'oa5( .ighb9r>( %.
It ma> be compare5 with Mrs. "ettan>4s waking case Pp. 2X3Q.
B/eptember( 2773.
P22;Q BOn the night o= abo9t the 2Uth o= )9g9st( 27W7( I ha5 a 5ream which greatl>
tro9ble5 me( an5 ca9se5 me to =eel E9ite ill( it seeme5 so real. I 5istinctl> saw m> mother
l>ing on a co9ch in a 5eathlike appearance( m> =ather an5 brother b> her si5e. /he looke5
at me( b9t co9l5 i-:3;! not speak@ the vivi5ness awoke me. +alling asleep I 5reamt the
secon5 time that she was 5ea5.
B)=ter writing home( I learne5 that on the night o= m> 5ream m> mother ha5 been sei]e5
with a prolonge5 =ainting =it. I was in per=ect health when I went to be5( b9t awoke with a
terrible hea5ache.
B)LI-E E. LEE*E.C
In another comm9nication( Mrs. Leete a55s:A
B)t the time o= m> 5ream I was companion to a la5> in $orsetshire. ,e ha5 5riven =rom
a ho9se calle5 the 1rior>( ,areham( to the &range( abo9t 3 miles 5istant. It was on the
night o= o9r arrival this ver> vivi5 5ream occ9rre5 to me. I mentione5 it to her Pan5 also
to her ho9sekeeper( who le=t soon a=terQ( she remarking =irst how ill I looke5( an5 she tol5
me not to let it worr> me b9t write a letter to inE9ire i= an>thing was the matter at home(
which I 5i5( b9t o= co9rse co9l5 not get an answer =or two 5a>s( when I receive5 a repl>
sa>ing m> mother ha5 ha5( on the night I name5( a 5rea5=9l =ainting =it =rom which the>
tho9ght she wo9l5 not recover. I am a=rai5( i= I wrote to her la5>ship( she wo9l5 not
remember the circ9mstance( having so man> things to occ9p> her min5( an5 as she
tho9ght so little abo9t it at the time I =eel s9re it wo9l5 not be an> 9se tro9bling her.
BI can sa=el> sa> that neither be=ore nor since have I e?perience5 a similar 5ream to the
one o= which I have sent >o9 partic9lars.C
In answer to an inE9ir> whether the 5etails o= the scene correspon5e5 with her 5ream(
Mrs. Leete sa>s:A
BIn repl> to >o9r inE9ir> I am 9nable to speak positivel> at this 5istance o= time( b9t am
9n5er the impression that the scene 5i5 correspon5.C
/9ch inci5ents as these reall> belong to the class which ma> be 5escribe5 as clairvo,ant,
an5 which I am reserving =or the en5 o= the chapter@ b9t I have bro9ght =orwar5 these =ew
e?amples =or the sake o= a special observation. In all the earlier 5ream-cases o= this
chapter( the rGle o= the percipient was p9rel> passive/ the impression receive5 b> him
was apparentl> a 5irect an5 literal repro59ction in whole or in part( o= what was( or ha5
been( conscio9sl> in the agent4s min5. "9t these last narratives have intro59ce5 the same
5i==erence as appeare5 in the concl95ing cases o= -hapter VI.: tho9gh the scene which the
5reamer pict9re5 was the ver> one in which the agent was( the agent4s own =ig9re( with
which his own attention was certainl> not occ9pie5( appeare5 in the 5ream. I=( there=ore(
this part o= the percept was trans=erre5 rea5>-ma5e Pso to speakQ =rom the agent4s min5( it
m9st have been =rom a s9b-conscio9s part o= his min5. /9ch a view wo9l5 present no
serio9s 5i==ic9lt>@ =or probabl> ever> one( a=ter earl> chil5hoo5( retains at the backgro9n5
o= his min5 a 5im realisation o= his own personalit> in connection with i-:32! his o9ter
aspect@ an5 we have ha5 proo=s that a person ma> transmit an i5ea o= which he is at the
moment E9ite 9naware.
2
)t the same time( the cases where the agent4s =ig9re appears are
eE9all> s9ggestive o= another e?planation( an5 one which will prove o= the highest
importance in the seE9el. *he> bring 9s to the point where we ma> s9ppose that the
percipient is o=ten hi(self the so9rce o= a great part o= what he seems to perceive@ that he
is no longer passivel> receptive o= the impression which comes to him =rom witho9t( b9t
activel> mo5i=ies an5 elaborates it. *h9s( grante5 an i5ea o= the agent to be transmitte5(
the appearance o= the agent4s =ig9re in the telepathic pict9re will be no more remarkable
than that( on rea5ing a =rien54s name in a letter( I sho9l5 be able instantl> to proDect his
image on m> mental camera. It is onl>( however( in the ne?t gro9p o= cases that this new
rGle o= the percipient becomes obvio9s.
S 8. It will be 9se=9l at this D9nct9re to recall the more =amiliar wa>s in which 5reams are
shape5. ,e all know that ph>sical 5ist9rbancesAwhether o= so9n5( or light( or col5( or
to9chAwill e?cite 5reams( in which the 5ist9rbance appears as an element( sometimes
witho9t 9n5ergoing an> change( sometimes in some trans=ig9re5 b9t still E9ite
recognisable =orm. %ow in s9ch cases we o= co9rse trace the 5ream to the e?ternall>-
pro59ce5 impression@ b9t the impression is a mere n9cle9s( which the 5reaming min5
embo5ies( it ma> be( in a long an5 complicate5 series o= sel=-sp9n =ancies( an5 which
twent> 5reaming min5s wo9l5 embo5> in twent> 5i==erent wa>s. /o with mental
5ist9rbances@ a recent sorrow( or e?citing work overnight( is as e==ective a n9cle9s as a
knock at the 5oor or an 9ncom=ortable post9re. *he establishe5 i5ea works on( ami5 the
=loating crow5 o= images which are the potential material o= 5reams( an5 attracts a certain
n9mber o= them into a more or less grotesE9e connection with itsel=.
*here will th9s be little 5i==ic9lt> in s9pposing that a percipient whom a strong
Btrans=erre5 impressionC inva5es in his sleep ma> similarl> combine it with his own
5ream-imager>. ,e have no reason to imagine his own activit> to be s9spen5e5( or his
min5 ma5e a tabula rasa =or =oreign images. ,e sho9l5 not( there=ore( 5eman5 o=
telepathic 5reams an> sober an5 literal transcription o= act9al events. ,e sho9l5 rather
e?pect to =in5 the or5inar> 5ream i-:3U! elements( the me5le> o= images( the
impossibilities an5 incongr9ities( no less prominent here than elsewhere. *he root i5ea
being given b> the Btrans=erre5 impression(C it ma> then become the sport o=
irresponsible =anc>( which 5evelops it either in some hapha]ar5 wa>( or in accor5ance
with the 5reamer4s habit9al lines o= tho9ght or emotion@ so that the real event is
anno9nce5 either in a manner t>picall> 5ream-like an5 =antastic( or o=tener( perhaps( in a
manner which is to some e?tent s>mbolic.
I will begin with cases where the element th9s s9pplie5 is o= the slightest possible
amo9nt. In the =ollowing three e?amples the 5reamer ma> be s9ppose5 simpl> to give the
most obvio9s a95itor> =orm to the impression receive5@ tho9gh in the secon5 an5 thir5 it
is( no 5o9bt( eE9all> possible to s9ppose a 5irect a95itor> trans=er( as in some o= the
e?perimental cases.
*he =irst case is =rom Miss "arr( o= )psle> *own( East &rinstea5( who has been
mentione5 above Pp. X3( noteQ.
B2773.
P222Q BIn the earl> part o= 277U( I ha5 been working a goo5 5eal amongst the navvies
emplo>e5 on the new railroa5( near East &rinstea5( an5 ha5 been partic9larl> intereste5
in the case o= one man( u$arke>(4 as he was calle5 b> his =ellow-workmen. I ha5 become
ver> intimate with the man( an5 he ha5 tol5 me all his previo9s histor>( an5 I ha5 9se5
m> best en5eavo9rs to keep him =rom 5rink. On the night o= Easter *9es5a>( 277U( I
5reame5 that I hear5 the voice o= the man calling me =rom the bottom o= a well. I tol5 m>
sister o= it in the morning( an5( 59ring the co9rse o= the 5a>( a messenger came to tell me
that the man ha5 act9all> =allen 5own a well overnight( =rom which( tho9gh in no 5anger(
he ha5 been e?tricate5 with some 5i==ic9lt>.
BL. ")''.C
Miss "arr4s sister( Miss .arriett ). L. "arr( has a55e5 her signat9re to this acco9nt( in
attestation o= having hear5 the 5ream narrate5 on the =ollowing morning.
Y*he i5ea o= Bthe bottom o= a wellC is one that can be easil> conceive5 to have been rea5
back into the 5ream( a=ter the realit> was known. "9t the case 5oes not 5epen5 on that
5etail.Z
.ere we ma> be practicall> certain that the man 5i5 not act9all> call on Miss "arr b>
name( as there co9l5 have been no chance o= her hearing him.
*he ne?t case is =rom the late Mr. &eorge &o9l5rick( o= 28( Union /treet( .ere=or5.
B277:.
P22UQ BIn the month o= )pril( 27W8( I 5reamt that an invali5( name5 Mar> /ca==9ll(
wi5ow( an inmate o= Fohnson4s .ospitals( -ommercial 'oa5( .ere=or5( Pan5 whose
h9sban5 ha5 been an o==icer in the gaol o= which I i-:3:! was governor(Q was cr>ing o9t
=or water@ it appeare5 to have been a long 5ream( an5 the cr> seeme5 to be kept 9p =or
some time. ,hen I was sitting at break=ast with m> =amil> ne?t morning( I aske5 m> wi=e
when she ha5 seen Mrs /ca==9ll last@ she replie5( u/ome X 5a>s ago. I took her a rice
p955ing@ I co9l5 not get into the ho9se( the 5oor being locke5. I there=ore ha5 to leave it
at her sister4s( who was living in the neighbo9rhoo5( with a reE9est that when she went to
see her( she wo9l5 take it to her@ the 5ish has been ret9rne5( there=ore I concl95e she ha5
the contents. ,h>( what is the matter( >o9 seem tro9ble5 abo9t herr4 I then tol5 her m>
5ream( an5 sai5( uI have 5etermine5 to go a=ter break=ast an5 see what state she is in.4 /he
answere5( uI am gla5 to hear >o9 sa> so.4
B)s I approache5 the ho9se( I co9l5 hear a cr> o= 5istress procee5ing =rom some one o=
the inmates o= the hospitals. I p9t m> =inger on the latch o= the 5oor occ9pie5 b> Mrs.
/ca==9ll( when I hear5 the =ollowing s9pplication procee5 =rom her in the most 5istressing
tone: u,ill some kin5 -hristian =rien5 give me some waterr4 I took a D9g =rom her lower
room( went to the p9mp an5 =ille5 it( an5 then took it with all haste to her be5si5e. ,hen
she saw me there with the water she sai5( uOh( Mr. &o9l5rick( the Lor5 has sent >o9 here(
&o5 )lmight> bless >o9 =or bringing me this water.4 /he then 5rank copio9sl> o= it( an5
sai5( uIt4s the sweetest water I ever taste5 all m> li=e long.4 /he 5ie5 the same week( at the
age o= WW >ears.
B&EO. &OUL$'I-0.C
Mr. &o9l5rick4s 5a9ghter corroborates as =ollows:A
B$ecember 22th( 277:.
BI was present at the break=ast-table when m> =ather relate5 his 5ream. I remember all
that happene5( an5 can there=ore corroborate all he has written. M> mother has since
5ie5. /he was present also( an5 we e?presse5 o9r astonishment when he ret9rne5 home
an5 tol5 9s what ha5 happene5. *he onl> reason I am aware o= that the neighbo9rs Pwho
hear5 allQ 5i5 not atten5 to her cr>( was that she was in receipt o= Ws. per week more than
the> were( an5 that ca9se5 an ill-=eeling towar5s her.
B.)%%). &OUL$'I-0.C
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom Mrs. Morris &ri==ith( o= 8( Menai View *errace( "angor.
B2773.
P22:Q BOn the night o= /at9r5a>( the 22th o= March( 27W2( I awoke in m9ch alarm( having
seen m> el5est son( then at /t. 1a9l 5e Loan5a on the so9th-west coast o= )=rica( looking
5rea5=9ll> ill an5 emaciate5( an5 I hear5 his voice 5istinctl> calling to me. I was so
5ist9rbe5 I co9l5 not sleep again( b9t ever> time I close5 m> e>es the appearance
rec9rre5( an5 his voice so9n5e5 5istinctl>( calling me uMamma.4 I =elt greatl> 5epresse5
all thro9gh the ne?t 5a>( which was /9n5a>( b9t I 5i5 not mention it to m> h9sban5( as he
was an invali5( an5 I =eare5 to 5ist9rb him. ,e were in the habit o= receiving weekl>
letters ever> /9n5a> =rom o9r >o9ngest son( then in Irelan5( an5 as none came that 5a>( I
attrib9te5 m> great 5epression to that reason( gla5 to have some ca9se to assign to Mr.
&ri==ith rather than the real one. /trange to sa>( he also s9==ere5 =rom intense low spirits
all 5a>( an5 we were both 9nable to take 5inner( he rising =rom the table sa>ing( uI 5on4t
care what it costs( I m9st have the bo> back(4 all95ing to his el5est son. I mentione5 m>
5ream an5 the ba5 night I ha5 i-:33! ha5 to two or three =rien5s( b9t begge5 that the>
wo9l5 sa> nothing o= it to Mr. &ri==ith. *he ne?t 5a> a letter arrive5 containing some
photos o= m> son( sa>ing he ha5 ha5 =ever( b9t was better( an5 hope5 imme5iatel> to
leave =or a m9ch more health> station( an5 written in goo5 spirits. ,e hear5 no more till
the Xth o= Ma>( when a letter arrive5 with the news o= o9r son4s 5eath =rom a =resh attack
o= =ever( on the night o= the 22th o= March( an5 a55ing that D9st be=ore his 5eath he kept
calling repeate5l> =or me. I 5i5 not at =irst connect the 5ate o= m> son4s 5eath with that o=
m> 5ream 9ntil remin5e5 o= it b> the =rien5s( an5 also an ol5 servant( to whom I ha5 tol5
it at the time. I appen5 m> signat9re in attestation o= the report being a tr9e an5 correct
one( an5 also the signat9re o= 0ate $ew( who per=ectl> remembers the 5ate an5
circ9mstances( an5 attests the tr9th o= the above.
BM)'# &. &'I++I*..
B0)*E $E,.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. &ri==ith sa>s:A
B*he e?perience came to me as a drea(, b9t 9pon waking m> 5istress was so great at the
e?treme realit> o= the impression o= seeing m> son looking so ver> ill an5 s9==ering( an5
the ang9ish o= his voice in calling me b> name( that altho9gh I trie5 =or ho9rs a=terwar5s
to sleep again( I was 9nable to 5o so =rom the ha9nting ret9rn o= the scene an5 voice(
whenever I close5 m> e>es. M> h9sban5 ha5 no 5ream( b9t all the ne?t 5a> he( like
m>sel=( became 5eepl> 5epresse5 abo9t o9r son( altho9gh I ha5 sai5 nothing to hi( on
the s9bDect. *owar5s evening some =rien5s came in( an5 the impression =a5e5( an5 the
=ollowing morning on receiving m> son4s letter with photographs( I lost all =eeling o=
an?iet> abo9t him.C
In answer to =9rther inE9iries( Mrs. &ri==ith sa>s:A
P2Q BI have never in all m> li=e( be=ore or since( ha5 an> s9ch 5istressing 5ream( nor am I
ever 5iscompose5 in an> wa> b> 9ncom=ortable 5reams.
PUQ BI never remember at an> time having an> 5ream =rom which I have ha5 an>
5i==ic9lt> in knowing at once( whilst awakening( that I ha5 been 5reaming( an5 never
con=9se the 5ream with realit>.
P:Q BI also 9nhesitatingl> ass9re >o9 that I have never ha5 an> hall9cination o= the senses
as to so9n5 or sight.C
*he =ollowing is part o= a letter to Mr. 'ichar5 M. &ri==ithA5ate5 Loan5a( March U8th(
27W2Awhich I have been allowe5 to cop>.
B$E)' /I'(AIt is m> sorrow=9l 59t> to in=orm >o9 that >o9r son( Mr. '. M. &ri==ith( 5ie5
in m> ho9se on the 22th inst. .e was sta>ing with me awaiting the arrival o= machiner>
=rom Englan5( b9t =ell sick abo9t the beginning o= the month( an5 gra59all> sank(
notwithstan5ing all o9r e==orts to save him.A#o9rs ver> tr9l>( )LE\)%$E' /MI*..C
YIt is to be regrette5 that no written note was ma5e o= the 5ate o= the 5ream@ b9t Mrs.
&ri==ith is certain that the /at9r5a> on which it occ9rre5 was a=terwar5s rightl> i5enti=ie5
as March 22th b> hersel= an5 her =rien5s. .er reason =or remembering the 5a> o= the
week appears in the acco9nt.Z
)n5 now we come to the large an5 important gro9p where the percipient =orms a ver>
5istinct pict9re o= the agent( whose =ig9re an5 aspect Psometimes with the a55ition o=
speechQ is not a mere element i-:3V! in a scene( b9t the one thing prominentl>
represente5. I will still keep =or a time to simple cases( where the mental image that is
conD9re5 9p correspon5s prett> closel> to the realit>.
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom the 'ev. ,. $. ,oo5 'ees( Vicar o= "armb> Moor( #ork.
BMa>( 277V.
P223Q BIn 27W3( when rea5ing =or college( I =reE9entl> visite5 a man name5 ,illiam
E5war5s Po= Llanrhi5ian( near /wanseaQ( who was then serio9sl> ill@ he o=ten pro=esse5
pleas9re at( an5 bene=it =rom( m> ministrations. .e at length recovere5 so =ar as to
res9me work. I le=t the neighbo9rhoo5( an5 ami5 new scenes an5 har5 work( I cannot sa>
that I ever tho9ght o= him.
BI ha5 been at college some 2U months( when one night( or rather earl> morning between
2U at mi5night an5 : in the morning( I ha5 a most vivi5 5ream. I seeme5 to hear the voice
o= the above-name5 ,illiam E5war5s calling me in earnest tones. In m> 5ream I seeme5
to go to him( an5 saw him E9ite 5istinctl>. I pra>e5 with him an5 saw him 5ie. ,hen I
awoke the 5ream seeme5 intensel> real( so m9ch that I remarke5 the time( : a.m. in the
morning. I co9l5 not =orget it an5 tol5 some college =rien5s all partic9lars. *he ne?t 5a> I
receive5 a letter =rom m> mother( with this 1./.: u*he bell is tolling@ I =ear poor ,illiam
E5war5s is 5ea5.4 On inE9ir> I =o9n5 that he 5i5 5ie between 2U an5 :@ that he =reE9entl>
e?presse5 the wish that I were with him. I ha5 no i5ea that he was ill.
B,. $. ,OO$ 'EE/.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that ,illiam E5war5s 5ie5 at Llanrhi5ian( on Oct.
23( 27WV.
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. 'ees sa>s:A
BM> 5ream took place between mi5night an5 : in the morning. ,illiam E5war5s 5ie5
-ithin that ti(e. M> mother wrote her letter D9st a=ter break=ast( when the 5eath-bell was
tolling =or himAD9st at the time I mentione5 m> 5ream to some =rien5s. I receive5 the
letter either the ne?t night or the morning a=ter. It was generall> a two 5a>s4 post. I was
partic9lar to inE9ire i= the 5eath took place the night of (, drea(/ it did. I have not the
5ate o= the occ9rrence( b9t can get it( no 5o9bt( =rom inE9iring the 5ate o= the man4s
5eath. I ha5 no obDect in making an> note o= them. *he =rien5s( I believe( were 'ev. &. L.
'ees( .ow5en( 'ev. F. ,. 'oberts P5ea5Q( an5 I think( the 'ev. *. /. -9nningham@ I will
ask him. I have on other occasions 5reamt o= 5eaths( b9t have not taken an> tro9ble to
investigate them. I have sometimes 5reamt I saw a person 5>ing( an5 then hear5 the>
were ill. *he vivi5ness an5 realit> o= the case I mention ca9se5 me to take s9ch notice o=
it.C
*he 'ev. &. L. M. 'ees corroborates as =ollows:A
B.ow5en( East #orkshire.
BF9ne 22th( 277V.
B*he statement ma5e b> m> brother( the 'ev. ,. $. ,. 'ees( relative to the 5eath o=
,illiam E5war5s( is E9ite correct. I per=ectl> remember his relating to me a 5ream
respecting his 5eath( previo9s to the intelligence reaching 9s at college.
B&. L. M. 'EE/.C
i-:38!
In conversation the 'ev. ,. $. ,oo5 'ees in=orme5 me( witho9t being aske5( that he has
never ha5 an> other 5ream that the least impresse5 him( or le=t an> e==ect a=ter waking.
*he man ha5 got BE9ite well(C an5 Mr. 'ees ha5 last seen him breaking stones on the
roa5.
It wo9l5 be te5io9s here to m9ltipl> cases where the mere =act o= 5eath has been vivi5l>
5reamt o=( witho9t more 5etail than this. #et it is in their m9ltiplication that the whole
=orce o= s9ch cases consists( an5 a single coinci5ence o= the sort might alwa>s be
e?plaine5 as acci5ental. Other e?amples( belonging to the important gro9p which was
9se5 in m> n9merical calc9lation Ppp. :;3TWQ( will be =o9n5 in the /9pplement.
*he ne?t case is =rom Mrs. +iel5ing( o= #arlington 'ector>( "ath( who was also the
narrator o= case X;( above.
BFan9ar>( 2773.
P22VQ BI some time ago ha5 rather a remarkable vision( b9t it was o= the living. I have an
onl> son( abo9t U;( alwa>s in rob9st health( then in lo5gings in Lon5on. %ever were
mother an5 son more to one another than we are. One night I awoke heartbroken b>
seeing him in be5 ver> ill. I stoo5 weeping b> his be5( li=ting his white =ace in m> two
han5s( an5 sa>ing he m9st be 5>ing. On m> h9sban5 waking I tol5 him it all( an5 those at
break=ast ne?t morning( an5 sai5( uLet 9s see i= it4s onl> a 5ream.4 ) week passe5( an5 m>
9s9al letter 5i5 not come =rom m> son. )=ter a time one came sa>ing he ha5 been ill in
be5 a week( too ill to let me know( an5 the lan5la5> ha5 n9rse5 him thro9gh it.
BF)%E E. +IEL$I%&.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. +iel5ing a55s:A
BI =o9n5 m> son4s letter telling o= the illness I spoke o=( an5 =in5 it was written on the
2Vth F9l>( 277U( a /at9r5a>( an5 m> vision6drea(A=or it was too 5istinct =or a common
5ream@ >et I was not wi5e awake( an5 co9l5 not vo9ch I ha5 seen the pict9re consciousl,,
>et it was most realAtook place either on the night o= 2Uth or 2:th F9l>( an5 I =in5 both
m> h9sban5 an5 son-in-law remember m> speaking o= it( tho9gh the 5ates escape them. I
now E9ote =rom m> son4s letter: uI go back to the -it> on Mon5a>( b9t I tho9ght it was no
9se telling >o9( to make >o9 an?io9s( o= m> attack o= E9inse> till I was better@ an5 the
5octor an5 m> lan5la5> n9rse5 me most care=9ll>( an5 now I can swallow.4 It has m9ch
pain( this complaint( an5 it was that look o= pain I saw on his =ace in m> vision that gave
(e s9ch pain. I can swear to the vision having been be=ore the letter came. ,ere I in the
least 59bio9s( I sho9l5 be the =irst to sa> so( having a glimpse o= the meaning o= the wor5
science. I can4t recall an> other s9ch uclear-seeing.4 I never ha5 a 5ream like this be=ore.C
I have seen Mrs. +iel5ing4s letter to her son( 5ate5 Mon5a>( F9l> U3th( in which she sa>s(
BOn *h9rs5a> morning Yi.e.( F9l> 2:thZ when I came 5own to break=ast( I sai5 to *om an5
)rth9r Yher son-in-law with whom she now livesZ( uI hope -harlie is well@ =or I ha5 s9ch
a E9eer 5ream o= =in5ing him l>ing in be5 on his =ace( an5 when I t9rne5 it ro9n5( it was
ghastl> pale an5 ill-lookingAan5 I was so sighing all 5a> a=ter( an5 e?pecte5 to hear( as I
5i5( >o9 were ill.4 %ow that4s =9nn>s /hows how i-:3W! o9r so9ls are closel> 9nite5.
)rth9r is D9st sa>ing to me he uE9ite remembers m> telling him m> 5ream.4C
Y*his practicall> proves that Mrs. +iel5ing is acc9rate in sa>ing that her 5ream was
5escribe5 be=ore the news was known. "9t the =orce o= the coinci5ence is o= co9rse
weakene5 b> the =act that the illness e?ten5e5 o>er several 5a>s.Z
In the ne?t case the =orm o= a visionAa =ig9re at the be5si5eAs9ggests not so m9ch a
gen9ine 5ream as the sort o= semi-waking hall9cination which will be consi5ere5 in the
ne?t chapter Pcompare also Mr. ,ing=iel54s case( p. 2XXQ. *he narrator is Mrs. L. ..
/a9n5ers( o= /t. .elen4s( near '>5e( who was concerne5 in case 33.
BMarch 27th( 277V.
P228Q B*owar5s morning o= the 2;th Fan9ar>( 277V( I was conscio9s o= a >o9ng woman
stan5ing b> m> be5si5e cla5 in a gre> 5ressing gown( hol5ing in her arms( towar5s me( a
chil5. *he woman was weeping bitterl>( an5 sai5( uOhs Mrs. /a9n5ers( I am in s9ch
tro9ble.4 I instantl> recognise5 her as Mrs. -. '. /e>mo9r( an5 was abo9t to interrogate
her as to her tro9ble( when I was awakene5 b> m> h9sban5 asking me what was the
matter( as I seeme5 so 5istresse5. I tol5 him I ha5 ha5 s9ch a sa5 5ream abo9t poor +ann>
&oo5all Pmai5en name o= Mrs. -. '. /.Q( b9t it reall> was to me more than a 5reamAso
m9ch so( that a=ter rising I comm9nicate5 it to the governess( Miss Monkman( also to the
n9rse an5 servant. I 5eci5e5 to sen5 to her mother( Mrs. &oo5all( to inE9ire i= she ha5
receive5 an> ti5ings o= her 5a9ghter( who was resi5ent in %ew Jealan5 with her h9sban5
an5 two chil5ren( b9t as on a=ter consi5eration I =elt I might ca9se her alarm( I altere5 m>
intention. *his 5ream or vision ma5e so 5eep an5 lasting an impression that I constantl>
all95e5 to it to members o= o9r ho9sehol5( 9ntil circ9mstances occasione5 m> calling on
Mrs. &oo5all abo9t the beginning o= this month( March( 277V( when I ma5e partic9lar
inE9iries =or her 5a9ghter@ an5 on being ass9re5 that she was well( accor5ing to letters b>
the most recent mail( I vent9re5 to e?press m> grati=ication( giving( as m> reason =or
s9ch( a narration o= the uvision4 that ha5 not even then cease5 to ha9nt me@ which elicite5
=rom Mrs. &oo5all an5 both o= her 5a9ghters( who were present( =ervent hopes that all
was well with Mrs. /e>mo9r.
2

BOn March 2Uth I again calle5 on Mrs. &oo5all( who on receiving me( with m9ch
emotion sai5( uOh( have >o9 hear5 the ba5 news o= +ann>r I have tho9ght so m9ch o=
what >o9 tol5 me@ her 5ear little $ottie has gone. I will rea5 >o9 her letters(4 both o=
which( altho9gh coming b> 5i==erent mails( ha5 onl> been receive5 within the past U3
ho9rs. I sho9l5 mention that( altho9gh I have =elt ver> intereste5 in an5 tho9ght m9ch o=
Mrs. -. '. /. be=ore an5 since her 5epart9re =rom this co9ntr>( >et I have never
correspon5e5 with her@ b9t I now learn that she invariabl> mentione5 me in her home
correspon5ence( an5 =elt m9ch in5ebte5 to me =or some tri=ling kin5ness I ha5 been able
to show her in the past. I am able to =i? the 5ate o= m> vision =rom circ9mstances which I
nee5 not here relate.
B"E//IE /)U%$E'/.C
i-:37!
*he =orce o= the coinci5ence seems not m9ch a==ecte5 one wa> or the other b> the
=ollowing a55ition:A
BIn repl> to >o9r E9estion( I have ha5 5istressing 5reams relating to 5eath at intervals(
which have not correspon5e5 with realit>@ b9t those >o9 are alrea5> cognisant o= Yvi].(
this one an5 another which correspon5e5 with realit>
2
Z are the onl> ones which impresse5
themselves s9==icientl> to in59ce me to take steps to 5iscover i= the> 5i5 correspon5 with
the realit>( altho9gh I ma> have mentione5 their p9rport cas9all> at the time.C
Mr. Latimer .. /a9n5ers writes:A
BMarch 27th( 277V.
BI clearl> remember on or abo9t the 2;th o= Fan9ar>( 277V( earl> morning( s955enl>
awaking( an5 =in5ing m> wi=e leaning =orwar5 in be5. I aske5 her( u,hat was the
matterr4 /he seeme5 agitate5( an5 replie5 to the =ollowing e==ect: uOh( I have ha5 s9ch a
horri5 5reams +ann> &oo5all was stan5ing here at m> si5e( E9ite close( hol5ing o9t the
chil5 in such 5istress( b9t I co9l5 not tell what she wante5@ it was so real( I co9l5 have
to9che5 her( b9t >o9 awoke me.4 "e=ore rising( m> wi=e repeate5 the inci5ent in 5etail.
Late on March 2Uth( she tol5 me the seE9el.
B+ort9natel>( I can sa=el> =i? the 5ate as being the morning o= either the Xth( 2;th( or 22th
o= Fan9ar>( as 59ring that month these were( owing to circ9mstances( the onl, possible
occasions on which the inci5ent( as relate5( co9l5 have occ9rre5( while m> mental
impression( independentl, arrive5 at( strongl> points to the 2;th as the 5a>.
BL)*IME' .. /)U%$E'/.C
Miss E. ). Monkman( in a letter to Mrs. /a9n5ers P5ate5 28( -astle5ine 'oa5( )nerle>(
28th March( 277VQ( o= which I have seen a cop>( gives e?actl> similar testimon> as to
Mrs. /a9n5ers4s 5escription o= her 5ream at the time( an5 a55s that it m9st have been on
the Xth or 2;th o= the month. )n5 on March U;th( a servant in the ho9se( 9nprompte5 Pas
Mrs. /a9n5ers ass9res 9sQ( 5ictate5 the =ollowing statement:A
BI remember /at9r5a> morning( the 2;th o= Fan9ar> last. *he mistress came into the
kitchen to speak abo9t the =l9e. )=ter 5oing so she tol5 me o= s9ch a ba5 5ream she ha5
ha5 o= Mrs. /e>mo9r( o= %ew Jealan5( coming to her be5si5e with her little chil5 in her
arms. Mrs. /e>mo9r was cr>ing so bitterl>( an5 imploring her =or help.AE. $awson.C
*he =ollowing is an e?tract =rom a letter receive5 =rom Mrs. /e>mo9r b> Mrs. &oo5all(
5ate5 Fan9ar> 2Vth( 277V.
BI 5o not know how to write it( mother. $ottie is 5ea5@ a week ago this ver> *h9rs5a>
evening she was taken ill( an5 on /at9r5a> at 2; min9tes to 2; in the evening she 5ie5.C
Y)ll owing =or longit95e( the 5ream m9st have prece5e5 the 5eath b> a =ew ho9rs.Z
i-:3X!
Ver> similar is the =orm o= impression 5escribe5 in the ne?t case( obtaine5 Pthro9gh the
kin5ness o= Mr. F. ". Fohnston( o= 2W( 1ilrig /treet( E5inb9rghQ =rom .err .einrich von
/tr9ve( whose &erman acco9nt is here translate5.
BUV( 1ilrig /treet( E5inb9rgh.
BF9l> 2;th( 277V.
P22WQ BIn 27:7( I was on terms o= =rien5ship with a captain o= the Un5 .9ssars( .err von
'.( his compan> being E9artere5 in a little town in /ilesia( in the neighbo9rhoo5 o= which
I was resi5ing on m> propert>. Earl> one morning I ha5 ri55en into the town( an5 visite5
Von '.( whom I =o9n5 taking co==ee with his wi=e. ,hile we were sitting chatting
together( Von '. sai5 to his wi=e( uLina( o9r =rien5 1ogerell 5ie5 last night.4 u,hat a thing
to sa>( )lberts4 his wi=e replie5@ u1ogerell was here onl> the 5a> be=ore >ester5a>( well
an5 happ>.4 uVer> likel>(4 sai5 Von '.@ ub9t the =act is as I have sai5. Last night he stoo5
b> m> be5( an5 sai5( B+arewell( '.@ I am 5eparting to the great arm>. &reet m> co9sin &.
=rom me( an5 ask him not to be angr> that I have not mentione5 him in m> will( as he is
well o==( an5 m> other relatives are poor an5 nee5 s9pport.C4 /ome min9tes a=ter Von '.
ha5 tol5 9s this( a messenger was anno9nce5( who entere5( bringing =rom the
comman5ing o==icer o= both o= them in ,.( where the compan> o= -aptain von 1ogerell
was statione5( the anno9ncement that u-aptain von 1ogerell ha5 a paral>tic stroke last
night( an5 5ie5.4 *he town o= ,.( where Von 1ogerell was( was 3 &erman miles Yabo9t 2U
English milesZ 5istant =rom the place where we were@ the roa5 was ba5( an5 there was no
or5inar> means o= comm9nication. It was( there=ore( inconceivable that an> earlier news
than that which this messenger bro9ght co9l5 have reache5 Von '. .e was a sober man(
completel> honest an5 tr9th=9l( who( e?cept among ver> intimate =rien5s( never spoke o=
his gi=t o= seeing apparitionsAa gi=t which he took no pri5e in. .e wo9l5 mention s9ch
e?periences cas9all> to his wi=e in the morning( or when his =rien5s presse5 him on the
s9bDect.
BVon '. relate5 to me some other highl> interesting cases o= the sort@ b9t I 5o not a55
them( not having been m>sel= a part> to them( as I was to the one which I have narrate5.
B.. VO% /*'UVE.C
In an English acco9nt which .err von /tr9ve has signe5 as correct( it appears that
1ogerell was not an inti(ate =rien5( an5 that there ha5 been no special reason =or thinking
o= him.
Y*he case is one where the evi5ence o= a person who was not the percipient is stronger
than that o= the percipient himsel= wo9l5 have been Psee p. 237Q. )=ter an interval o= 3W
>ears( the mere memor> o= a coinci5ent 5reamA=or we m9st not ass9me that it was a
-a1ing vision
2
Awo9l5 have ver> little =orce. "9t .err von /tr9ve himsel= wo9l5 o=
co9rse be awake( when sitting talking to his =rien5s@ an5 the scene in its vario9s stagesA
the statement o= Von '.( the conversation that ens9e5( an5 the arrival o= the messengerA
i= reall> onl> imagine5 a=terwar5s( wo9l5 constit9te an o55l> 5istinct an5 5etaile5 piece
o= retrospective hall9cination.Z
i-:V;!
*he ne?t case( =rom a 5a9ghter o= an o==icer o= high position in the )9strian service( was
proc9re5 thro9gh the kin5ness o= Mr. ,. E. .. Leck>( who is a =rien5 o= the narrator.
B%ewb9r>( Fan9ar>( 2773.
P227Q BOne night( a =ew >ears ago( I ha5 a ver> vivi5 5ream abo9t some one I ha5 known
as a bo> in the "e5=or5 &rammar /chool( b9t o= whom I ha5 not hear5 an>thing =or a
long time. I 5reamt that he came to me 5rape5 in a long white garment( an5 that he sai5 to
me( uI am so gla5 it is all over(4 an5 p9tting his hea5 on m> sho9l5er( he sighe5 5eepl>(
an5 sai5( uI am so tire5.4 I woke =rom the =ancie5 to9ch an5 5i5 not go to sleep again =or
some time. It ma5e s9ch an impression on me that I tol5 m> sisters the ne?t morning. )
=ew 5a>s a=ter( one o= m> sisters bro9ght me a paper with the anno9ncement o= m>
=rien54s 5eath in it( an5( strange to sa>( he 5ie5 the ver> night I 5reamt abo9t him.
BL. 0. $.C
In answer to inE9iries Miss L. 0. $. sa>s:A
B+ebr9ar> UXth( 2773.
BI have been tr>ing to ascertain the e?act 5ate o= m> 5ream abo9t m> =rien54s 5eath( b9t
cannot remember an>thing nearer than that it was some time in the spring o= 27W7. I ha5
not seen him =or nearl> =o9r >ears( an5 certainl, ha5 not talke5 or even tho9ght abo9t
him =or some time( I might sa> >ears. I 5on4t remember ever having s9ch a vivi5 5ream
be=ore or a=ter.C
*he =ollowing corroboration is =rom Miss L. 0. $.4s sister:A
BFan9ar> 2;th( 2773.
B,ith regar5 to m> sister4s 5ream abo9t the person she knew as a bo> in "e5=or5( I can
remember 5istinctl> that she tol5 her 5ream to 9s all at break=ast( before we hear5 o= the
5eath.
B). M. $.C
.ere the long white garment might be taken as representing the act9al 5ress which the
s9ppose5 agent was wearing@ =or i= a person4s s9b-conscio9s i5ea o= his own aspect ma>
be the so9rce o= a telepathic impression( that impression might ver> nat9rall> incl95e his
garb at the time. "9t I sho9l5 pre=er to regar5 this partic9lar investit9re as s9pplie5 b> the
percipient4s min5 to its own 5ream-image.
In the =ollowing cases the 5ream containe5 the a55itional =eat9re o= conversation between
the 5reamer an5 the agent. *his is( o= co9rse( a clear instance o= something s9pera55e5 b>
the 5reamer4s own creative activit>.
Miss 0. &ibson( o= :( .9ntle> &ar5ens( &lasgow( sa>s:A
B%ovember( 277:.
P22XQ BIn )9g9st( 278W( m> sister an5 I went to spen5 a =ew 5a>s with i-:V2! a =rien5 in
the co9ntr>. ,e were a ver> merr> an5 >o9th=9l part>@ an5 I 5o not think one grave or
solemn tho9ght crosse5 an> o= o9r min5s. *he brother o= o9r hostess having been marrie5
the week previo9sl>( ha5 sent a bo? o= we55ing cake( an5 accor5ing to the ol5 c9stom we
all 5etermine5 uto sleep on the we55ing cake( an5 to tell o9r 5reams in the morning.4
Earl> on the morning o= *h9rs5a>( I awoke( an5 when I =ell asleep again( I 5reamt I =o9n5
m>sel= in a ver> bare( cheerless room( in the corner o= which stoo5 a be5@ on it was l>ing
a >o9ng man. I at once recognise5 him as a =rien5 o= m> brother4s( whom I ha5 last seen
P=or onl> the secon5 time in m> li=eQ the previo9s -hristmas( a tall( strong( han5some
>o9ng =ellow( in apparentl> high health an5 spirits. I saw him now( a sha5ow o= his
=ormer sel=( his =ace 5rawn an5 colo9rless( his e>es 9nnat9rall> large an5 bright@ his han5(
which was l>ing o9tsi5e the be5clothes( was thin an5 waste5( the great bl9e veins
stan5ing 9p like cor5s( an5 his =ingers pl9cke5 restlessl> at the coverlet. .is hollow
co9gh so9n5e5 incessantl> thro9gh the room. I went 9p to him. u,h>( Mr. AA(4 I sai5(
uhow ver> ill >o9 look@ what is the matterr4 uI am 5>ing(4 he sai5( uI ca9ght col5 a month
ago( an5 neglecte5 it@ it has settle5 on m> chest( an5 the 5octors sa> I am 5>ing o= rapi5
cons9mption.4
B,hen I rose in the morning( I co9l5 har5l> bear to tell m> 5ream( b9t it ha5 all been so
pain=9ll> vivi5( an5 ha9nte5 me so( that I tol5 m> sister be=ore we went 5own to
break=ast. I was m9ch tease5 b> m> kin5 hostess( b9t I wo9l5 not speak o= the 5ream to
an> one. On the =ollowing /at9r5a> evening we went home. I 5i5 not see m> brother 9ntil
the /9n5a> morning. ,hen at break=ast he sai5( u$i5 >o9 hear( girls( o= poor M.4s 5eathr4
u%o(4 we sai5( uwhen 5i5 it take placer4 uEarl> on *h9rs5a> morning@ he ca9ght col5 a
month ago( neglecte5 it( it settle5 on his chest( an5 he 5ie5 o= rapi5 cons9mption.4
BI ma> a55 that not onl> 5i5 I har5l> know Mr. AA( having onl> seen him twice( b9t I
5o not think I ha5 even hear5 his name mentione5 =rom the time I saw him at -hristmas(
till the morning I 5reamt o= his 5eath. I was onl> a chil5 at the time.
B0. &I"/O%.C
Miss &ibson4s sister corroborates as =ollows:A
B%ovember 2Wth( 277:.
BI E9ite remember m> sister 5reaming as she relates above. It ma5e E9ite an impression
on both o= 9s when m> brother mentione5 Mr. AA4s 5eath.
BM. .. MU'')#.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss &ibson sa>s:A
P2Q BI have at vario9s times ha5 vivi5 5reams o= 5eaths which have not come tr9e( an5
whose origin I co9l5 trace.C Y*his =inal cla9se prevents this statement =rom weakening the
case as m9ch as it wo9l5 otherwise 5o.Z
PUQ BI 5o not know i= Mr. M.4s room was ubare an5 cheerless.4 I do know that he 5ie5 in
lo5gings.
P:Q B*he wor5s in m> 5ream an5 those o= m> brother e?actl> correspon5e5.C
/he believes that the 5eath took place in &lasgow( where the >o9ng man certainl> live5@
b9t no entr> o= it can be 5iscovere5 in the 'egister =or that place( an5 it is possible that he
5ie5 awa> =rom home.
i-:VU!
1ro=essor /i5gwick( a=ter an interview with Miss &ibson( )pril U;th( 2773( sa>s:A
B/he in=orme5 me that she 5i5 not take m9ch interest in the s9bDect o= m> inE9iries. /he
was E9ite s9re o= the e?act correspon5ence o= the statements in her 5reamAuca9ght
col54Aumonth ago4Auneglecte5 it4Ausettle5 on chest4Aurapi5 cons9mption4Awith the
statements o= her brother@ an5 her sister also note5 the correspon5ence. /he knew the
>o9ng man was poor( so that the ubare cheerless4 room wo9l5 be nat9rall> s9ggeste5@ b9t
she ha5 never hear5 o= him as cons9mptive: she co9l5 have ha5 no other image o= him
=rom memor> e?cept that o= a strong( health> man. /he was not intereste5 in the >o9ng
man( an5 believes that she ha5 not tho9ght o= him between the -hristmas when she saw
him an5 the time o= the 5ream an5 5eath. It was not remarkable that she tol5 the 5ream(
as she ha5 rather a habit o= 5reaming an5 o= telling c9rio9s 5reamsAnot =rom an> belie=(
b9t merel> as c9rio9s. ,hat -as 9n9s9al was that she was rel9ctant to tell it( an5 onl>
tol5 it to her sister.C
/9pposing this 5ream to have been telepathicall> originate5( it is 5i==ic9lt to know how
m9ch o= its content was s9pplie5 to( an5 how m9ch b>( the 5reamer. &iven the i5ea o=
cons9mption( the 5evelopment is( perhaps( not too 5etaile5 to have been in5epen5entl>
imagine5.
*he =ollowing ver> similar case is =rom Mrs. Farratt( o= X8( $alberg 'oa5( /.,. I nee5
har5l> sa> that the mere recollection o= a chil5ish 5ream o= a goo5 man> >ears back
wo9l5 not have been a5mitte5 as evi5ence: the evi5ence is the mother4s attestation that
the 5ream was 5escribe5 be=ore the news o= the 5eath arrive5.
B$ecember 2;th( 277:.
P2U;Q B,hile I was a little girl( abo9t 2; >ears ol5( an ol5 =rien5 o= o9rs( partic9larl> 5ear
to me( a $anish gentleman P=ormerl> t9tor to the >o9ng 1rinces o= $enmark( an5
a=terwar5s teacher o= lang9ages in the .igh /chool( /an +ranciscoQ( so9ght to improve
his position b> going to the cit> o= Me?ico. /ome months a=ter he le=t( I 5reame5 that I
saw him sitting in m> =ather4s o==ice( an5 imme5iatel> ran 9p to him( e?claiming( uI4m so
gla5 >o94ve come back.4 .e p9t his han5 9p( as i= to rep9lse me gentl>( an5 sai5 gravel>(
u#o9 m9st not come near me. I am 5>ing in Me?ico o= the sore throat( an5 I have come to
tell >o9r =ather.4 I 5rew back( grieve5 an5 shocke5( an5 woke. *he ne?t 5a> I tol5
ever>one o= m> 5ream( an5 was well la9ghe5 at@ b9t m> =ather ha5 not hear5 =or some
time past o= o9r =rien5( nor 5i5 he till( three weeks a=ter( I overhear5 a gentleman sa> to
him( u,ell( 5octor( have >o9 hear5 abo9t >o9r =rien5 .AAr4 M> =ather having replie5 in
the negative( the gentleman contin9e5( uI was tol5 he 5ie5 at Me?ico( three weeks ago( o=
sore throat.4
BLI*) F)'')**.C
In answer to some E9estions( Mrs. Farratt a55s:A
P2Q BM> ol5 =rien54s name was &eorge F. .ansen. I remember m> =ather remarking that
m> 5ream m9st have occ9rre5 at the same time as the 5eath( or at an> rate close 9pon it.
i-:V:!
PUQ B)s the occ9rrence took place some U; >ears ago( as well as I can remember( it wo9l5
be a little 5i==ic9lt to =in5 the people to whom I tol5 m> 5ream be=ore its =9l=ilment( b9t I
tol5 it to ever>one who wo9l5 listen( which the> were not all incline5 to 5o( or i= the>
5i5( the> ri5ic9le5 me heartil>.C
Mrs. Farratt4s mother( Mrs. +arrar( corroborates as =ollows:A
BI beg to state that I per=ectl> remember m> 5a9ghter telling me all abo9t her 5ream
within a =ew ho9rs o= its having occ9rre5. It a=terwar5s str9ck 9s all Pher =ather as well as
m>sel= an5 several =rien5s( most o= whom 9n=ort9natel> are since 5ea5 or have
5isappeare5Q as being ver> remarkable on acco9nt o= its having occ9rre5 almost
sim9ltaneo9sl>( as =ar as we co9l5 learn( with Mr. .ansen4s act9al 5ecease.C
Miss .. +ranconi wrote to 9s as =ollows =rom 2U:W( /tockton /treet( /an +rancisco:A
BF9l> 2:th( 2773.
BIn regar5 to the 5ream that m> =rien5 Mrs. Farratt ha5( I onl> remember( as it is man>
>ears ago( that she 5reamt o= Mr. .ansen an5 tol5 me all abo9t it the =ollowing morning
Ab9t what the 5ream was abo9t I cannot remember.C
YIn conversation( Mrs. Farratt( who is a ver> clear-hea5e5 an5 sensible witness( gave me
the a55itional 5etail that even in her 5ream Bsore throatC str9ck her as an o55 thing to 5ie
o=. *his is not a point as to which memor> can at all be relie5 on@ b9t the mere =act that it
see(s to be remembere5 is some slight con=irmation o= the evi5ence that the act9al
5isease was mentione5 in the 5ream. *he 5egree o= e?actit95e in the coinci5ence 5oes
not( however( seem to have been establishe5 with certaint> even at the time.Z
*he ne?t case is 9ncorroborate5@ b9t the st>le o= the narrator 5oes not s9ggest
e?aggeration. I= the 5escription is acc9rate( the 5ream was remarkabl> vivi5( an5
incl95e5 a min9te point o= correct 5etail. It is =rom Mr. E. F. .ector( o= Valencia( 1ort
1irie( /o9th )9stralia.
BF9l> Vth( 2773.
P2U2Q BOn the night o= m> =ather4s 5eath( the :2st F9l>( 278:( I went to be5 as 9s9al(
abo9t 22 p.m.( in m> 9s9al goo5 health( with a can5le an5 matches on a chair at the si5e
o= m> be5. I 9s9all> rea5 =or hal=-an-ho9r in be5( an5 5i5 so on this occasion. I remember
5istinctl> m> last pon5erings were on the ver> 9nsatis=actor> scheme o= li=e. Man learns
gra59all> =rom chil5hoo5 to mat9re age@ an5 D9st when he has acE9ire5 b> e?perience an5
observation the knowle5ge how to make the best o= li=e( he 5ies@ an5 his s9ccessor has to
start at the same point as he starte5 =rom. ,hether I tho9ght o= m> =ather in connection
with this( I 5o not remember. In the night or morning I ha5 a ver> vivi5 5ream. I saw m>
=ather in be5 at the /avings4 "ank( in the room he 9s9all> occ9pie5@ there was a sperm
can5le b9rning on a chair close to his be5. I was sitting in a chair close to his be5( an5
saw that he was 5>ing an5 =elt ver> 5istresse5@ he was l>ing on his back an5 t9rne5 ro9n5
an5 looke5 at me( sa>ing( with i-:V3! a smile( u%ever min5( m> 5ear bo>( I =eel that I
am going(4 an5 seeme5 to be 5>ing. *he ne?t thing was total 5arkness. I m9st have wake5
9p( =or I =o9n5 the matches( an5 to reass9re m>sel= lighte5 the can5le( gla5 to =in5 it was
a 5ream. It str9ck me as the most vivi5 I ha5 ever ha5( b9t I con=i5entl> banishe5 it at
once( an5 slept so9n5l> again till morning. I looke5 at m> watch an5 note5 the time@ it
was 3 a.m.
B*he 5ream never tro9ble5 me again( 9ntil I saw a man coming to me in the vine>ar5( at
abo9t 2; a.m.( with the =atal telegram =rom a =rien5( that m> =ather was 5ea5@ b9t as soon
as I saw a strange man h9rr>ing 5own to me( a presentiment occ9rre5 to me that m>
5ream ha5 been tr9e. I ma> sa> that I never believe5 in 5reams( an5 5o not since that
event( which I think was onl> a most e?traor5inar> coinci5ence( an5 was D9st the
contin9ation o= m> train o= tho9ght( commence5 59ring m> waking moments an5
contin9e5 thro9gho9t m> sleep( or perhaps( rather renewe5( as it is not likel> I sho9l5
contin9e 5reaming =rom( sa> 22.:; p.m. 9ntil 3 a.m. /trange to sa>( the same smile was
on m> =ather4s =ace when I Pat 8 p.m.( or eight ho9rs a=ter he was =o9n5 5ea5 in his be5Q
saw him( an5 he la> in the room I 5reamt he was in( an5 the wick o= the sperm can5le at
his si5e was bent towar5s the 5oor( precisel> as I saw it in m> 5ream( on the chair. *he
servant tol5 9s he went to be5 as 9s9al at 2; to 22 p.m.( an5 not getting 9p as 9s9al( she
knocke5 at his 5oor( b9t no answer being given( opene5 the 5oor at 7 a.m.( an5 =o9n5 him
5ea5.
BI ha5 no ca9se o= an?iet>. M> =ather was in e?cellent health. *his was the =irst vivi5
5ream I ever ha5( an5 I 5o not remember 5reaming o= others 5>ing( or 5oing an>thing
e?traor5inar>. I am not m9ch o= a 5reamer.
B/ince then( however( I ha5 a vivi5 5ream o= the 5eath o= m> motherAnot so clear or
impressive as the otherAb9t nothing happene5( an5 I remember tracing this also to some
kin5re5 train o= tho9ght( D9st be=ore 5ropping o== to sleep. I am not a believer in an>
premonitor> spirit9al comm9nication.
BE. F. .E-*O'.C
*he !outh )ustralian =egister =or )9g9st 2( 278:( sa>s that Mr. Fohn .ector( manager o=
the /avings4 "ank o= /. )9stralia( having retire5 to rest in his 9s9al goo5 health on the
night o= F9l> :;( was =o9n5 5ea5 in his be5 ne?t morning( an5 that the 5octor prono9nce5
5eath to have occ9rre5 =rom apople?> abo9t three ho9rs previo9sl>.
YIt is clearl> b> a slip that Mr. E. F. .ector has spoken o= the night o= the :2st o= F9l>
instea5 o= the :;th.Z
*he coinci5ence in this case( as in an> other( ma> have been acci5ental( as the narrator
s9pposes@ b9t he 5oes not tell 9s what part o= his previo9s train o= tho9ght =o9n5 its
Bcontin9ationC in the wick o= the sperm can5leAwhich( i= rightl> remembere5( looks like
a =ragment o= telepathic clairvo>ance.
*he ne?t two cases are =rom Mrs. +reese( o= &ranite Lo5ge( -hisleh9rst. *he occ9rrence
o= several s9ch e?periences to the same person is in itsel= a point o= interest( provi5e5 that
that person4s i-:VV! recollection as to their having been o= an e?ceptionall> vivi5 an5
5ist9rbing character can be relie5 on.
BMarch( 2773.
P2UUQ BIn F9l>( 27W2( m> a9nt Mar> sta>ing with me( an5 m> h9sban5 not =eeling at all
well( it was 5eci5e5 he sho9l5 go to .. to spen5 a =ortnight at the Vicarage with m>
marrie5 sister( Mrs. ". *his place was speciall> chosen beca9se he enDo>e5 so m9ch
ri5ing with m> brother- in-law or alone( as the case might be( an5 horse-e?ercise was so
goo5 =or him.
B) =ew 5a>s a=ter( I ha5 a vivi5 5ream abo9t him( which I tol5 to m> a9nt at break=ast
time. I 5reame5 I was walking along the roa5 to ..( abo9t mi5wa> between the %. station
an5 the Vicarage( when I saw m> h9sban5 sitting on a gate b> the roa5si5e. I was str9ck
b> his sa5 e?pression o= co9ntenance( an5 went 9p to him asking him i= he was enDo>ing
himsel=. u%ot at all(4 sai5 he( an5 a55e5( uI have D9st been thinking I will go on to the
station an5 take the train home( an5 will >o9 believe it( the> wont let me ri5e either o= the
horses.4 ,hile e?pressing m> astonishment I woke.
BI remarke5 to m> a9nt 9pon the abs9r5it> o= the part abo9t the horses( as the> were the
chie= in59cement =or him to pa> this visit( an5 were alwa>s be=ore at his 5isposal. I hear5
=rom m> h9sban5 ever> 5a>( b9t he wrote alwa>s cheer=9ll>( an5 ma5e no re=erence to the
horses at all. ) =ew 5a>s later he ret9rne5 earlier than he was e?pecte5( an5 in the
evening( when walking with him in the gar5en( he began to 5escribe to me his visit(
telling me he ha5 not enDo>e5 it at all. .e ha5 been ver> wretche5 an5 lonel> P=or m>
sister ha5 been 9n9s9all> b9s>( also her h9sban5Q( an5 that one 5a> in a lonel> walk
towar5s %. he sat on a gate b> the roa5si5e to rest( an5 almost ma5e 9p his min5 to go on
to %. an5 take the =irst train back to town( telegraphing to m> sister some e?c9se( b9t(
=earing to h9rt their =eelings( he 5esiste5@ an5( uworse than that(4 sai5 he( uwhat will >o9
sa> when I tell >o9 I have not been once on horseback. +or some reason or another the>
wo9l5 not let me ri5e either horse. One went 5own the other 5a>( an5 in =9t9re( I believe(
no one is to ri5e them.4 I kept calling o9t( uM> 5reams m> 5reams4 as he went on( an5
when I relate5 it to m> h9sban5 he co9l5 scarcel> believe it. .e wo9l5 not write either
abo9t his 5epression or 5isappointment( as he 5i5 not wish to clo95 me.
BO-*)VI) +'EE/E.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. +reese a55s:A
BI 5o not think I am given to vivi5 5reams. *hat abo9t m> h9sban5 was e?ceptionall>
vivi5. I call e?ceptionall> vivi5 a 5ream that takes hol5 o= me( an5 that I cannot =orget all
the ne?t 5a>. *he a9nt to whom I tol5 it has since 5ie5. I have no i5ea whether m>
h9sban5 sat on the gate be=ore or a=ter m> 5ream( nor 5i5 I tr> to ascertain that at the
time.C
P2U:Q BIn /eptember( 2772( I ha5 another c9rio9s 5ream( so vivi5 that I seeme5 to see it.
BM> two bo>s o= 27 an5 28 were sta>ing in the "lack +orest( 9n5er the care o= a $r.
+reseni9s. I m9st sa> here that I alwa>s s9ppose5 the bo>s wo9l5 go ever>where
together( an5 I never sho9l5 have s9ppose5 that in that lonel> co9ntr>( so new to them(
the> wo9l5 be o9t a=ter 5ark.
i-:V8!
M> h9sban5 an5 I were sta>ing at /t Leonar5s( an5 on /at9r5a> night I woke at abo9t 2U
o4clock Prather be=ore( as I hear5 it strikeQ( having D9st seen vivi5l> a 5ark night on a
mo9ntain( an5 m> el5est bo> l>ing on his back at the bottom o= some steep place( his
e>es wi5e open an5 sa>ing( u&oo5-b>e( mother an5 =ather( I shall never see >o9 again.4 I
woke with a =eeling o= an?iet>( an5 the ne?t morning when I tol5 it to m> h9sban5(
tho9gh we both agree5 it was abs9r5 to be an?io9s( >et we wo9l5 write an5 tell the bo>s
we hope5 the> wo9l5 never go o9t alone a=ter 5ark. *o m> s9rprise m> el5est bo>( to
whom I wrote the 5ream( wrote back e?pressing his great astonishment( =or on that
/at9r5a> night he was coming home over the mo9ntains( past 22 o4clock@ it was pitch
5ark( an5 he slippe5 an5 =ell 5own some 2U =eet or so( an5 lan5e5 on his back( looking 9p
to the sk>. .owever( he was not m9ch h9rt an5 soon picke5 himsel= 9p an5 got home all
right. .e 5i5 not sa> what tho9ghts passe5 thro9gh his min5 as he =ell.
BO-*)VI) +'EE/E.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. +reese a55s:A
BBefore m> son wrote abo9t his =all in the "lack +orest( I relate5 m> 5ream to m>
h9sban5( an5 as he seeme5 a little move5 b> it( I wrote an acco9nt o= it to m> bo>( sa>ing
his =ather 5i5 not wish them to be o9t a=ter 5ark alone. I ha5 not tol5 m> bo> -hen it was(
5eeming that immaterial( b9t when in his letter( receive5 5a>s a=ter( he sai5( u,as it
/at9r5a> nightr beca9se then so-an5-so(4 I remembere5 what I sho9l5 not otherwise have
note5( that it was /at9r5a> night@ =or on the /9n5a> morning m> h9sban5( being m9ch
worrie5 abo9t some b9siness matter( electe5 to spen5 the morning with me in the =iel5s
instea5 o= going to ch9rch( an5 as m9ch to 5ivert his min5 as an>thing I relate5 to him
m> 5ream o= the night be=ore.C
Mrs. +reese sent 9s the letter =rom her son( which containe5 the =ollowing passage:A
B,ith regar5 to >o9r 5ream: 5i5 >o9 5ream it on /eptember :r5r i= so it was on that
night( coming home rather late( that I =ell 5own a precipice o= 7 =eet( or perhaps more( in
the 5ark( an5 might have broken m> neck( b9t 5i5n4t. .owever( I 5on4t think >o9 will
=in5 me walking abo9t a=ter 5ark more than I can help( as the roa5s are ver> 5ark( an5 the
=ogs in the village aw=9l.
C+'E$. E. +'EE/E.C
Y/eptember :r5( 2772( was a /at9r5a>.Z
Mr. +reese writes:A
BMarch 2Wth( 2773.
BMrs. +reese has rea5 to me the paper she has sent >o9( an5 I =eel bo9n5 to sa> that both
the 5reams she re=ers to concerning m>sel= an5 o9r el5est son I well remember( an5 note5
them at the time she 5escribe5 them( together with the circ9mstances that strangel>
accompanie5 them.
BF. ,. +'EE/E.C
In answer to the E9estion whether he note5 them in -riting, Mr. +reese replies that he 5i5
not. BIt struc1 me at the time as ver> remarkable( b9t li=e was then with me too b9s> to
leave time to 5well 9pon the s9bDect.C
i-:VW!
S W. In the =oregoing e?amples the elements with which the 5reamer ma> be s9ppose5 to
have investe5 the telepathic impression have been =ew an5 simple. ,e now come to cases
where 5e=initel> new elements have been intro59ce5( an5 the impression which
correspon5s with realit> acts as the germ o= a E9ite imaginar> 5ream-pict9re.
*he =ollowing narrative was taken 5own in writing b> Mrs. /a?b>( o= Mo9nt Elton(
-leve5on( at *ranent Lawn( -leve5on( on %ovember 2Wth( 277:( an5 was rea5 over to the
narrator( Miss -. ).( who certi=ie5 that it was correct. Miss -. ). thinks that the
occ9rrence took place in 27VV.
P2U3Q B,hen we were living at Leamington( I ha5 a remarkable vision. I was sleeping
with m> sister Maria. /955enl> the c9rtains o= o9r be5( at the si5e I slept( were 9n5rawn(
an5 Mr. L. appeare5 stan5ing there. .e sai5( a55ressing me b> name( uM> mother is
5ea5.4 I trie5 to pers9a5e m>sel= I ha5 been 5reaming( an5 Maria sai5 I ha5 5reamt it@ b9t
a=ter a short time the same thing was 5one again( an5 the same anno9ncement ma5e. I
was rather cha==e5 at break=ast beca9se o= the stor> I tol5. )=ter break=ast I went into the
5rawing-room to practise. 1resentl> I hear5 m>sel= calle5( an5 I went o9t on the balcon>
to listen. It was the 5a9ghter o= the man whom I ha5 seen twice at night( an5 the
gran55a9ghter o= the ol5 la5> whose 5eath ha5 been anno9nce5. /he was ri5ing on
horseback. /he sai5( u.ave >o9 hear5r M> =ather is sent =or( an5 m> gran5mother is
5ea5s4C
*he =ollowing corroboration is =rom the percipient4s sister:A
B%ovember U3th( 277:.
BI E9ite recollect m> sister -harlotte telling me o= the apparition or vision she saw o= o9r
=rien5 appearing at her be5si5e an5 sa>ing uhis mother was 5ea5(4 an5 its being
corroborate5 the ne?t morning b> his 5a9ghter ri5ing 9p to o9r ho9se( an5 telling 9s her
ugrannie was 5ea5.4 /he was taken serio9sl> ill the night be=ore( her Yi.e., the narrator4sZ
=ather was sent =or( an5 she 5ie5 soon a=ter his arrival.
B) . M. ).C
It seems sa=er to regar5 this e?perience as a 5ream than as that ver> m9ch rarer
phenomenon( a waking hall9cination@ b9t we m9st not overlook the importance o= the
=act that the 5ream was almost imme5iatel> repeate5. *his =eat9re has occ9rre5 be=ore(
an5 will occ9r again@
2
an5 it is one which seems to be 5eci5e5l> commoner in cases o=
coinci5ent or Pas we sho9l5 sa>Q veridical 5reams than in 5reams generall>. InE9iries
which have recentl> been ma5e o= more than U;;; persons( taken at ran5om( have shown
that less than 2; per cent. o= them co9l5 recall having even on a single occasion 5reamt
the i-:V7! same 5ream more than once on the same nightAtho9gh it is o= co9rse b> no
means 9ncommon to have a =i?e5 =amiliar 5ream which rec9rs again an5 again 59ring
long tracts o= li=e.
2
%o 5o9bt memor> cannot be entirel> tr9ste5 on s9ch a matter@ b9t it
ma> be sai5 with tolerable con=i5ence that rec9rrences on the same night are 5eci5e5l>
rare@ an5 it is there=ore most 9nlikel> that this partic9lar =eat9re sho9l5 b, accident occ9r
with noticeable =reE9enc> in the comparativel> small gro9p o= 5reams which have
correspon5e5 with a real e?ternal event.
In the ne?t case( the 5etails an5 images s9pplie5 are o= a me5ical sort an5 have 5istinct
re=erence to the 5reamer4s own pro=ession. *he =irst part o= the acco9nt is =rom Mr. -.
"9rges( o= 3( Lincoln4s Inn +iel5s( an5 is given here b> the kin5 permission o= the
1hasmatological /ociet> o= O?=or5. Mr. "9rges has revise5 it =or p9blication.
B27WX.
P2UVQ B)ltho9gh I am now a solicitor( I was =or the =irst 7 >ears o= m> career a sailor( an5
on one o= m> vo>ages( I( being the secon5 o==icer o= an In5iaman( ha5 a cabin common
with the 5octor o= the ship. *he 5octor was name5 Fohn ,oolcott. )s secon5 o==icer( I( o=
co9rse( ha5 the mi55le watch( which meant m> being on 5eck between 2U mi5night an5 3
a.m. ever> night. I went 5own to the cabin at the en5 o= the watch( at abo9t 3.:; one
morning( an5 t9rne5 in as 9s9al. /ome time be=ore I ha5 to get 9p to relieve the 5eck at 7(
the 5octor calle5 me 9p( an5 sai5 that he ha5 ha5 a terrible 5ream. .e tho9ght that he saw
his mother 5>ing( an5 whilst she was l>ing in that state a co9sin( a me5ical man( who was
a s9rgeon in the )rtiller>( an5 whom he believe5 to be at that moment in -hina Pit was the
time o= the -hinese war( in 273VQ( ha5 s955enl> appeare5 in the room( an5 when he saw
his a9nt( sai5( u#o9 are entirel> wrong in s9pposing what is the matter with her@ she is not
5>ing =rom what >o9 sa>( b9t =rom s9ch an5 s9ch a complaint(4 which he name5. I 5o not
at the present moment recollect what the 5iseases were( b9t the 5istinction was a well-
5e=ine5 one. .e also sai5 that another s9rgeon( who is still living( an5 whose name I 5o
not like to give( was present( an5 insiste5 that the patient was 5>ing o= the complaint =irst
name5.
B+rom that time to the en5 o= the vo>age the 5octor was so m9ch impresse5 with this
5ream that he was E9ite a 5ispirite5 man( s9==icientl> so to occasion remark. ,hen o9r
ship arrive5 in the East In5ia $ocks( he came back to me( as he was D9st going ashore( I
not being able to leave so soon( an5 sai5( uIt is all right( ol5 =ellow( the 5ream is all
wrong@ i-:VX! there is m> brother E5war5 on shore( waiting =or me( an5 he is not in
mo9rning.4
B*he =act( however( 9n=ort9natel> prove5 to be that his mother ha5 5ie5( an5 that his
co9sin( the s9rgeon( ha5 ret9rne5 =rom -hina in charge o= invali5s( an5 was present at the
5eath-be5( as 5reame5. *he brother( on coming 5own to meet the ship( ha5 p9t on
colo9re5 clothes( so as not to give m> =rien5 a s955en shock.
B&. ".C
Mr. ,oolcott( +.'.-./.( cons9lting s9rgeon o= the 0ent -o9nt> Ophthalmic .ospital( to
whom the above was sent( sa>s:A
B3( Elms 1ark *errace( *he Elms( 'amsgate.
B$ecember U;th( 277:.
B*he statement abo9t m> mother4s 5eath an5 the 5ream at sea is correct. *he 5ream an5
the 5eath occ9rre5 at the same time( or within a =ew 5a>s o= each other. I was on boar5
the u1lantagenet(4 East In5iaman( an5 we ha5 D9st le=t the -ape o= &oo5 .ope( on o9r
homewar5 bo9n5 vo>age( at which place I ha5 receive5 letters =rom home stating u)ll
well.4 *here was more in the 5ream( concerning a post6(orte( e?amination( b9t it is o=
too pain=9l a nat9re to mention( relating to the 5i==erence o= opinion concerning the nat9re
o= the complaint m> mother 5ie5 o=( an5 the me5ical men were o= 5i==erent opinions
abo9t it. I think a ver> remarkable point abo9t m> 5ream at sea( in 273V( was that I
tho9ght a co9sin o= mine( a s9rgeon in the 'o>al )rtiller>( was present at m> mother4s
5eath. *his prove5 to be the case. I ha5 tho9ght he was awa> in -hina( an5 ha5 no i5ea o=
when he wo9l5 ret9rn to Englan5@ b9t he ha5 9ne?pecte5l> come back( an5 ha5 been
s9mmone5 to her be5si5e in cons9ltation( as state5 in the narrative. M> co9sin was Fames
E. *. 1arrett( late s9rgeon 'o>al )rtiller>( now 5ecease5. *his 5ream ha9nte5 me
=reE9entl> 59ring the rest o= the vo>age home( an5 on several occasions awoke me in the
night thinking abo9t it. I co9l5 not shake it o==.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. ,oolcott sa>s:A
BI have ha5 startling 5reams at other times( b9t the> have not been concerning the death
o= an> person.
BFO.% ,OOL-O**C
Y.ere the time-coinci5ence cannot be bro9ght with certaint> closer than a =ew 5a>s. On
the other han5( the 5etail o= the co9sin4s presence is a strong evi5ential point.Z
In the ne?t case( a 5e=inite scene is 5epicte5( s9ggestive o= 5eath an5 appropriate to the
person who ha5 act9all> 5ie5@ b9t ever>thing be>on5 the tr9e impression o= the 5eath is
s9pplie5 b> the 5reamer. *he narrator is Mrs. .erbert "ollan5 %n4e -ar>( gran55a9ghter
o= the translator o= $anteQ( o= W( -ranb9r> *errace( /o9thampton. *he e?perience was
E9ite 9niE9e in her li=e( an5 e?empli=iesAwhat will be s9ggeste5 b> other casesAa
possible e==ect o= illness in heightening the percipient =ac9lt>.
2

i-:8;!
BF9l>( 2773.
P2U8Q BIn /eptember( 27WX( I was in "AAs( an5 lai5 9p with a rather sharp attack o=
=ever( kept to m> room( an5 seeing no one. In the mi55le o= one night I was awoke( as
was m> h9sban5 also( b> a most piercing shriek@ he knew it was I who ha5 crie5 alo95(
whilst I ha5 then no i5ea o= it. "9t I began to tell him that I ha5 been 5reaming his sister
was teasing me( an5 I looke5 9p an5 saw Pan5 as I came to that point I was again sei]e5
with horrorQ a tall man( 5ea5( being carrie5( with his hair( which was ver> thick( =alling
back =rom his =ace. *he =ig9re impresse5 me with the i5ea o= being 9phel5 b> =o9r men(
b9t I 5i5 not see an> o= them. I knew the =ig9re at once( an5 kept sa>ing( u*he -olonel4s
5ea5( the -olonel4s 5ea5(4 an5 it was an ho9r or two be=ore m> h9sban5 co9l5 calm me(
an5 I co9l5 go to sleep again. )t last I 5i5 so( however( an5 the ne?t so9n5 we hear5 was
the servant knocking at o9r 5oor( an5 calling-o9t( u&et 9p( sir( the -olonel4s 5ea5@ >o94re
wante5.4
B-olonel +. ha5 5ie5 a=ter a short illness( o= which I knew nothing at all. M> h9sban5
tho9ght he ha5 a col5( b9t ha5 not name5 it to me or been an?io9s abo9t it himsel=( an5(
as =ar as I was concerne5( m> acE9aintance with him was o= the slightest( so that i= I ha5
been tol5 he ha5 a col5( I sho9l5 not have tho9ght abo9t it again.
BI ma> a55 that I have sai5 man> times( when aske5 to e?plain it( I believe it was ca9se5
b> MaDor ,hite( who was with the +.4s( thinking o= 9s( an5 what a shock it wo9l5 be( as
m> h9sban5 was the onl> other '.E. o==icer there( an5 wo9l5 have to arrange =or the
=9neral ne?t 5a>. *hat was what seeme5 to me likel>( beca9se I have notice5 all m> li=e
that I =reE9entl> speak o= the s9bDects which are in the tho9ghts o= m> =rien5s an5
companions witho9t an> apparent ca9se( an5 have been acc9stome5 to speak o= it as the
res9lt o= um> si?th sense(4 beca9se I 5i5 not know what else to call it. It has o=ten been a
s9bDect o= anno>ance to me in one wa>( which was that( with one ver> 5ear =rien5( o9r
letters invariabl> crosse5 Ptho9gh ver> in=reE9entl> writtenQ( so that we never =elt as i= we
ha5 an answer. /he complaine5( an5 so 5i5 I( b9t we co9l5 not alter it.
B0)*E E. "OLL)%$.C
,e =in5 =rom the )rm> List that -olonel +. 5ie5 on /eptember Wth( 27WX.
*he =ollowing is =rom Lie9t.--olonel "ollan5( '.E.:A
BF9l> U;th( 2773.
B,ith regar5 to -olonel +.( I cannot sa> I remember that Mrs. "ollan5 mentione5 his
name( tho9gh she ma> have 5one so@ b9t having awoke me with a terri=ic scream at abo9t
2 a.m.( on the 7th /eptember( 27WX Pwhich I think was the 5ateQ( she tol5 me she ha5 been
5reaming o= m> sister( an5 when looking 9p to speak to her( she saw a tall man( 5ea5(
being carrie5 b> =o9r other men( his hea5 5ropping( an5 long( thick hair =alling back.
B/he was terribl> =rightene5( an5 it was some time be=ore we again got to sleep. *he ne?t
so9n5 I hear5 was the servant knocking at m> 5oor( an5 calling o9t( u&et 9p( sir( >o9 are
wante5@ the -olonel is 5ea5s4 I ha5 known -olonel +. was ill( b9t ha5 not tho9ght
serio9sl> o= it( nor ha5 I name5 it to m> wi=e( who ha5 hersel= been ill some 5a>s with
5en]ie i-:82! =ever. I= I ha5 tho9ght o= his illness at all( it wo9l5 have been witho9t an>
an?iet>( as I ha5 hear5 he was better( an5 able to lie on the so=a. It is now some >ears
since these things happene5( an5 I ma> not be correct in m> remembrance o= all 5etails@
b9t as to both the waking
2
an5 the sleeping impressions being name5 to me be=ore the
events which the> seeme5 to have in5icate5 were known( or co9l5 be known to 9s in an>
or5inar> wa>( I am positive.
B&. .E'"E'* "OLL)%$.C
In conversation with the present writer( -olonel "ollan5 spontaneo9sl> re=erre5 to the
e?traor5inar> character o= the scream.
-olonel "ollan54s acco9nt s9ggeste5 some 5o9bt in his min5 as to whether his wi=e ha5
act9all> identified the 5ea5 man be=ore the news o= the 5eath was known( an5 this point
was accor5ingl> inE9ire5 abo9t. In his repl>( -olonel "ollan5 mentione5 that =or some
time past his hearing has been somewhat imper=ect an5 9ncertain( an5 he contin9es:A
BI can sa=el> sa> that Mrs. "ollan5( =rom the time o= the event( has alwa>s sai5 she sai5(
uIt is the -olonel(4 an5 I have never tol5 her that I 5i5 not hear her( never 5o9bting b9t
that she sai5 it. /he( however( is m9ch s9rprise5 that I never mentione5 the =act o= not
having hear5 it. .er 5escription at the time le=t no 5o9bt in m> own min5 that it was
-olonel +. /he sai5 she saw a long Por perhaps tallQ man being carrie5( with his long hair
=alling back. -olonel +. wore his hair long =or a militar> man o= the present 5a>( so the
short 5escription she gave me i5enti=ie5 the man( as long hair is so rarel> worn b>
militar> men. ,e ma> even have 5isc9sse5 whether it was he( b9t I 5on4t remember her
sa>ing almost at once( uIt is the -olonel.4 M> wi=e has a ver> m9ch better memor> =or
conversations than I have( so that I will not 9n5ertake to sa> that we 5i5 not 5isc9ss(
between 2 a.m. an5 8 a.m.( whether or not it was -olonel +.@ b9t I am certain I 5i5 not
hear m> wi=e sa> at once( imme5iatel> a=ter her short 5escription o= the 5ream( uIt is the
-olonel(4 b9t she ma> have sai5 it witho9t m> hearing it. Mrs. "ollan5 is so min9tel>
acc9rate in repeating a conversation that I =eel s9re her version is m9ch more to be relie5
on than m> own.C
)n5 Mrs. "ollan5 a55s:A
BF9l> UWth( 2773.
B)s regar5s m> own opinion o= what happene5 a=ter m> 5ream abo9t -olonel +.( I have
not( nor ever ha5( an> 5o9bt that it was he I saw. I can see the whole scene be=ore me
now( as I saw it then( an5 I cannot get over m> impression that I mentione5 his name at
once( or rather( as soon as I came 9pon the recollection o= what ha5 ma5e me scream. I
think I have tol5 >o9 that altho9gh m> own scream awoke me( I 5i5 not at once know that
I ha5 been =rightene5( or that I ha5 crie5 o9t. "9t in 5escribing m> 5ream to m> h9sban5(
I s955enl> came 9pon the pict9re again( an5 then I was so =rightene5 it was some time
be=ore I co9l5 get over it.C
YI receive5 b> p9re acci5ent a con=irmation o= the =act that Mrs. "ollan5 mentione5
-olonel +. at the moment. I was sitting at tea with i-:8U! -olonel an5 Mrs. "ollan5@ an5
the conversation t9rning on telepath>( b9t no mention having been ma5e o= the above
case( a sister o= -olonel "ollan54s( who was present( s955enl> sai5 to Mrs. "ollan5( B$o
>o9 remember abo9t that time when >o9 calle5 o9t( u*here4s the -olonelr4C It t9rne5 o9t
that she remembere5 these wor5s as having occ9rre5 in a letter =rom Mrs. "ollan5( which
5escribe5 the inci5ent imme5iatel> a=ter its occ9rrence@ an5 neither o= them co9l5 recall
that the s9bDect ha5 been a=terwar5s talke5 o= between them.Z
,e come now to cases where a 5istinctl> =antastic element appears@ the realit> is bo5ie5
=orth in a 5ream-scene which has no relation to act9al possibilities.
*he =ollowing case is remarkable in that there were t-o percipients( =or one o= whom the
5istant event was embo5ie5 in a =antastic( an5 =or the other in a more normal( manner.
*he 5o9bling o= the e?perience o= co9rse enormo9sl> increases the improbabilit> that the
coinci5ence was acci5ental@ b9t it is open to 9s to s9ppose that onl> one o= the 5reams
was 5irectl> connecte5 with the absent =rien5( an5 that this 5ream pro59ce5 the other( on
the analog> o= some o= the cases o= sim9ltaneo9s 5reaming alrea5> given.
2
Miss Varah( o=
3;( Fames /treet( -owle> 'oa5( O?=or5( writes:A
BFan9ar>( 277V.
P2UWQ B) =rien5 o= mine( Mr. )5ams( was serio9sl> ill( an5 we were e?pecting his 5eath. I
ha5 a 5ream that I saw the corpse o= his wi=e lai5 o9t 9pon a be5( tho9gh we ha5 no
reason to s9ppose that she was even ill. ) =rien5 with whom I was sta>ing also 5reame5
that she saw Mrs. )5ams a corpse. Y*his is not acc9rate.Z *he morning4s post bro9ght
news o= her 5angero9s illness( an5 a telegram 59ring the morning anno9nce5 her 5eath.
M> =rien5 an5 I tol5 each other o9r 5reams in the morning at break=ast. M> =rien5 ha5
calle5 =or her letters be=ore coming 5own in the morning( =earing ba5 news.
BM)'I)%%E V)')..C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss Varah tells 9s that Mrs. )5ams 5ie5 between 22 an5 2( on the
night o= +ebr9ar> UVth( 27W8( an5 we =in5 the UVth given as the 5ate in an obit9ar> notice
in the !heffield Dail, Telegraph/ b9t she 5oes not know the e?act ho9r o= her 5ream. /he
a55s( B*he 5ream 5escribe5 is the onl> one I believe I ever ha5 o= the kin5.C
Miss Varah4s =rien5( the late Mrs. M9ller( wrote as =ollows:A
B7( "evington 'oa5( O?=or5.
BFan9ar>( 277V.
BI 5reame5 that I was at .astings( on the shore. I saw m> =rien5( Miss )5ams( r9nning
towar5s me. /he passe5 me b>( an5 then took o== her hat an5 bent her hea5 5own into the
sea. I trie5 to grasp her b> her clothes( b9t she crie5 o9t( u$on4t stop me( =or m> mother is
5>ing.4 i-:8:! In the morning I D9mpe5 o9t o= be5 on hearing the post( an5 sai5 to
Marianne Varah( u.ave >o9 ha5 a letter =rom Miss )5amsr *here m9st be something the
matter with her mother.4 Miss Varah answere5( uI have a letter( b9t have not opene5 it. I
have ha5 a ver> strange 5ream( b9t I tho9ght nothing o= it( beca9se Mr. )5ams is so ill.4
Miss Varah then opene5 her letter( an5 calle5 o9t( u#o9 are right.4 *here were a =ew lines(
uM> mother is 5angero9sl> ill: 5octors sa> no hope. ,e will sen5 a telegram.4 *he
telegram came 59ring the morning o= +ebr9ar> U3th( Yclearl> a mistake =or U8th(Z 27W8(
sa>ing she was 5ea5. /he ha5 been in per=ect health the 5a> be=ore.
B%either Miss Varah nor m>sel= are at all given to 5reams( an5 ha5 not till then believe5
in them at all.
BEMIL# E. MULLE'.C
*he ne?t acco9nt is containe5 in a letter =rom "riga5e-/9rgeon ,right( F9nior )rm> an5
%av> -l9b( /t. Fames4 /treet( /.,.( to his sister.
BOctober 27th( 2773.
P2U7Q B#o9 aske5 me to give >o9 an acco9nt o= the e?traor5inar> 5ream I ha5 in In5ia( on
the occasion o= o9r mother4s 5eath. It was more vivi5 than an or5inar> 5ream( an5
impresse5 itsel= so m9ch on me that 5irectl> I awoke( which was at the concl9sion o= the
5ream( I looke5 at m> watch( an5( allowing =or the 5i==erence o= time between In5ia an5
Englan5( m> mother was 5>ing at the moment o= m> 5ream.
BI was o9t 5eer-stalking 59ring the month o= )pril( 278X( in the territor> o= o9r =e95ator>
chie=( the MaharaDah o= &9alior( who provi5e5 me with a g9ar5 o= /epo>s( while in the
D9ngle( to protect me =rom $acoits. On the night o= )pril 2Vth I slept o9tsi5e the village
o= 09rk9rree( 9n5er a large variet> o= =ig-tree calle5 in In5ia a b9rgot tree. I 5reame5 that
m> =ather Pwho 5ie5 in 27V3Q an5 mother appeare5 to me@ the latter a55resse5 an5 kisse5
me an5 aske5 me( u,here is Maggier4 Ythe narrator4s wi=e.Z /he then rece5e5 gra59all>
an5 5isappeare5. I note5 care=9ll> the 5ate an5 ho9r. ,hen I ret9rne5 =rom there to
*he9sie( where m> regiment was statione5( I got a letter =rom m> mother( written as i=
she was in e?cellent health an5 spirits@ b9t soon a=ter came two letters( one =rom m>
brother Fames( an5 one =rom m> brother-in-law( )rth9r ,right. I opene5 m> brother4s
=irst( an5( a=ter the =irst paro?>sms o= grie= ha5 lessene5( eagerl> scanne5 it to see i= the
5eath correspon5e5 with m> 5ream( b9t no 5ate was mentione5. $eepl> have I o=ten
since regrette5 not having calle5 somebo5> in be=ore opening letter %o. U( in or5er to
=9ll> veri=> the circ9mstances. +or reall>( now that the sa5 intelligence was known to me(
)rth9r4s letter was opene5 b> me more to see i= it coinci5e5 as to the 5ate o= her 5eath
an5 m> 5ream( an5 I then =o9n5 that it coinci5e5 e?actl>.
B*. ,'I&.*.C
In a letter to 9s( Mr. ,right sa>s:A
BOctober U3th( 2773.
B*he 5ream took place abo9t mi5night( which( allowing =or the 5i==erence o= time
between In5ia an5 Englan5( makes the coinci5ence ver> close. I 5i5 look at m> watch
5irectl> I awoke( b9t regret ver> m9ch not having taken written notes at the time. I awoke
at the en5 o= the 5ream. $eath was s9ggeste5 to m> min5 b> seeing m> mother
accompanie5 b> m> i-:83! =ather( who ha5 pre5ecease5 her b> 2V >ears. I have not
o=ten 5reamt o= m> relatives in a vivi5 wa>.C
In answer to inE9iries( he a55s:A
BI was not awake. *he impression pro59ce5 was that arising =rom a ver> vivi5 5ream.
*he 5ate o= m> 5ream being )pril 2Vth( was =ar more than an in=erence( it was a
certaint>@ as when I got the two letters anno9ncing m> mother4s 5eath Pone =rom m>
brother an5 one =rom m> brother-in-lawQ I opene5 m> brother4s =irst( an5 a=ter recovering
somewhat =rom the shock o= the sa5 intelligence( I eagerl> re-per9se5 it to see i= the 5ate
o= the 5eath correspon5e5 with that o= m> 5ream( b9t =o9n5 that no 5ate was mentione5. I
then h9rrie5l> opene5 the secon5 letter( with a view o= seeing the 5ate o= her 5eath( an5
then =or the =irst time learne5 that she 5ie5 on the 2Vth )pril( the 5ate o= m> 5ream.C
Miss ,right( /ecretar> o= the &irls4 +rien5l> /ociet>( :( Victoria Mansions( Victoria
/treet( ,estminster( /.,.( sa>s:A
BOctober 27th( 2773.
BM> mother 5ie5 on )pril 2Vth( 278X( at 7 p.m. .er 5eath was s955en. /he was onl> U3
ho9rs ill( an5 was E9ite 9nconscio9s =or 3 ho9rs be=ore her 5eath.
2

BLU-# O. ,'I&.*.C
.ere the 5reamer4s min5 embo5ie5 the i5ea o= 5eath in the =ig9re o= a long 5ecease5
relative. More commonl> the imager> in s9ch cases is 5rawn =rom the =amiliar earthl>
s>mbols o= 5eathAco==ins( =9neral processions( an5 graves. ) =ew e?amples ma> be
given here@ others will be =o9n5 in the /9pplement PVol. ii.( pp. 32WTU8Q. *he =ollowing
acco9nt is =rom the 'ev. -. -. ,ambe>( o= 1aragon( /alisb9r>( who in conversation
comm9nicate5 the names o= the persons concerne5.
B)pril( 2773.
P2UXQ BIn m> bachelor 5a>s I live5 =or two >ears at -.( in the o9tskirts o= Lon5on. On a
certain night I 5reame5 that Mr. ,.( with whom I was acE9ainte5( an5 m>sel= were
walking in the cloisters o= ,estminster )bbe>.
B.e abr9ptl> ba5e me u&oo5-b>e(4 sa>ing that he m9st go to a partic9lar gravestone. IA
in m> 5reamAentreate5 him not to go( b9t to come back with me o9t o= the cloisters.
u%o( no(4 he replie5( uI m9st go( I am fated to go.4 ,ith that he broke =rom me( h9rrie5 to
the stone( an5 sank thro9gh the =loor. *he ne?t morning I mentione5 the 5ream to m>
lan5la5>( an5 tol5 her it was m> =irm conviction that m> =rien5 was 5ea5.
B*he ne?t morning4s post bro9ght me a letter =rom m> brother( who state5 that on the
previo9s night Mr. ,. ha5 5ie5 s955enl> =rom 5isease o= the heart.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. ,ambe> sa>s:A
i-:8V!
BMa> 2Wth( 2773.
B*his occ9rre5 between F9ne( 27VV( an5 F9ne( 27V8@ I =orget the month an5 5a>.
BI mentione5 the 5ream to m> lan5la5> ne?t morning. *he last time I saw Mr. ,.( he was
in his 9s9al health( an5 I ha5 receive5 no intimation whatever that he was ailing( be=ore I
ha5 the 5ream.
BF9st at this time I cannot recall an> 5ream I ma> have ha5 o= a =rien54s 5eath( b9t I have
5reamt o= a =rien54s (arriage, which 5ream was =9l=ille5 b> the event( which took man>
b> s9rprise@ it appeare5 wholl> improbable. %othing ha5 occ9rre5 to lea5 me to 5ream o=
Mr. ,.C
*he ne?t case is =rom Mr. %. *. Menneer( 1rincipal o= *orre -ollege( *orE9a>.
B$ecember 27th( 277:.
P2:;Q BI tho9ght >o9 wo9l5 be intereste5 in the =ollowing acco9nt o= a strange 5ream that
came 9n5er m> notice some U8 >ears ago.
BM> wi=e( since 5ecease5( ha5 a brother resi5ing at /arawak( an5 at the time to which I
re=er( sta>ing with the 'aDa( /ir Fames "rooke.
B*he =ollowing is an e?tract =rom the secon5 vol9me o= The =a5a of !ara-a1, b>
&ertr95e L. Facob( p. U:7. uMr. ,ellington4 Pm> wi=e4s brotherQ uwas kille5 in a brave
attempt to 5e=en5 Mrs. Mi55leton an5 her chil5ren.4 *he -hinese( it appears( taking Mr.
,ellington =or the 'aDa4s son( str9ck o== his hea5.
B)n5 now =or the 5ream. I was awoke one night b> m> wi=e( who starte5 =rom her sleep(
terri=ie5 b> the =ollowing 5ream. /he saw her headless brother stan5ing at the =oot o= the
be5 with his hea5 l>ing on a co==in b> his si5e. I 5i5 m> best to console m> wi=e( who
contin9e5 to be m9ch 5istresse5 =or some consi5erable time. )t length she =ell asleep
again( to be awoke b> a similar 5ream. In the morning( an5 =or several 5a>s a=ter( she
constantl> re=erre5 to her 5ream( an5 anticipate5 sa5 news o= her brother.
B)n5 now comes the strangest part o= the stor>. ,hen the news reache5 Englan5( I
comp9te5 appro?imatel> the time( an5 =o9n5 it coincided -ith the (e(orable night to
-hich : have referred.
B%. *. ME%%EE'.C
In repl> to inE9iries( Mr. Menneer a55s:A
BM> 5ecease5 wi=e never ha5( as =ar as I know( similar 5istressing 5reams o= 5eath to
which no real event correspon5e5.
B*here is no 5o9bt that the -hinese str9ck o== his hea5. 1artic9lars o= his =ate were sent to
Mr. ,ellington4s =ather b> the 'aDa himsel=.
BIn sa>ing I calc9late5 the time an5 =o9n5 it to correspon5 appro.i(atel,, I probabl>
gave >o9 a wrong impression. I 5i5 not note 5own the 5ate o= the 5ream( b9t when the
news reache5 Englan5 I calc9late5 the 9s9al time o= s9ch a vo>age( an5 =o9n5 it
correspon5e5 with the time I consi5ere5 ha5 elapse5 since the night o= the 5ream.C
1ro=essor /i5gwick( a=ter an interview with Mr. Menneer( on /eptember 2W( 2773( wrote:
A
B.e sai5 that Mrs. Menneer ha5 no 5e=inite i5ea where her brother i-:88! ha5 gone@
the> ha5 not hear5 =rom him since his 5epart9re@ she ha5 certainl> no i5ea that he wo9l5
be engage5 in militar> operations at all( still less that he wo9l5 be engage5 with -hinese.
In =act she was in no state o= alarm abo9t him at all. Mr. Menneer sai5 that the> 5i5 not
p9t 5own the 5ate o= the 5ream at the time( an5 that when the news came he co9l5 not
remember it e?actl>@ b9t he took pains to calc9late it at the time( an5 satis=ie5 himsel=
that it was at the time o= the 5eath as nearl> as he co9l5 reckon. .e ha5 not been a
believer in 5reams previo9sl>. .e hear5 the partic9lars o= the 5eath =rom Mr. ,ellington(
the =ather.C
*his 5ream( i= it is to be telepathicall> e?plaine5( m9st apparentl> have been 59e to the
last =lash o= tho9ght in the brother4s conscio9sness. It ma> seem strange that a 5e=inite
pict9re o= his mo5e o= 5eath sho9l5 present itsel= to a man in the instant o= receiving an
9ne?pecte5 an5 =atal blow@ b9t( as .obbes sai5( Btho9ght is E9ick.C *he co==in( at an>
rate( ma> be taken as an item o= 5eath-imager> s9pplie5 b> the 5reamer4s min5. *he
repetition o= the 5ream sho9l5 again be note5 Pp. :VWQ.
In the =ollowing cases the imager> o= 5eath is still more elaboratel> 5evelope5. Mrs.
.ilton( a la5> activel> engage5 in most practical work( an5 not in the least a Bvisionar>(C
has given 9s the =ollowing acco9nts.
BU:3( "9r5ett 'oa5( E.
B)pril 2;th( 277:.
P2:2Q B*he 5ream which I am abo9t to relate occ9rre5 abo9t U >ears ago. I seeme5 to be
walking in a co9ntr> roa5( with high grass> banks on either si5e. /955enl> I hear5 the
tramp o= man> =eet. +eeling a strange sense o= =ear( I calle5 o9t( u,ho are these people
comingr4 ) voice above me replie5( u) procession o= the 5ea5.4 I then =o9n5 m>sel= on
the bank( looking into the roa5 where the people were walking( =ive or si? abreast.
.9n5re5s o= them passe5 b> meAneither looking asi5e nor looking at each other. *he>
were people o= all con5itions an5 in all ranks o= li=e. I saw no chil5ren amongst them. I
watche5 the long line o= people go awa> into the =ar 5istance( b9t I =elt no special interest
in an> o= them( 9ntil I saw a mi55le-age5 +rien5( 5resse5 as a gentleman =armer. I pointe5
to him an5 calle5 o9t( u,ho is that( pleaser4 .e t9rne5 ro9n5 an5 sai5 in a lo95 voice( uI
am Fohn M.( o= -helms=or5.4 *hen m> 5ream en5e5. %e?t 5a>( when m> h9sban5
ret9rne5 =rom his o==ice he tol5 me that Fohn M.( o= -helms=or5( ha5 5ie5 the previo9s
5a>.
BI ma> a55 that I onl> knew the +rien5 in E9estion b> sight an5 cannot recollect ever
speaking to him.C
,e =in5 =rom a newspaper obit9ar> that F. M.4s 5eath took place on Fan9ar> 23th( 277;.
P2:UQ B)bo9t a >ear ago( I ha5 a 5ream ver> similar to the prece5ing one. *he localit>
was the same. *he onl> 5i==erence was that I was stan5ing in the roa5( tr>ing to prevent a
little girl =rom Doining the procession. i-:8W! *he la5>( in whose charge the chil5 was
an5 who was stan5ing b> me in the roa5( sai5( uI am giving her into the charge o= -harles
1.( o= $arlington(4 mentioning the name o= a well-known member o= the /ociet> o=
+rien5s. I replie5( u*hat is not -harles 1.4 I calle5 o9t as be=ore( u,ho are >o9( pleaser4 )
>o9ng man in the procession t9rne5 ro9n5 an5 sai5( uI am F. &.4 %e?t morning I hear5
that F. &. ha5 5ie5 rather s955enl> in the night. I knew this >o9ng man( b9t not intimatel>(
an5 I ha5 not seen him =or months.
B)gain( a thir5 time( I =o9n5 m>sel= in the same place( b9t m> terror was so e?treme( that
I kneele5 on the bank an5 pra>e5 that I might not witness the march o= the 5ea5. Instantl>
I was remove5( an5 the tramp o= the terrible procession cease5. I never 5iscovere5 that
an>one whom I knew 5ie5 at the time o= this last 5ream.
BIn each o= these three 5reams I seeme5 to be 9n5er the in=l9ence an5 5rea5 o= some
9nseen power.
BM)'IE .IL*O%.C
In answer to inE9iries as to the =irst o= these cases( Mrs. .ilton sa>s:A
BI 5i5 not know that Fohn M. was ill( an5 ha5 not even hear5 his name mentione5@ I co9l5
not trace an> reason wh> he sho9l5 have been in m> tho9ghts.C
In answer to inE9iries as to the secon5 case( she sa>s:A
BI recognise5 the little girl as the chil5 o= a =rien5. I ha5 not hear5 an>thing abo9t the
chil5 to make me 5ream o= her. -harles 1. ha5 been 5ea5 =or some >ears at the 5ate o= the
5ream.C
*he absence o= an> ascertaine5 coinci5ence on the thir5 occasion might be represente5 as
an arg9ment =or regar5ing the correspon5ence on the two previo9s occasions as
acci5ental( b9t it wo9l5 be a ver> weak one@ since even i= the 5ream ha5 rec9rre5 a
tho9san5 times( the chances against the acci5ental occ9rrence o= two s9ch coinci5ences
wo9l5 still remain enormo9s. *he ten5enc> on the 5reamer4s part to s>mbolise 5eath in
one partic9lar wa> is neither against nor in =avo9r o= the telepathic e?planation.
2
Y~Z
,hile on the s9bDect o= s>mbolic 5reams( I ma> observe that man> persons pro=ess to
have a partic9lar rec9rrent 5ream( which in itsel= has no obvio9s relation to 5eath( b9t
which proves in =act to coinci5e more or less closel> with 5eaths or other calamities that
a==ect them. I nee5 har5l> sa> that s9ch statements have no evi5ential val9e( 9nless we
can be s9re that the> are more than the loose assertions o= persons who see no importance
in noting misses as well as hits( an5 to whom it is no 5i==ic9lt> in the wa> o= the s9ppose5
correspon5ence that the two events were separate5 perhaps b> a month4s interval. In most
o= s9ch cases( in5ee5( the 5ream i-:87! prece5es the event an5 is pro=esse5l> taken as a
BwarningC@ so that( however well atteste5( the> co9l5 have no place in this book.
Occasionall>( however( a person who pro=esses this remarkable gi=t can s9ppl>
s9==icientl> circ9mstantial evi5ence to have some claim to attention@ an5 one rather
striking instance o= the sort will be =o9n5 in the /9pplement Pcase 38;Q.
S 7. I pass now to the =inal class o= cases( where the 5reamer seems( as it were( to be
transporte5 to the act9al scene o= the event. *hese cases( like the =inal cases o= the 8th
chapter( cannot b9t s9ggest certain phenomena o= the waking state which are other than
those o= tho9ght-trans=erenceAthe phenomena o= so-calle5 clairvo,ance. "9t I m9st
again 5raw attention to the ra5ical 5i==erences in the phenomena which that wor5 ma> be
ma5e to cover. *here are certain allege5 =acts o= waking clairvo>ance which( i= tr9e(
wo9l5 5rive 9s to the concl9sion that the percipient4s powers o= vision were in5epen5ent
o= the tho9ghts( either act9all> passing or latent( in the min5s o= others. %o 5o9bt ver>
man> =acts have been loosel> ascribe5 to clairvo>ance( which we sho9l5 now regar5 as
simple e?amples o= tho9ght-trans=erence. *his has been owing partl> to the blin5ness o=
writers on clairvo>ance to the enormo9s 5i==ic9lties which the ass9mption o= s9ch a
=ac9lt> involves@ b9t still more to the lack( 9ntil latel>( o= acc9rate e?periments in
tho9ght-trans=erence. "9t there remain =acts whichAi= the testimon> o= 'obert .o95in
an5 other e?perts can be tr9ste5Ano possible e?tension o= the theor> o= tho9ght-
trans=erence will cover@ an5 in which( tho9gh the partic9lar res9lt obtaine5 5epen5e5 in
some manner on the partic9lar person who so9ght to obtain it( the range o= perception
altogether transcen5e5 the past or present contents o= that person4s min5. %ow with s9ch
cases as these we have nothing to 5o in the present work. Even sho9l5 some o= the
e?amples to be a559ce5 seem to take 9s be>on5 the con=ines o= thought6transference in
an> literal sense( the> will still not take 9s be>on5 the con=ines o= telepath,Ao= a theor>
which implies so(e sort o= in=l9ence o= the min5 o= an agent on the min5 o= a percipient.
*he percipient ma> observe a scene( into the mi5st o= which he =in5s himsel= mentall>
transporte5( with s9ch completeness o= 5etail( an5 =or s9ch a length o= time( as at an> rate
to s9ggest some act9al e?ercise on it o= his own in5epen5ent perceptional powers@ b9t it
will still be a scene with some principal actor in which he is in some wa> linke5. .e ma>
see i-:8X! a 5eath-be5 an5 the s9rro9n5ing mo9rners@ b9t we have no sort o= reason to
s9ppose that he co9l5 similarl> see an, 5eath-be5. *here has( at an> rate( been an agent,
in the sense o= a partic9lar person whose actual presence in the scene has to be accepte5
as a con5ition o= the percipient4s i(agined presence@ an5 however novel an5 e?ceptional
the wa> in which the percipient4s range o= knowle5ge ma> seem to be e?ten5e5( these
=9rther glimpses still take place apparentl> not in an> chance 5irection( b9t in a 5irection
marke5 o9t b> his previo9s a==inities with other min5s. "9t in =act the process nee5 not
seem so e?ceptional( i= we recall once more the right which e?periment has given 9s to
5raw on parts o= the agent4s min5 which are below the level o= ostensible conscio9sness.
+or in none o= the cases to be here cite5 5o the percipient4s impressions e?ten5 be>on5
what has been be=ore the (indAtho9gh certainl> be>on5 what has been be=ore the
attentionAo= persons act9all> present at the scene. ,e ma> perhaps be le5 sometimes to
conceive several o= these min5s as contrib9ting to the impression. "9t some o= the
e?perimental res9lts have alrea5> intro59ce5 on a small scale the notion o= Doint agenc>(
2

an5 ma> th9s enable 9s to maintain the analog> between e?perimental an5 spontaneo9s
telepath> in a manner which least o= all might have been e?pecte5.
I ma> cite at once the two cases which seem the =9rthest remove5 =rom an> o= the
prece5ing( inasm9ch as the Bagenc>C in them is speciall> har5 to conceive. *he> happen
to be at the two e?tremes o= the trivial an5 the tragic. *he =irst is reporte5 b> a witnessA
Miss "9sk( o= 28( Montag9 /treet( ,.Awho is strongl> a5verse to the telepathic theor>(
an5 hol5s the view that all the allege5 coinci5ences are acci5ental( an5 that the more
n9mero9s the> are( the more clearl> acci5ental m9st the> be.
B2773.
P2::Q BI 5reamt that I was walking in a woo5 in m> =ather4s place in 0ent( in a spot well
known to me( where there was san5 9n5er the =irs@ I st9mble5 over some obDects( which
prove5 to be the hea5s( le=t protr95ing( o= some 59cks b9rie5 in the san5. *he i5ea
impresse5 me as so comical that I =ort9natel> mentione5 it at break=ast ne?t morning( an5
one or two persons remember that I 5i5 so. Onl> an ho9r later it happene5 that the ol5
baili== o= the place came 9p =or some instr9ctions 9ne?pecte5l>( an5 as he was leaving he
sai5 he m9st tell 9s a strange thing that ha5 happene5: there ha5 been a robber> in the
=arm>ar5( an5 some stolen 59cks ha5 been =o9n5 b9rie5 in the san5( with their hea5s
protr95ing( in the ver> spot where I ha5 seen the same. *he =arm was 9n5erlet( an5 I i-
:W;! ha5 not even an> interest in the 59cks( to carr> m> tho9ghts towar5s them 9n5er the
ne=ario9s treatment the> receive5.
B'. .. "U/0.C
Miss "9sk4s sister( Mrs. 1itt ">rne( who was present when this 5ream was tol5(
corroborates as =ollows:A
BI 5istinctl> remember( an5 have o=ten since spoken o=( the circ9mstance o= Miss '. ..
"9sk4s relating to me her 5ream o= 59cks b9rie5 in the woo5( be=ore the baili== who
reporte5 the inci5ent came 9p to town.
BF. 1I** "#'%E.C
*he ne?t case is remarkable =or the n9mber o= points o= correspon5ence( tho9gh the
5ream is t>picall> =antastic an5 con=9se5. *he narrative is =rom Mrs. /torie( o= 7(
&ilmo9r 'oa5( E5inb9rgh. It was written b> her( she tells 9s( the 5a>( or the 5a> a=ter( the
news o= the =atal acci5ent arrive5( merel> as a relie= to hersel=( an5 witho9t an i5ea o= an>
=9rther 9se. /he prepare5 an acco9nt =or 9s in a more =inishe5 =orm@ b9t it seems
pre=erable to give the original ro9gh notes( which she has kin5l> allowe5 9s to cop>. *he
brother in this case was a twin with hersel= Psee p. UWXQ.
B.obart *own.
BF9l>( 27W3.
P2:3Q BOn the evening o= the 27th F9l>( I =elt 9n9s9all> nervo9s. *his seeme5 to begin
Ywith the occ9rrence o= a small 5omestic anno>anceZ abo9t hal=-past 7 o4clock. ,hen I
went to m> room I even =elt as i= someone was there. I =ancie5( as I steppe5 into be5( that
someone in thought trie5 to stop me. )t U o4clock I woke =rom the =ollowing 5ream. It
seeme5 like in 5issolving views. In a twinkle o= light I saw a railwa>( an5 the p9== o= the
engine. I tho9ght( u,hat4s going on 9p therer *ravellingr I won5er i= an> o= 9s are
travelling an5 I 5reaming o= it.4 !o(eone 9nseen b> me answere5( u%o: something E9ite
5i==erentAsomething wrong.4 uI 5on4t like to look at these things(4 I sai5. *hen I saw
behin5 an5 above m> hea5 ,illiam4s 9pper hal= reclining( e>es an5 mo9th hal= sh9t@ his
chest move5 =orwar5 conv9lsivel>( an5 he raise5 his right arm. *hen he bent =orwar5(
sa>ing( uI s9ppose I sho9l5 move o9t o= this.4 *hen I saw him l>ing( e>es sh9t( on the
gro9n5( =lat. *he chimne> o= an engine at his hea5. I calle5 in e?citement( u*hat will
strike hims4 *he usomeone4 answere5 u#esAwell( here4s what it was4@ an5 imme5iatel> I
saw ,illiam sitting in the open airA=aint moonlightAon a raise5 place( si5ewa>s. .e
raise5 his right arm( sh955ere5( an5 sai5( uI can4t go on( or back( No.4 *hen he seeme5
l>ing =lat. I crie5 o9t( uOhs Ohs4 an5 others seeme5 to echo( uOhs Ohs4 .e seeme5 then
9pon his elbow( sa>ing( u%ow it comes.4 *hen( as i= str9ggling to rise( t9rne5 twice ro9n5
E9ickl>( sa>ing( uIs it the trainr the train, the train(4 his right sho9l5er reverberating as i=
str9ck =rom behin5. .e =ell back like =ainting@ his e>es rolle5. ) large 5ark obDect came
between 9s like panelling o= woo5( an5 i-:W2! rather in the 5ark something rolle5 over(
an5 like an arm was thrown 9p( an5 the whole thing went awa> with a s-ish. -lose
besi5e me on the gro9n5 there seeme5 a long 5ark obDect. I calle5 o9t( u*he>4ve le=t
something behin5( it4s like a man.4 It then raise5 its sho9l5ers an5 hea5 an5 =ell 5own
again. *he same so(eone answere5( ues, sadl,.4 Yr ues(4 sa5l>.Z )=ter a moment I
seeme5 calle5 on to look 9p( an5 sai5( uIs that thing not awa> >etr4 )nswere5( uNo.4 )n5
in =ront( in light( there was a railwa> compartment in which sat 'ev. Mr. Fohnstone( o=
Ech9ce. I sai5( u,hat4s he 5oing therer4 )nswere5( u.e4s there.4 ) railwa> porter went 9p
to the win5ow asking( u.ave >o9 seen an> o= AA.4 I ca9ght no more( b9t I thought he
re=erre5 to the thing le=t behin5. Mr. Fohnstone seeme5 to answer( uNo4@ an5 the man went
E9ickl> awa>AI tho9ght to look =or it. )=ter all this the so(eone sai5 close to me( u%ow
I4m a tall 5ark =ig9re at m> hea5 going.4 I starte5( an5 at once saw ,illiam4s back at m>
si5e. .e p9t his right han5 Pin grie=Q over his =ace( an5 the other almost to9ching m>
sho9l5er( he crosse5 in =ront( looking stern an5 solemn. *here was a =lash =rom the e>es(
an5 I ca9ght a glimpse o= a =ine( pale =ace like 9shering him along( an5 in5istinctl>
another. I =elt =rightene5( an5 calle5 o9t( uIs he angr>r4 uO( no.4 uIs he going awa>r4
)nswere5( ues, b> the same so(eone, an5 I woke with a lo95 sigh( which woke m>
h9sban5( who sai5( u,hat is itr4 I tol5 him I ha5 been 5reaming usomething
9npleasant4Aname5 a urailwa>(4 an5 5ismisse5 it all =rom m> min5 as a 5ream. )s I =ell
asleep again I =ancie5 the usomeone4 sai5( uIt4s all gone(4 an5 another answere5( uI4ll come
an5 remin5 her.4
B*he news reache5 me one week a=terwar5s. *he acci5ent ha5 happene5 to m> brother on
the same night abo9t hal= past X o4clock. 'ev. Mr. Fohnstone an5 his wi=e were act9all> in
the train which str9ck him. .e was walking along the line( which is raise5 U =eet on a
level co9ntr>. .e seeme5 to have gone 28 milesAm9st have been tire5 an5 sat 5own to
take o== his boot( which was besi5e him( 5o]e5 o== an5 was ver> likel> ro9se5 b> the
so9n5 o= the train@ W8 sheep-tr9cks ha5 passe5 witho9t to9ching him( b9t some woo5en
proDection( likel> the step( ha5 to9che5 the right si5e o= his hea5( br9ise5 his right
sho9l5er( an5 kille5 him instantaneo9sl>. *he night was ver> 5ark. I believe now that the
so(eone was P=rom something in the -a, he spokeQ ,illiam hi(self. *he =ace with him
was white as alabaster( an5 something like this Ya small sketch paste5 onZ in pro=ile.
*here were man> other tho9ghts or wor5s seeme5 to pass( b9t the> are too man> to write
5own here.
B*he voice o= the usomeone4 9nseen seeme5 al-a,s above the =ig9re o= ,illiam which I
saw. )n5 when I was shown the compartment o= the carriage with Mr. Fohnstone( the
so(eone seeme5 on a line between me an5 itAabove me.C
In an acco9nt-book o= Mrs. /torie4s( on a page hea5e5 F9l>( 27W3( we =in5 the 27th 5a>
marke5( an5 the wor5s( B$ear ,illie 5ie5(C an5 B$reame5( 5reame5 o= it all(C appen5e5.
*he =irst letter( =rom the 'ev. F. -. Fohnstone to the 'ev. Fohn /torie( anno9ncing the
news o= the acci5ent( is lost. *he =ollowing are e?tracts =rom his secon5 an5 thir5 letters
on the s9bDect:A
i-:WU!
BEch9ce( 2;th )9g9st( 27W3.
B*he place where .9nter was kille5 is on an open plain( an5 there was conseE9entl>
plent> o= room =or him to escape the train ha5 he been conscio9s@ b9t I think Mel5r9m4s
theor> is the correct one( that he ha5 sat 5own to a5D9st some ban5ages on his leg an5 ha5
tho9ghtlessl> gone o== to sleep. *here is onl> one line o= rails( an5 the gro9n5 is raise5
abo9t U =eetAthe gro9n5 on which the rails rest. .e ha5 probabl> sat 5own on the e5ge(
an5 lain 5own backwar5s so as to be within reach o= some part o= the train. It was not
known at the time that an acci5ent ha5 occ9rre5. Mrs. Fohnstone an5 m>sel= were in the
train. Mel5r9m sa>s he was not ver> m9ch cr9she5. *he top o= the sk9ll was str9ck o==(
an5 some ribs were broken( 9n5er the arm-pit on one si5e. .is bo5> was =o9n5 on the
/9n5a> morning b> a her5-bo> =rom the a5Doining station.C
B)9g9st UXth( 27W3.
B*he e?act time at which the train str9ck poor .9nter m9st have been abo9t X.VV p.m.(
an5 his 5eath m9st have been instantaneo9s.C
*he above correspon5s with the acco9nt o= the inE9est in the =iverine 9erald =or F9l>
UUn5. *he 'elbourne )rgus also 5escribes the acci5ent as having taken place on the night
o= /at9r5a>( the 27th.
*he =ollowing remarks are taken =rom notes ma5e b> 1ro=essor /i5gwick( 59ring an
interview with Mrs. /torie( in )pril( 2773( an5 b> Mrs. /i5gwick( a=ter another interview
in /eptember( 277V:A
Mrs. /torie cannot regar5 the e?perience e?actl> as a 5ream( tho9gh she woke 9p =rom it.
2
/he is s9re that it 5i5 not grow more 5e=inite in recollection a=terwar5s. /he never ha5 a
series o= scenes in a 5ream at an> other time. *he> were intro59ce5 b> a voice in a
whisper( not recognise5 as her brother4s. .e ha5 sat on the bank as he appeare5 in the
5ream. *he engine she saw behin5 him ha5 a chimne> o= pec9liar shape( s9ch as she ha5
not at that time seen@ an5 she remembers that Mr. /torie tho9ght her =oolish abo9t
insisting on the chimne>A9nlike Phe sai5Q an> which e?iste5@ b9t he in=orme5 her when
he came back =rom Victoria( where her brother was( that engines o= this kin5 ha5 D9st
been intro59ce5 there. /he ha5 no reason to think that an> conversation between the
porter an5 the clerg>man act9all> occ9rre5. *he persons who seeme5 to lea5 her brother
awa> were not recognise5 b> her( an5 she onl> saw the =ace o= one o= them.
Mr. /torie con=irms his wi=e having sai5 to him at the time o= the 5ream( B,hat is that
lightCr "e=ore writing the acco9nt =irst E9ote5( she ha5 D9st mentione5 the 5ream to her
h9sban5( b9t ha5 not 5escribe5 it. /he 5esire5 not to think o= it( an5 also was 9nwilling to
worr> him abo9t it beca9se o= his /9n5a>4s work. *his last point( it will be observe5( is a
con=irmation o= the =act that the 5ream took place on the /at9r5a> night@ an5 Bit came o9t
clearl>C PMrs. /i5gwick sa>sQ Bthat her recollection abo9t the /at9r5a> night was an
in5epen5ent recollection( an5 not rea5 back a=ter the inci5ent was known.C *he strongl>
nervo9s state that prece5e5 the 5ream was E9ite 9niE9e in Mrs. /torie4s e?perience.
i-:W:!
"9t as it appeare5 that( accor5ing to her recollection( it commence5 at least an ho9r
be=ore the acci5ent took place( it m9st be regar5e5 as o= no importance evi5entiall>. *he
=eeling o= a presence in the room was also E9ite 9niE9e.
.ere the 5i==ic9lt> o= re=erring the tr9e elements in the 5ream to the agent4s min5 e?cee5s
that note5 in Mr. Menneer4s case Pp. :8V( b9t see pp. U:;T2Q. +or Mr. .9nter was asleep@
an5 even i= we can conceive that the image o= the a5vancing engine ma> have ha5 some
place in his min5( the presence o= Mr. Fohnstone co9l5 not have been perceive5 b> him.
"9t it is possible( o= co9rse( to regar5 this last item o= correspon5ence as acci5ental( even
tho9gh the 5ream was telepathic. It will be observe5 that the 5ream =ollowe5 the acci5ent
b> abo9t 3 ho9rs@ s9ch defer(ent is( I think( a strong point in =avo9r o= telepathic( as
oppose5 to in5epen5ent( clairvo>ance Psee p. :UXQ.
*o come( however( to less abnormal casesAthe =ollowing acco9nt is =rom Mr. F. *.
Milwar5 1ierce( who has a cattle-ranche in %ebraska.
B"l>ville 1.O.( 0no? -o9nt>( %ebraska( U./.).
B$ecember Vth( 277V.
P2:VQ BI have D9st( or rather a month ago( ha5 a ver> 9npleasant acci5ent which has
=ort9natel> t9rne5 o9t all right an5 has given me the pleas9re o= =orwar5ing to >o9 a ver>
complete an5 9nmistakeable case o= usecon5 sight.4 I think it better to enclose the two
letters >o9 will =in5 herein( as I receive5 them to-5a>. *he> are in answer to two o= mine
5ate5 abo9t the Un5 or :r5( abo9t a week a=ter the acci5ent.
B*he acci5ent occ9rre5 at W o4clock in the morning o= the U8th o= October. I =ainte5 =rom
loss o= bloo5( an5 was l>ing =or a =ew moments on the gro9n5. I was walking towar5s a
pair o= +rench win5ows( with m> han5s in m> pockets( when I st9mble5 over a chair an5
=ell right thro9gh the lowest pane o= glass( =ace =oremost( c9tting m> nose o== on one si5e(
an5 nearl> taking an e>e o9tAso >o9 will see m> sister4s 5ream was prett> acc9rate. I
also enclose a statement ma5e b> two resi5ents here o= this en5 o= the case( which will( I
hope( make it complete. I ma> sa> o9r time is 8 ho9rs ahea5 o= Ymistake =or behindZ
Englan5.
BF%O. *. M. 1IE'-E.C
Mr. 1ierce enclose5 the =ollowing statement:A
BOn Mon5a>( October U8th( abo9t W o4clock a.m.( Mr. F. *. M. 1ierce =ell thro9gh a
+rench win5ow( c9tting his =ace ba5l>( an5 la> on the =loor insensible =or several min9tes.
BF. ,)*/O%
B-. F. .U%*.
*he enclos9res( =rom Mr. 1ierce4s sister an5 mother( are 5ate5 respectivel> %ovember
2Vth an5 2Wth( 277V. Miss 1ierce( a=ter con5olences as to the acci5ent( writes:A
B$o >o9 know it is the o55est thing( b9t on the U8th o= October I 5reamt that I saw >o9
l>ing on the gro9n5 E9ite 9nconscio9s( >o9r =ace blee5ing an5 looking so 5rea5=9l. I
woke 9p calling to >o9. I tol5 0ate i-:W3! 5irectl> I came 5own( an5 we both marke5
the 5ate. I tol5 mother( too( I ha5 ha5 a ba5 5ream abo9t >o9( b9t I 5i5 not 5escribe it =or
=ear o= =rightening her. ,as it not stranger It was s9ch a vivi5 5ream( it str9ck me ver>
m9ch( b9t I 5i5 not mention it in m> last letter to >o9@ I tho9ght >o9 wo9l5 la9gh abo9t it.
"9t it is strangeAon the ver> 5a> too.C
In Mrs. 1ierce4s letter( the =ollowing sentence occ9rs:A
B,as not Ma>4s 5ream sing9larr /he came 5own that morning >o9 were h9rt( an5 tol5
0ate( ever> partic9lar o= it agreeing with the time >o9 were h9rt.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss 1ierce writes:A
B+rettons( $anb9r>( -helms=or5.
B$ecember :2st( 277V.
BOn the night o= the U8th October %i.e., U8TUWQ( I 5reamt I saw m> brother l>ing on the
gro9n5( his =ace blee5ing an5 5ark@ he was E9ite 9nconscio9s. I calle5 to him( b9t he 5i5
not answer( an5 was stooping towar5s him( calling him b> name( when I awoke. It was so
vivi5 a 5ream that it pro59ce5 a great impression 9pon me( an5 I =elt as tho9gh some
acci5ent ha5 be=allen him. I cannot tell at all what time in the night it was. In the morning
I tol5 m> sister( an5 p9t 5own the 5ate( also mentioning it to one or two others@ b9t to m>
sister I 5escribe5 it in the same wor5s that I have now 9se5.
BI am not at all acc9stome5 to having ba5 5reams abo9t =rien5s@ in5ee5( I never
remember having ha5 one be=ore. %either am I s9perstitio9s( b9t( nevertheless( I =elt
convince5 that something 9ntowar5 ha5 occ9rre5. /o when the letter came( D9st three
weeks a=ter the acci5ent( I knew it was the con=irmation o= m> =ears.
BM. 1IE'-E.C
Y*he coinci5ence was not as close as Mrs. 1ierce4s wor5s wo9l5 impl>@ an5 she seems to
have mistaken the morning on which the 5ream was mentione5. ,hen Mr. 1ierce was
l>ing on the =loor as 5escribe5( the time o= 5a> at -helms=or5 wo9l5 be between 2.:; an5
U p.m. *here=ore the 5ream on the =ollowing night m9st have been at least 7 ho9rs( an5
ma> have been more than 2U ho9rs( a=ter the event. /ee the remark on 5e=erment ma5e in
connection with the last case.Z
*he =ollowing narratives are =rom the .on. Mrs. Montgomer> Moore( now resi5ing at
&ips> Lo5ge( %orwoo5.
B). )5D9tant-&eneral4s .o9se( 'o>al "arracks( $9blin.
B$ecember Vth( 277:.
P2:8Q BI ha5 5riven m> h9sban5( then comman5ing the 3th .9ssars( o9t in the carriage
ver> earl> one morning( on his wa> to a shooting e?pe5ition. I ret9rne5 home( rather tire5
an5 e?ha9ste5( abo9t 7 o4clock a.m.@ an5 a=ter break=asting( la> 5own on m> be5 be=ore
5ressing =or the 5a> an5 =ell asleep. I 5reame5 that a small bl9e three-cornere5 note was
bro9ght in to me( which containe5 these wor5s:A
BuM# $E)' M'/. M. M.(AI know the -olonel is awa>@ b9t wo9l5 >o9 i-:WV! look in
his room =or the r9les o= the B0riegspielCr #o9 will =in5 them( I think( on his table. #o9rs
sincerel>(A&EO'&E 1.ILI1/.4
BI awoke( an5 never having hear5 that there were u0riegspiel4 r9les( I la9ghe5 at having
5reame5 o= it. ,hen I ha5 =inishe5 5ressing( I went into the 5rawing-room( an5 on the
piano D9st o9tsi5e m> 5oor( I saw the i5entical bl9e three-cornere5 note( which I =o9n5
containe5 the e?act wor5s written e?actl> as I ha5 seen them in m> 5ream. I mentione5 it
in m> answer to MaDor 1hilips@ =or going to m> h9sban54s room( I =o9n5 the little book o=
r9les on his table. *his was( I believe( in March( 27WW.C
P2:WQ B) thing o= the same kin5 occ9rre5 in )pril or Ma> D9st a=ter. I was asleep in an
armchair on a ver> hot 5a>( abo9t 3 p.m.( when I 5reame5 o= receiving a note =rom a la5>(
asking 9s to come to lawn-tennis. /he was a person I was not intimate with( an5 to whose
ho9se I ha5 never been. I woke an5 saw a note on the table b> me( which a servant ha5
p9t 5own noiselessl>. On opening it I =o9n5 it was an invitation to lawn tennis( =rom the
la5> o= whom I ha5 5reame5( an5 in the ver> wor5s I ha5 5reame5 o= rea5ing.
CF)%E MO%*&OME'# MOO'E.C
)ske5 whether she ha5 ha5 an> similar e?periences which ha5 not correspon5e5 with
realit>( Mrs. M. Moore replie5( B%o( I 5on4t think I ever ha5.C
In answer to =9rther inE9iries( Mrs. M. Moore sa>s:A
B1robabl> both notes were written be=ore I was asleep. "oth places =rom which the>
came were ver> near to o9r ho9se.C
.ere the imme5iate comparison o= the realit> with the 5reams( an5 also the =act that the
5reams containe5 apparentl> no e?traneo9s =eat9res( make it especiall> 9nlikel> that the
correspon5ences were =ictitio9sl> Brea5 back.C )n5 i= not( the cases seem t>pical
e?amples o= telepathic clairvo>ance@ =or no one probabl> will s9ppose that the percipient
co9l5 have obtaine5 a similar vision o= notes with whose writers( an5 in whose contents(
she ha5 no concern.
*he ne?t case was sent to 9s b> Miss 'ichar5son( o= 3W( "e5=or5 &ar5ens( 0ensington(
,.( who sa>s:A
P2:7Q B*he writer is a ver> worth> wi=e o= a shopkeeper at home( who tol5 me the
occ9rrence some >ears ago( then with more 5etail( as it was =resh in her memor>@ an5 her
h9sban5 can vo9ch =or the =acts tol5 him at the time( an5 the strange u9ncann>4 e==ect o=
the 5ream on her min5 =or some time a=ter.C
+rom Mrs. &reen to Miss 'ichar5son.
B%ewr>( U2st +irst Month( 277V.
B$E)' +'IE%$(AIn compliance with th> reE9est I give thee the partic9lars o= m> 5ream.
BI saw two respectabl>-5resse5 =emales 5riving alone in a vehicle like a mineral-water
cart. *heir horse stoppe5 at a water to 5rink@ b9t as there was no =ooting( he lost his
balance( an5 in tr>ing to recover it he pl9nge5 right in. ,ith the shock( the women stoo5
9p an5 sho9te5 =or i-:W8! help( an5 their hats rose o== their hea5s( an5 as all were going
5own I t9rne5 awa> cr>ing an5 sa>ing( u,as there no one at all to help themr4 9pon
which I awoke( an5 m> h9sban5 aske5 me what was the matter. I relate5 the above 5ream
to him( an5 he aske5 me i= I knew them. I sai5 I 5i5 not( an5 tho9ght I ha5 never seen
either o= them. *he impression o= the 5ream an5 the tro9ble it bro9ght was over me all
5a>. I remarke5 to m> son it was the anniversar> o= his birth5a> an5 m> own alsoAthe
2;th o= +irst Month( an5 this is wh> I remember the 5ate.
B*he =ollowing *hir5 Month I got a letter an5 newspaper =rom m> brother in )9stralia(
name5 )llen( letting me know the sa5 tro9ble which ha5 be=allen him in the loss( b>
5rowning( o= one o= his 5a9ghters an5 her companion. *ho9 wilt see b> the 5escription
given o= it in the paper how the event correspon5e5 with m> 5ream. M> niece was born
in )9stralia( an5 I never saw her.
B1lease ret9rn the paper at th> convenience. -onsi5ering that o9r night is their 5a>( I
m9st have been in s>mpath> with the s9==erers at the time o= the acci5ent( on the 2;th o=
+irst Month( 27W7.
2

BIt is re=erre5 to in two separate places in the newspaper.C
*he passage in the :ngle-ood )dvertiser is as =ollows:A
B+ri5a> evening( Fan9ar> 22th( 27W7.
B) 5rea5=9l acci5ent occ9rre5 in the neighbo9rhoo5 o= ,e55erb9rn( on ,e5nes5a> last(
res9lting in the 5eath o= two women( name5 Lehe> an5 )llen. It appears that the 5ecease5
were 5riving into ,e55erb9rn in a spring cart =rom the 5irection o= 0in>panial( when
the> attempte5 to water their horse at a 5am on the bo9n5ar> o= *orpichen /tation. *he
5am was 2; or 2U =eet 5eep in one spot( an5 into this 5eep hole the> m9st have
ina5vertentl> 5riven( =or Mr. ,. Mc0echnie( manager o= *orpichen /tation( 9pon going
to the 5am some ho9rs a=terwar5s( 5iscovere5 the spring cart an5 horse 9n5er the water(
an5 two women4s hats =loating on the s9r=ace. w *he 5am was searche5( an5 the bo5ies
o= the two women( claspe5 in each other4s arms( recovere5.C
*he =ollowing is an e?tract =rom evi5ence given at the inE9est:A
BFoseph Fohn )llen( =armer( 5epose5:AuI i5enti=> one o= the bo5ies as that o= m> sister. I
saw her abo9t 22 a.m. >ester5a>. w *he horse ha5 broken awa> an5 I ca9ght it =or her.
Mrs. Lehe> an5 m> sister met me when I ca9ght the horse. w *he> then took the horse
an5 went to Mr. -larke4s. I 5i5 not see them a=terwar5s alive.4 ,illiam Mc0echnie
5epose5:Au)bo9t 3 p.m. >ester5a>( I was ri5ing b> the 5am when I observe5 the legs o=
a horse an5 the chest above the water.4C
Mr. &reen con=irms as =ollows:A
B%ewr>( 2Vth /econ5 Month( 277V.
B$E)' +'IE%$ E$I*. 'I-.)'$/O%(AIn re=erence to the 5ream that m> wi=e ha5 o=
seeing two women thrown o9t o= a spring cart b> their horse stopping to 5rink o9t o=
some 5eep water( I remember she was greatl> i-:WW! 5istresse5 abo9t it( an5 seeme5 to
=eel great s>mpath> =or them. It occ9rre5 on the night o= the Xth o= Fan9ar>.
B*he reason I can remember the 5ate so well is that the 2;th was the anniversar> o= m>
wi=e an5 o9r son4s birth5a>. )s the 5a> a5vance5 she seeme5 to get worse( an5 I a5vise5
her to go o9t =or a 5rive@ when she ret9rne5 she tol5 me she was no better( an5 also sai5
she ha5 tol5 the 5river not to go near water( lest some acci5ent sho9l5 happen( as she ha5
ha5 s9ch a 5rea5=9l 5ream the night be=ore( at the same time telling him the nat9re o= it.
)s m> wi=e4s niece 5i5 not live with her =ather( he was not tol5 o= it 9ntil the ne?t
morning( which wo9l5 be o9r evening o= the 2;th( an5 which we think acco9nte5 =or the
increase5 tro9ble she =elt in s>mpath> with him.
B*.O/. &'EE%.C
Mrs. &reen can recall no other 5ream o= at all the same character.
Y*he amo9nt o= correspon5ence in 5etail here is consi5erable. *he =act that the =ig9res
seen were merel> recognise5 as Btwo =emalesC 5iminishes( o= co9rse( the =orce o= the
coinci5ence@ tho9gh perhaps one wo9l5 har5l> e?pect i5enti=ication o= persons 9nknown
to the percipient.Z
In the ne?t case the percipient withhol5s her name =rom p9blication( on the gro9n5 that
she takes no interest in o9r work( an5 onl> wrote 5own the acco9nt at her a9nt4s reE9est.
Mrs. 1.( o= AA 'ector>( writes:A
BMarch 3th( 277V.
P2:XQ BM> niece has written 5own the 5ream. /he a55s to her plain acco9nt( in writing to
me( that she thinks it rather more remarkable that she sho9l5 have 5reamt it( being a
person who har5l> ever 5reams( 9nlike her mother an5 sister( who never sleep witho9t
5reaming. /he also sa>s she has o=ten regrette5 not having written it 5own at the time( b9t
can safel, sign all she has state5.
BF. L. 1.C
BMarch :r5( 277V.
BM> a9nt has aske5 me to tr> an5 recall a 5ream that I 5reamt man> >ears ago abo9t an
ol5 man( the roa5-men5er in o9r village( whom I ha5 known an5 love5 =rom m> earliest
chil5hoo5. .e was nat9rall> a bright cheer=9l ol5 man( b9t was at the time I am speaking
o= in e?tremel> low spirits( on acco9nt( as we s9ppose5( o= his wi=e( who was ver> ill an5
wretche5( l>ing on what prove5 to be her 5eath-be5. On the morning o= m> 5ream m>
sister an5 m>sel= ha5 both been awake at 8 o4clock( an5 I ha5 =allen to sleep again be=ore
the servant came in( as 9s9al( abo9t W o4clock. Or m> waking =rom this sleep I tol5 m>
sister that I ha5 ha5 a ver> pain=9l 5ream abo9t ol5 ,illiam *hompson( whom I ha5 seen
in m> 5ream r9nning 5own the lane towar5s the -h9rch =iel5s in his gre> stockings(
looking ver> miserable( an5 I t9rne5 to her an5 sai5( uI =ear ol5 ,illiam is going to make
awa> with himsel=.4 I har5l> =inishe5 telling m> sister the 5ream when o9r servant came
in to call 9s( an5 sai5 that o9r =ather Pthe rector o= the parishQ ha5 been sent =or in a great
h9rr> to ol5 ,illiam *hompson( who ha5 D9st been =o9n5 in the -h9rch =iel5s with his
throat c9t. .e was witho9t his shoes( an5 when m> =ather got to him he was still alive.
*hese are the circ9mstances as acc9ratel> relate5 as I can recall them.
i-:W7!
BI ma> a55 that I am not generall> a 5reamer( an5 have no recollection o= an> other
5ream abo9t 5eath.
B/. /. 1.C
,e learn in5epen5entl> that the 5eath took place on )pril 3( 278X.
Miss /. /. 1.4s sister writes:A
BI =ear I cannot tell >o9 more abo9t m> sister4s 5ream than she has alrea5> state5( b9t as
>o9 wish to have what she has sai5 con=irme5 b> another person( I will a55 that I
per=ectl> remember her telling me the 5ream be=ore the servant came into the room an5
tol5 9s o= the sa5 5eath o= the ol5 man.
BF. M. 1.C
*he ne?t case also has( 9n=ort9natel>( to be given with initials onl>( as the writer =ears
that her =rien5s wo9l5 obDect to p9blicit>. It belongs to a class which( as we have seen(
m9st be treate5 with great ca9tionA5reams occ9rring in seasons o= an?iet>. /till( D95ging
=rom its e==ects( the e?perience m9st have been o= a ver> 9n9s9al kin5.
BFan9ar>( 277V.
P23;Q BIn the >ear 27VW( I ha5 a brother in the ver> centre o= the In5ian M9tin>. I ha5
been ill in the spring( an5 taken =rom m> lessons in the school-room. -onseE9entl> I
hear5 more o= what was going on =rom the newspapers than a girl o= 2: or5inaril> wo9l5
in those 5a>s. ,e were in the habit o= hearing reg9larl> =rom m> brother( b9t in the F9ne
an5 F9l> o= that >ear no letters came( an5 what arrive5 in )9g9st prove5 to have been
written E9ite earl> in the spring( an5 were =9ll o= the 5ist9rbances aro9n5 his station. .e
was in the service o= the East In5ia -ompan>Aan o==icer in the 7th %ative In=antr>. I ha5
alwa>s been 5evote5 to him( an5 I grieve5 an5 =rette5 =ar more than an> o= m> el5ers
knew at his 5anger. I cannot sa> I 5reamt constantl> o= him( b9t when I 5i5 the
impressions were vivi5 an5 abi5ing.
BOn one occasion his personal appearance was being 5isc9sse5( an5 I remarke5( u.e is
not like that now( he has no bear5 or whiskers(4 an5 when aske5 wh> I sai5 s9ch a thing( I
replie5( uI knew it( =or I ha5 seen him in m> 5reams(4 an5 this bro9ght a severe repriman5
=rom m> governess( who never allowe5 us9ch nonsense4 to be talke5 o=.
BOn the morning o= the UVth /eptember( E9ite earl>( I awoke =rom a 5ream to =in5 m>
sister hol5ing me( an5 m9ch alarme5. I ha5 screame5 o9t( str9ggle5( cr>ing o9t( uIs he
reall> 5ea5r4 ,hen I =9ll> awoke I =elt a b9rning sensation in m> hea5. I co9l5 not speak
=or a moment or two@ I knew m> sister was there( b9t I neither =elt nor saw her.
BIn abo9t a min9te( 59ring which she sai5 m> e>es were staring be>on5 her( I cease5
str9ggling( crie5 o9t( u.arr>4s 5ea5( the> have shot him(4 an5 =ainte5. ,hen I recovere5( I
=o9n5 m> sister ha5 been sent awa>( an5 an a9nt who ha5 alwa>s looke5 a=ter me sitting
b> m> be5. In or5er to soothe m> e?citement she allowe5 me to tell her m> 5ream( tr>ing
all the time to pers9a5e me to regar5 it as a nat9ral conseE9ence o= m> an?iet>. ,hen in
the narration I sai5 he was ri5ing with another o==icer( an5 mo9nte5 sol5iers behin5 them(
she e?claime5( i-:WX! uM> 5ear( that shows >o9 it is onl> a 5ream( =or >o9 know 5ear
.arr> is in an in=antr>( not a cavalr>( regiment.4 %othing( however( shook m> =eelings that
I ha5 seen a realit>@ an5 she was so m9ch str9ck b> m> persistence( that she privatel>
ma5e notes o= the 5ate( an5 o= the inci5ents( even to the min9test 5etails o= m> 5ream(
an5 then =or a =ew 5a>s the matter 5roppe5( b9t I =elt the tr9th was coming nearer an5
nearer to all. In a short time the news came in the papersAshot 5own on the morning o=
the UVth when on his wa> to L9cknow. ) =ew 5a>s later came one o= his missing letters(
telling how his own regiment ha5 m9tinie5( an5 that he ha5 been trans=erre5 to a
comman5 in the 2Uth Irreg9lar -avalr>( bo9n5 to Doin .avelock4s =orce in the relie= o=
L9cknow.
B/ome eight >ears a=ter( the o==icer who was ri5ing b> him when he =ell( -aptain or
MaDor &rant( visite5 9s( an5 when in compliance with m> a9nt4s reE9est he 5etaile5 the
inci5ents o= that sa5 ho9r( his narration tallie5 Peven to the 5escription o= the b9il5ings on
their le=tQ with the notes she ha5 taken the morning o= m> 5ream. I sho9l5 also a55 that
we hear5 m> brother ha5 ma5e an alteration in his bear5 an5 whiskers D9st abo9t the time
that I ha5 spoken o= him as wearing them 5i==erentl>.
BL. ). ,.C
In answer to inE9iries Miss ,. sa>s:A
B)s to 5ate( the 5ream concerning m> brother4s 5eath took place in the morning hal= o=
the night o= the UVth o= /eptember@ an5 I think I note5 in m> M/. that an a9nt to whom I
relate5 the 5ream at the time was so str9ck b> the pertinacit> with which I a5here5 to the
vario9s partic9lars( that she p9t 5own the 5ate an5 also the 5etails o= the 5ream.
BI have al-a,s been a 5reamer. I never ha5 the same sort o= 5ream o= 5eath.C
Miss ,. =9rther tells 9s that her a9nt is certain that she never 5estro>e5 her notes o= the
5ream( b9t 5oes not know where the> are( an5 is too ol5 to be worrie5. /he a55s: BM>
sister per=ectl> remembers all abo9t it.C *he sister( however( will not write o9t her
recollectionsAconsi5ering that attention to s9ch matters is ri5ic9lo9s.
Y,e cannot =eel certain that Miss ,. is correct in sa>ing that her brother4s 5eath took
place on the UVth. *he >ast :ndia =egister, which o9ght to be the most correct a9thorit>(
sa>s that he was kille5 on the U8th@ an5 in that case his 5eath ma> have e?actl> coinci5e5
with her vision. *here was har5 =ighting on both 5a>s an5 in some acco9nts the names o=
the o==icers who =ell on the two 5a>s are gro9pe5 witho9t 5iscrimination. )llens :ndian
'ail, however( gives the UVth as the 5ate o= Lie9tenant ,.4s 5eath. I= that is right( then
the coinci5ence co9l5 onl> have been e?act on the s9pposition that the 5ate o= the vision
given in Miss ,.4s first acco9nt is the correct one.Z
*he ne?t case is =rom Mrs. .9nter( o= /t. -atherine4s( Linlithgow. It somewhat resembles
Mrs. /torie4s case( Pp. :W;Q in the mi?t9re o= apparentl> tr9e perception with =oreign or
s>mbolic elementsAas tho9gh the vision were a scene which a painter or 5ramatist ha5
=rame5 on =acts which he ha5 onl> once hear5 hastil> 5escribe5.
BF9l> U:r5( 277V.
P232Q BI am almost a=rai5 to give partic9lars abo9t the 5ream I ha5( as i-:7;! it is now
some time ago( an5 I ha5 not been remembering it m9ch. I wrote to Mr. .9nter Yher
brother-in-lawZ at the time( an5 he has 9n=ort9natel> not kept m> letter( so I m9st tr9st to
m> memor>.
B*he 5ate I 5o not recollect. *he time was U o4clock( I think. I knew then( as I looke5 at
m> watch when I awoke( an5 Mr. .9nter tol5 me it was D9st the ho9r at which the event
took place.
BI tho9ght I was at the Manse( -ockb9rnspath( where he lives( an5 I saw Mrs. .9nter
evi5entl> ill. /he went to her room. I hear5 the 5octor4s trap pass the ho9se( an5 ever>
one was r9shing to get him( b9t he was gone. M> sister-in-law kept calling =or me( b9t I
co9l5 not reach her. ">-an5-b>e a 5octor arrive5( an5 the n9rse( a stranger to me( came to
m> room with an in=ant. /he was p9tting white satin on the 5ress( an5 I remonstrate5(
sa>ing that was onl> =or 5ea5 in=ants. /he replie5( u)n5 isn4t it right to 5o it to this oner4
an5 I looke5 an5 saw the chil5 was 5ea5( an5 I knew it was a bo>. I awoke( =elt an?io9s(
=ell asleep( an5 again 5reamt the same( e?cept( I thin1, the =irst part( that o= seeing Mrs.
.9nter.
B,hen I awoke I D9st remarke5 to m> h9sban5 I hope5 nothing ha5 gone wrong( an5 tol5
him m> 5ream 59ring break=ast.
B%ot hearing an>thing =or two 5a>s I ha5 almost 5ismisse5 all tho9ght o= it =rom m>
min5( b9t I was a little s9rprise5 to =in5 I ha5 been 5reaming a =act.
BI knew E9ite well that m> sister-in-law e?pecte5 her con=inement Ynot( however( =or two
monthsAsee belowZ( b9t ha5 no misgivings( as she ha5 been so strong be=ore. I ha5
engage5 a n9rse =or her( an5 she was not the woman I saw in m> 5ream. I knew the
assistant who was with the 5octor then( b9t I 5i5 not see him in m> 5ream( onl> I knew it
was not $r. "lack.
BI believe I never =all asleep =or an> time( however short( witho9t 5reaming something or
other( conseE9entl> I sel5om let m> 5reams tro9ble me. I am an?io9s to prevent 9n59e
importance being given to m> 5reams( an5 I 5on4t think I ever ha5 one o= the kin5 be=ore(
an5 certainl> not since. I have 5reamt the same thing more than once( b9t ver> rarel>( an5
never in the same night as I 5i5 this one.
B). .U%*E'.C
In conversation Mrs. .9nter tol5 me that in character an5 vivi5ness this 5ream stoo5 o9t
5istinctl> =rom the general r9n o= her 5reams.
*he =ollowing is $r. .9nter4s corroboration( written on F9l> :;th( 277V:A
BI have onl> now( while taking a brie= holi5a>( =o9n5 time to give >o9 con=irmation o= the
c9rio9s 5ream m> wi=e ha5 on the night o= m> sister-in-law4s illness. ,hen she awoke in
the morning her =irst remark was uI hope nothing serio9s has happene5 to Fessie. I have
ha5 s9ch a horri5 5ream abo9t her@ I 5reamt she ha5 miscarrie5( an5 the chil5 was 5ea5.4
*his she repeate5 more than once.
B&EO'&E .U%*E'( M.$.C
*he 'ev. F. .9nter writes( =rom the Manse( -ockb9rnspath( %.".:A
BF9l> U3th( 277V.
B#o9 ask i= I can recall the =act o= receiving a note =rom m> sister-in-law making mention
o= her 5ream. ,e 9s9all> hear =rom her on the Mon5a> evenings( an5 it is ver> possible
that she might have mentione5 it in s9ch a note@ b9t I am sorr> that I cannot 5e=initel>
recall it. I =in5 =rom m> 5iar>( however( that I met Mrs. .9nter( o= Linlithgow( on the i-
:72! *9es5a> =ollowing( in E5inb9rgh( an5 went o9t with her to Linlithgow@ an5 I am
per=ectl> positive that I hear5 o= it on that *9es5a>( i= not on the night be=ore. I have
alwa>s regar5e5 it as a strange occ9rrence( an5 have no manner o= 5o9bt that her 5ream
correspon5e5( in a large meas9re( with the act9al event. *he event took place abo9t 2
o4clock in the morning( $ecember 2Wth( 277U( a /9n5a>. *he bab> live5 onl> a min9te or
two. Mrs. .9nter tells me that she saw $r. "lack( o9r me5ical practitioner( 5rive past her
win5ow( an5 that he was not at home. *r9e eno9gh( $r. "lack was not at home at the
time( b9t on a holi5a>. It was the assistant( $r. "asil( who came a=ter the con=inement was
abo9t over. It was premat9re( an5 not e?pecte5 =or abo9t two months. Mrs. .9nter o=
Linlithgow ha5 arrange5 with m> wi=e to come here 59ring the con=inement Yshe ha5
atten5e5 her on a similar occasion in the previo9s >earZ( b9t there was no e?pectation o= it
at the time.C
YIt is o= co9rse a point against the telepathic e?planation( that the person 5reamt o= was to
some e?tent on Mrs. .9nter4s min5. On the other si5e we have the ver> e?act coinci5ence
o= the 5ream with an event which was not regar5e5 as imminent( an5 a consi5erable
amo9nt o= correspon5ence in 5etail.Z
*he ne?t acco9nt Pwhich we owe to the kin5ness o= Lie9t.--olonel F. $. "rockmanQ is
=rom $r. ). 0. #o9ng( F.1.( +.'.-./.I.( o= *he *errace( Monaghan( Irelan5. It is slightl>
abri5ge5 =rom the original( which we receive5 in %ovember( 277U.
P23UQ One Mon5a> night in $ecember( 27:8( $r. #o9ng ha5 the =ollowing 5ream( or( as
he wo9l5 pre=er to call it( revelation. .e =o9n5 himsel= s955enl> at the gate o= MaDor %.
M.4s aven9e( man> miles =rom his home. -lose to him were a gro9p o= persons( one o=
them a woman with a basket on her arm( the rest men( =o9r o= whom were tenants o= his
own( while the others were 9nknown to him. /ome o= the strangers seeme5 to be
m9r5ero9sl> assa9lting .. ,.( one o= his tenants( an5 he inter=ere5.
BI str9ck violentl> at the man on m> le=t( an5 then with greater violence at the man4s =ace
to m> right. +in5ing to m> s9rprise that I 5i5 not knock him 5own either( I str9ck again
an5 again( with all the violence o= a man =ren]ie5 at the sight o= m> poor =rien54s m9r5er.
*o m> great ama]ement I saw that m> arms( altho9gh visible to m> e>e( were witho9t
s9bstance@ an5 the bo5ies o= the men I str9ck at an5 m> own came close together a=ter
each blow thro9gh the sha5ow> arms I str9ck with. M> blows were 5elivere5 with more
e?treme violence than I think I ever e?erte5@ b9t I became pain=9ll> convince5 o= m>
incompetenc>. I have no conscio9sness o= what happene5( a=ter this =eeling o=
9ns9bstantialit> came 9pon me.C
%e?t morning $r. #o9ng e?perience5 the sti==ness an5 soreness o= violent bo5il>
e?ercise( an5 was in=orme5 b> his wi=e that in the co9rse o= the night he ha5 m9ch
alarme5 her b> striking o9t again an5 again with his arms in a terri=ic manner( uas i=
=ighting =or his li=e.4 .e in t9rn in=orme5 her o= his 5ream( an5 begge5 her to remember
the names o= those actors in it who were known to him. On the morning o= the =ollowing
5a>( ,e5nes5a>( he receive5 a letter =rom his agent( who i-:7U! resi5e5 in the town
close to the scene o= the 5ream( in=orming him that his tenant( .. ,.( ha5 been =o9n5 on
*9es5a> morning at MaDor %. M.4s gate( speechless an5 apparentl> 5>ing =rom a =ract9re
o= the sk9ll( an5 that there was no trace o= the m9r5erers. *hat night $r. #o9ng starte5 =or
the town( an5 arrive5 there on *h9rs5a> morning. On his wa> to a meeting o= magistrates
he met the senior magistrate o= that part o= the co9ntr>( an5 reE9este5 him to give or5ers
=or the arrest o= the three men whom( besi5es .. ,.( he ha5 recognise5 in his 5ream( an5
to have them e?amine5 separatel>. Y$r. #o9ng has given 9s in con=i5ence the names o=
these =o9r men@ an5 sa>s that to the time o= their 5eaths the> never knew the gro9n5s o=
their arrest.Z *his was at once 5one. *he three men gave i5entical acco9nts o= the
occ9rrence( an5 all name5 the woman who was with them@ she was then arreste5( an5
gave precisel> similar testimon>. *he> sai5 that between 22 an5 2U on the Mon5a> night
the> ha5 been walking homewar5s all together along the roa5( when the> were overtaken
b> three strangers( two o= whom savagel> assa9lte5 .. ,.( while the other prevente5 his
=rien5s =rom inter=ering.
.. ,. 5i5 not 5ie( b9t was never the same a=terwar5s@ he s9bseE9entl> emigrate5. O= the
other parties concerne5( the onl> s9rvivor Pe?cept $r. #o9ng himsel=Q gave an acco9nt o=
the occ9rrence to the )rch5eacon o= the 5istrict in %ovember( 2772( b9t varie5 =rom the
tr9e =acts in stating that he ha5 taken the wo9n5e5 man home in his cart. .a5 this been
the case( he wo9l5 o= co9rse have been calle5 on =or his testimon> at once.
*he )rch5eacon mentione5( now "ishop o= -logher( writes to 9s:A
B0nockball>more( -lones.
B$ec. 23( 2778.
BI saw Mr. 'ea5 Ythe s9rvivor mentione5 b> $r. #o9ng( since 5ecease5Z an5 recollect a
conversation with him. I cannot recollect the partic9lars( b9t am s9re that his statement
was con=irmator> Yo= $r. #o9ng4s acco9ntZ. *he late Mrs. #o9ng o=ten re=erre5 to the
5ream in conversation( an5 con=irme5 Mr. #o9ng4s relation.
B-.)/. ,. -LO&.E'.C
)n 9ns9ccess=9l search has been ma5e =or some printe5 recor5 o= these =acts. $r. #o9ng
tells 9s that =or man> >ears he 5i5 not mention his e?perience e?cept to his wi=e Pnow
5ecease5Q@ an5 in answer to an inE9ir> whether an> in5epen5ent recor5 o= the assa9lt
co9l5 be proc9re5( he replie5:A
B,e ha5 not at that time an> local paper to recor5 s9ch an event@ an5 as the attack was
not =ollowe5 b> 5estr9ction o= li=e( an5 as there was not an> cl9e to the inten5e5
assassins( the occ9rrence passe5 into oblivion. I pass the spot where I was conscio9s o=
the attack ver> =reE9entl>@ an5 I can point with m> =inger to within a =oot or two o= where
I =o9ght Psha5ow>Q( an5 the positions o= all the parties present. .a5 not m> wi=e been
present an5 awake when I was so pro=o9n5l> asleep( an5 witnesse5 the ama]ing an5
alarming violence o= the blows I ma5e( Pa matter she spoke o= a=terwar5s to me more than
once( with terror(Q I never co9l5 have acco9nte5 =or the ver> wretche5 =eeling o=
weariness( prostration( an5 pain with which I got =rom m> be5 on the ne?t morning.C
In conversation $r. #o9ng mentione5 that he 5i5 not 5ream m9ch( an5 never remembere5
his 5reams. *his 5ream was E9ite 9niE9e in his i-:7:! e?perience. .is wi=e4s testimon>
establishe5 the =act that it took place be=ore or abo9t mi5night@ when she saw him
throwing his arms abo9t( she ha5 not hersel= been asleep.
,e have a case sing9larl> like this in 5etail( where a gamekeeper 5reamt o= taking part in
an a==ra> with =o9r poachers at the ver> spot where s9ch an event act9all> an5
sim9ltaneo9sl> took place. *he 5ream in this case is con=irme5 as having been 5escribe5
be=ore the realit> was known@ b9t is too 5irectl> in the beaten track o= the 5reamer4s
waking i5eas to be presente5 as a parallel to the =oregoing narrative.
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom Mrs. Mani=ol5( o= "arnabo>( +rank=or5( 0ing4s -o9nt>(
Irelan5( an5 was obtaine5 thro9gh the kin5ness o= the 'ev. F. ". 0eene( o= %avan.
BFan9ar>( 2773.
P23:Q BI once 5reamt that an 9ncle P$r. .obbsQ( whom I ha5 not seen =or some time( was
5riving with his wi=e in a gig( when he was attacke5 =rom behin5( beaten( an5 le=t on the
roa5si5e. *he ne?t morning I tol5 m> 5ream to m> sister( who ha5 been sleeping in the
same room( an5 we tho9ght no more o= it till the a=ternoon( when a horse messenger
came :; miles to tell m> =ather his brother ha5 been beaten to 5eath. *he circ9mstances
were e.actl, as I ha5 5reamt( b9t he 5i5 not 5ie then( an5 is still alive in )merica.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. Mani=ol5 writes on +eb. V( 2773:A
BI 5ela>e5 answering >o9rs o= the U7th Fan9ar>( as I ha5 written to ask a la5> whom I
tho9ght might have remembere5 m> having tol5 m> 5ream( relative to m> 9ncle4s
acci5ent( be=ore we ha5 hear5 o= it( b9t she 5oes not remember@ an5 m> sister( to whom I
all95e5( has been 5ea5 some >ears. I am not in the habit o= 5reaming o= 5istressing
things( b9t have on other occasions 5reamt o= persons an5 things I ha5 not seen or
tho9ght o= =or a long time( an5 soon a=ter have hear5 =rom or hear5 some thing partic9lar
o=. $r. .obbs was 5ragge5 =rom his gig( beaten on the roa5( an5 thrown into a bog hole(
s9ppose5 to be 5ea5( near the town o= "orrisokane( -o. *ipperar>( I think abo9t the >ear
2738. I was at the time 9nmarrie5( living at &reen .ill( +rank=or5( UU miles apart( an5
ha5 no previo9s knowle5ge o= an> ill-=eeling towar5s him( or an>thing to lea5 me to
s9ppose s9ch treatment wo9l5 be likel> to occ9r. I wish I co9l5 have given >o9 more
satis=actor> testimon>( b9t 9n5er the circ9mstances am 9nable to 5o so.
BF. M)%I+OL$.C
Mrs. .obbs( writing =rom Lon5on( Ontario( on +eb. 2( 2778( has sent 9s a 5escription o=
the savage attack on her h9sban5( which took place abo9t W or 7 p.m. on )pril 2U( 273V.
,e =in5 an acco9nt o= the acci5ent in the Nenagh 7uardian =or )pril 28th( 273VAwhich
completel> agrees with the above. *wo o= $r. .obbs4 assailants were i5enti=ie5( an5
sentence5 to transportation.
In conversation Mrs. Mani=ol5 mentione5 that( as soon as the news o= the o9trage arrive5(
her sister Psince 5ecease5Q t9rne5 to her an5 e?claime5( B#o9r 5reamsC *he 5ream( she
sa>s( was o= an 9n9s9all> vivi5 an5 i-:73! pictorial kin5( as is shown b> the =act that
she gave a 5escription o= the roa5 which she ha5 seen to one o= the men who went to her
9ncle4s assistance( an5 was in=orme5 b> him that it correspon5e5 with the realit>. "9t
s9ch assertion o= correspon5ence( 9nless 5etails are given( is o= co9rse not a point on
which an> stress can be lai5.
*he ne?t acco9nt( which =irst appeare5 in a letter in the =eligio6*hilosophical Journal, is
=rom $r. "r9ce( o= Micanop>( +la.( U./.). *he case might have been reserve5 as
Bcollective(C b9t =or the =act that one o= the 5reams( tho9gh vivi5 an5 alarming( was
probabl> not so 5istinctive as was a=terwar5s imagine5( an5 moreover was possibl>
5reamt on the night preceding that on which the tragic event took place Psee p. 23;Q.
B+ebr9ar> 2Wth( 2773.
P233Q BOn *h9rs5a>( the UWth o= $ecember last( I ret9rne5 =rom &ainesville P2U miles
=rom hereQ to m> orange grove( near Micanop>. I have onl> a small plank ho9se o= three
rooms at m> grove( where I spen5 most o= m> time when the grove is being c9ltivate5.
*here was no one in the ho9se b9t m>sel= at the time( an5 being somewhat =atig9e5 with
m> ri5e( I retire5 to m> be5 ver> earl>( probabl> 8 o4clock@ an5( as I am =reE9entl> in the
habit o= 5oing( I lit m> lamp on a stan5 b> the be5 =or the p9rpose o= rea5ing. )=ter
rea5ing a short time( I began to =eel a little 5rows>( p9t o9t the light( an5 soon =ell asleep.
}9ite earl> in the night I was awakene5. I co9l5 not have been asleep ver> long( I am
s9re. I =elt as i= I ha5 been aro9se5 intentionall>( an5 at =irst tho9ght someone was
breaking into the ho9se. I looke5 =rom where I la> into the other two rooms Pthe 5oors o=
both being openQ an5 at once recognise5 where I was( an5 that there was no gro9n5 =or
the b9rglar theor>@ there being nothing in the ho9se to make it worth a b9rglar4s time to
come a=ter.
BI then t9rne5 on m> si5e to go to sleep again( an5 imme5iatel> =elt a conscio9sness o= a
presence in the room( an5 sing9lar to state( it was not the conscio9sness o= a live person(
b9t o= a spirit9al presence. *his ma> provoke a smile( b9t I can onl> tell >o9 the =acts as
the> occ9rre5 to me. I 5o not know how to better 5escribe m> sensations than b> simpl>
stating that I =elt a conscio9sness o= a spirit9al presence. *his ma> have been a part o= the
5ream( =or I =elt as i= I were 5o]ing o== again to sleep@ b9t it was 9nlike an> 5ream I ever
ha5.
2
I =elt also at the same time a strong =eeling o= s9perstitio9s 5rea5( as i= something
strange an5 =ear=9l were abo9t to happen. I was soon asleep again or 9nconscio9s( at an>
rate( to m> s9rro9n5ings. *hen I saw two men engage5 in a slight sc9==le@ one =ell =atall>
wo9n5e5Athe other imme5iatel> 5isappeare5. I 5i5 not see the gash in the wo9n5e5
man4s throat( b9t knew that his throat was c9t. I 5i5 not recognise him( either( as m>
brother-in-law. I saw him l>ing with his han5s 9n5er him( his hea5 t9rne5 slightl> to the
le=t( his =eet close together. I co9l5( =rom the position in which I stoo5( see b9t i-:7V! a
small portion o= his =ace@ his coat( collar( hair or something partl> obsc9re5 it. I looke5 at
him the secon5 time a little closer to see i= I co9l5 make o9t who it was. I was aware it
was someone I knew( b9t still co9l5 not recognise him. I t9rne5( an5 then saw m> wi=e
sitting not =ar =rom him. /he tol5 me she co9l5 not leave 9ntil he was atten5e5 to. PI ha5
got a letter a =ew 5a>s previo9sl> =rom m> wi=e( telling me she wo9l5 leave in a 5a> or
two( an5 was e?pecting ever> 5a> a letter or telegram( telling me when to meet her at the
5epLt.Q M> attention was str9ck b> the s9rro9n5ings o= the 5ea5 man. .e appeare5 to be
l>ing on an elevate5 plat=orm o= some kin5( s9rro9n5e5 b> chairs( benches( an5 5esks(
remin5ing me somewhat o= a school-room. O9tsi5e o= the room in which he was l>ing
was a crow5 o= people( mostl> =emales some o= whom I tho9ght I knew. .ere m> 5ream
terminate5. I awoke again abo9t mi5night@ got 9p an5 went to the 5oor to see i= there
were an> prospects o= rain@ ret9rne5 to m> be5 again( an5 la> there 9ntil nearl> 5a>light
be=ore =alling asleep again. I tho9ght o= m> 5ream an5 was strongl> impresse5 b> it. )ll
strange( s9perstitio9s =eelings ha5 passe5 o==.
BIt was not 9ntil a week or 2; 5a>s a=ter this that I got a letter =rom m> wi=e( giving me
an acco9nt o= her brother4s 5eath. .er letter( which was written the 5a> a=ter his 5eath(
was mis-sent. *he acco9nt she gave me o= his 5eath tallies most remarkabl> with m>
5ream. .er brother was with a we55ing part> at the 5epLt at Markham station( +a9E9ier
-o.( Va. .e went into a store near b> to see a >o9ng man who kept a bar-room near the
5epLt( with whom he ha5 some wor5s. .e t9rne5 an5 le=t the man( an5 walke5 o9t o= the
store. *he bar-room keeper =ollowe5 him o9t( an5 witho9t =9rther wor5s 5eliberatel> c9t
his throat. It was a most br9tal an5 9nprovoke5 m9r5er. M> brother-in-law ha5 on his
overcoat( with the collar t9rne5 9p. *he kni=e went thro9gh the collar an5 clear to the
bone. .e was carrie5 into the store an5 lai5 on the co9nter( near a 5esk an5 show case. .e
swoone5 =rom loss o= bloo5 soon a=ter being c9t. *he c9tting occ9rre5 earl> *h9rs5a>
night( $ecember UWth. .e 5i5 not 5ie( however( 9ntil almost 5a>light( /at9r5a> morning.
BI have not ha5 a complete acco9nt o= m> sister-in-law4s 5ream. /he was visiting a >o9ng
la5>( a co9sin( in 0ent9ck>. *he> slept together +ri5a> night( I think( the night o= her
brother4s 5eath. /he 5reame5 o= seeing a man with his throat c9t( an5 awoke ver> m9ch
alarme5. /he awoke her co9sin( an5 the> got 9p an5 lighte5 the lamp an5 sat 9p 9ntil
5a>light. *hat 5a> she receive5 a telegram anno9ncing her brother4s 5eath.
BI cannot give >o9 an> certain e?planation o= these 5reams. I 5o not believe that the> are
59e to or5inar> ca9ses( b9t to ca9ses o= which science 5oes not at present take
cognisance.
B,)L*E' "'U-E.C
In repl> to inE9iries( $r. "r9ce writes( on F9l> Xth( 2773:A
BI have never ha5 another 5ream similar to the one relate5 in the letter. I have at times
ha5 5reams that were vivi5( or =rom some ca9se impresse5 themselves 9pon m> min5 =or
a time( s9ch as an>one wo9l5 be likel> to have. I cannot call to min5( tho9gh( an> o=
special importance( or with an> bearing 9pon the 5ream in E9estion.
i-:78!
BI 5i5 not mention the 5ream to an> one be=ore receiving the letter con=irming it. I live in
rather a retire5 place in the co9ntr>( an5 i= I saw an> one 59ring that time( to whom I
wo9l5 care to relate the 5ream( it 5i5 not occ9r to me to 5o so.
B#o9 ask me how m> wi=e knew o= the circ9mstances o= her brother4s 5eath. /he was
visiting her relatives in Va. at the time( an5 was present when her brother 5ie5.C
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom $r. "r9ce4s sister-in-law( Mrs. /t9bbing:A
BMarch U7th( 277V.
B,hilst in 0ent9ck> on a visit( in the >ear 277:( I ha5 a 5ream( in which I saw two
personsAone with his throat c9t. I co9l5 not tell who it was( tho9gh I knew it was
somebo5> that I knew( an5 as soon as I hear5 o= m> brother4s 5eath( I sai5 at once that I
knew it was he that I ha5 seen m9r5ere5 in m> 5ream@ an5 tho9gh I 5i5 not hear how m>
brother 5ie5( I tol5 m> co9sin( whom I was sta>ing with( that I knew he ha5 been
m9r5ere5. *his 5ream took place on *h9rs5a> or +ri5a> night( I 5o not remember which.
I saw the e?act spot where he was m9r5ere5( an5 D9st as it happene5.
B)%%IE /*U""I%&.C
PB*he *h9rs5a> an5 +ri5a> night mentione5 in this acco9nt are $ecember U8th an5 UWth(
YUWth an5 U7th(Z 277:. It was 9pon the *h9rs5a> night m> 5ream occ9rre5.A,)L*E'
"'U-E.CQ
In repl> to E9estions( Mrs. /t9bbing sa>s:A
B#es( I saw one man c9t the other. *he wo9n5 was tol5 to me to be D9st like what I ha5
seen in m> 5ream. I receive5 a telegram anno9ncing the 5eath o= m> brother on /at9r5a>
morning. %o( I never ha5 an> s9ch 5ream as that be=ore.C
)s a last e?ample( I will E9ote in its entiret> an acco9nt o= a series o= these E9asi-
clairvo>ant impressions( occ9rring to a single percipient in connection with the same
agent. *he narrative is =rom Mrs. Vatas-/impson( now resi5ing at %ew *own( near
"risbane. *ho9gh parts o= it ma> appear =anci=9l an5 s9bDective( cross-e?amination ma5e
it har5 to 5o9bt that these 5reams( an5 others closel> correspon5ing with =acts( took place
be=ore the =acts were known. "9t in the absence o= written recor5s( mere stra> =ragments
have s9rvive5.
B7U( )kerman 'oa5( "ri?ton.
B/eptember( 2773.
P23VQ BM> el5est son an5 =irstborn chil5 le=t me to go to )9stralia in 27V2. *he compact
between 9s was that at a certain time we were m9t9all> to think o= each other ever> 5a>.
.e arrange5 the ho9rs =or himsel=( which arrangement ca9se5 m> ho9rs to be =rom U a.m.
9ntil 3 a.m. .e 5i5 not appear to notice that it might inter=ere with m> night4s rest( nor
5i5 I sa> so( b9t most tr9l> can I state as a fact, that 59ring all these >ears there has not
been one night that I have not been awake at the time speci=ie5@ in sickness( 9n5er the
power o= sopori=ics( or wear> =rom e?ha9ste5 activit>( still I starte5 9p as the ho9r
arrive5. *his ma>( perhaps( in some meas9re acco9nt =or the close comm9nion we have
ha5 i-:7W! together( =or not onl> have I seen him an5 been with him( b9t have hear5 the
wor5s he 9ttere5.
P2Q BI saw m> son on his horse in a wil5 part o= the co9ntr>( an5 saw him 5ash into a
=oaming torrent. *he horse co9l5 with 5i==ic9lt> stem the t9rbi5 river( an5 m> son kept
cheering him on b> wor5 an5 han5. )=ter str9ggling on =or some time I saw them lan5
sa=el> on the banks o= the stream( an5 m> son p9t his =ace against the neck o= his horse
=or a =ew min9tes( the noble creat9re ret9rning the caress( panting an5 5ripping as he was.
*hen m> son looke5 ro9n5 at me( an5 sai5( 5istinctl>( uMother( mother( he has save5 me.4
*hat was all( b9t a letter coming in 59e co9rse as 9s9al( tol5 me o= this inci5ent( an5 the
e?act wor5s m> son sai5 when he =elt himsel= once again on terra fir(a. /o o9r spirits
ha5 hel5 comm9nion.
PUQ BI saw m> son on an open plain. .e kept looking at me. .e took =rom his baggage
some articles o= clothing( sprea5 them o9t( shook his hea5( an5 p9t them 5own( then
looke5 at me@ I mean b> that( he looke5 9p =rom the shirt or socks he ha5 in his han5s as
tho9gh he ga]e5 a=ar o==. )=ter 5isposing o= these things in vario9s wa>s( an5 seeming to
be in 5eep tho9ght( he slowl> p9t them awa> again an5 starte5 on his Do9rne> across
co9ntr>.
B*he letter came sa>ing( uOhs mother 5ear( that I ha5 >o9r precio9s in59strio9s =ingers to
men5 m> things =or me( m> socks an5 =lannels( an5 sew on m> b9ttons(4 then narrating
e?actl> what he ha5 5one on the wi5e plains( th9s con=irming in ever> partic9lar m>
vision o= him. .e ha5 travelle5 =rom Melbo9rne to -arpentaria( on =oot an5 on
horseback.
P:Q BI saw m> son n9rsing a little chil5( then 5ash over the plains on horseback witho9t a
hat( then 5ig a hole an5 place with m9ch care( an5 ver> slowl>( something in it( then
kneel 5own an5 with his han5s slowl> =ill the hole with earth. .e ha5 a book =rom which
he appeare5 to be rea5ing( which( b>-the-b>e( I tho9ght ver> remarkable. .e slowl> an5
with m9ch solemnit> le=t the spot( book in han5( b9t 5i5 not t9rn to look at me.
B*hen came the letter. On the wil5 sheep plains he was living with a man an5 his wi=e
an5 little chil5ren. .is pet was taken ill. .e mo9nte5 horse to go 28 miles =or 5octorAtoo
lates his little =avo9rite was 5ea5. .e 59g the grave himsel=( an5 with his own han5s p9t
the little chil5 into its last resting-place( an5 with pra>er-book in han5 rea5 a portion at
the grave.
P3Q BI saw m> son in a stream o= =lowing water. .e now an5 then sank 5own o9t o= view(
b9t came to the s9r=ace again. It was a ver> 5istressing 5ream to me( beca9se I saw two
black obDects near him an5 =eare5 the> were chasing him. I was m9ch tro9ble5.
B*he letter =rom him gave me an acco9nt o= the swimming across a river( accompanie5
b> two blacks( who were travelling the same wa>.
B*hen came a perio5 o= 5istress to me( beca9se I =elt that something ha5 come between
m> son an5 me. )t the 9s9al time =or 5welling 9pon his love =or me( an5 his loving
remembrance o= all he ha5 promise5( I =o9n5 an obstacle o= some sort. It grieve5 me
sa5l>. I co9l5 not 9n5erstan5 it. /omeone alwa>s stoo5 between 9s@ a sha5ow was alwa>s
hovering abo9t. I saw him in a clo95( or a mist rose between 9s( or he passe5 =rom me
looking back at me. *here was no longer an> comm9nion. M> 5a9ghters i-:77! =o9n5
something 5istresse5 me( an5 I tol5 them that I =eare5 =or their brother )l=re5. *he> trie5
to keep me contente5( b9t I =elt 5eserte5. *he letter came. .e was marrie5@ an5 never
since have I been blesse5 b> having comm9nion with him.C
YMrs. /impson has e?plaine5 in conversation that there was not the slightest breach o=
a==ection@ onl> these pec9liar comm9nications cease5.Z
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. /impson a55s:A
BI have never at an> time ma5e a secret o= m> constant comm9nion with m> love5 son.
)ll m> =amil> have hear5 m> 5reams( as the> took placeAo=ten at the ver> timeAan5
then have seen the corroboration o= them when m> letters arrive5 =rom }9eenslan5. I
have no letters in m> possession( tho9gh the> are onl> latel> 5estro>e5. -o9l5 I have
=oreseen the =9t9re( as it is now( I sho9l5 most certainl> have preserve5 a recor5 o= all
events( with the 5ates.
B*he 5reams are p9rel> matters o= recollection. I =anc> that I never wrote them( as I was
ver> o=ten s9==ering at the time. "9t the> were alwa>s relate5 to one or more o= the
=amil> at the time the> occ9rre5.
BIn m> last to )5a Yher 5a9ghterZ( I aske5 her as to m> 5reams( an5 she sen5s a =ew lines(
which I cop> =rom her letter:A
Bu,ith regar5 to >o9r 5reams I am not ver> clear( b9t I remember( when we were at
/hanklin( >o9 5reamt that something happene5 to )l=re5( an5 there was water( an5
something 5ark kept close to him. *hat is all I remember o= the 5ream. #o9 tol5 Mar> an5
me abo9t it( an5 >o9 wrote it 5own( an5 sai5 we sho9l5 hear something more abo9t it. In
m> heart I tho9ght it stuff. .owever( b> the ne?t mail came a letter( sa>ing that on s9ch a
5a>( giving the 5ate an5 ho9r( )l=re5 was on horseback PI thinkQ( an5 something happene5
to the horse( an5 he wo9l5 have been 5rowne5 b9t =or some black men( who resc9e5 an5
took care o= him. It is >ears since I tho9ght o= it( b9t once set o==( I 5aresa> more wo9l5
come to me.4
B)ccept this at what it is worth. #o9 see she has combine5 two o= m> 5reams.C
*he =ollowing is an e?tract =rom the onl> letter o= the son4s bearing on these e?periences
that can be =o9n5@ it re=ers to the thir5 case.
BI arrange5 =or the =9neral this a=ternoon. M> poor horse s9==ere5( as >o9 ma> s9ppose(
har5 ri5ing. *went>-thir5. *hree times ro5e to 'omaA27 miles an5 more be=ore 2 p.m.@
then we starte5 to the b9rial gro9n5. w I p9t ,ill> into his co==in( an5 into his grave. )s
a bab> I n9rse5 him to sleep( an5 into his cra5le@ now I went 5own into his grave( an5
5rew the ropes =rom 9n5er( so that he was not shaken. ) sa5 5a>4s work.C
*his ma> concl95e( =or the present( the s9bDect o= 5reams. I= with respect to some o= the
cases cite5 I have 9se5 e?pressions impl>ing that we ma> regar5 them as prett> certainl>
telepathic( this is on the 9n5erstan5ing( as I have e?plaine5( that telepath> is establishe5
in5epen5entl> o= them. "9t tho9gh this branch o= evi5ence can scarcel> be in itsel=
concl9sive( the st95> o= it will materiall> assist o9r =9t9re progress.
i-:7X!
+!P#&R (0.
91%R/&R'!"/8 +!$&$.
S 2. I% the cases o= the last chapter( the percipient( at the moment o= percipience( was
5istinctl> asleep. "9t the passage =rom sleep to waking a5mits o= man> 5egrees@ an5 a
ver> interesting gro9p o= cases remain which cannot properl> be classe5 as 5reams( an5
>et which 5o not appertain to seasons o= complete normal wake=9lness. *he 5isc9ssion o=
these e?periences( which occ9r on the bor5erlan5 o= sleeping an5 waking( will =orm the
nat9ral transition to the waking phenomena with which we shall be occ9pie5 59ring the
remain5er o= o9r co9rse. *he whole set o= cases in which telepathic impressions take a
sensor> =orm reall> belong to one large genus/ whatever the state o= the percipient ma>
be( percepts or 2uasi-percepts which are not originate5 b> an>thing within the normal
range o= his sense-organs are an5 m9st be hallucinations. +or convenience( however( that
term is con=ine5 to -a1ing e?periences( =or which there is no other 5esignation.
)ccor5ingl>( as I have be=ore spoken o= veridical drea(s, I shall in =9t9re have to speak
o= veridical hallucinations/ an5 we are now to take the step which lea5s =rom the one
class to the other.
*here are certain reasons wh> this bor5erlan5 might be e?pecte5 to be rich in telepathic
phenomena. )n impression =rom a 5istant min5 ma> or ma> not originate a sensor>
hall9cination@ b9t i= it 5oes so( this seems more speciall> likel> to occ9r at an> season( or
in an> state o= the organism( which happens to be =avo9rable to sensor> hall9cinations in
general. %ow the state between sleeping an5 waking has this character. 1ersons who have
never ha5 hall9cinations o= the senses at an> other times( have e?perience5 them in the
moments which imme5iatel> prece5e( or imme5iatel> =ollow( act9al sleep. )n5 tho9gh
neither =orm o= e?perience is common( an e?amination o= a n9mber o= instances seems to
show that con5itions i-:X;! which come nearest to those o= sleep are more =avo9rable
than those o= or5inar> waking li=e( =or the bo5>ing =orth o= s9bDective phantasms.
2

O= the hall9cinations which prece5e sleep( the best-known class have receive5 the name
o= Billusions h,pnagogi2ues.F *he> have been care=9ll> 5escribe5 b> MRller( Ma9r>( an5
other writers( who have themselves e?perience5 them. +or the most part the> seem to
begin with an appearance o= bright points an5 streaks( which then =orm a more or less
complicate5 pattern( or 5evelop into a scene or lan5scape.
U
In these cases( it is probable
that the origin o= the phenomena is a slightl> abnormal con5ition o= the retina( an5 that
elements o= act9al sensation =rom this peripheral so9rce =orm the basis o= the
phantasmagoria which the min5 elaborates. "9t there is another =orm( involving no
pec9liarit> o= the e?ternal organ( where some obDect that has been act9all> seen 59ring
the 5a> seems to reappear be=ore the e>es with all the vivi5ness o= realit>. Ma9r> gives a
case o= an Ba=ter-imageC o= the sort( which well e?empli=ies the stage between realit> an5
5ream. )=ter a =atig9ing 5a>( his e>es ha5 been gla55ene5 b> the sight o= a bee=steak(
which was to =orm his 5inner. )=ter 5inner he became 5rows>@ an5 in this state he ha5 a
5istinct vision o= this ver> steak( apparentl> as real an5 palpable as ever. Lapsing then
into act9al sleep( he ha5 a vivi5 5ream( in which the steak again reappeare5. .ere it is
clear that the Bh,pnagogicF hall9cination was as tr9l> the proDection o= the percipient4s
own min5 as the 5ream.
*he hall9cinations which imme5iatel> =ollow sleep are not in=reE9entl> the res9lt o= a
previo9s 5ream( some =eat9re o= which is prolonge5 into waking moments( an5 becomes
temporaril> locate5 among the obDects that meet the e>e. )n O?=or5 9n5ergra59ate tells
me that( having ha5 a ver> vivi5 5ream o= being chase5 b> a =ig9re in green( he woke an5
saw the green =ig9re in the mi55le o= his room. BI ha5 no 5o9bt that I was awake( =or I
saw the light =rom the street lamp shining on m> 5oor. *he =ig9re was not in this light b9t
nearer the be5( an5 the green tinge was ver> perceptible.C *he 'ev. E. .. /9g5en( o=
"ra5=or5( writes to me: BOnce I ha5 a most i-:X2! vivi5 5ream abo9t a man whom I
knew well. On s955enl> waking( I saw him( in the light o= earl> morning( stan5ing at m>
be5si5e in the ver> attit95e o= the 5ream. I looke5 at him =or a secon5 or two( an5 then
p9tting m> =oot o9t( I kicke5 at him@ as m> =oot reache5 him( he vanishe5.C )nother
in=ormant ha5 a 5ream( in the train( o= looking at her watch( an5 on waking saw the 5ial
be=ore her e>es Blarger than the real one( an5 bl9e: a=ter a =ew moments it =lickere5 an5
went o9t like a can5le.C In these cases the impression was scarcel> more than
momentar>@ b9t other in=ormantsAamong them 1ro=essor "al=o9r /tewartAhave tol5
me o= similar e?periences o= their own which laste5 a goo5 man> secon5s@ an5 in the
stock e?ample o= the books( the 5ream-baboon remaine5 grinning in a corner even while
the percipient was s9==icientl> himsel= to walk across the roomAa striking ill9stration o=
the ps>chological i5entit> o= the 5reaming an5 the waking image.
2

More striking are the cases where the images( tho9gh imme5iatel> =ollowing sleep( are
not a contin9ance o= a 5ream( or at an> rate o= a 5ream o= which the slightest memor>
s9rvives. O= co9rse these e?periences ma> not all have been hall9cinations in the strict
sense( b9t onl> misinterpretations o= act9al sensationAthat is to sa>( some article o=
=9rnit9re or real obDect in the room ma> have serve5 as the basis =or the 5el9sive image@
an5 momentar> ill9sions o= this sort are perhaps not ver> 9ncommon.
U
"9t even so( the
min5 has impose5 i-:XU! its own creation =rom within on what met the e>e =rom
witho9t@ an5 s9ch cases( there=ore( still bear o9t m> point( that the ten5enc> to e?ternalise
an5 obDecti=> mental images is strongest at one special season o= waking li=e. O= :;U
cases o= hall9cinations o= sight Pe?cl9sive o= those given as telepathic evi5ence in this
bookQ( o= which I have collecte5 =irst-han5 acco9nts 59ring the last three >ears( as man>
as 3:Athat is( a seventh o= the whole n9mberAhave taken place 59ring the =irst =ew
moments a=ter waking. It is eE9all> noteworth> that o= the remain5er( 88( making in all
more than a thir5 o= the whole n9mber( occ9rre5 to persons who were in be5Aa
proportion =ar in e?cess o= that which the n9mber o= waking min9tes spent in be5 bears to
the total n9mber o= waking min9tes. +ew o= these cases( moreover( were o= a character
that wo9l5 allow 9s to class them as illusions h,pnagogi2ues. *he> 5i5 not visit persons
who were =amiliar with s9ch visions as sleep approache5@ nor 5i5 the> originate or
5evelop in an> wa> that s9ggests an 9n9s9al or =atig9e5 con5ition o= the retina. %or again
co9l5 b> an> means all o= them be e?plaine5( like M. Ma9r>4s bee=steak( as Ba=ter-
imagesCArevivals o= past impressions@ =or o9t o= the 3: cases =irst mentione5 onl> U:(
o9t o= the 88 other cases onl> U8( represente5 a =ace( =orm( or obDect that was recognise5@
while in several even o= these cases the person whose =ig9re appeare5 was a 5ecease5
=rien5 or relative who ha5 not been act9all> seen =or months or >ears. /imilarl>( o= 27W
=irst-han5 cases o= a95itor> hall9cination in m> collection( 8:( or more than one thir5 o=
the whole n9mber( took place in be5. O= these( 2X are 5escribe5 as either awakening the
person( or occ9rring in the ver> =irst moment o= waking( an5 in 2; o= the 2X the so9n5
was a recognise5 voice@ o= the remaining 33( 2W were 9nrecognise5 voices( 22 were non-
vocal so9n5s s9ch as ringings an5 knocks( an5 onl> 28 represente5 recognise5 voices. It
wo9l5 seem( then( that the reasons which make be5 a speciall> =avo9rable place =or s9ch
e?periences are to be so9ght( not onl> in pec9liarities o= the sense-organs at the moments
imme5iatel> contig9o9s to sleep( b9t in the more general con5itions o= E9iet an5
passivit>( o= a comparativel> anOmic brain( an5 o= the partial lapse o= the higher 5irective
ps>chical activities. ,e cannot( I think( sa=el> reckon i-:X:! dar1ness as among these
con5itions( as a large proportion o= the cases have occ9rre5 when the room was lightA=or
instance( in the earl> ho9rs o= a s9mmer morning.
S U. )t an> rate( be5 beingA=rom whatever ca9sesAa place =avo9rable to phantasms( it
is reasonable to s9rmise that it ma> be a place =avo9rable to the phenomena with which
we are concerne5 in this bookAthe phantasms that coinci5e with realit>. )n5 s9ch( in
=act( it proves to be. -onsi5ering how small a portion o= o9r waking li=e is incl95e5 in the
=ew moments a=ter waking =rom sleep( or even in the short perio5s o= wake=9lness that
normal health> parsons pass in be5( it is remarkable how large a proportion o= o9r
veri5ical e?amples Pa n9mber little less than the total o= 5reams( an5 amo9nting to abo9t
a =o9rth o= the e?ternalise5 waking cases(Q =all within these seasons. )n5 regar5e5 as
evi5ence o= telepath>( it will be seen that these cases stan5 on an altogether 5i==erent
=ooting =rom the 5ream-cases proper with which the> have seeme5 in one wa> so closel>
allie5. $reams( as we saw( are so =reE9ent an5 vario9s as to a==or5 an immense scope =or
acci5ental coinci5ences@ it is =ar otherwise with these bor5erlan5 impressions( or at an>
rate with those o= them which the perceiver himsel= is able clearl> to 5i==erentiate =rom
5reams. I= I have calle5 them the co((onest =orm o= waking hall9cination among sane
an5 health> people( this is not to be 9n5erstoo5 as meaning that the> are absol9tel>
common@ on the contrar>( the> are 5eci5e5l> e?ceptional. O9t o= VV8X persons( taken at
ran5om( I =in5 that onl> 27 are able to recall having within the last twelve >ears ha5 a
vis9al e?perience( an5 onl> U: an a95itor> e?perience( o= this kin5.
2
I= then we =in5 a
consi5erable n9mber o= cases where an e?perience o= the sort has coinci5e5 with the
5eath Por some 5istinct crisis in the li=eQ o= the person whose presence the hall9cination
s9ggeste5( the =act is at once noteworth>@ an5 the i-:X3! n9mber o= s9ch coinci5ences
that we can a559ce =orms a strong an5 in5epen5ent proo=A=ar stronger( at an> rate( than
was a==or5e5 b> o9r list o= coinci5ent 5reamsAthat telepath> an5 not acci5ent is the
e?planation o= them. %or is the comparativel> small n9mber o= persons who have
e?perience o= 5istinct Bbor5erlan5C hall9cinations the onl> point wherein this class is
s9perior in evi5ential =orce to 5reams. ,e can here( as a r9le( be =ar more certain that the
partic9lar impression recor5e5 was reall> o= a sort 9niE9e or highl> e?ceptional in the
partic9lar percipient4s e?perience. *his 9niE9e character is( no 5o9bt( as we have seen(
o=ten asserte5 o= 5reams proper which a=terwar5s prove to have coinci5e5 with realit>.
"9t there we lacke5 complete ass9rance that similar 5reams which 5i5 not coinci5e with
realit> ha5 not slippe5 o9t o= memor>. *he impressions to be 5escribe5 in this chapter( on
the other han5( have a character an5 an intensit> which wo9l5 or5inaril> ens9re their
being remembere5( even i= no coinci5ence were establishe5. Man> o= them( in5ee5( seem
to have been 5istinctl> waking impressions( belonging to a state o= open e>es an5 alert
senses( which was contin9e5 into normal waking li=e witho9t an> break or an> =eeling o=
change whatever. /till( as the> occ9rre5 to persons who were in be5( an5 at seasons when
the =ac9lties are apt to be in an 9nstable con5ition( an5 when the stages o= conscio9sness
=rom moment to moment ma> be har5 to 5e=ine( it is sa=est to 5isting9ish them =rom
similar phenomena occ9rring 59ring active waking ho9rs( no less than =rom those o=
sleep.
2
Y~Z I ma> E9ote at once a case which ill9strates the immense importance to the
arg9ment o= 5isting9ishing the e?periences o= the Bbor5erlan5C =rom those o= sleep. *he
=ollowing passage occ9rs in the ;ife and Ti(es of ;ord Brougha(, written b> himsel=
P27W2Q( pp. U;2T:( an5 was originall> an entr> in his Do9rnal. *he entr> m9st apparentl>
have been ma5e ver> soon a=ter the occ9rrence which it 5escribes@ as we can scarcel>
5o9bt that ha5 the =act o= his =rien54s 5eath( which he learnt soon a=terwar5s( been known
to him at the time o= writing( he wo9l5 have incl95e5 it in the acco99t.
i-:XV!
In $ecember( 2WXX( Lor5 "ro9gham was travelling in /we5en with =rien5s.
P238Q B,e set o9t =or &othenb9rg( Yapparentl> on $ecember 27thZ 5etermining to make
=or %orwa>. )bo9t 2 in the morning( arriving at a 5ecent inn( we 5eci5e5 to stop =or the
night. *ire5 with the col5 o= >ester5a>( I was gla5 to take a5vantage o= a hot bath be=ore I
t9rne5 in( an5 here a most remarkable thing happene5 to meAso remarkable that I m9st
tell the stor> =rom the beginning.
B)=ter I le=t the .igh /chool( I went with &.( m> most intimate =rien5( to atten5 the
classes in the Universit>. *here was no 5ivinit> class( b9t we =reE9entl> in o9r walks
5isc9sse5 an5 spec9late5 9pon man> grave s9bDectsAamong others( on the immortalit>
o= the so9l( an5 on a =9t9re state. *his E9estion( an5 the possibilit>( I will not sa> o=
ghosts walking( b9t o= the 5ea5 appearing to the living( were s9bDects o= m9ch
spec9lation: an5 we act9all> committe5 the =oll> o= 5rawing 9p an agreement( written
with o9r bloo5( to the e==ect that whichever o= 9s 5ie5 the =irst sho9l5 appear to the other(
an5 th9s solve an> 5o9bts we ha5 entertaine5 o= the uli=e a=ter 5eath.4
2
)=ter we ha5
=inishe5 o9r classes at the college( &. went to In5ia( having got an appointment there in
the -ivil /ervice. .e sel5om wrote to me( an5 a=ter the lapse o= a =ew >ears I ha5 almost
=orgotten him@ moreover( his =amil> having little connection with E5inb9rgh( I sel5om
saw or hear5 an>thing o= them( or o= him thro9gh them( so that all his schoolbo> intimac>
ha5 5ie5 o9t( an5 I ha5 nearl> =orgotten his e?istence. I ha5 taken( as I have sai5( a warm
bath( an5 while l>ing in it an5 enDo>ing the com=ort o= the heat( a=ter the late =ree]ing I
ha5 9n5ergone( I t9rne5 m> hea5 ro9n5( looking towar5s the chair on which I ha5
5eposite5 m> clothes( as I was abo9t to get o9t o= the bath. On the chair sat &.( looking
calml> at me. .ow I got o9t o= the bath I know not( b9t on recovering m> senses I =o9n5
m>sel= sprawling on the =loor. *he apparition( or whatever it was( that ha5 taken the
likeness o= &.( ha5 5isappeare5.
B*his vision pro59ce5 s9ch a shock that I ha5 no inclination to talk abo9t it or to speak
abo9t it even to /t9art@ b9t the impression it ma5e 9pon me was too vivi5 to be easil>
=orgotten@ an5 so strongl> was I a==ecte5 b> it that I have here written 5own the whole
histor>( with the 5ate( 2Xth $ecember( an5 all the partic9lars( as the> are now =resh be=ore
me. %o 5o9bt I ha5 =allen asleep@ an5 that the appearance presente5 so 5istinctl> to m>
e>es was a 5ream( I cannot =or a moment 5o9bt@ >et =or >ears I ha5 ha5 no
comm9nication with &.( nor ha5 there been an>thing to recall him to m> recollection@
nothing ha5 taken place 59ring o9r /we5ish travels either connecte5 with &. or with
In5ia( or with an>thing relating to him or to an> member o= his =amil>. I recollecte5
E9ickl> eno9gh o9r ol5 5isc9ssion an5 the bargain we ha5 ma5e. I co9l5 not 5ischarge
=rom m> min5 the impression that &. m9st have 5ie5( an5 that his appearance to me was
to be receive5 b> me as a proo= o= a =9t9re state( >et all the while I =elt convince5 that the
whole was a 5ream@ an5 so pain=9ll> vivi5( so i-:X8! 9n=a5ing was the impression( that I
co9l5 not bring m>sel= to talk o= it( or to make the slightest all9sion to it.C
In October( 278U( Lor5 "ro9gham a55e5 as a postcript:A
BI have D9st been cop>ing o9t =rom m> Do9rnal the acco9nt o= this strange 5ream:
Certissi(a (ortis i(agoT )n5 now to =inish the stor>( beg9n abo9t 8; >ears since. /oon
a=ter m> ret9rn to E5inb9rgh( there arrive5 a letter =rom In5ia( anno9ncing &.4s 5eath( an5
stating that he ha5 5ie5 on the 2Xth o= $ecembers
B/ing9lar coinci5ences >et when one re=lects on the vast n9mbers o= 5reams which night
a=ter night pass thro9gh o9r brains( the n9mber o= coinci5ences between the vision an5
the event are perhaps =ewer an5 less remarkable than a =air calc9lation o= chances wo9l5
warrant 9s to e?pect. %or is it s9rprising( consi5ering the variet> o= o9r tho9ghts in sleep(
an5 that the> all bear some analog> to the a==airs o= li=e( that a 5ream sho9l5 sometimes
coinci5e with a contemporaneo9s or even with a =9t9re event. *his is not m9ch more
won5er=9l than that a person( whom we ha5 no reason to e?pect( sho9l5 appear to 9s at
the ver> moment we have been thinking or speaking o= him. /o common is this( that it
has =or ages grown into the proverb( u/peak o= the 5evil.4 I believe ever> s9ch seeming
miracle is( like ever> ghost stor>( capable o= e?planation.C
Lor5 "ro9gham4s evi5ence in a matter o= this kin5 cannot be =airl> imp9gne5 on the
gro9n5 that his character =or p9blic veracit> was not alwa>s above s9spicion. .e clearl>
took no special pri5e or pleas9re in the inci5ent( an5 he a5vances a thoro9ghl>
rationalistic e?planation o= it. "9t o= co9rse the long interval which elapse5 between his
hearing o= the 5ate o= the 5eath an5 his recor5ing it in writing greatl> 5iminishes the
evi5ential val9e o= the case. I E9ote it rather =or the sake o= the important =allac> in the
concl95ing remarks.
Lor5 "ro9gham( we see( rests his view that the coinci5ence in his case was acci5ental on
the Bvast n9mber o= 5reams.C "9t was his e?perience a 5reamr *his is no mere E9estion
o= a name. Let 9s make the s9pposition that no 5eath ha5 occ9rre5( an5 that the
e?perience remaine5 one which there is not even a pri(0 facie e?c9se =or s9rmising to be
an>thing b9t p9rel> s9bDective: 5oes it thereb> s9bsi5e at once into the general r9ck o=
5ream-e?periencesr Is it in5isting9ishable in intensit> an5 character =rom those co9ntless
m9ltit95es( o= which it wo9l5 be tr9e an5 relevant to sa> that the scope a==or5e5 b> them
=or chance-coinci5ences is practicall> 9nlimite5r ,e can b9t accept what Lor5 "ro9gham
himsel= has tol5 9s( an5 answer these E9estions b> an emphatic negative. *he complete
conscio9sness o= the real place an5 time( the intention to get o9t o= the bath( the
percipient4s sense o= his own act9al post9re i-:XW! when he ca9ght sight o= the =ig9re(
an5 the whole 5etail o= the acco9nt( are all ver> 9nlike or5inar> 5reaming. "9t apart =rom
s9ch points as these( is it a well-known res9lt o= an or5inar> 5ream that the 5reamer( on
recovering his senses( =in5s himsel= Bsprawling on the =loorCr On waking =rom an
or5inar> 5ream( are we wont to remark( as a point o= interest( that Bthe apparition has
5isappeare5Cr Is it characteristic o= an or5inar> 5ream to be so pain=9ll> vivi5 an5
9n=a5ing that the 5reamer cannot bring himsel= to make the slightest all9sion to itr -all
s9ch an e?perience a 5ream( or call it Pas we sho9l5 5oQ a Bbor5erlan5C hall9cinationA
the onl> relevant E9estion is( how o=ten 5oes its like occ9rr In Lor5 "ro9gham4s own
long li=e( at an> rate( it was 9niE9e an5 9nparallele5. In arg9ing( there=ore( that the
coinci5ence was not so ver> remarkable a=ter all( beca9se B5reamsC are so n9mero9s an5
vario9s that one o= them here an5 there is likel> b> chance to strike on tr9th( he makes
himsel= the slave o= a wor5. *he instance is instr9ctive( as showing the ten5enc> o=
prepossessions( however legitimate an5 scienti=ic in themselves( to lea5 on to
illegitimacies o= proce59re. Lor5 "ro9gham is rightl> certain that his e?perience is not
s9pernat9ralAis Bcapable o= e?planationC@ an5 then( as the onl> nat9ral e?planation that
occ9rs to him is chance, he becomes eE9all> certain that that m9st be the right one(
wrests =acts into con=ormit> with it( an5 re=ers a ver> 9ncommon thing to a class o= ver>
common things.
S :. *o come( however( to o9r own collectionAbe=ore intro59cing the characteristic
sensor> cases( I will E9ote a co9ple o= Bbor5erlan5C e?amples o= the more i5eal t>pe
which has been prominent in the prece5ing chapters. In the =irst case( the trans=erre5
impression Pi= s9ch it wasQ 5i5 not even s9ggest an i5ea to the percipient 9ntil it act9all>
took shape in an e?clamation o= her own. *he narrator4s =amil> 5islike the s9bDect( an5
her name is accor5ingl> s9ppresse5.
B$ecember UUn5( 277:.
P23WQ B*wo >ears ago m> son was ill in $9rban( %atal. I was tol5 b> his me5ical
atten5ant( who is also m> son-in-law( that the illness was serious, b9t I ha5 no reason to
s9ppose it was e?pecte5 to en5 =atall>. O= co9rse( I( his mother( was an?io9s@ b9t there
came better acco9nts( an5 at last a letter =rom m> son himsel=. .e spoke o= being reall>
stronger( e?presse5 regret at his en=orce5 long silence( an5 a55e5 he hope5 now to write
reg9larl> again. *he loa5 was li=te5 =rom m> min5( an5 I remarke5 I =elt happier than I
ha5 5one =or months. )t this time I too was ill( an5 ha5 a traine5 n9rse with me. ) =ew
nights a=ter the receipt o= the letter( I thought I ha5 been l>ing awake( an5 reE9iring to
call m> n9rse who i-:X7! was in m> room( I sat 9p in be5 an5 calle5 lo95l>( uE5war5(
E5war5.4 I was ro9se5 b> n9rse answering( uI =ear( ma4am( >o9r son will not be able to
come to >o9.4 I trie5 to la9gh it o==( b9t a chill str9ck to m> heart. I note5 the ho9r( :.3;
on /9n5a> morning. ,itho9t mentioning m> =ears( I reco9nte5 the inci5ent to m>
5a9ghters( b9t I looke5 =or the ba5 news to come( an5 on Mon5a> receive5 the cable
message( uE5war5 5ie5 last night.4 /9bseE9entl> letters name5 the ho9r as being i5entical
with that in which I ha5 invol9ntaril> sent =orth m> cr> =or m> love5 son. Y*his is not
E9ite correct.Z .is sister( Mrs. -.( in writing to me( sai5( uOs mother( his one crave was
=or >o9( an5 to the last moment the >earning he ha5 =or >o9 seeme5 to 5well in his e>es.4
I ma> a55 we were more than even mother an5 son 9s9all> are to one another. I believe in
that one moment o9r so9ls were permitte5 to meet( an5 I thank &o5 =or the memor> o=
that ho9r.
B-. E. 0.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. 0. sa>s that her son ha5 ha5 5elicate health( an5 B=or >ears I
9se5 to get 9p thro9gh the night an5 listen to his breathing( an5 live5 in the constant
apprehension o= learning s955en ba5 news i= he were o9t o= m> sight.C /he a55s( B%o
5o9bt I was thinking o= him( b9t not pain=9ll>( =or I ha5 ha5 his letter( an5 I tho9ght he
was getting well. It certainl> was not a 5reamAI sat 9p in be5 to call m> n9rse( when( to
m> s9rprise
2
an5( =or an instant( am9sement( I 9ttere5 the cr>( uE5war5( E5war5.4 *he
great point is( o= co9rse( whether the ho9r was e.actl, that o= his 5eath. M> son 5ie5
59ring the night( or rather( earl> in the morning( o= /9n5a>( )9g9st U7th( 2772. $9ring
that same night I 9ttere5 m> cr> to him. It was the onl> time in m> li=e that an,thing of
the 1ind took place. I never talke5 in m> sleep( nor ha5 an> e?perience the least like this
be=ore or since.C
*he =ollowing is =rom Mrs. 0.4s 5a9ghter:A
BFan9ar> U:r5( 2773.
BI remember that on the morning o= the UXth )9g9st m> mother tol5 me o= the c9rio9s
coinci5ence o= which she has written to >o9. /he tol5 me when I went into her room the
=irst thing( an5 the n9rse was also in her room.
BE. E. 0.C
It having been pointe5 o9t to Mrs. 0. that her 5a9ghter sai5 the UXth( not the U7th( o=
)9g9st( she e?plains:A
BM> 5a9ghter( E. E. 0.( sa>s I tol5 her o= m> cr> in the morning o= the 5a> a=ter I 9ttere5
it@ o= co9rse( it was there=ore on the U7th that ever>thing occ9rre5. In writing to >o9 she
5i5 not realise that the 5eath an5 m> cr> were both after (idnight, an5 simpl> writing
=rom memor>( p9t the UXth( as being the 5a> a=ter the U7th. *here is no 5o9bt E5war54s
5eath an5 m> cr> occ9rre5 59ring the night o= the UWth( or rather in the earl> morning o=
the U7th.C
U

i-:XX!
Mrs. 0. kin5l> wrote to another 5a9ghter at $9rban( to make s9re o= the e?act time o= the
5eath@ an5 E9otes the =ollowing passage =rom the repl>:A
BE5war5 5ie5 at U; min9tes be=ore V a.m.@ his watch was D9st besi5e him( an5 as he 5rew
his last breath( I looke5 at the time an5 sai5( uMother will be awakes how will she bear
itr4C *he writer a55s that her h9sban54s entr> in his 5iar> =or )9g9st U7th( 2772( is( B%e5
5ie5 3.3; a.m.C
)llowing =or longit95e the cr> here =ollowe5 the 5eath b> abo9t an ho9r. Mrs. 0.4s
preocc9pation with her son4s con5ition is( o= co9rse( a weak point in the evi5ence: on the
other han5 she is ver> certain o= the 9niE9eness o= the e?perience. I= the case was
telepathic( its pec9liar nat9re wo9l5 strikingl> s9pport the view alrea5> a5vance5( that a
telepathic impression ma> be pro59ce5 below the threshol5 o= conscio9sness. )n5 on that
view the slight 5e=erment o= the =9rther e==ect b> which the impression is plainl>
mani=este5 becomes completel> intelligible.
*he ne?t case is ver> similar to %o. 2;: Pp. ::;Q( b9t the e==ect on the percipient is even
more 9nlike that o= an> or5inar> 5ream. )n5 =rom the evi5ential point o= view( even
those who most strongl> realise the scope that the vast n9mber o= 5reams a==or5s =or
acci5ental coinci5ences( will hesitate to ass9me that a vast n9mber o= bo>s o= 28 get 9p(
5ress( an5 wait =or messengers in the mi55le o= the night. *he narrative is =rom a paper
calle5 BMan( *rans--orporealCAb> $r. -. ". 'a5cli==e( o= UV( -aven5ish /E9are( ,.A
which appeare5 in the Conte(porar, =evie- =or $ecember( 27W3.
P237Q BM> gran5mother( a la5> consi5erabl> over W; >ears o= age( resi5e5 with m>
parents( an5 I was Yat the time o= the occ9rrenceZ sta>ing at a place abo9t 3 miles awa>
=rom home. Ever>bo5> at home was( to all appearance( in goo5 health( an5 ha5 been so
=or a long time( an5 on that partic9lar night I went to be5 an5 =ell asleep( witho9t at all
5ivining what was so soon to happen.
BI have no remembrance o= having 5reamt( an5 all I know is that a=ter having slept =or a
co9ple o= ho9rs( I woke with =9ll conviction that m> gran5mother ha5 been taken
s955enl> ill( that a messenger was on his wa> to =etch me( an5 that I sho9l5 not reach
home be=ore all was over. ) moment or two later I got 9p( lit a can5le( looke5 at m>
watch( 5resse5( an5 waite5 at the win5ow in the =9ll belie= that m> gran5mother was then
5ea5 an5 that I sho9l5 have to go presentl>@ an5 as I e?pecte5( so it was( the messenger
arriving D9st as I was rea5> to ret9rn with him( an5 the 5eath happening( as it prove5
a=terwar5s( at the ver> moment I ha5 looke5 at m> watch. I ha5 not an> impression at the
time that there was an>thing s9pernat9ral in the wa> in which the intelligence was th9s
conve>e5 to m> min5. I remember nothing like a =eeling o= =ear at the time( an5 I 5i5 not
PI was a la5 o= i-3;;! not more than 28 >ears o= ageQ perple? m>sel= with reasoning on
the s9bDect.C
Y,e =in5 that this inci5ent took place in 27:W( an5 no corroboration is now proc9rable. In
5eci5ing whether to incl95e a case o= this 5egree o= remoteness( the intellect9al stat9s o=
the narrator m9st nat9rall> be a chie= consi5eration. $r. 'a5cli==e tells 9s that it stan5s o9t
ver> clearl> in his memor>( an5 that ever>bo5> who knew him at the time hear5 o= it.Z
S 3. *o pass now to 5e=initel> sensor> cases( I will =irst E9ote one which is interesting as
a per=ect e?ample o= an Dillusion h,pnagogi2ueF s9ggeste5 apparentl> b> the i5eas in a
neighbo9ring min5. Miss $eering( o= Lo9isville( 0ent9ck>( writes to 9s as =ollows:A
BOctober 27th( 2773.
P23XQ BI ver> 5istinctl> remember that one 5a>( a =ew >ears ago( m> =ather la> 5own =or a
=ew min9tes( as at that time 9s9al be=ore going to his o==ice in the a=ternoon. /eate5 on a
stool besi5e him( an5 with m> le=t han5 en=ol5e5 in one o= his( I rea5 the book in which I
was at the time intereste5( =or V or possibl> W min9tes. )t the en5 o= that time he t9rne5
his =ace towar5s me( an5 seeing that the room was sha5e5( remarke5: u)nna( >o9 will
inD9re >o9r e>es rea5ing in this 5im light.4 u)n5 I 5o not partic9larl> like this book(4 I
respon5e5. I hel5 in m> han5 a historical novel( the name o= which I am sorr> I cannot
recollect( b9t I remember vivi5l> that the passage I ha5 D9st rea5 p9rporte5 to be one o=
the last scenes in the li=e o= Marie )ntoinette( an5 I remember as 5istinctl> that in that
scene a tall man carrie5 a co==in =rom a room in which Marie )ntoinette an5 some
atten5ant la5ies were at the time stan5ing. I remember that in the stor> that tall man stoo5
prominentl> in the =oregro9n5( an5 that m> min5 was straine5 9n5er the part he took in
that scene almost to the verge o= rep9gnance.
BIn repl> to m> =ather4s E9estion wh> I 5i5 not like the book( I replie5 in s9bstance as in
the =oregoing( an5 he imme5iatel> tol5 me that he ha5 D9st seen what I ha5 5escribe5( an5
ha5 opene5 his e>es an5 t9rne5 his =ace towar5s me to 5issipate the scene( which =or the
moment he ha5 looke5 9pon as an isolate5 phantasm.
2

B)%%) M. $EE'I%&.C
Mr. $eering writes:A
BLo9isville( 0ent9ck>( U./.
BOctober U2st( 2773.
B,hile I la> with m> 5a9ghter4s han5 in mine( as she relates in the accompan>ing
memoir( I =ell into the semi-sl9mber 9s9al with me on l>ing 5own to rest =or a =ew
min9tes a=ter m> l9ncheon( earl> in the a=ternoon. )t these times I ver> sel5om =all
asleep( b9t simpl> into a species o= sl9mber( in which I =reE9entl> =in5 m>sel= in a kin5 o=
ra>less or moonless moonlight( looking( an5 this 9s9all> with serene pleas9re( at nearb>
gar5ens( slopes( riv9lets( an5 vario9s little vistas( which more times than otherwise vanish
at m> bi55ing( an5 e?cept I =all asleep( are imme5iatel> replace5 b> others. /ometimes
these are people5 with i-3;2! apparentl> living =ig9res( an5 =reE9entl> these also
5issolve at m> bi55ing an5 are replace5 b> others. *here is( however( this 5i==erence@ an>
control I e?ercise =or the p9rpose o= a change seems to be more imme5iate an5 more
absol9te over a change o= =ig9res than over a change o= scenes.
BI am E9ite s9re that at these times I 5o not =all into an> con5ition that =airl> can be calle5
pathological.
BUn5er the sl9mber now 9n5er consi5eration( m> attention became =i?e5 on a tall thin
man( with hea5 9ncovere5( bear5less( an5 5resse5 in black. .e came towar5 the =oot o=
the be5 on which I la> =rom the le=t@ an5 perhaps I sho9l5 note that m> 5a9ghter sat 9pon
m> le=t. Imme5iatel> I saw several other =ig9res@ an5 tho9gh these stoo5 o9tsi5e the lines
or =iel5 o= m> 5irect vision( I remember 5istinctl> that the> ma5e on me an impression o=
s>mpath> with powerlessness. I might think that the s>mpath> to9che5 me thro9gh the
co9ntenance o= the man( were it not that he impresse5 me with also the opposite o=
powerlessness. .is age seeme5 to be abo9t V;( his =ace oblong( a little sallow( serio9sl>
tho9ght=9l( an5 withal in5icative o= great b9t E9iet =irmness in action( whether =rom a
sense o= 59t> base5 on his own D95gment( or 59t> 9n5er a sense o= obe5ience( I cannot
5etermine@ tho9gh( in the absence o= an> appearance o= the vin5ictive( I think or at least
am incline5 to think that alike his presence an5 his action were base5 on simpl> an
obe5ience to some right=9l a9thorit>. *his action was a reverent stepping =orwar5( an5 a
silent la>ing o= his han5s on a co==in that seeme5 to rest across the =oot o= the be5. *he
moment I saw the co==in I tho9ght: I 5o not like this scene@ please go awa> an5 let
something more agreeable come in. "9t the scene wo9l5 not change( an5 again I tho9ght:
1lease go awa> an5 let something more agreeable come in@ an5 again the scene wo9l5 not
change. .e raise5 the co==in( it seeme5 as easil> as tho9gh it ha5 been that o= an in=ant(
an5 was in the act o= stepping backwar5( as tho9gh with5rawing =rom a presence( when I
tho9ght: *hen I will not prolong this sl9mber@ I will open m> e>es an5 aro9se m>sel=.
)n5( on imme5iatel> 5oing so( I spoke to m> 5a9ghter as she narrates( an5 then( witho9t
an>thing like ama]ement( listene5 to her 5escription =rom the book.
BI have been min9te( as in the =oregoing( beca9se I wish to p9t ever> =eat9re o= an5 ever>
impression given me b> the scene care=9ll> on recor5( against a search which I p9rpose to
keep 9p =or the book o9t o= which m> 5a9ghter at the time sat rea5ing. /he 5i5 not then
or ever rea5 to me what she ha5 rea5( b9t simpl> an5 in her own lang9age 5rew the
scene@ an5 this in( perhaps( as =ew wor5s as she has now written it( nor have we since that
time in an> partic9lar wa> converse5 abo9t it. M> impression is that the book she rea5
was an octavo in paper covers( b9t its name or a9thor( or whose it was or what became o=
it( neither o= 9s can recollect@ nor 5o either o= 9s at this time remember an> o= the scenes
imme5iatel> prece5ing or atten5ing the tragic 5eath o= Marie )ntoinette( as these are( or
ma> be( recor5e5 in histor>.
B,illiam $eering.C
*his inci5ent was originall> relate5 in the Lo9isville 'edical Ne-s b> 1ro=essor 1almer(
a letter =rom whom is appen5e5.
i-3;U!
BUniversit> o= Lo9isville( 0ent9ck>( U./.).
B/eptember U8th( 277:.
B*he article appearing on the other si5e is tr9e in ever> partic9lar. *he gentleman( a
resi5ent o= this cit>( a man o= high nervo9s organisation( was born in "el=ast( U./.).
"etween himsel= an5 his 5a9ghter e?ists a 5egree o= attachment rarel> seen in s9ch
kinship. I relate5 the inci5ent as he gave it to me.
BE. '. 1)LME'( M.$.(
B1ro=essor o= 1h>siolog>(C [c.
It is obvio9s that the val9e o= this narrative( as a==or5ing evi5ence o= tho9ght-
trans=erence( m9st be proportional to the 5egree o= e?actness with which the
correspon5ence between the 5ream an5 the 5escription in the book can be ma5e o9t. It
might( there=ore( be consi5erabl> increase5 i= the book co9l5 be 5iscovere5@ b9t we have
=aile5 to =in5 an> historical novel( or an> memoir or histor>( containing the inci5ent. Even
as it stan5s the coinci5ence is certainl> remarkable@ b9t as Miss $eering4s 5escription
prece5e5 her =ather4s acco9nt o= his vision( it is possible that its similarit> to the
5escription became 9nconscio9sl> somewhat stronger in recollection than it was in
realit>.
*his partic9lar t>pe is in an> case 9n9s9al. Looking at the Bbor5erlan5C impressions o=
the higher senses as a class( we at once observe the same important change as str9ck 9s in
the co9rse o= o9r s9rve> o= 5reams Ppp. :32TUQ. *he e?perience o= the percipient is
hence=orth no longer Por onl> ver> rarel>Q a 5irect repro59ction or embo5iment o= the
i5ea or sensation o= the agent@ it is something in which his own creative =ac9lties are at
work. .e is the a9thor o= his impression in the same sense as be=ore he was the a9thor o=
his 5ream. I merel> note this in passing( reserving =9rther 5isc9ssion o= this point till the
s9bDect o= waking hall9cinations can be treate5 as a whole.
S V. I will =irst take e?amples where a single sense onl> is concerne5( an5 will begin with
the sense o= hearing. *here is a gro9p o= cases where what has been hear5 has s955enl>
awakene5 the percipientAnot( however( as the clima? o= a 5ream( b9t with the vivi5 an5
instantaneo9s impression o= a so9n5 e?ternall> ca9se5. It ma>( no 5o9bt( be s9ggeste5
that in s9ch cases the so9n5 is the clima? o= a 5ream o= which no memor> s9rvive5. "9t
i= so( the imme5iate oblivion o= the 5ream serves to set o== the speciall> startling nat9re o=
the e?perience in the moment o= waking@ an5 s9ch instantaneo9s startings =rom
apparentl> 5reamless sleep( with a 5e=inite so9n5 in the ears which has no obDective
realit>( are at an> i-3;:! rate s9==icientl> rare to D9sti=> 9s in regar5ing them( =or
p9rposes o= evi5ence( as borderland an5 not as drea( e?periences. *he cases( however(
5i==er consi5erabl> in their evi5ential =orce. In some which have most power=9ll>
impresse5 the imagination o= the percipients( the so9n5 has been inartic9late an5 o= the
nat9re o= a scream( not i5enti=ie5 with the person a=terwar5s ass9me5 to have been the
agent. %ow this o= co9rse 5iminishes the improbabilit> that its s>nchronism with an
e?ceptional state o= that person was acci5ental. )n5 again( it is 5i==ic9lt in s9ch
circ9mstances to prove concl9sivel> that the so9n5 ma> not have been 59e to some
normal ca9se which was not 5iscovere5@ =or o55 so9n5s at night are not 9ncommon( an5(
till acco9nte5 =or( ma> have a pec9liarl> e?citing e==ect. )s regar5s the =irst o= these
obDections( it m9st be remembere5( on the other han5( that screams are a ver> 9n9s9al
=orm o= p9rel> s9bDective impressionAm> large collection o= waking hall9cinations o=
the sane 5oes not incl95e a single instance@ while the> 5o not seem an 9nlikel> =orm to be
taken b> a hall9cination which is the sensor> embo5iment o= a s955en 9n5e=ine5 i5ea o=
5eath or calamit>.
2
)s to the likelihoo5 o= a real e?ternal so9n5 whose so9rce was not
5iscovere5( the rea5er will be able to =orm his own D95gment =rom the cases themselves.
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom Visco9nt L.( the ver> reverse o= a cre59lo9s witness( an5
with no sort o= leaning towar5s the marvello9s.
B%ovember Vth( 2773.
P2V;Q B*hirt> >ears ago an5 9pwar5s Y)9g9st 2:th( 273XZ( I was sta>ing with m> =ather at
o9r place in Irelan5. I was then m> =ather4s secon5 son( having an el5er brother. I was
awoke o9t o= m> sleep b> violent screams( so m9ch so that I got 9p an5 walke5 all over
the ho9se to en5eavo9r to ascertain where the screams came =rom. )ll appeare5( as =ar as
I co9l5 D95ge( E9ite reg9lar an5 E9iet in the ho9se Pa ver> large oneQ( an5 I went back to
be5 an5 tho9ght no more abo9t it. On inE9ir> in the morning( nobo5> ha5 hear5 the
screams e?cept m>sel=. "9t U 5a>s a=ter( I receive5 a letter( stating that m> el5er an5 onl>
brother ha5 5ie5 at 'amsgate( a=ter 8 ho9rs4 illness( o= cholera( an5 5ie5 abo9t the ho9r
when I certainl> hear5 screams.C
In answer to inE9iries( Lor5 L. sa>s( BI never in m> li=e e?perience5 an> sort o=
hall9cination o= the senses.C In conversation( he in=orme5 me that his brother certainl>
5ie5 in the night. .e ha5 travelle5 to 'amsgate on the prece5ing 5a>( an5 was taken ill
a=ter his arrival. Lor5 L.4s wi=e was sleeping in a room which opene5 into his( an5 hear5
nothing.
%ow no 5o9bt the win5 sometimes pla>s o55 tricks@ an5( i-3;3! moreover( it is possible
to be awoke b> a scream of ones o-n which seems to the bewil5ere5 sense to have been
e?ternal.
2
"9t i= a health> man gets o9t o= be5 an5 walks all over a large ho9se merel>
beca9se the win5 is high( he is( one wo9l5 think( likel> to remark that the win5 is highA
whereas Lor5 L. remarke5 Phe tells meQ that the night was calm@ an5 the so9n5s which so
ring in his waking ears as to prompt this 9n9s9al co9rse wo9l5 at an> rate be likel> to be
notice5 b> someone else. *he 9se o= the pl9ral wor5 BscreamsC is also worth noting( as
oppose5 to the view that the sleeper woke himsel= b> some shrill e?clamation@ in5ee5( his
se? wo9l5 alone make this e?planation less pla9sible than in some other cases. "9t the
case is remote in time( an5 5epen5s on a single memor>. *his last obDection 5oes not
appl> to the =ollowing acco9nt( =rom Mrs. 19rton( o= +iel5 .o9se( )lcester.
BMarch 28th( 2773.
P2V2Q BIn the a9t9mn o= 27VX( we were e?pecting m> >o9ngest brother home =rom
)9stralia( a=ter an absence o= eight >ears. .e was a passenger on boar5 the u'o>al
-harter.4 *he night( or rather in the earl> 5awn o= the =atal morning o= the wreck o= that
9nhapp> vessel( I s955enl> starte5 o9t o= m> sleep an5 =o9n5 m>sel= sei]ing hol5 o= m>
h9sban54s arm( horri=ie5 at the most aw=9l wail o= agon>( which appeare5 to me to =ill the
ho9se. +in5ing m> h9sban5 still asleepAhe was a me5ical man( an5 ha5 been o9t the
whole o= the previo9s night( so was 9n9s9all> tire5AI slippe5 o9t o= be5 an5 went ro9n5
to look at all the chil5ren an5 to the servants4 room( b9t =o9n5 all E9ietl> sleeping( so
thinking it m9st have been the win5 onl> which so 5ist9rbe5 me( I la> 5own again( b9t
co9l5 not sleep. I notice5 that 5a> was D9st breaking. In the morning I aske5 5i==erent
people i= the> ha5 been 5ist9rbe5 b> an> 9n9s9al noise( b9t no one ha5 hear5 it.
B*he post bro9ght a letter =rom a co9sin in Liverpool( telling 9s the u'o>al -harter4 was
telegraphe5 as having arrive5 at }9eenstown( an5 we might e?pect to see +rank ver>
shortl>. ,e passe5 the 5a> in most Do>=9l anticipations o= the meeting. M> mother ha5 his
room prepare5( a goo5 =ire b9rning( an5 his night-shirt an5 slippers lai5 o9t =or 9se( an5 a
nice s9pper rea5>. ,heels were hear5( b9t( instea5 o= +rank( m> co9sin appeare5. /he( as
soon as the aw=9l news o= the wreck reache5 Liverpool( starte5 o== hersel= to bring 9s the
melanchol> ti5ings. Even then I 5i5 not connect the =ear=9l so9n5s I hear5 with the
wreck( b9t when the newspapers came an5 I rea5 the acco9nts o= the e>e-witnesses o= the
wreck( an5 o= the screams which rent the air as the ship broke her back an5 all on boar5
were overwhelme5 in the waves( I co9l5 onl> sh955er an5 e?claim( uThat was what I
hear5.4 It was months be=ore I co9l5 =orget the horror which thrille5 m> ver> so9l at the
remembrance o= that aw=9l night.
B+')%-E/ ). 1U'*O%.C
i-3;V!
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. 19rton a55s:A
BI never have ha5( at an> other time than the one I mentione5 to >o9( a vivi5 5ream o=
5eath( or an a95itor> hall9cination o= an> kin5.C
*he =ollowing is an e?tract =rom a letter written to Mrs. 19rton b> her 5a9ghter( Miss
/arah /ophia 19rton( who was abo9t 2U >ears ol5 at the time o= the occ9rrence:A
BI 5istinctl> remember >o9r speaking o= the cr> o= 5istress >o9 hear5 when the u'o>al
-harter4 was lost. M> remembrance o= it is that >o9 woke with this cr> ringing in >o9r
ears( an5 got 9p at once( E9ietl>( witho9t 5ist9rbing m> =ather( who ha5 been o9t late
somewhere to a patient. #o9 =o9n5 it was abo9t : o4clock. #o9 then went to the n9rser>
an5 to each room where an>one was sleeping( b9t =in5ing all was E9iet an5 right >o9
went back to be5. I =anc> >o9 inE9ire5 ne?t morning i= an>one ha5 hear5 the so9n5
which 5ist9rbe5 >o9( b9t co9l5 not swear to this.C
Miss 19rton writes to 9s:A
B)pril Wth( 2773.
B*o the best o= m> recollection m> mother spoke o= the cr> she hear5 the =ollowing
morning. I 5istinctl> remember her sa>ing when she hear5 o= the terrible cr> as the vessel
parte5 an5 went 5own( u*here( that was the cr> I hear5(4 an5 the thrill it gave me at the
time( b9t this m9st have been a 5a> or two a=ter the occ9rrenceAeither D9st be=ore or
a=ter she ha5 visite5 the scene o= the wreck.
B/. /. 1U'*O%.C
.ere( the vivi5 character o= the impression( an5 the =act that it was 9niE9e in the
percipient4s e?perience( will probabl> be accepte5 witho9t 5isp9te. )n5 i= so( the
coinci5enceAtho9gh eas> eno9gh to regar5 as acci5ental i= it stoo5 alone or nearl> alone
Aseems =airl> a5missible as an item in a c9m9lative proo= o= telepath>.
2
i-3;8! *o
come now to cases where 5istinct wor5s are hear5Ain the =ollowing e?ample the voice
hear5 was at once connecte5 with a partic9lar person@ b9t still not with the person whom(
i= the inci5ent be interprete5 telepathicall>( we m9st regar5 as the agent. *he acco9nt was
obtaine5 =or 9s b> Miss +ripp( o= L9lworth .o9se( .ampstea5 .ill &ar5ens( =rom her
gran5mother( Mrs. 'oe.
P2VUQ B/ome >ears since( when in mani=estl> goo5 health( I was aro9se5 b> what
appeare5 to be some one at m> be5room 5oor( calling uMar> )nne( Mar> )nne.4 It
seeme5 like m> mother4s voice( who ha5 been 5ea5 two or three >ears. I ro9se5 m>
h9sban5( b9t there was no one at the 5oor or an>where on the same =loor. &oing 9pstairs
to m> son4s be5room( it was so =9ll o= smoke that I was nearl> s9==ocate5( till I co9l5
open the win5ow( when I =o9n5 m> son apparentl> asleep b9t E9ite insensible( till we got
him into the air@ an5 then when we aro9se5 him( he remembere5 when he came 9p to be5
he lai5 the pipe he ha5 been smoking on a pile o= han5kerchie=s( which ha5 been p9t on
the 5ressing-table( an5 were completel> b9rnt an5 the table inD9re5( b9t no =lames. O9r
me5ical man tho9ght ha5 I not gone in D9st in time( m> son wo9l5 have been 5ea5.
BM)'# )%%E 'OE.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss +ripp writes:A
BF9ne UVth( 2773.
BI have aske5 Mrs. 'oe the E9estions >o9 sent me( an5 I =in5A
BP2Q /he has never ha5 other 5reams which impresse5 her in the same wa> as the two she
wrote an acco9nt o=. Y*he other 5ream was abo9t the wreck o= her son at sea.Z
BPUQ M> mother was in the ho9se when m> gran5mother ha5 the warning abo9t the =ire.
M> gran5=ather tol5 her in the morning that Mrs. 'oe insiste5 on getting o9t o= be5( as
she =ancie5 she ha5 hear5 her mother4s voice calling her o9tsi5e the 5oor.
BP:Q *here was no smell o= smoke in the room@ Mrs. 'oe4s room was on a 5i==erent
lan5ing( E9ite apart =rom her son4s room.
BF. +'I11.C
.ere again we have a case which might be vario9sl> 5escribe5 as an acci5ent or as
Bspecial provi5ence(C i= it stoo5 alone( b9t which cannot be e?cl95e5 =rom o9r
c9m9lative arg9ment. I= telepathic( it i-3;W! is a goo5 instance o= total 9nconscio9sness
on the part o= the agent. P/ee p. U:;.Q
*he ne?t e?ampleAreceive5 in 277: =rom the 'ev. )n5rew F9kesAresembles the last in
that the voice( tho9gh recognise5( was not that o= the agent( b9t o= a person some time
5ecease5. In neither instance is there an> reason to regar5 this =eat9re as other than a
p9rel> s9bDective element s9pplie5 b> the percipient4s own brainAa piece o= 5ream-like
investit9re in which the telepathic impression cla5 itsel=. P/ee above pp. :32TU( an5
below( -hap. \III( S V.Q Mr. F9kes4s case( however( 5i==ers =rom the prece5ing in the
important evi5ential point that the wor5s hear5 bore a 5istinct relation to the agent.
BUpper Eglinton 'oa5( ,oolwich.
P2V:Q BOn Mon5a>( F9l> :2st( 27V3( I was at ,orksop( sta>ing in the ho9se o= Mr.
.eming( the then agent there to the $9ke o= %ewcastle. F9st as I woke that morningA
some wo9l5 sa> I was 5reamingAI hear5 the voice o= an ol5 school=ellow P-. -.Q( who
ha5 been 5ea5 at least a >ear or two( sa>ing( u#o9r brother Mark an5 .arriet are both
gone.4 *hese wor5s were echoing in m> ears as I woke. I seeme5 to hear them. M>
brother then was in )merica@ an5 both were well when I ha5 last hear5 o= them@ b9t the
wor5s respecting him an5 his wi=e were so vivi5l> impresse5 9pon m> min5 that be=ore I
le=t m> be5room I wrote them 5own( then an5 there( on a scrap o= an ol5 newspaper(
having no other paper in the be5room. *hat same 5a> I ret9rne5 to .9ll( mentione5 the
circ9mstance to m> wi=e( an5 entere5 the inci5ent( which ha5 ma5e a 5eep impression on
me( in m> 5iar>( which I still have. I am as certain as I can well be o= an>thing that the
entr> is a transcript o= what I wrote on the bit o= newspaper.
BOn the 27th o= )9g9st Pit was be=ore the )tlantic telegraphQ( I receive5 a line =rom m>
brother4s wi=e( .arriet( 5ate5 )9g9st 2st( sa>ing that Mark ha5 D9st breathe5 his last( o=
cholera@ a=ter preaching on /9n5a>( he ha5 been taken ill with cholera on Mon5a>( an5
ha5 5ie5 on *9es5a> morning@ that she hersel= was ill( an5 that in the event o= her 5eath
she wishe5 their chil5ren sho9l5 be bro9ght to Englan5. /he 5ie5 the secon5 5a> a=ter her
h9sban5( )9g9st :r5. I imme5iatel> starte5 =or )merica( an5 bro9ght the chil5ren home.
B*he voice I seeme5 to hear( an5 which at =irst I tho9ght m9st have been a kin5 o= 5ream(
ha5 s9ch an e==ect on me that( tho9gh the bell rang =or break=ast( I 5i5 not go 5own =or
some time. )n5 all that 5a>( an5 =or 5a>s a=ter( I co9l5 not shake it o==. I ha5 the strongest
impression( an5 in5ee5 conviction( that m> brother was gone.
BI o9ght perhaps to a55 that we ha5 no knowle5ge o= the cholera being in the
neighbo9rhoo5 o= m> brother4s parish. M> impression was that both he an5 his wi=e
m9st( i= the voice were tr9e( have been taken awa> b> some railwa> or steamboat
acci5ent. "9t >o9 sho9l5 notice that at the moment when I seeme5 to hear this voice m>
brother was not 5ea5. .e 5ie5 earl> ne?t morning( )9g9st 2st( an5 his wi=e nearl> two
5a>s later( namel>( )9g9st :r5. I 5o not pro=ess to e?plain itAI simpl> state i-3;7! the
=acts or the phenomena. "9t the impression ma5e on me was pro=o9n5( an5 the
coinci5ence itsel= is remarkable.
B)%$'E, FU0E/.C
Mr. F9kes has kin5l> allowe5 me to inspect the recor5 in his 5iar>. I ha5 hope5 to be able
to incorporate this verbati( in the acco9nt@ b9t he has private reasonsAE9ite
9nconnecte5 with the present caseA=or 5esiring that this sho9l5 not be 5one.
In conversation( I learnt =rom him that the wor5s he hear5 =orme5( in =act( the
contin9ation o= a 5ream( b9t that the 5ream ha5 not been abo9t his brother an5 sister-in-
law@ an5 he has 5ictate5 to me the wor5s( BM> impression is that the remark passe5 -hile
: -as a-a1e.F .e has never on an> other occasion in his li=e ma5e a written note o= a
5ream. )ske5 i= he co9l5 recall having e?perience5 an a95itor> hall9cination on an>
other occasion( he replie5 that he ha5 Bnever e?perience5 an>thing o= the kin5(C e?cept
that on one occasion he ha5 a s9bDective impression o= hearing m9sic.
-onsi5ering the 9niE9eness o= the impression in this case( it is not evi5entiall> important
to 5eci5e at what e?act stage o= the waking process the a95itor> e?perience took place.
*hat e?perience ma> =airl> be assigne5 to the Bbor5erlan5(C on the gro9n5 partl> o= Mr.
F9kes4s conviction that he was more awake than asleep( an5 partl> o= the =act that the
s9ppose5 agent or agents ha5 not =ig9re5 in the prece5ing 5ream. *he time o= its
occ9rrence( however( was not that o= either o= the two critical moments o= 5eath in
)merica. I= it coinci5e5 with an> special moment( it m9st probabl> have been with the
=irst shock o= alarm in the min5 o= Mrs. F9kes( at the i5ea o= cholera in her ho9sehol5.
"9t this is conDect9re onl>@ we 5o not know how earl> on the Mon5a> it was that the =irst
s>mptoms o= illness were apparent@ an5 the evi5ential =orce o= the case is so =ar
5iminishe5.
*he =ollowing e?ample( where the voice was not recognise5( presents the interesting
point o= imme5iate repetition, which we shall enco9nter in some o= the vis9al cases Psee
p. 323Q. *he narrator is Miss *hompson( now resi5ing at W( 1lace Va9girar5( 1aris.
B2;8( "oston /treet( .9lme( Manchester.
BFan9ar> 2Uth( 2773.
P2V3Q BIn the a9t9mn o= 27W: m> co9sin .arr>( to whom I was engage5( s955enl> came
to spen5 a =ew 5a>s with m> =amil>( then sta>ing in Lon5on. ,e ma5e a bet =or some
gloves at parting )=ter pa>ing several visits in the co9ntr>( he ret9rne5 to his home in
#orkshire. $9ring this time we ha5 no letter =rom or news abo9t him.
BOn $ecember 27th I awoke in the night( hearing someone earnestl> calling me b> name.
I rose( an5 went 5own to m> mother4s room on the =loor beneath( an5 aske5 her i= she
knew who ha5 calle5 me. /he sai5 I m9st have been 5reaming( an5 tol5 me to go back to
be5. I 5i5 so( an5 i-3;X! again hear5 m> name calle5 5istinctl>. I went again to m>
mother( who was a little ve?e5 with me( as she =eare5 I sho9l5 5ist9rb m> =ather( who
was sleeping in the room a5Doining. I there=ore went back to be5( =eeling ill at ease. I
5on4t think that I =ell asleep again( b9t am not E9ite s9re( b9t shortl> a=ter hear5 the voice
5istinctl> calling me =or the thir5 time. I was now thoro9ghl> alarme5( an5 5are5 not sta>
9pstairs alone( so went again to m> mother( an5 sta>e5 with her the rest o= the night.
B*he ne?t 5a> we hear5 that .arr> /955ab> ha5 5ie5 in the night( =rom a short attack o=
bronchitis. I aske5 i= .arr> ha5 calle5 me reall>( b9t no one remembere5 his 5oing more
than sen5ing his love.
B-.'I/*I%E *.OM1/O%.C
*he 'egister o= $eaths gives the 5ate o= the 5eath as $ecember 2Xth( 27W:( It no 5o9bt
took place in the earl> ho9rs o= the morning.
In answer to inE9iries( Miss *hompson writes on )pril UW( 277V:A
BI have never ha5 an> e?perience similar to that o= which I sent >o9 an acco9nt( an5 am
too practical a mortal to believe in an>thing at all resembling uvisions4 or uhall9cinations.4
It was rather against m> D95gment that I was pers9a5e5 to sen5 >o9 the acco9nt.C
Y+or Mrs. *hompson4s corroboration( see the B)55itions an5 -orrections(C which prece5e
-hap. I.Y~ZZ
In the ne?t caseA=rom Mr. Everitt( o= .ol5ers .ill( .en5on( an5 =irst p9blishe5 in ;ight
=or Fan.( 277:Athe voice was recognise5. *ho9gh remote( the inci5ent is o= a sort that
might well make a vivi5 impression.
P2VVQ B,hen E9ite a >o9th( I ha5 a remarkable e?perience( in some respects not 9nlike
that which the reprover o= Fob ha5. In the silence an5 5arkness o= the night I was
s955enl> awakene5 =rom a 5eep sleep( an5 I hear5 a voice( an5 I have no 5o9bt that I
might have seen a spirit
2
i= I ha5 not been( like Elipha]( so greatl> =rightene5@ b9t I hear5
a voice( an5 that voice I recognise5 as the voice belonging to the 5earest obDect I ha5 in
this worl5. I ha5 no reason at the time to believe otherwise than that the person to whom
the voice belonge5 was in goo5 health an5 man> miles =rom where I was@ >et I hear5 an5
recognise5 the voice o= m> 5ear mother( who calle5 me b> the =amiliar name she alwa>s
9se5( an5 strange to sa> she tol5 me ushe was 5ea5(4 an5 the ne?t post bro9ght the too tr9e
an5 too sa5 news o= her s955en 5epart9re =rom earth-li=e.
BI have alwa>s =rom a bo> 9p to the present time locke5 m> be5room 5oor on retiring =or
the night. )t the time there was no one sleeping in the room b9t m>sel=.
BI was not in a 5rows> state when I woke 9p( b9t all m> senses were as clear an5 as vivi5
as the> are now I am writing this@ the> co9l5 not have been more so i= an> one shook me
an5 sho9te5( uF9mp 9p( the ho9se is on =ire.4 In5ee5( the =eeling an5 belie= was then( an5
still is( that I was s955enl> awakene5 =rom a so9n5 sleep b> someone in the room( an5 I
=elt certain b> a slight noise or movement which I hear5 that there was someone i-32;!
ben5ing over me@ which =eeling was con=irme5 b> the so9n5 o= m> mother4s so=t an5
gentle voice which sai5 u*omm>4 three times in a wa> as tho9gh she wante5 or e?pecte5
me to answer her( an5 she then sai5( u#o9r mother is 5ea5.4
B#o9 can better imagine m> =eelings than I can 5escribe them. I tol5 m> =ellow
apprentice in the morning what I ha5 e?perience5( an5 sai5 I was a=rai5 that I sho9l5 hear
ba5 news =rom home. M> =ather wrote to m> el5est brother asking him to call an5 break
the sa5 news to me( which he 5i5. : anticipated hi( b, relating -hat : had heard the
previous night.
B*.OM)/ EVE'I**.C
*he brother mentione5 in this acco9nt is 5ea5. In a letter written on the Vth o= $ecember(
2773( Mr. Everitt a55s:A
BI showe5 m> =ellow-apprentice m> night-shirt( which was wet with perspiration =rom
covering m> hea5 over with the be5clothes@ his evi5ence wo9l5 be more val9able than
m> brother4s b9t I have not the remotest knowle5ge as to where he is( not having seen or
hear5 an>thing o= him =or nearl> =ort> >ears. M> wi=e( even be=ore she was m> wi=e( ha5
o=ten hear5 me speak o= it@ the members o= m> =amil> have on 5i==erent occasions hear5
me re=er to it( b9t all this( o= co9rse( wo9l5 carr> b9t little or no weight with it to the
o9tsi5e p9blic. I onl> mention it now as showing how s9re an5 certain the e?perience
was.C
In answer to =9rther inE9iries( Mr. Everitt sa>s:A
B*he 5ate o= m> mother4s 5eath was the night o= F9ne 2st( 2732. It was the same night
that she ma5e me conscio9s o= her presence( an5 also o= her 5eath.C *he 'egister o=
$eaths con=irms the 5ate given.
YMr. Everitt has since ha5 one other a95itor> hall9cination( which also represente5 his
mother4s voice.Z
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom a gentleman resi5ing at *>nemo9th( who has at present a
reason( which seems to me a s9==icient one( =or withhol5ing his name =rom p9blication(
b9t will with5raw this restriction a=ter an interval o= a =ew >ears.
B$ecember. 2773.
P2V8Q BOn $ecember UXth( or :;th( 2772( abo9t 2 a.m.( I awoke hearing m> name calle5.
%obo5> was in the ho9se( the servants being awa> =or a holi5a>. I recognise5 the voice o=
m> =ather.
B%e?t a=ternoon I receive5 a telegram sa>ing he was 9nwell( an5 on arriving I learnt =rom
the 5octor that m> =ather ha5 been 9nconscio9s( an5 ha5 repeate5l> calle5 =or me 59ring
the night in E9estion. I ha5 no i5ea o= his illness at the time( an5 believe5 him to be
per=ectl> well. *he attack was ver> short an5 severe. .e was in $9m=ries( an5 I at
*>nemo9th( %orth9mberlan5.C
In answer to inE9iries o9r in=ormant writes( on $ecember UW( 2773:A
BI pai5 no attention to the ua95itor> e?perience(4 altho9gh the thing came to m> min5
while 5ressing( an5 probabl> sho9l5 never have given it =9rther attention( i= I ha5 not
been str9ck b> the =act that apparentl> at or abo9t the same time m> =ather( altho9gh
9nconscio9s( ha5 been calling =or me. I ha5 no means o= comparing the e?act times( as
neither the 5octor Pwhose name I =orget( an5 who is now 5ea5Q nor I note5 them. i-322!
*his c9rio9s coinci5ence impresse5 the =act on m> min5( the more so as I have never
been able to =in5 an> reasonable e?planation o= the case@ an5 as the ten5enc> o= m>
e59cation has been to believe nothing that can4t be acco9nte5 =or logicall>( I have almost
come to 5o9bt the =act( an5 in conseE9ence have kept it to m>sel=.
2

BI never have ha5( either be=ore or since the case I mentione5 alrea5>( an> hall9cination
o= the senses. It ma> perhaps have some bearing on the case( so I a55 this postscript to
sa> that at one time( when in so9n5 health( m> =ather was one o= the most skil=9l amate9r
mesmerists I ever knew@ his power over some people being E9ite e?traor5inar>( an5
sometimes it was e?erte5 almost 9nconscio9sl> b> him.C
In the ne?t two cases( the wor5s that the percipient hear5 seem act9all> to have been
9ttere5 Pan5( there=ore( to have been hear5Q b> the agent@ an5 we ma>( i= we please( re=er
the e?amples to that rarer t>pe where a sensation seems to have been E9ite literall>
trans=erre5( as contraste5 with the cases where the percipient s9pplies a sensor>
embo5iment to a less 5e=inite telepathic impression.
U

*he =irst acco9nt was sent to 9s b> the 'ev. )9g9st9s +iel5( Vicar o= 1ool }9a>(
,elshpool. .e 5escribes it as an BE?tract o= a letter receive5 b> me =rom m> brother(
.enr> -. +iel5 P/9rve>or an5 -ivil EngineerQ( resi5ent at *9tatihika( ,anganni( %ew
Jealan5( in repl> to letters we ha5 written to him telling abo9t o9r mother4s 5eath.C )
letter to 9s =rom Mr. .. -. +iel5 himsel=( 5ate5 ,anganni( /ept. UV( 2778( gives a
completel> concor5ant acco9nt.
BMarch Wth( 27W3.
P2VWQ BI was 5eepl> intereste5 in the acco9nt o= o9r mother4s last illness( an5 was
partic9larl> str9ck b> the circ9mstance o= m> name being calle5( beca9se I hear5 it. I am
not acc9stome5 to 5ream( an5 am s9re I speak =ar within the mark when I sa> that I have
not 5reame5 a 5o]en times since m> marriage( U: >ears since. $reams( too( are s9ppose5
to arise =rom something a==ecting one4s min5( an5 pro59cing some temporar> strong
impression( an5 in this case there was nothing which co9l5 a==ect me in that 5irection( b9t
some E9ite the reverse.
BO9r =irst hortic9lt9ral show o= the season took place on %ovember UWth. I won several
pri]es@ an5 a=ter the show close5 at 2; p.m.( I ha5 to take home some o= m> smaller
e?hibits( an5 arrange =or getting the others home ne?t morning. It was th9s near mi5night
when I reache5 home( an5 the onl> things talke5 abo9t b> AA an5 m>sel= a=terwar5s
were the show an5 matters o= local interest. I= an>thing( there=ore( were likel> to be on
m> min5 when I =ell asleep( it wo9l5 probabl> be one or other o= the above matters. I 5o
not know how long I slept( b9t m> =irst i-32U! sleep was over an5 I was l>ing in a sort
o= hal=-awake( hal=-asleep state( when I 5istinctl> hear5 o9r mother4s voice sa> =aintl>(
u.arr>( .arr>s4 an5 when 5a>light came an5 I tho9ght the matter over( I won5ere5 what
co9l5 have possesse5 me to =anc> s9ch a thing. O9r Uncle -. an5 his =amil> calle5 me
.arr>( an5 Uncle ". sometimes 5i5 so( an5 the $.4s also calle5 me .arr>( b9t with these
e?ceptions I was calle5 .enr> b> all o9r relations. It is possible o9r mother ma> have
calle5 me u.arr>4 59ring m> ver> earl> chil5hoo5( b9t so long as I can remember she
alwa>s calle5 o9r =ather u1apa4 an5 me u.enr>.4 It seeme5 to me( there=ore( so 9tterl>
abs9r5 that I sho9l5 =anc> her calling me b> a name that I never recollecte5 to have hear5
her 9se( that I mentall> la9ghe5 at the i5ea an5 won5ere5 how s9ch a thing sho9l5 have
entere5 m> hea5. /till the circ9mstance str9ck me as so strange that I 9n5erline5 the 5ate
on the margin o= m> working 5iar>( in or5er that i= an>thing sho9l5 occ9r to corroborate
it I might be certain as to the time. $irectl>( there=ore( a=ter I reache5 home with /.4s an5
>o9r letters( I t9rne5 to the 5iar> an5 =o9n5 the 9n5erline5 5ate was %ovember U7th. It
was evi5entl> 59ring the a=ternoon o= %ovember UWth that o9r mother 9ttere5 m> name
Pthis wo9l5 have been so( ). +.Q@ an5 allowing =or the 5i==erence o= longit95e( the time
wo9l5 be earl> morning o= the U7th with 9s( so that I 5on4t think there can be an>
E9estion that the call act9all> reache5 m> ear. I am onl> sorr> that I was not s9==icientl>
awake to note the e.act time( b9t sho9l5 =anc> it to have been between U an5 : o4clock in
the morning( which wo9l5 represent a =ew min9tes later on the previo9s a=ternoon with
>o9.C
*he 'ev. ). +iel5 a55s that in a s9bseE9ent portion o= the letter his brother re=ers to a
letter written a =ew weeks earlier( in which he ha5 o==ere5 his sister a home( Ban5 sa>s
that he believes he was le5 to 5o this partl> in conseE9ence o= the i5ea which the
circ9mstance he ha5 5escribe5 ha5 le=t on his min5( vi].( the probable 5eath o= o9r
mother.C
In his letter to 9s( Mr. .. -. +iel5 sa>s( B*he voice( tho9gh not lo95( was so 5istinct that(
as I ha5 not time to collect m> senses( I starte5 9p in be5( e?pecting to see m> mother
besi5e it.C .is wi=e was aro9se5 b> this movement( an5 Mr. +iel5 at once tol5 her o= his
e?perience. .e a55s that he Bis not s9perstitio9s(C an5 Bhar5l> knows what it is to
5ream(C which he attrib9tes to his active o9t-5oor li=e.
Miss +iel5 wrote to 9s in October( 277V:A
BOn U8th %ovember( 27W:( while sitting b> m> mother4s be5( I hear5 her sa> most
plainl>( u.arr>( .arr>.4 On the =ollowing 5a> she 5ie5. In co9rse o= time we hear5 =rom
m> brother in %ew Jealan5 that at a correspon5ing time Ptheir nightQ he 5istinctl> hear5
the same in his mother4s voice( an5 note5 the =act in his 5iar>.
B/O1.I) .U&.E/ +IEL$.C
Later( the 'ev. ). +iel5 sent 9s the =ollowing e?tract =rom his 5iar>:A
B%ovember( 27W:.
Bu*h9rs5a>( UWth( arrive5 in Lon5on at V.:; a.m.( b> train( to W;( "assington 'oa5. +o9n5
mother conscio9s( [c.@ rea5( [c.( with her at =reE9ent intervals thro9gh the 5a>. 0. an5
). Pm> brother an5 sisterQ arrive5. &ra59all> weaker( an5 at last( V.3V p.m.( she passe5
awa>.4
i-32:!
B#o9 will 9n5erstan5 m> obDect in giving >o9 these =9ll partic9lars. I m>sel= hear5 Pas I
tho9ghtQ m> mother mention m> brother4s name( an5 spoke o= it to m> sister an5 m>
a9nt. I think the> tol5 me that she ha5 mentione5 his name several times 59ring her last
brie= illness. /he was sei]e5 with paral>sis on ,e5nes5a>( U8th( an5 her speech became
more an5 more a==ecte5. It was this that ma5e me =eel 9ncertain whether m> brother4s
name was reall> mentione5 in m> hearing b> m> mother or not. In conseE9ence o= what
m> a9nt an5 sister sai5( I co9l5 have no longer an> 5o9bt.C
YIt will be seen that the percipient4s impression probabl> coinci5e5 closel> with the 5eath(
b9t that Miss +iel54s written recollections 5o not con=irm Ptho9gh the> 5o not contra5ictQ
her brothers4 i5ea that the name was 9ttere5 on the same a=ternoon.Z
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom Mrs. /tent( living at 23( /ingapore 'oa5( Ealing $ean( a =ormer
val9e5 servant o= Miss -raigie( o= 7( Mc&ill -ollege )ven9e( Montreal. I cite the acco9nt
which she gave to Miss -raigie( rather than a later one Pcompletel> agreeing with it
e?cept in one 5etailQ which she wrote =or 9s on F9ne 2( 277V.
P2V7Q BOn the 27th o= Oct.( 2772( I was awakene5 b> hearing m>sel= calle5 twice b> an
ol5 servant( who was ill in an in=irmar> in -helsea. I then hear5 u'egg>4 Pone o= the
>o9ng gentlemen o= the ho9se we ha5 live5 together inQ calle5 once. It was hal=-past 3(
b9t I co9l5 not sleep so got 9p an5 5resse5. Y.ere the later acco9nt a55s( BI tol5 the
ho9semai5( E. Morris( an5 we won5ere5 what it meant.CZ It was impossible =or me to go
that 5a> to the in=irmar>( =or m> present mistress ha5 compan>@ b9t I went the ne?t 5a>.
w /he had calle5 twice =or me an5 once =or u'egg>(4 Pso the patient in the ne?t be5
in=orme5 me(Q an5 had 5ie5 at the ho9r( hal=-past 3 the morning be=oreAthe precise time
I ha5 hear5 m>sel= calle5. Y*he later acco9nt a55s( BI was not 5reaming. I never ha5
an>thing o= the kin5 happen to me be=ore( an5 she calle5 9s so plain.CZ
BE. /*E%*.C
In repl> to inE9iries( Mrs. /tent sa>s that she has lost sight o= E. Morris( an5 a55s:A
BEli]abeth Membre> Ythe 5ecease5Z was m> 5earest =rien5( an5 was more to me than a
sister( b9t was no relation to meAonl> m> 5ear =rien5. I think the bon5 o= s>mpath> was
ver> strong between 9s@ onl> 5eath co9l5 break it. ,e tol5 o9r tro9bles to one another@
=or >ears past we 5i5 not 5o an>thing witho9t talking abo9t it =irst. Mr. 'egg> was the
son o= the la5> where we live5 in service together( an5 she was ver> =on5 o= him( an5 he
went to the in=irmar> to see her as o=ten as he co9l5 =in5 time.C
*he me5ical s9perinten5ent o= the -helsea In=irmar> writes to 9s:ABI =in5 that Eli]abeth
Membre> was in this In=irmar> =rom F9l> 2Vth 9ntil October 27th( 2772( when she 5ie5.C
In conversation( Mrs. /tent Pa sensible an5 sober-min5e5 witnessQ sai5 that she marke5
the time o= her e?perience as 3.:;( as she hear5 the hal=-ho9r strike D9st a=ter she got 9p(
an5 5i5 not sleep again. In her later written acco9nt she sai5 that the porter tol5 her the
time o= 5eath i-323! was U; min9tes to 3. "9t this seems to have been a slip@ as she has
=o9n5 an5 han5e5 to 9s a post-car5( written to her b> Mr. '. ,. -raigie Pthe B'egg>C o=
the narrativeQ on the 5a> o= the 5eath( as shown b> the post-markAwhich gives the time
as 3.:;. Mrs. /tent =9rther mentione5 that she was not e?pecting the 5eathAthat her
=rien5 ha5 seeme5 cheer=9l( an5 it was tho9ght that she wo9l5 leave the hospital. /he was
s9==ering =rom an ol5 inD9r> to the base o= the sk9ll.
S 8. I pass now to the cases where the sense o= sight alone was concerne5. *he =irst
instance was th9s narrate5 b> the "ishop o= -arlisle( in the Conte(porar, =evie- =or
Fan9ar>( 2773.
P2VXQ B) -ambri5ge st95ent( m> in=ormant( ha5 arrange5( some >ears ago( with a =ellow
st95ent that the> sho9l5 meet together in -ambri5ge at a certain time =or the p9rpose o=
rea5ing. ) short time be=ore going 9p to keep his appointment( m> in=ormant was in the
/o9th o= Englan5. ,aking in the night( he saw( as he imagine5( his =rien5 sitting at the
=oot o= his be5. .e was s9rprise5 at the sight( the more so as his =rien5 was 5ripping with
water. .e spoke( b9t the apparition P=or so it seems to have beenQ onl> shook its hea5 an5
5isappeare5. *his appearance o= the absent =rien5 occ9rre5 twice 59ring the night.
In=ormation was soon receive5 that shortl> be=ore the time o= the apparition being seen
b> the >o9ng st95ent( his =rien5 ha5 been 5rowne5 whilst bathing.C
.aving learne5 that the "ishop4s in=ormant was )rch5eacon +arler( we applie5 to this
gentleman( who wrote to 9s on Fan. X( 2773:A
B1ampis=or5 Vicarage( -ambri5ge.
B*he =act o= having witnesse5 the vision was mentione5 the ne?t morning at break=ast(
several 5a>s be=ore I receive5 the news o= m> =rien54s 5eath( to m> t9tor( Fohn 0empe(
EsE.( his wi=e( an5 =amil>. Mr. an5 Mrs. 0empe are now 5ea5( b9t it is probable his
=amil> might remember the circ9mstance( altho9gh the> were b9t chil5ren at the time. I
was sta>ing at Long )shton( in /omersetshire@ m> =rien5 5ie5 in 0ent.
2
)s I 5i5 not =eel
=rightene5 at the time o= the vision( I have alwa>s spoken o= it rather as a sing9lar 5ream
than an apparition.
B*he 5ate o= m> vision was either the Un5 or :r5 o= /eptember( 27W7(
U
b9t I have not m>
memoran5a with me to be E9ite s9re. I also saw the vision again abo9t the 2Wth o= the
month. *hese are m> sole e?periences o= an apparition. I have never e?perience5 an> sort
o= sensor> hall9cination.
BF. 1. +)'LE'.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the narrator4s =rien5 was 5rowne5 in the river
-ro9ch( on /ept. U( 2787.
Mr. ,. F. 0empe writes to 9s( =rom Long )shton /chool( P277VQ( that )rch5eacon +arler
certainl> tol5 him o= the occ9rrence( b9t he 5oes not remember e?actl> when. Other
members o= the =amil>( who have been applie5 to( were either awa> =rom home at the
time( or too >o9ng to be tol5 o= the matter.
i-32V!
.ere the repetition 59ring the night remin5s 9s o= several o= the 5ream-e?amples( an5 o=
case 2V3 above. *he =eat9re in waking cases is o= special interest. +or repetition a=ter a
short interval is an occasional =eat9re o= purel, sub5ective hall9cinations@
2
an5 this point
ma> be a55e5 to man> others which will occ9p> 9s herea=ter( showing the =9n5amental
i5entit>( in relation to the percipient4s senses( o= s9bDective an5 telepathic phantasms. *he
s9bseE9ent vision on the 2Wth ma> be attrib9te5 to the emotional e?citement o= the recent
bereavement.
U

*he =eat9re o= repetition occ9rs again in the ne?t case. *he percipient( MaDor ). 1. /cott
Moncrie==( is 5ea5@ b9t his wi5ow( who 5escribes his e?perience( was cognisant o= it
be=ore the news o= the 5eath arrive5. /he wrote on Ma> U;( 277V:A
B23( &ilmore 1lace( E5inb9rgh.
P28;Q B*he circ9mstances o= the 5ream or vision( as =ar as I can remember at this 5istance
o= time( were these. ). awoke me one night( an5 sai5( uI have ha5 a strange 5ream abo9t
/.( an5 I =ancie5 I saw her stan5ing at the =oot o= the be5@ in5ee5( I ha5 to r9b m> e>es to
convince m>sel= that she was not reall> there.4 .e =ell asleep( an5 again 5reamt the same(
an5 this ma5e a power=9l impression 9pon his min5( with almost a 5epressing e==ect. .e
was in per=ect health at the time( an5 o= a thoro9ghl> practical nat9re@ not at all given to
sentimentalit>. .e ha5 also no reason to believe that /. was in =rail health. /ome weeks
a=ter( the news came o= her 5eath( an5 b> comparing 5ates( an5 allowing =or the
5i==erence o= time between In5ia an5 /cotlan5( the event m9st have taken place 59ring
the perio5 o= these 5reams@ b9t whether at the time o= the =irst or the secon5( I cannot
remember. *his happene5 on the Wth /eptember( 27VU.
BELIJ)"E*. .. /. MO%-'IE++.C
Mr. '. /cott Moncrie==( o= 3( Mar5ale -rescent( E5inb9rgh( writes to 9s:A
BI ver> well remember m> brother( the late MaDor ). 1. /cott Moncrie== Pwhose wi5ow
has written the prece5ing narrativeQ telling me o= this apparition( as he believe5 it to have
been( o= o9r sister /9san( a=ter the news reache5 9s o= her 5eath in E5inb9rgh( on
/eptember Wth( 27VU. I was living in -alc9tta at that 5ate@ m> brother was with his
regiment at $inapore. In the month o= %ovember( I was on a visit to his ho9se in
.a]areebagh( where he was then living with his wi=e@ an5 it was then that he tol5 me o=
the apparition. )s he was a man o= a ver> 9nromantic( practical character( alwa>s rea5> to
ri5ic9le a ghost stor>( I was the more str9ck with the 5epth o= the impression le=t on his
min5 b> the vivi5ness o= the apparition( as he believe5 it to have been( which ha5 le5 to
his taking a note o= the 5ate in writing.
i-328!
B.e tol5 me that a=ter having been asleep =or a time( 59ring the night o= that 5ate Pwhich
m9st have been the Wth /eptemberQ( he awoke( =eeling the heat rather tr>ing@ that he saw(
b> a light b9rning in the room( the p9nkah swinging above the be5( an5 then saw o9r
sister /9san stan5ing at the =oot o= the be5( ga]ing at him ver> earnestl>@ that he was so
s9rprise5( he sat 9p( r9bbe5 his e>es( an5 looke5 again( seeing her still there( that he
e?claime5( uO( /9sans4 PI think he a55e5( uwhat are >o9 5oing herer4 b9t I am not certain
that these were his wor5s@ tho9gh I am certain that he 5i5 9tter some s9ch wor5s a=ter
sa>ing( uO( /9sans4Q@ that his wi=e awoke on hearing him speak( an5 sai5( u,hat is it(
)lickr4 or wor5s o= similar import@ b9t that he( =earing lest( in the state o= health she was
then in( it might prove inD9rio9s to her to be tol5 what he believe5 he ha5 seen( sai5 he
ha5 awakene5 =rom a 5ream( b9t 5i5 not tell her how =9ll> he was convince5 he ha5 been
awake when he saw the apparition o= his sister( which ha5 5isappeare5 be=ore his wi=e
ha5 spoken to him.
B'. /-O** MO%-'IE++.C
Miss /cott Moncrie==( o= 33( /hooter4s .ill 'oa5( /.E.( writes:A
BI hear5 the same acco9nt =rom m> brother( MaDor /cott Moncrie==( on his ret9rn =rom
In5ia.
BM)'# )%%E /-O** MO%-'IE++.C
Y)s a matter o= =orm( we have veri=ie5 the 5ate o= 5eath( in the obit9ar> o= the !cots(an.
"9t s9ch veri=ication o= co9rse a55s nothing 9nless the 5ate o= the percipient4s e?perience
is independentl, remembere5.Z
*he ne?t e?ample is =rom Miss "arr( o= East &rinstea5( who has been alrea5> mentione5
Pp. :3UQ.
B2773.
P282Q BOn the night o= Fan9ar> A( 27W2( I awoke 9p with the i5ea that someone was
moving b> the be5si5e. I was a little =rightene5( an5 I saw the c9rtain at the si5e o= the
be5 slightl> p9lle5 asi5e( an5 a han5( with the back t9rne5 towar5s me( appearing ro9n5
the c9rtain. I recognise5 the ring on the han5 as that o= m> co9sin an5 5ear =rien5
Y-aptain -. M.Z. I tol5 m> sister in the morning that I ha5 seen a han5(
2
wearing a ring(
b9t 5i5 not tell her that I ha5 recognise5 the ring( as I 5i5 not care to make too m9ch o=
the inci5ent. On that 5a>( as we learnt =rom a letter receive5 a =ew 5a>s a=terwar5s( m>
co9sin 5ie5 in -ana5a( =rom the e==ect o= an acci5ent.
BL. ")''.C
Mrs. an5 Miss .arriet "arr also attest with their signat9res the =act that the vision was
narrate5 be=ore the news o= the 5eath was receive5.
Miss L. "arr a=terwar5s state5 that she tho9ght the 5eath Bm9st have been on or abo9t the
8th o= Fan9ar>( 27W;@C an5 we =in5 =rom the :ndian )r(, ;ist, an5 =rom the Ti(es
obit9ar>( that it took place on that 5a>( at .ali=a?( %ova /cotia. /he tells 9s that she has
e?perience5 in her li=e onl> one other hall9cination( which occ9rre5 in close connection
with a bereavement Psee p. V2;Q.
,e have receive5 the =ollowing acco9nt =rom o9r =rien5 Mr. F. ). />mon5s.
i-32W!
B$avos( 277U.
P28UQ BI was a bo> in the /i?th +orm at .arrow@ an5( as hea5 o= Mr. 'en5all4s ho9se( ha5
a room to m>sel=. It was in the s9mmer o= 27V7. I woke abo9t 5awn( an5 =elt =or m>
books 9pon a chair between the be5 an5 the win5ow@ when I knew that I m9st t9rn m>
hea5 the other wa>( an5 there( between me an5 the 5oor( stoo5 $r. Macleane( 5resse5 in a
clerg>man4s black clothes. .e bent his sallow =ace a little towar5s me an5 sai5( uI am
going a long wa>Atake care o= m> son.4 ,hile I was atten5ing to him( I s955enl> saw
the 5oor in the place where $r. Macleane ha5 been. $r. Macleane 5ie5 that night Pat what
ho9r I cannot precisel> sa>Q at -li=ton. M> =ather( who was a great =rien5 o= his( was with
him. I was not aware that he was more than 9s9all> ill. .e was a chronic invali5.
BFO.% )$$I%&*O% /#MO%$/.C
,e learn =rom the 'ev. $. Macleane( o= -o5=or5 /t. 1eter( "ath( that his =ather( $r.
Macleane( B5ie5 at -li=ton at a E9arter be=ore 8 a.m.( on Ma> 23th( 27V7.C
YMr. />mon5s has ha5 one or two p9rel> s9bDective visions when in a waking state.Z
*he =ollowing case is =rom the 'ev. ,. F. "all( o= 8( 1emberton *errace( -ambri5ge. It is
apparentl> a goo5 e?ample o= the vivi5 s9rvival o= a 5ream-image into waking moments
Aan e?perience which Mr. "all tells 9s he cannot recollect to have occ9rre5 to him on
an> other occasion.
B2773.
P28:Q B$9ring m> college 5a>s I ha5 a ver> 5ear an5 intimate ch9m( '. +. $ombrain. ,e
9se5 to walk together( rea5 together( pra> together( an5 wo9l5 have tho9ght it wrong to
keep an> secret =rom each other. ,e hope5 to go together into the =oreign mission-=iel5@
b9t m> =rien5 was rea5> to go be=ore I was( an5 it was while he was in Lon5on making
arrangements abo9t going abroa5( that he was sei]e5 with a ver> ba5 =ever( an5 his li=e
=or some time 5espaire5 o=. )t last he recovere5 an5 ret9rne5 to $9blin( where I saw him
several times. .e was not E9ite restore5 to health( b9t I hope5 he wo9l5 soon be so. *his
was the state o= things when I went 5own to the -o9nt> Limerick( in the spring o= 27V:. I
receive5 a =ew letters =rom m> =rien5 which tol5 me o= gra59all> improving health. I was
b9sil> occ9pie5 abo9t m> mission work at the village o= $oon( an5 =elt per=ectl> at ease
abo9t m> 5ear =rien54s recover>.
B) =ew 5a>s ha5 elapse5 witho9t an> ti5ings reaching me( when on the morning o= the
23th o= )pril I ha5 the most vivi5 5ream I remember ever to have seen. I seeme5 to be
walking with >o9ng $ombrain( ami5st some bea9ti=9l scener>( when s955enl> I was
bro9ght to a waking con5ition b> a sort o= light appearing be=ore me. I starte5 9p in m>
be5( an5 saw be=ore me( in his or5inar> 5ress an5 appearance( m> =rien5( who seeme5 to
be passing =rom earth towar5s the light above. .e seeme5 to give me one loving smile(
an5 I =elt that his look containe5 an e?pression o= a==ectionate separation an5 =arewell.
*hen I leape5 o9t o= be5( an5 crie5 with a lo95 voice( u'obert( 'obert(4 an5 the vision
was gone.
i-327!
BIn the ho9se there was sleeping a >o9ng servant bo>( whose name was also 'obert. .e
came r9nning into m> room( sa>ing that m> lo95 cr> ha5 awakene5 him =rom so9n5
sleep( an5 that he tho9ght I was ill. *he whole scene was so impresse5 9pon m> min5 that
I =elt the 5eath o= m> =rien5 D9st as reall> as i= I ha5 been b> his be5si5e( an5 seen him
pass awa>. I ha5 looke5 at m> watch an5 =o9n5 the time : min9tes past V. I knew that at
that moment m> =rien54s spirit ha5 passe5 =rom his bo5>. I co9l5 think o= nothing else. )
class o= /cript9re rea5ers came to me at 2; o4clock that morning. I tol5 them I co9l5 not
speak to them o= the appointe5 s9bDect( b9t m9st tell them what ha5 occ9rre5( an5 =or a
long time I lect9re5 them entirel> on the s9bDect o= the =9t9re state( an5 the separation o=
the so9l =rom the bo5>. $9ring the whole o= the 5a> the same sa5 gloom weighe5 5own
m> min5 which I sho9l5 have =elt ha5 I been with m> =rien5 at his 5eath-be5. I wrote to
m> sister asking =or partic9lars( an5 I wishe5 to know the e?act time the 5eath ha5 taken
place. %ever once 5i5 the slightest 5o9bt cross m> min5 that m> =rien5 ha5 5ie5.
B*he =ollowing morning I receive5 a letter =rom m> sister( stating that =or a =ew 5a>s Mr.
$ombrain ha5 not been so well( an5 that at : min9tes past V in the morning he ha5
E9ietl> passe5 awa> =rom this worl5. /ince then I have ver> o=ten mentione5 the
circ9mstance to =rien5s( an5 the 5eep impression ma5e b> the event can never pass =rom
m> min5.C
Mr. "all wrote to ask his sister =or her recollections. .er repl> containe5 the =ollowing
passage( the original o= which was sent to 9s:A
B2U( Upper Leeson /treet( $9blin.
BF9l> 2Wth( 2773.
BI have not a 5istinct remembrance o= the 5ream. I have hear5 >o9 all95e to it =rom time
to time( an5 =eel 2uite confident o= its realit>.
B/. 1. ")LL.C
,e =in5 =rom the obit9ar> in the 7entle(ans 'agaAine that Mr. $ombrain4s 5eath took
place at $9blin( on )pril 23th( 27V:.
*he appearance o= light in this case is to be note5 Psee cases 2W7 an5 273 belowQ.
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom the 'ev. -. -. ,ambe>( o= /alisb9r>( the narrator o= case 2UX.
B)pril( 2773.
P283Q BMr. ".( with whom I was intimatel> acE9ainte5 be=ore he le=t Englan5( was
appointe5 to the mathematical mastership in Eli]abeth -ollege( &9ernse>. /ome 2; >ears
a=ter his appointment( I accepte5 a temporar> sole charge in the islan5( an5 renewe5 m>
acE9aintance with m> E9on5am =rien5@ in5ee5( I was with him some portion o= nearl>
each 5a> 59ring m> sta> in &9ernse>. )=ter m> ret9rn to Englan5( we maintaine5 a
reg9lar correspon5ence. In the last letter I ha5 =rom him( he 5escribe5 himsel= as being in
9n9s9all> goo5 health an5 spirits.
BOne morning I s9rprise5 m> wi=e b> telling her that poor ". was 5ea5Athat he ha5
appeare5 to me in the night. /he en5eavo9re5 to ass9age m> grie=( s9ggesting that the
apparition( whatever it ma> have i-32X! been( was 59e to m> in5isposition. I ha5 been
ailing =or some time. I answere5 that I ha5 receive5 too certain intelligence o= m> =rien54s
5eath.
B) =ew 5a>s s9bseE9entl>( I ha5 a letter in a black-e5ge5 envelope( bearing the &9ernse>
postmark. In that letter Mrs. ". tol5 me that her h9sban5 ha5 5ie5 a=ter a =ew ho9rs4
illness( an5 that 59ring that illness he fre2uentl, spo1e of (e.F
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. ,ambe> sa>s:A
BI have seen other =orms than that I have mentione5. M> gran5=ather appeare5 to me on
the night in which he 5ie5@ b9t I was in the ho9se at the time( an5 he ha5 been sinking =or
man> ho9rs. Y*he onl> other caseAthe s9bDective vision o= an 9nrecognise5 =ig9reAtook
place when Mr. ,ambe> was rea5ing late at night( at a time when he was serio9sl>
overta?e5 b> work.Z
B+rom his wi5ow4s letter I ascertaine5 that Mr. ". 5ie5 the night in which he appeare5 to
me. I was awakeAI co9l5 har5l> have been 5el95e5 on this pointAwhen m> =rien5
appeare5 to me. I 5i5 not notice his 5ress( I was so engrosse5 with his =aceAhis look.
Mrs. ,ambe> en5orses the statement that I tol5 her ne?t morning I ha5 seen m> =rien5(
an5 that I was s9re he was 5ea5. I think it was in 27W;.C
,e learn =rom a son o= Mr. ".4s that the 5ate o= his =ather4s 5eath was October UWth(
27W;.
Mrs. ,ambe>( writing on Ma> 2W( 2773( corroborates as =ollows:A
BM> h9sban5( the 'ev. -. -. ,ambe>( the morning a=ter he ha5 seen Mr. ".( mentione5
the circ9mstance to me( an5 with m9ch grie= e?presse5 his =irm conviction that his =rien5
was 5ea5.
BM. ". ,)M"E#.C
O9r in=ormant in the ne?t case( -aptain 1.( withhol5s his name =rom p9blication( as the
percipient wo9l5 obDect to its appearance. It will be seen that she a5mits the occ9rrence.
B$ecember( 2773.
P28VQ B/ome time at the en5 o= 2787( I was 5isc9ssing with a la5> o= m> acE9aintance the
E9estion o= making compacts to appear a=ter 5eath. I 5o9bte5 whether s9ch compacts
co9l5 be =9l=ille5@ she sto9tl> maintaine5 that the> co9l5 be. +inall> we agree5 to make
s9ch a compact o9rselvesAthat whichever o= 9s =irst 5ie5 sho9l5 appear a=ter 5eath to the
other.
2

B)t the beginning o= the ne?t >ear I went on a vo>age in the merchant ship uE5m9n5
&raham(4 o= &reenock( to )9stralia( an5 on the UUn5 o= F9ne( when we were between the
-ape o= &oo5 .ope an5 )9stralia Plat. 3; /.( long. UU E.Q( an5 the ship r9nning be=ore a
heav> gale o= win5( the sea swept over the 5eck an5 washe5 W o= 9s( m>sel= among the
n9mber( overboar5. I gave m>sel= 9p =or lost( an5 I remember well that I tho9ght o= the
panorama o= their past lives which 5rowning men are sai5 to see( an5 hope5 that the show
wo9l5 commence. *hen I regrette5 I was witho9t m> oilskin( as the water wo9l5 have
time to wet me thro9gh be=ore 5eath( an5 I e?pecte5 to =in5 it ver> col5@ as =ar as I can
recollect( this was all that passe5 thro9gh m> min5. *he ne?t moment I ca9ght hol5 o= a
loose rope that was hanging =rom the ship( an5 ha9le5 m>sel= on 5eck. *he others were
5rowne5. *his took place between : an5 3 a.m. i-3U;! on F9ne UUn5.
2
) =ew months
a=terwar5s I ha5 a letter at "omba>( =rom m> =rien5( in which she mentione5 that on the
night o= the UUn5 F9ne she ha5 seen me in her room.
B,hen I saw her again( I receive5 =rom her a =9ll acco9nt o= the circ9mstances. /he tol5
me that she woke 9p s955enl> in the night( an5 saw me at the other en5 o= the room( an5
that I a5vance5 towar5s her. ,hether she notice5 the 5ress which I was wearing I cannot
sa>. I have o=ten since hear5 her 5escribe the inci5ent. )s =ar as I can recollect( she tol5
me the precise time o= the appearance@ an5 m> belie= is that it coinci5e5 in time with m>
being washe5 overboar5. *ho9gh I cannot recollect calc9lating the 5i==erence o= time( b>
re=erence to the longit95e( I think it most likel> that I 5i5 5o so an5 =o9n5 the times to
correspon5. I was certainl>( at that time( E9ite alive to the =act that UU o= longit95e wo9l5
make a sensible 5i==erence in the apparent time.
BM. 1.C
*he =ollowing is a portion o= a letter =rom the percipient to -aptain 1.:A
BI enclose the papers >o9 gave me to look at the other night( an5 in looking over the
printe5 notes o= the /ociet>( I see Pas a -atholicQ I can have nothing to 5o with it.
B#o9 can tell >o9r =rien5 the reason I 5ecline sa>ing an>thing abo9t it is beca9se I am a
1apist( an5 that I consi5er those sort o= things m9ch too sacre5 to make the topic o=
conversation at an> mo5ern scienti=ic meeting.C
*hese last remarks e?empli=> what was sai5 above Pp. 2:;Q as to a partic9lar class o=
obstacles which o9r investigation has to enco9nter( an5 which we can onl> tr9st to time to
remove.
*he ne?t case is one o= the ver> =ew which is here E9ote5 =rom a previo9s collection. It
was =irst p9blishe5 b> Mr. $ale Owen( in his <ootfalls on the Boundar, of )nother
"orld, pp. UXXT:;:. One o= 9s has seen the percipient( Mrs. ,heatcro=t( who( however(
=in5s hersel= precl95e5 b> =amil> reasons =rom giving an> =9rther acco9nt.
P288Q B+or the =ollowing narrative I am in5ebte5 to the kin5ness o= Lon5on =rien5s. O=
the goo5 =aith o= the narrators there cannot be a 5o9bt.
BIn the month o= /eptember( 27VW( -aptain &. ,.( o= the 8th $ragoon &9ar5s( went o9t
to In5ia to Doin his regiment. .is wi=e remaine5 in Englan5( resi5ing at -ambri5ge. On
the night between the 23th an5 2Vth o= %ovember( 27VW( towar5s morning( she 5reame5
that she saw her h9sban5( looking an?io9s an5 ill( 9pon which she imme5iatel> awoke(
m9ch agitate5. It was bright moonlight@ an5 looking 9p( she perceive5 the same =ig9re
stan5ing b> her be5si5e. .e appeare5 in his 9ni=orm( the han5s presse5 across the breast(
the hair 5ishevelle5( the =ace ver> pale. .is large 5ark e>es were =i?e5 =9ll 9pon her@ their
e?pression was that o= great e?citement( an5 there was a pec9liar contraction o= the
mo9th( habit9al to him when agitate5. /he saw him( even to each min9te partic9lar o= his
5ress( as 5istinctl> as she i-3U2! ha5 ever 5one in her li=e@ an5 she remembers to have
notice5 between his han5s the white o= the shirt-bosom( 9nstaine5( however( with bloo5.
*he =ig9re seeme5 to ben5 =orwar5( as i= in pain( an5 to make an e==ort to speak@ b9t there
was no so9n5. It remaine5 visible( the wi=e thinks( as long as a min9te( an5 then
5isappeare5.
B.er =irst i5ea was to ascertain i= she was act9all> awake. /he r9bbe5 her e>es with the
sheet( an5 =elt that the to9ch was real. .er little nephew was in be5 with her: she bent
over the sleeping chil5( an5 listene5 to its breathing@ the so9n5 was 5istinct@ an5 she
became convince5 that what she ha5 seen was no 5ream. It nee5 har5l> be a55e5 that she
5i5 not again go to sleep that night.
B%e?t morning she relate5 all this to her mother( e?pressing her conviction( tho9gh she
ha5 notice5 no marks o= bloo5 on his 5ress( that -aptain ,. was either kille5 or
grievo9sl> wo9n5e5. /o =9ll> impresse5 was she with the realit> o= that apparition that
she thence=orth re=9se5 all invitations. ) >o9ng =rien5 9rge5 her( soon a=terwar5s( to go
with her to a =ashionable concert( remin5ing her that she ha5 receive5 =rom Malta( sent
b> her h9sban5( a han5some 5ress cloak( which she ha5 never >et worn. "9t she
positivel> 5ecline5( 5eclaring that( 9ncertain as she was whether she was not alrea5> a
wi5ow( she wo9l5 never enter a place o= am9sement 9ntil she ha5 letters =rom her
h9sban5 Pi=( in5ee5( he still live5Q o= later 5ate than the 23th o= %ovember.
BIt was on a *9es5a>( in the month o= $ecember( 27VW( that the telegram regar5ing the
act9al =ate o= -aptain ,. was p9blishe5 in Lon5on. It was to the e==ect that he was kille5
be=ore L9cknow on the fifteenth o= %ovember.
B*his news( given in the morning paper( attracte5 the attention o= Mr. ,ilkinson( a
Lon5on solicitor( who ha5 in charge -aptain ,.4s a==airs. ,hen( at a later perio5( this
gentleman met the wi5ow( she in=orme5 him that she ha5 been E9ite prepare5 =or the
melanchol> news( b9t that she =elt s9re her h9sban5 co9l5 not have been kille5 on the
2Vth o= %ovember( inasm9ch as it was 59ring the night between the 23th an5 2Vth that he
appeare5 to hersel=.
2

B*he certi=icate =rom the ,ar O==ice( however( which it became Mr. ,ilkinson4s 59t> to
obtain( con=irme5 the 5ate given in the telegram( its tenor being as =ollows:A
u%o. X(VWX. u,ar O==ice.
uFan9ar> :;th( 27V7.
u*hese are to certi=> that it appears( b> the recor5s in this o==ice( that -aptain &. ,.( o=
the 8th $ragoon &9ar5s Ya mistake( as Mr. $ale Owen points o9t( =or 8th PInniskillingQ
$ragoonsZ( was kille5 in action on the 2Vth %ovember( 27VW.
P/igne5Q u". .),E/.4
B,hile Mr. ,ilkinson4s min5 remaine5 in 9ncertaint> as to the e?act 5ate( a remarkable
inci5ent occ9rre5( which seeme5 to cast =9rther s9spicion on the acc9rac> o= the telegram
an5 o= the certi=icate. *hat i-3UU! gentleman was visiting a =rien5( whose la5> has all
her li=e ha5 perception o= apparitions( while her h9sban5 is what is 9s9all> calle5 an
impressible me5i9m@ =acts which are known( however( onl> to their intimate =rien5s.
*ho9gh personall> acE9ainte5 with them( I am not at libert> to give their names. Let 9s
call them Mr. an5 Mrs. %.
BMr. ,ilkinson relate5 to them( as a won5er=9l circ9mstance( the vision o= the -aptain4s
wi5ow in connection with his 5eath( an5 5escribe5 the =ig9re as it ha5 appeare5 to her.
Mrs. %. t9rning to her h9sban5( instantl> sai5:A
Bu*hat m9st be the ver> person I saw the evening we were talking o= In5ia( an5 >o9 5rew
an elephant with a how5ah on his back. Mr. ,ilkinson has 5escribe5 his e?act position
an5 appearance@ the 9ni=orm o= a "ritish o==icer( his han5s presse5 across his breast( his
=orm bent =orwar5 as i= in pain. *he =ig9re(4 she a55e5 to Mr. ,.( uappeare5 D9st behin5
m> h9sban5( an5 seeme5 looking over his le=t sho9l5er.4C
YMr. an5 Mrs. %.( who were /pirit9alists( then obtaine5 what p9rporte5 to be a message
=rom their strange visitant( sa>ing that he ha5 been kille5 that a=ternoon b> a wo9n5 in
the breast@ b9t the message ma> per=ectl> well have been the a9tomatic res9lt o= their
own i5eas( as it containe5 nothing be>on5 what the> might have g9esse5 =rom the nat9re
o= the apparition. *his occ9rre5 at X in the evening@ an5 the 5ate was =i?e5 as the
fourteenth o= %ovember( b> the 5ate on a bill which was receipte5( as it was remembere5(
on the same evening.Z
B*his con=irmation o= the wi5ow4s conviction as to the 5a> o= her h9sban54s 5eath
pro59ce5 so m9ch impression on Mr. ,ilkinson that he calle5 at the o==ice o= Messrs.
-o? an5 &reenwoo5( the arm> agents( to ascertain i= there was no mistake in the
certi=icate. "9t nothing there appeare5 to con=irm an> s9rmise o= inacc9rac>. -aptain
,.4s 5eath was mentione5 in two separate 5espatches o= /ir -olin -ampbell@ an5 in both
the 5ate correspon5e5 with that given in the telegram.
B/o matters reste5( 9ntil( in the month o= March( 27V7( the =amil> o= -aptain ,. receive5
=rom -aptain &. -( then o= the Militar> *rain( a letter 5ate5 near L9cknow( on the 2Xth
$ecember( 27VW. *his letter in=orme5 them that -aptain ,. ha5 been kille5 be=ore
L9cknow( while gallantl> lea5ing on the sE9a5ron( not on the 2Vth o= %ovember( as
reporte5 in /ir -olin -ampbell4s 5espatches( b9t on the fourteenth in the afternoon.
-aptain -. was ri5ing close b> his si5e at the time he saw him =all. .e was str9ck b> a
=ragment o= shell in the breast( an5 never spoke a=ter he was hit. .e was b9rie5 at the
$ilkoosha@ an5 on a woo5en cross erecte5 b> his =rien5( Lie9tenant '.( o= the Xth
Lancers( at the hea5 o= his grave( are c9t the initials &. ,.( an5 the 5ate o= his 5eath( the
23th o= %ovember( 27VW.
2

B*he ,ar O==ice =inall> ma5e the correction as to the 5ate o= 5eath( b9t not 9ntil more
than a >ear a=ter the event occ9rre5. Mr. ,ilkinson( having occasion to appl> =or an
a55itional cop> o= the certi=icate in )pril( 27VX( =o9n5 it in e?actl> the same wor5s as that
which I have i-3U:! given( onl> that the 23th o= %ovember ha5 been s9bstit9te5 =or the
2Vth.
2

B*his e?traor5inar> narrative was obtaine5 b> me 5irectl> =rom the parties themselves.
*he wi5ow o= -aptain ,. kin5l> consente5 to e?amine an5 correct the man9script( an5
allowe5 me to inspect a cop> o= -aptain -.4s letter( giving the partic9lars o= her
h9sban54s 5eath. *o Mr. ,ilkinson also the man9script was s9bmitte5( an5 he assente5 to
its acc9rac> so =ar as he is concerne5. *hat portion which relates to Mrs. %. I ha5 =rom
that la5> hersel=. I have neglecte5 no preca9tion( there=ore( to obtain =or it the warrant o=
a9thenticit>.
BIt is especiall> val9able( as =9rnishing an e?ample o= a 5o9ble apparition. %or can it be
allege5 Peven i= the allegation ha5 weightQ that the recital o= one la5> ca9se5 the
apparition o= the same =ig9re to the other. Mrs. ,. was at the time in -ambri5ge( an5
Mrs. %. in Lon5on@ an5 it was not till weeks a=ter the occ9rrence that either knew what
the other ha5 seen.
B*hose who wo9l5 e?plain the whole on the principle o= chance coinci5ence have a treble
event to take into acco9nt@ the apparition to Mrs. %.( that to Mrs. ,.( an5 the act9al time
o= -aptain ,.4s 5eath( each tall>ing e?actl> with the other.C
Mr. ,ilkinson( o= ,inton .o9se( Ealing( ,.( writes to 9s:A
B%ovember Vth( 2773.
BMr. 'obert $ale Owen personall> investigate5 the case( an5 s9bmitte5 the messages to
-aptain ,heatcro=t4s wi5ow. I revise5 the part belonging to me( an5 that part which
re=erre5 to the appearance to Mrs. %enner was revise5 b> her an5 her h9sban5( 1ro=essor
%enner. I gave the original certi=icates o= 5eath b> the ,ar O==ice to Mr. Owen.
B,. M. ,IL0I%/O%.C
Y*he Mr. %. mentione5 was the 'ev. Ma9rice %enner( 1ro=essor o= .ebrew at the
%oncon=ormist -ollege( /t. Fohn4s ,oo5. "oth Mr. an5 Mrs. %enner are 5ea5.
It sho9l5 be observe5 that there was no provable recognition o= -aptain ,heatcro=t b>
Mrs. %enner. ,e onl> know o= the =ollowing points to connect her vision with -aptain
,heatcro=t4s 5eath:A/imilarit> o= attit95e@ 9ni=orm o= a "ritish o==icer@ wo9n5 in the
breast@ 5ate@ an5( apart =rom Mrs. ,heatcro=t4s vision( there is nothing remarkable in this
combination. "9t it is certainl> c9rio9s that on that 5a> she sho9l5 have ha5 a vision
which correspon5e5( at least 9p to a certain point( with what Mrs. ,heatcro=t saw.
U

,e 5o not know the ho9r o= -aptain ,heatcro=t4s 5eath( as he ma> i-3U3! not have 5ie5
the moment that he was str9ck. I= the 5eath was imme5iate( it m9st have prece5e5 Mrs.
,heatcro=t4s vision b> at least 2U ho9rs. /ee p. 23;( note.Z
*he ne?t acco9nt was receive5( in 277:( =rom M. 5e &9Hrin( now resi5ing at X7( /an5gate
'oa5( +olkestone. It is impossible to be certain that the coinci5ence was as close as the
narrator imagines@ b9t the pres9mption is to some e?tent =avo9re5 b> the =act that he was
the percipient in a similar b9t more remarkable case( which will be cite5 in a later chapter
P%o. :2VQ.
P28WQ BM> brother .enr> 5ie5 in E?eter in F9l>( 27VV. I was then on a vo>age home
Y=rom /hanghaiZ. I was ver> ill at the time. ,e were within one or two 5egrees o= the line(
=ear=9ll> hot. I ha5 been in be5 abo9t a co9ple o= ho9rs an5 was wi5e awake( when I saw
an almost e?actl> similar vision Ui.e., similar to the other case re=erre5 toZ o= .enr>. I
imme5iatel> calle5 o9t to m> =ellow passenger: u+rank( m> brother .enr> is 5ea5( I have
D9st seen him.4 I wrote to this gentleman YMr. +rancis L. "rine( +insb9r> $istiller>(
+insb9r> /E9areZ to ask i= he remembere5 an>thing abo9t it. .e replies: u*oo man> >ears
have rolle5 b> since to enable me to recall the 5etails to which >o9 re=er( b9t I believe
ever> wor5 o= it. ,hen m> =ather 5ie5( I wrote to m> sister in In5ia( an5 she wrote back
to sa>(C I knew o= o9r sa5 loss at the time it occ9rre5@ 5ear =ather came to wish me goo5-
b>e also.C4
2

B,M. -. L. $E &UE'I%.C
In conversation( Mr. 5e &9Hrin tol5 the present writer that he believes his brother to have
5ie5 on the 5a> o= the vision. ,e =in5 =rom the 'egistrar o= $eaths that the 5eath took
place on F9l> 2Xth( 27VV@ b9t the 5a> o= the vision cannot now be in5epen5entl> =i?e5. It
occ9rre5 at abo9t 22 p.m.( near the islan5 o= 'anbon( which is almost e?actl> antipo5al to
Englan5@ an5 the 5eath took place at : p.m.@ so that( i= the 5a> was the same( the vision
prece5e5 his 5eath b> some 3 ho9rs. Mr. 5e &9Hrin knew his brother to have been
s9==ering =rom a lingering illness( b9t ha5 no imme5iate apprehension o= the en5. .e ha5
last hear5 o= him in )pril.
i-3UV!
*he ne?t narrative is o= a more 9ncommon character. *here are reasonable gro9n5s( in
this instance( =or withhol5ing the name o= the narrator( Mrs. *.( =rom p9blicit>.
B277:.
P287Q BOn %ovember 27th( 278:( I was living near )5elai5e( an5 not long recovere5 =rom
a severe illness at the birth o= an in=ant( who was then V months ol5. M> h9sban5 ha5 also
s9==ere5 =rom ne9ralgia( an5 ha5 gone to sta> with =rien5s at the seasi5e =or the bene=it o=
bathing. One night 59ring his absence the chil5 woke me abo9t mi5night@ having h9she5
him o== to sleep( I sai5( u%ow( sir( I hope >o9 will let me rests4 I la> 5own( an5 instantl>
became conscio9s o= two =ig9res stan5ing at the 5oor o= m> room. One( M. %. Ythese are
not the real initialsZ( whom I recognise5 at once( was that o= a =ormer lover( whose
miscon59ct an5 neglect ha5 compelle5 me to reno9nce him. O= this I am s9re( that i= ever
I saw him in m> li=e( it was then. I was not in the least =rightene5@ b9t sai5 to m>sel=( as it
were( u#o9 never 9se5 to wear that kin5 o= waistcoat.4 *he 5oor close to where he stoo5
was in a 5eep recess close to the =ireplace( =or there was no grate@ we b9rnt logs onl>. In
that recess stoo5 a man in a twee5 s9it. I saw the whole =ig9re 5istinctl>( b9t not the =ace(
an5 =or this reason: on the e5ge o= the mantelshel= alwa>s stoo5 a morocco leather
me5icine chest( which conceale5 the =ace =rom me. POn this being state5 to o9r =rien5s(
the /ingletons( the> aske5 to go into the room an5 D95ge =or themselves. *he> e?presse5
themselves satis=ie5 that wo9l5 be the case to an>one on the be5 where I was.Q I ha5 an
impression that this other was a co9sin o= M. %.4s( who ha5 been the means o= lea5ing
him astra> while in the %orth o= Englan5. I never saw him in m> li=e@ he 5ie5 in In5ia.
BM. %. was in 5eep mo9rning@ he ha5 a look o= 9n9tterable sorrow 9pon his =ace( an5 was
5ea5l> pale. .e never opene5 his lips( b9t I rea5 his heart as i= it were an open book( an5
it sai5( uM> =ather is 5ea5( an5 I have come into his propert>.4 I answere5( u.ow m9ch
>o9 have grown like >o9r =athers4 *hen in a moment( -ithout appearing to -al1, he stoo5
at the =oot o= the chil54s cot( an5 I saw distinctl, the bl9eness o= his e>es as he ga]e5 on
m> bo>( an5 then raise5 them to .eaven as i= in pra>er.
B)ll vanishe5. I looke5 ro9n5 an5 remarke5 a trivial circ9mstance( vi].( that the brass
han5les o= m> chest o= 5rawers ha5 been r9bbe5 ver> bright. %ot till then was I conscio9s
o= having seen a spirit(
2
b9t a =eeling o= awe Pnot =earQ came over me( an5 I pra>e5 to be
kept =rom harm( altho9gh there was no reason to 5rea5 it. I slept tranE9ill>( an5 in the
morning I went across to the parsonage an5 tol5 the clerg>man4s wi=e what I ha5 seen.
/he( o= co9rse( tho9ght it was merel> a 5ream. "9t noAi= it were a 5ream( sho9l5 I not
have seen him as : had 1no-n hi(, a >o9ng man o= UU( witho9t bear5 or whiskersr
U
"9t
there was all the 5i==erence that 28 >ears wo9l5 make in a man4s aspect.
BOn /at9r5a> m> h9sban5 ret9rne5( an5 m> brother having ri55en o9t to see 9s on
/9n5a> a=ternoon( I tol5 them both m> vision as we sat together on the veran5ah. *he>
treate5 it so lightl> that I 5etermine5 i-3U8! to write it 5own in m> 5iar> an5 see i= the
news were veri=ie5. )n5 =rom that 5iar> I am now E9oting. )lso I mentione5 it to at least
2U or 23 other people( an5 bi5 them wait the res9lt.
B)n5 s9rel> eno9gh( at the en5 o= several weeks( m> sister-in-law wrote that M. %.4s
=ather 5ie5 at -AA -ommon on %ovember 27th( 278:( which e?actl> tallie5 with the
5ate o= the vision. .e le=t 3V(;;; to be 5ivi5e5 between his son an5 5a9ghter( b9t the
son has never been =o9n5.
BMan> people in )5elai5e hear5 the stor> be=ore the con=irmation came( an5 I wrote an5
tol5 M. %.4s mother. /he was m9ch 5istresse5 abo9t it( =earing he was 9nhapp>. /he is
now 5ea5. M> h9sban5 was pro=o9n5l> str9ck when he saw m> 5iar> correspon5ing
e.actl, to the news in the letter I ha5 that moment receive5 in his presence.C
Mrs. *. states that she has never e?perience5 a hall9cination o= vision on an> other
occasion.
Mr. *. has con=irme5 to 9s the acc9rac> o= this narrative@ an5 Mrs. *. has shown to one o=
9s a memoran59m o= the appearance o= two =ig9res 9n5er 5ate %ovember 27th( in her
5iar> o= the >ear 278:@ an5 a newspaper obit9ar> con=irms this as the 5ate o= the 5eath.
,e learn =rom a gentleman who is a near relative o= M. %.4s( that M. %.( tho9gh long lost
sight o=( was a=terwar5s hear5 o=( an5 o9tlive5 his =ather.
I= we regar5 this vision as telepathic( the agent can apparentl> onl> have been the 5>ing
man@ an5 the case wo9l5 then seem to be an e?treme instance o= the ver> rare t>pe where
the agent4s personalit> 5oes not appear( b9t some i5ea or pict9re in his min5 is
repro59ce5 in the percipient4s min5 with a =orce that lea5s to an act9al percept. +or( as the
narrator hersel= s9ggests( ha5 she bo5ie5 =orth the i5ea o= M. %. =rom her own 9nai5e5
reso9rces( she wo9l5 almost certainl> have pict9re5 him with the aspect that ha5 been
=amiliar to her. "9t tho9gh we have to 5raw on the =ather4s min5 =or the 9n=amiliar
=eat9res( we m9st not =orget the possibilities o= agenc> below the threshol5 o=
conscio9sness Ppp. W7TX( U:;Q. )n5 it is at least worth s9ggesting that the percipient4s
min5 bro9ght its own a==inities to bearAe?ercise5( so to speak( a selective in=l9ence@ an5
that th9s it was rather owing to her special interest in the son than to the conscio9s
occ9pation o= his =ather4s min5 with him( that the telepathic imp9lse which was able to
a==ect her took this partic9lar =orm. )s to the appearance o= the second figure, it ma>
possibl> have been also telepathicall> pro59ce5@ b9t I pre=er to la> stress on it simpl> as
one o= the n9mero9s in5ications that these waking percepts are reall> 5ream-creations(
not obDective presences.
,e obtaine5 the ne?t case thro9gh the kin5ness o= Miss "eale( 1rincipal o= the La5ies4
-ollege( -heltenham( to whom it was sent some >ears ago b> the narrator( Miss *. F. -.
i-3UW!
P28XQ B,hen I was between 2: an5 23( I went to spen5 a =ew 5a>s at the ho9se o= some
=rien5s( where I share5 a room with a companion a >ear ol5er. .appening to awake one
night( I saw 5istinctl> the =ig9re o= a man Pin what might have been a loose 5ressing-
gownQ stan5ing be=ore the 5ressing-table with his back towar5s the be5( an5 hol5ing o9t
one han5 as i= =eeling his wa>. I remember r9bbing m> e>es to convince m>sel= I was not
5reaming( an5 on m> looking 9p a min9te a=ter( the =ig9re was gone. *his startle5 me(
an5 I awoke m> companion. /he( however( trie5 to pers9a5e me it m9st have been her
brother Pthe onl> man in the ho9seQ( an5 that he ha5 probabl> come in to look what
o4clock it was b> an ol5 watch which alwa>s stoo5 on the 5ressing-table( an5 was
consi5ere5 a great a9thorit> in the ho9se. PI =orgot to sa> there was bright moonlight
shining into the room.Q Onl> hal= convince5 I =ell asleep again( an5 at break=ast ne?t
morning aske5 -. Pm> companion4s brotherQ what he ha5 been 5oing in o9r room the
previo9s night. .e sai5 he ha5 certainl> not been there( b9t aske5 what I ha5 seen( an5 on
m> telling him( looke5 so startle5 an5 paine5 that I 5i5 not p9rs9e the s9bDect.
B) =ew 5a>s a=ter this( his mother tol5 me that -. ha5 seen the =ig9re in his room the
same night on which I ha5 seen it in mine( an5 ha5 recognise5 it as that o= a ver> great
=rien5 an5 ol5 shipmate o= his own. ,hen -. le=t the nav> on acco9nt o= ill-health( this
=rien5 got leave to spen5 a =ew 5a>s on shore with him( an5 on parting with him( sai5(
u,ell( whoever 5ies =irst will come an5 see the other.4 On the 5a> on which Mrs. ". spoke
to me o= the occ9rrence( -. ha5 hear5 o= the 5eath o= his ol5 shipmate. It ha5 taken place
on boar5 ship( o== the coast o= /pain( on the night on which the apparition was seen b> -.
an5 m>sel=.
B*. F. -.C
Miss -. writes to 9s:A
B2( -laren5on 1lace( /tirling.
B+ebr9ar> U7th( 2773.
B*he above stor> was sent b> me to Miss "eale some >ears ago. *he u-.4 mentione5 in it
has been 5ea5 =or man> >ears( an5 his mother4s memor> is so m9ch impaire5 b> age an5
in=irmit> as to make her evi5ence o= no val9e. I 5o not know that I can a55 an>thing to
what I have alrea5> written. *he occ9rrence is as =resh in m> memor> as when it
happene5. I was almost a chil5 at the time( an5 no i5ea o= m> having seen a spirit ever
entere5 m> hea5( 9ntil Mrs. ". spoke to me o= the 5eath o= her son4s =rien5. *he two
rooms Pthe one in which u-.4 slept an5 that in which m> companion an5 I sleptQ were on
the same =loor( an5 near each other.C
In conversation( Miss -. tol5 me that she ha5 never e?perience5 a hall9cination o= vision
on an> other occasion. *he =ig9re which she saw correspon5e5 with B-.C4s 5escription o=
what he saw( e?cept that she 5i5 not see the =ace.
*his case( i= correctl> reporte5( contains the remarkable =eat9re o= 5o9ble percipience@
which( however( will be more convenientl> 5isc9sse5 at a later stage P-hap. \VIII.Q.
Evi5entiall>( I ma> observe( the narrator4s recollection o= what she learnt abo9t B-.C4s
e?perience i-3U7! makes it more probable that she is acc9rate as to the coinci5ence( than
i= she were merel> recalling a chil5ish e?perience o= her own.
,e owe the =ollowing case to the 'ev. *. ,illiams( 'ector o= )ston--linton( *ring. *he
=irst note( written 5own b> Mr. ,illiams =rom his sister4s acco9nt o= the occ9rrence( was
copie5 =rom his 5iar> b> the present writer.
P2W;Q BMrs. /tewart( sister-in-law o= Fane( m> sister4s servant( came 9p to ask i= an> news
=rom home. /he sai5( with her h9sban5 in be5AmoonlightAchest o= 5rawers between
win5owAsaw her mother stan5ingA=elt per=ectl> awakeAshe hi5 her =aceAa thir5 time
looke5 9pAhear5 Yr sawZ nothing( b9t hear5 men calling 9pAknew e?act time. /he
came 9p to m> sister4s an5 relate5 this the same 5a>Asai5 5rea5ing to hear knock at 5oor
all 5a>A=earing to hear o= something having happene5 to her mother. .er =rien5s( who
live5 at -h9rch /tretton( came a month a=ter to christening o= her bab>@ in mo9rningA
sai5 mother4s sister( who e?act image o= her mother( ha5 5ie5 at the ver> time o= her
visionAb9t =rien5s 5i5 not tell Mrs. /tewart( beca9se o= her con5ition. *his written =rom
m> sister4s acco9nt( who saw Mrs. /tewart on the 5a> o= the vision( an5 hear5 acco9nt o=
what seen =rom hersel=.C *he 5ate 277; is a55e5.
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom the h9sban5 o= the percipient( who is hersel= 5ea5. .is
mother4s name is also appen5e5 to the statement.
B)pril( 277V.
BMrs. /tewart( the wi=e o= a carpenter( living in )bergavenn>( Monmo9thshire( an5 who
YMrs. /.Z is since 5ea5( was( in the >ear 27W3( in be5( an5 earl> one morning( being s9re
she was awake P=or she ha5 D9st hear5 the railwa> men being calle5 to their work b> the
call bo>Q( she looke5 9p to see the time( an5 in one corner o= her room she saw 5istinctl>
what she tho9ght was her mother( intentl> looking at her. /he was startle5( an5 hi5 her
=ace. On looking again the vision was still there( b9t on looking 9p a thir5 time it ha5
5isappeare5. Mrs. /tewart came 9p that 5a> to see a sister-in-law who was in service near
the town( to ask i= she ha5 ha5 an> ti5ings =rom her home Pthe impression the vision ha5
ma5e was so greatQ( b9t nothing ha5 been hear5. *ime passe5 on( an5 all seeme5
=orgotten( when some o= her =rien5s came 9p to )bergavenn>( to the christening o= a little
bab>( born in the meantime. *he> were in mo9rning( an5 inE9iries were ma5e as to the
=rien5 mo9rne5 =or( when it was tol5 that on the night Mrs. /tewart tho9ght she saw her
mother( a sister o= the mother4s( to whom she bore a great likeness( ha5 5ie5 abo9t the
ho9r name5( at some 5istance o==@ b9t the> 5i5 not tell Mrs. /tewart o= the 5eath 9ntil
some weeks a=ter it happene5( as Mrs. /tewart was in 5elicate health an5 m9ch attache5
to her a9nt.
BFO.% /*E,)'*.C
Miss ,illiams( o= )bergavenn>( writes on F9l> 2( 277V:A
BMrs. /tewart was not an e?citable woman( ha5 never ha5 an> hall9cination o= the
senses( an5 was a E9iet( somewhat silent person. .er mother-in-law is now living in
)bergavenn>( an5 is a ver> sensible( respectable( practical woman. /he probabl> hear5
Mrs. /tewart speak o= the occ9rrence soon a=terwar5s( an5 was an?io9s to a55 her
testimon> to i-3UX! the statement. I probabl> mentione5 the statement to m> brother in
277;( an5 he set it 5own in his notebook.C
In re=erence to this last sentence( Mr. ,illiams sa>s:ABI am more incline5 to think that I
hear5 o= it within a 5a> or two a=ter it happene5( an5 that i= I a55e5 the 5ate 277;( it m9st
have been the 5ate o= m> cop>ing it into m> notebook =rom some loose memoran5a.C
.ere we have a sing9lar =eat9reAan appearance which s9ggeste5 not the agent b9t a
person closel> resembling her. *he case th9s stan5s in a sort o= mi5wa> position between
the more normal cases an5 the class o= 9nrecognise5 phantasms( o= which several
specimens have alrea5> been given Ppp. U27( :73( 3;X( 3UWQ. *he same pec9liarit> occ9rs
in the ne?t case. *he narrator( Miss '.( was willing to have her name an5 a55ress
p9blishe5@ b9t her =amil> 5islike5 the i5ea( an5 we have acte5 in accor5ance with their
wishes.
BMa> 7th( 27WX.
P2W2Q BIn the >ear 2782 m> parents were living in /oho /E9are( an5 I an5 m> brother
)l=re5( age5 U3( were living with them. On the 2Vth October m> brother went to spen5
the evening at the ho9se o= an ol5 school=ellow( where it was not 9n9s9al =or him to
remain =or the night( in or5er to avoi5 coming home at a late ho9r. It was c9stomar> =or
him( i= he happene5 to come home a=ter m> parents ha5 gone to be5( to go E9ietl> to m>
mother4s be5si5e an5 to give her a kiss i= she were awake( an5 i= not( to leave his hat
9pon the 5ressing-table as a sign that he ha5 been there.
B/he went to be5 on October 2Vth witho9t e?pecting his ret9rn that night( b9t a=ter her
=irst sleep she awoke 9p s955enl> an5 saw him( as she tho9ght( stan5ing at the =oot o= the
be5@ she sai5 so=tl>( uI am not asleep( m> 5ear(4 b9t he went awa> instea5 o= going to kiss
her@ an5 this s9rprise5 her.
BOn the morning o= the 28th October( at break=ast time( she sai5 to me: u,here is
)l=re5r4 I replie5( u.e 5i5 not come home last night( mamma.4 /he answere5( uOh( >es(
he 5i5@ an5 he came into m> room when he was partl> 9n5resse5( b9t he 5i5 not speak to
me as 9s9al.4 In the co9rse o= an ho9r m> brother came in( an5 m> mother aske5 him i= he
ha5 been into her room 59ring the night. .e ass9re5 her he ha5 not been home. /he sai5(
uIt is ver> strange( =or I am E9ite convince5 that someone was stan5ing at the =oot o= m>
be5 when I awoke in the night.4
B)t abo9t mi5-5a> a letter arrive5 to in=orm 9s that o9r co9sin( +rank( onl> a =ew >ears
ol5er than m> brother )l=re5( ha5 5ie5 at 2 o4clock that morning in Lon5on. M> mother
instantl> e?claime5( uIt was +rank whom I saws I can recall him to min5 5istinctl> as I
saw him( an5 tho9gh at the time I tho9ght I was looking at )l=re5( >et I tho9ght there was
something strange in his appearance( an5 I co9l5 not 9n5erstan5 wh> he came in to see
me witho9t his coat on.4C
,e =in5 the 5ate o= 5eath( October 28th( 2782( con=irme5 b> the obit9ar> in the Ti(es.
On March U;th( 2773( the narrator in=orme5 Mr. 1o5more as =ollows:A
i-3:;!
B"e=ore writing this acco9nt( I wrote a letter to m> co9sin4s =amil> to con=irm m>
recollection o= the time at which he 5ie5( an5 receive5 an answer to the e==ect that he 5ie5
at 2 a.m. *here was no ver> great likeness between m> brother an5 m> co9sin@ merel> a
general =amil> resemblance. "oth were =air: b9t +rank was taller than )l=re5( an5 ha5 a
=ine bear5( whilst )l=re5 ha5 b9t a slight one.
BM. E. '.C
Miss '.4s brother sa>s:A
BMarch U;th( 2773.
BI remember this circ9mstance( b9t attach no importance to it( an5 5etect nothing o= the
marvello9s in the narrative.
B&. ). '.C
*he ne?t case is =rom Mrs. $9thie( ho9sekeeper to the 'ev. F. -. Macphail( o= 1ilrig
Manse( E5inb9rgh( who writes:A
B$ecember 7th( 277V.
P2WUQ BM> son has shown me the paper signe5 b> o9r ho9sekeeper( Mrs. Eli]abeth
$9thie( an5 has tol5 me o= >o9r 5esire to be ass9re5 o= her reliabilit>. Mrs. $9thie has
been with me =or more than :; >ears( an5 I know her to be one on whose statement the
=9llest reliance ma> be place5.
BF. -)L$E' M)-1.)IL.C
Mrs. $9thie writes:A
B1ilrig Manse( E5inb9rgh( )9g9st UUn5( 277V.
BIn )9g9st( 277:( the =amil> o= the 'ev. F. -. Macphail ha5 all gone to the co9ntr>(
leaving me alone in the ho9se. )n intimate =rien5 o= mine( a Miss &rant( who live5 in
)ber5een( ha5 been =or some time serio9sl> ill( an5 I was an?io9s abo9t her( tho9gh I 5i5
not know that 5eath was near. On /9n5a> night( the U8th o= )9g9st( abo9t 7 o4clock( I
retire5 to m> room( which is separate5 =rom the rest o= the ho9se( with a =light o= stairs
lea5ing 9p to the 5oor. I got into be5( an5 was l>ing hal=-asleep( with m> =ace to the wall(
when I =elt that someone was ben5ing over me( looking into m> =ace. I opene5 m> e>es(
an5 looke5 9p into the =ace o= m> =rien5 Miss &rant. I starte5 9p in be5( an5( looking
ro9n5( saw Miss &rant4s =ig9re leaving the room. I then got o9t o= be5( an5 going to the
5oor( looke5 5own stairs( b9t no one was to be seen. I went 5own the stairs into the
kitchen( b9t no one was there( nor was there a trace o= an>one. I looke5 at the clock( an5
saw it was a =ew min9tes past X( an5 then went back to be5( =eeling ver> 9ncom=ortable(
an5 certain something ha5 happene5 to m> =rien5. )ll ne?t 5a> PMon5a>Q I =elt 9nhapp>
abo9t it( an5 waite5 an?io9sl> to hear o= m> =rien5@ b9t( as there was no one else in the
ho9se( I 5i5 not mention m> e?perience o= the previo9s night to an>one. *hat night I
receive5 in=ormation =rom )ber5een that m> =rien5 ha5 5ie5 at X o4clock on the previo9s
nightAat the ver> time I ha5 seen her =orm in E5inb9rgh.
BI have never ha5 a hall9cination o= the senses on an> other occasion.
BELIJ)"E*. $U*.IE.C
Mrs. $9thie4s viv0 voce acco9nt( given to the present writer a >ear later( e?actl>
correspon5e5 with the above. /he is E9ite certain that her e>es were open when she saw
the =ace.
In answer to inE9iries Mrs. $9thie sa>s:A
BI am 2uite certain that this e?perience =ell on a !unda,, tho9gh I =orget the e?act 5a> o=
the month@ an5 I co9l5 not have imagine5 that it i-3:2! =ell on the /9n5a> after I got the
news( =or I hear5 o= the 5eath the ver> ne?t 5a>.C
/he has sent 9s a printe5 notice which she receive5( to this e==ect:A
BUU( *histle /treet( )ber5een.
BUWth )9g9st( 277:.
B.elen &rant 5ie5 here last night at X o4clock.
P/igne5Q B,M. &')%*.C
Mr. &. ,. Macphail writes:A
BMrs. $9thie tol5 m> mother o= her strange e?perience less than a month a=ter the event(
an5 I learnt it shortl> a=ter =rom Mrs. $9thie.C
*he ne?t case is a 5eposition ma5e b> Mrs. /till( Pknown in her pro=essional capacit> as
Mrs. ">rneQ( who was intro59ce5 to Mr. M>ers b> Mrs. Longe( o= -o55enham Lo5ge(
-heltenham.
B-heltenham( $ecember UWth( 277U.
P2W:Q BMrs ">rne was stewar5ess on the steamer uL>ra(4 -aptain &ilpin( in the 'iver
1lata line o= steamers. One morningAprobabl> between 8 an5 W( b9t she ha5 no watchA
she was l>ing in her berth. /he awoke( an5 saw -aptain &ilpin4s hea5 passing slowl>
along her berth an5 looking at her. *his was a =amiliar gest9re on his part( as he 9se5 to
be =rien5l> with Mrs. ">rne( an5 ask her to sit on a seat o9tsi5e his cabin( an5 9se5 to
look thro9gh his win5ow in this wa> when he tho9ght she was sitting there. Mrs. ">rne
got 9p at once( an5 went into the pantr>( an5 there hear5 that -aptain &ilpin ha5 been
kille5 Ptho9gh not instantaneo9sl>Q b> the =all o= a spar at 8 that morning.C
)n e?tract =rom the o==icial log-book( obtaine5 b> 9s =rom the &eneral 'egister an5
'ecor5 O==ice o= /hipping an5 /eamen( shows that the acci5ent to -aptain 1rince &ilpin
took place at V.:; a.m.( +ebr9ar> 2Xth( 27W7( on the BLaplace(C not the BL>ra.C .e was
cr9she5 against the engine-room sk>light b> a heav> sea@ an5 his 5eath was 59e to
=ract9re o= the ribs an5 inD9ries to the l9ngs. *his wo9l5 E9ite correspon5 with Mrs.
">rne4s statement that his 5eath was not instantaneo9s.
Y*he coinci5ence here m9st have been ver> close@ as there cannot have been more than a
short interval between -aptain &ilpin4s 5eath an5 Mrs. ">rne4s nat9ral time =or rising(
an5 in this interval( apparentl>( the vision occ9rre5. *he short perio5 within which the
whole contents o= the narrative are comprise5 is =9rther o= importance as making the case
an eas> one to carr> correctl> in the memor>@ an5 it seems ver> 9nlikel> that the
percipient sho9l5 have come to imagine that she got 9p imme5iatel> a=ter her vision an5
ascertaine5 what ha5 occ9rre5( i= the vision reall> took place on some other morning.
Mrs. ">rne ha5 been on two previo9s vo>ages with -aptain &ilpin. /he has e?perience5
one other vis9al hall9cination( which ma> have been p9rel> s9bDective.Z
*he la5> who narrates the =ollowing case 5esires that her name ma> not be p9blishe5.
BMa>( 277V.
P2W3Q B)n attack o= rhe9matism an5 nervo9s prostration le=t me =ar =rom well =or some
weeks last spring( an5 one night I ha5 a strange i-3:U! 9nacco9ntable vision which has
le=t a vivi5 impression 9pon m> memor>. I ha5 gone to be5 earl> an5 was l>ing awake
alone( with a night-light b9rning in or5er in some 5egree to 5ispel the gloom. /955enl>
across the lower en5 o= the room passe5 MaDor &.4s =ig9re( 5resse5 in his 9s9al ever>5a>
cost9me( neither his =eat9res nor his =ig9re an> whit altere5. It was no 5ream( nor was I in
the least 5elirio9s or wan5ering( there=ore a conviction sei]e5 me that something m9st
have occ9rre5@ in conseE9ence I partic9larl> marke5 the ho9r( when the clock str9ck 22
shortl> a=terwar5s. *he ne?t morning I was not the least s9rprise5 when m> sister han5e5
me a note =rom Miss &. anno9ncing her brother4s 5eath( an5 was =9ll> prepare5 be=ore
rea5ing it to =in5 that he ha5 passe5 awa> be=ore 22 the previo9s eveningAwhich
presentiment( strange to sa>( was =9ll> veri=ie5@ MaDor &. having 5ie5 at a E9arter to 22.
MaDor &. ha5 ret9rne5 in a ba5 state o= health =rom Eg>pt( where he ha5 been serving in
the campaign o= 277:. +or some time he appeare5 to recover an5 was able to go abo9t
an5 enter into societ> 59ring the winter( b9t 59ring the last month the ol5 s>mptoms ha5
ret9rne5( an5 gra59all> he grew worse an5 worse( 9ntil no hopes o= his recover> were
entertaine5. *ho9gh not personall> intimate with him( we were well acE9ainte5 with his
=amil>( an5 nat9rall> his case =orme5 a topic o= conversation among 9s. ,e ha5 also
receive5 ba5 acco9nts a =ew 5a>s be=ore an5 were aware that he was in a critical
con5ition@ nevertheless at the time o= his 5eath he ha5 been E9ite o9t o= m> tho9ghts an5
min5. I ha5 never be=ore ha5 an> apparition o= an> 5escription whatsoever( nor has this
one been =ollowe5 b> an> other.
B-. 1.C
Miss /cott Moncrie==( o= 33( /hooter4s .ill 'oa5( "lackheath( sa>s:A
B)s I was at Ythe town where Miss 1. livesZ at the time( I can m>sel= so =ar con=irm the
stor> as to mention that( on the 5a> a=ter it occ9rre5( we hear5 that the >o9ng la5> ha5
been so shaken in her nerves b> her illness that she ha5 been seeing what >o9 wo9l5 call
a uhall9cination(4 an5 was going to Malvern =or change o= air.C
/he a55s that Miss 1. was sta>ing with her when the above acco9nt was written( an5 that
as to the 5ate( Bboth she an5 I remembere5 that it was on a *h9rs5a> near the en5 o=
March or beginning o= )pril.C
,e =in5 =rom an obit9ar> notice that MaDor &. 5ie5 on Thursda,, )pril :r5( 2773.
In an interview with Mr. M>ers( $ecember U8th( 277V( Miss 1. a55e5 the =ollowing
5etails:A
BMaDor &.4s phantom was in his or5inar> walking cost9meAhat an5 9lsterAin which
Miss 1. was acc9stome5 to see him. *he =ig9re passe5 E9ickl> across the en5 o= the room
witho9t t9rning its hea5( b9t the =ace as well as the =ig9re were 5istinctl> recognisable.
*he =ig9re ma5e no noise( an5 5isappeare5 as it reache5 the wall.
2
Miss 1. at once
conDect9re5 that MaDor &. m9st be passing awa>@ b9t she =elt no =ear. )ltho9gh i-3::!
MaDor &. was known to be =atall> ill( there was no e?pectation o= his 5eath =rom 5a> to
5a>. .e was not prominentl> be=ore Miss 1.4s min5. Miss 1. was somewhat o9t o= health
at the time( b9t never s9==ere5 =rom an> kin5 o= hall9cination o= sight or hearing. /he 5i5
not mention the inci5ent to her =amil> =or =ear o= ri5ic9le.
Miss 1.4s sister Pto whom the inci5ent was =irst tol5Q sai5 that she remembere5 receiving
ne?t morning the letter as to MaDor &.4s 5eath@ an5 also remembere5 that some time later
Miss 1. tol5 her o= the inci5ent.
Y.ere the knowle5ge o= the percipient that MaDor &. was in a critical state is( o= co9rse(
an element o= weakness@ b9t it remains a remarkable coinci5ence that she sho9l5 have
ha5 her one e?perience o= a sensor> hall9cination at the e?act ho9r o= his 5eath.Z
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom Mr. '9nciman( o= Oak Villa( &eral5ine 'oa5( ,an5sworth.
BMa> Vth( 2773.
P2WVQ BOn the morning o= $ecember Un5( 277:( at abo9t W o4clock in the morning( I ha5 a
5ream which merge5 into a waking hall9cination as =ollows:AI 5reamt Mr. F. .. .aggit
was l>ing on m> be5( besi5e me( o9tsi5e o= the be5clothes. I 5reamt I saw him there( an5
I also tho9ght I saw him there after 5reaming. I arose an5 reste5 on m> right elbow(
looking at him in the 59sk> light. *here was a ver> small Det o= gas b9rning in the room. I
re=lecte5( u)m I awake( or is this a 5reamr4 I cannot >et answer this E9estion to m> own
satis=action@ I cannot tell when m> 5ream merge5 in m> waking tho9ghts. I onl> am s9re
that as the =ig9re 5isappeare5 I was as wi5e awake as I am now. .e was 5resse5 in gre>
twee5( as I ha5 been 9se5 to see him act9all> 5resse5.
2
.e was t9rne5 =rom me so that I
co9l5 onl> partiall> see his =ace. #et I was certain it was he. I was alarme5 an5 shocke5
to =in5 m> 5ream a realit>Aas I then tho9ght it. I was abo9t to speak when( in a
twinkling( the image o= Mr. .. was gone. I was leaning on m> right arm an5 hal= raise5
=rom the be5. It was onl> hal= light( o9r gas b9rning b9t t9rne5 low. I mentione5 the
matter on that 5a> to Mr. &. )>nsle>( o= %o. :( &lover *errace( /o9th /hiel5s. I was
oppresse5 59ring the whole 5a> b> the 9n9s9al e?perience o= the morning( an5 hence
spoke to the above an5 another twice abo9t the inci5ent.
BI ha5 a note( ne?t 5a> I think( sa>ing that Mr. .. 5ie5 abo9t 8 ho9rs a=ter his =ancie5
presence in m> be5.
BI knew that Mr. .. was a==licte5( as he ha5 been =or 7 >ears or so( b> bronchial asthma.
)s he ha5 live5 so long in spite o= great s9==ering( I E9ite tho9ght he wo9l5 live longer. I
ha5 no i5ea he was near 5eath.
BI believe this was a merel> nat9ral occ9rrence. I am not ortho5o? in religion.
B*.OM)/ 'U%-IM)%.C
,e =in5 the 5ate o= the 5eath con=irme5 b> the obit9ar> o= the Darlington and !toc1ton
Ti(es.
Mr. )>nsle> corroborates as =ollows( on Ma> U;( 2773:A
B:( &lover *errace( /o9th /hiel5s.
BI remember hearing Mr. *homas '9nciman speak o= a vivi5 5ream i-3:3! an5
hall9cination which he ha5 ha5 on the 5a> that Mr. .aggit 5ie5. .e tol5 me that he
5reamt that he saw him l>ing on the be5 besi5e him( in his or5inar> 5ress( b9t ver> pale
an5 haggar5. .e was so impresse5 that he awoke( an5 saw him E9ite plainl> there. I
ascertaine5 a=terwar5s that he ha5 5ie5 abo9t 8 ho9rs a=ter( on the 5a> that Mr. '9nciman
relate5 the circ9mstance.
B&EO'&E )#%/LE#.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. '9nciman writes:A
B,ith regar5 to m> having ha5 an> other hall9cination( I have ha5 others( b9t lapse o=
time an5 inattention have E9ite 5imme5 the remembrance o= them. *he> were o= a
5i==erent kin5 to this last case. *he> were( I sho9l5 sa>( simpl> unightmare4 or u5a>mare.4
*hat is( the> were s9ch( that I E9ite believe I was asleep while e?periencing them. In the
last case I ha5 not a pec9liar sense o= breaking o9t o= sleep at once( an5 with a snap( as it
were. I ren5er m> i5ea b9t imper=ectl> in the prece5ing sentenceAperhaps I wo9l5 more
tr9l> 5escribe m>sel= as breaking =ree( not =rom what was sleep( b9t =rom a t>ranno9s
mistake as to m> circ9mstances at the time. *his sense was absent in the last case. I
believe I might be awake( I even thin1 I was awake( with the image o= a 5ream still
strongl> on m> min5. "9t in the earlier cases I concl95e5 long ago that I was asleep an5
vivi5l> 5reaming till the image 5isappeare5. "rie=l>( I cannot be s9re in the latter case
that I was asleep( altho9gh all e?perience wo9l5 go to sa> I was. In the earlier cases man>
>ears ago I concl95e5 that -a1ing ha5 ca9se5 what looke5 real to 5isappear. "9t 5o not
think =or one moment that I consi5er the last case an> less a 5el9sion than the =ormer. I
onl> tr> to 5escribe m> e?perience an5 belie= at the moment o= hall9cination. It is
5i==ic9lt to 5e=ine the 5i==erence in these cases.C
In conversation with o9r colleag9e( Mr. '. .o5gson( Mr. '9nciman mentione5 that he
=o9n5 a=terwar5s =rom the servant that at the time o= his hall9cination Mr. .aggit was
apparentl> s9==ering intense agon>. *he =ig9re was not part o= his 5ream at all@ he saw it
when he woke. It appeare5 to be l>ing almost on its right si5e( between Mr. '9nciman
an5 his wi=e( with the le=t si5e-=ace e?pose5 an5 e>e open( b9t the bo5> was motionless(
tho9gh it seeme5 to Mr. '9nciman to be alive. In a55ition to the low gaslight( the 59sk>
light o= the morning was coming thro9gh the win5ow( the blin5 o= which was 9p. *he
light was s9==icient =or Mr. '9nciman to see the time b> his watch. .e tells 9s that he
ma5e a written note o= the e?perience( b9t 5oes not remember whether this was 5one
be=ore he hear5 o= the 5eath. .e has searche5 =or the note( b9t cannot =in5 it( an5 thinks
that it m9st have been lost at the time o= a removal.
S W. I will now give some e?amples where two senses were concerne5. *he =ollowing(
=rom Mr. $. .. ,ilson( o= 'osemont( .>Nres( incl95es an impression o= weight as well as
o= sight. *he case belongs to the gro9p where the agent is comatose Ppp. U:;( 3;8Q.
B27W8.
P2W8Q BM> mother tol5 me one morning( when I went to see her( that in the previo9s night
she ha5 ha5 a startling e?perience. /he was awakene5 b> =eeling a heav> weight on her
=eet( an5 on sitting 9p saw the =orm o= her i-3:V! h9sban5 Pm> =ather was then
tho9san5s o= miles awa>Q seate5 on the be5( in his nightshirt( an5 having the appearance
o= a corpse. )=ter a =ew moments the =orm vanishe5. I recommen5e5 m> mother to recor5
this e?perience in her 5iar>( an5 she 5i5 so. In 59e co9rse she was in=orme5 b> her
h9sban5 that on that partic9lar night he was in a state o= coma( having been 5elirio9s =or
some 5a>s( an5 his li=e was E9ite 5espaire5 o= b> the 5octors.
C $. .. ,IL/O%.C
In answer to o9r inE9iries( Mr. ,ilson wrote in +ebr9ar>( 2773:A
BM> mother Pwho is no longer aliveQ ha5 never seen an>thing o= the kin5 previo9sl>( to
the best o= m> knowle5ge.C .e thinks that the occ9rrence was in the winter o= 278U.
Mr. ,ilson4s sister( Mrs. 0imber( o= :( 'olan5 &ar5ens( /.,.( has given 9s a completel>
concor5ant acco9nt( b9t cannot recall how long a=ter the inci5ent it was that her mother
tol5 her o= it. /he sa>s( B)t the time o= the apparition( all hope o= his Yher =ather4sZ li=e
ha5 cease5.C
In the =ollowing cases the sense o= to9ch becomes more 5e=inite@ an5 in the =irst o= them(
i= memor> can be tr9ste5( even the sense o= smell was concerne5AproDecte5( as we ma>
s9ppose( like the other sensor> =eat9res( =rom the percipient4s own min5.
2
Mrs. "rooke(
o= ,oo5lan5s( 0en=or5( E?eter( narrates:A
BF9ne UXth( 2773.
P2WWQ BI have a ver> vivi5 recollection that( towar5s 5awn PrQ on the morning o= )9g9st
:r5( 278W( I was ro9se5 =rom m> sleep to =in5 m> brother( an o==icer in the 28th Lancers(
then E9artere5 in Ma5ras( stan5ing b> the be5. M> impression is that he bent over me(
kisse5 me( an5 passe5 E9ietl> =rom the room( making signs to me not to speak( an5 that I
was =9ll o= Do>( thinking he ha5 ret9rne5 home 9ne?pecte5l>( an5 la> awake till the mai5
calle5 me( when m> =irst wor5s to her were that m> brother ha5 come home an5 I ha5
seen him. I remember m> bitter 5isappointment when at last ma5e to believe that this was
not so( an5 that it was E9ite impossible I co9l5 have seen him@ also that I was scol5e5 an5
silence5 =or hol5ing to m> stor>.
BI cannot remember how m9ch time elapse5 be=ore the news came b> telegram that m>
brother 5ie5 s955enl> o= D9ngle =ever on )9g9st Un5@ =9ll partic9lars 5i5 not reach 9s =or
weeks later( an5 it was not till long a=terwar5s that I p9t two an5 two together( as the
sa>ing is( an5( =o9n5 that( as I then an5 now =irml> believe( m> =avo9rite brother came to
me at the ho9r o= his 5eath.
B*he 5ate I =i?e5 b> re=erence to a chil5ish 5iar> I then kept( long since 5estro>e5( b9t I
cannot give >o9 the e?act ho9rs. I know b> letters that m> brother 5ie5 soon a=ter 2;
o4clock p.m. on )9g9st Un5( an5 I i-3:8! know that m> room was not E9ite 5ark when I
saw him( an5 that I 5i5 not =all asleep again be=ore morning on )9g9st :r5.
BM. ). "'OO0E.C
*he )r(, ;ist con=irms )9g. U( 278W( as the 5ate o= 5eath. *he vision seems to have
=ollowe5 the 5eath b> X or 2; ho9rs.
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. "rooke sa>s:A
BI =ear that at this 5istance o= time( 2W >ears( I shall not be able to =in5 an>one who
remembers m> mentioning m> vision o= m> brother( 9nless it might be the mai5( who
was with me =or more than 2V >ears( an5 I will write to her an5 =in5 o9t i= she recollects
it.
BI have never ha5 an> uhall9cination o= the senses(4 on an> other occasion than that >o9
know o=.C
YIn this other case what seeme5 to be seen was the 9nacco9ntable opening o= a locke5
5oorAwhich( as I have be=ore remarke5( is a known =orm o= hall9cination. /ee p. 2;U(
note.Z
In a personal interview with Mrs. "rooke( 1ro=essor /i5gwick obtaine5 the =ollowing
a55itional 5etails:A
/he was 2: >ears ol5. /he was E9ite s9re it was not a 5ream. It was E9ite impossible that
it co9l5 have been some one else( mistaken =or her brother. *he room seeme5 to be =9ll o=
a pec9liar scent which her brother was =on5 o=. /he ha5 written to the mai5 who(
however( sai5( in repl>( that she ha5 onl> a vag9e recollection o= the inci5ent.
,e m9st not =orget that Bbor5erlan5C impressions( or rather( perhaps I sho9l5 sa>( 5reams
which the 5reamer mistakes =or waking percepts( are probabl> commoner in earl> >o9th
than in later >ears: an5 in s9ch a case as Mrs. "rooke4s( there=ore( the evi5ential
s9periorit> which I have pointe5 o9t as 5isting9ishing waking =rom sleeping e?periences
co9l5 not rightl> be insiste5 on. )t the same time( whatever name we give them( we have
no gro9n5s =or thinking that imaginar> percepts so vivi5 an5 convincing as those here
5escribe5 =all to the lot o= an> consi5erable proportion o= chil5ren.
In the ne?t case the imager> s9pplie5 b> the percipient4s min5 is ver> marke5( an5
remin5s 9s o= some o= the =ormer 5ream-cases. *he narrator is Miss /chmi5t( o=
$9cklington 'ector>( near ,itne>.
BF9ne( 2773.
P2W7Q BOn %ew #ear4s Eve( 27VU( I awoke abo9t 2U.3; a.m. an5 =o9n5 m> room so
brilliantl> ill9minate5 that I imagine5 I ha5 =orgotten to p9t o9t m> can5le( an5 that
something m9st have ca9ght =ire. I got 9p an5( on looking ro9n5( saw at the =oot o= the
be5 a co==in resting on chairs( on each o= which was a silver can5lestick with a large wa?
taper alight@ in the co==in was a =ig9re o= m> =ather. I p9t o9t m> han5 an5 to9che5 him(
when it became E9ite 5ark. I =elt =or m> matchbo? an5 lighte5 a can5le( looke5 at m>
watch an5 wrote 5own the time. *he ne?t morning I tol5 m> =rien5( with whom I was
sta>ing in 1aris at the time( an5 on the morning o= the Un5 o= Fan9ar> we receive5 a letter
=rom Marseilles( sa>ing that m> =ather ha5 5ie5 s955enl> at 2U.3; on %ew #ear4s Eve(
an5 i-3:W! that he ha5 e?presse5 s9ch a strong wish to see his >o9ngest chil5 %i.e.,
m>sel=Q again D9st be=ore his 5eath.
BE. ). /-.MI$*.C
On one( an5 onl> one other occasion in her li=e( Miss /chmi5t has seen an appearance o=
an 9n9s9al kin5@ this( however( was seen on 5i==erent occasions b> several persons( an5(
whatever it was( can scarcel> be taken to prove an> special liabilit> to hall9cinations. /he
was reE9este5 to p9t 9s in the wa> o= proc9ring the corroboration o= her =rien5( who is a
'9ssian. On March 2Uth( 277V( she writes:A
BI have taken all the steps I =eel I can D9sti=iabl> take with regar5 to sec9ring =or >o9 the
testimon> o= the 1rincess $. Yname givenZ. It has alrea5> given me a great 5eal o=
awkwar5 9npleasantness when inE9iring at the '9ssian Embass>( [c.( as the 1rince an5
1rincess are m9ch mi?e5 9p in politics( an5 '9ssians are( as perhaps >o9 know( not a
little s9spicio9s o= the inE9iries o= strangers.C
*he most remarkable =eat9re in this case is the light. *he appearance o= a 5ark room as
being =ille5 with light is a =orm o= hall9cination Por o= h>perOsthesiaQ which is
occasionall> e?perience5 on waking( apart =rom an> =9rther abnormalit>. I have receive5
at least =ive well marke5 instances o= the sort( not incl95ing those where there has been a
=9rther 5evelopment o= the hall9cinationAa l9mino9s =ig9re( or a =ig9re in a55ition to the
light.
2
*he =9ll interest o= this point will appear later. P/ee -hap. \II( S W.Q
*he ne?t case was =irst printe5 in the !piritual 'agaAine =or +ebr9ar>( 278:. *he narrator
is the late Mr. &eorge "arth( o= 8( .igh=iel5 Villas( -am5en 'oa5( %.
P2WXQ BOn the 23th o= Ma>( 2782( o9r son &eorge( a most e?cellent an5 religio9s >o9th o=
2X >ears( was remove5 =rom this to the spirit-worl5. 1erceiving that the time o= his
5epart9re was near( his mother an5 I alone watche5 b> his be5si5e. ,hen the last breath
ha5 been taken in an5 e?pire5( I E9ietl> remarke5( u.e is now gone.4 .is mother inE9ire5
the time( an5 then observing the rising s9n D9st shining over the blin5 o= the room( which
ha5 an aspect to the east( she sai5( u/ees the nat9ral s9n is D9st rising as o9r 5ear bo> is
rising to his .eavenl> home.4 I have an obDect in noting the rising o= the s9n at the
moment o= his 5epart9re.
BMr. ,illiams( o= 'om=or5 an5 "ishopsgate ,itho9t( a highl> intelligent an5 worth>
man( is 9nite5 to o9r el5est 5a9ghter. )t this time he was sta>ing at his ho9se in the -it>(
his wi=e having been onl> a =ew 5a>s previo9sl> con=ine5. .e was sleeping in a room( the
win5ow o= which =ace5 the east. .e states that he was so9n5l> asleep( his han5s o9tsi5e
the be5clothes( when he was s955enl> aro9se5 b> =eeling each o= his han5s =irml>
graspe5 an5 presse5. .e instantl> sat 9p( an5 b> the i-3:7! be5si5e stoo5 &eorge(
hol5ing his han5s an5 smiling in his =ace with a look o= pec9liar sweetness an5 kin5ness.
&eorge was attire5 Pseemingl>Q in his night5ress. Mr. ,illiams was not at all alarme5@ he
knew it was &eorge in the spirit( an5 his presence =ille5 his brother-in-law with a calm
=eeling o= peace an5 happiness( which remaine5 =or man> ho9rs. *he> th9s hel5 han5s
an5 looke5 on one another =or a min9te or longer@ then the grasp rela?e5( an5 &eorge4s
spirit
2
=a5e5 awa>.
BMr. ,illiams notice5 that the rising s9n was shining into his room over the blin5. .is
impression was( an5 still is( that he saw &eorge b> this light an5 not b> an> other. )t 7
o4clock Mr. ,illiams went to his wi=e4s room an5 tol5 her( in the presence o= his mother
an5 the n9rse( that &eorge was 5ea5. u.ave >o9 hear5 =rom =atherr4 was the nat9ral
E9er>. u%o@ b9t I have seen &eorgeAhe came =or a min9te this morning at s9nrise.4 uOh(
nonsenses >o9 have been 5reaming( Fames.4 u$reamings I never was more awake in m>
li=e. I not onl> saw him( b9t I =elt his han5s pressing mine.4 u%onsense( Fames@ I know(
poor bo>( how ill he is( b9t =ather 5oes not e?pect him to go >et. I still hope to be 9p an5
able to see him.4 Mr. ,illiams E9ietl> reDoine5( u#o9 will see( 5ear. Min5( we shall
presentl> have a letter or messenger =rom papa( telling 9s.4 In an ho9r later Mr. ,illiams
receive5 the letter which he e?pecte5.
BMr. ,illiams an5 &eorge were m9t9all> m9ch attache5@ in all his bo>hoo5 an?ieties his
brother Fames was &eorge4s con=i5ant an5 =rien5. .ence a parting visit an5 a parting
smile( an5 last =rien5l> grasp o= the han5s was that which a 5eparting spirit might be gla5
to give to his =rien5 an5 brother@ b9t he co9l5 not go in the bo5>( nor give it while his
bo5> kept him.
B&EO'&E ")'*..C
*he Ti(es obit9ar> con=irms the 5ate o= the 5eath.
*wo 5a9ghters o= Mr. "arth write to 9s as =ollows:A
B$elmar Villa( VU;( -ale5onian 'oa5.
B)pril U;th( 277U.
B*he e?tract >o9 sen5 =rom the !piritual 'agaAine was written b> m> 5ear =ather( in
or5er to give a correct acco9nt o= m> brother &eorge4s appearance to m> brother-in-law(
Mr. Fames ,illiams. *he inci5ent was spoken o= at the time it occ9rre5 amongst 9s all in
m> =ather4s ho9se@ likewise I visite5 m> sister an5 brother-in-law the 5a> =ollowing
&eorge4s 5eath( an5 hear5 the acco9nt =rom himsel=.
BM> =ather4s reason =or sen5ing the notice to the maga]ine arose =rom some =rien5
having p9blishe5 an incorrect statement.
B-.)'LO**E ,)LE%%.C
B:( 1ark 1lace ,est( &lo9cester &ate( %.,.
BF9l> UXth( 2773.
BI was a ver> >o9ng chil5 at the time o= m> brother &eorge4s 5eath. *he onl>
con=irmation I can give >o9 is the =act o= hearing m> =ather speak o= the occ9rrence to
=rien5s intereste5 in s9ch matters( on several occasions( D9st as it is state5 in his narrative.
M> el5est sister( Mrs. ,illiams( has been 5ea5 some >ears( b9t m> brother-in-law is still
alive( an5 will( no 5o9bt( give >o9 an> help in the matter.
B)LI-E ")'*. PMrs. +re5erick UsherQ.C
*he acco9nt was sent to Mr. ,illiams( who resi5es at +ern "ank( i-3:X! -rowboro9gh(
*9nbri5ge ,ells. .e ma5e no corrections in it( an5 re=erre5 to it in a manner which
implie5 its s9bstantial acc9rac>@ b9t he 5ecline5 an> =9rther correspon5ence on the
s9bDect.
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom Mr. &eorge F. -oombs( /heri==4s O==icer =or the -o9nt> o=
%ottingham. .e tells me that he enDo>s sing9larl> rob9st health( an5 he is certainl> as
=ree =rom s9perstitio9s =ancies as can well be conceive5.
BFo9rnal -hambers( 1elham /treet( %ottingham.
B$ecember U7th( 277:.
P27;Q BIn the mi55le o= the month o= F9ne( 277;( m> a9nt le=t /alisb9r> an5 went to the
,ashington .otel( Liverpool( where I Doine5 her =rom %ottingham( =or the p9rpose o=
seeing her o== to )merica( on boar5 the )llan Line steamer( Circassian, the =ollowing 5a>.
B.er b9siness was to realise some propert>. /he was getting into >ears( an5 ver> m9ch
presse5 me to accompan> her( b9t I was 9nable to leave m> b9siness =or so long a time.
/he( however( ma5e me promise to meet her on her ret9rn( an5 sai5 it was her intention to
spen5 the winter at %ottingham be=ore ret9rning to /alisb9r>.
B)bo9t the UVth F9l> =ollowing( at 3 o4clock in the morning( while in be5( I s955enl>
awoke an5 sai5 to m> wi=e( u/omeone has taken hol5 o= m> han5@ the han5 was E9ite
col5. I believe it was m> a9nt@ I saw her r9sh o9t o= the room.4 *he 5oor was open on
chain( an5 I imme5iatel> D9mpe5 o9t o= be5 to see( an5 the chain was still on. I sai5 to m>
wi=e( uM> a9nt is 5ea5( an5 she has come again over the water(4 to which she replie5(
u#o9 are 5reaming@ >o9 ha5 too m9ch s9pper last night4@ to which I sai5( u%o( I am
positive o= the impression.4
BI receive5 a letter =rom a solicitor in .amilton( abo9t a =ortnight a=terwar5s( anno9ncing
m> a9nt4s 5ecease( an5 a re=erence to the 5ates convince5 m> wi=e that she 5ie5 at the
ver> time I ha5 the visitation. ,hen I le=t m> a9nt in the steam t9g which accompanie5
the Circassian 5own the Merse>( her =arewell wor5s were( uI shall see >o9 =irst when I
come back.4
B&EO'&E F. -OOM"/.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. -oombs a55s that the vision was not 5istinct( b9t that the
hall9cination is 9niE9e in his e?perience. In conversation( he 5escribe5 the impression as
e?tremel> striking an5 startling. *he 5oor was so chaine5 that it was impossible =or
an>one to enter the room.
Mrs. -oombs corroborates as =ollows:A
BF9l> UVth( 2773
BI ver> well remember the morning when m> h9sban5 awoke earl>( an5 sai5 he saw his
a9nt r9sh o9t o= the be5room( an5 that she ha5 taken hol5 o= his han5@ also that( when the
news o= Mrs. '9mbol54s 5eath came =rom .amilton( the remark was ma5e that it was the
ver> 5ate m> h9sban5 narrate5 his 5ream. I cannot =i? the 5ate witho9t an )lmanac o=
277;( b9t it was o9r Village +east Mon5a> morning( which is( I believe( the thir5 week in
F9l>.
B/. ). -OOM"/.C
,e aske5 i= it was possible to obtain corroboration as to the 5ate o= the 5eath. Mr.
-oombs sent 9s the solicitor4s letter@ b9t this letter ass9mes i-33;! knowle5ge o= the
5eath( an5 was not written till /eptember UWth. *he letter receive5 b> Mr. -oombs Babo9t
a =ortnightC a=ter the 5eath( an5 which m9st be the one b> which the coinci5ence was
=i?e5( is the =ollowing. It is 9n5ate5( b9t the postmarks are .amilton( F9l> U2st( an5
%ottingham( )9g9st Vth( 277;.
B277( 0ing /treet East( .amilton( -ana5a.
B$E)' /I'(AI am sorr> to have the pain=9l task to in=orm >o9 o= the 5eath o= >o9r a9nt(
Mrs. '9mbol5. /he came to me on a visit on F9l> :r5( =eeling ver> poorl>. I tho9ght it
m9st be over-=atig9e( an5 probabl> a=ter a rest she wo9l5 be better. /he contin9e5 getting
worse an5 lingere5 on till the 2Xth.A#o9rs tr9l>(
B). F)'VI/.C
YMon5a> in the thir5 week o= F9l>( 277;( =ell on the 2Xth( which is so =ar in =avo9r o= the
acc9rac> o= Mrs. -oombs4 memor>. It seems practicall> be>on5 5o9bt that at the time
that the news arrive5( Mr. -oombs( as well as his wi=e( =i?e5 the 5ate o= the 5ream as
Mon5a> the 2Xth@ an5 the =act that in his letter to 9s( written more than : >ears a=terwar5s
witho9t re=erence to 5oc9ments( he sa>s Babo9t the UVth(C is( there=ore( 9nimportant.
,e learn( however( =rom Mrs. Farvis that Mrs. '9mbol5 5ie5 at 3 p.m.@ so that the
impression( tho9gh =alling( o= co9rse( within a time o= most serio9s illness altogether
9nknown to the percipient( prece5e5 the act9al 5eath b> abo9t 28 ho9rs.Z
In the ne?t case( the sense o= to9ch was associate5 with that o= hearing. *ho9gh the
evi5ence is that o= an 9ne59cate5 witness( the =acts are well-evi5ence5@ an5 it is at an>
rate a pri(0 facie mark o= acc9rac> that the want o= e?act coinci5ence o= time is
e?pressl> note5. *he =irst part o= the acco9nt was written 5own b> a care=9l assistant at
"angor.
B$ecember( 277:.
P272Q BM> present ho9semai54s mother( Ellen ,illiams( one night in 27WU( 5istinctl> an5
s955enl> =elt the press9re( as o= some one4s han5 9pon her breast( at the same time hear5
the voice o= her son( u+=o9lk(4 then a la5 at sea( sa>ing( twice uMother( mother.4 /he was
not asleep( an5 she tol5 her h9sban5 at once that she was s9re it was her bo>4s voice( an5
that she =eare5 there was something the matter with him. ,hen the> saw notice o= the
arrival o= the ship in Liverpool( the> wrote at once. ) repl> came =rom the captain that the
bo> ha5 5ie5 o= >ellow =ever( si? 5a>s o9t =rom 'io 5e Faneiro( giving the 5ate( which
correspon5e5 e?actl> with the mother4s note o= the occ9rrence. /he is still living in the
same place( near 1ort $inorwic( in -arnarvonshire. /he never ha5 an> similar e?perience
be=ore or since( an5 has no obDection to the mention o= her name.C
In answer to inE9iries o9r in=ormant writes:A
BI =ear Mrs. ,illiams co9l5 not write the 5etails hersel=( b9t she might 5ictate to another.
.er 5a9ghter tells me she was then a chil5 at home( an5 remembers that her =ather( who
has since 5ie5( 5i5 all he co9l5 to convince his wi=e that her =ears were gro9n5less( an5
wo9l5 not let i-332! her 5well on the s9bDect. *he> 5i5 not hear o= the 5eath till some
months a=ter( an5 the captain sent the 5ate( which was copie5 into the =amil> "ible.C
)n5 later she a55s:A
BI have ha5 an interview with Mrs. Ellen ,illiams( in the presence o= her 5a9ghter( an5
have translate5 e?actl> what she sai5 in ,elsh. /he insiste5 9pon the night o= the 4th
being the time o= her impression. *he captain4s statement that the $th was the 5ate o=
5eath makes a material 5i==erence. I copie5 the spelling o= 1ernamb9co as it was written
on the =l>-lea= o= the "ible.C
*he =ollowing is the percipient4s testimon>:A
BFan9ar> Xth( 2773.
BI hereb> 5eclare that on the night o= the 3th o= +ebr9ar>( 27WU( abo9t 2 o4clock( I
5istinctl> saw m> son +=o9lk( looking ver> weak an5 ill( an5 =elt the press9re o= his han5s
an5 hear5 his voice( sa>ing( uMothers mothers4 I 5i5 not know i= I was asleep. I believe5
not. I mentione5 it at once to m> h9sban5( who 5i5 not 9n5erstan5 m> =eelings.
B,e 5i5 not hear till the =ollowing &oo5 +ri5a> o= his 5eath( which the captain sai5 took
place on the $th o= +ebr9ar>( I 5o not know at what ho9r.
B,itness m> mark( Ellen ,illiams her mark.
BIn the presence o= m> 5a9ghter( who also testi=ies that I spoke o= it at once( an5
commonl>( an5 remaine5 in great an?iet> 9ntil the news reache5 9s.
BM)'# ,ILLI)M/.C
*he recor5 in the =amil> "ible stan5s:A
B+=o9lk 5ie5 at sea( 8th o= +ebr9ar>( 27WU( in lat. V.V2 /.( long. :3.:V ,.( o= the >ellow
=ever( on boar5 the barE9e u"arba5oes(4 on his passage =rom 1ernab9cca to Liverpool.C
O9r original in=ormant a55s:A
BF9ne UVth( 2773.
BI recollect pressing the E9estion at the time as to whether Ellen ,illiams ha5 ever ha5
an> impression or hall9cination o= an> kin5( an5 she positivel> 5enie5 ever having
e?perience5 s9ch( e?cept on that one occasion.C
Y*he two 5a>s4 interval between the impression an5 the 5eath( i= correctl> remembere5(
o= co9rse weakens the case =or evi5ential p9rposes. /till( the impression almost certainl>
correspon5e5 with a time o= 9n=oreseen an5 5esperate illness.Z
S 7. Lastl>( we have a gro9p where the two higher senses o= sight an5 hearing were both
concerne5. *he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom Miss 0ate Feno9r( o= U:( "elsi]e /E9are( /o9th
.ampstea5( %.,.
B%ovember( 2773.
P27UQ BOn the 3th o= Ma>( 277:( when on boar5 .. M. /. !partan, on m> wa> to
-apetown( I was awoke b> hearing someone in m> cabin( which I alone occ9pie5( when
to m> s9rprise I saw the =ig9re o= a =rien5 o= mine stan5ing b> m> berth. It then
5isappeare5( an5 b> the =irst mail a=ter m> arrival at -apetown( I receive5 the news o= m>
=rien54s 5eath( i-33U! which took place at 2;.:; p.m. on that night. I tol5 U or :
passengers on boar5( who ma5e a note o= it.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss Feno9r sa>s:A
BI was certainl> awake@ I ha5 no sense o= awaking after-ards, b9t the sense o= waking
before I saw the =ig9re( m> =irst impression having been that the stewar5 ha5 come in to
sh9t the port-hole. I ha5 a light b9rning in m> cabin. *he =ig9re looke5 E9ite soli5 an5
nat9ral( an5 was in 5a>-5ress. I knew the girl to be cons9mptive( b9t ha5 not tho9ght o=
her as likel> to 5ie( an5 in5ee5 ha5 not been thinking abo9t her at all@ she was an
acE9aintance an5 neighbo9r( b9t not an intimate =rien5.
BI think the vessel was abo9t hal=-wa> to the -ape. %e?t 5a> I 5escribe5 what I ha5 seen
to m> co9sin( Mr. Feno9r( -aptain ,ait( Mr. +rames( who is now a law>er in
&rahamstown( an5 Mr. .ope .all. I was so impresse5 that I co9l5 not help speaking o= it(
in spite o= e?pecting to be la9ghe5 at: ha5 it been a drea(, I sho9l5 have tho9ght nothing
o= it.
BI am certain I mentione5 the 5ate o= m> vision in m> =irst letter to m> =ather( written
when I got to the -ape( an5 be=ore the news o= the 5eath reache5 me@ an5 I am also
certain that when I receive5 the news o= the 5eath( I note5( an5 m> co9sin note5( that the
5ates were the same. I cannot now be s9re o= the e?act 5a>.
BI have ha5 no other s9ch waking vision e?cept once( soon a=ter( at -apetown@ when I
saw the =ig9re o= a 5ressmaker whom I knew in Englan5( an5 who Pas I learnt on m>
ret9rn to Englan5Q ha5 5ie5 abo9t the same time@ b9t the 5ate was not =i?e5.
B0. F.C
,e =in5 =rom the obit9ar> in the Ti(es that the 5eath took place on Ma> U( 277:.
Miss Feno9r4s co9sin is 9n=ort9natel> at a 5istance( an5 his a55ress cannot at present be
ascertaine5. -aptain ,ait writes( in )pril( 2778( that he 5oes not recall Miss Feno9r4s
mention o= the inci5ent. *he =act o= the coinci5ent 5eath not being then known( s9ch a
narration might nat9rall> make ver> little impression. I wrote to ask Mr. +rames i= he
remembere5 an> sing9lar anno9ncement ma5e b> Miss Feno9r 59ring the vo>age@ b9t he
replie5 in the negative.
Miss Feno9r4s =ather writes on %ov. 2( 277V:A
BI can positivel> state that b> the ne?t mail to the -ape( a=ter the 5eath o= a >o9ng =rien5
o= o9rs( I wrote to m> 5a9ghter@ b9t be=ore m> letter can have reache5 her( she( on
arriving at -apetown( wrote to me to sa> that the la5> in E9estion ha5 appeare5 to her in
her cabin( at sea( between Ma5eira an5 the -ape( an5 that she mentione5 the =act the
=ollowing morning to her relatives an5 =rien5s on boar5. On comparing 5ates( it was
certain that the appearance was on the same 5a> that the la5> 5ie5. /ince then m>
relatives have con=irme5 this in ever> partic9lar.
B.. F. FE%OU'.C
Mr. Feno9r is certain that his 5a9ghter4s letter containe5 the 5ate o= her vision( an5 he has
kin5l> searche5 =or the letter. .e writes( on $ec. 2( 277V:A
B*he letter I most wante5 I cannot =in5( b9t have one 5ate5 F9ne Vth( in which m>
5a9ghter again re=ers to Miss ".4s 5eath( an5 a55s( uOn the i-33:! Un5 o= Ma>(
2
in the
night( or rather morning(
U
I awoke 9p an5 saw E5ith stan5ing b> m> be5. I tol5 abo9t it at
the time.4 *he la5> 5ie5 at hal=-past 2; o4clock at night.C
Mr. Feno9r tells me that it was the close coinci5ence o= time that speciall> str9ck him( an5
he mentione5 the circ9mstance to others. Miss Feno9r is eE9all> con=i5ent that the
coinci5ence o= time was note5 in -apetown@ tho9gh( as she has mentione5( her memor>
5oes not retain the e?act 5ate. ,e =in5 =rom the Ti(es that the !partan le=t 1l>mo9th on
the U;th o= )pril( an5 arrive5 at -apetown on the 2;th o= Ma>@ there=ore her recollection
that Bthe vessel was abo9t hal=-wa>C is not =ar wrong.
*he ne?t case is =rom Mrs. 'ichar5son( o= -ombe $own( "ath.
B)9g9st U8th( 277U.
P27:Q BOn /eptember Xth( 2737( at the siege o= Mooltan( m> h9sban5( MaDor-&eneral
'ichar5son( -.".( then a5D9tant o= his regiment( was most severel> an5 5angero9sl>
wo9n5e5( an5 s9pposing himsel= 5>ing( aske5 one o= the o==icers with him to take the
ring o== his =inger an5 sen5 it to his wi=e( who at that time was =9ll> 2V; miles 5istant( at
+ero]epore. On the night o= /eptember Xth( 2737( I was l>ing on m> be5( between
sleeping an5 waking( when I 5istinctl> saw m> h9sban5 being carrie5 o== the =iel5(
serio9sl> wo9n5e5( an5 hear5 his voice sa>ing( u*ake this ring o== m> =inger( an5 sen5 it
to m> wi=e.4 )ll the ne?t 5a> I co9l5 not get the sight or the voice o9t o= m> min5. In 59e
time I hear5 o= &eneral 'ichar5son having been severel> wo9n5e5 in the assa9lt on
Mooltan. .e s9rvive5( however( an5 is still living. It was not =or some time a=ter the siege
that I hear5 =rom -olonel L.( the o==icer who helpe5 to carr> &eneral 'ichar5son o== the
=iel5( that the reE9est as to the ring was act9all> ma5e to him( D9st as I ha5 hear5 it at
+ero]epore at that ver> time.
BM. ). 'I-.)'$/O%.C
*he =ollowing E9estions were a55resse5 b> 9s to &eneral 'ichar5son( whose answers are
appen5e5.
P2Q $oes &eneral '. remember sa>ing( when he was wo9n5e5 at Mooltan( u*ake this ring
o== m> =inger( an5 sen5 it to m> wi=e(4 or wor5s to this e==ectr
BMost 5istinctl>@ I ma5e the reE9est to m> comman5ing o==icer( MaDor E. /. Llo>5( who
was s9pporting me while m> man ha5 gone =or assistance. MaDor Llo>5( I am sorr> to
sa>( is 5ea5.C
PUQ -an he remember the ti(e o= this inci5entr ,as it morning( noon( or nightr
B)s =ar as memor> serves( I was wo9n5e5 abo9t X p.m. on /9n5a>( the Xth /eptember(
2737.C
P:Q .a5 &eneral '.( be=ore he le=t home( promise5 or sai5 an>thing to Mrs. '. as to
sen5ing his ring to her( in case he sho9l5 be wo9n5e5r
B*o the best o= m> recollection( never. %or ha5 I an> kin5 o= presentiment on the s9bDect.
I nat9rall> =elt that with s9ch a =ire as we were e?pose5 to I might get h9rt.C
i-333!
+o9r >ears a=ter the above was written( Mrs. 'ichar5son gave me viv0 voce a precisel>
accor5ant acco9nt. /he 5escribe5 hersel= as a matter-o=-=act person( an5 5oes not have
=reE9ent or vivi5 5reams.
*he 5etails as to the ring seem =airl> to raise this case o9t o= the categor> o= mere visions
o= absent persons who are known to be in 5anger( an5 with whom the percipient4s
tho9ghts have been an?io9sl> engage5.
*he ne?t case was receive5 towar5s the en5 o= 277U( =rom Mr. F. &. 0e9lemans( who has
alrea5> been mentione5 more than once Ppp. 2X8( U:V( UVVQ.
P273Q In $ecember( 277;( he was living with his =amil> in 1aris. *he o9tbreak o= an
epi5emic o= small-po? ca9se5 him to remove three o= his chil5ren( incl95ing a =avo9rite
little bo> o= V( to Lon5on( whence he receive5( in the co9rse o= the ens9ing month(
several letters giving an e?cellent acco9nt o= their health.
BOn the U3th o= Fan9ar>( 2772( at hal=-past W in the morning( I was s955enl> awoke b>
hearing his voice( as I =ancie5( ver> near me. I saw a bright( opaE9e( white mass be=ore
m> e>es( an5 in the centre o= this light I saw the =ace o= m> little 5arling( his e>es bright(
his mo9th smiling.
2
*he apparition( accompanie5 b> the so9n5 o= his voice( was too short
an5 too s955en to be calle5 a 5ream: it was too clear( too 5eci5e5( to be calle5 an e==ect o=
imagination. /o 5istinctl> 5i5 I hear his voice that I looke5 ro9n5 the room( to see
whether he was act9all> there. *he so9n5 I hear5 was that o= e?treme 5elight( s9ch as
onl> a happ> chil5 can 9tter. I tho9ght it was the moment he woke 9p in Lon5on( happ>
an5 thinking o= me. I sai5 to m>sel=( u*hank &o5( little Isi5ore is happ> as alwa>s.4C
Mr. 0e9lemans 5escribes the ens9ing 5a> as one o= pec9liar brightness an5 cheer=9lness.
.e took a long walk with a =rien5( with whom he 5ine5@ an5 was a=terwar5s pla>ing a
game o= billiar5s( when he again saw the apparition o= his chil5. *his ma5e him serio9sl>
9neas>( an5 in spite o= having receive5 within : 5a>s the ass9rance o= the chil54s per=ect
health( he e?presse5 to his wi=e a conviction that he was 5ea5. %e?t 5a> a letter arrive5
sa>ing that the chil5 was ill@ b9t the =ather was convince5 that this was onl> an attempt to
break the news@ an5( in =act( the chil5 ha5 5ie5( a=ter a =ew ho9rsuillness( at the e?act time
o= the =irst apparition.
Mrs. 0e9lemans sa>s:A
BMa> UXth( 277V.
BI remember that( the 5a> when little Isi5ore 5ie5( m> h9sban5 sai5 that he =elt strongl>
impresse5 that there was something wrong i-33V! with the little bo> in Lon5on. It was
in the evening that lie aske5 me whether I ha5 receive5 an> news =rom m> mother abo9t
Isi5ore. I replie5 that no letter ha5 come( an5 aske5 him wh> he wante5 to know. .e
ma5e the same remark as be=ore( b9t wo9l5 not =9rther e?plain himsel=. I trie5 to e?pel
his gloom> =orbo5ings YsicZ b> re=erring to a letter we ha5 =rom m> mother( stating that
Isi5ore was ver> happ>( an5 was singing all 5a> long. M> h9sban5 5i5 not seem paci=ie5.
,hen the letter mentioning his illness came( m> h9sban5 was ver> m9ch 5eDecte5( an5
tol5 me that it was no 9se tr>ing to make a secret o= it( as he knew the worst ha5
happene5. .e sai5 a=terwar5s that he ha5 seen a vision.
B). 0EULEM)%/.C
*he secon5 apparition in this case ma> be regar5e5 as a sort o= recr95escence o= the =irst.
P/ee( however( -hap. \II( S 8.Q ,ith respect to this =eat9re o= repetition a=ter a goo5
man> ho9rs or 5a>s( I ma> mention that I have b9t one e?ample o= it in m> collection o=
p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations( an5( e?cept in ver> marke5l> pathological cases( it
seems to be e?tremel> rareArarer than the more imme5iate repetition o= which I spoke in
connection with case 2VX( above. It is perhaps allowable to s9rmise its connection with a
special character o= intensit> in some o= these telepathicall> pro59ce5 impressions. Other
telepathic e?amples are %os. U2: an5 U3;.
In the ne?t e?ample the repetition was o= the more imme5iate sort( recalling cases 2VX
an5 28;( above. *he acco9nt is =rom Mrs. /herman( o= M9skegon( Michigan( an5 was
receive5 thro9gh the kin5ness o= Mr. +. ). %ims( solicitor( o= that cit>( who has known
Mrs. /herman an5 her =amil> =or >ears.
BM9skegon( Michigan.
B%ovember 27th( 277V.
P27VQ BOn the 3th o= F9l>( 2787( m> sister Li]]ie an5 m>sel= le=t $etroit an5 went to
/aginaw( =or the p9rpose o= making a short visit with =rien5s there. O9r train was 59e in
/aginaw abo9t W p.m.( b9t thro9gh 5etention 5i5 not arrive there 9ntil between 2; an5 22.
Owing to the lateness o= the ho9r o= arrival( we 5i5 not go to the resi5ence o= o9r =rien5s(
b9t to the "ancro=t .o9se( then the principal hotel in that cit>. *he weather was ver>
warm( o9r ri5e ha5 been ver> 59st>( an5 we were ver> tire5. ,e ha5 s9pper( an5 soon
a=ter retire5. M> sister an5 I occ9pie5 the same room an5 be5. It was nearl> or E9ite 2U
o4clock when we retire5. )s I now recollect( I went imme5iatel> to sleep. I was awakene5
b> =eeling what seeme5 to be a han5 on m> sho9l5er. I saw m> brother /tewart stan5ing
b> the be5si5e( an5 I ha5 an impression at the same time that m> brother-in-law 1hillip
.owar5 was also in the room. M> brother sai5 to me: u0ate( mother wants >o9s get 9p
an5 go home.4 I at once became ver> m9ch e?cite5 an5 awakene5 m> sister( an5 tol5 her
that I ha5 seen /tewart an5 what he ha5 sai5( an5 that I =elt s9re that mother was sick or
in tro9ble( or that something 9n9s9al ha5 happene5 to her. ,e got 9p( an5 imme5iatel>
a=ter hear5 the clock strike one. *here i-338! was bright moonlight that night( an5 all
obDects in the room an5 o9tsi5e the win5ows were plainl> visible. *here ha5 been a
menagerie in town that 5a>( an5 it was >et in the neighbo9rhoo5( an5 we co9l5 hear the
noises o= the animals( an5 talke5 abo9t them. M> sister 5i5 not share in m> alarm or
an?iet>( an5 ri5ic9le5 what she calle5 m> u&host /tor>(4 an5 we soon retire5 again. M>
min5 was somewhat tro9ble5 with what ha5 occ9rre5( an5 I 5i5 not go to sleep E9ite so
soon as m> sister 5i5( b9t I 5i5 go to sleep again( an5 the air being somewhat cooler(
be=ore going to sleep I ha5 p9lle5 the sheet 9p over m> neck. ,hile asleep I was again
awakene5 b> =eeling the sheet p9lle5 5own o== me(
2
an5 I again saw m> brother /tewart(
an5 he repeate5 the same lang9age as on the =irst occasion. )t this time his appearance
was ver> m9ch more persistent than be=ore( b9t his =ace seeme5 to retire an5 gra59all>
=a5e awa>.
U
.e looke5 pale an5 ill( b9t at that time m> concern an5 an?iet> was on
acco9nt o= m> mother. I s9ppose5 that she was threatene5 with some serio9s illness( an5
that the appearance ha5 relation to that. I again aro9se5 m> sister an5 tol5 her what ha5
occ9rre5( an5 we both got 9p an5 5resse5( an5 5i5 not retire again that night. I am not
s9re that I mentione5 the circ9mstance to an> o= o9r =rien5s that 5a>. I= I 5i5( I am not in
a position now to obtain the veri=ication o= it.
B,e ret9rne5 home on the a=ternoon o= Mon5a>( the 8th o= F9l>( arriving there between 8
an5 W o4clock. ,e =o9n5 o9r =ather an5 mother ver> m9ch 5ist9rbe5 in conseE9ence o= a
telegram which the> ha5 receive5 to the e==ect that /tewart was 5>ing. ,hen m> mother
comm9nicate5 the news to 9s( I answere5 u.e is 5ea54@ =or then the signi=icance o= what
ha5 occ9rre5 at /aginaw =irst =lashe5 9pon me. It was b9t a ver> short time a=ter this( the
same evening( that we receive5 another telegram giving the ti5ings o= his 5eath. M> sister
Li]]ie ha5 receive5 a letter =rom him b9t a 5a> or two be=ore we went to /aginaw( in
which he promise5 to make 9s a visit in the =ollowing October( an5 there was nothing to
a==or5 an> gro9n5 =or an?iet> on his acco9nt in the letter. )s I have been since in=orme5(
he 5ie5 abo9t a E9arter be=ore 2 o4clock on the morning o= the Vth o= F9l>( abo9t the time
o= his =irst appearance to me( as near as I can ascertain.
BI have a letter =rom m> sister L9c>( the wi=e o= 1hillip .owar5( at whose ho9se he 5ie5(
giving =9ll partic9lars o= his 5eath( =rom which it seems that he was taken s955enl> an5
violentl> ill on the :r5 or 3th o= F9l>( o= what was s9ppose5 to be >ellow =ever.
B$9ring his illness he talke5 a great 5eal abo9t o9r mother( an5 seeme5 in his 5eliri9m to
be watching =or her an5 to think that she was coming to see him. .e 5ie5( as state5( that
/9n5a> morning( an5 was b9rie5 b> or5er o= the a9thorities on the a=ternoon o= the same
5a>.
B#o9 inE9ire i= I have ever ha5 an> previo9s hall9cination o= that kin5. I have never ha5
b9t one@ that occ9rre5 when I was W >ears ol5. )t that time a >o9ng girl( a relative an5
pla>mate o= mine( was ill with some =orm o= =ever. I ha5 not been allowe5 to see her =or
two or three 5a>s. On waking one morning( I saw or 5reame5 she came an5 kisse5 me
an5 ba5e me goo5-b>e. *his was be=ore I ha5 arisen. M> mother i-33W! soon a=terwar5s
came into the room( an5 I tol5 her that AA ha5 come an5 kisse5 me an5 bi5 me goo5-
b>e. ,ithin a =ew min9tes a=ter this some one o= the =amil> came =rom the ho9se where
the little girl resi5e5( an5 sai5 that she was 5>ing. M> mother imme5iatel> went over to
the ho9se( which was not =ar o==( an5 when she arrive5 there the little girl was alrea5>
5ea5.
B*hese are the onl> cases o= what >o9 call uhall9cination4 that have occ9rre5 in m>
e?perience.
B*he occ9rrences at /aginaw were real( an5 I have never ha5 a 5o9bt abo9t m> brother(
in some wa> or =orm( appearing to an5 comm9nicating with me.
B0)*E /.E'M)%.C
Mrs. /herman4s sister( Mrs. 1ark( corroborates as =ollows:A
BM9skegon( Michigan.
BI have rea5 the =oregoing statement signe5 b> m> sister( Mrs. /.( an5 am able =rom m>
own recollection to con=irm the same( e?cept( o= co9rse( that I 5i5 not m>sel= see m>
brother( /tewart 1aris( or his apparition( at the same time that m> sister 5i5.
B)t the time o= the occ9rrences at /aginaw( I s9ppose5 what m> sister sai5 that she saw
to be a 5ream( or something o= that character( an5 gave the matter no serio9s tho9ght or
consi5eration 9ntil o9r ret9rn home the ne?t 5a>( when we learne5 o= o9r brother4s illness
an5 5eath.
BI remember( however( that what m> sister sai5 she saw ma5e a ver> strong impression
9pon her( an5 that she sai5( an5 seeme5 to believe( that some serio9s illness or mis=ort9ne
ha5 occ9rre5 or was abo9t to occ9r to o9r mother.
BELIJ)"E*. O. 1)'0.C
Mr. %ims a55s that he ha5 hope5 to get a statement =rom Mrs. 1aris( mother o= Mrs.
/herman an5 Mrs. 1ark@ b9t Bwhile she remembers hearing abo9t the vision on her
5a9ghters4 ret9rn =rom /aginaw( she is 9nable to sa> whether it was be=ore or a=ter the
news o= the 5eath.C
*he ne?t case is =rom Miss "ibb>( o= -hacele> Lo5ge( *ewkesb9r>.
B277:.
P278Q BIn the earl> a9t9mn o= 278;( when I was between 2X an5 U;( I was sta>ing with
=rien5s who live5 near '9gb>. I ha5 gone to be5 an5 =allen asleep( an5 was awakene5 b>
a conscio9sness o= some one being in the room. I saw( as I imagine5( m> gran5=ather
stan5ing at the =oot o= the be5. .e was then( as =ar as I knew( at his own ho9se a =ew
miles o9t o= Liverpool. Imme5iatel> the =ig9re move5 to the si5e o= the be5( the c9rtains
o= which ha5 not been 5rawn. *he =ig9re 5i5 not( so =ar as I remember( to9ch either the
be5 or the c9rtains. *he onl> remark he ma5e was u&oo5-night( Miss %ellie( Ma4am4Ahe
was alwa>s in the habit o= calling me u%ellie4 an5 sometimes in =9n( uMiss %ellie(
Ma4am(4 E9oting the wa> in which Irish servants 9se5 to a55ress m> gran5mother( a=ter
whom I was christene5. .e was the onl> person who ever calle5 me uMiss %ellie4 or
u%ellie(4 m> =ather having a great obDection to all pet names.
BI soon =ell asleep again( an5 ne?t 5a> mentione5 the circ9mstance to m> =rien5s( an5 the
5a> a=ter receive5 =rom m> =ather the news o= m> gran5=ather4s s955en 5eath( abo9t the
time when he ha5 appeare5 to me
i-337!
/o little 5i5 I anticipate s9ch news that be=ore I broke the black seal on m> =ather4s letter
I e?claime5( u$ear me( I =ear poor E5war5 has gone(4 all95ing to m> >o9ngest brother
who ha5 been ailing =or some time.
BELLE% "I""#.C
Y*he corroboration o= the =rien5s with whom Miss "ibb> was sta>ing cannot
9n=ort9natel> be obtaine5( as she has lost sight o= them.Z
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom Miss .osmer( the celebrate5 sc9lptor.
P27WQ B)n Italian girl name5 'osa was in m> emplo> =or some time( b9t was =inall>
oblige5 to ret9rn home to her sister on acco9nt o= con=irme5 ill-health. ,hen I took m>
c9stomar> e?ercise on horseback I =reE9entl> calle5 to see her. On one o= these occasions
I calle5 abo9t 8 o4clock p.m.( an5 =o9n5 her brighter than I ha5 seen her =or some time
past. I ha5 long relinE9ishe5 hopes o= her recover>( b9t there was nothing in her
appearance that gave me the impression o= imme5iate 5anger. I le=t her with the
e?pectation o= calling to see her again man> times. /he e?presse5 a wish to have a bottle
o= a certain kin5 o= wine( which I promise5 to bring her m>sel= ne?t morning.
B$9ring the remain5er o= the evening I 5o not recollect that 'osa was in m> tho9ghts
a=ter I parte5 =rom her. I retire5 to rest in goo5 health an5 in a E9iet =rame o= min5. "9t I
woke =rom a so9n5 sleep with an oppressive =eeling that someone was in the room. I
re=lecte5 that no one co9l5 get in e?cept m> mai5( who ha5 the ke> o= one o= the two
5oors o= m> roomAboth o= which 5oors were locke5. I was able 5iml> to 5isting9ish the
=9rnit9re in the room. M> be5 was in the mi55le o= the room with a screen ro9n5 the =oot
o= it. *hinking someone might be behin5 the screen I sai5( u,ho4s therer4 b9t got no
answer. F9st then the clock in the a5Doining room str9ck V@ an5 at that moment I saw the
=ig9re o= 'osa stan5ing b> m> be5si5e@ an5 in some wa>( tho9gh I co9l5 not vent9re to
sa> it was thro9gh the me5i9m o= speech( the impression was conve>e5 to me =rom her o=
these wor5s: u)5esso son =elice( son contenta.4 )n5 with that the =ig9re vanishe5.
B)t the break=ast table I sai5 to the =rien5 who share5 the apartment with me( u'osa is
5ea5.4 u,hat 5o >o9 mean b> thatr4 she inE9ire5@ u#o9 tol5 me she seeme5 better than
common when >o9 calle5 to see her >ester5a>.4 I relate5 the occ9rrence o= the morning(
an5 tol5 her I ha5 a strong impression 'osa was 5ea5. /he la9ghe5( an5 sai5 I ha5
5reame5 it all. I ass9re5 her I was thoro9ghl> awake. /he contin9e5 to Dest on the s9bDect(
an5 slightl> anno>e5 me b> her persistence in believing it a 5ream( when I was per=ectl>
s9re o= having been wi5e awake. *o settle the E9estion I s9mmone5 a messenger( an5 sent
him to inE9ire how 'osa 5i5. .e ret9rne5 with the answer that she 5ie5 that morning at V
o4clock.
BI was living in the Via "ab9ino at the time.
B*he above has been written o9t b> Miss "al=o9r( =rom the acco9nt given b> L>5ia Maria
-hil5 Yto whom Miss .osmer ha5 narrate5 the =actsZ in the !piritual 'agaAine =or
/eptember 2st( 27W;( with corrections Yo= a tri=ling kin5Z 5ictate5 b> me( F9l> 2Vth( 277V.
B.. &. .O/ME'.C
i-33X!
*he acco9nt given b> Miss -hil5( which Miss .osmer prono9nce5 correct at the time(
gives a =ew more 5etails( ten5ing to show that she was E9ite awake =or an appreciable
time be=ore her vision. BI hear5 in the apartments below =amiliar noises o= servants
opening win5ows an5 5oors. )n ol5 clock( with ringing vibrations( proclaime5 the ho9r. I
co9nte5 one( two( three( =o9r( =ive( an5 resolve5 to rise imme5iatel>. )s I raise5 m> hea5
=rom the pillow( 'osa looke5 insi5e the c9rtain an5 smile5 at me. I was simpl> s9rprise5(
[c.C
YMiss .osmer 5oes not remember the e?act 5ate o= the occ9rrence( b9t sa>s it m9st have
been abo9t 27V8 or 27VW. *he ol5 la5> with whom she was resi5ing is 5ea5.Z
,e receive5 the =ollowing acco9nt =rom the 'ev. F. "armb>( o= 1ittington Vicarage(
$9rham( who writes:A
B$ecember UXth( 2773.
P277Q B,hat =ollows was comm9nicate5 orall> to the 'ev. F. *. +owler( Librarian an5
.ebrew Lect9rer in the Universit> o= $9rham( b> Mr. -larke( one o= the principal
tra5esmen in .9ll( on the Xth o= October( 27WU. Mr. +owler took notes in writing o= what
Mr. -larke tol5 him at the time( which notes he han5e5 to me in the same month o=
October. I p9t them into the =ollowing =orm a=ter receiving them( an5 have no 5o9bt o=
their s9bstance an5 5etails being e?actl> given. *he events relate5 ha5 occ9rre5 abo9t
=o9r >ears previo9sl> to Mr. +owler4s interview with Mr. -larke.C
BMr. -larke( o= .9ll( ha5 known =or twent> >ears a Mrs. 1alliser( o= the same place. /he
ha5 an onl> chil5( a son calle5 Matthew( who was a sailor. "eing o= the age o= UU( he ha5
saile5 =rom .9ll to %ew #ork. )bo9t a month a=ter his 5epart9re( Mrs. 1alliser came to
Mr. -larke in tears( an5 sai5( uOh( Mr. -larke( poor Mat4s 5rowne5.4 Mr. -. sai5( u.ow
have >o9 got to knowr4 /he replie5( u.e was 5rowne5 last night going on boar5 the ship(
in crossing the plank( an5 it slippe5@ I saw him( an5 hear5 him sa>( BOh( mother.C /he
state5 that she ha5 been in be5 at the time( b9t was s9re she was wi5e awake: an5 that she
ha5 seen also her own mother( who ha5 been 5ea5 man> >ears( at the be5=oot cr>ing( an5
making some re=erence to the event. Mr. -. sai5 to her( uOh( it4s all nonsense( I 5on4t
believe an>thing o= the sort.4 /he earnestl> persiste5 in her conviction( an5 calle5 on Mr.
-. perhaps hal=-a-5o]en times 59ring the ens9ing week. In or5er to paci=> her( he
9n5ertook to write to the agent o= her son4s ship at %ew #ork. *his she ha5 wishe5 him to
5o( thinking that he( as a b9siness man( wo9l5 know better how to write than hersel=.
)=ter the 5espatch o= the letter( Mrs. 1. kept calling on Mr. -. abo9t ever> week( to ask i=
he ha5 hear5 an>thing. In abo9t a month4s time a letter arrive5 =rom %ew #ork( a55resse5
to uMrs. 1alliser( care o= Mr. -larke.4 It was opene5 b> Mr. -larke4s son( in the presence
o= Mrs. 1alliser( who( be=ore it was opene5( sai5( u)>e( that4ll contain the news o= his
being 5rowne5.4 *he letter conve>e5 the intelligence that Matthew 1alliser( o= s9ch a
ship( ha5 been 5rowne5 on s9ch a night( thro9gh the 9psetting o= a plank( as he was going
aboar5 the ship. *he night speci=ie5 was that o= Mrs. 1.4s vision.
BMr. -larke 5escribe5 Mrs. 1alliser as ua well-e59cate5 woman( a ver> respectable ol5
la5> who ha5 seen better 5a>s(4 abo9t 8V >ears o= age. /he i-3V;! ha5( he sai5( been a
wi5ow =or some >ears be=ore her son was 5rowne5. /he was then living in a passage
lea5ing o9t o= "lack=riars &ate( in .9ll. .e ha5 seen her uthe 5a> be=ore >ester5a>.4 /he
ha5 tol5 the stor> utho9san5s o= times(4 an5 it was well-known in .9ll.C
*he 'ev. F. *. +owler( o= "ishop .at=iel54s .all( $9rham( writes:A
B%ovember U8th( 2773.
BI know nothing abo9t the case I mentione5 to Mr. "armb> be>on5 what I gave him in
writing.
BMr. -larke( a tra5esman in .9ll( tol5 me o= the case o= Mrs. 1alliser( an5 got her to
come to his o==ice( in }9een /treet( .9ll( =or me to take 5own =rom her own lips the notes
I gave to Mr. "armb>. I took great pains to get the whole o= the stor> correctl>.
BF. *. +O,LE'C
Mr. -larke writes:A
B,interton .all( $oncaster.
BFan9ar> U;th( 277V.
B,i5ow 1alliser was a woman who ha5 seen better 5a>s( an5 worke5 =or m> =irm( -larke
an5 /on( -lothiers( }9een /treet( .9ll. /he ha5 an onl> son( Matthew. I assiste5 her in
getting him to sea. One morning she came to me with tears rolling 5own her cheeks an5
sai5( uMat4s 5ea5@ I saw him 5rowne5s 1oor Mat( the last wor5s he sai5 were( BOhs m>
5ear mother.C .e threw 9p his han5s an5 sank to rise no more.4 I aske5 how she knew.
/he sai5( uI saw him going on boar5 his ship( an5 the plank that he walke5 9pon slippe5
on one si5e( an5 he =ell overboar5 between the E9a> an5 the ship( an5 was 5rowne5. M>
own mother( who ha5 been 5ea5 man> >ears( came to the =oot o= m> be5 an5 sai5( B1oor
Mat4s gone@ he4s 5rowne5.C4
2
I then sai5( u,h>( Mat4s in %ew #ork4 PI alwa>s =elt
intereste5 in this woman an5 her sonQ. u#es(4 she sai5( uhe was 5rowne5 last night at %ew
#ork@ I saw him.4
BMrs. 1.4s obDect in coming to me was to ask i= I wo9l5 write to the agent in %ew #ork( to
ascertain the =acts. I sai5 I wo9l5( an5 wrote stating that a poor wi5ow ha5 an onl> son on
boar5 s9ch a ship( an5 she ha5 a vision that an acci5ent PI sai5 nothing abo9t 5rowningQ
ha5 happene5 to her son( an5 I wo9l5 take it as a great =avo9r i= he wo9l5 ascertain an5
tell me all partic9lars. In abo9t : to V weeks Pshe came 5a> b> 5a> to ask i= we ha5
receive5 a repl>( alwa>s sa>ing that she knew what the answer wo9l5 beQ( at length( the
letter arrive5. ,e sent =or Mrs. 1.( an5 be=ore the letter was opene5 b> m> son( I sai5 to
her( u,hat will be its contentsr4 /he at once an5 5eci5e5l> sai5 that uMat was 5rowne5
on the ver> night that she saw him( an5 in going on boar5 the ship the plank slippe5( an5
he =ell overboar5 between the E9a> an5 the ship.4 /o it was. Mrs. 1. was then wearing
mo9rning =or Mat.
BM> son an5 hal=-a-5o]en >o9ng men can veri=> this i= nee5=9l.
U

BMrs. 1. 5ie5 soon a=ter.
BM. ,. -L)'0E.
B'epro59ction o= the letter receive5 =rom the agent o= the ship( as nearl> as I an5 m> son
can remember:A
Bu%ew #ork( 5ate 9nknown.
BuI have ma5e inE9iries o= Matthew 1alliser( age abo9t U;( an5 learn i-3V2! that he =ell
o== a plank in going on boar5 his ship( an5 got 5rowne5 on. w4 *he 5ate was the same as
Mrs. 1alliser sai5.
Bu*he mate has charge o= his chest( an5 will give it to his mother when the ship arrives in
Liverpool.4C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. -larke a55s:A
B)pril 8th 277V.
B,e have no cop> o= the agent4s letter( b9t both m> son an5 m>sel= an5 others are certain
that Mrs. 1.4s vision an5 the agent4s acco9nt o= the acci5ent -ere the sa(e, both as to the
time an5 ca9se( vi].( that Mrs. 1. saw her son slip o== the plank in going on boar5 his ship(
an5 that he was 5rowne5 between the E9a> an5 the ship@ agent4s acco9nt that he =ell o==
the plank an5 was 5rowne5( at the ti(e mentione5( between the ship an5 the E9a>. Mrs. 1.
5ie5 soon a=ter the event( which in m> opinion shortene5 her li=e.C
YIn the absence o= a written note( we cannot o= co9rse be per=ectl> certain that Mrs.
1alliser 5i5 not rea5 back the 5etails o= the plank an5 the E9a> into her vision after the
arrival o= the news( an5 that Mr. -larke is right in his recollection o= having hear5 these
5etails =rom the =irst. "9t there can har5l> be a 5o9bt that the vision was 5escribe5 as a
ver> impressive one before the arrival o= the news@ an5 Mr. -larke4s interest in the matter
ma> =airl> be s9ppose5 to have ma5e him care=9l in his scr9tin> o= the 5ates.Z
I= correctl> reporte5( this case c9rio9sl> combines a sort o= clairvo>ant vision
2
with a
more or5inar> apparition( the =ig9re at the =oot o= the be5Athe latter being o= an
eminentl> Bbor5erlan5C t>pe. /9ch 5ream-like combinations Psee pp. 3UVT8Q have a ver>
special bearing on the connection which I am seeking to establish between sleeping an5
waking telepathic percepts.
U

*he ne?t acco9ntA=rom Mrs.,oo5ham( o= V( 'o>al %aval -ottages( 1engeAwas
obtaine5 thro9gh the kin5ness o= the .on. 'o5en %oel.
BF9ne U8th( 2773.
P27XQ BI ha5 in m> service a charwoman( o= abo9t 8; >ears o= age( who ha5 serve5 me
=aith=9ll> =or more than U; >ears. .er h9sban5 ha5 been one o= m> h9sban54s
coastg9ar5men( an5 on his 5eath the poor woman ha5 to work to s9pport hersel= an5 =o9r
chil5ren( two o= whom t9rne5 o9t ba5l>. I ha5 helpe5 her as m9ch as I co9l5 besi5es
emplo>ing her( an5 =o9n5 her ver> val9able in being tr9stworth>. /he regar5e5 me with
great a==ection( an5 9se5 to sa> to m> 5a9ghters that there was no one to her like uthe
mistress(4 as she alwa>s calle5 me.
BIn )9g9st Ya mistake =or OctoberZ o= last s9mmer I ha5 agree5 to visit m> sister( who
resi5es in E5inb9rgh( an5 having =i?e5 the 5a>( a ,e5nes5a>( ha5 arrange5 =or Mrs.
.alahan to come as 9s9al. M> son( who was going with me( pers9a5e5 me to set o9t on
the 5a> previo9s. Mrs. .. arrive5( e?pecting to see me. /trange to sa>( she was ver> m9ch
taken aback an5 move5( an5 e?claime5( u*he mistress gone witho9t seeing i-3VU! mes4
/he went to m> ho9se as 9s9al 59ring m> absence Pabo9t a monthQ. One 5a>( while
working at m> marrie5 5a9ghter4s ho9se( she was taken s955enl> ill( abo9t 8 o4clock in
the eveningAwas conve>e5 home in a cab( an5 5ie5 ne?t morning.
BMeanwhile m> 5a9ghters 5i5 not mention to me the 5eath o= m> 5ear servant( b9t onl>
that she was ill( knowing it wo9l5 grieve me@ b9t D9st at the time o= her 5eath P2; 5a>s
be=ore I ret9rne5 homeQ I was sleeping in the room with m> sister in E5inb9rgh( when( in
the 59sk o= the morning( I was awakene5 b> a lo95 knock( an5 saw the =ig9re o= a woman
in a loose 5ress( stan5ing at the si5e o= the be5( looking towar5s me. I sat 9p( an5 sai5
emphaticall>( u,ho are >o9( an5 what 5o >o9 wantr4 I repeate5 the E9estion twice( which
awoke m> sister( who aske5 who I was speaking tor I replie5( u*o the woman stan5ing
there.4 Imme5iatel> the =ig9re melte5 awa> like a sha5ow. I was so impresse5 with what I
ha5 seen that I went 9p to the room on several s9ccessive evenings( won5ering whether
that sha5ow-like =orm wo9l5 again appear( b9t it never came. On ret9rning home( the =irst
E9estion I aske5 m> 5a9ghter was abo9t m> ol5 servant( as( thinking she was ill( I wishe5
to go to see her. I was astonishe5 an5 grieve5 at the news o= her 5eath. )ll at once the
tr9th =lashe5 across m> min5( an5 I e?claime5( u,h>( I saw her m>sel=(4 an5 then relate5
to m> son an5 5a9ghter the above =acts. M> 5escription was so clear an5 vivi5 that the>
were eE9all> impresse5 as to its tr9th( an5 =eel as s9re as I 5o o= the occ9rrence being a
=act.
BI never saw an>thing o= the sort be=ore( nor have I or m> =amil> ever believe5 in ghosts@
b9t the> implicitl> believe this( knowing that I am in no wa> =anci=9l. I =eel s9re that m>
5ear servant Pwho was( I =in5( speechless =or some ho9rs be=ore her 5eathQ ha5 me on her
min5. I can onl> think that the 59sk o= the morning an5 the 5arkness o= the room
Pbetween V an5 8 in the morning( the ho9r at which she 5ie5Q prevente5 m> recognising
the =eat9res( b9t I can tr9l> vo9ch =or the above =acts.
BELE)%O' E. ,OO$.)M.C
*he acco9nt o= the narrator4s sister PMarch V( 2778Q is that Mrs. ,oo5ham awoke her in
the 59sk o= the morning b> sa>ing twice( B,ho are >o9rC an5 when aske5 to whom she
was speaking( replie5( u$on4t >o9 see that woman stan5ing thererC pointing to the si5e o=
the be5@ then( on her sister4s remarking( B#o9 m9st have been 5reaming(C she replie5( BI
have been awake =or some time( an5 5istinctl> saw her there.C
In conversation( Mrs. ,oo5ham ass9re5 the present writer that she has never ha5 an>
other vis9al hall9cination. *he 5ress o= the phantasm( so =ar as observe5( s9==icientl>
correspon5e5 with Mrs. .alahan4s 9s9al aspect@ b9t the onl> at all 5istinctive point was
the covering o= the hea5Anot a cap b9t a loose wrap or shawl. Mrs. ,oo5ham was once(
when a girl( woke in the same wa> b> a lo95 knock which co9l5 not be trace5 to an>
obDective so9rce@ an5 this e?perience( she sa>s( precisel> coinci5e5 with the 5eath o= a
relative in the ho9se. It is noteworth> that tho9gh her sister is a ver> light sleeper( an5
tho9gh it was ver> near her 9s9al ho9r o= waking( the lo95 knock 5i5 not wake her@ this is
at an> rate some proo= that it was hall9cinator>. Mrs. ,oo5ham is able to =i? the ho9r o=
her e?perience( as she 5i5 not go to sleep again( an5 the work o= the ho9sehol5 began
soon a=ter. .er son an5 5a9ghter i-3V:! personall> con=irme5 the narrative as to the
points in which the> were concerne5@ an5 Miss ,oo5ham remembere5 that the ho9r o=
the 5eath was state5 to her to have been 8 a.m. )t m> reE9est she went to see Mrs.
.alahan4s 5a9ghter( who con=irme5 the =act that this was the ho9r. *h9s( s9pposing the
da,s to have been the same( the coinci5ence was e?tremel> close. Mrs. ,oo5ham is not
certain o= the e?act n9mber o= 5a>s which elapse5 between her e?perience an5 her ret9rn
home( b9t thinks the> 5i5 not e?cee5 a =ortnight@ an5 she 5i5 her best at the time( b>
going over the events o= these intervening 5a>s( to =i? the 5ate o= her vision@ b9t all that
co9l5 be =i?e5 with certaint> was a ver> close appro?imation with the 5eath@ which an :n
'e(oria( car5( copie5 b> Miss ,oo5ham( =i?es as October U:( 277:.
*he evi5ential weight o= this case is o= co9rse re59ce5( not onl> b> the 9ncertaint> as to
the 5a> o= the vision( b9t b> the =act that the =ig9re was not recognise5. "9t theoreticall>(
as I have pointe5 o9t above Pp. UU2Q( the mere lack o= recognition wo9l5 not be a serio9s
5i==ic9lt>. I=( as we have seen reason to think( a telepathic 5ist9rbance ma> take place
below the threshol5 o= conscio9sness( i= its mani=estation ma> be 5ela>e5 =or ho9rs( i= it
ma> =irst reveal itsel= in semi-a9tomatic movements( or in an i5ealess cr> Pas in case 23WQ
Athere seems no reason wh>( when it takes more 5istinct sensor> =orm( this =orm sho9l5
not be itsel= an imper=ect 5evelopment( an embo5iment o= an i5ea that has onl> partiall>
been apprehen5e5. *his( however( will become clearer in connection with the whole
s9bDect o= the 5evelopment o= telepathic hall9cinations P-hap. \II.Q.
*he ne?t an5 concl95ing case is =rom Mrs. Light=oot( a la5> who is none the worse
witness beca9se she takes not the slightest interest in o9r work. *he names an5 5ates
were =ille5 in b> the present writer( imme5iatel> a=ter a personal interview( Fan9ar> :;(
2773.
BV2( /ha=tesb9r> 'oa5( 'avensco9rt 1ark( ,.
BFan9ar> 22th( 2773.
P2X;Q BIn giving the =ollowing e?perience( I ma> premise that as a chil5( an5 since( I have
comparativel> ha5 b9t little knowle5ge Pas a personal e?perienceQ o= =ear@ an5 in the
e?istence o= ghosts I have alwa>s 5isbelieve5. $i5 I ever see or hear sights or so9n5s =or
which( on e?amination( I co9l5 not acco9nt( I have alwa>s come to the concl9sion that
the> arose =rom nat9ral ca9ses which were be>on5 m> reach o= inE9ir>Ahence I alwa>s
re=9se5 to accept an>thing( witho9t proo=( an5 I ma> a55( that I have rarel> been
convince5.
B/ome 2; >ears ago( when in In5ia( I contracte5 a great =rien5ship( which was
reciprocate5( =or a la5>( Mrs. 'ee5( the wi=e o= an o==icer. /he ha5 not been ver> strong(
b9t when I parte5 =rom her with the intention o= ret9rning to Englan5( no 5anger Pthe
wor5 ha5 not even been mentione5Q was anticipate5( an5 =or some =ew months a=ter m>
ret9rn I hear5 =rom her( bright an5 cheer=9l letters eno9gh. In them she certainl> spoke o=
i-3V3! her health not being goo5( b9t nothing more. *hen a=ter a time her letters cease5(
b9t I hear5 ver> reg9larl> =rom others at the same place( an5 the> mentione5 that her
health was gra59all> getting worse( an5 that she wo9l5 probabl> be or5ere5 to Englan5
=or a thoro9gh change( b9t still I hear5 no so9n5 o= =atal en5ing( an5 I was looking
=orwar5 to her ret9rn with a great 5egree o= pleas9re.
BIt was m> practice not onl> to go to be5 ver> late( b9t also =or the last hal=-ho9r to pick
9p a book( the most 9ninteresting an5 5r> that it was possible to =in5( an5 so tr> to soothe
the min5. *he moment I commence5 to reall> =eel sleep>( I wo9l5 lower the gas to almost
a pin4s point P=or I 5i5 not care to e?ting9ish it( as I ha5 a chil5 o= : sleeping in the same
roomQ( an5 then I co9l5 alwa>s compose m>sel= com=ortabl> to a sleep into which I co9l5
then =all in a ver> =ew min9tes.
BOn the night o= /eptember U2st( 27W3( I ha5 =ollowe5 this e?act ro9tine. I ha5 p9t asi5e
m> book( lowere5 the gas( an5 at a little a=ter mi5night I was so9n5 asleep. )s I knew
a=terwar5s( I m9st have slept abo9t : ho9rs( when I was s955enl> aro9se5 Pan5 was( so
=ar as I know( perfectl, -ide a-a1e& b> a violent noise at m> 5oor( which was locke5. I
have some recollection o= =eeling astonishe5 Po= =ear I then ha5 noneQ at seeing or rather
hearing within the instant m> 5oor thrown violentl> open( as tho9gh b> someone in great
anger( an5 I was instantl> conscio9s that someone( somethingAwhat shall I call itrAwas
in the room. +or the h9n5re5th part o= a secon5 it seeme5 to pa9se D9st within the room(
an5 then b> a movement( which it is impossible =or me to 5escribeAb9t it seeme5 to
move with a rapi5 p9shAit was at the =oot o= m> be5. )gain a pa9se@ =or again the
h9n5re5th part o= a secon5( an5 the =ig9re-shape rose. I heard it( b9t as it got higher its
movements E9iete5( an5 presentl> it was above m> be5( l>ing hori]ontall>( its =ace
5ownwar5s( parallel with m> =ace( its =eet to m> =eet( b9t with a 5istance o= some : or 3
=eet between 9s.
2
*his =or a moment( whilst I waite5 simpl> in astonishment an5 c9riosit>
P=or I ha5 not the ver> =aintest i5ea o= either who or what it wasQ( b9t no =ear( an5 then it
spoke. In an instant I recognise5 the voice( the ol5 =amiliar imperio9s wa> o= speaking( as
m> -hristian name so9n5e5 clear an5 =9ll thro9gh the room. u+rances(4 it repeate5( uI
want >o9@ come with me. -ome at once.4 ', voice respon5e5 as instantaneo9sl>( u#es(
I4ll come. ,hat nee5 =or s9ch a h9rr>r4 an5 then came a E9ick imperative repl>( u"9t >o9
(ust come at once/ come instantl>( an5 witho9t a moment4s pa9se or hesitation.4 I
seeme5 to be 5rawn 9pwar5s b> some e?traor5inar> magnetic in=l9ence( an5 then D9st as
s955enl> an5 violentl> thrown 5own again.
BIn one secon5 o= time the room was in a 5eathl> stillness( an5 the wor5s( u/he is 5ea5(4
were simpl> b9rnt into m> min5. I sat 9p in be5 5a]e5( an5 no-, =or the =irst time(
=rightene5 be>on5 meas9re. I sat ver> still =or a =ew moments( gra59all> making o9t the
5i==erent =orms in the room( then I t9rne5 the gas( which was D9st above m> hea5( =9ll on(
onl> i-3VV! to see that the room was totall> 9nchange5. )t the =oot o= m> be5( at some
5istance =rom it( was the chil54s iron cot. I got 9p an5 looke5 at him@ he was sleeping
E9ite peace=9ll>( an5 ha5 evi5entl> been totall> 9n5ist9rbe5. I went to the 5oor( to =in5 it
fast loc1ed. I opene5 it( an5 ga]e5 into the passageAtotal silence an5 stillness
ever>where. I went into the ne?t room( where there were sleeping two other chil5ren an5
their n9rse( to =in5 eE9al E9ietness there. *hen I ret9rne5 to m> room( an5 I m9st con=ess
it( with an aw=9l =ear oppressing me. /he ha5 come onceAmight she not come againr I
wrote 5own the 5ate an5 the ho9r( an5 then opening sh9tter an5 win5ow onl> looke5 o9t
=or the welcome 5awn.
BI went 5own to break=ast that morning( b9t sai5 nothing o= the 5etails o= m> 5ream(
2

onl> mentioning that I ha5 ha5 a ver> ba5 an5 a ver> vivi5 one. )=terwar5s I =o9n5 I
co9l5 settle to nothing( an5 at last was becoming positivel> so ill that I was oblige5 to go
back to be5. *hat same a=ternoon( c9rio9sl> eno9gh( a sister came to see me( who ha5
been abroa5 with me( an5 whilst there ha5 known an5 like5 this same =rien5. /he saw I
was m9ch 9pset abo9t something o= which I 5i5 not care to speak( an5( b> wa> o=
cheering me 9p( began telling me news o= vario9s m9t9al =rien5s. )t last( 59ring a slight
pa9se( she sai5( u">-the-wa>( have >o9 hear5 an>thing latel> o= Mrs. 'ee5r when last I
hear5 she was not ver> well.4 :nstantl, came m> repl>( uOh( she is 5ea5(4 an5 it was onl>
m> sister4s look o= blank horror an5 astonishment that recalle5 me to m>sel=. u,hat 5o
>o9 mean( when 5i5 >o9 hearr4 came =rom her in rapi5 9tterance( an5 then I betho9ght
me( ho- in5ee5 5i5 I hearA-ho ha5 tol5 mer "9t tell her the 5ream I could not( so I
merel> answere5( u#o9 will see that I am right when >o9 look in the newspapersAho- I
have hear5 o= it I will tell >o9 some other time(4 an5 5irectl> I change5 the conversation.
*he visit 5i5 goo5( however( =or I got 9p an5 went o9t with her( an5 I can onl> sa> that
the impression m> manner an5 wor5s ma5e 9pon her was so 5eep that( the moment she
arrive5 home( she sat 5own an5 wrote to a la5> in the ,est o= Englan5Aone who knew
9s all, an5 who hear5 b> ever> mail =rom her h9sban5( who was in the same place as o9r
=rien5. M> sister tol5 her e?actl> what I ha5 sai5( an5 begge5 that she wo9l5 at once sen5
her partic9lars( since I ha5 not 5one so. "> ret9rn came the repl>:A
BuI cannot( 5ear La5> ".( in the least 9n5erstan5 >o9r letter( nor what >o9r sister can
possibl> mean. *he last =oreign mail onl> came in this morning4 Pa=ter the 5ate( o= co9rse(
o= m> 5reamQ( uan5 so =ar =rom being B5ea5C m> h9sban5 tells me Mrs. 'ee5 is m9ch
better@ there=ore( where Mrs. L. Pm>sel=Q can have obtaine5 her news is be>on5 m>
comprehension( =or it is 2uite i(possible that she can have ha5 later news than mine( in
=act( not so late( since m> =oreign letter arrive5 a=ter >o9r visit to her.4 Y*his is not a cop,
b9t a re(iniscence o= the letter.Z
B)n5 so the matter reste5( b9t within a month =rom the 5ate o= m> 5ream came the news
o= Mrs. 'ee54s 5eath( on /eptember U2st.
BI have b9t little now to a55. *he bereave5 h9sban5 ret9rne5 to Englan5 an5 calle5 9pon
me. .e gave me some 5etails o= the last 5a>s( an5 on m> asking whether he remembere5
her last wor5s( he t9rne5 to me i-3V8! with E9ite a look o= s9rprise( an5 sai5( u,h>(
Mrs. Light=oot( I believe ,our name was the last she mentione5.4 +9rther( it was (an,
months a=terwar5s be=ore m> sister again broache5 the s9bDect( b9t at last one 5a> she
sai5( uI 5o wish >o9 wo9l5 tell me ho- >o9 knew o= Mrs. 'ee54s 5eath.4 O= co9rse I then
tol5 her( an5( I ma> a55( that so 5eep was the impression pro59ce5 9pon her that even in
her last illness( which occ9rre5 W or 7 >ears a=terwar5s( she spoke o= it. +or m>sel= I
never reall> recovere5 the shock =or a long time( an5 even now the impression is as vivi5
as tho9gh it onl> happene5 >ester5a>.
B+')%-E/ ,. LI&.*+OO*.C
"oth the Calcutta >nglish(an an5 the *ioneer 'ail P)llahaba5Q give /eptember U;th(
27W3( as the 5ate o= Mrs. 'ee54s 5eath. Mrs. Light=oot has 9n=ort9natel> not kept her note
o= the 5a> an5 ho9r. )s she has now no independent recollection o= the 5ate o= her
e?perience( b9t onl> remembers the =act o= the coincidence, an5 as it is practicall> certain
that she hear5 the correct 5ate o= the 5eath( the U;th( which has since become converte5
in her memor> to the U2st( it seems tolerabl> sa=e to ass9me that her e?perience =ell on
the night o= the U;th( that is( on the earl> morning o= the U2stAnot on the night o= the
U2st( as state5 in the acco9nt.
In answer to the E9estion whether this was the onl> occasion on which she has ha5 a
sensor> hall9cination o= this kin5( Mrs. Light=oot answere5 B#es.C /he a55s that her
sister( La5> ".( Bmentione5 the matter at once to several =rien5s an5 relatives.C *he sister
has since 5ie5.
YIn conversation( Mrs. Light=oot con=irme5 again the =act o= having ha5 no sort o= vis9al
hall9cination on an> other occasion. /he once( an5 once onl>( has ha5 another remarkable
auditor, e?perience( when the s955en hearing o= her -hristian name save5 her =rom a
terrible =all in the 5ark. *he origin o= the so9n5 was care=9ll> inE9ire5 into an5 co9l5 not
be ascertaine5.
)s a proo= o= the absol9te conviction pro59ce5 in her that her =rien5 was 5ea5( she tol5
me that she ha5 prepare5 a birth5a> present to sen5 her( an5 the bo? was act9all>
sol5ere5 9p( an5 ha5 been going b> the ne?t mail@ b9t she =o9n5 it impossible to sen5 it.
/he ha5 been 9n5er the impression that the time o= 5eath e?actl> coinci5e5 with her
vision@ b9t she ha5 reckone5 5i==erence o= longit95e the wrong wa>. Mrs. 'ee54s h9sban5
in=orme5 her( on her inE9ir>( that the 5eath took place at 22( that is 22 p.m. Pas she thinks
o= /eptember U2st( b9t no 5o9bt o= /eptember U;thQ@ an5 the vision was probabl>(
there=ore( 7 or X ho9rs after it.
M> impression o= Mrs. Light=oot entirel> correspon5s with her own 5escription o= hersel=
Athat she is a practical person( an5 witho9t an> sort o= pre5isposition to =rights or
visions. *he present one gave her a most severe shock( the e==ects o= which laste5 =or
some time.Z
In this chapter( vario9s points o= interest or 5i==ic9lt> have been passe5 over with ver>
ina5eE9ate comment. It seeme5 better( however( not to =orestall the more complete
5isc9ssion o= the relation o= telepath> to sensor> impressions( which will shortl> =ollow.
i-3VW!
+!P#&R 0.
!''.+("!#(%"$: *&"&R!' $,&#+.
S 2. ,E are now approaching the most important 5ivision o= o9r s9bDect. /o =ar the
impressions( possibl> or probabl> telepathic( that we have consi5ere5( have been P2Q the
non6e.ternalised sort Pchie=l> i5eal or emotional( b9t sometimes with a ph>sical elementQ
occ9rring 59ring the ho9rs o= normal waking li=e@ an5 PUQ this sort( an5 also the
e.ternalised sort( occ9rring either in sleep or in a bo5il> an5 mental state which( tho9gh
not that o= sleep( is >et to some e?tent 5isting9ishable =rom that o= or5inar> waking li=e.
*he class( then( that remains to be consi5ere5 is the e?ternalise5 sortAimpressions o=
sight( hearing( or to9chAocc9rring to persons who are E9ite clearl> wi5e awake. *he
rea5er will not now nee5 to be tol5 to what =amil> o= nat9ral phenomena I am abo9t to
re=er this class. /omething is presente5 to the percipient as apparentl> an in5epen5ent
obDect Por as 59e to an in5epen5ent obDectQ in his material environment@ b9t no s9ch
obDect is reall> there( an5 what is presente5 is a phantasm. ,hatever pec9liarities s9ch an
e?perience ma> present( there can be no mistake as to its generic characteristics: it is a
hallucination.
It is nat9rall> onl> with one partic9lar species o= the great =amil> o= hall9cinationsAthe
veridical species which ps>cholog> has so =ar not recognise5Athat I am here 5irectl>
concerne5. "9t it is not eas> to treat the single species satis=actoril>( witho9t either
ass9ming or s9ppl>ing a certain amo9nt o= in=ormation with regar5 to the =amil> to which
it belongs. *o ass9me this in=ormation wo9l5 har5l> be sa=e@ =or tho9gh most e59cate5
persons ma> have a general i5ea what hall9cinations are( the i5ea is not alwa>s the res9lt
o= ver> close or critical st95>. It seems better then( to err( i= at all( on the si5e o= e?cess(
an5 to 5evote one chapter to a brie= general sketch o= the s9bDect@ in attempting which I
shall en5eavo9r to avoi5 si5e i-3V7! iss9es( an5 to con=ine m>sel= to points that will ai5
comprehension in the seE9el.
Is it possible to treat .all9cinations as a single class o= phenomena( marke5 o9t b>
5e=inite characteristicsr *he pop9lar answer wo9l5 no 5o9bt be #esAthat the
5isting9ishing characteristic is some sort o= =alse belie=. "9t this is an error: in man> o=
the best known cases o= hall9cinationAthat o= %icolai( =or instanceAthe percipient has
hel5( with respect to the =ig9res that he saw or the voices that he hear5( not a =alse b9t a
tr9e belie=@ to wit( that the> 5i5 not correspon5 to an> e?ternal realit>. *he onl> sort o=
hall9cination which is necessaril> characterise5 b> =alse belie= is the p9rel> non-sensor>
sortAas where a person has a =i?e5 i5ea that ever>one is plotting against him( or that he
is being secretl> mesmerise5 =rom a 5istance. O= hall9cinations o= the senses, belie= in
their realit>( tho9gh a =reE9ent( is b> no means an essential =eat9re@ a tendenc, to 5eceive
is all that we can sa=el> pre5icate o= them.
I= we seek =or some =9rther E9alit> which shall be 5istinctive o= both sensor> an5 non-
sensor> hall9cinations( the most hope=9l s9ggestion wo9l5 seem to be that both sorts are
idios,ncratic and unshared. .owever =alse a belie= ma> be( we 5o not call it a
hall9cination i= it has Bbeen in the air(C an5 has arisen in a nat9ral wa> in a pl9ralit> o=
min5s. *his is D9st what an id4e fi.e o= the kin5 above mentione5 never 5oes: ) ma>
imagine that the worl5 is plotting against him@ b9t "( i= he spontaneo9sl> evolves a
similar notion( will imagine that the worl5 is plotting not against )( b9t against himsel=.
Instances( however( are not wanting where the id4e fi.e o= an insane person has gra59all>
in=ecte5 an associate@
2
an5 as contact between min5 an5 min5 is( a=ter all( the Bnat9ral
wa>C o= sprea5ing i5eas( we can make no scienti=ic 5istinction between these cases an5
those where( e.g., the lea5er o= a sect has instille5 5el9sive notions into a n9mber o=
Ptechnicall>Q sane =ollowers. "9t again( hall9cinations o= the senses are also occasionall>
share5 b> several persons. Most o= the allege5 instances o= this phenomenon are( no
5o9bt( merel> cases o= collective illusionAan agreement in the misinterpretation o=
sensor> signs pro59ce5 b> a real e?ternal obDect@ b9t wi5e inE9iries have bro9ght to light
a certain n9mber o= i-3VX! instances which I regar5 as gen9ine collective
hallucinations, neither e?ternall> ca9se5 nor comm9nicate5 b> s9ggestion =rom one
spectator to another. I= then sensor> an5 non-sensor> hall9cinations agree in being as a
r9le 9nshare5( the> agree also in presenting marke5 e?ceptions to the r9leAe?ceptions
eas> to acco9nt =or in the latter class( an5 pec9liarl> 5i==ic9lt in the =ormer. *he
concl9sion 5oes not seem =avo9rable to o9r chance o= obtaining a neat general 5e=inition
which will embrace the two@ an5 in aban5oning the search =or one( I can onl> point( with
env>( to the convenient wa> in which +rench writers are enable5 not to combine b9t to
keep them apart( b> appropriating to the non-sensor> species the wor5s d4lire an5
conception d4lirante.
Let 9s then tr> to =i? the character o= hallucinations of the senses in5epen5entl>. *he
most comprehensive view is that all o9r instinctive D95gments o= vis9al( a95itor> an5
tactile phenomena are hall9cinations( inasm9ch as what is reall> nothing more than an
a==ection o= o9rselves is instantl> interprete5 b> 9s as an e?ternal obDect. In imme5iate
perception( what we th9s obDecti=> is present sensation@ in mental pict9res( what we
obDecti=> is remembere5 or represente5 sensation. *his is the view which has been
worke5 o9t ver> ingenio9sl>( an5 =or ps>chological p9rposes ver> e==ectivel>( b> M.
*aine@
2
b9t it is better a5apte5 to a general theor> o= sensation than to a theor> o=
hall9cinations as s9ch. *o a5opt it here wo9l5 5rive 9s to 5escribe the 5isease5 %icolaiA
when he saw phantoms in the room( b9t ha5 his min5 speciall> 5irecte5 to the =act that
the> were internall> ca9se5Aas less hall9cinate5 than a health> person in the 9nre=lective
e?ercise o= normal vision. I pre=er to keep to the or5inar> lang9age which wo9l5 5escribe
%icolai4s phantoms as the real speci=ic case o= hall9cination. )n5 I sho9l5 consi5er their
5istinctive characteristic to be something E9ite apart =rom the E9estion whether or not
the> were act9all> mistaken =or real =ig9resAnamel>( their marke5 resemblance to real
=ig9res( an5 the conseE9ent necessit> =or the e?ercise o= memor> an5 re=lection to prevent
so mistaking them. *he 5e=inition o= a sensor> hall9cination wo9l5 th9s be a percept
-hich lac1s, but -hich can onl, b, distinct reflection be recognised as lac1ing, the
ob5ective basis -hich it suggests.
U
i-38;! It ma> be obDecte5 that this 5e=inition wo9l5
incl95e ill9sions. *he obDection co9l5 be obviate5 at the cost o= a little cl9msiness@ b9t it
seems s9==icient to observe that ill9sions are merel> the sprinkling o= =ragments o=
gen9ine hall9cination on a backgro9n5 o= tr9e perception. )n5 the 5e=inition seems
otherwise satis=actor>. +or while it clearl> separates hall9cinations =rom true perceptions,
it eE9all> clearl> separates them =rom the phenomena with which the> have been
=reE9entl> i5enti=ie5Athe remembere5 images or (ental pictures which are not
perceptions at all. It serves( =or instance( to 5isting9ish( on the lines o= common sense an5
common lang9age( between the images o= B5a>-5reamsC an5 those o= night-5reams. In
both cases vivi5 images arise( to which no obDective realit> correspon5s@ an5 in neither
case is an> 5istinct process o= re=lection applie5 to the 5iscover> o= this =act. "9t the sel=-
evoke5 waking-vision is e?cl95e5 =rom the class o= hall9cinations( as above 5e=ine5( b>
the point that its lack o= obDective basis can be an5 is recognise5 -ithout an> s9ch process
o= re=lection. ,e have not( like %icolai( to consi5er an5 remember( be=ore we can 5eci5e
that the =rien5s whose =aces we pict9re are not reall> in the room. ,e feel that o9r min5 is
active an5 not merel> receptiveAthat it is the min54s e>e an5 not the bo5il> sense which
is at work( an5 that the min5 can evoke( trans=ig9re( an5 banish its own creat9res@ witho9t
atten5ing to this =act( we have it as part o= o9r whole conscio9s state. $reams o= the
sensor> sort on the other han5 are p9re cases o= hall9cination( =orcing themselves on 9s
whether we will or no( an5 with an impression o= obDective realit> which is
9ncontra5icte5 b> an> knowle5ge( re=lective or instinctive( that the> are the creat9res o=
o9r brain.
"9t( tho9gh the 5e=inition ma> be s9==icient =or mere p9rposes o= classi=ication( it takes
9s b9t a ver> little wa> towar5s 9n5erstan5ing the real nat9re o= the phenomena. It sa>s
nothing o= their origin@ an5( tho9gh it 5isting9ishes them =rom mere normal acts o=
imagination or memor>( it leaves E9ite 9n5etermine5 the =ac9lt> or =ac9lties act9all>
concerne5 in them. )n5 when we pass on to these =9rther points( we =in5 o9rselves in a
most perple?e5 =iel5( where 5octors seem to be as m9ch at variance as philosophers. *he
5ebate( most ar5entl> carrie5 on in +rance( has pro59ce5 a m9ltit95e o= views@ b9t not
one o= the rival theorists seems ever to have convince5 an> o= the others. *he
contra5ictions might even seem to lie in the =acts themselves@ =or what single g9i5ing
cl9e shall be =o9n5 to phenomena o= which some occ9r onl> in the light( others onl> in
the i-382! 5ark@ some are connecte5 with h>perOsthesia o= the senses( others with
blin5ness an5 5ea=ness@ some are 5evelope5( others 5isperse5( b> =i?it> o= ga]e@ some are
promote5 b> silence an5 solit95e( others b> the stir o= the streets@ some are clearl>
relevant( others as clearl> irrelevant( to the percipient4s mental an5 moral characteristicsr
/till progress has been ma5e( to this e?tent at an> rate( that it is now comparativel> eas>
to see where the 5isp9te5 points lie( an5 to attack them with precision.
S U. It was( o= co9rse( evi5ent =rom the =irst that there was a certain dualit, o= nat9re in
hall9cinations. In pop9lar lang9age( the (ind an5 the sense were both plainl> involve5@
the hall9cinate5 person not onl> i(agined s9ch an5 s9ch a thing( b9t imagine5 that he
sa- s9ch an5 s9ch a thing. "9t the attempts at anal>sing the ideational an5 the sensor,
elements have too o=ten been o= a ver> cr95e sort@ the state o= hall9cination has been
represente5 as one in which i5eas an5 memoriesAwhile remaining i5eas an5 memories
an5 not sensationsAowing to e?ceptional vivi5ness took on the character o= sensations.
"> the ol5er writers( especiall>( it was not realise5 or remembere5 that sensations have no
e?istence e?cept as (ental =acts@ an5 that( so =ar as a mental =act takes on the character o=
a sensation( it is a sensation. *his was clearl> state5( as a matter o= personal e?perience(
b> "9r5ach an5 MRller@ in the +rench 5isc9ssions( the merit o= bringing o9t the point
with new =orce an5 emphasis belongs to "aillarger.
2
.e showe5 i-38U! that when the
hall9cinate5 person sa>s BI see so an5 so(C BI hear so an5 so(C the wor5s are literall> tr9e.
I= the person goes on to sa> Bou o9ght also to see or hear it(C he is o= co9rse wrong@ b9t
when he sa>s that he sees or hears it( his statement is to be taken witho9t reserve. *o hi(,
the e?perience is not something like or relate5 to the e?perience o= perceiving a real
e?ternal obDect: it is identical with that e?perience.
2
*o the ps>cholog> o= o9r 5a> this
ma> seem a tolerabl> evi5ent tr9th. /till it is eas> to realise the 5i==ic9lt> that was long
=elt in a5mitting that an> e?perience which was 5issociate5 =rom the normal =9nctions o=
the sense-organs co9l5 be completel> sensor> in character. 1op9lar tho9ght =ails to see
that the ph>sical E9estion which =or practical p9rposes is all-importantAwhether the
obDect is or is not reall> thereAis ps>chicall> irrelevant@ an5 a man who has been staring
at the s9n will( as a r9le( think it less acc9rate to sa> that he sees a l9mino9s 5isc
wherever he looks than to sa> that he fancies it. *he best corrective to s9ch a preD95ice is
the =ollowing e?periment o= +echner4s.
*wo small slits are ma5e in a sh9tter( an5 one o= them is =ille5 with a piece o= re5 glass.
*he opposite wall is there=ore lit b> a mi?t9re o= white an5 re5 light. ) stick is now
place5 across the re5 slit@ its sha5ow is o= co9rse cast on the wall@ an5 the part o= the wall
occ9pie5 b> the sha5ow( tho9gh ill9minate5 onl> b> -hite ra>s =rom the other slit(
appearsAowing to the optical law o= contrastAa bright green. Let this sha5ow now be
looke5 at thro9gh a narrow t9be( which prevents an> part o= the wall e?ternal to the
sha5ow =rom being seen. %othing re5 is now in the spectator4s view( so that there can be
no e==ect o= contrast: the re5 glass ma> even be remove5@ none b9t white ra>s are passing
to his e>e =rom the sha5ow@ >et its colo9r remains green. )n5 in this case the chances are
that( 9nless previo9sl> warne5( he will tell the e?act tr9th@ he will a5mit( an5 even persist(
that what he sees is green. .e will sco9t the i5ea that the green is a mere memor> o= what
he saw be=ore he applie5 the t9be@ he will assert that it is presente5 to him as an
imme5iate =act.
i-38:!
)n5 s9ch is ass9re5l> the state o= the case@ b9t it is a state which( =rom the moment that
he has p9t the t9be to his e>e( is kept 9p p9rel> as a hall9cination( an5 witho9t regar5 to
the =acts o= the e?ternal worl5. *he 5el9sion is o= co9rse instantl> 5ispelle5 b> the
removal o= the t9beAwhen he perceives that the onl> light in the room is white( an5 that
the sha5ow is gre>@ b9t =or all that( he will probabl> never 5o9bt again that a gen9ine
hall9cination o= the senses is something more than Bmere =anc>.C
It is impossible to be too partic9lar on this point@ =or high a9thorities( even in the present
5a>( are =o9n5 to contest it. ,hen a person who habit9all> speaks the tr9th( an5 who is
not colo9rblin5( looks at an obDect an5 sa>s( BM> sensation is green(C the> contra5ict him(
an5 tell him that however m9ch he sees green( his sensation is gre,. ,hether this be a
mere mis9se o= lang9age( or Pas it seems to meQ a misconception o= =acts( it at an> rate
ren5ers impossible an> agreement as to the theor> o= hall9cinations. +or it ignores the
ver> point o= "aillarger4s contentionAthat images s9==icientl> vivi5 to be con=o9n5e5
with sensor> percepts have beco(e sensor> percepts.
,hen once the tr9th o= this contention is perceive5( it is also perceive5 that the previo9s
spec9lations ha5 been largel> 5irecte5 to a wrong iss9e@ an5 that the dual character o= a
=alse perception is a=ter all no other than that o= a tr9e perception. ) hall9cination( like an
or5inar> percept( is compose5 o= present sensations( an5 o= images which are the relics o=
past sensations. I= I see the =ig9re o= a man( thenAalike i= there be a man there an5 i=
there be no man thereAm> e?perience consists o= certain vis9al sensations( compo9n5e5
with a variet> o= m9sc9lar an5 tactile images( which represent to me properties o=
resistance( weight( an5 5istance@ an5 also with more remote an5 comple? images( which
enable me to re=er the obDect to the class (an, an5 to compare this specimen o= the class
with others whose appearance I can recall. I= "aillarger 5i5 not carr> o9t his view o=
hall9cinations to this length( the whole 5evelopment e?ists b> implication in the term b>
which he 5escribe5 themAps,cho6sensorial. *he partic9lar wor5 was perhaps an
9n=ort9nate one@ since it s9ggests Pas M. "inet has recentl> pointe5 o9t
2
Q that the
ps>chical element is relate5 to the sensorial somewhat as the so9l to the bo5>@ an5 so(
either that ps>chical events are in5epen5ent o= ph>sical con5itions( or that sensations are
not ps>chical i-383! events. :deo6sensational wo9l5 avoi5 this 5i==ic9lt>@ b9t the
obverse term which M. "inet proposesAcerebro6sensorialAis on the whole to be
pre=erre5. +or this brings 9s at once to the ph,sical gro9n5 where alone the ne?t part o=
the inE9ir> can be pro=itabl> p9rs9e5Athe inE9ir> into origin. +rom the stan5point o= to-
5a>( one rea5il> perceives how m9ch more 5e=inite an5 tangible the problems were
certain to become( as soon as the> were translate5 into ph>siological terms. /o =ar as the
controvers> ha5 been con59cte5 on a p9rel> ps>chological basis( it ha5 been sing9larl>
barren. In the vag9e 9nlocalise5 9se( Bthe sensesC an5 other ever-rec9rring terms become
so9rces o= 5rea5 to the rea5er. "9t as soon as it is aske5( ,here is the local seat o= the
abnormal occ9rrencer an5 on what partic9lar ph>sical con5itions 5oes it 5epen5rAlines
o= e?periment an5 observation at once s9ggest themselves( an5 the phenomena =all into
5istinct gro9ps.
S :. In its =irst =orm( the E9estion is one between central an5 peripheral origin. $o
hall9cinations originate in the brainAin the central mechanism o= perceptionr or in some
imme5iate con5ition o= the e>e( or o= the ear( or o= other partsr or is there possibl> some
Doint mo5e o= originr
+or a long time the h>pothesis o= an e?cl9sivel> central origin was m9ch in the
ascen5ant. "9t this was greatl> beca9seAas alrea5> note5AEsE9irol an5 the ol5er
writers 5i5 not recognise the sensor> element as tr9l> an5 literall> sensation( b9t regar5e5
the whole e?perience as simpl> a ver> vivi5 i5ea or memor>. I= the central origin is to be
establishe5( it m9st be b> something better than arbitrar> ps>chological 5istinctions.
.ibbert an5 +erriar( going to the other e?treme( conten5e5 that the memor> was a retinal
one@ i= a man sees what is not there( the> hel5( it can onl> be b> a 5irect recr95escence o=
past =eeling in his retina. B"9t(C 9rge5 EsE9irol( Bthe blind can have hall9cinations o=
vision@ the deaf can have hall9cinations o= hearing@ how can these originate in the
peripheral organsrC *he obvio9s answer( that this 5i5 not necessaril> thr9st the point o=
origin back as =ar as the cerebr9m( 5oes not seem to have been =orthcoming@ an5 the
opposite part> pre=erre5 to =all back on 5e=inite e?periment. *he> pointe5 o9t( =or
instance( that vis9al hall9cinations o=ten vanish when the e>es are close5@ or that the>
ma> be 5o9ble5 b> pressing one e>eball. *here was not eno9gh here( however( to show
that the e?ternal organs so m9ch as participated in i-38V! the process( m9ch less that
the> originated it( even in these partic9lar cases@ while =or other cases the observations
5i5 not hol5. *he =act that e?ternal obDects are hi55en =rom view b> the interposition o=
o9r own e>eli5s or an> other opaE9e obstacle( has become to 9s a piece o= absol9tel>
instinctive knowle5ge@ an5 we sho9l5 s9rel> e?pect that an obDect which was b9t the
spontaneo9s proDection o= a morbi5 brain( might still be s9ppresse5 b> movements an5
sensations which ha5 =or a li=etime been intimatel> associate5 with the s9ppression o=
obDects. )n5 as =or the 5o9bling b> press9re o= one e>eball( it might =airl> have been
represente5 as telling against the theor> o= retinal origin. +or the impressionAnot
coming =rom witho9tAwo9l5 cover the same retinal spot a=ter the 5isplacement o= the
e>eball as be=ore@ an5 the nat9ral h>pothesis seems certainl> to be that retinal i5entit>
wo9l5( in its mental e==ect( overpower the sensation o= the move5 e>eball4s position.
2

)n immense a5vance was ma5e b> "aillarger( who maintaine5 the central origin b>
reall> scienti=ic arg9ments. .e pointe5 o9t P2Q that the e?ternal organ ma> o=ten be
a==ecte5 b> local irritantsAin=lammation( blows( press9re( galvanismAwitho9t the
pro59ction o= an> more prono9nce5 =orm o= hall9cination than =lashes( or h9mmings@ that
is to sa>( the peripheral stim9lation sometimes =ails to 5evelop hall9cination( even 9n5er
the most =avo9rable con5itions@ PUQ that there is a =reE9ent correspon5ence o=
hall9cinations o= 5i==erent sensesAa man who sees the 5evil also hears his voice( an5
smells s9lph9rAan5 that it is impossible to re=er this correspon5ence to abnormalities o=
the e>e( ear an5 nose( occ9rring b> acci5ent at the same moment@ P:Q that hall9cinations
o=ten re=er to 5ominant i5easAa religio9s monomaniac will see imaginar> saints an5
angels( not imaginar> trees an5 ho9ses. .ence( arg9e5 "aillarger( Bthe point o= 5epart9re
o= hall9cinationsC is alwa>s Bthe intelligenceCAthe imagination an5 memor>Awhich
sets the sensor> machiner> in motion.
U
.e naivel> a5mitte5 that how this action o= an
immaterial principle on the ph>sical apparat9s takes place passes all conception@ b9t it
might be =orgiven to a me5ical man( writing =ort> >ears ago( i= i-388! he ha5 not =9ll>
realise5 Bbrain as an organ o= min5(C an5 so 5i5 not see that what he took =or a special
p9]]le in the theor> o= hall9cinations( is simpl> the =9n5amental p9]]le involve5 in ever>
mental act. 1assing him this( we ma> sa> that his treatment o= the E9estion entitles him to
the cre5it o= the second great 5iscover> abo9t hall9cinations. .e ha5 alrea5> ma5e clear
their gen9inel> sensor> E9alit>@ he now ma5e eE9all> clear the =act that the min5 Por its
ph>sical correlateQ is their creatorAthat the> are brain-pro59cts proDecte5 =rom within
o9twar5s.
*his is a most important tr9th@ b9t it is ver> =ar =rom being the whole tr9th. "aillarger
saw no via (edia between the theor> which he reDecte5Athat the nerves o= sense conve>
to the brain impressions which are there perceive5 as the phantasmal obDectAan5 the
theor> which he propo9n5e5( that Bthe intelligenceC Vi.e., =or 9s( the brain( as the seat o=
memories an5 imagesQ( o= its own accor5 an5 witho9t an> imp9lse =rom the peripher>(
e?cites the sensor> apparat9s. It seems never to have str9ck him that there ma> be cases
where the sense-organ s9pplies the e.citant, tho9gh the brain s9pplies the constructionA
that irritation passing =rom witho9t inwar5s ma> be a means o= setting in motion the
constr9ctive activit>. .e took into acco9nt certain states o= the organAe.g., =atig9e
pro59ce5 b> previo9s e?erciseAas increasing the s9sceptibilit> to e?citation =rom Bthe
intelligence(C an5 so as con5itions =avo9rable to hall9cination@ b9t he got no =9rther.
*he =acts o= hall9cination absol9tel> re=9se to len5 themselves to this in5iscriminate
treatment. +ollowing the path o= e?periment( we are almost imme5iatel> con=ronte5 with
t-o classes o= phenomena( an5 t-o mo5es o= e?citation. ,e nee5 not go( in5ee5( be>on5
the elementar> instances alrea5> mentione5. +echner4s e?periment( where green was seen
b> an e>e on which onl> white ra>s were =alling( =airl> ill9strates "aillarger4s 5octrineA
the green being pro59ce5 not b> an o9ter a==ection o= the e>e( b9t b> an inner a==ection o=
the brain. "9t in the case o= a person who has been staring at the s9n( the Ba=ter-imageC or
hall9cination can be clearl> trace5 to a contin9ing local e==ect in that small area o= the
retina which has D9st been abnormall> e?cite5@ an5 it will contin9e to present itsel=
wherever the e>e ma> t9rn( 9ntil rest has restore5 this area to its normal con5ition. ) still
simpler =orm o= change in the e?ternal organ is a blow on the e>e@ an5 the res9lting
BsparksC are gen9ine tho9gh embr>onic hall9cinations.
i-38W!
/9ch cases as these last are( however( har5l> t>pical@ =or in them the brain is not tr9l>
creative@ it merel> gives the inevitable response to the stim9li that reach it =rom below.
*he> are( moreover( nor(al e?periences( in the sense that the> wo9l5 occ9r similarl> to
all persons with normal e>es. Let 9s then take another instance( where the min54s creative
rGle is =9ll> apparent( while at the same time the primar> e?citation is clearl> not central.
-ertain hall9cinationsAas is well-knownAare unilateral, i.e., are perceive5 when Psa>Q
the right e>e or ear is acting( b9t cease when that action is obstr9cte5( tho9gh the le=t e>e
or ear is still =ree. %ow this in itsel= co9l5 not be taken( as some take it(
2
=or a proo= that
the e?citing ca9se was not central@ it might be a lesion a==ecting one si5e o= the brain. "9t
ver> commonl>( in these cases( a 5istinct lesion is =o9n5 in the partic9lar e>e or ear on
whose activit> the hall9cination 5epen5s.
U
It is then nat9ral to concl95e that the
hall9cination was the res9lt o= the lesion( an5 that the one-si5e5ness o= the one 5epen5e5
on the one-si5e5ness o= the other@ an5 the D9stice o= the concl9sion has been prove5 in
man> cases b> the =act that the hall9cination has cease5 when the local lesion has been
c9re5. Other cases which strongl> s9ggest a morbi5 con5ition o= the e?ternal organ are
those where the imaginar> =ig9re moves in accor5ance with the movements o= the e>e.
*he vis9al hall9cinations o= the blin5( an5 the a95itor> hall9cinations o= the 5ea=( wo9l5
also reasonabl> be re=erre5 to the same classAthe seat o= e?citation being then( not
necessaril> the e?ternal organ itsel=( b9t some point on the nervo9s path =rom the organ to
the brain. In the case( =or instance( o= a partl>-atrophie5 nerve( the morbi5 e?citation
wo9l5 be at the most e?ternal point where vital =9nction contin9e5.
:
It sho9l5 be note5( in
passing( that a 5istinct lesion( e.g., atroph> o= the globe( o= one e>e ma> give rise to
hall9cinations o= the sound e>e
3
Athe sight o= which then receives( i-387! so to speak(
the rebo9n5 o= the central 5ist9rbance initiate5 b> its =ellow.
S 3. "9t we ma> now procee5 a step =9rther. *he e?citation ma> be e?ternal not onl> in
the sense o= coming =rom the e?ternal organ, b9t in the sense o= coming =rom the e?ternal
-orld. It ma> be 59e not to an> abnormalit> o= the e>e or the nerve( b9t to the or5inar>
stim9l9s o= light-ra>s =rom real obDects. /ome interesting evi5ence on this point has been
latel> 5escribe5 b> M. "inet.
2
.is e?periments were con59cte5 on =ive h>sterical >o9ng
women at the /alpMtriNre( who( when h>pnotise5( co9l5 be ma5e to see an>thing that was
s9ggeste5 to them@ an5 also on an insane patient at /t. )nne( who ha5 a stan5ing vis9al
hall9cination o= her own. *he res9lts con=irme5 the r9le =irst en9nciate5 b> M. +HrHAthat
Bthe imaginar> obDect is perceive5 9n5er the same con5itions as a real oneC@ an5 to this
M. "inet a55s the =9rther concl9sion( that a sensation 5erive5 =rom a real e?ternal so9rce(
occ9p>ing the same position in space as the imaginar> obDect seeme5 to occ9p>( was an
in5ispensable =actor o= the hall9cination. /pace =ails me to 5escribe the res9lts in 5etail. It
is eno9gh to sa> that a prism applie5 to one e>e 5o9ble5 the imaginar> obDect@
U
that a sp>-
glass remove5 or appro?imate5 it( accor5ing as the obDect-glass or e>e-piece was applie5
to the patient4s e>e@ that a mirror re=lecte5 the obDect an5 gave a s>mmetrical image o= it@
an5 that the optical e==ect( as regar5s angles o= 5eviation an5 re=le?ion an5 all the 5etails
o= the 5eception( was in ever> case precisel> what it wo9l5 have been ha5 the obDect been
real instea5 o= imaginar>. .ere then we seem =airl> 5riven o9tsi5e the patient4s own
organism@ the concl9sion is almost irresistible that some point o= e?ternal space at or near
the seat o= the imagine5 obDect pla>s a real part in the phenomenon. *o this point M.
"inet gives the name o= point de repWre/ an5 he regar5s it as pro59cing a n9cle9s o=
sensation to which the hall9cination accretes itsel=. ,hen the point de repWre is in s9ch a
position as to be re=lecte5 b> the mirror( then the imaginar> obDect is re=lecte5( an5 not
otherwise@ the obDect is( so to speak( attache5 to its point de repWre, an5 will =ollow the
co9rse o= an> optical m9tations to which its e?ternal n9cle9s is s9bDecte5.
:

i-38X!
In these cases( it will be seen( the e?perience was reall> a sort o= monstro9s illusionA
totall> 5i==erent( however( =rom or5inar> misinterpretations o= sensor> impressions@ =or
we m9st beware o= con=o9n5ing the e?citation that comes =rom the point de repWre with
the sensor> element o= the hall9cination itsel=. *he =ormer is an 9nnotice5 peg =or the
percept@ the latter is its ver> =9lness an5 s9bstance( an5 is entirel> impose5 or evoke5 b,
the brain( not s9pplie5 to it. *he t>pe is too interesting to pass over: at the same time( I
am bo9n5 to sa> that it seems to be e?tremel> rare. I have ma5e man> en5eavo9rs to
obtain the prism-e==ects with h>pnotise5 Pb9t not h>stericalQ Bs9bDectsC@ b9t I have never
s9ccee5e5( e?cept when some conspic9o9s real obDect ha5 =irst been p9t 9n5er the
instr9ment( an5 the i5ea o= 5o9bling ha5 th9s been prominentl> s9ggeste5.
2
1ro=essor
"ernheim( o= %anc>( tells me i-3W;! that he has also ma5e repeate5 trials( an5 has never
con=irme5 the res9lts o= the /alpMtriNre. )n5 one =9rther reservation m9st be ma5e. It is
D9st conceivable that the changes wro9ght on the imaginar> percept were 59e( not to the
optical instr9ments( b9t to thought6transference. +or M. "inet an5 his assistants o= co9rse
knew themselves( in each case( the partic9lar optical e==ect to be e?pecte5. )n
e?perimenter who has not e?pressl> recognise5 the realit> o= tho9ght-trans=erence wo9l5
never think o= so arranging his e?periment that he himsel= sho9l5 not know( till a=ter the
res9lt( which instr9ment was in 9se or what was its position@ nor in5ee5 is it eas> to
imagine how s9ch a con5ition co9l5 in practice be carrie5 o9t. ,e have reason( moreover(
to think that the h>pnotic rapport, which enables the operator to impose a hall9cination
on the Bs9bDect(C is a con5ition 5eci5e5l> =avo9rable to telepathic in=l9ence. *he point
seems worth s9ggesting( i= onl> beca9se tho9ght-trans=erence is a possibilit> which will
ass9re5l> nee5 to be taken into acco9nt at man> points( in that wi5e investigation o=
h>sterical con5itions which is ass9ming so m9ch prominence in +rance. It wo9l5 be most
interesting i= a state o= hall9cination t9rne5 o9t to be one in which the Bs9bDectC is
speciall> s9sceptible to Btrans=erre5 impressions.C
S V. "9t in an> case( imaginar> obDects which are proDecte5 on a convenient =lat s9r=ace
=orm a ver> o9tl>ing class. +or the common r9n o= vis9al hall9cinations( even o= those
seen in goo5 light( we cannot ass9me the necessit> o= an> obDective points de repWre, or
an> 5e=inite e?ternal stim9lation o= the retina.
2
On the contrar>( i-3W2! the> have ever>
appearance o= being centrall, initiated, as well as centrall> constr9cte5. +or instance( it is
E9ite as eas> to make the patient see obDects in =ree spaceAsa>( o9t in the mi55le o= the
room@ an5 s9ch is the common =orm o= spontaneo9s hall9cination( both o= sane an5
insane persons( where h9man =ig9res are seen. *he e>es are then =oc9sse5( not on the real
obDects =rom which points de repWre wo9l5 have to be s9pplie5( b9t on the =ig9re itsel=@
which ma> be m9ch nearer than the wall behin5 it( an5 ma> th9s reE9ire a ver> 5i==erent
a5D9stment o= the e>es. +or e>es a5D9ste5 to the imaginar> obDect( the real obDects behin5(
tho9gh in the line o= sight( ma> be E9ite o9tsi5e the range o= clear vision@ an5 we can
scarcel> s9ppose points de repWre to e?cite a percept whose position is s9ch that( =or it to
be visible( the> themselves m9st cease to be so. )n5 the 5i==ic9lt> o= regar5ing e?ternal
points o= e?citation as a necessar> con5ition becomes even greater when the hall9cination
is a (oving one. I re=er not to the cases where the imaginar> =ig9re =ollows the
movements o= the e>e( owing to some morbi5 a==ection o= that organ which acts as a real
moving s9bstrat9m =or it( b9t to those where the e>e =ollows the =ig9re in its seemingl>
in5epen5ent co9rse. .ere we sho9l5 have to ass9me that the point de repWre keeps
changing@ that is( as the imaginar> =ig9re passes along the si5e o= the room( in =ront o= a
m9ltit95e o= 5i==erent obDectsApict9res( paper( =9rnit9re( [c.Athe ver> vario9s
e?citations =rom these several obDects act in t9rn as the basis o= the same 5el9sive image.
*here seem no gro9n5s =or s9ch an ass9mption. ,hat is there to pro59ce or to g9i5e the
selection o= ever-new points de repWrer *o what e?ternal ca9se co9l5 we ascribe the
perpet9al s9bstit9tion o= one o= them =or anotherr On the view that the =ig9re ma> be
centrall> initiate5( no less than centrall> constr9cte5( none o= these 5i==ic9lties occ9r.
/9ch a =ig9re ma> D9st as well appear in the empt> centre o= the room as on a piece o=
car5-boar5( an5 ma> D9st as well move as stan5 still. /tronger still are cases where the
hall9cination is not in the line o= vision. $r. -harcot has note5 a c9rio9s =orm o=
9nilateral hall9cination( which occ9rs sometimes to h>sterical patients with i-3WU!
normal e>es( on the si5e on which the> are hemianOstheticAanimals passing rapi5l> in a
row =rom behin5 =orwar5s( which 9s9all> disappear when the e>es are t9rne5 5irectl> to
them.
2
)nother t>pe where the hall9cination passes o9t o= the range o= 5irect vision is
presente5 b> "a>le4s case( where a spi5er 9se5 =irst to appear li=e-si]e( an5 then gra59all>
to e?pan5 till it =ille5 the whole room.
U
/ir F. +. ,. .erschel 5escribes an analogo9s
e?perience o= his own. *he same sort o= arg9ment applies to hall9cinations where a =ig9re
appears repeate5l>( b9t onl> in one place( while still not an ill9sion 59e to an> real =eat9re
in the placeAas in the case o= a patient o= Morel4s(
:
who alwa>s saw a hea5less man at
the bottom o= the gar5en( or o= an in=ormant o= m> own whose phantasmal visitant
con=ine5 itsel= to a partic9lar be5@ an5 also where the percipient is ha9nte5 b> a =ig9re
which can be seen onl> in one 5irection( as in "aillarger4s case o= a 5octor who co9l5 not
t9rn witho9t =in5ing a little black cow at his si5e.
3
*he min5 ma> locate its p9ppet
accor5ing to its own vagaries@ an5 this last e?perience is ver> like a sensor> embo5iment
o= the well-known 5el9sion that somebo5> is alwa>s behin5 one.
,e =in5( however( o9r clearest e?amples o= the central initiation o= hall9cinations( when
we t9rn to cases where e?citation =rom the o9ter worl5 is plainl> absent. *his class
incl95es phantasms seen in complete 5arkness(
V
an5 also hall9cinations o= pain( an5
probabl> the large maDorit> o= a95itor> hall9cinations( which have so =ar been i-3W:!
5isregar5e5. .ere the alternative is simple. *he initiation m9st either occ9r in the brain(
or be 59e to some morbi5 or abnormal con5ition o= the o9ter sensor> apparat9s. ,e have
alrea5> 59l> note5 the latter mo5e as a =reE9ent one. "9t the =act that certain
hall9cinations have been 9n5o9bte5l> 59e to inD9r> o= the e?ternal organ 5oes not
establish( or even strongl> s9ggest( the e?istence o= a similar con5ition in cases where it
5e=ies 5etection.
2
)s a r9le( where the abnormal con5ition has been ma5e o9t(
hall9cinations have not been its onl> res9lt. *he 9lceration o= the cornea which initiates
vis9al hall9cinations has beg9n b> a==ecting the vision o= real obDects. Ill9sions( or =alse
perceptions o= colo9r( 9s9all> prece5e the appearance o= more 5istinct phantasms.
U
/o( in
cases o= more transient abnormalit>As9ch as the illusions h,pnagogi2ues mentione5 in
the last chapterAother signs prece5e the hall9cination. *he observer( whose e>es are
heav> with sleep( begins b> seeing l9mino9s points an5 streaks( which shi=t an5 change
in remarkable wa>s@ an5 it is =rom these as n9clei that the s9bseE9ent pict9res 5evelop.
Mr. Fames "ritten( o= Isleworth( tells me that( as a bo>( he o=ten saw in the 5ark a 5istant(
tin> point o= light( which approache5 an5 became an e>e( then t9rne5 into a =ace( an5
then( coming nearer( B5evelope5 into a mass o= ver> horrible =aces(C E9ite 9nlike an> that
he ha5 ever seen or imagine5. /imilarl> one o= the seers o= B+aces in the $arkC %!t.
Ja(ess 7aAette, +ebr9ar> 2;th( 2Vth( an5 U;th( 277UQ 5escribe5 the =reE9ent vision o= a
shower o= gol5en spangles( which change5 into a =lock o= sheep. %ow( since o9r
ph>siological knowle5ge leaves no 5o9bt that the points( streaks an5 spangles are 59e to
the con5ition o= the retina( it is sa=e in s9ch cases to concl95e that this con5ition has
initiate5 the hall9cination. "9t it is not eE9all> sa=e to concl95e that the process m9st be
the same =or cases where the points( streaks an5 spangles are absent. I 5o not =orget that
even a normal e>e is s9bDect to a==ections which escape attention 9ntil a special e==ort is
ma5e to realise them. "9t wherever the hall9cination can be gra59all> trace5 in its
5evelopment =rom more r95imentar> sensations( these last seem to be ver> 5istinct an5
e?ceptional things( 9nknown in or5inar> e?perience. Moreover( the vision itsel= is
commonl> o= a changing kin5Athe =eat9res 5eveloping rapi5l> o9t o= one another@ i-
3W3! o=ten also o= a swarming kin5A5etaile5 lan5scapes( elaborate kalei5oscopic
patterns( showers o= =lowers( lines o= writing on a l9mino9s gro9n5( an5 so on.
2
%ow(
compare s9ch e?periences with or5inar> cases o= Bghost-seeingC in the 5ark. ) man
wakes in the night( an5 sees a l9mino9s =ig9re at the =oot o= his be5. .ere the
hall9cination comes s955enl>( single an5 complete( to a person whose e>es are open an5
9n=atig9e5@ it is not prece5e5 b> an> pec9liar a==ection o= vision( is not 5evelope5 o9t o=
an>thing( an5 5oes not move( or swarm( or 5evelop =resh =eat9res@ nor 5oes it =9l=il the
test o= hall9cinations 59e to the state o= the e?ternal organ( b> moving as the e>e moves.
U

i-3WV!
/9ch visions are commonl> e?plaine5Aan5 o=ten( no 5o9bt( with D9sticeAas 59e to
nervo9sness or e?pectanc>. "9t nervo9sness an5 e?pectanc> act b> e?citing the min5( not
b> congesting the retina@ the> work on the imagination( an5 their ph>sical seat is not in
the e>e b9t in the brain. ,e sho9l5 concl95e( then( that the brain initiates the
hall9cination@ an5 that noct9rnal visions( which var> so greatl> both in themselves an5 in
the general con5itions o= their appearance( var> also in their seat o= origin.
*he a95itor> cases are even plainer. +or here the h>pothesis o= points de repWre seems
E9ite o9t o= the E9estion. It has never been observe5 that the hall9cinations occ9r when
the attention is being =i?e5 on partic9lar e?ternal so9n5s( or begin or cease s>nchrono9sl>
with the beginning or cessation o= s9ch so9n5s: in =act silence seems to be a speciall>
=avo9rable con5ition =or them. *he onl> alternative( there=ore( to s9pposing them to be
centrall> initiate5( is to s9ppose some abnormalit> in the e?ternal organ itsel=. /9ch an
abnormalit> has o=ten been 5etecte5@ an5 even when not absol9tel> 5etecte5( it ma>
sometimes be in=erre5 =rom other s>mptoms. *h9s( an enlarge5 caroti5 canal( or a
stoppage which pro59ces an 9nwonte5 press9re on the vessels( will =irst make itsel= =elt
b> h9mmings an5 b9]]ings@ hall9cination then sets in( an5 imaginar> voices are hear5
which we sho9l5 nat9rall> trace to the local irritation that pro59ce5 the =ormer so9n5s.
2

"9t the analog> is not obvio9s between these i-3W8! cases an5 those where there are no
h9mmings an5 b9]]ings( an5 no gro9n5s =or s9pposing that there is a stoppage or lesion
o= an> sort. )mong a n9mero9s( tho9gh m9ch neglecte5( class o= phenomenaAthe cas9al
hall9cinations o= the saneAthe commonest =orm b> ver> =ar is =or persons to hear their
name calle5 when no one is b>. *he e?perience is o=ten remarkabl> 5istinct( ca9sing the
hearer to start an5 t9rn ro9n5. It is not at all connecte5 with con5itions that pro59ce
bloo5-press9re( s9ch as l>ing with one ear closel> presse5 on the pillow@ it comes in a
s955en an5 5etache5 wa>( an5 apparentl> at E9ite acci5ental moments. )nother
e?perience( which I have m>sel= occasionall> ha5 when going to sleep( b9t witho9t an>
e?ternal press9re on the ear( is =or sentences which are =loating in one4s hea5 to take on a
slightl> e?ternalise5 =ormAa central D ill9sion h>pnagogiE9e(C in contrast to the vis9al
sort which are 59e to the ;icht6staub o= the retina. )n5 when we come to insane cases(
we =in5 a more positive re=9tation o= peripheral origin. ) well-known =orm o=
hall9cination occ9rs in the =orm o= 5ialog9e@ the patient ret9rns answers to the voices that
ha9nt him( an5 is answere5 in t9rn. .e can reg9late the co9rse o= his own 5el9sion. $r. V.
1arant has recentl> reporte5 the case o= an as>l9m-patient who( when thwarte5 or
anno>e5( wo9l5 go to special spots to cons9lt imaginar> a5visers@ the replies that she
receive5Ait nee5 har5l> be sai5Aalwa>s correspon5e5 with her own 5esires an5
preD95ices. )nother insane woman 9se5 to pla> Bo55 an5 evenC with an imaginar> pre=ect
o= police( whose g9esses were alwa>s wrong.
2
,e clearl> cannot s9ppose here an
inter(ittent abnormalit> o= the ear( which alwa>s sets in b> chance at the ver> moment
when the imaginar> speaker4s replies =all 59e. It ma> be a55e5 that even where a 5istinct
morbi5 ca9se can be trace5( it is as o=ten as not a central ca9se. )=ter a long co9rse o=
alcohol a man begins to hear voices@ b9t alcohol( while a5mitte5l> a==ecting brain-tiss9e(
has no recognise5 ten5enc> to a==ect the ear.
)gain( we have to remember the clear relation which o=ten e?ists between sensor>
hall9cinations an5 more general i5eas an5 5el9sions.
U
*his remark( which is a common-
place o= alienists( applies =ar be>on5 the limits o= insanit>. One o= the commonest i-3WW!
inci5ents o= the witch-cases is the apparition o= the s9ppose5 witch to the victim. *he
e?planation o= this phenomenon m9st s9rel> be so9ght in the pre-occ9pation o= =eeble
an5 e?citable min5s with a partic9lar terri=>ing s9bDect. )n5 these cases present a =9rther
=eat9re( the importance o= which has( I think( escape5 notice( an5 which points still more
5ecisivel> to a p9rel> cerebral origin. *he> comprise the most remarkable e?amples on
recor5 o= hall9cinations o= pain. *he ver5ict o= the victims4 senses o=ten was that the
witch was not onl> visibl> present( b9t was tort9ring them.
2
*he pains were o=ten
5istinctl> localise5( an5 were speci=icall> 5escribe5Aas beating( scratching( pinching(
biting@ while the parts a==ecte5 were( o= co9rse( not being e?ternall> e?cite5 more than
an> other part o= the bo5>.
) =9rther arg9ment =or the central initiation o= man> hall9cinations o= the 5istinctl>
morbi5 sort ma> be 5rawn =rom the course which the morbi5 process takes. *he =irst
stage is o=ten not a sensor> hall9cination at all@ it is a mere 5el9sion@ the patient thinks
that plots are being concocte5 against him. )=ter a time his secret enemies begin to reveal
themselves( an5 he hears their ab9sive an5 threatening lang9age. ,e s9rel> cannot
ascribe the sensor> e?perience here to a lesion o= the ear which happens to occ9r
in5epen5entl>( b9t reg9larl>( at this partic9lar stage@ it =ollows( on the other han5( in the
most nat9ral wa>( i= we regar5 it as impose5 =rom within( as soon as the 5isease has gone
=ar eno9gh =or the min5 to clothe its imaginar> =ears in a more vivi5 =orm. /peciall>
concl9sive in this respect are the cases where voices begin to a55ress the patient in the
most internal wa>( witho9t so9n5( an5 onl> a=ter a time take on a 5istinctl> a95ible
character.
U
"9t o= all the cases in point the most interesting are those where one t>pe o=
hall9cination assails one si5e o= the bo5> an5 another the other.
:
*he> con=irm what was
sai5 aboveAthat the mere =act o= a hall9cination being unilateral, or pec9liar to one si5e
o= the bo5>( tho9gh s9ggesting a 5e=ect in the e?ternal organ( is b> no means a i-3W7!
proo= o= it.
2
*he 5o9ble sensor> e?perience =ollows with e?actness the co9rse o= the
5el9sions. *he patient =irst s9==ers =rom melanchol> an5 5isco9ragement@ this 5evelops
into a belie= that he is s9rro9n5e5 b> enemies: an5 he then hears ins9lting voices on the
right si5e. *o this 9nhapp> stage s9ccee5s in 59e co9rse one o= e?altation an5 sel=-
esteem@ the patient believes himsel= to be some ro>al personage. )n5 now enco9raging
an5 e9logistic voices present themselves on the le=t si5e. B*he goo5 an5 the evil genii
=orm a sort o= Manicheism which governs him.C .ere the imagination( as its operations
become more comple? an5 establish an opposition o= character between its creat9res(
takes a5vantage Pso to speakQ o= the =act that the bo5> has two opposite si5es@ it locates
=rien5s an5 =oes D9st as the> might be locate5 in a pict9re or a pla> which represente5 an
impen5ing contest. It will scarcel> be maintaine5 that b> acci5ent the le=t ear began to be
locall> a==ecte5 D9st at the time when the 5evelopment o= the plot necessitate5 the
entrance o= the =rien5l> power 9pon the scene. )nother case involves the sense o= to9ch.
) man( a=ter pra>ing =or a >ear that his actions might be $ivinel> g9i5e5( hear5 a voice
sa>( BI will save th> so9lC@ an5 =rom that time =orwar5 he =elt his le=t or his right ear
to9che5 b> an invisible atten5ant( accor5ing as he was 5oing right or wrong.
U
$i5 the
a95itor> hall9cination coinci5e b> chance with the commencement o= local irritation in
the pinnaJ $r. Magnan a55s three e?amples o= alcoholism( where ab9se an5 threats were
hear5 on one si5e( praise an5 consolation on the other. In these cases there were crises o=
=9r>( in which hall9cinations o= all the senses took place( involving both si5es alike( an5
masking the more or5inar> con5ition. On the 5ecline o= these crises( the oppose5 a95itor>
hall9cinations recommence5. It seems impossible to resist $r. Magnan4s view( that the
poison( 5istrib9te5 thro9gh the whole brain( provokes at times a general crisis@ b9t that
when this s9bsi5es( it localises its action at the weakest spot. /ho9l5 this happen to be the
a95itor> centre on one si5e( a single i-3WX! 9nilateral hall9cination wo9l5 be the res9lt@
b9t i= both centres remain a==ecte5 the proDection ma> ass9me the comple? two-si5e5
=orm.
"9t perhaps the strongest cases o= all in =avo9r o= a p9rel> central initiation >et remainA
the cases o= hall9cination voluntaril, originated.
2
Y~Z ,igan4s instance has o=ten been
E9ote5( o= the painter who( a=ter care=9ll> st95>ing a sitter4s appearance( co9l5 proDect it
visibl> into space( an5 paint the portrait not =rom the original b9t =rom the phantasm.
U
.e
en5e5 b> con=o9n5ing the phantasmal =ig9res with real ones( an5 became insane.
"aillarger reports another painter( Martin( as having similarl> proDecte5 pict9res( which
so intereste5 him that he reE9este5 an>one who took 9p a position in =ront o= them to
move.
:
)n5 I ma> a55 that in one o= the cases o= persistent drea(6i(ages mentione5 in
the last chapter( m> in=ormant( Lie9t.--olonel .artle>( o= .artle>( near $art=or5( remarks(
BI can alwa>s pro59ce this phenomenon( i= I know that I am 5reaming( b> opening m>
e>es( which wakes me( b9t the 5ream-image persists.C I con=ess that I sho9l5 have been
tempte5 to regar5 the vol9ntar> cases as concl9sive evi5ence o= central initiation( ha5 I
not =o9n5 so high an a9thorit> as 1ro=essor "all e?plicitl> claiming them as
hall9cinations provoke5 b> an Babnormal sensation.C
3
.e 5oes not tell 9s what the
abnormal sensation is( or what ca9ses it. .e contents himsel= with pointing o9t that
hall9cinations are ver> like 5reams@ that some 5reams are Pan5( there=ore( apparentl>( all
i-37;! 5reams m9st beQ provoke5 b> e?ternal stim9lationAsa> a knock at the 5oor@ an5
that we can sometimes 5irect the co9rse o= a 5ream at will: ergo, it is eas> to see how
some people ma> start a hall9cination at will. It wo9l5 be more to the p9rpose i= he wo9l5
intro59ce 9s to a 5reamer who can 5esigne5l> start a pre-arrange5 5ream b> knocking at
his own 5oor.
S 8. *here is onl> one other point( in relation to the E9estion o= origin( that nee5s special
attention@ an5 that concerns hall9cinations o= what ma> be calle5 the lowest or most
r95imentar> gra5e. *here is a class o= e?perience which all the writers who 5escribe it
2

agree to treat as a E9ite 9niE9e t>pe( an5 o= which =reE9ent e?amples have been observe5
among religio9s m>stics( an5 persons who believe themselves to be in 5irect
comm9nication with spirit9al g9i5es. *he> 5escribe a voice which is >et so9n5less(
which 9tters the Blang9age o= the so9lC insi5e them( an5 which the> hear b> means o= a
Bsi?th sense(C an5 witho9t an> apparent participation o= the ear. BI sho9l5 hear the voice
D9st as well i= I were stone 5ea=(C s9ch a person will sa>@ D m> ear has nothing to 5o with
it.C
U
Owing to the absence o= a 5e=inable sensor> E9alit>( "aillarger 5isting9ishe5 this
class as ps,chic
:
hall9cinations( in opposition to ps,cho6sensorial/ an5 M. "inet himsel=(
who insists on an e?ternal or peripheral basis =or all other hall9cinations( is incline5 to
treat these as e?ceptional( an5 to grant them an origin =rom within. )s one who hol5s that
that is eE9all> the origin o= a large n9mber o= the 9n5o9bte5 ps,cho6sensorial
hall9cinations( I cannot recognise this e?ception@ an5 to me the class in E9estion is o=
interest( not as distinguished =rom the ps>cho-sensorial =amil>( b9t as a tr9e species o=
that gen9s( presenting the sensorial element re59ce5 to its ver> lowest terms. I regar5 it as
the =irst stage o= a gra59ate5 seriesAthe embr>onic instance o= the investit9re o= an
image or representation with a sensor> or presentative character. In proportion as the
sensorial element in hall9cination is atten9ate5 an5 5im( or =9ll an5 5istinct( will the
perception appear internal or e?ternal@ an5 these cases are simpl> the most internal sort(
between which an5 the most i-372! e?ternal sort there e?ists vario9s 5egrees of partial
e?ternalisation. *his view has s9rel> ever>thing to recommen5 it. ,e can b9t take the
perceiver4s own acco9ntAthat he has a 5istinct impression o= wor5s@ an5 that this
impression has an act9alit> which clearl> separates it =rom the mere image or memor> o=
wor5s. .ow can this separation be conceive5( e?cept b> recognising the presence o= a
gen9ine( tho9gh =aint( sensorial elementr
2
*he E9estion is o= importance to m> arg9ment@
=or to a5mit a gen9ine sensor> element in the most BinternalC species o= hall9cinationA
which all agree to be centrall> initiate5Awill practicall> be to a5mit a similar initiation
=or other ps>cho-sensorial hall9cinations.
*he 'ev. 1. .. %ewnham( o= Maker Vicarage( $evonport( alrea5> so o=ten mentione5(
has s9pplie5 me with some e?amples which are eminentl> in point. .e has ha5 on several
occasions Bps>chicC hall9cinations in the or5inar> senseAan impression o= wor5s which
Bseem to be =orme5 an5 spoken within the chest.C "9t he has also e?perience5 an5 clearl>
5isting9ishe5 another t>pe o= hall9cinationAa soundless voice( which >et seems to speak
into his right ear Phe is 5ea= o= the le=t earQ( an5 which th9s pro59ces the sense o=
e?ternalit>( tho9gh not o= act9al so9n5. ,e m9st s9rel> recognise this as the stage D9st
above that o= Bps>chicC hall9cination.
U
)n5 we meet with i-37U! e?actl> parallel 5egrees
o= visual e?ternalisation. I have receive5 several acco9nts =rom persons who pro=ess to
see with the Bspirit9al e>e(C an5 whose lang9age betra>s the str9ggle to 5escribe
something i-37:! that is in5escribableAseeing that is not seeing( a perception o= obDects
which >et are not perceive5 as in the e?ternal worl5. )n5 D9st higher in the scale we have
the stage o= "lake4s visionar> e?periences. .e constantl> saw slightl>-obDecti=ie5 =ig9res
with which he was on s9ch =amiliar terms as to take their likenesses@ b9t on onl> one
occasion in his li=e 5i5 he see a BghostCAi.e., have a completel> obDecti=ie5 hall9cination
Awhich so terri=ie5 him that he r9she5 o9t o= the ho9se.
2

In the same connection( it is o= interest to observe that below even the lowest stage o=
sensor> hall9cination there is a t>pe o= 5el9sion which ma> take a ver> 5istinct =orm( an5
which looks like potential hall9cinationAnamel>( the sense o= a presence, =elt not merel>
in the general wa> which probabl> ever> one has e?perience5( b9t as the presence o= a
partic9lar person. It is well e?empli=ie5 in the =ollowing acco9nt( =rom Mr. ,. 5e V.
,a5e( o= *he $owns( $9nmow:A
B)bo9t 3 >ears ago I awoke abo9t U o4clock in the morning( with a c9rio9s =eeling that a
great =rien5 o= mine( who is in In5ia( was in m> room. I 5o not think I ha5 been 5reaming
abo9t him. I =elt an irresistible imp9lse to call o9t his name( an5( altho9gh I was wi5e
awake( it took me some moments to realise that he co9l5 not be in the room. It was E9ite
5ark( an5 as soon as I ha5 satis=ie5 m>sel= that it was merel> a 5el9sion( I went o== to
sleep again. /ome time in 277U( I was thinking abo9t m> brother( who is in )merica(
be=ore I went to sleep. In the mi55le o= the night I s955enl> woke 9p( with the =eeling that
he was in the room an5 ha5 spoken to me. I act9all> listene5 =or a secon5 or two( in the
anticipation that he wo9l5 speak again. .earing nothing( I controlle5 a great inclination
to call o9t his name( an5 then( a=ter arg9ing to m>sel= that it m9st be all nonsense( I went
to sleep.C
)nother o= m> correspon5ents has ha5 a similar impression with respect to a sister. BOn
one or two occasions the =eeling has been so strong that I have got 9p an5 le=t the room.C
*he close connection between a vivi5 sense o= presence an5 act9al hall9cination is
=9rther shown b> e?amples where the one 5evelopes into the other. *h9s( Mr. Foseph
0irk( o= the )95it O==ice( 'o>al )rsenal( ,oolwich( in=orms me that a niece o= his ha5(
one night( an overwhelming sense o= an 9nseen visitant( which laste5 some time be=ore it
c9lminate5 in a clear a95itor> impression( the wor5s( BI m9st go nowAgoo5-night.C
)nother in=ormantAa la5> o= vigoro9s practical intelligenceAe?perience5 latel> a
similar s9bDective conviction o= a partic9lar =rien54s presence Pprobabl> 59e to the =act
that she was apprehen5ing i-373! news o= this =rien54s 5eathQ( an5 then saw her =orm(
Bstan5ing in a nat9ral attit95e an5 looking straight at m> =ace. *he colo9r o= her 5ress an5
cap( an5 the =ashion o= both( were absol9tel> =amiliar to me.C In s9ch a process as this(
we seem to see the central origin absol9tel> lai5 bare.
S W. *he general concl9sion =rom the =oregoing paragraphs is plainAthat hall9cinations
o= the senses ma> be spontaneo9sl> initiate5 b> the brain@ that the> are o=ten a p9re
proDection o= the brain =rom within o9twar5s. *he h>pnotic Bs9bDectC will smack his lips
over the sweetness o= s9gar when there is nothing in his mo9thAwill sni== with 5elight at
a piece o= woo5 when tol5 it is a rose. ,hen the brain 5oes =or sight an5 hearing what it
there 5oes =or taste an5 smell( we have a percept which 5i==ers =rom an or5inar> e?ternal
percept onl> in lacking the obDective basis which it s9ggests. )n5 looking back =rom this
point( we can completel> acco9nt =or the =act notice5 in the prece5ing chapter( that
hall9cinations occ9r with 5isproportionate =reE9enc> to people who are in be5. +or it is
onl> nat9ral that images sho9l5 ass9me the 9nwonte5 vivi5ness o= sensations especiall>
at those moments when the e?ternal organs o= sense are not occ9pie5 with other
sensations. ,e know that the sort o= 5a>-5ream which comes nearest to hall9cinations is
=avo9re5 b> repose o= the sense-organs@ that when we want to call 9p the vivi5 image o= a
scene( to make it as realAas sensorialAas possible( we close o9r e>es. One step =arther(
an5 we realise the complete contin9it> o= the waking an5 the sleeping phenomena.
$reams are b> =ar the most =amiliar instances o= the proDection b> the min5 o= images that
are mistaken =or realities: in5ee5( it is D9st beca9se the> are so =amiliar( an5 waking
hall9cinations comparativel> so rare( that there is a 5anger o= overlooking the
ps>chological i5entit> o= the two classes. ,e might call 5reams the normal =orm o=
hall9cination( or waking hall9cinations the pathological =orm o= 5reaming@ an5 we might
present the waking-5reams o= haschisch-poisoning an5 o= starvation
2
as a sort o=
interme5iate link. *he normal 5ream 5isappears when sleep 5eparts@ having been able to
impose its images as realities onl> beca9se in sleep o9r sensor> =ac9lties are to a great
e?tent ben9mbe5( an5 i-37V! images cannot there=ore be compare5 with act9al
presentations. *h9s the normal 5ream cannot s9rvive the corrective which the contact o=
the waking-senses with the e?ternal worl5 s9pplies@ it =a5es like a can5le at s9nrise@ an5
its images( i= the> s9rvive( s9rvive as images an5 nothing more( memories o= a vanishe5
worl5. *he hall9cination( or pathological 5ream( on the other han5( 5oes not reE9ire to be
th9s g9ar5e5 =rom comparison with real presentations@ its BimagesC are able to resist the
normal corrective( =or the> are o=ten as =9ll> charge5 with sensor> E9alit> as the e?ternal
realities which compete with them.
S 7. I ma> now procee5 to an altogether 5i==erent E9estionAnamel>( at what part or parts
o= the brain the constructive process takes place( an5 in what it can be conceive5 to
consist. *he 5istinction that has so long occ9pie5 9s( between central an5 peripheral
initiation( ma> hence=orth be 5ismisse5@ =or wherever initiated, hall9cinations are
ass9re5l> constructed b> the brain =rom its own reso9rces. )n initiating stim9l9s ma>
probabl> come =rom an> point on the line =rom the e?ternal organ to the central termin9s(
along which a nervo9s c9rrent passes in o9r normal perception o= obDects. "9t that
stim9l9s will clearl> not 5etermine what the imaginar> obDect shall be( or invest it with
an> o= its E9alities: it will merel> set the constr9ctive machiner> in motion@ an5 the same
stim9l9sAthe same in=lammation o= the e>e or earAma> set the machiner> in motion a
h9n5re5 times( an5 each time evoke a 5i==erent hall9cination. ,here then( an5 what( is
this constr9ctive machiner>r It wo9l5 be o9t o= place here to attempt an> min9te acco9nt
o= the vario9s theories( which have =or the most part reste5 on anatomical observation@
an5 the more so( that their 5etails are still sub 5udice. "9t in a more general wa> the
problem can be state5( an5 even I think to some e?tent 5etermine5.
*here can be no 5o9bt that certain sensor> centres are connecte5 in a special wa> with
hall9cinations. *his =ollows( as soon as the =9ll sensor> character o= the phenomena is
recognise5@ =or that character can onl> be the ps>chical e?pression o= ph>sical changes at
the Bsensor> centresCAthe spots where Pin the or5inar> cr95e b9t convenient lang9ageQ
impressions are trans=orme5 into sensations. )s to the e?act localit> o= these spots( there
is a con=lict o= views which ma> be to some e?tent reconcile5 i= we regar5 the process as
taking place in several stages. /ome PL9>s( 'itti( +o9rniHQ believe the principal scene o=
action to be the large mi5-wa> masses calle5 i-378! the optic thalami@ others P/chro5er
van 5er 0olk( Me>nert( 0ahlba9m( 0an5insk>Q wo9l5 place it lower 5ownAthe centre
=or vision( =or instance( in the corpora E9a5rigemina@ while others again P.it]ig( +errier(
*amb9riniQ locate it higher 9p( in the corte? itsel=. "9t the a9thorities are generall> agree5
in connecting the several =orms o= sense with several limite5 areas( 5istinct =rom the
larger tracts associate5 with the most highl> 5evelope5 phenomena o= intelligence.
) 5iagram ma> make the relation o= the parts clearer.
Let ) represent the retina o= the e>e( which in itsel= has no more power o= seeing
than a mirror has. Let " represent the gro9p o= cells in the brain which constit9tes the
sensor> centreAsa> the Bvis9alising centreCAan5 which is e?cite5 into activit>
whenever sight takes place. )n5 let - represent the cortical or e?terior s9bstance o= the
hemispheres o= the brain( part o= which is e?cite5 into activit> whenever an> o= the higher
ps>chical =ac9ltiesAintelligent perception( imagination( comparison( memor>( volitionA
are calle5 into pla>. ) is connecte5 with " b> the =ibres o= the optic nerve( an5 " is
connecte5 with - b> other nerve-=ibres. %ow an, 5ist9rbance o= the cells at " which
reaches a certain intensit> will be accompanie5 b> the sensation o= sight@ an5 when this
5ist9rbance is propagate5 onwar5s in the nat9ral co9rse =rom " to -( this sensation will
5evelop into a complete perceptAan obDect =or the min5Awhich can be re=lecte5 on(
compare5 with other obDects( an5 remembere5. "9t the in5ispensable eventAthe
5ist9rbance or 5ischarge at "Ama> itsel= originate in several 5i==erent wa>s. It ma> be
e?cite5 P2Q normall>( =rom )( b> the stim9l9s o= e?ternal ra>s o= light( which makes 9s
see s9rro9n5ing obDects@ PUQ acci5entall>( =rom )( b> the stim9l9s o= a blow on the e>e(
which makes 9s see sparks@ P:Q pathologicall>( or b> morbi5 irritation at )( or on the line
o= nerve ) "@ an5 P3Q pathologicall> or abnormall>( b9t spontaneo9sl>( at " itsel=.
%ow =or one view o= the constr9ction o= hall9cinations these 5ata are s9==icient. ,e have
onl> to s9ppose that in cases P:Q an5 P3Q the agitation at the sensor> centre =alls rea5il>
into certain lines an5 combinations( so as not onl> to pro59ce a large variet> o= sensations
Acolo9rs( i= it be the vis9al centre( so9n5s( i= it be the a95itor> oneAb9t to arrange these
elements in vario9s 5e=inite gro9ps. Ever>thing will now procee5 precisel> as i= these
e==ects ha5 been 59e to the presence o= a real obDect. *he e?citation will p9rs9e its
or5inar> 9pwar5 co9rse i-37W! to the highest parts o= the brain( an5 will lea5 to
intelligent perception o= the sensor> gro9p as an obDect@ while( in the most complete or
Be?ternalC =orm o= hall9cinations( it is possible that b> a >et =9rther process a re=l9ent
c9rrent passes 5ownwar5s to the e?ternal organ(
2
to which the perception is re=erre5( D9st
as tho9gh its obDect were reall> acting on the e>e or ear =rom o9tsi5e. *here then is the
=9ll-=le5ge5 hall9cination@ an5 its creative machiner>( accor5ing to this view( lies wholl>
in the sensor> centre.
"9t there is another view. I have note5 four wa>s in which the machiner> ma> be set in
motion@ b9t there is a fifth possible wa>. *he e?citation ma> come do-n-ards =rom -A
=rom the seats o= i5eation an5 memor>. )n5 clearl> this sort o= e?citation will have a
5ominance o= its own. It will have its o-n ps>chical co9nterpartAan i5ea or a memor>@
an5 when it sets the sensor> machiner> in motion( that machiner> will not now pro59ce
or combine a gro9p o= sensations 5etermine5 b> its own activit>@ b9t will merel> embo5>(
or as we might sa> e.ecute, the i5ea or memor> impose5 on it. .ere( then( the onl>
machiner> which is in an> sense constructive is sit9ate5 in the higher i5eational tracts.
"9t as long as the nervo9s activit> is con=ine5 to the i5eational tracts( tho9gh there is
constr9ction( there is no hall9cination. *hat wor5 is never 9se5 to 5escribe the mere
image or memor> o= an obDect@ an5 in serving as a basis to s9ch an image or memor>(
however vivi5( the cells at - are merel> per=orming their normal =9nctions. It is onl>
when the activit> escapes 5ownwar5s( with s9ch =orce as strongl> to stim9late the cells at
the lower centre( that sensation =loo5s i-377! the image( an5 we get the 5el9sive percept
or hall9cination. *he =orce o= this 5ownwar5 c9rrent ma> e?hibit all 5egrees. It is
probable that even =or the barest i5ea or memor> o= an obDect there is some slight
5ownwar5 escape( ca9sing a slight reverberation at "@ an5 where( as in rare morbi5
cases(
2
the escape is wholl> barre5( all power o= calling 9p vis9al images is lost. ,ith
ever> increase in the =orce o= the escape( there will be a rise o= sensor> E9alit>( an5 a
nearer approach to absol9te hall9cination@ an5 ever> stage will th9s be acco9nte5 =or(
=rom the pict9re Bin the min54s e>eC to the phantom completel> e?ternalise5 in space. On
this view( the provenance o= the phenomenon clearl> cannot be assigne5 to a single
localit>: the hall9cination is constructed at one place( b9t it onl> becomes hallucination at
another. ,e 5o not 5isp9te whether a photograph comes into e?istence in the camera or in
the 5eveloping-room.
S X. .ere( then( are the two possibilities: P2Q that hall9cinations are pro59ce5 b> an
in5epen5ent activit> o= the speci=ic sensor> cellsAthe sensations which arise there being
perceive5 as obDects when the nervo9s c9rrent passes 9pwar5s to the higher parts o= the
brain@ PUQ that the part pla>e5 b> the speci=ic sensor> cells is onl> a response to what ma>
be calle5 ideational e?citation( propagate5 5ownwar5s =rom the higher tracts where the
image has been =orme5.
In attempting to 5eci5e between these possibilities( not m9ch assistance is to be ha5 =rom
5irect pathological an5 ph>siological observations. *hese have been mainl> 5irecte5 to an
en5 rather the converse o= mineAto 9tilising the =acts o= hall9cination =or =i?ing the
localit> o= the centres( b> inspection o= the brains o= persons who have been in li=e
marke5l> hall9cinate5@ an5 even so not ver> s9ccess=9ll>@ =or cerebral patholog>( as "all
trenchantl> remarks( has a wa> o= len5ing itsel= to the 5emonstration o= whatever one
wants.
U
,e are th9s thrown back on less 5irect i-37X! arg9ments( 5erive5 =rom the
nat9re o= the hall9cinations themselves. )n5 I think the mistake has again been in
imagining that one or other o= two alternatives m9st be e?cl9sivel> a5opte5Athat either
the lower or the higher origin o= hall9cinations is the 9niversal one. )ll( I think( that can
be =airl> sai5 is that( while the =irst mo5e o= origin is a probable one =or some cases( the
secon5 mo5e is a certain one =or others.
+or simple an5 rec9rrent =orms o= hall9cination( m9ch ma> be sai5 in =avo9r o= the lower
origin. It is in accor5ance with all that we know or conDect9re as to nerve-tiss9e( that
certain cell-mo5i=ications an5 ra5iations o= 5ischarge wo9l5 be ren5ere5 eas> b>
e?ercise@ an5 th9s the changes to which an> morbi5 e?citement gives rise might nat9rall>
be the same as have o=ten be=ore been bro9ght abo9t b> normal stim9lation =rom the
retina or the ear. *he elements wo9l5 =all rea5il>( so to speak( into the acc9stome5
pattern. )n obDect which has been =reE9entl> or recentl> be=ore the e>es( a wor5 or phrase
that has been perpet9all> in the earAthese ma> certainl> be hel5 capable o= leaving
organic traces o= their presence( an5 so o= establishing a sort o= lower memor>@ as
marke5l> shown( =or instance( in cases where 9ne59cate5 persons have in 5eliri9m
recite5 passages o= some strange lang9age( o= which the so9n5 b9t not the sense has at
some past time been =amiliar to them. *hat this lower memor> sho9l5 act a9tomaticall>
seems nat9ral eno9gh when we remember how large a part even o= the higher memor> is
also a9tomatic: an 9nso9ght wor5( s955enl> reverberating in the i-3X;! sensori9m( is on
a par with the images that emerge into conscio9sness witho9t o9r being able to connect
them with o9r previo9s train o= i5eas. %ow it is remarkable how large a n9mber o=
hall9cinations are o= this primitive t>pe. I mentione5 above that( among the sane( the
commonest o= all cases is to hear the name calle5@ an5 even with the insane( the
vocab9lar> o= the imaginar> voices o=ten consists o= onl> a =ew wor5s( 9s9all>
threatening or ab9sive( b9t sometimes E9ite ne9tral in character.
2
/o o= optical
hall9cinations. ,ith the sane( a large n9mber consist in the cas9al visionAan after6
i(age(
U
as we might sa>Ao= a near relative or =amiliar associate. ) =rien5( who has ha5
consi5erable e?perience o= the persistence o= a 5ream-image into the =irst =ew moments
o= waking( tells me that Bsometimes these images ret9rn 59ring the 5a>( or contin9e
appearing( alwa>s s955enl>( =or several 5a>s a=ter.C *he 'ev. 'obertson ,ilson( writing
=rom the Unite5 1resb>terian Manse( /trath $evon .o9se( $ollar( tells me that at a time
when he was in 5isor5ere5 health owing to overwork( he 9se5 to take long e?c9rsions(
an5 especiall> intereste5 himsel= in the inscriptions in co9ntr> ch9rch>ar5s.
BOne 5a>( a=ter having spent a consi5erable time in inspecting a village ch9rch>ar5( what
was m> horror an5 consternation to =in5( on leaving it( that wherever m> e>es reste5 I
co9l5 5escr> nothing b9t mon9mental inscriptions. *he 59st on the roa5si5e somehow
seeme5 to =orm itsel= into letters. *he maca5amise5 highwa> seeme5 written all over
with mo9rning( lamentation( an5 woe: an5 even when I t9rne5 m> ga]e to the stone 5>kes
on either si5e o= the wa>( it was onl> to =in5 that( b> some s9btle chemistr> o= m> brain(
the weather-stains an5 cracks shape5 themselves into wor5s which I co9l5 plainl>
5ecipher( an5 =o9n5 to be o= the same nat9re as those which I ha5 recentl> been rea5ing
in the ch9rch>ar5. Ever> time that a9t9mn an5 winter that I pai5 a visit to a ch9rch>ar5(
the e?perience rec9rre5@ an5 on more than one occasion also witho9t that e?citing ca9se.C
*he 'ev. &. L>on *9rner( 1ro=essor o= 1hilosoph> at the Lancashire In5epen5ent -ollege(
Manchester( tells me that he saw one night s9spen5e5 =rom the ceiling o= the room( which
he knew to be plain(
B) large chan5elier with some 2; scroll-shape5 branches( an5 the Dets shining brightl>
thro9gh the gro9n5-glass globes at the en5 o= each. I at once recognise5 the chan5elier as
a 59plicate o= the chan5elier which h9ng i-3X2! in the college chapel connecte5 with the
-o9ntess o= .9nting5on4s college at -hesh9nt( where I receive5 m> training =or the
ministr>. I move5 m> hea5( to see whether the phantom move5 too. "9t no( it remaine5
=i?e5@ an5 the obDects behin5 an5 be>on5 it became more or less completel> visible as I
move5( e?actl> as wo9l5 have been the case ha5 it been a real chan5elier.C Mr. *9rner
woke his wi=e( who nat9rall> saw nothing.
)nother correspon5ent saw a spectral =ig9re enter his room an5 stan5 at the =oot o= his
be5. BO= co9rse I p9t m> hea5 9n5er the be5-clothes( an5 >et I saw it.C It seems so
9nlikel> that the imagination wo9l5 attract its visitor B9n5er the be5-clothes(C that one
pre=ers to s9ppose a mechanical contin9ance o= reverberation at the lower centre@ an5 the
more so that the spectre was a sort o= a=ter-image( base5 on the memor> o= a pict9re.
More persistent cases are still =reE9entl> o= a single obDect. I have mentione5 the 5octor
an5 the black cow( an5 the hea5less man at the bottom o= the gar5en@ similarl> a la5>(
when in ba5 health( alwa>s saw a cat on the staircase@ an5 among the insane( a single
imaginar> atten5ant is tolerabl> common.
2
,herever s9ch simple cases are not connecte5
with an> special d4lire or an> =i?e5 set o= i5eas( the> ma>( I think( be =airl> Ptho9gh o=
co9rse not certainl>Q attrib9te5 to an activit> =ollowing the lines o= certain establishe5
tracts in the sensori9m. ,e might compare this localit> to a kalei5oscope( which when
shaken is capable o= t9rning o9t a certain limite5 n9mber o= combinations.
On the other han5( hall9cinations pro59ce5 at the -ill o= the percipient (ust =irst take
shape above the sensor> centres. +or it is in5isp9table that the idea o= the obDect to be
proDecte5Athe pict9re( =ace( sentence( or whatever it ma> beAm9st prece5e its sensor>
embo5iment as a thing act9all> seen or hear5@ an5 the i5ea( as well as the volition( is an
a==air o= the higher tracts. )n5 apart =rom these rare vol9ntar> specimens( the astonishing
variet> an5 comple?it> o= more common casesAwhether vis9al appearances or verbal
seE9encesAseem absol9tel> to 5rive 9s to a higher seat o= man9=act9re@ =or the> 5eman5
a co9ntless store o= elements( an5 limitless powers o= i5eal combination. *he patient
listens to long 5isco9rses( or hol5s conversations with his invisible =rien5s@ an5 what is
hear5 is no echo o= =ormer phrases( b9t is in ever> wa> a piece o= new e?perience. /o(
too( the n9mber an5 variet> o= vis9al hall9cinations which ma> occ9r to a single person(
sometimes even within the space o= a =ew min9tes( is astonishing. *he ph>siologist
"ostock( who ha5 man> hall9cinations i-3XU! at a time when he was s9==ering =rom
nervo9s e?ha9stion( sa>s that he 5i5 not in a single instance see an> obDect with which he
ha5 been previo9sl> acE9ainte5. %icolai( who was never otherwise than per=ectl> sane(
an5 who event9all> recovere5( contin9all> saw troops o= phantoms( most o= them o= an
aspect E9ite new to him@ an5 in insanit> s9ch a phenomenon is common eno9gh. /o( too(
the seers o= <aces in the Dar1 Pp. 3W:Q( who ha5 in the co9rse o= their lives seen man>
tho9san5s o= phantasmal =aces( ha5 never seen one that the> recognise5. Mrs. Mac5onal5(
E9ote5 above( has onl> occasionall> recognise5 a =ace@ an5 another o= m>
correspon5ents( who has been similarl> tro9ble5( sa>s( B*he =aces I have seen have
alwa>s been 9nknown =aces.C Even in the per=ectl> cas9al hall9cinations o= the sane an5
health>( what is seen is less commonl> a mere revival o= an obDect which the e>es have
previo9sl> enco9ntere5 than an 9nrecognise5 person.
2
) la5> o= m> acE9aintance( i-
3X:! who has been occasionall> s9bDect to seeing =ig9res on awakening =rom sleep( an5
who tells me that the e?perience has ha5 no perceptible connection with health( sa>s that
on no single occasion has the =ace been a known =ace( tho9gh the =aces are o=ten so
clearl> seen that( i= s9bseE9entl> met( the> wo9l5 be at once recognise5. )nother
in=ormant( who sa>s that she can evoke =ig9res at an> time b> looking intentl> be=ore her(
a55s that she Bcannot tell be=orehan5 what kin5 the> will be( tho9gh able a=ter a min9te
or two to 5escribe the =eat9res an5 5ress to an>one that is b>.C .ere( then( we have an
immense amo9nt o= high creative workAo= what in ps>chical terms we sho9l5 call par
e.cellence the work o= the imagination@ an5 this is work which we have goo5 gro9n5s =or
s9pposing that the highest cortical tracts( an5 the> alone( are capable o= per=orming. +rom
o9r e?perience o= the n9mber an5 mobilit> o= the i5eas an5 images that the min5 in a
normal state can s9mmon 9p an5 combine( we know that the cells o= the highest cerebral
areas are practicall> 9nlimite5 in their possible gro9pings an5 lines o= 5ischarge@ b9t we
have no right to ass9me the same ine?ha9stible possibilities as e?isting in5epen5entl> in
an> speci=ic sensor> centreAwe might almost as well e?pect a kalei5oscope to present 9s
with an ever-=resh series o= elaborate lan5scapes. *he ver> common implication o= two or
more senses m9st also s9rel> be acco9nte5 =or b> s9pposing a sim9ltaneo9s e?citation o=
the several centres involve5( =rom a common higher point@ =or the 5i==ic9lt>( pointe5 o9t
b> "aillarger( o= re=erring the correspon5ence to sim9ltaneo9s b9t in5epen5ent
abnormalities o= the e?ternal organs applies eE9all> to the speci=ic centres. )n5 over an5
above all this( there is the connection so =reE9entl> observe5 between the 5el9sions( the
conceptions d4lirantes, o= the insane an5 their sensor> hall9cinations( which makes it
almost impossible not to regar5 the latter as a i-3X3! partic9lar e==ect o= the more wi5el>
5i==9se5 cerebral 5ist9rbance@ while even with sane persons o= low mental 5evelopment(
we ma> note in a more general wa> the prevalence o= a partic9lar =orm o= hall9cination
59ring the prevalence o= a partic9lar s9perstitionAas in the witch-cases above
mentione5. *he concl9sion seems to be that =or man> hall9cinations the mo5e o= origin
can be no other than the centrifugalAi.e., a process in the 5irection =rom higher to lower
centres.
2

S 2;. I have thro9gho9t trie5 to e?press what I have calle5 the centri=9gal theor> in s9ch
terms that it might be accepte5 even b> those who locate the sensor> centres themselves
not below( b9t in( the corte?. )ccor5ing to these ph>siologists( the whole double
trans=ormation( o= ph>sical impressions into vis9al or a95itor> sensations( an5 o= these
sensations into complete perceptions an5 mnemonic images( wo9l5 be practicall>
re=erre5 to one place. It m9st be a5mitte5 that this view seems at times connecte5 with
the want o= a 59e ps>chological 5istinction between sensation an5 perception. "9t even
s9pposing a speci=ic centre o= sensation to be th9s eE9all> the seat o= ps>chic =9nctions
higher than sensation( it wo9l5 still be none the less liable to be stim9late5 b> parts o= the
corte? e?ternal to itsel=@ an5 the nat9re o= man> hall9cinations wo9l5 still in5icate that
the> 5epen5 on this stim9lation( an5 not on a mere spontaneo9s E9ickening o= morbi5
activit> in the centre itsel=. +or instance( a girl is violentl> 5istresse5 b> seeing her home
in =lames( an5 =or 5a>s a=terwar5s sees =ire wherever she looks.
U
One m9st s9rel> trace
the hall9cination to the distress, an5 so to an Bescape o= c9rrentC =rom the seat o= i5eas
an5 images other than vis9al ones. )gain( in the con5itions 5escribe5 above( where the
hall9cinations =aith=9ll> re=lect the changes o= the whole moral an5 intellect9al bias( the
local e?citement in the sensor> centre wo9l5 still be traceable to an abnormall> strong
irra5iation =rom the regions where the highest co-or5inations take placeAthese regions
being themselves( e. h,pothesi, alrea5> in a state o= pathological activit>. *he other
h>pothesis wo9l5 be that the mere h>per-e?citabilit> at the centre i-3XV! itsel= ma5e it
impossible =or images to arise witho9t getting h9rrie5 on( so to speak( into sensations b>
the violence o= the nervo9s vibrations.
2
"9t then( what sho9l5 ca9se images belonging to
one partic9lar or5er o= i5easAthe or5er which happens to be 5isease5Ato be picke5 o9t
=or this =ate in pre=erence to an> othersr *he h>per-e?citable centre in itsel=( as an arena
o= images( co9l5 have no gro9n5 =or s9ch a partial selection among the crow5 o= them
which emerge 59ring ever> ho9r o= waking li=e. )mong the en5less an5 m9lti=orm
vibrations involve5( wh> sho9l5 the e?cessive amplit95e that correspon5s to sensation be
con=ine5 to a partic9lar setr ) reason m9st e?ist. *he 9niE9e agreement between the
sensor> hall9cinations an5 the more general moral an5 intellect9al 5isor5er m9st have its
partic9lar ph>sical co9nterpart@ an5 =or this Ba strong 5ownwar5 escape o= c9rrentC is at
an> rate a s9==icientl> comprehensible metaphor.
i-3X8!
+!P#&R 0(.
#R!"$(&"# !''.+("!#(%"$ %F #& $!"&: !M1(*.%.$
+!$&$.
S 2. ,e have brie=l> s9rve>e5 hall9cinations in their more general aspects. "9t be=ore
concentrating o9r view e?cl9sivel> on the pec9liar telepathic species( we shall 5o well to
pa9se =or a little at an important s9b-gen9s to which that species belongs( b9t o= which it
=orms n9mericall> onl> a small partAnamel>( transient hall9cinations o= the sane.
*hese hall9cinations( o= co9rse( like all others( are the creation o= a min5 in an abnormal
state@ b9t the abnormalit> ma> arise in two ver> 5i==erent wa>s. In the large maDorit> o=
cases it is p9rel> s9bDective an5 in some sense pathologic@ an5 the percepts have no
obDective basis at all o9tsi5e the perceiving organism. In a comparativel> small resi59e o=
cases the abnormalit> is not pathologic or s9bDective( b9t consists Pit is maintaine5Q in an
impression or imp9lse trans=erre5 =rom another min5. *he percepts still con=orm
per=ectl> to m> 5e=inition o= a sensor> hall9cination( in lacking the obDective basis -hich
the, suggest/ =or that basis wo9l5 be the act9al ph>sical presence o= some h9man bo5>(
with its weight( its power o= setting the air in vibration b> the breath an5 vocal cor5s( an5
all its other attrib9tes. "9t an obDective basis o= another sort the> haveAnamel>( the
e?ceptional con5ition o= the person whom the> recall or represent. %ow( having regar5 to
these =acts o= origin( we might =airl> e?pect that a care=9l comparison o= the p9rel>
s9bDective an5 the telepathic e?periences wo9l5 reveal a large amo9nt o= rese(blance,
b9t also a certain amo9nt o= difference, between them. )n5 in no wa> can we better
approach the telepathic or Bveri5icalC class than b> =ollowing o9t this comparison.
*he available material =or the task is( 9n=ort9natel>( =ar =rom ab9n5ant@ =or the p9rel>
s9bDective hall9cinations o= the sane have met with sing9larl> little attention =rom
ps>chologists. .ere an5 i-3XW! there a me5ical man( or a writer o= rep9te( has been le5
to make some observations b> =in5ing a Bs9bDectC in himsel=@ a =ew cases o= ver> marke5
abnormalit>( where the phenomena have been rec9rrent an5 5istress=9l( have become
celebrate5Ast95ents o= the literat9re get to 5rea5 the ver> names o= %icolai an5 BMrs.
).C@ an5 the h>pnotic cases have an interest o= their own( owing to the important place
which h>pnotism is =ast taking in mental science. "9t no attempt( so =ar as I know( has
been ma5e to obtain wi5e statistics o= per=ectl> cas9al casesAo= hall9cinations in which(
i= the> are still technicall> pathologic( the abnormalit> has been o= the slightest an5 most
transient kin5. *he collection which I have =orme5 59ring the last =ew >ears( n9mbering
more than V;; cases( is at an> rate large eno9gh to s9pport certain general concl9sions.
S U. )n5 =irst( as regar5s the bo5il> an5 mental con5ition o= the percipient. 1robabl> the
common view o= hall9cinations o= the sane( so =ar as the> are recognise5 at all( is that
the> are in all cases 59e to 5isease or morbi5 e?citement( or at the ver> least to
in5igestion. )sk the =irst twent> rational men >o9 meet how the> wo9l5 acco9nt =or a
phantasmal visitant i= the> themselves saw one: as man> as ten perhaps will answer( BI
sho9l5 concl95e that I ha5 5ine5 or s9ppe5 too well.C BLobster-sala5C is an e?planation
which I have personall> hear5 s9ggeste5 man> times. It ma> be at once note5( then( as a
point o= interestAone( moreover( in which the cas9al an5 the telepathic classes
completel> agreeAthat in not a single instance known to me has the hall9cinate5 person(
accor5ing to his own acco9nt( been s9==ering at the time =rom in5igestion. Lobster-sala5
is the parent o= nightmares( o= massive impressions o= 5iscom=ort an5 horror@ not(
however( as a r9le( even in 5reamlan5( o= the 5istinct an5 min9te vis9alisation( an5 the
clear-c9t a95ition( which constit9te the more speci=ic hall9cinations o= sleep@ an5
certainl> not o= waking hall9cinations. %or is morbi5 e?citement o= a more general sort a
=reE9ent( tho9gh it is an occasional( con5ition@ an5 the same ma> be sai5 o= the or5inar>
nervo9s e?ha9stion that =ollows har5 work. ,e have onl> to recall that the commonest
occasions o= all =or 5el9sions o= the waking senses are the moments or min9tes that
imme5iatel> =ollow a night4s rest Pp. :XUQ. +or the maDorit> o= cases( the onl> r9le that
can be lai5 5own as to the nat9re o= the pec9liar 5ist9rbance involve5 is a negative oneA
that it is not observabl> connecte5 with an> morbi5 state.Y~Z
i-3X7!
*h9s the one o= m> in=ormants who has ha5 perhaps the most interesting e?periences o=
s9bDective hall9cinations( sa>s( BIt is when I am at m> best ph>sicall>( an5 when m>
mental =ac9lties are keenl> intereste5 in something( that the pict9res are most =reE9ent
an5 vivi5. *he> are mostl> E9ite the antipo5es o= m> mental occ9pation.C ) gentleman
who has repeate5l> ha5 the hall9cination o= hearing his name calle5( tells me that this has
alwa>s occ9rre5 59ring his holi5a>s( when he was speciall> well an5 taking m9ch
e?ercise. )n5 o9t o= 37X vis9al an5 a95itor> cases Pwaking an5 Bbor5erlan5CQ( I =in5 that
onl> U3 occ9rre5 to persons who were in a 5eci5e5l> abnormal ph>sical stateAill( or
=ainting( or overtire5( or 9n5er anOsthetics. -ertain e?ceptional tho9gh slight
5erangement there m9st 9n5o9bte5l> be@ b9t the hall9cination itsel= is 9s9all> the onl>
s>mptom o= it@ an5 as little in the p9rel> s9bDective as in the telepathic class can we la>
o9r =inger on an> special pre5isposing con5ition.
*he p9]]le is the greater in that the phenomenon o= waking hall9cination in a sane an5
health> s9bDect Pas the n9mbers to be presentl> given will showQ( is a rare oneArare not
merel> in the sense o= occ9rring to onl> a small percentage o= the pop9lation( b9t in the
sense o= occ9rring to most o= these onl> once or twice in a li=e-time. One wo9l5 have
e?pecte5 that an> state o= the brain which was liable to occ9r at all witho9t assignable
provocation( wo9l5 be liable to occ9r repeate5l>. ,e sho9l5 acco9nt it( =or instance( a
ver> o55 =act i= a person ha5 ha5 one or two e?tremel> 5istinct 5reams in his li=e( an5 ha5
ha5 no other e?perience whatever o= 5reaming. "9t we can onl> take the statistics as we
=in5 them. )n5 this pec9liar rarit> o= p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations o= the senses at an>
rate helps to e?plain a similar pec9liarit> in the telepathic class. O9r telepathic evi5ence
will show that the hall9cination which the percipient 5escribes is as a r9le the single an5
9niE9e instance in his e?perience. %ow at =irst sight this seems strange( inasm9ch as
man> percipients have been in E9ite as intimate connection with other persons as with the
BagentC o= their one phantasmal visitation@ an5 some o= these persons have 5ie5 or have
passe5 thro9gh a crisis similar to that to which we trace the visitation in the one instance@
wh> then has it never been repeate5r *he onl> answer wo9l5 seem to be that
hall9cinations( even when telepathic in origin( 5epen5 =9rther on some e?ceptional
con5ition o= the percipient himsel=. )n5 this answer can now be s9pporte5 b> the analog>
o= the non-telepathic class@ where the i-3XX! con5itions( 9nnotice5 an5 innoc9o9s to
health as the> so o=ten are( are >et so e?ceptional that the> ma> occ9r onl> once in a li=e-
time.
*he same observation will =9rther ten5( I think( to remove a certain vag9e preD95ice
which the telepathic evi5ence enco9nters in the min5s o= persons who have never met
with an instance o= hall9cination o= an> sort. /9ch persons can o=ten har5l> bring
themselves to conceive that a sane( health>( waking min5 can reall> get momentaril> o==
the rails( an5 can =eign voices where there is silence( an5 =ig9res where there is vacanc>(
tho9gh ear an5 e>e are both alert an5 5ischarging their normal =9nctions. Even s9pposing
trans=erre5 impressions possible( the> will sa>( wh> 9n5er their in=l9ence sho9l5 so9n5
an5 sober senses e?hibit a per=ectl> isolate5 piece o= eccentricit>( an5 D9st =or a min9te(
once in a li=e-time( =all victims to 5el9sions s9ch as we commonl> associate with sick-
be5s an5 ma5ho9sesr *his vag9e 3 priori obDection will 5isappear when the statistics o=
transient hall9cinations are better known@ seeing that the isolate5 piece o= eccentricit>
5oes 9n5o9bte5l> occ9rAhow or wh> we cannot sa>Ain n9mbers o= instances with
which telepath> has nothing whatever to 5o.
2

i-V;;!
S :. *hese characteristics( thenAP2Q the general absence o= an> obvio9s pre5isposing
ca9se( o= an> assignable abnormalit> o= min5 or bo5>( in the person a==ecte5( PUQ the
comparativel> small n9mber o= persons a==ecte5( an5 P:Q the ver> =reE9ent 9niE9eness o=
the a==ection in the respective e?periences o= these personsAma> be reckone5 as 5istinct
gro9n5s o= resemblance between the p9rel> s9bDective an5 the telepathic classes. )nother
marke5 characteristic that the> have in common is P3Q the 9s9all> ver> brie= 59ration o=
the phantasm: both sorts o= a==ection are emphaticall> transient hall9cinations o= the sane
Athe maDorit> o= cases being almost momentar>( an5 ver> =ew probabl> e?ten5ing to hal=
a min9te. )n5 again PVQ the 5isproportionate n9mber o= Bbor5erlan5C e?periences in both
classes is a =i=th important common point. *hese =ive hea5s o= resemblance are those
which a broa5 view o= the phenomena at once reveals. O9r ne?t step wo9l5 nat9rall> be
to see i= more 5etaile5 resemblances e?ist between special gro9ps o= cases in the two
classes@ an5 ever> common =eat9re that we =in5 will o= co9rse go to strengthen the
concl9sion that the telepathic phantasms are in5ee5 hall9cinations( an5 not Pas some have
hel5Q E9asi-material appearances. )t this point( however( we =in5 o9rselves con=ronte5 b>
a problem o= consi5erable 5i==ic9lt> as well as interest( which reE9ires to be care=9ll>
consi5ere5.
*he 5i==ic9lt> is this. I= the characteristics o= the two classes o= hall9cination are to be
5isc9sse5 an5 compare5( it is obvio9sl> ass9me5 that we know on inspection which cases
o9ght to be re=erre5 to the one class( an5 which to the other. %ow( tho9gh the elements o=
a telepathic case have been ma5e tolerabl> plain( an5 in the main the gro9n5s o=
5istinction ma> be clear eno9gh( the attempt act9all> to 5raw a 5ivi5ing line will ver>
soon show 9s that at present no s9ch line can be 5rawn. ,ith the 5iscover> that one
person4s senses can be a==ecte5 b> something that is happening to another person at a
5istance( o9r point o= view is( in =act( altere5 in relation to the whole s9bDect o= transient
hall9cinations o= the sane. Ever since the aban5onment o= the i5ea( once wi5el> hel5( that
5el9sions o= the senses were the 5irect an5 Pin a mannerQ obDective pro59ctions o= the
5evil(
2
the 9niversal ass9mption has been that the> are all i-V;2! p9rel> s9bDective
phenomenaAeven the belie= in BghostsC having been reall> no e?ception to the r9le(
since the believers have not regar5e5 these as hall9cinations at all( b9t as in5epen5ent
entities. %ow when telepath> o= the e?ternalise5 t>pe is a5mitte5( the =irst e==ect( o=
co9rse( is to 5estro> the generalit> o= the ol5 ass9mption b> 5riving it E9ite 5ecisivel> o==
a certain part o= the =iel5: it is involve5 in the new 5octrine that a certain n9mber o=
sensor> hall9cinationsAthe maDorit>( namel>( o= those which have marke5l>
correspon5e5 to real an5 9n=oreseen eventsAcan no longer possibl> be regar5e5 as
p9rel> s9bDective.
2
"9t the e==ect 5oes not stop short here. *he new vera causa( which has
5ecisivel> occ9pie5 one corner o= the =iel5( throws( so to speak( a sha5ow o= 5o9bt over
the rest@ =or while we perceive its realit>( we have as >et neither probe5 its con5itions nor
meas9re5 its range. I have alrea5> pointe5 o9t Pp. XWQ that the action o= telepath> cannot
be 5ogmaticall> limite5 to those most concl9sive cases on which o9r evi5ential proo= o= it
m9st 5epen5@ an5 i= its realit> in the worl5 ren5ers the ol5 5octrine o= the s9bDectivit> o=
hall9cinations 5e=initel> untenable in some cases( we nee5 not be s9rprise5 i= in others it
ren5ers it doubtful, an5 5o9bt=9l( moreover( in vario9s 5egrees. *h9s( between the
hall9cinations which are clearl> s9bDective an5 those which are clearl> telepathic( there
will be a ne9tral region( where neither e?planation can be a5opte5 with certaint>. %ow( on
all acco9nts it is important that this ne9tral region sho9l5 be recognise5 an5 5e=ine5. It is
important theoreticall>( beca9se in time we ma> learn more o= the con5itions o= the
phenomena( an5 ma> be able to assign them with con=i5ence to this class or that@ b9t
even more is it important evi5entiall>( beca9se( till the gro9n5s o= 5o9bt are 9n5erstoo5(
there is alwa>s a risk that p9rel> s9bDective cases will be misinterprete5( an5 will be
reckone5 into the c9m9lative proo= o= telepath>( or in some other wa> lai5 to the acco9nt
o= s9pernormal in=l9ences. It seems a5visable( there=ore( to take a glance along the whole
line o= transient hall9cinations o= the sane( 9p to the point at which the action o= telepath>
ma> appear to be clearl> ass9re5. I will make m> s9rve> as rapi5 as possible( being loth
to 5etain the rea5er among these s9bDective an5 59bio9s cases( i-V;U! while the main
bo5> o= the telepathic evi5ence is per=orce kept waiting.
S 3. In the =irst gro9p( the ca9se o= the phenomena is( b> e?ception( E9ite clear. *he
hall9cination is an after6i(ageAthe 5irect repro59ction o= some obDect or so9n5 with
which the senses o= the percipient have been partic9larl> occ9pie5@ an5 tho9gh we ma>
not alwa>s be able to sa> wh> the repro59ction takes place at s9ch an5 s9ch a moment(
the p9rel> s9bDective character o= the e?perience is obvio9s. It is sometimes 59e to mere
=atig9e o= the retina@ it occ9rs( =or instance( a=ter long ga]ing at obDects thro9gh a
microscope. /ome e?amples 59e to a more central ca9se have been given in the
prece5ing chapters@ e.g., M. Ma9r>4s h>pnagogic vision o= the bee=steak Pp. :X;Q( Mr.
,ilson4s visions o= the tombstones( an5 Mr. *9rner4s phantom-chan5elier Pp. 3X;Q(Athe
latter case being remarkable =or the length o= time which ha5 elapse5 since the real obDect
ha5 been seen. )nother t>pe is where the original impression has been o= a 5istressing
kin5. *h9s( $r. )n5ral reports
2
that( having receive5 a shock =rom the con5ition o= a
chil54s bo5> in the 5issecting-room( he was startle5 ne?t morning( on waking( b> a vivi5
repetition o= the spectacle. I have a similar =irst-han5 case =rom a =rien5( who in girlhoo5
s9==ere5 =or several nights =rom a hall9cination ca9se5 b> the 9nacc9stome5 sight o=
5eath@ an5 another where a la5> ha5 a vivi5 waking vision o= a servant who ha5 startle5
her some ho9rs be=ore. *he transcript is not alwa>s E9ite literal. *h9s( a gentleman tells
me that the =ig9re o= a 5ecease5 =rien5( whom he ha5 D9st been seeing in his co==in(
appeare5 to him( b9t in his living aspect an5 carr>ing a port=olio@ an5 another in=ormant
Athe 'ev. F. M. "lacker( o= 2U2( /t. &eorge4s 'oa5( /.,.Awho one morning ha5 a
vision o= the 9pper parts o= three cooks in white caps( an5 was able to trace the
impression 9nmistakeabl> to a recentl> seen placar5( b9t notice5 nevertheless that the
resemblance was onl> o= a general kin5. )s goo5 a95itor> e?amples( I ma> mention the
hall9cination o= hearing the bells o= the *own .all at Manchester pla> B)9l5 Lang />ne(C
e?perience5 more than once b> a la5> when sleeping in a room where she ha5 on =ormer
occasions hear5 the act9al per=ormance@ an5 a case where a >o9ng la5>( who ha5 s9==ere5
consi5erabl> =rom the manners o= >o9ng schoolbo> brothers( was a=terwar5s startle5(
when alone( b> s9ch remarks as B/h9t 9p(C an5 B&et o9t o= the wa>.C
i-V;:!
Un5er the same hea5 ma> =airl> be reckone5 s9ch cases as Mr. ). ,e5gwoo54s Pp. 3X:(
noteQ( where the phantasmal obDect( tho9gh not repro59cing an>thing that ha5 recentl>
been be=ore the e>es( was the imme5iate an5 in5isp9table res9lt o= a ver> special train o=
tho9ght.
-omparable( again( are representations o= an obDect or a so9n5 which 5epen5 on the =act(
not that it has been seen or hear5( b9t that it is about to be seen or hear5Athat the
percipient is e.pecting it@ b9t as in almost all the vis9al e?periences o= this sort the obDect
has been a living h9man =orm( the cases will =all more convenientl> into a later gro9p.
In the ne?t gro9p the obDect seen( or the so9n5 hear5( is non-h9man in character( b9t is no
longer traceable to an> special previo9s occ9pation o= the min5 or the senses. /9ch cases
are common in insanit> an5 in 5isease( an5 the hall9cination is then o=ten o= a grotesE9e
or horrible sort. *he> also occ9r( tho9gh =orming a 5eci5e5 minorit>( among the waking
hall9cinations o= sane an5 health> persons@ b9t seem then to be rarel>( i= ever( grotesE9e
or horrible.Y~Z *he most grotesE9e case that I have receive5 is a vision o= 5war=ish
gnomes 5ancing on the wall@ b9t this was seen b> a >o9ng chil5. ) star( a =irework
b9rsting into stars( a =ire=l>( a crown( lan5scape-vignettes( a stat9e( the en5 o= a 5rape5
co==in coming in thro9gh the 5oor( a bright oval s9rro9n5ing the wor5s( B,e5nes5a>(
October 2V( $eathCAthese are the principal phantasms o= inanimate obDects in m>
collection. )nother known t>pe( 5escribe5 b> /ir F. +. ,. .erschel( is a geometrical
pattern( which sometimes takes ver> complicate5 =orms. I have also three cases where the
hall9cination was o= a 5og( an5 another where it was o= r9nning cats( in5e=inite in colo9r
an5 =orm Pthis last( however( occ9rring onl> when the brain was e?ha9ste5Q. O9t o= m>
:;U vis9al cases Pp. :XUQ( onl> U; belong to this non-h9man t>pe. *he non-vocal a95itor>
cases are also comparativel> =ew in n9mberA32 o9t o= the total o= 27W. *he> comprise
tappings( tickings( knocks( an5 crashes@
2
the so9n5 o= =ootsteps or o= a 5oor opening@ W
cases o= the ringing o= bells( U o= the striking o= clocks( an5 W o= m9sic. /9ch t>pes seem(
on the ver> =ace o= them( to be altogether remote =rom telepath>@ an5 tho9gh we shall
=in5 =9rther on that this is not E9ite 9niversall> the caseAthat there are instances o=
strong an5 9niE9e i-V;3! hall9cinations o= light or noise which have too marke5l>
coinci5e5 with some e?ternal crisis =or the h>pothesis o= telepathic origin to be ignore5A
the vast maDorit> o= these non-h9man phantasms ma> be sa=el> prono9nce5 p9rel>
s9bDective a==ections.
*he same ma> be sai5 o= another smaller gro9p o= vis9al hall9cinations which represent
=ragments o= h9man =orms. *h9s( two o= m> in=ormants on waking =rom sleep( an5 a
thir5 when awake an5 9p( have 5istinctl> seen an imaginar> han5 an5 arm@
2
another
sometimes sees a little =inger in the air@ another when recovering =rom illness( ha5 a
vision o= 5ecapitate5 hea5s@ another has s9==ere5 at times =rom an appearance o= e>es an5
part o= a =ace =loating b>@ an5 with these ma> be classe5( as a95itor> parallels( cases
where what has been hear5 has been a so9n5 o= groaning( or in5isting9ishable so9n5s o=
talking( or short meaningless sentencesAa class o= which I have some hal=-5o]en
specimens.
,e m9st regar5 as a separate t>pe the cases where =aces or =orms appear either in rapi5
s9ccession or in a m9ltit95ino9s wa>. /everal varieties o= this e?perience were 5escribe5
in the last chapter Ppp. 3W:T3Q. I have one other e?ample( where crow5s o= people an5
animals ma5e their appearance ever> night =or months@ b9t the percipient in this case was
in weak health. ,e have seen that this t>pe is probabl> connecte5 with the ;icht6staub o=
the retina( an5 its s9bDectivit> will not be E9estione5. It scarcel> belongs to the =amil> o=
transient hall9cinations at all( sinceAalone among the waking hall9cinations o= persons
in apparentl> normal healthAthese swarming an5 changing visions are liable to last =or a
consi5erable time.
)n5 =inall> we come to the vis9al cases representing complete an5 Pmore o=ten than notQ(
E9ite nat9ral-looking h9man =orms( 9s9all> alone b9t occasionall> in compan>( an5
occasionall> also with the a55ition o= some in5epen5ent obDect( s9ch as a carriage or a
co==in@ an5 to the parallel a95itor> cases where 5istinct an5 intelligible wor5s are hear5(
which are not Pas in the =irst gro9pQ mere echoes o= vivi5l>-impresse5 phrases. *hese
phenomenaAwhich comprise the great maDorit> o= the whole n9mber o= transient
hall9cinations o= the saneA=all at once into two great classes@ that where the =ig9re or
voice is recognised( an5 that where it is unrecognised. O= both these classes( as o= the
previo9s ones( it i-V;V! ma> at once be sai5 that the maDorit> o= the instances incl95e5
in them are in no wa> available to prove in=l9ence =rom another min5. ,here the =ig9re
or voice has been recognise5( the absent person whose presence was s9ggeste5 has
generall> been in a E9ite normal state at the time@ an5 where the =ig9re or voice has been
9nrecognise5( no crisis a==ecting an> person nearl> connecte5 with the percipient has
coinci5e5 with the hall9cination. *he recognised phantasms have( moreover( 9s9all>
represente5 persons whom the percipient was habit9all> seeing in real li=eAo=ten a
relative or a servant living in the same ho9seAso that the 5el9sion ma> still be e?plaine5
b> the analog> o= a=ter-images@ or else the> have represente5 5ea5 persons whose
memor> was 5ear to the percipient( an5 whose images might rea5il> be evoke5 b>
memor>.
2
O= the unrecognised phantasms we have no reason to s9ppose that the>
represente5 an> one at all( even in those casesAthe maDorit> o= the whole n9mberA
where the non-recognition was not 59e to an> in5istinctness in the phantasm( b9t was o=
the same kin5 as when in real li=e we see a =ace or hear a voice which we perceive at once
to be strange to 9s. "9t while as a r9le so clearl> s9bDective( these h9man an5 well-
5evelope5 =orms o= hall9cination incl95e also nearl> the whole o= the instances which
will be presente5 in the =ollowing chapters as telepathic. It is nat9rall> among them(
there=ore( that the a(biguous cases to which I have re=erre5 are principall> to be =o9n5.
*he main gro9n5s o= ambig9it> Papart =rom mere 9ncertainties as to matters o= =act(
which are not now in E9estion(Q are( I think( =o9r in n9mber( an5 are s9mme5 9p in the
=ollowing t>pes
U
:A
P2Q -oinci5entall> with a Brecognise5C hall9cination( the person whose presence it
s9ggeste5 has been in a con5ition more or less 9n9s9al@ b9t we ma> =airl> 5o9bt whether
it was 9n9s9al enough to D9sti=> even a provisional s9pposition that it a==ecte5 the
percipient.
PUQ )t the time o= a Brecognise5C hall9cination( the person whose presence it s9ggeste5
has been apparentl> in a per=ectl> normal con5ition@ b9t the same hall9cination has been
repeated, an5 repeate5 to different percipients@ an5 the improbabilit> that the in5epen5ent
hall9cinations o= several persons sho9l5 b> acci5ent i-V;8! represent the same person
s9ggests some special power o= in=l9ence in the latter.
2

P:Q *he person whose presence the hall9cination presente5 has been in a 5eci5e5l>
abnormal con5ition at a time s9==icientl> near the time o= the hall9cination =or the
correspon5ence to be observe5@ b9t the correspon5ence has not been e?act@ an5 the 5o9bt
is whether the amo9nt o= 5iscrepanc> is s9ch as to a5mit( or s9ch as to precl95e( the
h>pothesis o= a ca9sal connection. *he E9estion here is the one which was earl> raise5(
when we were consi5ering the elements o= a telepathic case Ppp. 2:7TXQ( an5 was then
le=t 9n5eci5e5.
P3Q *he case is so =ar s9ggestive o= telepath> that( at or ver> near the time o= the
hall9cination( some absent person has been in circ9mstances which might seem to
i5enti=> him as the agent@ b9t there is also evi5ence o= a condition in the percipients o-n
(ind which might be regar5e5 as the in5epen5ent ca9se o= his e?perience.
Let 9s begin with this last hea5( an5 inE9ire o= what nat9re an in5epen5ent s9bDective
ca9se o= the phenomena now in E9estion is likel> to be.
*ho9gh =or the most part( as I have sai5( the pre5isposing con5itions o= these rare an5
transient 5el9sions entirel> el95e 9s( D9st three emotional states can be name5 which are
present o=ten eno9gh to warrant a s9spicion that the> ma> be tr9l> e==icacio9s. *hese are
special =orms o= an.iet,/ o= a-e/ an5 o= e.pectanc,. ,e will consi5er them in or5er.
S V. +irst( then( as to an.iet,. ) person who has been broo5ing over the state o= some
absent =rien5 or relative s955enl> has a hall9cination which s9ggests that person4s
presence. %ow s9ppose that the crisis which was apprehen5e5Asa> the 5eath o= the
person whose serio9s illness was the ca9se o= the an?iet>At9rns o9t a=terwar5s to have
occ9rre5 at the same time as the hall9cination. Let 9s take a co9ple o= casesAone
a95itor>( the other vis9al.
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom Mr. *imoth> -ooper( late o= U2( -a5ogan *errace( Victoria
1ark( E.
BFan9ar>( 277U.
BM> =ather was a "aptist minister at /oham( -ambri5geshire. In the >ear 273X( being one
o= a large =amil>( I went =rom home to begin the battle o= li=e. *here was great love
between m> mother an5 me. ,hen I ha5 been awa> abo9t a >ear( I was sent =or in a h9rr>
to see m> 5ear i-V;W! mother( who was tho9ght to be 5>ing. I got leave o= absence =or a
week an5 went home( an5 the last 5a> be=ore ret9rning to b9siness( while sitting b> m>
mother4s si5e( I sai5( uMother( i= it is possible( when >o9 pass awa> will >o9 come an5
tell mer4 /he sai5( uI will i= I possibl> can.4 On the morning o= October Wth( 27V;( I
awoke an5 =elt like a so=t han5 to9ch me( an5 hear5 the well-known voice sa>( uI am
gone(4 an5 something seeme5 to gli5e awa> =rom m> si5e. I awoke the >o9ng man who
was sleeping with me( an5 sai5( uM> mother is gone. /he has D9st been here an5 tol5 me
so@4 an5 D9st as I sai5 it the clock stan5ing on the stairs str9ck :. *he news came to han5
that m> mother ha5 5ie5 at =ive min9tes to :.
B*IMO*.# -OO1E'.C
,e have veri=ie5 the 5ate o= 5eath in the Baptist =eporter.
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom Miss /9mmerbell( o= 23; 0ensington 1ark 'oa5( ,.( who has
ha5 no other hall9cination o= vision. *his one was mentione5 at once to the =rien5 with
whom she was sta>ing.
B%ovember( 277U.
BI 5o not know how =ar the =ollowing stor> will be consi5ere5 signi=icant( as I was in
m9ch an?iet> abo9t the gentleman whom it concerns at the time. I have been =or man>
>ears on terms o= close intimac> with the =amil> o= a $9tch nobleman YFonkheer
.95ecoperZ( who resi5e in .ollan5. Earl> in F9l> last( I receive5 a letter =rom the el5est
5a9ghter o= the ho9se( sa>ing that her =ather was serio9sl> ill. +rom that time I receive5
news o= his con5ition ever> 5a>. On the UWth F9l>( I receive5 a post-car5( sa>ing that he
was slightl> better. I was sta>ing at the time at the /pa( *9nbri5ge ,ells( an5 s9==ering
m9ch =rom ne9ralgia. On the night o= the UWth( I was l>ing 9nable to sleep =rom pain@ no
5o9bt I 5o]e5 now an5 then( b9t I =irml> believe that I was awake when what I am abo9t
to relate occ9rre5. It was beginning to be light( an5 I 5istinctl> saw ever> obDect in the
room. I 5o not know whether it is necessar> to sa> that in .ollan5( when a person o=
5istinction 5ies( a uprie9r 54enterrement4 is emplo>e5. *his man is 5resse5 in black( with
5ress coat( knee-breeches( an5 cocke5-hat( with ban5s o= crape hanging =rom the corners.
It is his o==ice to go to all the ho9ses where the 5ecease5 was known( an5 anno9nce the
5eath. On the morning o= which I speak( I saw the 5oor o= m> room open( an5 a uprie9r
54enterrement4 enter. .e sai5 nothing( b9t stoo5 with a long paper in his han5. I
remember 5istinctl> won5ering whether I ha5 =allen asleep an5 was 5reaming@ I looke5
ro9n5 an5 saw the =9rnit9re( an5 the win5ow( with the 5im light coming thro9gh the
close5 blin5. I looke5 at m> watch@ it was nearl> V o4clock. I looke5 towar5s the man( b9t
he was gone. It is nearl> 8 >ears since I live5 =or an> time in .ollan5( an5 I ha5 =orgotten
the c9stom o= anno9ncing 5eaths@ or at least( I ha5 not tho9ght o= it =or >ears.C Miss
/9mmerbell4s =rien5( as it prove5( ha5 5ie5 abo9t an ho9r an5 a hal= be=ore her vision.
Y,e ma> note here how c9rio9sl> the i5ea o= 5eath( in working itsel= o9t( availe5 itsel= o=
materials that ha5 long been 5ormantAthe sl9mbering memories which associate5 $9tch
c9stoms with $9tch =rien5s in the percipient4s min5.Z
i-V;7!
/9pposing these inci5ents to be correctl> reporte5( which we have no reason to 5o9bt(
what is the most probable interpretation o= themr Is the state o= min5 in which the
percipients were a s9==icient ca9se =or what the> respectivel> hear5 an5 sawr I= so( the
coinci5ence between the 5eath an5 the hall9cination wo9l5 be acco9nte5 =or b> the =act
that the ver> con5itions which le5 to the 5eath were also in5irectl> Pthro9gh the an?iet>
connecte5 with themQ the ca9se o= the hall9cination. "9t to answer the E9estion(
2
we nee5
some in5epen5ent evi5ence o= the power o= simple an?iet> abo9t an absent person to
pro59ce a 5istinct 5el9sion o= the waking senses. )n?iet> is rea5il> eno9gh ass9me5 as a
vera causa o= s9ch 5el9sions( D9st as lobster-sala5 is@ b9t can the ass9mption be
s9pporte5r %ot ver> completel>( it m9st be a5mitte5. *he cases are nearl> all o= the same
in5ecisive t>pe@ =or the con5ition o= an absent person which is s9==icientl> e?ceptional to
create grave an?iet> abo9t him is( as a r9le( also s9==icientl> e?ceptional to a==or5 a
conceivable occasion =or telepathic in=l9ence( s9pposing telepathic in=l9ences to be =acts
in %at9re@ an5 the hall9cination can( there=ore( onl> be ass9me5 to be certainl> 59e to
an?iet> b> reDecting 3 priori the other e?planation. *h9s( in the collection o=
hall9cinations which I have mentione5( I =in5 none o= s9ch a t>pe as thisAthat a mother(
in great an?iet> =or a sailor son( seems to see his =ig9re in the room( tho9gh reall> the
weather at sea has been calm an5 he has met with no mishap. /till( evi5ence pointing in
this 5irection 5oes e?ist. +or instance( the recor5s o= witchcra=t contain man> cases(
which there is no reason to call in E9estion( o= apparitions o= the s9ppose5 witch to the
s9ppose5 victimAin5ee5 "ernar5
U
mentions this =orm o= hall9cination as one o= the signs
o= BpossessionC@ the e?perience seems( however( to have been invariabl> connecte5 with
a thoro9ghl> morbi5 an5 h>sterical con5ition o= the percipient.
i-V;X!
)gain( an 9n9s9all> absorbing possession o= the min5 with the person whose =orm
appears( at the ver> moment when the appearance takes place( ma> make even an
Bambig9o9sC e?perience seem almost be>on5 E9estion s9bDective. *h9s a la5> writes to
9s:A
B'ather more than 2; >ears ago a person with whom I ha5 ha5 m9ch to 5o was l>ing
5angero9sl> ill. In the evening o= a certain 5a> I was stan5ing in m> own room( thinking
o= her case( an5 reproaching m>sel= =or one or two things in connection with m> con59ct
to her( when I t9rne5 s955enl> ro9n5( an5 saw her ga]ing stea5il>( ver> stea5il>( an5
reproach=9ll> at me. /he 5ie5 that night. /he was not a near relative( or an intimate
=rien5.C
In the case o= a95itor> hall9cinations( the evi5ence is clearer: some o= these( occ9rring in
circ9mstances o= an?iet>( bear the concl9sive mark o= a p9rel> s9bDective e?perience. )
sister in tro9ble abo9t her brother( who has ha5 an acci5ent( hears the wor5s( B#o9r
brother is 5ea5.C ) mother n9rsing her son in a 5angero9s crisis hears an imaginar> voice
sa>( B#o9 can4t save him.C In impressions correspon5ing so closel> to the hearer4s state
o= min5( an5 not correspon5ing to the act9al =acts( there can be no E9estion o= telepath>.
On the whole( then( it seems reasonable to concl95e that an?iet> has a certain
in5epen5ent ten5enc> to promote hall9cinations. Even so( we might =airl> eno9gh arg9e
that it is as likel> to facilitate telepathic hall9cinations as to produce p9rel> s9bDective
ones. "9t when the E9estion is o= a5mitting cases to the present collection( the
ass9mption o9ght alwa>s to be ma5e against the telepathic h>pothesis@ an5 o9r principle
has been to regar5 an?iet> which has reache5 a certain pitch as 5istinctl> weakening the
evi5ential val9e o= a coinci5ence( tho9gh great per=ection in other pointsAas( =or
instance( a complete i5entit> o= timeAmight more than o9tweigh the obDection. *he =act
that the an?iet> ma> not have been act9all> 5ominating conscio9sness at the moment o=
the hall9cination cannot be hel5 to remove the probabilit> Ps9ch as it isQ that the
hall9cination was s9bDectivel> ca9se5@ =or it is the r9le rather than the e?ception =or
hall9cinations which can be at all connecte5 with previo9s e?perience to be 5evelope5
=rom i5eas that are E9ite latent.
2

i-V2;!
S 8. *he ne?t pre5isposing con5ition o= hall9cinations that we have to consi5er is a-e, in
that special =orm which is connecte5 with the near sense o= 5eath( an5 with which
elements o= grie= an5 regret are o=ten mingle5. It is remarkable how large a proportion o=
phantasms o= the recognise5 sort represent =rien5s or relatives whose recent 5eath is
being mo9rne5. O9t o= U:2 cases( I =in5 that U7 are o= this t>pe@ o= which 8 took place on
the 5a> or the morrow( 3 within a ver> =ew 5a>s( an5 the rest within a ver> =ew weeks( o=
the 5eath.
2
%ow the rea5er ma> ask how an emotional con5ition 59e to a 5eath can a==ect
the interpretation o= an> phantasms that co9l5 possibl> be regar5e5 as telepathic@ =or
telepath>( as treate5 in this book( is an action between the min5s o= living persons. "9t it
m9st be remembere5 that we have alrea5> ass9me5 the possibilit> o= a certain perio5 o=
latenc, in telepathic impressions. *hat a certain perio5 has =ollowe5 a 5eath be=ore the
occ9rrence o= the hall9cination representing the person who has 5ie5( is not( there=ore(
=atal to a telepathic e?planation o= the case@ an5 the E9estion how =ar the percipient4s own
emotional state is to be pre=erre5 as an e?planation will 5epen5( to some e?tent( on the
length o= this intervening perio5. ,e are( there=ore( le5 on to the wi5er E9estionAb> how
large an interval m9st two e?periences be separate5 be=ore the possibilit> that the> ma>
be telepathicall> connecte5 is e?cl95e5r *his( it will be seen( is the ver> E9estion
involve5 in %o. : o= the =o9r gro9n5s o= ambig9it> above set =orth.
19tting asi5e =or the moment an> special theor>( it will be seen that the arg9ment =or a
ca9sal connection between an event o= one class( )( an5 an event o= another class( "(
arising =rom the =reE9enc> with which s9ch events appro?imate to one another in time( is
not an i-V22! arg9ment whose =orce stops s955enl> at an> pre5ictable point. It is an
arg9ment whose =orce gra59all> 5iminishes in proportion as the correspon5ences o= time
thro9gho9t a series o= cases get less an5 less precise( an5 onl> becomes inappreciable
when marke5 gaps begin to occ9r in the series. *h9s the =act that certain ps>chical
phenomena =orm a cl9ster( comparativel> thick at =irst an5 gra59all> becoming more an5
more sparse( in the =ew 5a>s that =ollow 5eaths( wo9l5 strongl> in5icate some common
bon5 o= connection between the phenomena an5 the 5eaths( even i= s9ch a thing as
telepath> in connection with living persons ha5 never been observe5. "9t as a matter o=
=act( we =in5 the cl9ster o= cases as thick D9st before li=e has cease5 as D9st after. .ence
the pres9mption o= a single common ca9se =or the whole gro9p.
%ow not onl> is telepath> the onl> common ca9se which it seems possible to name@ an5
not onl> is it the ca9se which is( so to speak( in possession o= the =iel5: it is a ca9se with
which( 9p to a certain point a=ter 5eath( the theor> o= an emotional origin cannot even
come into competition. +or however e==icacio9s grie=( or the general awe which 5eath
inspires( ma> be to provoke hall9cinations representing the 5ea5 person( the grie= an5
awe cannot operate till the =act o= his 5eath is known@ an5 =or an> one at a 5istance =rom
him( this knowle5ge m9st necessaril> =ollow the 5eath at a ver> appreciable interval. Up
to that point( then( we m9st hol5 that there is an appreciable chance that the hall9cination
is telepathic in character( an5 that an impression( receive5 =rom the agent be=ore or at
5eath( has lain latent =or a while in the percipient4s min5. )t the same time this theor> o=
latenc> is one that o9ght not to be straine5. *he =act that in the maDorit> o= o9r cases there
seems to be no latenc> at all( an5 that in another large gro9p the perio5 o= latenc> is short(
establishes a sort o= pres9mption that it is not likel> ever to be ver> long@ an5 while
a5mitting that an> limitation that we can make is arbitrar>( we pre=erA=or evi5ential
p9rposesAto 5raw the line earl>( an5 Pas e?plaine5 in -hap. IV.Q we have 5rawn it at 2U
ho9rs a=ter 5eath.
*he cases( however( where knowle5ge o= the 5eath( an5 the emotion ca9se5 b> it( have
prece5e5 the hall9cination( stan5 on ver> 5i==erent gro9n5. ) new element is now
intro59ce5( which has seeme5 to man> weight> a9thorities a =9ll an5 s9==icient
e?planation o= all post6(orte( phantasms. I am not aware( in5ee5( that an> cr9cial
instance has ever been =orthcomingAthat an>one( believing a =rien5 to be 5ea5 who was
reall> in a per=ectl> normal state( has seen i-V2U! his Bghost.C Moreover( most o= those
who have attrib9te5 post6(orte( phantasms to the percipient4s emotional con5ition have
5one so 9n5er an 3 priori conviction that with ph>sical 5eath all possibilit> o= a==ecting
others m9st necessaril> ceaseAa conviction which m> colleag9es an5 I 5o not share.
2
)t
the same time( 5eath is so wholl> 9niE9e a =act in h9man e?perience that it seems
reasonable to believe the i5eas an5 emotions connecte5 with it capable o= pro59cing ver>
9niE9e e==ects@ an5 personall> I am 5ispose5 to regar5 s9ch i5eas an5 emotions as
probabl> the s9==icient ca9se o= an> hall9cinations that occ9r while the> are present( as
long as s9ch hall9cinations present no =eat9res which the percipient4s min5 wo9l5 have
been 9nable to s9ppl>. *he pres9mption is at an> rate so strong( that no e?periences o=
an> sortAeven tho9gh otherwise a5missible( as =ollowing within the 2U ho9rs4 limitA
have been incl95e5 in o9r telepathic evi5ence( i= the =act o= the 5eath was alrea5> known
to the percipient( an5 i= his e?perience was 9nshare5 b> an> one else@ an5 this principle is
the easier to D9sti=> in that the 5a> imme5iatel> s9ccee5ing a 5eath seems the most likel>
o= all perio5s =or abnormal s9bDective impressions connecte5 with the 5eath to occ9r.
S W. *he remaining hea5 that we have to consi5er is e.pectanc,. *he evi5ence as to the
power o= this con5ition o= min5 to pro59ce waking hall9cinations is rather more 5e=inite
than in the case o= an?iet>. "rai5 5escribes a la5> who( as soon as the i5ea was s9ggeste5
to her( saw cor9scating =lames iss9e =rom the poles o= a magnet( or wherever she believe5
the in=l9ence o= the magnet to e?ten5@ an5 i-V2:! in the 5ark( liabilit> to this =orm o=
5el9sion seems not ver> 9ncommon. -r9cial e?amples o= a more 5evelope5 t>peAe?cept
in crises o= epi5emic e?citement Psee Vol. II( pp. 27WT7QAare less eas> to =in5. I have one
5a>light case where a man who was searching =or a tennis-ball ha5 a 5istinct apparition
o= the missing obDect in a spot where it was not. )n5 e?pectanc> ma> probabl> be
answerable =or a goo5 man> apparitions seen in rooms believe5 to be Bha9nte5.C I select
the =ollowing e?ample( however( as =ree =rom all s9perstitio9s associations( an5 as almost
certainl> a hall9cination( an5 not a mere ill9sion. ) barristerAwhose name I am at libert>
to mention( b9t not to printAwrites to me:A
B$ecember U2st( 277V.
BIn October( 277V( I was stopping =or the night at the /wan .otel at ".( on circ9it. M>
be5room was %o. 2W. M> =rien5 0.( a brother barrister( occ9pie5 %o. 28. "etween %o. 2W
Pm> roomQ an5 %o. 27 there was a comm9nicating 5oor( an5 be=ore retiring to rest I was
9n5er the impression that the 5oor was between m> room an5 m> =rien5 0.4s. I ha5 tol5
m> =rien5 0. so( when bi55ing him goo5-night( an5 he ha5 Dokingl> remarke5 that he
wo9l5 come in an5 =righten me 59ring the night. I 5iscovere5 be=ore going to be5 that o9r
rooms 5i5 not comm9nicate. I m9st have been asleep some ho9rs( when I woke 9p with a
sensation that some one was close to m> be5( an5 =eeling abo9t the other si5e o= the
chint] c9rtain at the hea5 o= the be5. I co9l5 hear the r9stling an5 crackling o= the c9rtain
close to m> =ace. I =elt per=ectl> 9nable to move( or protect m>sel=Anot thro9gh an> =ear(
b9t =rom a want o= power o= movement.
2
)=ter a =ew secon5s this powerlessness went o==(
an5 I sprang o9t o= be5( an5 saw the =ig9re o= m> =rien5 0. retreating towar5s the =oot o=
the be5. .e kept his =ace averte5( his hea5 a little bent( b9t I co9l5 see the wire an5 one o=
the glasses o= his spectacles as he t9rne5 =rom me@ he was 5resse5 in his night-shirt. )n5
what ma5e me believe in the realit> o= the appearance was the usoli5it>4 o= the white
night5ress( an5 the light on the spectacles. *he room was in 5im light( owing to gas-
lamps in street( an5 a =anlight over 5oor a5mitting light =rom gas in passage. I graspe5 at
m> =rien5 with both han5s an5 s9ppose5 I ha5 misse5 him as m> han5s met in the grasp.
I attempte5 again to grasp him( when he 5isappeare5 as i= thro9gh the =loor 9n5er the
washing-stan5. I then realise5( with some interest( that it was a hall9cination( an5 I sat on
the be5( wi5e awake( intereste5 in thinking it over. I tol5 0. o= it ne?t morning. I am
9ncertain whether there was a =an-light over the 5oor( b9t s9ch was m> impression at the
time@ an>wa>( the room was light.
B*. .. L.C
B0.C sent me a completel> concor5ant acco9nt a month earlier. .e sa>s that he never
walke5 in his sleep( an5 a55s:A
BI ha5 no notion where L.4s room was that night( b9t a=terwar5s i-V23! =o9n5 that it was
separate5 =rom mine b> a passage. I 5on4t think the sleep-walking theor> is possible@ an5
he is E9ite clear as to m> vanishing.C
*he a95itor> e?amples are commoner an5 clearer. )s might be e?pecte5( the> are
speciall> connecte5 with so9n5s which occ9r in an isolate5 wa>( s9ch as those o= bells
an5 clocks. *h9s a la5> tells me that more than once( in her st95ent 5a>s( when
won5ering what time it was( she 5istinctl> hear5 the college clock strike( an5 then
ascertaine5 that the impression ha5 been a 5el9sion. /he has also hear5 an imaginar>
B-ome in(C a=ter knocking at a 5oor. )nother la5> not 9n=reE9entl> ha5 a similar clock-
hall9cination when she was a=rai5 o= being late in the morning. ) gentleman tells me that
he has ha5 the hall9cination o= hearing billiar5-balls( when in be5 near a billiar5-room.
*hat the habit o= hal=-9nconscio9sl> looking o9t =or an> partic9lar so9n5 has a ten5enc>
to pro59ce a phantasm o= it is also shown b> the e?perience o= 5omestic servants. I have
cases =rom two members o= this class who occasionall>( when at their ho9sehol5 work(
have hear5 the voice o= their mistress calling them in tones as 9nmistakeable as i= the>
were real. )n5 another in=ormant tells me that she 5istinctl> hear5 her =ather4s voice call
to her one morning( B-ome( /iss>( it4s past 7( >o94re late(C an5 ascertaine5 that he ha5
sai5 nothing. %o one will 5o9bt that s9ch e?periences as these are p9rel> s9bDective.Y~Z
-ases occ9r( however( where the other e?planation seems less clearl> e?cl95e5. Mr.
-harles E5e( o= ,onersh Lo5ge( &9il5=or5( a 5octor b> pro=ession( who 5escribes
himsel= as a ver> 9nlikel> person to be B5eceive5 b> morbi5 =ancies(C sen5s 9s the
=ollowing e?ample. /ome la5ies who live5 abo9t hal=-a-mile =rom him ha5 a large alarm-
bell o9tsi5e their ho9se( an5 one night he seeme5 5istinctl> to hear the so9n5 o= this bell.
.e learnt a=terwar5s that there ha5 been an alarm o= thieves that night( an5 that at the
ver> time( 2.:; a.m.( when he was startle5 b> the so9n5( his =rien5s ha5 been on the point
o= ringing the bell in the hope that it wo9l5 bring him@ b9t the> ha5 not act9all> r9ng it.
*he hall9cination ma> have been 59e to the s9b-conscio9s i5ea o= a possible s9mmons in
Mr. E5e4s min5@ an5 the coinci5ence ma> probabl> have been acci5ental@ b9t i= s9ch a
thing as telepath> e?ists( the probabilit> 5oes not amo9nt to certaint>. )gain( a clerg>man
is awakene5 at W.:; one morning b> the so9n5 o= his name( ascertains that no one has
calle5 him( an5 learns in less than an ho9r that a =rien5( =or whom he was =9l=illing a
tr9st( ha5 9ne?pecte5l> 5ie5 at W.:; that morning. .e has never on an> other i-V2V!
occasion hear5 an imaginar> voice. /till( an e?perience o= this sort( coming in sleep( an5
at the ver> time when the organism wo9l5 be( so to speak( preparing itsel= =or the s955en
change an5 the s9mmons to activit> which waking involves( m9st be classe5 as
ambig9o9s.
) t>pe o= case which o=ten makes a great impression on those who e?perience it is where
the e?pectation is o= some one4s arrival. *he =ollowing a95itor> specimen is =rom the
.on. Mrs. +o? 1ow>s( alrea5> mentione5 Pp. UW2Q.
BF9l>( 277U.
BI was e?pecting m> h9sban5 home( an5 shortl> a=ter the time he o9ght to have arrive5
Pabo9t 2; p.m.Q I hear5 a cab 5rive 9p to the 5oor( the bell ring( m> h9sban54s voice
talking with the cabman( the =ront 5oor open( an5 his step come 9p the stairs. I went to
the 5rawing-room( opene5 it( an5 to m> astonishment saw no one. I co9l5 har5l> believe
he was not there( the whole thing was so vivi5( an5 the street was partic9larl> E9iet at the
time. )bo9t U; min9tes or so a=ter this m> h9sban5 reall, arrive5( tho9gh nothing
so9n5e5 to me more real than it 5i5 the =irst time. *he train was late( an5 he ha5 been
thinking I might be an?io9s.
B)M# -. 1O,#/.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. 1ow>s a55s:A
B*o me the whole thing was ver> nois> an5 real( b9t no one else can have hear5 an>thing(
=or the bell I hear5 ring was not answere5. It was a E9iet street in town( an5 there was no
vehicle o= an> kin5 passing at the time@ an5 on =in5ing no one on the lan5ing as I
e?pecte5( I went at once to the win5ow( an5 there was nothing to be seen( an5 no sound
to be hear5( which wo9l5 have been the case ha5 the cab been 5riven o==.C
%ow the hearing o= a bell( an5 the hearing o= a carriage 5riving 9p( are both known =orms
o= s9bDective impression( even apart =rom e?pectanc>( nor is there an>thing o55 in their
combination@ an5 i=( as I s9spect( slight hall9cinations o= s9ch non-vocal so9n5s are
tolerabl> common( it is nat9ral to s9ppose that e?pectanc> might e?aggerate them. *he
recognise5 voice was( no 5o9bt( a more 5istinctive =eat9re@ b9t in the percipient4s
circ9mstances( an5 a=ter the other so9n5s hear5( this seems too nat9ral an a55ition to
warrant 9s in connecting it with the =act that her h9sban54s tho9ghts happene5 to be
5irecte5 to her at the time. )n5 i= this case ma> be 5ismisse5( 3 fortiori ma> others o= a
less prolonge5 an5 complicate5 kin5Aespeciall> those lacking the 5istinct ti(bre-
element o= bell an5 voice( an5 so more easil> acco9nte5 =or as mere misinterpretations o=
real so9n5s whose so9rce was not evi5ent.
In the parallel vis9al cases( the impression is( at an> rate( o=ten o= the most 5istinctive an5
9nmistakeable kin5@ an5 it is impossible not to be str9ck b> the n9mber o= instances in
which this startling i-V28! e?perienceAthe single vis9al hall9cination o= a person4s li=e
Ahas represente5 the =ig9re o= a =rien5 or relative who was on his wa> to the place where
his =ig9re appeare5( an5 whose min5 was probabl> to some e?tent pict9ring his own
arrival.
2
%one the less( I think( i= e?pectanc> e?iste5 on the percipient4s part( m9st it be
ass9me5 to have been the s9==icient ca9se o= the hall9cination. /9ch a case as the
=ollowing( sent to 9s b> the 'ev. +. '. .arba9gh P1astor o= the 1resb>terian -h9rchQ( 'e5
"ank( Monmo9th -o.( %ew Ferse>( U./.).( is ver> instr9ctive.
B+ebr9ar> Wth( 2773.
B,hile a resi5ent o= the cit> o= 1hila5elphia( I ma5e an appointment to meet a personal
=rien5. )t the appointe5 ho9r I was at the 5esignate5 place. M> =rien5 was tar5> in his
appearing. )=ter a while( however( I saw him approaching Por tho9ght I 5i5Q. /o ass9re5
was I o= his a5vance that I a5vance5 to meet him( when presentl> he 5isappeare5 entirel>.
B*he localit> where I tho9ght I saw his approach was open( an5 9nobstr9cte5 b> an>
obDect behin5 which he co9l5 have 5isappeare5. Onl> b> leaping a high brick wall Pan
enclos9re o= a b9r>ing-gro9n5Q co9l5 he have secrete5 himsel=. *he hall9cination was
completeAso 5istinct as to lea5 me to a5vance to meet him witho9t a tho9ght o= optical
ill9sion.
BI imme5iatel> went to the o==ice o= m> =rien5( an5 there learne5 =rom him that he ha5
not been awa> =rom his 5esk =or several ho9rs.
B+. '. .)'")U&..C
In answer to an inE9ir>( Mr. .arba9gh a55s:A
B*he appointment was forgotten b> m> =rien5( as he state5 in his apolog> when I entere5
his o==ice.C
*elepath> =rom an 9nconscio9s region o= the 5e=a9lter4s min5 wo9l5 scarcel> be a
pla9sible e?planation o= this occ9rrence.
)t =irst sight it ma> perhaps seem strange that the or5inar> ever>-5a> sort o= e?pectanc>
which e?iste5 in these cases sho9l5 be a s9==icient ca9se =or so rare an5 startling a
5el9sion. "9t remembering that in the maDorit> o= startling 5el9sions o= the sort there is
no i-V2W! assignable ca9se at all( an5 that a person ma> there=ore be on the ver> verge
o= hall9cination witho9t knowing it( we ma> not 9nreasonabl> s9ppose that a ver> slight
ostensible ca9se might give the =inal imp9lse. It m9st be notice5( moreover( that in these
arrival-cases the alternative to the h>pothesis o= the s9bDective origin o= the hall9cination
is b> no means clear. +or what wo9l5 the telepathic e?planation involver *hat on the
agent4s part the mere sense o= being abo9t to arrive( with tho9ghts perhaps a==ectionatel>
t9rning to the percipient( is a5eE9ate to generate a telepathic imp9lse. %ow have we an>
right to make s9ch an ass9mptionr
S 7. *his E9estion( it will be seen( brings 9s ro9n5 to the hea5 o= ambig9it> n9mbere5 2
in the above list@Awhere the 5o9bt was whether a s9ppose5 agent4s con5ition is
abnormal eno9gh =or a s>nchrono9s hall9cination o= the percipient to =orm with it a
coinci5ence 5eserving o= attention. )n5 it happens that it is onl> in the arrival6cases that
this E9estion has practicall> been 5i==ic9lt to 5eci5e. Man> in5ivi59al inci5ents o= other
t>pes have( o= co9rse( been e?cl95e5 =rom o9r evi5ence( on the gro9n5 that the
abnormalit> o= the allege5 agent4s con5ition was onl> slight( or that it was prolonge5 over
a consi5erable time@
2
b9t these arrival-cases seem to i-V27! =orm a 5istinct little class o=
their own. It happens also that some o= them have presente5 =eat9res which tell rather
strongl> in =avo9r o= a telepathic origin. +or instance( the vision representing the coming
person has incl95e5 some 5etail o= 5ress or appearance which the percipient4s min5
wo9l5 have been most 9nlikel> to s9ppl>@ or again( tho9gh the person whom the vision
represente5 was act9all> abo9t to arrive( his arrival was improbable an5 9ne?pecte5( an5
there=ore the vision co9l5 not be connecte5 with the percipient4s attit95e o= min5. /9ch
instancesAtho9gh =orming too small a gro9p to be concl9siveA5o not seem an> longer
to be a(biguous in at all the same 5egree as those be=ore consi5ere5( an5 the> ma> =airl>
take their place among the positive evi5ence in a later chapter.
2
On the other han5Ain
view o= the =act that in the vast maDorit> o= the cases where the evi5ence =or telepath>
reaches a certain strength( the agent is 5oing or s9==ering something m9ch more
remarkable than merel> ret9rning homeAwe 5o not =eel that the telepathic e?planation
can claim an> high 5egree o= probabilit> in an> arrival-case where the hall9cination has
not presente5 some e?ceptional evi5ential =eat9re@ an5 accor5ingl> no s9ch case has been
a5mitte5 in the seE9el.
*he 5isc9ssion o= these ambig9o9s cases has not( I hope( been altogether witho9t positive
instr9ction@ b9t it was necessar>( i= onl> to clear the wa> =or =9rther e?amination o= the
telepathic phantasms. +or i= the E9estion whether( or in what sense( those phantasms are
hallucinations reE9ires 9s to compare them with other hall9cinations o= the sane( the
comparison m9st clearl> be con=ine5 to cases which are certainl, s9bDective( to the
e?cl9sion o= cases which ma> conceivabl> themselves be telepathic.
i-V2X!
+!P#&R 0((.
#& /&)&'%PM&"# %F #&'&P!#(+ !''.+("!#(%"$.
S 2. *.E main points which I shall ill9strate in the present chapter are two: P2Q the
gradual develop(ent o= man> telepathic hall9cinations@ an5 PUQ the =reE9ent embo5iment
o= the i5ea which is at the root o= them in an original, i(probable, or fantastic mannerA
its clothing 9pon Pso to speakQ with images that in5icate a 5istinct process o= mental
activit>. "oth o= these points present themselves also in hall9cinations o= the sane o= the
p9rel> s9bDective class@ an5 the consi5eration o= them will( I think( s9==icientl> establish
the parallelismAas phenomena =or the sensesAo= s9bDective an5 telepathic phantasms.
)s regar5s gra59al 5evelopment(Aone =orm o= it might be =o9n5 in that defer(ent o= the
percipient4s e?perience( which is as =reE9ent a =eat9re in the phantasmal gro9p as we
have =o9n5 it to be in other gro9ps o= telepathic cases.
2
,e sho9l5 scarcel> look =or an>
ver> precise analog> to this 5e=erment in the p9rel> sub5ective class@ inasm9ch as the
connection o= a p9rel> s9bDective hall9cination with an i5ea which has previo9sl>
obtaine5 unconscious lo5gment in the min5 m9st( =rom the ver> nat9re o= the case( be
har5 to establish. I ma>( however( re=er once more to the N:'*8=T> inci5ent( an5 to the
other case 5escribe5 at p. 3XU( note( where an i5ea which was so =ar latent that even a
5eliberate search =or it =aile5 to evoke it( proDecte5 itsel= in sensor> =orm at what appeare5
to be a E9ite cas9al moment. I will a55 an e?perience which has been 5escribe5 to me b>
a naval -aptain( who has never in his li=e ha5 an> other hall9cination o= the senses.
$9ring his =irst important comman5( he twice in one night ha5 a 5istinct a95itor>
impression o= the wor5s( B-aptain +.( come on 5eckCAthe realit> o= the impression being
i-VU;! shown b> the =act that he obe>e5 the imaginar> s9mmons. .e 5oes not recall an>
prece5ing knowle5ge o= 5anger. "9t it t9rne5 o9t that the co9rse which the ship was
r9nning was in =act a 5angero9s one@ an5 it is nat9ral( there=ore( to concl95e that some
s9b-conscio9s i5ea that his presence might be nee5e5 shape5 itsel= in this o9twar5 =orm.
2

"9t the 5evelopment o= which I wish here to speak is that which occ9rs a=ter the
abnormal e?perience has act9all> commence5. /9ch 5evelopment ma> take vario9s
=orms. *h9s( P2Q the phantasm ma> be recognise5 onl> some moments a=ter it has been
perceive5( or even a=ter it has cease5 to be perceive5@ or PUQ a visible =ig9re ma> take
shape gra59all>@ or P:Q the process o= ill9sion ma> incl95e several 5istinct stages. In all
these cases we ma> s9ppose that the i5ea( at =irst b9t 5iml> conceive5 an5 vag9el>
apprehen5e5( is working itsel= into 5e=initeness Pas so o=ten occ9rs in the processes o=
abstract reasoningQ( an5 that the character o= the proDection 9n5ergoes a correspon5ing
change. %owhere 5o we more clearl> see the a==init> o= the waking hall9cinations to
5reams( which o=ten( o= co9rse( e?hibit the working o9t o= an i5ea in a prolonge5 an5
elaborate =orm.
S U. )n5 =irst ver> brie=l> to e?hibit these t>pes among p9rel> s9bDective e?periencesA
the =ollowing case( which most o= m> rea5ers will probabl> re=er to that class( is one
where the phantasm was onl> recognise5 in the instant o= or a=ter 5isappearance. *he
narrator is Mr. '. &ibson( o= M9lgrave -ottage( Limerick.
B+ebr9ar> UVth( 2773.
B)s well as I can remember( it was in the >ear 278U. I know it was in the earl> part o= m>
co9rting 5a>s( so that it m9st have been 278U or 278:. I was walking home one night
abo9t 2; p.m.Athe night was not 5ark( I co9l5 see clearl> =or man> >ar5s ahea5Awhen I
met =ace to =ace a man in the b>e-roa5 which lea5s =rom the high roa5 to m> =ather4s
ho9se. I =elt that sort o= start one 5oes when >o9 =eel >o9 are coming against something in
the 5ark( witho9t act9all> striking against it. *hen the tho9ght came( u-on=o9n5 his
imp95ence( wh> 5oes he not move o9t o= m> wa>r4 an5 I steppe5 straight =orwar5(
inten5ing to walk bang into him( b9t as I steppe5 right 9p to him( with m> chest 9p to
him( he was gone( an5 the instant as he vanishe5 I tho9ght( uOh( Lor5( that is m>
&ran5=ather &ibson.4 I =elt rather E9eer( I can tell >o9( b9t I looke5 well ro9n5( an5 there
was no one near. I care=9ll> went to that place night a=ter night again( an5 watche5 the
spot o=ten other nights over o9r wall( i-VU2! an5 I co9l5 never either see or think I saw
an>thing again. M> gran5=ather was 5ea5 abo9t 22 >ears at the time( an5 was never m9ch
in m> tho9ghts( as I ha5 never been m9ch with him@ an5 at the time I was thinking onl>
o= the events o= the evening( as I s9ppose most >o9ng men ma5l> in love( as I was( wo9l5
have been. I was abo9t as happ> an5 as =9ll o= health an5 li=e as I s9ppose an> =ellow
co9l5 possibl> be. It was E9ite a p9]]le to me =or man> >ears what it co9l5 have been =or@
b9t I think I know now.C Y*his last sentence merel> re=ers to the =act that Mr. &ibson was
at that time becoming involve5 in an a==air that t9rne5 o9t 9n=ort9natel>.Z
*he gradual for(ation o= the phantasm is a 5eci5e5l> rare phenomenon. M. Marillier( in
one o= the most interesting acco9nts o= s9bDective hall9cination ever p9blishe5(
2
sa>s o=
his own e?periences( B-4est 9n =ait intHressant G noter E9e les hall9cinations
n4apparaissent pas 54or5inaire 54emblHe( mais E94elles se 5Hveloppent et gran5issent( se
rapprochent pe9 G pe9( tan5is E94elles 5isparaissent to9Do9rs br9sE9ement.C YTranslationZ
On the whole( I think that it is less 9ncommon =or the disappearance to be gra59alAa
=a5ing awa>( occasionall> accompanie5 b> an e?pansion o= the =ig9re.
U
Other cases 5o
not get be>on5 the stage o= in5e=inite clo95> =orms. "9t I have ver> =ew s9bDective cases
where a 5e=inite obDect took shape o9t o= a vag9e mass. One o= these belongs to the
BswarmingC classAthe =aces( sometimes hi5eo9s an5 sometimes bea9ti=9l( being
5escribe5 b> m> in=ormant as 5eveloping o9t o= mist. )nother in=ormant tells me that
59ring =ainting-=its( to which in bo>hoo5 he was rather liable( he alwa>s saw white
clo95> masses pass in =ront o= him( which gra59all> ass9me5 a general resemblance to
h9man =orms. ) thir5 case is =rom Mr. 'obert -ollings( o= 227( Earl4s -o9rt 'oa5( /.,.
,hen a bo>( he awoke one night( an5 =o9n5 the moon brightl> ill9minating the si5e o=
the room =acing the be5.
B,hile ga]ing( I 5istinctl> sawArising in the moonlit space between the c9rtains at the
=oot o= the be5Awhat appeare5 to be vapo9r or clo95( an5 as this grew higher( it
gra59all> ass9me5 the shape o= a 5rape5 =emale =ig9re( hol5ing towar5s me in one han5 a
lamp an5 in the other a basin( =rom which steam seeme5 to rise. *he =orm vanishe5
slowl>( an5 I a=terwar5s =ell asleep witho9t e?periencing either =ear or horror.C
Mr. -ollings4 brother( who was sharing his room at the time( writes( =rom the 'o>al
%aval -l9b( 1ortsmo9th( that he 5istinctl> remembers hearing o= this vision imme5iatel>
a=terwar5s.
i-VUU!
*his e?perience ma> probabl> be acco9nte5 =or as a recr95escence o= what the bo>4s e>es
ha5 shortl> be=ore behel5 on several occasions 59ring a tri=ling illness. *he case(
however( o9ght strictl> to rank as ambig9o9s( beca9se the relative who ha5 ten5e5 him in
this illness ha5 D9st 5ie5 Psee p. V2UQ. It will be seen that the 5isappearance( as well as the
appearance( was gra59al.
*he occ9rrence o= s9bDective hall9cinations in several stages is( on the other han5(
common eno9gh. I have mentione5 the occasional 5evelopment o= an 9n5e=ine5
impression o= a presence into 5e=inite visible or a95ible =orm Pp. 37:( an5 see Vol. II.( p.
U;2Q. In another case( as to the s9bDective character o= which I m>sel= entertain little
5o9bt( m> in=ormant 5escribes seeing an 9n9s9al light on the staircase( looking 9p( an5
then perceiving a 5ecease5 relative stan5ing with a can5le on the stairs. $r. Fessopp Pp.
3XX( noteQ saw a large white han5( be=ore he t9rne5 ro9n5 an5 behel5 the complete =orm
o= his noct9rnal visitor. "9t the more 9s9al t>pe is where two or more senses are
concerne5. /o marke5 an instance as the inci5ent o= the servant an5 the message( E9ote5
above Pp. 3XX( noteQ( is no 5o9bt e?ceptional@ b9t a =ig9re which speaks( or which shakes
the percipient4s arm@ the so9n5 o= =ootsteps or o= an opening 5oor( =ollowe5 b> an
entrance@ a voice an5 a kissAs9ch inci5ents( tho9gh =ar less =reE9ent than hall9cinations
o= the single senses( are >et well represente5 among the s9bDective 5el9sions o= the sane.
S :. I t9rn now to the telepathic cases. *he most striking case o= 5ela>e5 recognition in
o9r collection is perhaps that o= Mr. Marchant above Pp. U;WQ. ) case where the
phantasmal =ig9re was taken =irst =or one person an5 then =or another( the latter being the
one who 5ie5 at the time( will be =o9n5 in Vol. II.( p. W2.
2
In the i-VU:! two =ollowing
e?amples( the =ace o= the apparition seeme5 =amiliar( tho9gh the percipient co9l5 not at
the time i5enti=> it. *he =irst is =rom Mr. *. ,. &oo5>ear( now o= )voca Villa( 1ark 'oa5(
"evois .ill( /o9thampton.
B.igh=iel5 Villa( ,inchester.
B+ebr9ar> Xth( 2773.
P2X2Q BI ma> remark =irst o= all I am consi5ere5 b> m> =rien5s as possessing iron nerves(
am passionatel> =on5 o= athletics( an5 certainl> not given to letting imagination or =ear
r9n o== with m> senses. "9t altho9gh I can witho9t boasting sa> I har5l> know what =ear
is( I am pec9liarl> s9sceptible to mental impressions@ that is( I can o=ten tell what is
passing in the min5s o= others Pespeciall> m> wi=eQ when o9t walking with themAso
m9ch so that I have almost =rightene5 one or two people b> o==ering to tell them the
s9bDect on which the> were thinking( an5 in some cases e?actl> what the> were thinking
abo9t that s9bDect. .owever( I 5aresa> that is common eno9gh( b9t what I am partic9larl>
writing >o9 on is to tell >o9 two =acts( one o= which occ9rre5 2;| >ears ago an5 the other
W >ears ago nearl>. Y+or the secon5 case see Vol. II.( p. 22V.Z It seems a long time ago to
be repro59ce5( b9t to me the scenes are =resh as i= the> onl> happene5 >ester5a>.
B*he =irst was this. I was going =rom the ho9se I live5 at to a shop kept b> m> brother(
an5 when abo9t hal= wa>( it came on to rain ver> =ast. I calle5 in at the ho9se o= a la5>
=rien5 an5 waite5 some time( b9t it 5i5 not clear( an5 as I was a=rai5 m> brother wo9l5 be
leaving( I sai5 I m9st go. I rose to 5o so( an5 went into the hall( an5 m> =rien5 r9she5
awa> 9pstairs to get an 9mbrella( leaving me in the 5ark. In the higher part o= the 5oor
was a glass win5ow( an5 I all at once( in the 5arkness( saw a =ace looking thro9gh that
win5ow. *he =ace was ver> well known to me( tho9gh =or the instant I 5i5 not associate it
with the original( as she was :;; miles awa>. I instantl> opene5 the 5oor( =o9n5 nobo5>
there( an5 then searche5 the iv> with which the porch an5 ho9se are covere5. +in5ing
nothing( an5 knowing it was impossible an>one co9l5 have got awa>( I then =or the =irst
time inE9ire5 o= m>sel= whose was the =ace I ha5 seen. I at once knew the =ace was that
o= a marrie5 sister-in-law o= m> wi=e4s. I tol5 all o9r =amil> o= the circ9mstance 5irectl> I
got home( an5 D95ge o= o9r 5isma> when we ha5 a letter to sa> she 5ie5 at the ver> ho9r I
saw her. Mon5a> was the evening I saw the =ace( an5 on ,e5nes5a>( when we were at
5inner( the letter came.
B*. ,. &OO$#E)'.C
In answer to the 9s9al E9estion( Mr. &oo5>ear replies that he has ha5 no other e?perience
o= a vis9al hall9cination.
i-VU3!
Miss &oo5>ear corrobrates as =ollows:A
B.artle> ,intne>( ,inch=iel5.
BMarch 2Uth( 2773.
BM> brother PMr. &oo5>ear( o= ,inchesterQ sa>s >o9 wish con=irmation o= a statement he
ma5e as to seeing the =ace o= a =rien5Awho live5 some :;; miles o==Athe evening she
5ie5. ,e are none o= 9s likel> to =orget the assertion he ma5e as to seeing the =ace( one
evening some 2U >ears or so ago@ still less the great astonishment when two 5a>s a=ter
Pmi55a> o= secon5 5a>Q we ha5 a letter to sa> she ha5 5ie5 on that partic9lar evening. M>
other brother( who was awa> =rom home( was written to on the intervening 5a>( an5
mention was ma5e o= the strange a==air( so that he( too( co9l5 corroborate the statement(
as his letter wo9l5 reach him be=ore the one anno9ncing the 5eath reache5 9s.
BM)'# )11LE*O% &OO$#E)'.C
) brother o= Mr. *. ,. &oo5>ear writes:A
BMarch 2Xth( 2773.
BI recollect m> brother mentioning the strange occ9rrence o= seeing the =ace o= a =rien5 a
5a> be=ore her 5eath( tho9gh he was in .ampshire an5 she in #orkshire. I have not kept
m> letter( or wo9l5 =orwar5 it to >o9( b9t can vo9ch =or the acc9rac> o= the acco9nt.
B&. ). &OO$#E)'.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the 5eath took place on %ovember :( 27WU@
conseE9entl> 2U|( not 2;|( >ears be=ore Mr. &oo5>ear wrote to 9s. Mr. &oo5>ear seems
also to have ma5e an error as to the 5a> o= the week@ =or %ov. : was a /9n5a>. "9t it
seems ver> 9nlikel> that at the time both he an5 his sister sho9l5 have been wrong in
their i5enti=ication o= the evening o= the vision as that o= the 5eath. Mr. &. ). &oo5>ear4s
wor5s Ba 5a> be=ore her 5eath(C i= more than a slip o= writing( can har5l> weigh against
the evi5ence o= the other two witnesses@ an5 so =ar as the> ha5 an> weight( it wo9l5 tell
against the s9pposition that the vision was as late as Mon5a>.
In the ne?t case o9r in=ormant is 9nwilling to have her name p9blishe5( as relatives might
obDect@ b9t sa>s that Bthe narrative can be veri=ie5 b> private comm9nication.C
B"elgravia Instit9te =or *raine5 %9rses.
B$ecember( 2773.
P2XUQ BOn the a=ternoon o= /9n5a>( $ecember 27th( 2783( m> =ather-in-law( Mr. ".( m>
h9sban5( an5 I were sitting in the 5ining-room at $. .all. *he room was a large one(
abo9t U8=t. b> :;=t.@ on one si5e was the =ireplace( with a 5oor at each si5e@ opposite the
=ireplace were three win5ows@ stan5ing with >o9r back to the =ireplace( at the en5 o= the
room on >o9r right were two more win5ows( an5 on >o9r le=t a blank wall. *hese
win5ows were some height =rom the gro9n5( probabl> W=t. or more( so that no one co9l5
look in 9nless stan5ing on a chair. It was 5ark( an5 we were sitting ro9n5 the =ire( the
sh9tters not having been close5. Mr. ". =ace5 the two win5ows( I sat on the other si5e o=
the =ireplace( with m> back to the sai5 win5ows( m> h9sban5 being in the i-VUV! mi55le
=acing the =ire. /955enl> Mr. ". sai5( u,ho is that looking in at the win5owr4 pointing to
the =9rthest o= the two win5ows. ,e la9ghe5( knowing that no one co9l5 look in( as there
was nothing there =or them to stan5 on. Mr. ". persiste5 in his assertion( sa>ing that it
was a woman with a pale =ace an5 black hair@ that the =ace was =amiliar to him( b9t he
co9l5 not remember her name: an5 he insiste5 on m> h9sban5 going ro9n5 the o9tsi5e o=
the ho9se one wa>( whilst he went the other. *he>( however( saw no one. )s the> went
o9t( I looke5 at the clock. *he time was V.3V p.m.
BOn the =ollowing *9es5a> I hear5 o= the 5eath o= m> mother( Mrs. 'anking( who ha5
5ie5 at /t. 1eter4s 1ort( &9ernse>( e.actl, at V.3V p.(. on !unda,, Dece(ber 27th, the
ho9r at which the =ace appeare5 at the win5ow. /he ha5 been 5elirio9s be=ore her 5eath(
an5 calling piteo9sl> =or me. $irectl> Mr. ". hear5 o= her 5eath he e?claime5( uIt was
Mrs. 'anking4s =ace I saw in the win5ow on /9n5a>4 Phe ha5 onl> seen m> mother two or
three timesQ. ,e were not aware that m> mother was serio9sl> ill. I 5o not pres9me to
o==er an> scienti=ic e?planation o= these =acts( b9t I =irml> believe that m> mother4s last
tho9ghts were o= me( her el5est chil5. I ha5 onl> been marrie5 two months( an5 she ha5
not seen me since m> we55ing-5a>.
BE. ). ".C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. ". sa>s:A
B"oth m> =ather-in-law an5 m> h9sban5 are 5ea5. I know o= no in5epen5ent wa> in
which I can =i? the 5ate o= the apparition( b9t I know that m> h9sban5 an5 I ha5 been to
ch9rch that a=ternoon( an5 i= >o9 look at an> almanack =or 2783( >o9 will see that
$ecember 27th in that >ear was on a /9n5a>( an5 that was the 5a> on which m> mother
5ie5.C
,e =in5 =rom the Ti(es obit9ar> that Mrs. 'anking 5ie5 on /9n5a>( $ecember 27( 2783(
Ba=ter a short illness.C
I have ha5 a thoro9ghl> satis=actor> interview with Mrs. ".( who is an>thing b9t a
sentimental witness. /he showe5 me a photograph o= $. .all( which ma5e it evi5ent that
the =ace at the win5ow cannot have belonge5 to a real person. Even a tall man4s hea5
co9l5 not have been visible =rom insi5e the room where the part> were sitting( the le5ge
being more than 8 =eet =rom the gro9n5@ an5 there was nothing 9n5er the win5ow to
climb 9p b>. /till( the =ather-in-law wo9l5 not be pers9a5e5 b9t that it was a real =ace(
tho9gh o= co9rse totall> 9nable to acco9nt =or it. .e was certain he knew the =ace( tho9gh
9nable to p9t a name to it. .e ha5 seen Mrs. 'anking onl> twice. It is practicall> certain
that he ha5 never ha5 an> other hall9cination@ an5 he was most 9nwilling to regar5 this as
one. *he 5eath was ver> s955en( =rom 5>senter>. Mrs. ". 5istinctl> remembers noting the
time( V.3V( while her h9sban5 an5 =ather-in-law were searching. *he light was bright
=irelight.
In the ne?t two cases we have the =eat9re o= gra59al =ormation( as well as 5ela>e5
recognition. *he =ollowing acco9nt appeare5 in the Church Huarterl, =evie- =or )pril(
27WW( pp. U2;T22.
P2X:Q BIn the ho9se in which these pages were written( a tall an5 wi5e staircase win5ow(
with a northern aspect( throws a strong si5e-light on the entrance into the chie= living
room( which stan5s at the en5 o= a i-VU8! passage r9nning nearl> the length o= the
ho9se. It was a=ter mi5-5a>( in mi5-winter( man> >ears since( that the writer le=t his st95>(
which opens into the passage D9st mentione5( on his wa> to his earl> 5inner. *he 5a> was
rather =ogg>( b9t there was no 5ensit> o= vapo9r( >et the 5oor at the en5 o= the passage
seeme5 obsc9re5 b> mist. )s he a5vance5( the mist( so to call it( gathere5 into one spot(
5eepene5( an5 =orme5 itsel= into the o9tline o= a h9man =ig9re( the hea5 an5 sho9l5ers
becoming more an5 more 5istinct( while the rest o= the bo5> seeme5 envelope5 in a
ga9]>( cloaklike vestment o= man> =ol5s( reaching 5ownwar5s so as to hi5e the =eet( an5
=rom its wi5th( as it reste5 on the =lagge5 passage( giving a p>rami5al o9tline.
2
*he =9ll
light o= the win5ow =ell on the obDect( which was so thin an5 ten9o9s in its consistenc>
that the light on the panels o= a highl> varnishe5 5oor was visible thro9gh the lower part
o= the 5ress.
U
It was altogether colo9rless( a stat9e carve5 in mist. *he writer was so
startle5 that he is 9ncertain whether he move5 =orwar5 or stoo5 still. .e was rather
astonishe5 than terri=ie5( =or his =irst notion was that he was witnessing some hitherto
9nnotice5 e==ect o= light an5 sha5e. .e ha5 no tho9ght o= an>thing s9pernat9ral
:
till( as he
ga]e5( the hea5 was t9rne5 towar5s him( an5 he at once recognise5 the =eat9res o= a ver>
5ear =rien5. *he e?pression o= his co9ntenance was that o= hol>( peace=9l repose( an5 the
gentle( kin5l> aspect that it wore in 5ail> li=e was intensi=ie5 Pso the writer( in recalling
the sight( has ever since =elt(Q into a parting glance o= 5eep a==ection. )n5 then( in an
instant( all passe5 awa>. *he writer can onl> compare the manner o= the evanescence to
the wa> in which a Det o= steam is 5issipate5 on e?pos9re to col5 air. .ar5l>( till then( 5i5
he realise that he ha5 been bro9ght into close comm9nion with the s9pernat9ral. *he
res9lt was great awe( b9t no terror( so that instea5 o= retreating to his st95>( he went
=orwar5 an5 opene5 the 5oor close to which the apparition ha5 stoo5.
BO= co9rse( he co9l5 not 5o9bt the import o= what he ha5 seen@ an5 the morrow4s or the
ne?t 5a>4s post bro9ght the ti5ings that his =rien5 ha5 tranE9ill> passe5 o9t o= this worl5(
at the time when he was seen b> the writer. It m9st be state5 that it was a s955en
s9mmons( that the writer ha5 hear5 nothing o= him =or some weeks previo9sl>( an5 that
nothing ha5 bro9ght him to his tho9ghts on the 5a> o= his 5ecease.C
*he wi5ow o= the narrator writes to 9s:A
B1o]]o=orte( "or5ighera.
B$ecember 27th( 277:.
B*he article in the Church Huarterl, to which >o9 re=er was written b> m> h9sban5( b9t I
regret to sa> that I can a55 no partic9lars relating to the e?perience he therein relates. .e
never co9l5 talk o= itAco9l5 scarcel> bear to re=er to it even.
3
I 5o not think that he ever
ha5 an> other e?perience o= the same kin5.C
i-VUW!
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom a la5> known to the present writer( whose onl> reason =or
withhol5ing her name an5 a55ress is her =ear that a near relative might obDect to their
p9blication. *he 5escription seems to warrant 9s in regar5ing the vis9al e?perience( at
an> rate( as a waking an5 not a mere Bbor5erlan5C specimen.
B$ecember 2Wth( 277:.
P2X3Q B#ears ago( a =rien5 an5 m>sel= ma5e the time-worn arrangement that whichever
5ie5 =irst wo9l5 en5eavo9r to ret9rn to visit the other. /ome >ears a=ter( I aske5 this
man4s sister to remember me to him an5 sa>( 5i5 he remember his promise( an5 having
receive5 =or answer u1er=ectl>( an5 I hope I shall appear to AA( an5 not she to me(4 the
whole matter passe5 o9t o= m> min5. M> =rien5 was in %ew Jealan5( his sister I 5on4t
know where. One night I awoke with a =eeling some one was in the room. I m9st tell >o9
that I alwa>s have a bright light b9rning on a table( not =ar =rom m> be5. I looke5 abo9t(
an5 presentl> saw something behin5 the little table@ =elt m>sel= grow per=ectl> col5@
2
was
not in the least =rightene5( r9bbe5 m> e>es to be s9re I was E9ite awake( an5 looke5 at it
stea5=astl>. &ra59all> a man4s hea5 an5 sho9l5ers were per=ectl> =orme5( b9t in a sort o=
mist> material( i= I ma> 9se s9ch a wor5. *he hea5 an5 =eat9res were 5istinct( b9t the
whole appearance was not s9bstantial an5 plain@ in =act it was like a clo95( =orme5 as a
man4s hea5 an5 sho9l5ers. )t =irst I ga]e5 an5 tho9ght( who is it( some one m9st be here(
b9t whor *hen the =ormation o= the hea5 an5 =orehea5 Pwhich are most marke5 in m>
=rien5Q ma5e me e?claim to m>sel= u-aptain ,AA.4 *he appearance =a5e5 awa>.
BI got 9p an5 p9t the 5ate 5own@ an5 waite5 9ntil news =rom %ew Jealan5 was possible. I
ma5e inE9iries abo9t m> =rien5( never 5o9bting b9t that he was 5ea5. *he answer alwa>s
came u%o news.4 )t last this also( u,e are so an?io9s@ it is so long since we have hear5.
,e shall again wait another mail( an5 write to so-an5-so.4 )n5 then came the news( a
mere scrap( u.ave ha5 a severe =all o== the coach@ can4t write@ hea5 all wrong still.4 *hat
was all( an5 prett> m9ch the e?act wor5s as =ar as I can remember. In 59e time we hear5
more. .e ha5 =allen o== the coach( an5 was insensible =or some time( an5 then( as he ha5
sai5( his hea5 was not clear =or a while. I have never ha5 the slightest 5o9bt b9t that(
while insensible( his spirit came here. *he appearance to me was coinci5ent with the time
o= his insensibilit>. I have never ha5 b9t this one e?perience o= an apparition.
BE. ,. '.C
In a s9bseE9ent letter( Miss '. a55s:A
BFan9ar> 2st( 2773.
BI p9t the 5ate 5own in a book I 9se 5ail>@ there is a page =or ever> 5a> in the month. I
mentione5 it to several peopleAE9ite : or 3. One was e?tremel> am9se5 beca9se m>
=rien5 ha5 not 5ie5@ which she alwa>s 9se5 to ass9re me wasAshe was s9reAa ca9se o=
sincere regret to me.C
*he present writer has seen the book( which is one containing rea5ing i-VU7! =or ever>
5a> o= the month. *he wor5s written in pencil( on the page o= the 2Vth 5a>( are: B%ight o=
this 5a>( March( 4W3.C
In answer to =9rther inE9iries( Miss '. a55s:A
BI saw his sister( I sho9l5 sa> =9ll> a >ear an5 a-hal= be=ore I saw him m>sel=( b9t as this
is not to be s9bstantiate5 in an> possible wa>Aan5 is onl> a tho9ghtAI cannot veri=> it. I
certainl> 5i5 not write to him or hear =rom him between the time o= m> sen5ing the
message an5 receiving the answer( an5 his appearing. I am not aware that I ha5 ha5
an>thing to recall him to me partic9larl>.
BM> sister has written the note on the other sheet. /he =eels as s9re as I 5o that I tol5 her
ver> soon a=terwar5s( b9t 5oes not like to write more positivel>.C
*he =ollowing is the sister4s note:A
B$itchingham.
BMa> 2st( 2773.
B)s =ar as I can remember( m> sister tol5 me o= her vision soon a=ter it occ9rre5( an5
be=ore the news o= her =rien54s acci5ent arrive5. It is so man> >ears ago that I cannot
speak more positivel>.
BMO*.E' -.C
In conversation( Miss '. especiall>( an5 9naske5( con=irme5 the =act that the =eeling o= a
presence in the room prece5e5 the vision. /he 5escribe5 the =ormation o= the =ig9re as
like a clo95 taking a 5e=inite shape. /he =9rther sai5 that the hair o= the hea5 which
appeare5 was 5istinctl> gre,, an5 that this was the chie= reason wh> she 5i5 not sooner
recognise the =ace. .er =rien5 ha5 blac1 hair when she last saw him( an5 she ha5 never
tho9ght o= him otherwise@ b9t she =o9n5 o9t a=terwar5s that he ha5 become gre>( an5 was
so at the time o= his acci5ent.
2
/he also state5 that she ha5 ascertaine5 be>on5 a 5o9bt
that her vision =ell 59ring the perio5 o= her =rien54s insensibilit>@ an5 her memor> on this
point ma> reasonabl> be tr9ste5( since( when the news o= the acci5ent arrive5( she ha5 in
her written entr> the means o= =i?ing with certaint> the 5ate o= her e?perience.
*he previo9s compact in this case is to be speciall> note5. It is a =eat9re which we have
alrea5> enco9ntere5 Pcases 238( 28V( 28XQ an5 shall enco9nter again Psee Vol. II.( p. 88Q.
In the ne?t two e?amples( again( a =eeling o= a presence prece5e5 the vis9al
hall9cination.
U
Miss 'ogers( o= V8( "erners /treet( ,.( narrates as =ollows:A
BOctober( 2773.
P2XVQ BI was on a visit at -olnbrook( in "9ckinghamshire( in 27W7( an5 one night when I
went to be5( an5 while >et =9ll> awake( I =elt an in=l9ence i-VUX! as i= some one was in
the room. I sat 9p to see what it was( an5 saw m> gran5mother( in the plai5 cloak she
9s9all> wore( leaning 9pon m> mother4s arm.
2
I looke5 ro9n5 the room to see whether the
vision co9l5 have arisen =rom an> re=lection =rom the mirrors in the room( an5 while
5oing so I saw the =ig9res walk slowl> ro9n5 the room an5 5isappear. I a=terwar5s
ascertaine5 that m> gran5mother 5ie5 in Lon5on abo9t the time I ha5 seen the apparition
in "9ckinghamshire.
B0)*E 'O&E'/.C
In conversation( Miss 'ogers tol5 Mr. 1o5more that she was not absol9tel> certain as to
the >ear in which this inci5ent occ9rre5. /9bseE9entl> she =o9n5 =rom the Ti(es obit9ar>
Pas we ha5 meanwhile 5iscovere5 =rom the 'egister o= $eathsQ that her gran5mother(
Mrs. Mac5onal5( 5ie5 on March 23( 27WW.
In answer to inE9iries( Miss 'ogers sa>s that she has ha5 no other hall9cination. /he a55s
that the phantasm was seen Bsoon a=ter getting to be5( abo9t 2; p.m.C@ an5 that Bon m>
ret9rn home( I hear5 that m> gran5mother ha5 passe5 awa> D9st abo9t the time o= m>
vision.C
)ppen5e5 is a letter =rom Mrs. 'ogers( Pa sister o= o9r val9e5 helper( the 'ev. F. ).
Mac5onal5(Q who was hersel= n9rsing her mother at the time.
BOctober :;th( 2773.
BOn receipt o= >o9r letter relative to the ho9r o= m> mother4s 5eath( I ma5e inE9iries o=
those who remembere5 the time( an5 I =in5 she 5ie5 nearer to 2U o4clock p.m. *he reason
m> 5a9ghter mentione5 2; as the time o= the vision onl> 5epen5e5 9pon the 9sage o= the
=amil> she was visiting( who generall> retire5 at 2;. .er memor> co9l5 not serve her to
=i? the time e?actl>@ besi5es( in cases o= visitors being in the ho9se( the =amil> remaine5
9p later. *he e?act time o= the appearance cannot be note5 now( onl> that on re=lection
m> 5a9ghter thinks it wo9l5 be later than 2;. "esi5es( she wo9l5( perhaps( have remaine5
9p a long time in her room( conversing with the la5> o= the ho9se( be=ore going to be5( as
was o=ten the habit. It was between W an5 7 >ears ago that this e?perience occ9rre5( an5
m> 5a9ghter cannot =i? e?act times an5 ho9rs@ b9t( at the time( she thinks her vision
correspon5e5 with the time o= the 5eath. M> 5a9ghter is ver> sorr> that a more 5e=inite
acco9nt cannot be given o= the circ9mstances. *he =acts can be 5epen5e5 9pon( b9t the
ho9rs an5 times have entirel> slippe5 o9r memories.
BM> 5a9ghter s9ggests that she was so greatl> attache5 to her gran5mother that( in so
contin9all> thinking o= her( the vision might have come thro9gh the in=l9ence o= strong
imagination@ b9t it impresse5 itsel= 9pon her min5 at the time as a real presence( an5 she
tol5 me abo9t it on her ret9rn to town. /he 5i5 not e?pect her gran5mother4s 5eath D9st
then( as she ha5 been ailing =or >ears( an5 the 5eath occ9rre5 rather s955enl>.
BF)%E M. 'O&E'/.C
In conversation( Mrs. 'ogers e?plaine5 to Mr. 1o5more that Miss 'ogers( being absent
=rom home( 5i5 not know o= an> change in her gran5mother4s con5ition.
*he =ollowing is a letter =rom Miss '.4s =rien5( Mrs. +. /he is not i-V:;! e?plicit as to
the vision having been mentione5 before the news o= the 5eath arrive5. "9t we pres9me
she means to impl> that it was( as the E9estion was 5e=initel> aske5@ an5 in a previo9s
short note she 9ses the wor5s( B0ate certainl> seeme5 to know her gran5mother was
5ea5( be=ore the news reache5 9s.C
B)pril 7th( 277V.
BMrs. '. has sent >o9r note to me( asking me to repl> to it@ b9t it is reall> little I can tell
>o9 in re=erence to the matter( be>on5 that Miss '. =elt convince5 that her gran5mother
was 5ea5 be=ore the news reache5 9s( =rom a 5ream or vision
2
Pwhichever >o9 like to call
itQ that she ha5 ha5. I cannot give >o9 her wor5s as she tol5 it to me. *he =act that Miss '.
ha5 a vivi5 5ream in re=erence to the 5eath o= her gran5mother 5i5 not strike me as
an>thing b9t nat9ral. /he was alwa>s 5eepl> attache5 to her( an5 5o9btless ha5 gone to
be5 with an an?io9s min5( knowing that her gran5mother was ill.
B-. ". +.C
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom Mr. F. &. +. '9ssell( o= )5en( )ber5een shire
B:U( Upper "rook /treet( ,.
BFan9ar> :r5( 2778.
P2X8Q BEarl> in October( 27WU( whilst at .. M. Embass>( at -onstantinople( to which I
belonge5( when crossing a gar5en Pwhich separate5 the secretar>4s ho9se( where I live5(
=rom the )mbassa5or4s palaceQ( on m> wa> to 5ine there( abo9t 7 o4clock in the evening
Pit was abo9t 59skQ( I =elt some irresistible( magnetic sort o= in=l9ence compel me to t9rn
ro9n5 an5 look behin5 me.
U
I saw an in5istinct white =orm( abo9t the height o= a h9man
being( ga]ing at me( as i= it were tr>ing to attract m> attention. It was onl> a ver> =ew
>ar5s o==. I at once walke5 towar5s it( an5 spoke( b9t it vanishe5.
:
/o convince5 was I
that so(ething ha5 got within the precincts o= the Embass> walls an5 gates Pall being
well sec9re5 an5 watche5Q( that I ret9rne5 to m> own E9arters( e?amine5 the close5 gate(
an5 E9estione5 the g9ar5 on 59t> as to whether an> stranger co9l5 have entere5.
uImpossible(4 he sai5@ an5 o9r sporting 5ogs( none o= which were white( were sleeping
peace=9ll> on the 5oorsteps. I then ret9rne5( thro9gh the same gar5en( to the Embass>
1alace( to 5inner( an5 back again at night. I saw nothing. )gain I ma5e inE9ir> whether
an> intr95er ha5 entere5 the gates( b9t it was prove5 to me to be materiall> impossible@
nor co9l5 an> one have scale5 the high wall( or 5isappeare5 as E9ickl> as 5i5 the white
=ig9re when I a5vance5 towar5s it.
BVer> soon a=ter( I learnt that a marrie5 a9nt o= mine( to whom m> =amil> an5 m>sel=
were m9ch attache5( ha5 5ie5 in m> =ather4s ho9se( in the %orth o= /cotlan5( 59ring the
a=ternoon o= the same 5a> on which I saw the =ig9re.
BF. &. +. 'U//ELL.C
Mr. '9ssell a55s( in repl> to inE9iries:A
BI have no recollection o= mentioning( at the time I saw the uwhite =ig9re4 in E9estion at
-onstantinople( to an> one b9t the g9ar5 at the gate that I had seen an>thing@ I ma> have
5one so( b9t an>how I co9l5 now get no corroborative testimon> =rom m> then
colleag9es. I have no i-V:2! recor5 in m> book as to the evening when I saw the white
=ig9re. I simpl> recollect that( on hearing o= her 5eath( I =o9n5 it was on the same 5a>(
an5 making allowance =or 5istance at the same ho9r( as when I saw the sai5 apparition.
,hen I hear5 o= m> a9nt4s 5eath =rom m> wi=e( I replie5 that on that night I ha5 seen a
strange white apparition.C
,e learn =rom Mr. '9ssell that he has ha5 no other e?perience o= the sort( with the
e?ception o= a single =aint impression o= a sha5ow> =ig9re at a time when he was o9t o=
health( an5 the ver> palpable BapparitionsC that ma> be seen at seances.
.is 5iar>( tho9gh it contains no mention o= the inci5ent above 5escribe5( a==or5s a means
o= con=irming the coinci5ence. .e =in5s =rom it that he 5ine5 at the Embass> on
/eptember U8th( /eptember U7th( an5 October 2st. On the two latter occasions he visite5
elsewhere a=ter 5inner( an5 ret9rne5 home b> the E9a>@ b9t on /eptember U8th( when the
part> was a large an5 ga> one( he ret9rne5 home b> the ro9te thro9gh the gar5en@ an5 on
passing thro9gh the scene o= his o55 e?perience( he 5istinctl> remembers sa>ing to
himsel=( B,ell( that apparition has not spoilt m> evening@ let 9s see i= it will come to me
again.C It was on the U8th o= /eptember( 27WUAas we =in5 =rom an obit9ar> notice in two
)ber5een papersAthat his a9nt 5ie5. Mr. '9ssell sa>s( B)s =ar as m> wi=e can recollect(
the ho9r o= m> a9nt4s 5eath was between 3 an5 V p.m.CAwhich wo9l5 be between 8 an5
W at -onstantinople@ th9s the vision =ollowe5 the 5eath b> between 2 an5 U ho9rs.
In the =ollowing case a vis9al phantasm =irst appears( an5 then wor5s are hear5 which( in
the min5 o= both agent an5 percipient( were probabl> o= all others the most signi=icative
o= the bon5 between them. *he narrator is Mrs. "ishop( =ormerl> Miss "ir5( the well-
known traveller an5 a9thoress. *he acco9nt( receive5 in March( 2778( is almost i5entical
with a secon5-han5 version which was given to 9s in March( 277:. ,hen travelling in the
'ock> Mo9ntains( Miss "ir5 ha5 ma5e the acE9aintance o= a hal=-caste In5ian( Mr.
%9gent( known as BMo9ntain Fim(C over whom she establishe5 a consi5erable in=l9ence.
2
P2XWQ BOn the 5a> in which I parte5 with Mo9ntain Fim( he was m9ch move5 an5 m9ch
e?cite5. I ha5 a long conversation with him abo9t mortal li=e an5 immortalit>( an5 close5
it with some wor5s =rom the "ible. .e was greatl> impresse5( b9t ver> e?cite5( an5
e?claime5( uI ma> not see >o9 again in this li=e( b9t I shall when I 5ie.4 I reb9ke5 him
gentl> =or his vehemence( b9t he repeate5 it with still greater energ>( a55ing( u)n5 these
wor5s >o9 have sai5 to me( I shall never =orget( an5 5>ing I swear that I will see >o9
again.4
U

B,e parte5 then( an5 =or a time I hear5 that he was 5oing better( then that he ha5 relapse5
into wil5 wa>s( then that he was ver> ill a=ter being wo9n5e5 in a wil5 E9arrel( then lastl>
that he was well( an5 planning revenge. *he last news I got when I was at the .otel i-
V:U! Interlaken( Interlaken( /wit]erlan5( with Miss -la>ton an5 the 0ers. /hortl> a=ter
getting it( in /eptember( 27W3( I was l>ing on m> be5 abo9t 8 a.m.( writing to m> sister(
when( looking 9p( I saw Mo9ntain Fim stan5ing with his e>es =i?e5 on me( an5 when I
looke5 at him he ver> slowl> b9t ver> 5istinctl> sai5( uI have come( as I promise54@ then
wave5 his han5s towar5s me( an5 sai5( u+arewell.4
B,hen Miss "essie 0er came into the room with m> break=ast( we recor5e5 the event(
with the 5ate an5 ho9r o= its occ9rrence. In 59e time news arrive5 o= his 5eath( an5 its
5ate( allowing =or the 5i==erence o= longit95e( coinci5e5 with that o= his appearance to
me.
BI. ".C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. "ishop sa>s that she has never ha5 an> other hall9cination o=
the senses@ that she ha5 last seen Mo9ntain Fim at /t. Lo9is( -olora5o( on $ecember 22th(
27W:@ an5 that he 5ie5 at +ort -ollins( -olora5o. /he hopes to be able to show 9s the
5iaries in which the 5ate was recor5e5@ b9t she wrote =rom abroa5( an5 9n5er ver> great
press9re.
,e have proc9re5 a cop> o= some o= the testimon> given at the inE9est at +ort -ollins(
=rom which it appears that the 5eath took place on /ept. W( 27W3( between U an5 : p.m.A
which wo9l5 correspon5 with abo9t 2; p.m. at Interlaken. *he coinci5ence there=ore
cannot have been as close as Mrs. "ishop imagines. I= the vision took place on the 7th o=
/eptember( it =ollowe5 the 5eath b> 7 ho9rs@ b9t i= it took place on the Wth( then the 2U
ho9rs4 limit was e?cee5e5 b> some 3 ho9rs.
In the ne?t two cases there is a 5istinct hall9cination o= so9n5( s9ggestive o= some one
entering or approaching the room Pcompare the Bbor5erlan5C cases 27U an5 2X;Q@ an5 in
the secon5 o= the two( a short interval elapses be=ore the vis9al percept is 5evelope5.
Mrs. /tella( o= -hieri( Ital>( writes( on Fan9ar> 23th( 2773:A
P2X7Q B,hen I was abo9t 2V( I was sta>ing on a visit to $r. F. &.( o= *w>=or5( .ants( an5
I =orme5 a =rien5ship with m> host4s co9sin( a bo> o= 2W. ,e became inseparable( boating
an5 ri5ing together an5 sharing all o9r =9n( D9st like brother an5 sister. .e was ver>
5elicate( an5 I took care o= him( an5 looke5 a=ter him( 9ntil we never passe5 an ho9r
awa> =rom each other. I tell >o9 this to show there was not a particle o= morbi5 sentiment
between 9s@ we were like two bo>s together.
BOne night Mr. &. was sent =or to see his co9sin( who ha5 been taken s955enl> ver> ill
with in=lammation o= the l9ngs( an5 the poor bo> 5ie5 the ne?t night. *he> 5i5 not tell me
how ill he was( so I was E9ite 9naware o= his 5anger( an5 there=ore not an?io9s in an>
wa>. *he night he 5ie5( Mr. &. an5 his sister went ro9n5 to their a9nt4s ho9se( leaving me
alone in the 5rawing-room. *here was a bright =ire( an5 like man> girls I 5elighte5 to sit
b> the =en5er( rea5ing b> =irelight. %ot knowing o= m> =rien54s 5anger I was not 9neas>(
onl> ve?e5 that he co9l5 not come an5 spen5 the evening with me( so I =elt lonel>. I was
rea5ing E9ietl> when the 5oor opene5(
2
an5 "ertie Pm> =rien5Q walke5 in. I D9mpe5 9p to
get him an arm-chair near the =ire( as he looke5 col5( an5 he ha5 no greatcoat on( an5 as it
was snowing( I began to scol5 him =or i-V::! coming o9t witho9t his wraps. .e 5i5 not
speak b9t p9t 9p his han5 to his chest an5 shook his hea5( which I mistook to mean his
col5 was on his chest( an5 that he ha5 lost his voice( to which he was s9bDect. /o I
reproache5 him again =or his impr95ence. ,hile speaking( Mr. &. came in an5 aske5 me
to whom I was speaking. I sai5( u*here4s that tiresome bo> witho9t his coat( an5 s9ch a
ba5 col5 he can4t speak@ len5 him a coat an5 sen5 him home.4 I shall never =orget the
horror an5 ama]ement on the goo5 5octor4s =ace( as he knew %-hat : did not& that the
poor bo> ha5 5ie5 hal=-an-ho9r ago( an5 he was coming to break the news to me. .is =irst
impression was that I ha5 alrea5> hear5 it( an5 that I ha5 lost m> senses. I co9l5 not
9n5erstan5 either wh> he ma5e me leave the room( an5 spoke to me as i= I were a small
chil5. +or a =ew moments we were at cross p9rposes( an5 then he e?plaine5 to me that I
ha5 ha5 an optical ill9sion@ he 5i5 not 5en> that I ha5 seen "ertie with m> e>es( b9t
e?plaine5 it all most scienti=icall>( as he was an?io9s not to =righten me or leave a
5istressing impression. I have never spoken o= it to an>one be=ore now( partl> as it is a
most 5istressing remembrance( an5 partl> in the =ear o= being tho9ght =anci=9l an5 being
5isbelieve5. M> mother sai5 I was 5reaming( an5 =orba5 me ever to mention it. I was not
5reaming( b9t rea5ing a book calle5 uMr. Ver5ant &reen(4 not at all a book to sen5 one to
sleep( an5 I well remember at the time the 5oor opene5 I was la9ghing heartil> over some
o= its abs9r5ities.
BI. /.C
)ske5 i= she has ever ha5 an> other vis9al hall9cination( Mrs. /tella answers in the
negative@ an5 a55s that she is Bnot at all imaginative or nervo9s.C /he has ha5 an a95itor>
hall9cination which was veri5ical( an5 is 5escribe5 in Vol. II.( p. 2;X. /he cannot recall
the e?act 5ate@ b9t we =in5 =rom the 'edical =egister that $r. F. &. was onl> at *w>=or5
=rom 2783 to 27W:Awithin which perio5 the occ9rrence m9st have =allen.
In answer to =9rther inE9iries( Mrs. /tella writes:A
B*heir ho9se m9st have been a E9arter-o=-an-ho9r4s walk =rom Mr. &.4s( an5 "ertie 5ie5
abo9t U; min9tes be=ore he Yi.e., Mr. &.Z le=t the ho9se. *he apparition ha5 been in the
room abo9t V min9tes when Mr. &. came in. ,hat to me has alwa>s been so strange is(
that I heard the han5le o= the 5oor t9rn an5 the 5oor open@ in =act( it was the noise o= the
lock t9rning which ca9se5 me to look 9p =rom m> book. *he =ig9re walke5 across the
room to the opposite si5e o= the =ireplace( an5 sat 5own while I lighte5 the can5les. It was
all so real an5 nat9ral that I can har5l> realise even now that it was not so.C
Later she a55s:A
B,ith regar5 to the V min9tes( I 5aresa> the time was not E9ite so long( altho9gh some
min9tes ma> have elapse5 between the entrance o= the apparition an5 that o= Mr. &. *he
onl> light in the room was that o= the =ire( an5 as( o= co9rse( I ha5 no i5ea b9t what it was
the real uBertie,4 I 5i5 not take m9ch notice o= him. I p9rposel> 5i5 not ask him an>
E9estions on acco9nt o= his apparent inabilit> to talk( an5 I m>sel= went on speaking in
or5er to give him time to regain breath( which( on acco9nt o= his 5elicate chest( o=ten
occ9rre5( an5 his silence =or V min9tes or even longer wo9l5 not have astonishe5 me( as
the col5 o9tsi5e was intense( an5 great col5 o=ten oppresse5 his breathing. *here was
nothing in his i-V:3! appearance that str9ck me as 5i==erent =rom 9s9al( e?cept his
paleness an5 silence( an5 to both I was acc9stome5.
BI am sorr> to sa> that Mr. &. 5ie5 abo9t 2; >ears ago. Un=ort9natel> the circ9mstance
was never mentione5 to an> members o= m> =amil>@ partl> beca9se Mr. &. a5vise5 me to
sa> nothing( an5 partl> =rom m> own =ear o= being la9ghe5 at( as I was ver> >o9ng at the
time.C
Y.ere( as in so man> other cases( the central =act o= the coinci5ence is in5epen5ent o= the
5etails( an5 is =ar more likel> than the> to have been correctl> retaine5 in memor>.Z
*he secon5 case is =rom Mr. ".( con=i5ential clerk to a =irm with a principal o= which we
are well acE9ainte5. .e withhol5s his name =rom p9blication( having a strong 5islike to
the s9bDect. *he acco9nt is in the wor5s o= Mr. $. .. ,ilson( o= 'osemont( .>Nres( b9t
has been rea5 over an5 correcte5 b> Mr. ". *he =act that the percipient ha5 D9st got 9p
an5 opene5 his 5oor ma> be taken as a proo= that he was awake when the vis9al
e?perience took place.Y~Z
BOctober U3th( 277:.
P2XXQ BMr. ". is a gentleman whom I have known =or more than 2V >ears. .e is practical(
shrew5( an5 ver> tr9stworth>. I am in5ebte5 to him =or the =ollowing narration: One
morning( a =ew months ago( at V o4clock( he was awakene5 b> a noise o9tsi5e his room(
b9t near his room 5oor. Opening the 5oor he saw no person. .e ret9rne5 to be5( an5 ha5
scarcel> compose5 himsel= when he was ver> 5isconcerte5 b> seeing the =orm o= a la5>
=rien5 o= his gli5e or =lit across the room. .e there9pon woke Mrs. ". an5 in=orme5 her
o= the =act. *his was /at9r5a>( an5 at the en5 o= the ne?t week Mr. ". calle5 at the ho9se
o= his =rien5( the s9bDect o= his vision( an5 was in=orme5 that the la5> ha5 thrown hersel=
o9t o= the win5ow the previo9s /at9r5a> at abo9t V o4clock in the morning( an5 was
instantaneo9sl> kille5.C
B,e learn =rom Mr. ". that the hall9cination o= the senses here 5escribe5 is the onl> one
that he has ever e?perience5.
In this e?ample we observe a =ail9re to co-or5inate the elements into a completel>
nat9ral-seeming inci5ent. ) =eat9re in Mr. 0e9lemans4 case P%o. 273Q has been reserve5
=or mention here as ill9strating the same point. .e sa>s:A
B*he so9n5 Yo= the chil54s voiceZ 5i5 not procee5 =rom the localit> where the vision Yo=
the chil5Z was seen( nor 5i5 it seem to be in an> wa> pro59ce5 b> the organs o= speech
belonging to the apparition@ =or the mo9th 5i5 not move. I hear5 the voice at a short
5istance( an5 on m> right si5e( sim9ltaneo9sl> with the vision( which appeare5 at a
greater 5istance( on m> le=t( or rather in =ront o= me.C
S 3. /o m9ch( then( =or gra59al 5evelopment. I procee5 to m> secon5 main pointAthe
embo5iment o= the i5ea which is at the root o= the hall9cination in a manner that is to
some e?tent original( an5 implies a creative process carrie5 o9t b> the percipient4s own
min5.
i-V:V!
*here is no nee5 to ill9strate this process at an> length in the p9rel> s9bDective class. )
certain amo9nt o= it is( in =act( involve5 in ever> sensor> hall9cination which is an>thing
more than a mere momentar> revival o= =amiliar images( 59e( as I have s9ggeste5( to a
5ist9rbance at the sensor> centre( 9nprompte5 b> an> agitation in the higher tracts o= the
brain Ppp. 37XTX;Q. ,herever the higher tracts o= the brain are the =irst in action( an5 the
hall9cination represents an obDect which the senses have never act9all> enco9ntere5(
there clearl> the min5 has more or less create5 its obDect@ an5 o= the transient
hall9cinations o= the sane the maDorit> seem to belong to this class. ) special t>pe that is
worth noting is where the hall9cination is in part mere reminiscence an5 in part a new
creation. +or e?ample( a gentleman tells me that( having been compelle5 to kill a
=avo9rite 5og( he ver> soon a=terwar5s ha5 the s9bDective vision o= a 5og r9nning across
the lawn( an5 p9rs9e5 b> a man in a white =lannel Dacket@ an5 m> =rien5 Mrs. .9nter( o=
U( Victoria -rescent( /t. .elier4s( 5escribes how( having D9st 5ismisse5 =or the night a
>o9ng 5a9ghter 9n5er 2V >ears o= age( hear5 her lock her 5oor( locke5 her own( an5
res9me5 her own train o= tho9ght( she looke5 9p( an5 there the chil5 Bstoo5 smiling( in
5ressing-gown an5 hair =loating 5own her back( D9st as she ha5 le=t me( b9t -ith a bab,
in her ar(sFAthe apparition lasting =or a =ew secon5s.
2
) goo5 e?ample o= a s9bDective
hall9cination whose 5evelopment =rom the root-i5ea is obvio9s( is a visionar> crown(
clearl> seen b> a la5> hovering near the hea5 o= a preacher to whom she was listening Pas
she impliesQ with s>mpath> an5 a5miration. )s more or less =antastic instances( I ma>
mention the apparition( o9t o= 5oors( o= a tall =emale =ig9re( which went on in =ront o= the
percipient( an5 whose hea5 then le=t its bo5>@ a man in parti-colo9re5 Oriental garb(
abo9t as wi5e as high( an5 with a =ace like a king on a car5@ an5 some c9rio9s
appearances o= B=lats(C h9man-looking =ig9res witho9t an> apparent 5epth( b> which a
gentleman tells me that he has been more than once visite5. 1ec9liarities in cost9me an5
app9rtenances are ver> common@ a woman in grave-clothes( a woman in broca5e5 silk
with a small book in her han5( a black man with a kni=e in his han5( a sweet-looking
creat9re in a low black 5ress an5 mantilla( a tall man with 5ark c9rl> hair an5 in antiE9e
5ress( a woman with a crown an5 a chil5( recalling a stat9ette o= the VirginAs9ch are
among the vis9al hall9cinations in m> collection which there is no reason to s9ppose
other than p9rel> i-V:8! s9bDective a==ections. O= a95itor> cases( some that have been
alrea5> given show the constr9ction =rom a root-i5ea in the percipient4s min5 ver> plainl>
Ae.g., the wor5s( B#o9 can4t save him(C B#o9r brother is 5ea5(C B*ake 9p that kni=e an5
9se itC Ppp. V;X( 3W7( noteQ. )nother goo5 e?ample is that o= a clerg>man4s wi=e( who
tells me that she was once startle5 b> the remark( B*hose la5ies will borrow mone> =rom
&eorge to-5a>(C while she was sitting alone( an5 pict9ring a call which her h9sban5 was
pa>ing to some impec9nio9s parishioners whom she mistr9ste5A9nless( in5ee5( the =act
that the loan was act9all> reE9este5 be hel5 to make the case Bambig9o9s.C *he hearing
o= long( original 5isco9rses co9l5( o= co9rse( not be reckone5 as a transient hall9cination(
an5 is a t>pe which scarcel> occ9rs at all among hall9cinations o= the sane@ b9t
occasionall> a ver> =ew wor5s ma> be E9ite s9==icient to show in5epen5ence o= mental
actionAas where a la5> who was e?pecting to be calle5 b> her sister in the morning(
5istinctl> hear5( in =ictitio9s tones( not the e?pecte5 message( b9t the m9ch more
agreeable one( B%ot =ive@ 5on4t get 9p >et.C
S V. )n5 now to t9rn to the parallel =eat9res o= original or =antastic constr9ction in the
telepathic class o= hall9cinations. *he E9estion as to the e?istence an5 interpretation o=
these =eat9res is o= s9ch special importance to m> general arg9ment that( at the risk o=
wear>ing the rea5er( I m9st make its bearings plain.
I m9st rec9r =or a moment to the breach which has been more than once note5 Ppp. 222T
2U( 2X;( an5 U:3Q as 5ivi5ing telepathic phantasms =rom the less concrete =orms o=
telepath>( an5 especiall> =rom the res9lts o= e?periments in tho9ght-trans=erence. *o
res9me the two marke5 points o= 5i==erence:Ain the e?periments( P2Q the Bs9bDectC never
perceives the trans=erre5 image as an act9al sight or so9n5Athere is never an e?ternal
hall9cination@ an5 PUQ the image alwa>s represents the precise obDect which is conscio9sl>
occ9p>ing the agent4s min5@ whereas in the case o= the spontaneo9s phantasms the
percept P2Q appears to be e?ternal( an5 PUQ represents something which is certainl> not
conscio9sl> occ9p>ing the agent4s min5Ato wit( his own =orm or voice.
2
.ere is an
9n5o9bte5 cru.. ,hen the i-V:W! agent is pain=9ll> concentrating his attention on a
car5( with the obDect o= getting the impression o= it trans=erre5 to the percipient( one
might have imagine5 that he was in a stronger an5 more hope=9l con5ition =or pro59cing
a telepathic e==ect than when his tho9ghts are wan5ering at ran5om( an5 are perhaps not
occ9pie5 with the percipient at all@ an5 >et the e==ect on the percipient seems o=ten to be
o= a =ar more 5ominant an5 startling kin5 in the latter case than in the =ormer. ,e ma>
observe =9rther that D9st the two =orms o= telepathic impression which( in the or5inar>
co9rse o= e?periment( 5o occasionall> reach the pitch o= hallucinationAthe trans=erences
o= pains an5 o= tastesAare conspic9o9s b> their absence =rom the recor5s o= spontaneo9s
cases( the latter being totall> 9nrepresente5 an5 the =ormer ver> rare: while( on the other
han5( the spontaneo9s class abo9n5s in specimens where the ps>chical con5ition o= the
agentAwhether sleeping( swooning( or 5>ingAhas apparentl> lapse5 to the ver> verge o=
nothingness. /pontaneo9s telepath> wo9l5 th9s seem to 5epen5 as little on the agent4s
intensit> o= =eeling P=or what can be more intensel> =elt than ac9te ph>sical painrQ as on
his intensit> o= concentration@ or( i= some act9al intensit> o= e?perience be imagine5 =or
him even at moments when it is least apparent P-hap. V( S 2;Q( it will at an> rate not be
imagine5 as abnormal preocc9pation with his own ph>sical attrib9tes.
%ow it is mani=est that these 5i==erences ma> be re59ce5( in proportion as the e?tent o=
the impression act9all> trans=erre5 =rom the agent to the percipient in the phantasmal
cases can be conceive5 to be small( an5 the part which the percipient4s own creative
energ> s9pplies can be conceive5 to be large. I= we are at libert> to ass9me that even a
5im an5 sha5ow> i5ea( when once it obtains a lo5gment in the min5( ma> bo5> itsel=
=orth as a sensor> phantasm( clearl> all that we shall have to s9ppose trans=erre5 =rom the
one min5 to the other is a 5im an5 sha5ow> i5ea. ,e shall th9s shi=t( so to speak( the
responsibilit> =or the hall9cination to the percipients min5@ which we shall conceive as
activel> generating an5 proDecting it 9n5er a pec9liar =orm o= imp9lse( instea5 o=
passivel> receiving a =9ll-=le5ge5 percept =rom the agents min5( where nothing in the
least resembling s9ch a percept ha5 an> conscio9s place.
)n 9nknown E9antit>Athe pec9liar =orm o= imp9lseAhas( no 5o9bt( here to be ass9me5@
=or 9nless the trans=erre5 i5ea involves a certain imp9lsive =orce which ca9ses the min5
to react on it( an5 to proDect it as a hall9cination( wh> 5oes it not remain as a mere i5ear
i-V:7!
It might( in5ee5( be not 9nreasonabl> replie5 that it does remain as a mere i5ea in man>
cases( as we saw in the 8th chapter@ an5 that there ma> be man> other cases where it
never reaches the stage o= even a conscio9s i5eaAnever =orces itsel= on the attention at
all(Aan5 where( there=ore( we never hear an>thing abo9t it Psee p. XWQ. ,e have alrea5>
ha5 n9mero9s e?perimental instances o= what ma> be calle5 B9n5ergro9n5 telepath>C: in
Mr. %ewnham4s cases( =or instance( Ppp. 83TW;(Q no one wo9l5 ever have known that
there ha5 been a trans=erence o= i5eas( b9t =or the =actAwhich was not in an> wa> vital to
the trans=erenceAthat Mrs. %ewnham ha5 her han5 on a planchette at the time. )n5 i= we
co9l5 conceive that a great 5eal o= spontaneous telepath> takes place similarl>
9n5ergro9n5 an5 9nnotice5( then we might regar5 the sensor> phantasms as a sort o=
acci5ental gro9pAas D9st the cases which here an5 there get above gro9n5( owing to
some e?ceptional =avo9ring con5ition in the percipient. *he E9estion wh> an i5ea that has
been telepathicall> trans=erre5 sho9l5 give rise to a hall9cination( might th9s be answere5
b> sa>ing that it 5oes so onl> in the proportion in which p9rel> s9bDective i5eas 5evelop
p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinationsAthe speci=ic ca9se being as 9nknown in the one case as
in the other. )ll this( however( is highl> h>pothetical@ an5 we nee5 not shrink =rom the
provisional h>pothesis that a telepathicall>-conve>e5 i5ea which is to some e?tent
charge5 with emotion( reall> has a certain pec9liar ten5enc> to 5evelop into
hall9cination. O9r ver> ignorance in some meas9re D9sti=ies this ass9mption@ =or 9nable
as =or the most part we are to connect transient hall9cinations o= the sane with an>
antece5ent con5ition at all( we nee5 the less scr9ple to a5mit a novel con5ition when we
=in5 one. )n5 in connection with s9ch an onwar5 passage o= the impression( it is ver>
pertinent to recall the partic9lar imp9lsive E9alit> which we =o9n5 to attach to some o=
the e.peri(ental trans=erencesAwhere the imp9lse took e==ect not in sensor> b9t in
m9sc9lar 5ist9rbances( Psee pp. W3TX( an5 73.Q
2

*o ret9rn( however( to the act9al content o= the percepts( an5 i-V:X! their relation to the
i5eas =rom which the> spring. I= once it be grante5 that the telepathic phantasm nee5 not
be the literal embo5iment o= an> clearl>-5e=ine5 i5ea or image( b9t ma> be worke5 o9t
=rom a s9ggestion o= a vag9e kin5( we sho9l5 certainl> be prepare5 =or variet> an5
in5epen5ence in the working o9t. *he min5 is no mere collection o= separate
compartments( into which new i5eas will =it an5 then rest in a passive wa>@ b9t an
organism o= interacting parts( where an> change or an> intr95ing element ma> set in
motion whole trains o= images an5 associations. ,e know what small an5 5im
s9ggestions will sometimes set large tracts o= mental machiner> to work@ we ma>
there=ore well cre5it the vag9er or s9b-conscio9s or5er o= telepathic impressions with
s9ch a power. ,hat more nat9ral( then( than that these =9rther images an5 associations
sho9l5 be embo5ie5 in the sensor> proDectionr ,e have alrea5> note5 the process in
5reams@ we =o9n5 the telepathic impression operating not to s9spen5 or =etter( b9t simpl>
to invoke an5 in=orm( the spontaneo9s activities o= the 5reaming con5ition. ,e have
since ca9ght the percipient min5 at work( so to speak( in the gra59al stages which waking
hall9cinations o=ten present@ an5 we have note5 the originative activit> which o=ten goes
to the shaping o= p9rel> s9bDective specimens. ,hat is now s9ggeste5 is that the waking
min5 ma> 9nconscio9sl> react( as in a 5ream( on the n9cle9s o= a Btrans=erre5
impression(C an5( in the act o= e?ternalising the percept( ma> invest it with its own
atmosphere an5 imager>.
2
,e shall th9s have a rea5> e?planation =or man> 5egrees o=
5istinctness an5 in5ivi59alisation( an5 man> 5iversities o= character( in what is perceive5.
/9ppose the same kin5 o= real eventAsa> the peace=9l 5eath o= an age5 parentAto occ9r
in twent> cases( an5 in each o= them to pro59ce a real an5 9niE9e sort o= 5ist9rbance in
some absent person4s min5@ then( i= that 5ist9rbance clothe5 itsel= in some sensor> =orm
Aor( as I sho9l5 sa>( i= it reache5 the point o= ca9sing hallucinationAthe hall9cination
might take twent> 5i==erent =orms. One percipient ma> hear his parent4s voice@ another
ma> imagine the to9ch o= his han5 9pon his hea5@ a thir5 ma> see him in his wonte5 5ress
an5 aspect@ a =o9rth ma> see him as he might appear when 5>ing@ a =i=th i-V3;! ma> see
him in some trans=ig9re5 aspect@ a si?th ma> see a =ig9re or hear a voice resembling his(
b9t not recognise it( or recognise it onl> in recollection@ an5 others ma> invest the
5ist9rbing i5ea with ever> sort o= visible s>mbolism( 5erive5 =rom their min5s4 habit9al
=9rnit9re an5 their wonte5 trains o= tho9ght.
S 8. *his =reE9ent activit> o= the percipient4s min5 in the elaboration an5 proDection o= his
percept =orms a rea5> ke> to m9ch o= the evi5ence that =ollows. .ow( =or instance( on
an> theor> o= merel> passive a==ection o= the percipient4s min5 or senses( co9l5 we
acco9nt =or the appearance o= a 5>ing =rien5( attire5 in the st>le o= 5ress which was
habit9al to him at the time when the percipient associate5 with him( b9t which has been
5iscontin9e5( or( at an> rate( is not that in which he wo9l5 be pict9re5 in his own min5r
*he Bghosts o= clothesC in generalAa stock b9gbearAare the simplest things in the worl5
to e?plain on a theor> o= telepathic impressions@ b9t the ghosts o= old clothes-Ahow
co9l5 the> be impresse5 ab e.trar ,hat( on the other han5( is more nat9ral( when once
the percipient4s active share in the phenomenon is recognise5( than that he sho9l5 5o
what we saw Mr. ,. ). /. 5o in the ne9tral case E9ote5 above Pp. V2W( noteQAthat he
sho9l5 invest the i5ea o= his =rien5 with the vis9al traits that memor> s9pplies( an5 sho9l5
proDect the =ig9re into space in its most =amiliar aspectr
) =ew instances o= this sort ma> be E9ote5. *he =irst is =rom Miss -ress>( o= 'iverhea5(
near /evenoaks.
B$ecember 27th( 277:.
PU;;Q BM> >o9nger brother was in )9stralia( an5 ha5 not written to his =amil> =or some
=o9r or =ive months( =rom which m> mother ha5 concl95e5 he m9st be 5ea5. I was sitting
with her an5 m> sister in o9r 5ining-room one morning( abo9t 22 o4clock( engage5 with
m> sister in writing a &erman e?ercise. "eing at a loss =or the right 5eclension( I looke5
9p( repeating the 5eclension( when I saw m> brother stan5ing on the lawn in =ront o= the
win5ow apparentl> looking at 9s. I D9mpe5 9p( sa>ing to m> mother( u$on4t be
=rightene5( mother( b9t there is *. come back all right.4 PM> mother ha5 heart 5isease( an5
I =eare5 the s955en shock.Q u,herer4 sai5 m> mother an5 sister( uI 5on4t see him.4 u.e is
there(4 I answere5( u=or I saw him@ he is gone to the =ront 5oor(4 an5 we all ran to the 5oor.
M> =ather( who was in his librar>( hear5 the commotion( an5 opene5 his 5oor to ask the
ca9se. I ha5 b> this time opene5 the =ront 5oor( an5 not seeing m> brother( I tho9ght he
was hi5ing =or =9n among the shr9bs( so I calle5 o9t( u-ome( *.( come in( 5o not pla> the
=ool or >o9 will kill 5ear mother.4 %o one answere5( an5 then m> mother e?claime5( uOh(
>o9 5i5 not see him reall>( he is 5ea5( I know he is 5ea5.4 I was m>sti=ie5( b9t it 5i5 not
seem to me the right sol9tion o= the m>ster>. I i-V32! co9l5 not think he was 5ea5( he
looke5 so honestl> alive. *o tell the tr9th( I believe5 =or some time that he was in the
gar5en. .owever( he was not( nor was he 5ea5. )bo9t a >ear a=terwar5s he ret9rne5
home( an5 when reco9nting his tro9bles( he tol5 9s that he ha5 been ver> ill( an5 that
while he was 5elirio9s he ha5 constantl> reE9este5 his comra5es to la> him 9n5er the
great ce5ar tree on his =ather4s lawn( an5 t9rning to m> =ather he went on( u#es( =ather(
an5 5o >o9 know I seeme5 to see the 5ear ol5 place as plain as I 5o now.4 u,hen was
thatr4 sai5 m> =ather. .e gave the 5ate( an5 m> mother( who ha5 written it 5own( looke5
an5 sai5( u,h>( that was the ver> time when >o9r sister 5eclare5 she saw >o9 on the
lawn.4 u#es(4 sai5 m> =ather( uan5 >o9r mother at once kille5 >o9(4 an5 there was a goo5
la9gh at m> e?pense.
BI have o=ten tho9ght over it( b9t have never been able to acco9nt =or it. *his brother was
not a partic9lar =avo9rite. .a5 it been m> sister( I co9l5 have s9ppose5 that( as she was
rarel> absent =rom m> min5( I might have conD9re5 9p her =orm in m> imagination. *hen
I wo9l5 have bitten m> tong9e o9t rather than have startle5 m> mother. "9t I never
5o9bte5 =or a moment that m> brother was there. I was abo9t UV >ears o= age( an5 ha5 no
theor> as to ghosts or spirits in general. I was at that time =ar too m9ch occ9pie5 with the
cares an5 an?ieties o= the =amil> to have time to 5well on s9ch =ancies( an5 was also too
matter-o=-=act to think m9ch abo9t s9ch phenomena. I remember at the time( that I saw
m> brother 5resse5 as he 9s9all> was when he came home =rom Lon5on( not as he was
when he le=t home( nor as he co9l5 be in )9stralia( nor as I ha5 ever seen him when
walking in the gar5en. .e ha5 on a tall hat an5 a black cloth s9it( neither o= which he ha5
taken with him. O= co9rse( at the moment none o= these tho9ghts occ9rre5 to me( b9t
when( in conseE9ence o= the Dokes an5 ri5ic9le at m> e?pense( I trie5 to =ollow 9p the
i5eas that ha5 been =loating thro9gh m> min5( to see whether the> ha5 an> connection
with m> absent brother( I co9l5 make nothing o= it.
B). -'E//#.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss -ress> a55s:A
BI have 5ela>e5 answering >o9r last comm9nication in the hope o= recalling the name o=
some person still living to whom I ha5 mentione5 the vision abo9t which I wrote to >o9(
b9t I am sorr> to sa> there is no one. I onl> am le=t o= all the part>. #o9 ask when it
occ9rre5. )s nearl> as I can remember it was at the beginning o= 27V3. M> brother le=t
Englan5 =or Melbo9rne in /eptember or October( 27VU. )s nearl> as I can remember( I
got his =irst letter at the beginning or mi55le o= Ma>( 27V:. ,e got three or =o9r letters in
s9ccession( the last sa>ing that he an5 his companions were going to +r>ers -reek
5iggings. *hen we hear5 nothing more =or eight months. $9ring those eight months it
was that I saw him as I have 5escribe5. I believe it was +ebr9ar>( 27V3.
BI have never be=ore or since ha5 an> apparition( an5 that was the reason I wrote >o9 the
acco9nt o= it( beca9se it seeme5 to me to prove that it was no hall9cination(
2
b9t simple
=act. I was then >o9ng an5 vigoro9s@ I ha5 no s9perstitions( never having e?perience5 an>
e?ceptional sorrows: those I ha5 gone thro9gh were common eno9gh( an5 more
calc9late5 to 5evelop the matter-o=-=act si5e o= m> character than to in59ce a morbi5 or
5ream> imagination. *hat brother was alwa>s sai5 to i-V3U! be ver> like me( an5 it is a
sing9lar =act that in matter o= health we s9==ere5 ver> m9ch alike. .e alwa>s leant on me
when in an> tro9ble( an5 his tho9ghts 59ring that illness might almost 9nconscio9sl>
have wan5ere5 to me.C
Miss -ress> tells me that her recollection o= her mother4s entr> o= the 5ate in her pocket-
book( an5 o= the re=erence to this 5ate a=ter her brother4s ret9rn( is E9ite 5istinct@ an5 it is
a con=irmation o= this that( 9nprompte5 b> me( she ha5 ma5e a search =or the book(
which( however( co9l5 not be =o9n5. /he consi5ers that the 5ress an5 rapi5 5isappearance
o= the =ig9re wo9l5 alone e?cl95e the h>pothesis o= mistaken i5entit>@ b9t( in =act( the
=ig9re was close to the win5ow@ an5 ha5 not the recognition been absol9te an5 startling(
she wo9l5 never( she sa>s( have e?claime5 as she 5i5( since the importance o= not ca9sing
an> shock to her mother was m9ch on her min5.
*he ne?t case Pwhich again e?empli=ies the 5evelopment o= a =eeling o= presence into
5istinct hall9cinationQ is =rom Mrs. "ollan5( o= W( -ranb9r> *errace( /o9thampton( the
narrator o= case 2U8 above.
BF9l>( 2773.
PU;2Q B)bo9t March( 27WV( the circ9mstances herea=ter 5etaile5 happene5 to me at
&ibraltar. I wrote an acco9nt o= them =rom memor> in 27W7. It was p9blishe5 in )ll the
ear =ound, o= )9g9st( I think( that >ear( b9t I have not since seen it( so I can onl> give
the stor> as =ar as I remember it now.
BI was l>ing 5own in m> 5rawing-room on a bright s9nshin> a=ternoon( rea5ing a chapter
on -halk /treams in u0ingsle>4s Miscellanies(4 when I s955enl> =elt that some one was
waiting to speak to me. I looke5 9p =rom m> book an5 saw a man stan5ing besi5e an
arm-chair( which was abo9t 8 =eet =rom me. .e was looking most intentl> at me( with an
e?traor5inar> earnest e?pression in his e>es( b9t as I walke5 =orwar5 to speak to him( he
5isappeare5.
2

B*he room was abo9t 27 =eet long( an5 at the =9rther en5 o= it I saw o9r servant
Y1earsonZ( hol5ing open the 5oor as i= he ha5 a5mitte5 a visitor. *hinking that perhaps he
too was b9t a 5el9sion( I spoke to him( asking i= an>one ha5 calle5. *o which he replie5(
u%o one( ma4am(4 an5 walke5 awa>. I then teste5 m>sel= as to whether I ha5 been
sleeping( seeing that it was 2; min9tes since I la> 5own. I sai5 to m>sel= what I tho9ght I
ha5 rea5( began m> chapter again( an5 in 2; min9tes ha5 reache5 the same point.
BI then tho9ght it over again. I knew the =ace E9ite well( b9t co9l5 not sa> whose it was(
b9t the s9it o= clothes impresse5 me strongl> as being e?actl> like one which m> h9sban5
ha5 given to a servant name5 'amsa> the previo9s >ear. *his man was a 5ischarge5
sol5ier whom I ha5 =o9n5 in a 5>ing state in Inverness( an5 who ha5 been taken into o9r
service a=ter leaving the in=irmar>. .e t9rne5 o9t ba5l> an5 I ha5 to sen5 him awa>
be=ore we went to &ibraltar Yin +ebr9ar>( 27WVZ( b9t he was taken on as waiter at the
Inverness -l9b( an5 I ha5 no ca9se to be an?io9s abo9t him( as I tho9ght he was well an5
5oing well( an5 wo9l5 probabl> pro=it b> his past e?perience an5 keep that sit9ation.
i-V3:!
BI tol5 m> h9sban5 when he came in what I ha5 seen( an5 also tol5 his colonel4s wi=e
Pnow La5> La==anQ( b9t 5i5 not p9t 5own the 5ate. "9t almost as soon( I believe( as a
letter co9l5 have come =rom Inverness( m> h9sban5 receive5 one =rom his late sergeant(
to sa> that 'amsa> was 5ea5( b9t giving no partic9lars. *o this m> h9sban5 wrote that he
was sorr>( an5 wo9l5 like to hear uan> partic9lars o= his illness an5 5eath.4 *his was the
answer: u'amsa> 5ie5 in hospital( raving( an5 calling incessantl> =or Mrs. "ollan5.4
BI will onl> a55 that I believe the =ace o= the man I saw was that o= 'amsa> as I ha5
known him at =irst( when I visite5 him as a 5>ing man in the in=irmar>. "9t seeing him
ever> 5a> as m> servant( an5 in health( it ha5 passe5 =rom m> min5( or rather 5i5 not
connect itsel= with this man in m> memor>.
BI ma> a55 that I ha5 been in ill-health =or some >ears( b9t at that time was stronger than
I ever was in m> li=e( the warm climate s9iting meAso well that I =elt a strength an5
enDo>ment o= li=e =or its own sake( which was a 5elight to me.
B0)*E E. "OLL)%$.C
In repl> to inE9iries( Mrs. "ollan5 a55s( B*his is the onl> instance in which I have ever
e?perience5 a hall9cination o= the sense o= sight.C
*he =ollowing corroboration is =rom Lie9t.--olonel "ollan5( '.E.:A
BF9l> U;th( 2773.
B,ith regar5 to the apparition at &ibraltar( Mrs. "ollan5 mentione5 it to me an ho9r or
two a=ter she saw it( which wo9l5 be abo9t 3 or V o4clock in the a=ternoon. /he sai5 she
knew the =ace( b9t she co9l5 not sa> whose it was( b9t 5istinctl> recognise5 the clothes
worn as being like a s9it I ha5 given to 'amsa> when in Inverness.
B*he news o= his 5eath was a shock( coming shortl> a=terwar5s@ an5 I wrote to m> late
sergeant on the Or5nance /9rve> at Inverness P/ergeant $e5man( '.".Q( =or partic9lars(
with the res9lt which Mrs. "ollan5 has tol5 >o9.
B&. .E'"E'* "OLL)%$.C
B,e learn =rom Mr. F. ,ilson "lack( ho9se-s9rgeon at the %orthern In=irmar>( Inverness(
who has kin5l> re=erre5 to the books( that )rchibal5 'amsa> was a5mitte5 to that
instit9tion on +eb. U3( 27WV( s9==ering =rom t9mo9r o= the brain( an5 5ie5 on March X.
Mr. "lack a55s:AB%one o= the o==icials at present in the ho9se were in it at the time@ an5
I am conseE9entl> 9nable to sa> at what ho9r he 5ie5.C Mrs. "ollan5 has kin5l>
en5eavo9re5 to =in5 o9t( =rom the Librar> at &ibraltar( on what 5a> she took o9t the book
that she was rea5ing@ b9t witho9t s9ccess.
,e =in5 that the above acco9nt completel> agrees with the =9ller one in )ll the ear
=ound. *hat acco9nt( however( contains a more complete e?planation o= the non-
recognition o= the =ace. )s regar5s the momentar> mistaking o= the man =or a visitor(
these wor5s occ9r: BI will onl> remin5 >o9 that( as =ar as appearances went( the man was
a gentleman. .e ha5 gentle birth on one si5e( was alwa>s re=ine5 in his manners( an5(
moreover( was 5resse5 in a s9it o= clothes o= which no gentleman nee5 have been
ashame5.C *he paper en5s with the =ollowing a55itional inci5ent:A
B*here is one o55 =act as a pen5ant to this little stor>. *he man 1earson( whom we ha5
D9st bro9ght all the wa> =rom the Ultima *h9le o= the ancients( at great e?pense( gave
warning that 5a>( beca9se( he sai5( i-V33! uthe ho9se was ha9nte5.4 .e gave no
e?planation( an5 I sai5 nothing( as the reason o= his s955en wish to leave onl> reache5 me
thro9gh m> mai5. #o9 will remember that he stoo5 at the 5oor( having apparentl> shown
in m> m>sterio9s visitor. .a5 his notice to E9it come a 5a> later( I sho9l5 have sai5 he
hear5 other servants speaking o= the circ9mstance in ho9ses where I ha5 mentione5 it.
"9t he gave it that 5a> an5 be=ore I ha5 spoken o= it at all. %or have I hear5 9p to this
moment what he meant. 19]]le5 b9t not alarme5 m>sel=( I wo9l5 not risk =rightening m>
ho9sehol5( so when m> mai5 tol5 me what he ha5 sai5( I onl> replie5( u%onsenses4 an5
that was the en5 o= it. .e le=t 9s( an5 the news o= 'amsa>4s 5eath came a=ter he ha5 gone(
or I think I sho9l5 have =elt incline5 then to E9estion him.C
*he narrator in the =ollowing case( Miss /.( =ears that p9blication o= her name might be
5isa5vantageo9s to her.
BMarch 22th( 2773.
PU;UQ BIn )9g9st( 2772( I ha5 been or5ere5 b> m> 5octor to take absol9te rest( not even to
rea5 at all( an5 to 5o no work whatever. I there=ore took lo5gings in a cottage near
Lon5on =or a =ew weeks. $9ring the last 8 or W >ears( I ha5 been rather intimate with a
la5> PMrs. ).Q( whose 5a9ghter I ha5 instr9cte5 59ring that perio5. *his la5> ha5 gone to
the sea-si5e with her =amil> 59ring the s9mmer holi5a>s( b9t ha5 sent me a message(
be=ore she le=t town( that the s955enness o= her 5epart9re ha5 prevente5 her =rom coming
to see me( b9t that she wo9l5 certainl> 5o so on her ret9rn. In the meantime I ha5 hear5(
thro9gh m9t9al =rien5s( that she an5 her =amil> were in goo5 health( an5 wo9l5 probabl>
ret9rn abo9t the mi55le o= /eptember.
B)bo9t : weeks a=ter Mrs. ).4s 5epart9re( I was e?pecting a =rien5 to come an5 see me(
an5 ha5 or5ere5 a carriage( to take her a 5rive. YsicZ *he morning prove5 wet( an5 she 5i5
not come( an5 a=ter waiting some time( I went o9t alone( in an open lan5a9( at abo9t :.:;
or perhaps as late as 3 p.m. I ha5 not le=t the ho9se more than U; min9tes( when( in an
open lane( I saw coming towar5s me Mrs. ). with one o= her >o9nger chil5ren. /he was
sitting in her own victoria( which I knew well. )s she sat I saw onl> the three-E9arter
=ace@ b9t I recognise5 the bonnet( an5 also the sealskin Dacket( which she was wearing( as
one that she generall> wore in winter. I remember them partic9larl>( beca9se it str9ck me(
as the carriage approache5( that it was ver> o55 o= her to be wearing a sealskin Dacket in
)9g9st. F9st as the carriage came 9p to me( an5 was passing me( so near that i= I ha5 p9t
o9t m> arm I co9l5 have to9che5 it( I sat 9p( an5 calle5 o9t( uOh( Mrs. )4 /he 5i5 not
move or t9rn her =orm towar5s me( b9t seeme5 to be hal=-t9rne5 towar5s the chil5( who
sat on the =9rther si5e o= me. I was ver> m9ch astonishe5 at this( an5 then I t9rne5 ro9n5
to look a=ter the victoria( an5( as =ar as m> recollection serves me( I saw it slowl> 5rive
awa>. I am per=ectl> s9re that I co9l5 not have been mistaken@ I was never more certain
o= an>thing in m> li=e than that I ha5 act9all> seen m> =rien5 an5 her little chil5.
B+or the ne?t 2; min9tes or so( I was p9]]ling to think what co9l5 have bro9ght her back
to Lon5on( an5 was ver> ve?e5 with m>sel= =or not having at once tol5 the coachman to
t9rn an5 5rive a=ter the carriage. I 5i5( however( as soon as I co9l5 collect m> senses( tell
him to 5rive home i-V3V! as E9ickl> as possible@ an5 as soon as I reache5 the cottage I
sai5 to m> lan5la5>( u*here is a la5> an5 a little girl waiting =or me 9pstairs( I s9pposer4
,hen she ass9re5 me that there was not( I at once sent the servant over to m> sister4s
ho9se( abo9t 2; min9tes4 walk o==( to see i= Mrs. ). ha5 perhaps gone there. ,hen the
servant came back with no ti5ings o= her( I was ver> m9ch astonishe5( an5 co9l5n4t help
won5ering over it =or the rest o= the evening.
B*wo or three 5a>s a=terwar5s( I aske5 the lan5la5> to get me a 5ail> paper( =eeling a
longing to rea5 so(ething/ an5( at m> lan5la5>4s 9rgent entreat> not to tire m>sel=( I sai5
that I wo9l5 onl> look at the births( 5eaths an5 marriages. *here I saw the anno9ncement
o= the 5eath o= Mrs. ). at the sea-si5e( on the ver> 5a> when( as I tho9ght( I ha5 passe5
her in her carriage( near Lon5on.
BI a=terwar5s learne5 =rom her relations that she ha5 5ie5 a=ter a ver> short illness( at 8
p.m. on that 5a>( an5 that she ha5 lain in a state o= 9nconscio9sness =or some ho9rs be=ore
her 5eath. It co9l5 not have been m9ch less than two ho9rs be=ore her 5eathAthat is
59ring the time when she la> 9nconscio9sAthat I saw her.
BE. L. /.C
,e =in5 the anno9ncement o= the 5eath in three Lon5on 5ail> papers =or )9g9st :;th(
2772.
In conversation( Miss /. state5 that she ha5 never been the s9bDect o= an> hall9cination.
/he is short-sighte5( b9t wears s9itable glasses( an5 was wearing them on this occasion.
%o corroborative testimon> can be obtaine5. *he lan5la5> was ver> ol5( an5 ver>
9nlikel>( even i= now alive( to remember so tri=ling an inci5ent as Miss /.4s E9estion
abo9t the s9ppose5 callers@ an5 Miss /.4s sister was absent =rom home when the inE9ir>
was ma5e at her ho9se.
*his might conceivabl> have been a case o= mistaken i5entit>. "9t it wo9l5 have been an
e?traor5inar> one@ an5 the sealskin Dacket in )9g9st wo9l5 have been as o55 a cost9me
=or an> real person as Miss /. conceive5 it to be =or her =rien5. It is worth mentioning that
visions o= horses an5 carriages are a known species o= p9rel> s9bDective hall9cination@
2

an5 it is there=ore not as strange as it might appear that a telepathic hall9cination sho9l5
ass9me this elaborate =orm. "9t more important is the appearance o= a secon5 h9man
=ig9reAthat o= the 5>ing =rien54s chil5. I have alrea5> Pp. 3U8Q pointe5 to a similar
=eat9re in one o= the Bbor5erlan5C cases as an in5ication that telepathic percepts( in their
sensor> character( i-V38! are reall> proDections =rom within. I ma> now point o9t( as a
=resh instance o= parallelism between telepathic an5 cas9al s9bDective phantasms( the
e?treme rarit, o= the cases in which a secon5 =ig9re th9s appears. In m> large collection
o= s9bDective hall9cinations o= visionAp9tting o9t o= the E9estion the pec9liar illusions
h,pnagogi2ues Ppp. 3W:T3QAI =in5 onl> seven cases( that is( less than : per cent.(
presenting more than one h9man =ig9re@
2
three o= which occ9rre5 to percipients who were
in be5( while in two others the percipients were e?tremel> >o9ng. )n5 among the
telepathic e?amples in this book( I =in5 almost e?actl> the same proportion.
)s =9rther ill9strating the constr9ction o= the phantasm =rom material which the
percipient4s min5 s9pplies( I ma> mention a point in case 273. On the 5a> when little
Isi5ore le=t 1aris =or Lon5on( his hair was c9t ver> short@ an5 the long B=ringe(C which
was remove5( co9l5 not Pthe narrator sa>sQ have grown to its c9stomar> length in the
month which =ollowe5 be=ore the 5eath.Y~Z "9t( as he a55s( BIn m> memor> his image
still preserve5 the 9s9al =eat9res( with the =ringe over his =orehea5@ an5 on the morning
when the vision awoke me( I saw him with the =ringe over his =orehea5.C
U
In another
Bbor5erlan5C case( %o. 3XV( where the phantasm o= a 5>ing =emale relative appeare5( the
5ressABo9t-5oor walking cost9me( the bonnet being a prominent part o= itCAwas that in
which the percipient ha5 last seen her( nine >ears previo9sl>@ in a waking case( %o. VVV(
where the phantasm represente5 the percipient4s mother( Bthe attire was the same in
which I ha5 last seen her several i-V3W! >ears be=ore@C an5 in another waking case( %o.
83V( the phantasm appeare5 in a 5ress which the agent ha5 not worn or seen =or nine
months( b9t which she ha5 been wearing 59ring the weeks when the percipient ha5 last
been in her compan>. P/ee also case VVU.Q
S W. *he e?amination o= these precise points ma> lea5 9s on to more general gro9n5. I=
we a5mit a power in the percipient to evolve a waking 5ream =rom the n9cle9s o= a
Btrans=erre5 impression(C we at once get ri5 o= what has been a ver> real obstacle to the
recognition o= the telepathic evi5ence. 1hantasms having o=ten been conceive5 as in
some wa> obDective an5 in5epen5ent presences( it has seeme5 to the sceptic that all i5ea
o= realit> abo9t them was s9==icientl> re=9te5( i= the> possesse5 =eat9res which were a
clear re=lection o= the percipient4s belie=s an5 i5eas. /t95ents o= =olklore an5 o=
comparative tha9matolog> have observe5 that s9ch phenomena( in vario9s times an5
co9ntries( have borne a perceptible relation to prevalent habits an5 opinions@ an5 i=
specimens which have coinci5e5 with( an5 so seeme5 to anno9nce an5 t>pi=>( 9n9s9al
events( have borne a similar relation( it has been eas> to arg9e =or their p9rel> s9bDective
character =rom this subordinate point( an5 to ignore the essential pointAthe =act o= the
coinci5ence. *his wrong iss9e is precl95e5 as soon as the analog> o= 5ream is bol5l>
insiste5 on( an5 the phenomena are 5escribe5 as hall9cinations( not presences( an5 as
veri5ical( not obDective. )n> pres9mption against them( as sentimental( or s9perstitio9s(
or =antastic( then loses its basis. *he nake5 =act o= coinci5ence can no more be
sentimental or s9perstitio9s than stoical or sceptical@ b9t s9bDective colo9rings ma> attach
to waking hall9cinations as easil> as to 5reams@ an5 it cannot seem s9rprising that the
same mental habits an5 tra5itions which give a partic9lar character to so man> o= the
hall9cinations which are ill9sor> thro9gh an5 thro9ghAhall9cinations an5 nothing more
Asho9l5 give a similar character to some o= the hall9cinations which are not ill9sor>
thro9gh an5 thro9gh( b9t are proDecte5 9n5er the stim9l9s o= a tr9e impression =rom the
min5 o= some absent person. *he same cast o= i5eas thro9gh the 5ominance o= which a
d4vote ma> receive a =alse impression that she has met the Virgin in a woo5( ma> ver>
nat9rall> lea5 her( or one like her( on the receipt o= a tr9e impression that some belove5
relative is 5>ing( to bo5> =orth the =ig9re as robe5 in white an5 with a ra5iant =ace@ an5
m9ch more biAarre apparitions than this might( on the same principle( be accepte5 as
having a ca9sal i-V37! connection with a real event.
2
Y~Z *he opport9nit> =or observing
s9ch phenomena in telepathic cases is( no 5o9bt( limite5 b> the =act that cases o= an>
evi5ential weight are almost con=ine5 to E9ite mo5ern 5a>s( an5 =or the present to the
more a5vance5 nations@ b9t it is possible that as interest in the s9bDect increases( a wi5er
area will be covere5. Meanwhile we have E9ite eno9gh cases to ill9strate the point.
)s e?amples o= phantasmal appearances presenting =eat9res which wo9l5 in realit> be
impossible( the =ollowing three acco9nts ma> serve. *he =irst is =rom Mrs. )llom( o= 27(
"ato9m &ar5ens( ,est 0ensington 1ark( ,.
BF9ne U7th( 277V.
PU;:Q BI have not the least obDection to giving an acco9nt o= the apparition I ha5 o= m>
mother( which appeare5 to me at the time o= her 5eath( altho9gh it is a s9bDect I have ver>
rarel> mentione5( partl> that it is an occ9rrence I hol5 ver> sacre5( an5 partl> that I 5o
not care to have m> stor> 5o9bte5 or la9ghe5 at.
BI went to school in )lsace in October( 27VU( when I was 2W( leaving m> mother in
Englan5 in 5elicate health. )bo9t -hristmas( 27V:( 23 months a=ter I le=t home( I hear5
that m> mother4s health was worse( b9t I ha5 no i5ea that she was in an> 5anger. It was
the last /9n5a> in +ebr9ar>( 27V3( between 2 an5 U o4clock( I was seate5 in a large
schoolroom rea5ing( when s955enl> the =ig9re o= m> mother appeare5 to me at the =ar
en5 o= the room. /he was reclining as i= in be5( in her night-5ress. .er =ace was t9rne5
towar5s me with a sweet smile( an5 one han5 was raise5 an5 pointing 9pwar5s.
B&entl> the =ig9re move5 across the room( ascen5ing as it went 9ntil it 5isappeare5. "oth
the =ace an5 =ig9re were waste5 as i= b> sickness( as I never ha5 seen her in li=e( an5
5ea5l> pale.
B+rom the moment I saw the apparition I =elt convince5 m> mother was 5ea5. /o
impresse5 was I that I was 9nable to atten5 to m> st95ies@ an5 it was positive pain to me
to see m> >o9nger sister pla>ing an5 am9sing hersel= with her companions.
B*wo or three 5a>s a=ter( m> governess( a=ter pra>ers( calle5 me to her private room. )s
soon as we entere5 I sai5( u#o9 nee5 not tell me. I know m> mother is 5ea5s4 /he aske5
me how I co9l5 possibl> know. I gave no e?planation( b9t tol5 her I ha5 known it =or
three 5a>s. I a=terwar5s hear5 m> mother 5ie5 on that /9n5a>( at the time I ha5 seen her(
an5 that she ha5 passe5 awa> in an 9nconscio9s state( having been 9nconscio9s =or some
5a> or two be=ore her 5eath.
BI am b> no means an imaginative( sensitive woman( an5 never be=ore or since have I
e?perience5 an>thing similar.
BI/)"EL )LLOM.C
Mrs. )llom4s mother was Mrs. -arrick( wi=e o= Mr. *homas -arrick( the well-known
miniat9re-painter. Mrs. )llom has kin5l> proc9re5 a i-V3X! cop> o= an entr> inscribe5
b> her =ather in an ol5 =amil> "ible( which states that Mrs. -arrick 5ie5 on Fan9ar> :;th(
27V3@ an5 we have veri=ie5 the 5ate in the Ti(es. *his 5a>( we =in5( was a Mon5a>( not a
/9n5a>.
Mrs. )llom is s9re that she has never ha5 a hall9cination on an> other occasion. /he
once( however( ha5 a rather marke5 illusion, when a -hristmas-tree ass9me5
momentaril>( to her e>es( the aspect o= her mother4s =orm. /he is a practical person( an5
ass9res me that she has all her li=e been =ree =rom =ancies an5 s9perstitions. .er sister
was 5elicate an5 nervo9s( an5 on that acco9nt Mrs. )llom 5i5 not tell her o= the vision
above 5escribe5. I= she is correct in her recollection that her e?perience was on a /9n5a>(
an5 is not merel> in=erring that( b> combining her recollection o= the closeness o= the
coinci5ence with her i5ea that the 5eath was on a /9n5a>( the hall9cination m9st still
have =allen at a time o= most critical illness. *hat she has sai5 +ebr9ar>( instea5 o=
Fan9ar>( seems to be an obvio9s slip either o= writing or memor>@ as that the vision
sho9l5 have =ollowe5 the 5eath b> a month( or even b> a week( is wholl> inconsistent
with the rest o= the statement.
*he ne?t case is =rom Mrs. -( the narrator o= case 7; above( to which the =ollowing
sentence was appen5e5:A
PU;3Q B)t another time I saw a =ig9re o= a =rien5 pass be=ore me( ascen5ing. I receive5 a
letter to sa> she ha5 5ie5 that night.C
In answer to inE9iries( the narrator a55e5:A
B+ebr9ar> 2Xth( 2773.
B)s to >o9r E9estion relating to the vision o= m> =rien5( I was sa>ing m> pra>ers( an5
imme5iatel> mentione5 it to m> h9sban5 Ysince 5ecease5Z( an5 have s9bseE9entl>
mentione5 it to others. /he was in -heltenham( an5 I ha5 le=t her shortl> be=ore( she
promising to come to town to cons9lt a 5octor on a pain=9l b9t not 5angero9s complaint.
It appears she ha5 eaten a pork chop( an5 was ver> sick. .er h9sban5 not apprehen5ing
an> 5anger( aske5 a =rien5 to see to her an5 sta> with her( while he went to b9siness. /he
was sick all 5a>( an5 to their horror( 5ie5 that night.
BE. -.C
Mrs. -. =9rther mentions that she has a ring which gives /ept. UV( 27VU( as the 5ate o= her
=rien54s 5eath.
In conversation( Mrs. -( who is a practical person with no leaning to s9perstitio9s
=ancies( tol5 me that she was not thinking o= her =rien5 when the vision was seen. It was
completel> e?ternal( b9t in the air( so to speak( an5 high 9p. It is the onl> hall9cination
that Mrs. -. has ever e?perience5.
*he ne?t case is =rom the 'e(oirs of 7eorgiana, ;ad, Chatterton P27W7Q( b> E. ..
$ering( the secon5 h9sban5 o= La5> -hatterton( pp. 27VT278. *he a9thor sa>s:A
PU;VQ BIn March( 278X( while we were at Malvern ,ells( an event occ9rre5( which the
rea5er will( o= co9rse( take =or what he thinks it is worth( b9t which I cannot see m> wa>
to e?plain as a coinci5ence.
2
/he %i.e., La5> -hattertonQ ha5 a great regar5 =or +ather
.ewitt( O./.".@ an5 he ha5 i-VV;! alwa>s shown a ver> marke5 s>mpath> =or her in her
5i==ic9lties. One a=ternoon she sai5( uI am s9re that 5ear +ather .ewitt is 5ea5. I saw him
D9st now( when I went 9pstairs( as clearl> as possible( 5resse5 in the "ene5ictine habit(
onl> it was o= 5a]]ling whiteness. .e seeme5 high above me in the air(
2
an5 he looke5 at
me. I knew then that he was 5ea5.4 It was abo9t U o4clock in the a=ternoon. *he ne?t
morning4s post bro9ght 9s the news that he 5ie5 at the time when she saw him.C
In re=erence to this inci5ent( La5> -hatterton4s niece( Mrs. +errers( o= "a55esle> -linton(
0nowle( writes to 9s as =ollows:A
BMarch U3th( 277V.
BI was with her at Malvern ,ells at the time( in some lo5gings that we hire5 =or a =ew
weeks@ an5 +ather .ewitt was then at ,oolton( a village in ,arwickshire( m> a9nt an5
Mr. $ering renting ,oolton .all that >ear. I cannot give >o9 the e?act 5ate( b9t I
remember that it was one 5a> in Easter week o= that >ear P278XQ. I was in the 5rawing-
room o= those lo5gings a=ter l9ncheon( abo9t a E9arter past U o4clock( when m> a9nt
came 5ownstairs =rom her be5room an5 tol5 me that she was E9ite s9re +ather .ewitt
was 5ea5 =or she ha5 seen him( Cc. ,e all knew that he was ill o= one o= his 9s9al severe
attacks o= gall-stones( b9t that complaint is not consi5ere5 a =atal one( an5 so we were =9ll
o= hopes that we sho9l5 =in5 him better on o9r ret9rn home. .e was one o= the best an5
5earest o= o9r =rien5s( an5 his 5eath( corroborate5 the ne?t morning b> hearing his name
given o9t at Mass(
U
to be pra>e5 =or among the 5ea5( was a heav> blow to 9s all. ,e
a=terwar5s hear5 that he ha5 5ie5 at U o4clock on the 5a> m> a9nt saw him.
B'E"E--) .. +E''E'/.C
Y,e learn =rom the 1rovincial o= -anterb9r>( the 'ev. .. E. Moore( that the 5ate o= the
'ev. 1eter Foseph .ewitt4s 5eath was March 22th( 278X. Easter /9n5a> in that >ear =ell
on March U7th@ Mrs. +errers is there=ore mistaken in s9pposing the occ9rrence to have
taken place in Easter week@ b9t this is not material. *he coinci5ence was probabl> e?act
to a E9arter-o=-an-ho9r.Z
*he l9mino9s appearance o= the =ig9re here sho9l5 be speciall> remarke5. +or l9minosit>
is a s9==icientl> =reE9ent =eat9re both in p9rel> s9bDective an5 in telepathic hall9cinations(
to be incl95e5 as a =resh point o= resemblance between the two classes. It is possibl> to
5e=inite hall9cinations o= this character that we sho9l5 trace the wi5el>-5i==9se5
s9perstition which =in5s in a m>sterio9s light the sign o= a s9pernat9ral presence@
:
b9t
consi5ering how nat9ral the i-VV2! s>mbolism o= light is in connection with
s9pernat9ral i5eas( s9ch a h>pothesis is perhaps s9per=l9o9s. It is at an> rate not possible
to reverse the process( an5 to trace the hall9cinations to the s9perstition@ =or the> go on
occ9rring in the present 5a>( as m> collection alone wo9l5 show( to persons who have no
previo9s acE9aintance with or belie= in the s9perstition. *he light occ9rs in vario9s =orms
an5 5egrees. One =orm alrea5> mentione5 Pp. 3:WQ is the impression o= a 5ark room as
ill9minate5( which is sometimes e?perience5 on waking. In the gro9p o= non-h9man
phantasms 5escribe5 above( we =o9n5 a star( a =irework( a =ire=l>( a bright oval( a
chan5elier Pp. V;:( an5 see also Vol. II.( pp. 2X:T3Q. )mong the s9bDective h9man
phantasms( seven appeare5 with a can5le in the han5. In a consi5erable n9mber o= the
noct9rnal cases( tho9gh no special ra5iance is mentione5( the aspect o= the =ig9re seems
to have been =ar more 5istinct an5 5etaile5 than that o= a real person wo9l5 have been(
2
A
e.g., the grotesE9e appearance mentione5 in Vol. II.( p. U:W( note( which was remarkable
=or brilliance o= cost9me( B5isappeare5( leaving the room in 5arknessC@ an5 in other cases
the =ig9re has appeare5 as ra5iant.
U
*he position in which the phantasm was proDecte5 in
the last two cases E9ote5 ma> have been the res9lt o= some 5im i5ea o= 5epart9re or
transition. In other cases there is the 5istinct s>mbolism o= 5eath. *wo s9ch cases( o= the
Bbor5erlan5C class( have been alrea5> given P%os. 2W7 an5 2X;Q. *he =ollowing e?ample
belongs to a season o= active waking li=e. *he percipient( Lie9t.--olonel Fones( o= 7(
/9sse? 1lace( %.,.( is a man as =ree =rom s9perstition as can well be imagine5( who has
never e?perience5 an> other hall9cination whatever. .e has shown 9s a letter( written at
the time( in which his =ather all95es to the apparition.
B277:.
PU;8Q BIn 273V I was statione5 with m> regiment at Mo9lmein( in "9rmah. In those 5a>s
there was no 5irect mail( an5 we were 5epen5ent 9pon the arrival o= sailing vessels =or
o9r letters( which sometimes arrive5 in batches( an5 occasionall> we were months
witho9t an> news =rom home.
BOn the evening o= the U3th o= March( 273V( I was( with others( 5ining at a =rien54s
ho9se( an5 when sitting in the veran5ah a=ter 5inner( with the other g9ests( in the mi55le
o= a conversation on some local a==airs( I all at once distinctl, saw be=ore me the =orm o=
an open co==in( with a =avo9rite sister o= mine( then at home( l>ing in it apparentl> 5ea5. I
i-VVU! nat9rall> cease5 talking( an5 ever>one looke5 at me in astonishment( an5 aske5
what was the matter. I mentione5( in a la9ghing manner( what I ha5 seen( an5 it was
looke5 9pon as a Doke. I walke5 home later with an o==icer ver> m9ch m> senior Pthe late
MaDor-&eneral &eorge "riggs( retire5( Ma5ras )rtiller>( then -aptain "riggsQ( who
renewe5 the s9bDect( an5 aske5 whether I ha5 receive5 an> news as to m> sister4s illness.
I sai5 no( an5 that m> last letters =rom home were 5ate5 some three months prior. .e
aske5 me to make a note o= the circ9mstance( as he ha5 be=ore hear5 o= s9ch occ9rrences.
I 5i5 so( an5 showe5 him the entr> I ma5e opposite the 5a> o= the month in an almanack.
On the 2Wth o= Ma> =ollowing( I receive5 a letter =rom home anno9ncing m> sister4s
5eath as having taken place on that ver> 5a>Avi].( the U3th o= March( 273V.
B'. ,)LLE' FO%E/.C
)s to the coinci5ence o= ho9r( -olonel Fones onl> learnt that the 5eath occ9rre5 in the
morning o= the U3th. .is vision was seen a=ter an earl> 5inner( so that( allowing =or
longit95e( the correspon5ence o= time was certainl> near( an5 ma> have been e?act. *here
ha5 been a ver> close attachment between sister an5 brother.
,e ma> regar5 the ne?t two casesAone vis9al an5 one a95itor>Aas e?empli=>ing the
religio9s investit9re o= a telepathic impression. *he =irst( in which the acc9rac> o= the
5escription Bwaking 5reamC is speciall> well shown( is =rom Mrs. Larcombe( o= 7(
'9nton /treet( .ornse> 'ise( %.( a sensible an5 s9perior person who has seen a goo5 5eal
o= the worl5. /he has ha5 no other hall9cination( 9nless an 9ne?plaine5 appearance seen
b> her in earl> chil5hoo5( an5 b> others as well as hersel=( was o= that character.
BF9l> 2Wth( 277U.
PU;WQ B,hen I was abo9t 27 or 2X( I went to sta> in &9ernse>. *his wo9l5 be abo9t :;
>ears ago. )bo9t 2; a.m.( one 5a>( I was sitting in the kitchen( blowing 9p the =ire with
the bellows. I hear5 some ver> bea9ti=9l m9sic( an5 stoppe5 to listen( at the same time
looking 9p. I saw above me tho9san5s o= angels( as tight as the> co9l5 be packe5(
seeming to rise =ar above an5 be>on5 me. *he> were onl> visible as =ar as the hea5 an5
sho9l5ers. In =ront o= them all I saw m> =rien5( )nne -o?. )s I looke5 an5 listene5( the
m9sic seeme5 to 5ie awa> in the 5istance( an5 at the same time( the angels seeme5 to
pass awa> into the 5istance( an5 vanish like smoke.
BI ran 9p to Miss ,hite( the >o9ng la5> sta>ing in the ho9se( an5 tol5 her what I ha5
seen. /he sai5( u#o9 ma> be s9re >o9r =rien5( )nne -o?( has gone to .eaven.4 I wrote
home at once( to L>me 'egis( an5 =o9n5 that )nne -o? ha5 5ie5 that ver> 5a>.
B)nne -o? an5 I ha5 been ver> close =rien5s. /he was D9st m> own age( an5 was almost
like a sister to me.
BM. ). L)'-OM"E.C
Mrs. Larcombe states positivel> that she was in no an?iet> abo9t her =rien5( an5 ha5 no
knowle5ge o= her illness. /he cannot recall where the i-VV:! 5eath occ9rre5( an5 it has
there=ore been impossible to 5iscover its e?act 5ate.
*he ne?t case is =rom Mrs. U5n>( o= 82( ,estbo9rne 1ark Villas( ,.
BF9l>( 277:.
PU;7Q B*his =amil> stor> =ell within m> own recollection( an5 I can vo9ch =or the
acc9rac> o= the =acts. *he 5ates p9t it be>on5 an> E9estion o= being imagine5 after the
circ9mstances ha5 occ9rre5.
BIn Fan9ar>( 27V;( m> h9sban5 P&eorge U5n>( o= the "engal -ivil /erviceQ was in
-alc9tta( an5 I was living in Lon5on. .is sister Emil> PMrs. '>anQ was living near me in
Lon5on( an5 her h9sban5( E5m9n5 '>an( was in -alc9tta.
BOn the U;th +ebr9ar>( 27V;( I receive5 a letter =rom m> h9sban5( sa>ing poor E5m9n5
was ver> ill. Owing to some political news o= importance m> letter o= the Xth ha5 come
with a &overnment 5ispatch a 5a> later than the or5inar> mail o= the 7th( the reg9lar
mail-5a>.
B/oon a=ter receiving m> letter( on the same 5a>( m> sister-in-law( Emil> '>an( came to
me in great an?iet> to know i= I ha5 an> later news o= her h9sban5 than the Xth( as she
also ha5 hear5 he was ver> ill. I e?plaine5 to her how impossible it was that there sho9l5
be an> later news( as the Xth itsel= was later than I ha5 ever known the mail leave be=ore.
/he then e?plaine5 the reason =or her e?treme an?iet> =or news to the 2;th Fan9ar>( an5
tol5 me the =ollowing c9rio9s circ9mstance:A
BOn the 2;th Fan9ar>( she ha5 been engage5 in her 5evotions between 22 a.m. an5 noon(
accor5ing to her c9stom@ =or she was in the habit o= rising late( an5 5i5 not make her
appearance in the =amil> circle till the mi55le o= the 5a>( ,hile th9s engage5 on her
knees( an5 making her h9sban5 the special s9bDect o= her pra>ers( she tho9ght some one
spoke E9ite 5istinctl> close to her ear( u1ra> not =or him( he is in Eternit>. "e still an5
know that I am &o5.4
B/he was so m9ch astonishe5( she tho9ght some one m9st have come into the room
9nperceive5 b> her( an5 rose =rom her knees an5 looke5 aro9n5 her( b9t co9l5 see no one.
/he was( however( so m9ch impresse5 b> the circ9mstance that she wrote it 5own at
once( with the 5ate o= 5a> an5 ho9r( an5 sealing 9p the paper( carrie5 it 5ownstairs an5
gave it to the care o= a >o9ng niece living in the ho9se P*empN 'aikesQ( telling her to keep
the seal 9nbroken till she aske5 =or it.
BOn the morning she came to me( U;th +ebr9ar>( hearing o= her h9sban54s serio9s illness
on the 7th Fan9ar>( she ha5 aske5 =or her seale5 note an5 ha5 broken the seal an5 rea5 in
the presence o= her mother an5 a9nt the above circ9mstance( an5 =in5ing the 5ate( which
she ha5 =orgotten( onl> two 5a>s later than her news =rom -alc9tta( came o== to me to
inE9ire =or later news( b9t onl> hear5 m> letter o= the Xth.
B/he ha5( there=ore( to await the arrival o= another mailAa =ortnight a=terAwhen the
letters o= the U:r5 Fan9ar>( arriving on the 7th March( tol5 her that her poor h9sban5 ha5
5ie5 on the 1Nth Januar,, between V an5 8 p.m.Athe e?act time( allowing =or the
5i==erence o= longit95e( that she ha5 been =orbi55en to pra> =or him in Lon5on.
). L. U$%#.C
,e =in5 =rom notices in the 7entle(ans 'agaAine an5 the )nnual =egister that Mr. E. ".
'>an 5ie5 at -alc9tta( on Fan. 2;( 27V;.
i-VV3!
Mrs. U5n> showe5 Mr. 1o5more the notes Pcommitte5 to paper on )pril UW( 2782( in
or5er to preserve the memor> o= the occ9rrenceQ =rom which this acco9nt was taken. Mrs.
'>an( now Mrs. .ermon( cannot be E9estione5 on the s9bDect.
In a secon5 letter( Mrs. U5n> a55s:A
BI have D9st receive5 the enclose5 =rom m> nieceAthe *empN 'aikes o= m> =amil> stor>.
I think >o9 will =in5 it ver> satis=actor> as to the main =acts o= the stor>. I think >o9 will
=in5 m> 5ates are more acc9rate than m> niece4s@ she has got a little con=9se5 as to the
ho9rsAperhaps not allowing =or the 5i==erence o= longit95e. I 5istinctl> remember Mrs.
'>an4s telling me that she was pra>ing between 22 an5 2U a.m.( an5 I think I mentione5
in m> mem. to >o9 that her h9sban5 5ie5 abo9t V o4clock p.m.( beca9se m> h9sban5
wrote that to me =rom -alc9tta. )n5 the sing9lar thing which str9ck me at the time was
that the 5i==erence wo9l5 be e?actl> that o= the longit95e.C
*he enclos9re was as =ollows:A
BUV( Victoria /E9are( -li=ton.
B/eptember 28th( 277:.
B)bo9t the stor> o= )9nt .ermon Y=ormerl> '>anZ( the =acts( as =ar as I can recollect( are
that she wrote o9t what ha5 happene5 one morning at her private pra>ers( an5 gave me
the seale5 letter abo9t it( an5 sai5 in a =ew weeks she wo9l5 either ask me =or it to b9rn it(
or to rea5 it o9t. /i? weeks a=ter( when she hear5 o= Uncle '>an4s 5eath( she aske5 =or it
an5 gave it to her mother@ an5 in it she ha5 written that( while pra>ing =or her h9sban5
P=rom whom she ha5 hear5 nothing =or 8 monthsQ( a voice came to her ears( u.e is in
Eternit>.4 /he went on( thinking it a sill> =anc>( an5 again it sai5( uIt is too late( he is in
Eternit>.4 /he was so convince5 o= its tr9th she le=t o==( an5 was s9re she wo9l5 hear
something ha5 happene5. .e ha5 5ie5 that ver> morning at 3 o4clock( =or she ha5 5ate5
her letter( an5( moreover( she was E9ite prepare5 when his 5eath was anno9nce5 to her.
*he overlan5 mail in those 5a>s took si? weeks coming.
B*EM1E /. "'I&.* %n4e 'aikesQ.C
S 7. *o ret9rn( however( to the 5etails o= the phantasmal appearanceAthe theor> which I
have a5vance5 as to the proDection o= the percept has receive5 ill9stration in cases where
all its =eat9res co9l5 be( an5 in m> view have been( s9pplie5 b> the percipient4s min5.
"9t it m9st now be a55e5 that there is a converse t>pe( where the 5ress or aspect incl95es
=eat9res which eE9all> clearl> co9l5 not be s9pplie5 b> the percipient4s min5@ an5 here
the =ormer e?planation will( o= co9rse( not appl>. In cases o= this t>pe( the act9al aspect o=
the agent( at the time o= the occ9rrence( has incl95e5 some marke5 variation =rom
an>thing that the percipient wo9l5 nat9rall> pict9re. I=( then( the phantasmal appearance
incl95es this same =eat9re( it m9st be an element that the i(pressing min5 has
contrib9te5( an5 not the i-VVV! i(pressed@ in other wor5s( we m9st here a5mit that a
rea5>-ma5e concrete image( an5 not a mere i5ea( has been trans=erre5 =rom one to the
other. *here is no reason to 5o9bt that s9ch an image occ9pies a certain place in the
agent4s min5@ an5 when a pec9liarit> o= aspect is temporar> an5 acci5ental( it is
sometimes a ver> prominent part o= conscio9sness. Even when the pec9liarit> Pas it
appears to the percipientQ is one to which the agent himsel= has become acc9stome5Aas
a change in the growth or colo9r o= the hairAthe =act remains that a certain sense o=
one4s own aspect probabl> alwa>s e?ists at the backgro9n5 o= conscio9sness. *his it is
which sometimes( at the season when latent i5eas are apt to ass9me arbitrar> prominence(
creates =or the scantil>-cla5 5reamer s9ch embarrassing sit9ations@ this it is which( in rare
b9t well-atteste5 cases( proDects the apparition Pp9rel> hall9cinator>( as I sho9l5 hol5Q o=
a person4s own sel= or B5o9bleC@
2
an5 I ma> again recall the e?perimental in5ications that
even i5eas which cannot be recognise5 as part o= conscio9sness at all ma> be s9sceptible
o= telepathic trans=erence Ppp. W7TX( 73Q. I 5o not in5ee5 preten5 that the analog> here
can give entire satis=action@ or that the translation o= a vag9e s9b-conscio9s image in one
min5 into a sharpl>-5e=ine5( an5 at the same time a per=ectl> correct( percept in another(
is a =act =or which the rest o= o9r evi5ence( whether o= e?perimental or o= spontaneo9s
trans=erences( wo9l5 have ever prepare5 9s. )ll that I wo9l5 claim is that it is a =act
which the conception o= ps>chical trans=erences is not ina5eE9ate to embrace. )nother
conception no 5o9bt there isAthat o= some independent e?ercise o= the percipient4s own
=ac9ltiesAwhich s9ggests itsel= in respect o= this t>pe o= e?perience( as be=ore in the
cases where the percipient4s point o= observation seeme5 trans=erre5 to a 5istant scene
Ppp. U88( :3;( :87TXQ. "9t in the absence o= more 5istinct i-VV8! contemporar>
evi5ence =or s9ch e?ercise( I think that we sho9l5 avoi5 even provisionall> resorting to a
theor> which intro59ces problems as =ormi5able as an> that it can be emplo>e5 to
e?plain. )n5 in the present cases( as in the =ormer ones( since nothing is perceive5 that is
5e=initel> o9tsi5e the agent4s range o= knowle5ge( the e?tension o= the percipient4s
=ac9ltiesAhis clairvo,ance, i= we like to call it soAma> still be per=ectl> well regar5e5
as a telepathic e?tension( an abnormall> increase5 power o= receiving impressions =rom
another min5( or rather a power o= receiving impressions =rom the more with5rawn strata
o= another min5( 9n5er con5itions o= crisis or e?citement.
*o come now to the evi5enceAas to which one preliminar> remark is nee5e5. /ome o=
the cases to be E9ote5 are( I think( clearl> o= the t>pe 5escribe5@ others are also instances
o= it( i= E9ite correctl> recor5e5. "9t we m9st remember that a narrative which is
completel> correct as to the central =acts which go to prove the telepathic origin o= the
phantasm( ma> >et be ine?act in the partic9lars which now become important. ) stri1ing
coincidence is rather apt to s9ggest to the imagination a detailed correspondence/ an5 the
percipient( in looking back to his e?perience a=ter hearing o= certain =eat9res which
belonge5 to the aspect o= his 5>ing =rien5( ma> come to imagine that the> were
represente5 in the phantasm. Ever> e?ample( there=ore( m9st be weighe5 with this
possibilit> in view.
) gen9ine instance o= the t>pe( I believe( was the one alrea5> E9ote5 P%o. 2X3Q where the
gre, hair was a 5etail o= appearance which Miss '. ha5 never imagine5( an5 was ver>
9nlikel> to conD9re 9p. )nother is the =ollowing( receive5 in 277U =rom -aptain &. +.
'9ssell -olt( o= &artsherrie( -oatbri5ge( %.".
PU2;Q BI was at home =or m> holi5a>s( an5 resi5ing with m> =ather an5 mother( not here(
b9t at another ol5 =amil> place in Mi5-Lothian( b9ilt b> an ancestor in Mar> }9een o=
/cots4 time( calle5 Inveresk .o9se. M> be5room was a c9rio9s ol5 room( long an5
narrow( with a win5ow at one en5 o= the room an5 a 5oor at the other. M> be5 was on the
le=t o= the win5ow( looking towar5s the 5oor. I ha5 a ver> 5ear brother Pm> el5est
brotherQ( Oliver( lie9tenant in the Wth 'o>al +9siliers. .e was abo9t 2X >ears ol5( an5 ha5
at that time been some months be=ore /ebastopol. I correspon5e5 =reE9entl> with him@
an5 once when he wrote in low spirits( not being well( I sai5 in answer that he was to
cheer 9p( b9t that i= an>thing 5i5 happen to him( he m9st let me know b> appearing to me
in m> room( where we ha5 o=ten as bo>s together sat at night an5 in59lge5 in a
s9rreptitio9s pipe an5 chat. *his letter PI =o9n5 s9bseE9entl>Q he receive5 as he was
starting to receive the /acrament =rom a clerg>man who i-VVW! has since relate5 the =act
to me. .aving 5one this( he went to the entrenchments an5 never ret9rne5( as in a =ew
ho9rs a=terwar5s the storming o= the 'e5an commence5. .e( on the captain o= his
compan> =alling( took his place( an5 le5 his men bravel> on. .e ha5 D9st le5 them within
the walls( tho9gh alrea5> wo9n5e5 in several places( when a b9llet str9ck him on the
right temple an5 he =ell amongst heaps o= others( where he was =o9n5 in a sort o=
kneeling post9re Pbeing proppe5 9p b> other 5ea5 bo5iesQ :8 ho9rs a=terwar5s. .is 5eath
took place( or rather he =ell( tho9gh he ma> not have 5ie5 imme5iatel>( on the 7th
/eptember( 27VV.
B*hat night I awoke s955enl>( an5 saw =acing the win5ow o= m> room( b> m> be5si5e(
s9rro9n5e5 b> a light sort o= phosphorescent mist( as it were( m> brother kneeling. I trie5
to speak( b9t co9l5 not. I b9rie5 m> hea5 in the be5clothes( not at all a=rai5 Pbeca9se we
ha5 all been bro9ght 9p not to believe in ghosts or apparitionsQ( b9t simpl> to collect m>
i5eas( beca9se I ha5 not been thinking or 5reaming o= him( an5( in5ee5( ha5 =orgotten all
abo9t what I ha5 written to him a =ortnight be=ore. I 5eci5e5 that it m9st be =anc>( an5 the
moonlight pla>ing on a towel( or something o9t o= place. "9t on looking 9p( there he was
again( looking lovingl>( imploringl>( an5 sa5l> at me. I trie5 again to speak( b9t =o9n5
m>sel= tong9e-tie5. I co9l5 not 9tter a so9n5.
2
I sprang o9t o= be5( glance5 thro9gh the
win5ow( an5 saw that there was no moon( b9t it was ver> 5ark an5 raining har5( b> the
so9n5 against the panes. I t9rne5( an5 still saw poor Oliver. I sh9t m> e>es( walke5
thro9gh it(
U
an5 reache5 the 5oor o= the room. )s I t9rne5 the han5le( be=ore leaving the
room( I looke5 once more back. *he apparition t9rne5 ro9n5 his hea5 slowl> an5 again
looke5 an?io9sl> an5 lovingl> at me( an5 I saw then =or the =irst time a wo9n5 on the
right temple with a re5 stream =rom it. .is =ace was o= a wa?> pale tint( b9t transparent-
looking( an5 so was the re55ish mark. "9t it is almost impossible to 5escribe his
appearance. I onl> know I shall never =orget it. I le=t the room an5 went into a =rien54s
room( an5 la> on the so=a the rest o= the night. I tol5 him wh>. I tol5 others in the ho9se(
b9t when I tol5 m> =ather( he or5ere5 me not to repeat s9ch nonsense( an5 especiall> not
to let m> mother know.
BOn the Mon5a> =ollowing(
:
he receive5 a note =rom /ir )le?an5er Milne to sa> that the
'e5an was storme5( b9t no partic9lars. I tol5 m> =rien5 to let me know i= he saw the
name among the kille5 an5 wo9n5e5 be=ore me. )bo9t a =ortnight later he came to m>
be5room in his mother4s ho9se in )thole -rescent( in E5inb9rgh( with a ver> grave =ace.
I sai5( uI s9ppose it is to tell me the sa5 news I e?pect@4 an5 he sai5( u#es.4 "oth the
colonel o= the regiment an5 one or two o==icers who saw the bo5> con=irme5 the =act that
the appearance was m9ch accor5ing to m> 5escription( an5 the 5eath-wo9n5 was e?actl>
where I ha5 seen it. "9t none co9l5 sa> whether he act9all> 5ie5 at the moment. .is
appearance( i= so( m9st have been some ho9rs a=ter 5eath( as he appeare5 to me a =ew
min9tes a=ter U in the morning. Months later( a small pra>er-book and the letter : had
-ritten to hi( were ret9rne5 to Inveresk( =o9n5 i-VV7! in the inner breast pocket o= the
t9nic which he wore at his 5eath. I have them now.C
*he acco9nt in the ;ondon 7aAette >.traordinar, o= /eptember UUn5( 27VV( shows that
the storming o= the 'e5an began shortl> a=ter noon on /eptember 7th( an5 laste5 9pwar5s
o= an ho9r an5 a-hal=. ,e learn =rom '9ssell4s acco9nt that Bthe 5ea5( the 5>ing( an5 the
9ninD9re5( were all l>ing in piles togetherC@ an5 it wo9l5 seem that the search =or the
wo9n5e5 was still contin9ing on the morning o= the Xth. *he e?act time o= Lie9t. Oliver
-olt4s 5eath is 9ncertain.
In a =9rther comm9nication( -aptain -olt sa>s:A
BM> =ather receive5 )5miral Milne4s message D9st as we were starting in the 5ragAa
large part>Aon a visit to some r9ins( several miles o==. .e was 5riving( an5 I was sitting
ne?t to him( an5 he remarke5( uIt was well I tol5 >o9 not to sa> an>thing abo9t having
seen >o9r brother Oliver to >o9r mother. I hope >o9 will =orbi5 it to be mentione5 b> an>
one whom >o9 tol5( as it might 5o9bl> alarm her now( since this news.C
-aptain -olt tol5 me in conversation that he has never on an> other occasion e?perience5
a hall9cination o= the senses.
.e mentione5 several persons who wo9l5 be able to corroborate this narrative. ,e
receive5 the =ollowing letter =rom his sister( Mrs. .ope( o= +ermo>.
B$ecember 2Uth( 277U.
BOn the morning o= /eptember 7th( 27VV( m> brother( Mr. -olt( tol5 m>sel=( -aptain
+erg9son o= the 3Un5 'egiment( since 5ea5( an5 MaDor "orthwickY~Z o= the 'i=le
"riga5e Pwho is livingQ( an5 others( that he ha5 59ring the night awakene5 =rom sleep an5
seen( as he tho9ght( m> el5est brother( Lie9t. Oliver -olt o= the 'o>al +9siliers Pwho was
in the -rimeaQ( stan5ing between his be5 an5 the 5oor@ that he saw that he was wo9n5e5
in more than one placeAI remember he name5 the temple as one placeAb> b9llet-
wo9n5s@ that he aro9se5 himsel=( r9she5 to the 5oor with close5 e>es an5 looke5 back at
the apparition( which stoo5 between him an5 the be5. M> =ather enDoine5 silence( lest m>
mother sho9l5 be ma5e 9neas>@ b9t shortl> a=terwar5s came the news o= the =all o= the
'e5an an5 m> brother4s 5eath. *wo >ears a=terwar5s( m> h9sban5( -olonel .ope( invite5
m> brother to 5ine with him@ the =ormer being still a lie9tenant in the 'o>al +9siliers( the
latter an ensign in the 'o>al ,elsh +9siliers. ,hile 5ining( the> were talking o= m>
el5est brother. M> h9sban5 was abo9t to 5escribe his appearance when =o9n5( when m>
brother 5escribe5 what he ha5 seen( an5 to the astonishment o= all present( the 5escription
o= the wo9n5s tallie5 with the =acts. M> h9sban5 was m> el5est brother4s greatest =rien5(
an5 was among those who saw the bo5> as soon as it was =o9n5.C
YIt will be seen that this corroboration varies =rom the previo9s acco9nt in two points(
which( however( 5o not greatl> a==ect its val9e. *he 5ate was reall> /eptember Xth( not
the 7thAb9t it is ver> nat9ral that the vision sho9l5 have become associate5 with the
(e(orable 5ate( which was o= co9rse the 7th@ an5 the =ig9re was kneeling( not stan5ing.Z
+or present p9rposes( the 5etail to be notice5 here is( o= co9rse( the i-VVX! position o=
the wo9n5: stress can har5l> be lai5 on the correspon5ence in the kneeling post9re. "9t
the appearance o= Bphosphorescent mistC
2
is another point o= interest Psee p. VU8( =irst
noteQ@ as is also the percipient4s previo9s reE9est to his brother to appear to him( which
assimilates the case to the one where a 5istinct compact to this e==ect ha5 been ma5e PVol.
II.( p. 88Q.
*he ne?t acco9nt( which we owe to the kin5ness o= MaDor *a>lor( o= the 'o>al Militar>
-ollege( +arnboro9gh( is =rom a la5>( Miss L.( who withhol5s her name =rom p9blication(
in 5e=erence to the views o= a near relative.
BFan. 3th( 2778.
PU22QY~Z BOn one o= the last 5a>s o= F9l>( abo9t the >ear 278;( at : o4clock p.m.( I was
sitting in the 5rawing-room at the 'ector>( rea5ing( an5 m> tho9ghts entirel> occ9pie5. I
s955enl> looke5 9p( an5 saw most 5istinctl> a tall( thin ol5 gentleman enter the room an5
walk to the table. .e wore a pec9liar ol5-=ashione5 cloak( which I recognise5 as
belonging to m> great-9ncle. I then looke5 at him closel>( an5 remembere5 his =eat9res
an5 appearance per=ectl>( altho9gh I ha5 not seen him since I was E9ite a chil5. In his
han5 was a roll o= paper( an5 he appeare5 to be ver> agitate5. I was not in the least
alarme5( as I =irml> believe5 he was m> 9ncle( not knowing then o= his serio9s illness. I
aske5 him i= he wante5 m> =ather( who( I sai5( was not at home. .e then appeare5 still
more agitate5 an5 5istresse5( b9t ma5e no remark. .e then le=t the room( passing thro9gh
the hal=-open 5oor. I notice5 that( altho9gh it was a ver> wet 5a>( there was no
appearance o= his having walke5 in m95 or rain. .e ha5 no 9mbrella( b9t a thick walking-
stick( which I recognise5 at once when m> =ather bro9ght it home a=ter the =9neral. On
E9estioning the servants the> 5eclare5 that no one ha5 r9ng the bell( neither 5i5 the> see
an>one enter. M> =ather ha5 a letter b> the ne?t post( asking him to go at once to m>
9ncle( who was ver> ill in Leicestershire. .e starte5 at once( b9t on his arrival was tol5
that he ha5 5ie5 e?actl> at : o4clock that a=ternoon( an5 ha5 aske5 =or him b> name
several times in an an?io9s an5 tro9ble5 manner( an5 a roll o= paper was =o9n5 9n5er his
pillow.
BI ma> mention that m> =ather was his onl> nephew( an5( having no son( he alwa>s le5
him to think that he wo9l5 have a consi5erable legac>. /9ch( however( was not the case(
an5 it is s9ppose5 that( as the> were alwa>s goo5 =rien5s( he was in=l9ence5 in his last
illness( an5 probabl>( when too late( he wishe5 to alter his will.
BE. +. L.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss L. a55s:A
BI tol5 m> mother an5 an 9ncle at once abo9t the strange appearance before the news
arrive5( an5 also to m> =ather 5irectl> he ret9rne5( all o= whom are now 5ea5. *he>
a5vise5 me to tr> to 5ismiss it =rom m> memor>( b9t agree5 that it co9l5 not be
imagination( as I 5escribe5 m> 9ncle so e?actl>@ an5 the> 5i5 not consi5er me to be either
o= a nervo9s or s9perstitio9s temperament.
i-V8;!
BI am E9ite s9re that I state5 the =acts tr9th=9ll> an5 correctl> to MaDor *a>lor. *he =acts
are as =resh in m> memor> as i= the> onl> happene5 >ester5a>( altho9gh so man> >ears
have passe5 awa>.
BI can ass9re >o9 that nothing o= the kin5 ever occ9rre5 to me be=ore or since. Y*his is in
answer to the E9estion whether Miss L. ha5 ever ha5 a hall9cination o= the senses on an>
other occasion.Z %either have I been s9bDect to nervo9s or imaginative =ancies. *his
strange apparition was in broa5 5a>light( an5( as I was onl> rea5ing the :llustrated
Ne-spaper, there was nothing to e?cite m> imagination.C
) notice in the ;eicester Chronicle shows that the 5eath occ9rre5 on )9g9st 3( 27VV( an5
the inci5ent is there=ore more remote than Miss L. imagine5.
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom $r. "owstea5( o= -aistor. *ho9gh remote in 5ate( the main
inci5ent 5oes not seem likel> to have been greatl> mo5i=ie5 in memor>@ an5 it has been
regar5e5 b> the narrator as simpl> a most striking =act( =or which he ha5 no theor> to
acco9nt.
BF9l>( 277:.
PU2UQ BIn /eptember( 273W(2 was pla>ing in a cricket match( an5 took the place o= long-
=iel5. ) ball was 5riven in m> 5irection( which I o9ght to have ca9ght( b9t misse5 it( an5
it rolle5 towar5s a low he5ge@ I an5 another la5 ran a=ter it. ,hen I got near the he5ge( I
saw the apparition o= m> hal=-brother( who was m9ch en5eare5 to me( over the he5ge(
5resse5 in a shooting s9it with a g9n on his arm@ he smile5 an5 wave5 his han5 at me. I
calle5 the attention o= the other bo> to the same( b9t when we looke5 again( the =ig9re
ha5 vanishe5. I( =eeling ver> sa5 at the time( went 9p to m> 9ncle( an5 tol5 him o= what I
ha5 seen@ he took o9t his watch an5 note5 the time( D9st 2; min9tes to 2 o4clock.
B*wo 5a>s a=ter( I receive5 a letter =rom m> =ather( in=orming me o= the 5eath o= m> hal=-
brother( Fohn Mo9nse>( which took place Yat LincolnZ at 2; min9tes to 2. .is 5eath was
sing9lar( =or on that morning he sai5 he was m9ch better( an5 tho9ght he sho9l5 be able to
shoot again. *aking 9p his g9n( he t9rne5 ro9n5 to m> =ather( asking him i= he ha5 sent
=or me( as he partic9larl> wishe5 to see me. I was a great =avo9rite o= his. M> =ather
replie5 the 5istance was too =ar an5 e?pense too great to sen5 =or me( it being over 2;;
miles. )t this he p9t himsel= into a passion( an5 sai5 he wo9l5 see me in spite o= them all(
=or he 5i5 not care =or e?pense or 5istance. /955enl> a bloo5 vessel on his l9ngs b9rst(
an5 he 5ie5 at once. .e was at the time 5resse5 in a shooting-s9it( an5 ha5 his g9n on his
arm. I knew he was ill( b9t a letter =rom m> =ather previo9s to the time I saw him tol5 me
he was improving( an5 that he might get thro9gh the winter@ b9t his 5isease was
cons9mption( an5 he ha5 blee5ing =rom the l9ngs three months be=ore his 5eath.
B'O,L)%$ "O,/*E)$( M.$.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that Mr. Fohn Mo9nse> 5ie5 on /eptember U:( 273W.
In answer to inE9iries( $r. "owstea5 sa>s:A
B%o note was taken at the time( onl> m> 9ncle( at whose school I was i-V82! at the time(
looke5 at his watch an5 note5 the time( b9t never tho9ght an>thing abo9t the occ9rrence.
.e himsel= ha5 once a similar thing happen to himsel= when an 9ncle 5ie5@ b9t not so
vivi5l> as mine. *here is not a so9l now living to get an> in=ormation =rom( =or the la5
who was with me an5 who 5i5 not see an>thing( altho9gh he looke5 in the same
5irection( is now 5ea5@ b9t the anno9ncement o= the 5eath two 5a>s a=terwar5s tol5 o= m>
brother4s 5eath at the time I saw him. )ll the =amil> connection are 5ea5@ his son 5ie5 in
27V:( an5 his wi=e in 27V3. I have ha5 no hall9cinations since.C
In conversation( $r. "owstea5 tol5 me that he was not in the least e?pecting his brother4s
5eath. .e has a ver> vivi5 remembrance o= his 9ncle4s look( an5 o= his p9lling o9t his
watch. *he bo> who was near him in the cricket-=iel5( +re5 -o9rt b> name( a=terwar5s
went to )9stralia( where he 5ie5.
.ere( it will be seen( the 5ress o= the apparition 5i5 not contain an> =eat9res that were
new to the percipientAto whom the sporting aspect o= his brother was Pas I learnt =rom
him in conversationQ both =amiliar an5 interesting@ still( the correspon5ence( i= acc9ratel>
remembere5( is remarkable. *his case 5eserves consi5eration =rom those who wo9l5
attrib9te Bphantasms o= the livingC to a 5isease5 state o= bo5> or min5 in the percipient. )
cricketing school-bo>( in =9ll e?ercise( is rarel> a pre> to ph>sical ills: an5 tho9gh his
mental con5ition a=ter D9st missing a catch ma> be a pitiable one eno9gh( it is not one that
we commonl> associate with h>steria or s9perstition.
*he ne?t case is =rom Mr. Fohn .ernaman( +./.).( .ea5 Master o= the Lambeth "o>s4
/chool( .erc9les "9il5ings( Lon5on( /.E. .e tells 9s that this acco9nt Pwhich we
receive5 in 2773Q was written within two >ears o= the occ9rrence@ an5 that he has ha5 no
other e?perience o= hall9cination.
PU2:Q B,hen I live5 in "ishopsgate( m> rooms were at /alva5or .o9se. It was a gran5
ol5 ho9se. +ormerl> the home o= a /panish )mbassa5or( it ha5 9n5ergone strange
vicissit95es w M> apartments consiste5 o= a s9ite o= =ive rooms( which I occ9pie5 with
m> ho9sekeeper( a mi55le-age5 woman( an5 her son( a >o9th o= 27( who waite5 on me. I
gave 9p three o= the s9ite =or their 9se( reserving onl> two ver> large rooms( which
comm9nicate5 with each other( =or m> own.
B,ell( one night as I la> asleep( I all at once woke to per=ect conscio9sness( as wi5e
awake as I am now@ an5 there( in the embras9re ma5e b> the thickness o= the wall( stoo5
a little ol5 woman in her night-5ress an5 cap( with a small black an5 white checke5
shawl( as =ar as I co9l5 make o9t( like a 59ster-pattern( over her sho9l5ers. I want >o9
partic9larl> to remember the shawl. I knew her well( an5( as I la>( remarke5 to m>sel= on
the bea9t> an5 transparenc> o= her comple?ion( while a so=t lambent light seeme5 to pla>
over the whole =ig9re( s9ch as >o9 wo9l5 see on >o9r =ingers when >o9 r9b a match( or
the liE9i5 gleaming phosphorescence
2
i-V8U! one sometimes =in5s ri5ging the wavelets
at sea. On noting this( the work o= an instant( an intense an5 in5escribable =eeling took
possession o= me( beginning somewhere in the region o= the =eet( an5( passing 9p m>
spine(
U
reache5 m> hea5( where ueach partic9lar hair 5i5 stan5 on en5.4 Ve?e5 an5
anno>e5 with m>sel=( I t9rne5 awa> =rom the sight( as the chime o= /t. "otolph4s str9ck
the E9arter to U. ,hen the so9n5s ha5 5ie5( an5 a=ter the clock ha5 str9ck the ho9r( I =ell
asleep again( an5 reste5 9n5ist9rbe5 till morning.
BOn going 5ownstairs( I met one o= o9r clerg>( the 'ev. &eorge ,rench( the greatest
=rien5 I ha5 in "ishopsgate( Ysince 5ecease5Z an5 sai5( uLa9gh at mes .ere am I( a man
s9ppose5 to be e59cate5( o= average intelligence( at least( living in the ver> centre o= the
centre o= civilisation( an 9tter 5isbeliever in ghosts( an5 >et last night I saw one.4
u%onsenses4 sai5 he. u4*is tr9es4 I repeate5. u,ell( come( who was itr4 uMrs. 1.(4 I
answere5. u#o9 5on4t sa> sos $o >o9 know she is ver> illr4 u%ot I.4 u"9t she is tho9gh(4
reDoine5 he( an5 we cha==e5 each other abo9t the strange visitant.
B,ell( all that 5a> I went abo9t m> work an5 never gave m> ghost a tho9ght( retire5 to
be5 as 9s9al( slept well an5 woke e?actl> at the same time as on the night previo9s. *his I
know b> the Dingle o= the chimes imme5iatel> a=ter waking( an5 the clock striking the
s9ccee5ing ho9r o= U. *he same intense( in5escribable =eeling passe5 over meAthat
horri5( creep> 5rea5( b9t I resol9tel> t9rne5 =rom the si5e on which the embras9re la>(
an5 reproache5 m>sel= =or being a =ool. %or wo9l5 I look( an5 >et I =elt ass9re5 o= her
presence.
B,hen I got 9p( I =o9n5 that she ha5 sent a message( wishing to see me. /he was the
atten5ant on the pews at m> si5e o= the ch9rch( a poor wi5ow woman o= E9iet( gentle
manners( a =rien5 o= m> ho9sekeeper4s( who sometimes came in to help i= we ha5 an>
e?tra compan>. O=ten when I have gone ro9n5 to the kitchen( she has risen 9p
respect=9ll>( while I 9se5 to sa>( u.ow m9ch >o9 remin5 me o= m> 5ear ol5 mother(4 an5
have more than once caressingl> stroke5 her hair. I went to see her. *here she la> in her
little be5Aso clean an5 ti5>-Aso peaceabl> passing awa> in a trance-like calm. /he at
once recognise5 m> voice( when a please5 smile o= rest=9l satis=action seeme5 to pla>
over her =ace. YMr. .ernaman then rea5 a passage o= the "ible to the patient.Z )s I was
leaving the room( on t9rning to look at her( I notice5 how striking were the points o=
resemblance to the =ig9re in the embras9re( b9t it was incompleteAthe shawl was
wanting. /o I sai5 to her sister who was n9rsing her( u.ave >o9 ever 59ring her illness
ha5 thrown abo9t her a little black-an5-white checke5 shawlr4 I gave no reason =or m>
E9estion. u%o( sirs4 was the answer( u%os ,e haven4t s9ch a thing in the ho9ses4 *hen
s955enl> she e?claime5( uOhs 5o >o9 mean a little brown-an5-white plai5( like thisr4
making a s955en 5ive behin5 a bo? near the be54s hea5( =rom which she bro9ght 9p the
i5entical shawl( a bro-n6and6-hite chec1ed, which she at once place5 ro9n5 the
sho9l5ers o= the invali5( an5 the pict9re was complete.
Y%e?t night( a =rien5 o= Mr. .ernaman4s( Mr. Fames +. Ma9le( now resi5ing at 82( 'o9el
'oa5( "ermon5se>( spent the night with him.Z
i-V8:!
BM> rest was so9n5 an5 9n5ist9rbe5 till the morning when &eorge m> ho9sekeeper4s
son( came r9shing into the be5room( a=ter a hast> knock( with a =ace =9ll o= =right( an5
sai5( uI= >o9 please( sir( Mrs. 1 wants >o9 agains4 ,hile I 5resse5( m> =rien5 la9ghe5 at
me an5 Doke5 immo5eratel>. &eorge bro9ght me in a c9p o= co==ee( which I hastil>
swallowe5 while 5ressing@ b9t be=ore I co9l5 get to her ho9se( which was har5 b>( she
ha5 passe5 awa>.
B)ll I have sai5 with regar5 to m>sel= is tr9e as it occ9rre5 to me an5 >et m> D95gment
re=9ses to believe it. I cons9lte5 a me5ical =rien5( I was so anno>e5 with m>sel= =or
thinking the thing possible =or a moment. .e too la9ghe5 at me( b9t wishe5 &eorge to
occ9p> the spare be5 till m> holi5a>s came( which were close at han5.
BI 5i5 learn some months later that she ha5 save5 a little mone>Anot m9ch( abo9t X;( I
believeAan5 was ver> an?io9s in5ee5 that I sho9l5 have charge o= it =or her two
chil5ren( who were living at home with her.
BFO.% .E'%)M)%.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. .ernaman a55s( on March Wth( 277V:A
B*he matter to which >o9 re=er occ9rre5 some 23 >ears ago.C
,e applie5 to Mr. +rancis *ee( o= +insb9r> /treet( E.-.( a brother o= the Mrs. 1. o= the
narrative( an5 he sent 9s a mo9rning car5 which showe5 that Mrs. 1. 5ie5 on $ec. 23th(
27W2( age5 V: >ears.
Mr. Ma9le( writing to 9s on $ec. 2X( 2778( sa>s that he well recollects the inci5ent( an5
Bnever saw an>one in s9ch a state o= min5 as Mr. .ernaman was abo9t the a==air.C
.ere the shawl is the important 5etail. Other noteworth> points are the light Ppp. VV;T2Q(
an5 the sort o= attempt at a repetition on the secon5 night( which ma> or ma> not have
been a mere recr95escence o= the previo9s impression Psee p. 33VQ.
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom Mr. F. .. 'e5=ern( o= U;( &reat )ncoats /treet( Manchester( who
has been care=9ll> cross-e?amine5 viv0 voce.
BFan9ar>( 277:.
PU23Q BM> wi=e 5ie5 in $ecember( 27W3. ,hile apparentl> in her 9s9al health( an5
witho9t an> premonitor> s>mptoms( she was s955enl> sei]e5 with an illness Pe==9sion o=
ser9m on the brainQ( which in a =ew 5a>s terminate5 in 5eath. +or something like :8
ho9rs previo9s to 5eath she was in a comatose state(
2
an5 th9s she passe5 awa>. /he ha5
an a9nt( a wi5ow( to whom she was m9ch attache5. .er a9nt resi5e5 3 or V miles awa>
=rom 9s( b9t twice or thrice a >ear she came to see 9s( an5 9s9all> sta>e5 a =ew 5a>s or a
week( an5 one o= these visits was alwa>s at %ew #ear4s time. M> wi=e 5ie5 a =ew 5a>s
be=ore -hristmas $a>( an5 in 59e co9rse the =9neral took place. *he 5a> a=ter( having
obtaine5 the a55ress o= her a9ntA=or I 5i5 not be=ore know itAI sent her a umemorial
car5(4 thinking it might prevent the shock she might probabl> e?perience i= she came( an5
onl> then learne5 the 5eath o= her niece.
B*he %ew #ear came( b9t she came not. ,e won5ere5 an5 talke5 abo9t her =or nearl> :
months( b9t hear5 nothing. One /9n5a> a=ternoon( i-V83! at tea m> 5a9ghter sprang 9p
=rom the table e?claiming( u*here4s a9nt coming 9p the gar5en@4 an5 s9rel> it was her
in5ee5. ,e ran to meet her( an5 bro9ght her into the ho9se. Overcome with emotion she
sank into a chair( an5 wept =or some time. )t length( becoming calmer( we learne5 that
she ha5 been serio9sl> ill =or some time. .er acco9nt o= the matter was this:A
BOn the 5a> o= m> wi=e4s 5eath she wasAin the eveningAengage5 in the kitchen in the
per=ormance o= some 5omestic 59ties. *9rning ro9n5 =rom a table at which she ha5 been
engage5( she saw m> wi=e coming o9t o= a lobb> into the kitchen( an5 approaching her
with a smile 9pon her =ace( her arms e?ten5e5 as i= to greet her Pher 9s9al manner o=
welcoming an>oneQ. /he hersel= a5vance5 to meet her niece( an5 e?pecting to embrace
her( when s955enl> ushe was gone(4 an5 she hersel= was alone. -on=9se5 an5 won5ering(
she looke5 abo9t her( an5 notice5 the time( 7.:; p.m. b> the clock.
BI aske5 her i= she ha5 been thinking abo9t her or talking o= her. /he sai5 she ha5 not
tho9ght o= her =or 5a>s. I aske5 her i= there was an> other woman in the ho9se with
hersel=. /he replie5( u#es( one( who( =eeling 9nwell( ha5 gone to lie 5own some ho9rs
be=ore.4 /hortl> a=terwar5s this person came 5ownstairs. /he aske5 her uha5 she been
5own be=orer4 .er repl> was u%o( I =ell asleep.4 uI sai5 nothing to her(4 sai5 she( u=or I
knew she ha5 not@ besi5es I co9l5 never have mistaken her =or /arah4 Pm> wi=eQ. u/he
was m9ch ol5er( an5 ha5 5ark hair( while /arah4s was light an5 gol5en. I co9l5 have
mistaken no one =or /arah( b9t(4 she a55e5( uI saw her as plainl> as I see >o9 now.4
BM> wi=e 5ie5 at 7.3; p.m. *here might be a 5i==erence in the clocks.
BIn answer to a E9estion( she sai5 that her niece was not in her 9s9al 5ress. /he ha5 on a
long white robe or night-5ress( with =rillings at the neck an5 wrists. .er hair was not
gathere5 9p an5 arrange5 as 9s9al( b9t was 5rawn =rom the =ore part o= her hea5 an5 =ell
5own her back. *hat 5escribe5 her appearance e?actl>. *he 5octors ha5 5irecte5 her hair
to be loose5 an5 5rawn back =rom the =orehea5( an5 it h9ng 5own her sho9l5ers an5 back.
B/he sai5 that she ha5 no i5ea that m> wi=e was in an> b9t her 9s9al health( not thinking
o= an> evil. ) =ew 5a>s a=terwar5s she went to spen5 a =ew 5a>s with a =rien5 whom she
ha5 promise5 to sta> with =or a short time at -hristmas. 'et9rning home( the letter was
han5e5 her( an5 she was Dokingl> tol5 that it ha5 been waiting =or her a week. Opening it(
she saw the name an5 the 5ate. *he whole thingA=orgotten =or the timeA=lashe5 9pon
her min5( an5 she =ell o== =rom the chair( remembering-no more 9ntil 5a>s a=terwar5s she
=o9n5 hersel= in be5( where she remaine5 9ntil within a =ew 5a>s o= her coming again to
see 9s.
B*he letter was a=terwar5s 5iscovere5 9pon the =loor. /he ha5 sai5 nothing o= the
appearance to an> in the ho9se. *he> 5i5 not 9n5erstan5 the thing at all. *he me5ical man
calle5 in to atten5 her( sai5 that she ha5 receive5 some great mental shock( an5 =or some
time he =eare5 that she wo9l5 not recover =rom it.
BI give >o9 these =acts D9st as the> are( making no comments 9pon them( simpl> vo9ching
=or their acc9rac>.
BF. .. 'E$+E'%.C
,e =in5 =rom a notice in the 'anchester 7uardian that Mrs. 'e5=ern i-V8V! 5ie5 on
$ecember 27th( 27W3. Mr. 'e5=ern tells 9s that the a9nt 5ie5 abo9t a >ear be=ore he sent
9s the acco9nt.
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. 'e5=ern a55s( on March 2Xth( 277::ABI never knew who the
me5ical man was@ 5o9btless someone in the neighbo9rhoo5 calle5 in in a h9rr>. *he
woman in the ho9se with m> wi=e4s a9nt at the time( o= whom she inE9ire5 as to whether
she ha5 be=ore come 5ownstairs( con=irme5 the =act that she ha5 not@ this woman has
since le=t the place. *he ol5 la5> was clear-hea5e5 an5 tr9th=9l( an5 repeate5 the stor>
o=ten( an5 in the same manner( to the last. I think 9pon re=erring to the M/. >o9 will see
that she ha5 no knowle5ge or i5ea o= her niece4s illness@ she sai5 that the tho9ght o= her
5eath never entere5 her min5. /he note5 the 5a> an5 the ho9r. /he ha5 arrange5 to visit
some =rien5s( an5 to sta> with them =or a short time. /he went a 5a> or two a=ter. I ha5
not her a55ress( Yi.e., at &orton( where she live5(Z b9t in a =ew 5a>s obtaine5 it( an5 sent
per post a memorial car5. It appears that 59ring the time o= her absence 9pon this visit(
this car5 Po= co9rse in an envelopeQ was 5elivere5. Upon her ret9rn it was han5e5 to her.
%ot thinking an>thing abo9t it she opene5 it( rea5 it( let it 5rop( an5 swoone5. /he was( I
believe( 9nconscio9s =or a long time( an5 a long illness =ollowe5. ,e won5ere5 that we
never saw or hear5 =rom her.C
Mr. Fohn 'obert 'e5=ern( o= 32( "ickle> /treet( Moss /i5e( Manchester Pa cashier( an5
=oreign an5 correspon5ing clerk in a =irm o= shippersQ( sa>s:A
BF9ne U7th( 277:.
B,ith re=erence to the appearance at the time o= her 5eath o= m> mother to her a9nt(
%anc> F9ison( I can state that the acco9nt =9rnishe5 b> m> =ather as given b> her is a
correct one. I have hear5 the statement =rom hersel=( an5 have not the slightest 5o9bt o=
her veracit>( or as to her convictions on the s9bDect. I knew her intimatel> all m> li=e 9p
to her 5eath.C
Mrs. .annah Lees( o= -li=ton -rescent( 'otherham( sa>s:A
BF9ne Vth( 277:.
B*he acco9nt o= m> sister4s 5eath PMrs. 'e5=ernQ an5 her appearance to m> )9nt %anc>(
as given b> Mr. F. .. 'e5=ern( is D9st as narrate5 b> m> a9nt( an5 I am satis=ie5 as to the
tr9th o= a9nt4s statement( an5 her belie= in the matter.C
Y*he testimon> here is not =irst-han5. .a5 the a9nt been alive we sho9l5( o= co9rse( have
obtaine5 her acco9nt =rom hersel=. "9t since we reckon as on a par with =irst-han5
evi5ence the testimon> o= persons who have been ma5e aware o= the percipient4s
e?perience before the percipient has learnt the event that has be=allen the agent Pp. 237Q(
we ma> regar5 as practicall> on the same level a case where the percipient4s e?perience(
tho9gh not 5escribe5 to the witnesses be=ore the news was known( pro59ce5 an e==ectA
her prolonge5 absence thro9gh illnessAwhich the> remarke5 on an5 won5ere5 at.Z
*he ne?t case( =rom Mr. 'o9se( o= Farvis 'oa5( -ro>5on Pagent =or -ockerells( coal
merchantsQ( is another marke5 instance o= 5e=erre5 recognition Psee S:Q. )s regar5s the
special point o= 5ress( it is inconcl9sive@ as tho9gh the aspect o= the agent was at the time
i-V88! act9all> as represente5 in the phantasm( it was also probabl> an aspect =amiliar to
the percipient. ,riting to 9s on the 22th o= F9ne( 277:( Mr. 'o9se e?plains that in the
earl> part o= 27W: he ha5 been a member o= a circle which met to investigate spirit9alistic
phenomena. )t each o= the seances( which were hel5 in a private ho9se( he sat ne?t to the
same la5>( Mrs. ,.( between whom an5 himsel= a strong s>mpath> e?iste5. On one
occasion Mr. 'o9se ha5 to go to %orwich on the 5a> when the sitting was 9s9all> hel5.
Late on the evening o= that 5a> he went o9t =or a walk in the o9tskirts o= the town.
PU2VQ BIt was in the brightest moonlight( abo9t =9ll moon( I sho9l5 think( with har5l> a
clo95 in the sk>@ >et there was a thick white ha]e overhanging the =iel5s. )=ter walking a
little 5istance I =o9n5 m>sel= on the top o= a small hill( which enable5 me to see a
consi5erable 5istance along the roa5 in =ront o= me( the onl> living obDect apparentl> in
view being a h9man =orm in the mi55le o= the roa5( >et so =ar o== that I co9l5 not tell i= it
was a woman or a man( an5 5i5 not take m9ch notice o= it. .owever( in walking on( I
soon ma5e it o9t to be a woman( an5 concl95e5 it was a co9ntr> woman walking into
%orwich. *he ne?t moment I began to =ear that( the time an5 place being so lonel>( the
woman wo9l5 be a=rai5 to pass me. I( there=ore( 9n5er this =eeling( got as near as possible
to one si5e o= the roa5( th9s giving her all the wi5th on the other si5e to pass@ b9t( to m>
astonishment( she also le=t the mi55le o= the roa5( an5 took the same si5e as m>sel=( as i=
5etermine5 to meet me =ace to =ace. I then walke5 into the mi55le o= the roa5( thinking I
wo9l5 avoi5 her( b9t( to m> s9rprise( the woman 5i5 the same( so I then concl95e5 to
walk on as we were.
BI ha5 not a5vance5 man> more steps( however( be=ore instea5 o= a co9ntr> woman( as I
imagine5( with eggs an5 po9ltr> =or ne?t 5a>4s market( I co9l5 plainl> see that the =ig9re
be=ore me was a well-5resse5 la5> in evening 5ress( witho9t bonnet or shawl. I co9l5 see
some ornament or =lower in her hair( gol5 bracelets on her bare arms( rings on her =ingers(
an5 co9l5 hear the r9stle o= her 5ress. /he now seeme5 to approach me more rapi5l>( an5
I notice5 that( i= I steppe5 in the least 5egree o9t o= the 5irect line between 9s( she 5i5 the
same.
2
In the ne?t min9te I =elt certain that I ha5 seen the la5> be=ore( an5 imme5iatel>
a=terwar5s I recognise5 her as Mrs. ,. I ha5 not the least =ear( =or she was so real that I
tho9ght she ha5( like m>sel=( 9ne?pecte5l> an5 s955enl> got to %orwich. I( there=ore( met
her witho9t the least shake or tremble( 5elighte5 to see m> =rien5. ,e approache5 within
abo9t V =eet o= each other@ she ga]e5 at me ver> intentl> as I tho9ght@ she hel5 o9t her
han5 to me( an5 I co9l5 see her =ace an5 lips move as i= abo9t to speak to me. I was in the
act o= taking her han5 to greet her( b9t ha5 not to9che5 her( when some iron h9r5les
which =orme5 the =encing o= the cattle market( rang as i= the> were being str9ck with an
iron bar. *his startle5 me( an5 9nconscio9sl> I t9rne5 ro9n5 to see what ma5e the noise. I
co9l5 see nothing( an5 instantl> t9rne5 again to Mrs. ,. b9t she was gone.
B%ow it was that I began to tremble( an5 =or some time I =elt that she i-V8W! was still
near me( altho9gh I co9l5 not see her. "9t I soon p9lle5 m>sel= together an5 walke5 back
to %orwich an5 m> be5room( b9t not to sleep( =or I co9l5 not get ri5 o= the =eeling that
perhaps m> =rien5 ha5 s955enl> 5ie5 or met with some serio9s acci5ent. I( there=ore(
wrote to a gentleman in Lon5onAa m9t9al =rien5Atelling him what I ha5 seen an5 what
m> =ears were( asking him to be ver> care=9l( b9t to make inE9iries abo9t Mrs. ,.( as to
her wel=are( an5 what an5 where she was on that night an5 time. *he ne?t 5a>4s post
bro9ght me the welcome ti5ings that Mrs. ,. was E9ite well an5 in goo5 health( that at
the ver> time I saw her( abo9t 22 p.m.( she was sitting in her 9s9al place in the circle in
Lon5on( an5 that there( =or the =irst time in her li=e( she ha5 =allen into a trance which
=rightene5 the other sitters ver> m9ch( an5 the> ha5 great 5i==ic9lt> in bringing her back
to or5inar> li=e.
BFO.% 'OU/E.C
Mrs. ,. has rea5 thro9gh the above acco9nt( an5 writes to 9s as =ollows( in F9ne( 277::A
BIt is per=ectl> correct. I E9ite remember the sHances an5 the partic9lar occasion to which
Mr. 'o9se re=ers( when I became 9nconscio9s one night( at abo9t 22 o4clock( an5 on
recover> ha5 no recollection o= an>thing b9t that I ha5 gone suddenl, out of (,self.
2
M>
5ress at the time o= the occ9rrence is state5 E9ite correctl>. I also remember one o= o9r
circle calling with Mr. 'o9se4s letter( to ascertain( at his reE9est( whether I was still in
earthl> =orm. *alking over the matter with him( an5 a=terwar5s with the others( all agree5
as to the time o= m> becoming oblivio9s. I have never ha5 the same e?perience be=ore
nor since then.
BL. E. ,.C
Y*he evi5ence here will( o= co9rse( s9==er in the e>es o= man>( =rom the =act that both
agent an5 percipient were at the time atten5ing sHances. It m9st also be mentione5 that on
s9ch occasions Mr. 'o9se has seen or imagine5 vag9e appearances. .e has( however(
onl> on one other occasion Pwhen again there were sing9lar points o= correspon5ence
with realit>Q ha5 an>thing like a 5istinct hall9cination@ an5 he is a sensible an5
clearhea5e5 man.Z
*he ne?t case is =rom Mrs. 1eek( o= :( +air=a? 1lace( $artmo9th. *he =act narrate5 has
remaine5 in the min5 o= a practical an5 9nvisionar> person( E9ite =ree =rom s9perstitio9s
=ancies( as simpl> the o55est thing she ever e?perience5.
BOctober( 2773.
PU28Q BOn the UVth o= )pril( 278W( at abo9t 22 o4clock at night( I was alone in the lower
part o= the ho9se( to see i= the 5oors were sec9rel> =astene5( an5 the 5ogs ho9se5 an5 =e5.
.aving satis=ie5 m>sel= 9pon these points( I ha5 li=te5 m> han5 to t9rn o9t the gas in the
kitchen( when something 5rew m> e>es towar5s the 5oorwa>( an5 I saw =or the space o= a
=ew secon5s a =ig9re stan5ing there( 5resse5 in lightish colo9re5 clothes( with long boots
on( as i= =or ri5ing@ the =ace was sha5ow>( >et I tho9ght I co9l5 recognise the conto9r o=
m> brother( who lives in %atal. ,hen it was i-V87! gone( I h9rrie5 9p the stairs to the
5ining-room( where others o= the ho9sehol5 were sitting@ the> notice5 how =rightene5 I
seeme5( an5 when I tol5 them abo9t it trie5 to la9gh me o9t o= m> =ear( b9t I =elt
convince5 in m> own min5 as to the realit> o= m> e?perience( an5 note5 the 5a> o= the
month.
B)bo9t si? weeks a=terwar5s( I receive5 a letter =rom m> brother telling me that his wi=e
was taken ver> ill on the UVth o= )pril( while he was awa> on a Do9rne>( =rom which he
ret9rne5 that same 5a>( onl> in time to start at once =or his mother-in-law( leaving his
wi=e witho9t an> one to care =or her e?cept two 0a==ir girls( =or their =arm was man>
miles =rom an> other 5welling. .e spoke in his letter o= the great 5istress o= min5 he
s9==ere5 59ring his long ri5e o= :; miles( at the tho9ght o= leaving his apparentl> 5>ing
wi=e( an5 how o=ten he wishe5 I ha5 been near to help him in his tro9ble.
B)%%) ,. 1EE0.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. 1eek sa>s:A
BI can ass9re >o9 that the vision >o9 receive5 an acco9nt o= =rom me is the onl> one I
have ever witnesse5.
BM> brother ret9rne5 late at night =rom a Do9rne>( an5 starte5 again on a ri5e o= :; or
more miles over a ro9gh roa5 in the Little *9gela 5istrict( so he wo9l5 certainl> be on his
Do9rne> at U o4clock a.m. Ywhich( however( wo9l5 correspon5 with mi5night( not 22 p.m.(
in Englan5.Z
BI will get m> h9sban5 an5 another gentleman( who was sta>ing with 9s( to sign their
names in testimon> that I spoke o= it to them 5irectl> I came into the room where the>
were( a=ter seeing the vision. *he 5a> =ollowing( I mentione5 it to m> 9ncle( who a5vise5
me to take a note o= the 5ate.C
B,e hereb> bear testimon> to the =oregoing statement.
B'O"E'* 1EE0.
B&. .. -OLLI%/.C
In conversation( Mrs. 1eek tol5 me that the =9ll gas-light was on the =ig9re@ b9t it seeme5
ten9o9s an5 hal= transparent.
2
*he 5ress was E9ite 5istinctl> marke5( b9t the =ace was
in5istinct. /he wrote 5own the 5ate at her a9nt4s s9ggestion( an5 compare5 it( when the
letter came( with the one there mentione5.
Y*he coinci5ence here is not( o= co9rse( as striking as in man> other cases( as the
con5ition o= the agent was not o= an e?tremel> abnormal sort@ b9t the special 5irection o=
his tho9ght to the percipient( i= correctl> recor5e5( ma> =airl> be taken into acco9nt.Z
.ere again the 5ress seen was not so 9n9s9al that one might not conceive it to have been
in5epen5entl> s9pplie5 b> the percipient4s brain in the act o= proDecting the phantasm@ b9t
the other h>pothesis wo9l5 at an> rate be in place.
*he ne?t case is also a 5o9bt=9l one as regar5s the 5ress@ since when a man is
telepathicall> impresse5 to conD9re 9p his =ather4s image( it is 9n5eniabl> possible =or
him( o9t o= his own mental i-V8X! reso9rces( to conD9re it 9p in a night-cap. /till s9ch an
aspect was ver> m9ch o9t o= keeping with the scene in which the phantasm was locate5.
*he acco9nt is =rom Mr. *imoth> -ooper(
2
mentione5 above Pp. V;8Q( an5 appeare5 in
;ight =or Fan9ar>( 277U.
PU2WQ BIn the >ear 27W2( I was living at /eaview( /eaton -arew( going 5ail> to /tockton-
on-*ees to b9siness. It was race week in )9g9st( an5 so a b9s> time. I was going 5own
into the cellar to =etch b9tter =or a c9stomer( an5 as I was on the top step( I saw m> =ather
stan5ing at the bottom o= the cellar steps in his shirt an5 night-cap( an5 he seeme5 to walk
into the cellar. I went 5own an5 =etche5 the b9tter( an5 looke5 =or m> =ather( who was
nowhere to be seen. I went 9p an5 sai5 to m> emplo>er4s wi=e( uI m9st go home now( =or
m> =ather will not last long( an5 wants to see me.4 /o on the last 5a> o= the races I starte5(
an5 arrive5 at )mersham( m> =ather4s resi5ence( a Do9rne> o= abo9t UV; miles. On the
/at9r5a> a=ternoon I inE9ire5 o= m> sister how m> =ather was at the time I ha5 seen him
at /tockton. /he sai5 he la> as i= 5ea5 =or more than hal=-an-ho9r@ in =act( the> hel5 a
looking-glass to see i= he breathe5. .e 5ie5 %ovember U:r5( 27W2.
B*IMO*.# -OO1E'.C
,e have veri=ie5 the 5ate o= 5eath in the Nonconfor(ist.
Y*he impression in this case seems to have prompte5 the percipient to take a long
Do9rne>@ b9t we 5o not know in what 5egree previo9s an?iet> ma> have contrib9te5 to it.Z
/9==icient ill9strations have now been given o= the two t>pes o= case( where special
=eat9res o= 5ress an5 aspect ma> lea5 9s prett> con=i5entl> to re=er the 5etaile5 =orm
which the hall9cination takes to the percipient an5 to the agent respectivel>. "9t the
maDorit> o= vis9al telepathic phantasms( as we shall =in5 later( present no s9ch special
=eat9res@ the aspect o= the =ig9re is =ree =rom striking pec9liarities( an5 the 5ress little
notice5( an5 s9ch as either o= the two persons concerne5 might rea5il> pict9re as nat9ral
an5 =amiliar. In all s9ch cases( an5 alike whether the agent is or is not so habite5 at the
moment( it seems to me reasonable to re=er the 5etails o= the appearance to the
percipient4s min5. )s compare5 with o9r total ignorance concerning the prior process o=
transference, o9r view o= the imme5iate process in the percipient which iss9es in sensor>
hall9cination ma> be sai5 to be knowle5ge@ in it we at an> rate have the analog> o=
s9bDective hall9cinations to go b>. Inasm9ch( then( as a member o= a civilise5 comm9nit>
has been impelle5 to proDect a phantasmA=or there it stan5s( proDecte5Ait is in
accor5ance with analog>( an5 we ma> almost sa> inevitable( that he sho9l5 proDect it in
so(e 5ress@ an5 it is s9rel> simpler Pas I have s9ggeste5 i-VW;! above(Q to s9ppose that
he 5oes this wholl> =rom his own reso9rces( which are a5eE9ate =or the p9rpose( than to
s9ppose that a 5etaile5 image is s9pplie5 to him( clean-c9t an5 complete( =rom in5e=inite
9nconscio9s or s9b-conscio9s strata o= the agent4s min5. *he point becomes clearest
when there is a clear choice o= =amiliar 5resses. +or instance( a son sees the phantasm o=
his mother B5resse5 in a pec9liar silver-gre> 5ress( which she ha5 originall> got =or a
=anc>-ballC PVol. II.( p. 72Q. *hat he sho9l5 so pro5ect her image( 9n5er a s955en
telepathic in=l9ence receive5 =rom her Pp. V:7Q( no more nee5s e?planation than that an>
other item o= past e?perience sho9l5 present itsel= 9nso9ght in memor> or 5ream@ b9t that
she sho9l5 so trans(it her image wo9l5 5eci5e5l> nee5 e?planation@ =or even i= she was
conscio9s at the timeAwhich she most likel> was notA9nless her min5 was conscio9sl>
engage5 with this partic9lar 5ress( what 5ist9rbance can we ass9me o= the E9ite impartial
state o= latenc> in which her i5eas o= her vario9s 5resses wo9l5 ber *here being no
s955en call on herAas there is on her sonAto represent her image( there wo9l5 be no
imp9lse to the selection Pwhether conscio9s or cas9alQ o= one partic9lar =orm o=
representation. )n5 the same arg9ment will appl> wherever the phantasmal cost9me( or
an> part o= it( is s9ch as wo9l5 not =orm an almost necessar> element in the agent4s
conscio9sness at the time. In most cases where cost9me is notice5 at all( it incl95es
partic9lars the choice o= which presents no 5i==ic9lt> i= we leave the percipient to make it(
among the vario9s =amiliar aspects o= the =rien5 whose image he is e. h,pothesi impelle5
to constr9ct@ b9t an> prece5ence o= which over others on the agents si5e wo9l5 impl> a
5etaile5 activit> o= constr9ction( occ9rring not onl> witho9t conscio9sness( b9t
apparentl> -ithout cause/ since there is no gro9n5 =or connecting the constr9ction Pleast
o= all the 9nconscio9s constr9ctionQ o= highl> elaborate5 vis9al images with the
con5itions o= spontaneo9s telepathic agenc>.
2

i-VW2!
S X. "e=ore E9itting the s9bDect o= the 5evelopment o= telepathic phantasms( I ma> be
allowe5 to point o9t its relation to the ph>siological sketch at the close o= the 2;th
chapter@ =or it happens to s9ppl> s9bstantial con=irmation to the views o= centri=9gal
origin there maintaine5. *he whole i5ea o= morbi5 e?citation =rom the more e?ternal
parts o= the sensor> apparat9s becomes here irrelevant. )ll that has been sai5 in this
chapter as to the 5evelopment o= the hall9cination =rom the n9cle9s o= a trans=erre5
impression marks o9t the higher part o= the brainAthe part which is concerne5 with i5eas
or general images o= persons an5 things( an5 not with imme5iate perception o= themAas
the place where the abnormal process starts@ the hall9cination itsel= being 59e to the
5ownwar5 prom9lgation o= the 5ist9rbance =rom these higher tracts to the speci=ic
sensor> centre concerne5. Especiall> m9st this origin commen5 itsel= in respect o= the
phantasms which are bo5ie5 =orth in a more or less =anci=9l =orm( with elements which
are clearl> the percipient4s own contrib9tion( b9t which he wo9l5 never have contrib9te5
ha5 not telepath> s9pplie5 an i5ea =or him to clothe. "9t perhaps the cases where the
h>pothesis is most help=9l are those o= which Mr. Marchant4s Pp. U;WQ is the t>pe( where
no obvio9s rapport e?ists between the two parties concerne5. .owAwe nat9rall> askA
co9l5 the i5ea o= 0else> be impresse5 on Mr. Marchant4s min5 with s9ch =orce as to
embo5> itsel= in a visible phantom( when 0else>4s min5 was pres9mabl> not occ9pie5
either with Mr. Marchant or with himsel= in relation to himr +rom a ph>siological point
o= view the =act becomes less startling i= we s9ppose the primar> change in Mr.
Marchant4s brain to take place at the part which is the great storeho9se o= ol5
impressions@ at the part( moreover( where an appropriate ph>sical basis ma> be =o9n5 not
onl> =or 5istinct an5 recognisable images( b9t =or s9b-conscio9s i5eas an5 memories( an5
=or the most 5istant an5 intangible associations. In the register o= the brain it is sel5om
that a recor5( once ma5e( is so 9tterl> obliterate5 that( 9n5er s9itable con5itions( it ma>
not be revive5. )n5 i= once a relation be establishe5 between two persons( an5 the
recor5s o= it registere5 in their two brains( it ma> be possible =or the same harmon>
occasionall> to mani=est itsel= between those recor5sAeven tho9gh the> be long s9nk
below the level o= conscio9s attentionAas between the i((ediate impressions o= the
moment@ an5( this once grante5( we have seen how the ph>siological process ma> lea5 on
to the proDection i-VWU! o= the visible phantom.
2
In ps>chical terms( I see no reason wh>
s9b-conscio9s i5eas an5 memories which are in no 5istinct wa> present to conscio9sness(
s9ch as 0else>4s sense o= his ol5 relationship to Mr. Marchant( sho9l5 not evoke similar
blin5 movements in Mr. Marchant4s min5( which( gathering strength( might lea5 him to
bo5> =orth the vision o= his ol5 acE9aintance. ) hall9cination which is th9s initiate5 b>
the E9ickening o= long-b9rie5 memories( an5 o= 5im tracts o= emotional association( is
the most conspic9o9s e?ample o= the proDection o= an i5ea =rom within o9twar5s@ an5 the
tremor to which the sensori9m reverberates will pres9mabl> start in the inmost penetralia
o= cerebral process.
S 2;. *he parallelism between telepathic an5 p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations has now
been trace5 o9t in the most essential partic9lars. *o the =ive hea5s o= resemblance
en9merate5 in the last chapter Pp. V;;Q( the present chapter has a55e5 the vario9s mo5es
o= gra59al 5evelopment( an5 o= original or =antastic embo5iment@ the special point with
respect to l9minosit> Ppp. VV;T2Q@ an5 the general b9t not invariable limitation o= the
percept to a single h9man =ig9re Ppp. V3VT8Q. I ma> note =9rther the interesting negative
characteristic that Pwith ver> rare e?ceptionsQ neither s9bDective 5ist9rbances nor
trans=erre5 impressions seem to pro59ce vis9al hall9cinations representing a person who
is act9all> present with the percipient at the time.
U
One =ails at =irst sight to see wh> this
sho9l5 be. I= pre-occ9pation o= the percipient4s min5 with the person seen is to go =or
an>thing in the s9bDective cases( is not the min5 o=ten completel> pre-occ9pie5 with a
person who is presentr an5 i= rapport is to go =or an>thing in the telepathic cases( is not
rapport o=ten at its ma?im9m o= strength with a person who is presentr I s9ppose the
e?planation m9st be analogo9s to the reason wh> the stars are not visible b> 5a>@ an5 that
vision o= =rien5s who are absent 5epen5s on a vag9e sense o= remoteness an5 abstraction
in relation to them( the possibilit> o= i-VW:! which is swampe5 b> their presence. *he
possibilit> seems( in5ee5( to be to some e?tent a==ecte5 b> the presence o= an, companion
Aa large maDorit> o= hall9cinations( alike o= p9rel> s9bDective an5 o= telepathic origin(
taking place when the percipient is alone.
Vario9s other points o= =reE9ent or occasional resemblance between the two classes
remain( which have been note5 or will be note5 as the> occ9r in the e?amples( an5 nee5
here onl> be brie=l> s9mmarise5. /9ch are the vario9s 5egrees o= e?ternalisation( an5 o=
apparent soli5it> or ten9it>@
2
r95imentar> appearances@
U
=ragmentar> appearances@
:
rapi5
repetitions@
3
movement in the =ig9res seen@
V
gra59al 5isappearance@
8
special mo5es o=
5isappearance@
W
5isappearance on s955en speech or gest9re@
7
response o= the phantasmal
voice to wor5s o= the hall9cinate5 person@
X
the =act that the hall9cination is 9nshare5 b>
other persons who ma> be in the hall9cinate5 person4s compan> or vicinit>@
2;
an5 the =act
that ever> now an5 then the liabilit> to either t>pe o= hall9cination seems here5itar>.
22

O= still greater importance are the contrasts that e?ist between the phenomena o= the two
classes@ e.g., the great s9periorit> in n9mber o= vis9al over a95itor> cases in the telepathic
class( which is the reverse o= what obtains in the p9rel> s9bDective@ an5 the large
proportion( in the p9rel> s9bDective class( o= unrecognised phantasms( which are
5eci5e5l> e?ceptional in the telepathic. "9t these points o= contrast are chie=l> interesting
as bearing on a larger E9estion which I can now no longer 5e=erAthe E9estion whether
the cases presente5 as telepathic can reasonabl> be regar5e5 as more than merel>
acci5ental coinci5ences@ an5 the> will =in5 their appropriate place in the ne?t chapter.
E%$ O+ VOLUME I
ii-i!
P!"#!$M$ %F #& '()("*.
ii-ii! ii-iii!
P!"#!$M$ %F #& '()("*
"#
E$MU%$ &U'%E#( M.).
L)*E +ELLO, O+ *'I%I*# -OLLE&E( -)M"'I$&E(
+'E$E'I- ,. .. M#E'/( M.).
L)*E +ELLO, O+ *'I%I*# -OLLE&E( -)M"'I$&E(
)%$
+')%0 1O$MO'E( M.).
VOLUME II.
LO%$O%:
'OOM/ O+ *.E /O-IE*# +O' 1/#-.I-)L 'E/E)'-.(
23( $ean4s #ar5( /.,.
*'6"%E' )%$ -O.( LU$&)*E .ILL( E.-.
2778.
ii-iv! ii-v!
$-"%P$($ %F )%'.M& ((.
) $$I*IO%/ )%$ - O''E-*IO%/ . . \\I-\\VII
-.)1*E' \III.
*.E *.EO'# O+ -.)%-E--OI%-I$E%-E.
S 2. )ss9ming the s9bstantial correctness o= m9ch o= the evi5ence =or phantasms which
have marke5l> coinci5e5 with an event at a 5istance( how can it be known that these
coinci5ences are not 59e to chance aloner In e?amining this E9estion( we m9st be care=9l
to 5isting9ish -a1ing cases =rom drea(sAin which latter class Pas we have seenQ the
scope =or chance-coinci5ences is in5e=initel> large . . 2T3
S U. *he answer to this E9estion 5epen5s on t-o pointsAthe =reE9enc> o= phantasms
which have marke5l> coinci5e5 with real events( an5 the =reE9enc> o= phantasms which
have not. I= the latter class t9rne5 o9t to be e?tremel> largeAe.g.( i= we each o= 9s once a
week saw some =rien54s =ig9re in a place which was reall> empt>Ait is certain that
occasionall> s9ch a s9bDective 5el9sion wo9l5 =all on the 5a> that the =rien5 happene5 to
5ie. *he matter is one on which there have been man> g9esses( an5 man> assertions( b9t
hitherto no statistics . . 3T8
S :. *o ascertain what proportion o= the pop9lation have ha5 e?perience o= p9rel>
s9bDective hall9cinations( a 5e=inite E9estion m9st be aske5 o= a gro9p large an5 varie5
eno9gh to serve as a =air sample o= the whole. *he 5i==ic9lt> o= taking s9ch a cens9s has
been m9ch increase5 b> a wi5e mis9n5erstan5ing o= its p9rpose . . 8T7
S 3. "9t answers have been receive5 =rom a specimen gro9p o= V(87; persons@ an5 there
is ever> reason to s9ppose this n9mber s9==icient . . 7T2;
S V. It ma> be obDecte5 that persons ma> have wrongl> 5enie5 s9ch e?periences P2Q
thro9gh =orget=9lnessAb9t the e?periences o= real importance =or the en5 in view are too
striking to be rea5il> =orgotten@ PUQ b> wa> o= a Doke or a hoa?Ab9t this wo9l5 lea5
rather to =alse con=essions than =alse 5enials@ P:Q in sel=-5e=enceAb9t s9ch error as ma>
ii-vi! have been pro59ce5 b> this motive has probabl> been more than co9nter-balance5
in other wa>s . . 2;T2U
S 8. +irst as to auditor, hall9cinations( representing recognised voicesAin the last 2U
>ears s9ch an e?perience has( accor5ing to the cens9s( be=allen 2 a59lt in ever> X;@ b9t it
wo9l5 have ha5 to be=all W in ever> 2;( to D9sti=> the ass9mption that the cases recor5e5
in this work on =irst-han5 testimon>( o= the coinci5ence o= the e?perience in E9estion with
the 5eath o= the person represente5( were 59e to chance. *he o55s against the acci5ental
occ9rrence o= the sai5 coinci5ences are more than a trillion to 2 . . 2UT28
S W. %e?t as to visual hall9cinations( representing a recognise5 =ace or =ormAin the last
2U >ears s9ch an e?perience has( accor5ing to the cens9s( be=allen 2 a59lt in ever> U3W@
b9t it wo9l5 have ha5 to be=all ever, a59lt once, an5 (ost a59lts t-ice, to D9sti=> the
ass9mption that the cases recor5e5 in the present work on =irst-han5 testimon>( o= the
coinci5ence o= the e?perience in E9estion with the 5eath o= the person represente5( were
59e to chance. *he o55s against the acci5ental occ9rrence o= the sai5 coinci5ences are
nearl> a trillion o= trillions o= trillions to 2 . . 28T27
S 7. *he e.tre(e closeness o= some o= the coinci5ences a==or5s the basis =or another =orm
o= estimate( which shows the improbabilit> o= their acci5ental occ9rrence to be almost
immeas9rabl> great . . 27TU;
)n5 a n9mber o= =9rther cases an5 =9rther consi5erations remain( b> which even this
h9ge total o= improbabilit> wo9l5 be again swelle5. *he concl9sion( there=ore( a=ter all
allowances( that at an> rate a large n9mber o= the coinci5ences here a559ce5 have ha5
some other ca9se than chance seems irresistible . . U;TU2
S X. )n arg9ment o= a E9ite 5i==erent sort ma> be 5rawn =rom certain peculiarities which
the gro9p o= coinci5ental hall9cinations present( when compare5( as a whole( with the
general mass o= transient hall9cinations o= the sane. *he chie= o= these pec9liarities are
P2Q the 5eci5e5 prepon5erance o= visual cases over auditor,( an5 PUQ the immense
prepon5erance o= cases where the =ig9re or voice was recognised as representing some
one known to the percipient: whereas among clearl> s9bDective hall9cinations there is a
ver> great prepon5erance o= a95itor> cases( an5 almost an eE9alit> between recognise5
an5 9nrecognise5 phantasms( the prepon5erance being slightl> with the latter . . UUTUV
)nother striking pointAthe prepon5erance o= cases in which the 5istant event with which
the phantasm coinci5es is death( or one o= the crises that come nearest to 5eathAagain
marks o9t the coinci5ental phantasms as a 5istinct gro9p o= nat9ral phenomena . . UVTU7
ii-vii!
-.)1*E' \IV.
+U'*.E' VI/U)L -)/E/ O--U''I%& *O ) /I%&LE 1E'-I1IE%*.
S 2. Vis9al hall9cinations ma> present vario9s 5egrees o= apparent e?ternalisation(
beginning with what is scarcel> more than a pict9re in the min54s e>e( an5 en5ing with a
percept which seems E9ite on a par with all s9rro9n5ing obDects. E?amples o= these
varieties in telepathic phantasms . . UXT:W
S U. E?amples o= completel> e?ternalise5 phantasms. In connection with one case P%o.
UUVQ it is shown that a slight liabilit> to s9bDective hall9cinations Pwhich a =ew telepathic
percipients have e?hibite5Q nee5 not serio9sl> a==ect the probabilit> that a partic9lar
e?perience was telepathic. )nother case P%o. U3UQ is remarkable in that the act9al
percipient ha5 no 5irect connection with the agent( b9t was in the vicinit> o= a person
intimatel> connecte5 with him . . :7T8U
S :. -ases where the h>pothesis o= illusion or (ista1en identit, has to be taken into
acco9nt. *his h>pothesis wo9l5 not e?cl95e a telepathic origin( as telepathic illusions are
E9ite conceivable phenomena. "9t more probabl> these cases were hall9cinations@ an5 i=
so( their telepathic origin wo9l5 har5l> be 5o9bt=9l. One o= them P%o. U3:Q e?hibits the
point o= a previous co(pact between the agent an5 percipient( that whichever 5ie5 =irst
sho9l5 en5eavo9r to make the other sensible o= his presence. /9ch a compact( latent in
either min5( ma> E9ite conceivabl> have some con5itioning e==icac> . . 8UTW:
S 3. -ases o= a rudi(entar, t>peAperhaps o= arrested develop(entAnot representative
o= a h9man =orm@ the> might be compare5 to a (otor e==ect which is limite5 to a single
start or twitch. *he class is too small to carr> an> conviction on its own acco9nt( b9t its
t>pe is not so improbable as might at =irst appear . . W:TW8
S V. -ertain cases involving no coinci5ence with an> ostensibl> abnormal con5ition o=
the agent. P2Q Instances where several percipients( at 5i==erent times( have ha5
hall9cinations representing the sa(e person( in whom a speci=ic =ac9lt> =or pro59cing
telepathic impressions ma> there=ore be s9rmise5 . . WWTX;
S 8. )n5 PUQ instances where a pres9mption that a hall9cination was not p9rel> s9bDective
is a==or5e5 b> pec9liarities o= 5ress or aspect in the =ig9re presente5 . . X;TX8
S W. )n5 P:Q instances where the phantasm appears at a time when the ii-viii! person
whom it represents is( 9nknown to the percipient( act9all> approaching him( with
tho9ghts more or less conscio9sl> t9rne5 in his 5irection. *he last two e?amples P%os.
U8V an5 U88Q are a95itor> . . X8T2;;
-.)1*E' \V.
+U*.E' )U$I*O'# -)/E/ O--U''I%& *O ) /I%&LE 1E'-I1IE%*.
S 2. -ases where the phantasm has been o= a recognised voiceAthe wor5s hear5 having
been( certainl> in some cases an5 possibl> in others( those which the 5istant agent was
9ttering. One case P%o. U8XQ ill9strates the =eat9re o= repetition a=ter a short interval . .
2;2T2;7
S U. -ases where what was hear5 was the percipient4s own nameAwhich is a ver>
common =orm o= p9rel> s9bDective hall9cination.
In most o= these cases there ma> probabl> have been a certain occ9pation o= the agent4s
tho9ghts with the percipient . . 2;7T223
S :. -ases where the phantasm has been o= an unrecognised voice. In one instance( P%o.
UWXQ several e?periences o= the sort( in close coinci5ence with the 5eaths o= relatives(
have occ9rre5 to the same percipient . . 223T227
S 3. -ases where the impression was o= a complete sentence( conve>ing either a piece o=
in=ormation or a 5irection( proDecte5 b> the percipient as a message =rom witho9t . . 227T
2U3
S V. )n e?ample where the so9n5 hear5 was vocal( b9t not recognise5 an5 artic9late . .
2U3T2UV
S 8. 1hantasms o= non-vocal noises or shocks. *hese are parallel to the r95imentar>
vis9al hall9cinations@ b9t nee5 a more Dealo9s scr9tin>( since o55 noises are o=ten 59e to
9n5iscovere5 ph>sical ca9ses in the vicinit>. /till( some impressions o= the sort are prett>
clearl> hall9cinator>@ an5 the =orm is one which telepathic hall9cinations seem
occasionall> to take. *he =inal case P%o. UX2Q s9ggests the possibilit> o= fa(il,
s9sceptibilit> to telepathic in=l9ences . . 2UVT2:U
-.)1*E' \VI.
*)-*ILE -)/E/( )%$ -)/E/ )++E-*I%& MO'E *.)% O%E O+ *.E 1E'-I1IE%*4/
/E%/E/.
S 2. 19rel> s9bDective impressions o= to9ch( o= at all a 5istinct kin5( are rare@ an5 when
the> occ9r( ma> o=ten be acco9nte5 =or as ill9sions 59e ii-i?! to an invol9ntar> m9sc9lar
twitch. It is not s9rprising( there=ore( that telepathic hall9cinations o= this t>pe sho9l5 be
rare . . 2::T2:3
*he most concl9sive e?amples are those where an a==ection o= to9ch is combine5 with
one o= sight or hearing. E?amples . . 2:VT2:X
S U. -ombine5 a==ections o= the senses o= sight an5 hearing: one case P%o. UXXQ is
pec9liar in that the person who was probabl> the agent was in the percipient4s compan> at
the time . . 2:XT23X
S :. ) case where the impressions o= sight an5 hearing were separate5 b> some ho9rs . .
23XT2VU
-.)1*E' \VII.
'E-I1'O-)L -)/E/.
S 2. It occasionall> happens that at the time when ) telepathicall> in=l9ences "( ) on his
si5e has an impression which strongl> s9ggests that " has reciprocall> in=l9ence5 hi(.
*he best proo= o= this is where ) e?presses in wor5s some piece o= knowle5ge as to "4s
con5ition. Other more 5o9bt=9l cases Po= which a =ew are E9ote5Q ma> be provisionall>
re=erre5 to the same t>pe@ b9t 9nless )4s 5escription incl95es something which he co9l5
not have known or g9esse5 in a normal manner( his allege5 percipience o= " cannot be
ass9me5 to have been more than mere s9bDective 5ream or vision . . 2V:T2V7
S U. E?amples o= apparentl> reciprocal action. *he> ma> be regar5e5 as special cases o=
Btelepathic clairvo>anceC@ )4s percipience o= " being apparentl> active rather than
passive( an5 59e to some e?tension o= his own =ac9lties( connecte5 with the abnormalit>
o= con5ition that occasions his agenc>( an5 not to an> special abnormalit> in "4s
con5ition . . 2V7T288
*he cases which( on the evi5ence( wo9l5 be clearl> reciprocal( are so =ew in n9mber as to
D9sti=> a 5o9bt whether the> represent a gen9ine t>pe. /9pposing them to be gen9ine(
however( their rarit> is not har5 to acco9nt =or@ an5 it ma> be hope5 that time will bring
9s more well-atteste5 specimens . . 28W
ii-?!
-.)1*E' \VIII.
-OLLE-*IVE -)/E/.
S 2. 1hantasms which have a==ecte5 the senses o= more than one percipient( are a
speciall> perple?ing class. On the =ace o= them( the> s9ggest a real obDective presence o=
the person seen or hear5. "9t s9ch BobDectivit>C P9nless conceive5 as some ill9sive =orm
o= (atterQ can har5l> be 5e=ine5 e?cept D9st as a temporar> e?istence in more min5s than
one: it 5oes not e?plain( b9t merel> repeats( the =act that the e?perience is collective. .
287T2W;
In the absence o= evi5ence Pworth> o= the nameQ that a telepathic phantasm has ever
given a test o= ph,sical realit>Ae.g.( b> opening a 5oor or a win5owAwe are le5 to
inE9ire how =ar the phenomena o= collective hall9cination can be covere5 b> a theor> o=
p9rel> ps,chical impressions. T-o views Pwhich will s9bseE9entl> prove capable o=
amalgamationQ present themselves:AP2Q that )( at a 5istance( pro59ces si(ultaneous
telepathic i(pressions on the min5s o= " an5 -( who happen to be together@ PUQ that "4s
impression( however originate5( passes on to - b> a process o= thought6transferenceAthe
hall9cination itsel= being( so to speak( in=ectio9s . . 2W;T2W2
S U. *he first o= these h>potheses presents great 5i==ic9lties. +or o9r review o= telepathic
hall9cinations( so =ar( has shown that the> ma> take ver> vario9s =orms( an5 ma> be
proDecte5 at vario9s intervals o= time Pwithin a range o= a =ew ho9rsQ =rom the crisis or
event to which we trace them@ so that( s9pposing several persons to have been the Doint
recipients o= a telepathic impression( it seems most improbable that the> sho9l5
in5epen5entl> invest it at the sa(e moment with the sa(e sensor> =orm. %or( again(
sho9l5 we e?pect to =in5( among those Dointl> a==ecte5( an> person who was a stranger to
the 5istant agent@ nevertheless( cases occ9r where s9ch a person has share5 in the
collective percipience. )n5 >et again( on this theor> o= in5epen5ent a==ection o= several
persons( there seems no special reason wh> the> sho9l5 be in one anothers co(pan, at
the time( since the agent ma> pres9mabl> e?ercise his in=l9ence eE9all> in an> 5irection@
nevertheless( cases where the percipients have been apart are( in =act( e?tremel> rare . .
2W2T2WU
) =ew e?amples o= the sort are given@ b9t in several even o= these( the percipients( tho9gh
not together( were ver> near one another( an5 ha5 been to some e?tent sharing the same
li=e . . 2W:T27:
S :. )s to the second o= the propose5 h>pothesesAthat one percipient catches the
hall9cination =rom another b> a process o= tho9ght-trans=erenceAthe ii-?i! E9estion at
once s9ggests itsel= whether s9ch comm9nicabilit> is ever =o9n5 in cases where no
5istant agent is concerne5Acases o= purel, sub5ective hall9cination. /9ch an i5ea wo9l5(
no 5o9bt( be as new to scienti=ic ps>cholog> as ever> other =orm o= tho9ght-trans=erence@
b9t transient hall9cinations o= the sane have been so little st95ie5 or collecte5 that it is not
s9rprising i= the evi5ence =or collective e?periences o= the sort has escape5 attentionA
tho9gh collective illusions have sometimes been 5escribe5 as hall9cinations . . 27:T273
It is in collective cases that the importance o= 5isting9ishing ill9sions =rom hall9cinations
becomes plain. In ill9sions( the persons a==ecte5 receive an act9al sensor> impression
=rom a real obDect( the error being simpl> in their wa> o= interpreting it@ an5 in the
interpretation the> are o=ten greatl> at the merc> o= one another4s s9ggestions. Man>
historical inci5entsAs9ch as visions o= signs in the heavens an5 o= phantom champions
Amight be th9s e?plaine5 . . 273T278
In other allege5 instances o= Bcollective hall9cinationC there is no proo= that the
impression was reall> more than a vivi5 mental pict9re( evoke5 9n5er e?citement. )n5
even where the image probabl> has been e?ternalise5 in spaceAas( e.g.( in religio9s
epi5emics( or in e?perimentation with h>pnotise5 s9bDectsAmost cases ma> be at once
e?plaine5( witho9t an> resort to tho9ght-trans=erence( as 59e to a common i5ea or
e?pectanc>. P)part( however( =rom special e?citement or =rom h>pnotism( the power o=
mere verbal s9ggestion to pro59ce 5el9sions o= the senses ma> easil> be e?aggerate5Q . .
278T277
It is onl> when these vario9s con5itions are absentAwhen the Doint percept is clearl>
hallucination( an5 is also proDecte5 b> the several percipients -ithout e(otional
preparation or suggestionAthat the h>pothesis o= tho9ght-trans=erence =rom one
percipient to another can reasonabl> be entertaine5 . . 27XT2X;
S 3. *he e?amples to be a559ce5( o= collective hall9cinations( not apparentl> originating
in the con5ition o= an> absent living person( incl95e cases which ma> be regar5e5 b>
some as in5icating post6(orte( agenc>. It is not necessar> to enter into the ve?e5
E9estion as to whether the power o= e?ercising ps>chical energ> can or cannot contin9e
a=ter ph>sical 5eath. ,hatever answer that E9estion receive5( these cases wo9l5 still( in
the writer4s opinion( P=or reasons set =orth in S U(Q bear witness to a E9ite m9n5ane
trans=erence between the min5s o= the living percipients . . 2X;T2XU
S V. ?isual e?amples. .all9cinations o= light . . 2XUT2X3
Vario9s o9t-o=-5oor e?periences( not eas> to e?plain as ill9sions . . 2X3T2X7
E?amples o= the sim9ltaneo9s appearance o= an unrecognised =ig9re to ii-?ii! two
percipients( who in most instances were in each other4s compan> at the time. *he two
impressions receive5 in several cases were not precisel> similar( an5 in one P%o. :UUQ
were marke5l> 5i==erent . . 2X7TU;W
/imilar appearances o= recognised phantasms@ one o= which Pcase :::Q represente5 the
=orm o= one o= the percipients . . U;7TU27
*he auditor, class reE9ires special care( owing to the liabilit> o= real so9n5s Pwhose
so9rce is o=ten 9ncertainQ to be misinterprete5. E?amples o= voices . . U27TUU2
)n5 o= (usical hall9cinations . . UU2TUU:
*he e?amples ma> at all events show that a p9rel> ps>chical acco9nt o= these Doint
e?periences is possible. It is not( in5ee5( obvio9s -h, hall9cinations o= the senses sho9l5
be a =orm o= e?perience liable to transmission =rom min5 to min5@ b9t as regar5s the
cases which are telepathicall> originate5( some e?planation ma> perhaps be =o9n5 in the
=act that the> at an> rate involve a 5ist9rbance o= a ver> pec9liar kin5 . . UU3TUUV
S 8. -ollective hall9cinations o= telepathic origin. )95itor> e?amples( representing vocal
so9n5s . . UU8TU:;
)n5 non6vocal so9n5s . . U:;TU:V
Vis9al e?amples. In two o= these P%os. :3V an5 :38Q the e?periences o= the several
percipients were not precisel> similar. )nother case P%o. :3XQ a==or5s an opport9nit> =or
estimating the probabilit> o= a collective mistake o= i5entit> . . U:VTU83
S W. *he =act that in most o= the e?amples the two percipients( " an5 -( were together
s9ggests that mere comm9nit> o= scene( or o= imme5iate mental occ9pation( ma>
establish a rapport =avo9rable to Bps>chicalC trans=erences . . U83TU88
)n5 this conception ma> lea5 9s( in cases where a 5istant agent( )( is concerne5( to an
amalgamation o= the two h>potheses Psee S 2Q which have hitherto been treate5
separatel>. -4s e?perience( 2u0 hall9cination( that is to sa> in its sensor, character( ma>
be 5erive5 =rom "4s b9t( =or all that( ) ma> be telepathicall> a==ecting -. It ma> be )4s
Doint in=l9ence on " an5 - that has con5itione5 the trans=erence o= sensation between
them@ or( in cases where - hol5s no intimate relation to )( a rapport ma> be establishe5(
ad hoc, between ) an5 - b> the rapport o= both o= them with "Awho th9s serves( so to
speak( as a channel =or -4s percipience@ an5 this wo9l5 even help to e?plain the cases
where " is not himsel= conscio9sl> percipient . . U88TU87
*he conception o= rapport thro9gh comm9nit> o= mental occ9pation might e?plain the
vario9s cases where the telepathic in=l9ence seems to have been locall, con5itione5( b>
the presence o= the percipient in a place that was interesting to the agent. )n5 the i5ea
ma> receive a still ii-?iii! =9rther e?tension in cases where there is reason to s9ppose a
reciprocal telepathic clairvo>ance o= the scene on the agent4s part . . U87TU8X
-onDect9res o= this sort concerning the more o9tl>ing telepathic phenomena have an air
o= rashness@ b9t the mere =act that Bps>chicalC trans=erences are possible( when once
a5mitte5( opens 9p a scheme o= I5ealism within whose bo9n5s Pi= bo9n5s there beQ the
potential 9nit> between in5ivi59al min5s is at an> rate likel> to realise itsel= in s9rprising
wa>s . . UW;
-O%-LU/IO%.
S 2. *he case =or spontaneo9s telepath>( being essentiall> a c9m9lative one( har5l> a5mits
o= being recapit9late5 in a brie= an5 attractive =orm. %othing b9t a 5etaile5 st95> o= the
evi5enceA59ll as that st95> isAcan D9sti=> 5e=inite concl9sions concerning it. )=ter all(
the 59lness is perhaps not greater than attaches to the master> o= 5etails in other
5epartments o= knowle5ge@ an5 it cannot be too clearl> realise5 that what the research
reE9ires is not sensational inci5ents( b9t veri=ie5 5ates . . UW2TUWU
S U. *he present instalment o= evi5ence( with all its 5e=ects( ma> >et( b> making the i5ea
o= telepath> better 9n5erstoo5( =acilitate collection in the =9t9re@ an5 alrea5> vario9s
5i==ic9lties an5 preD95ices show signs o= giving wa> . . UW:
S :. "9t tho9gh a =air =iel5 is s9re( in time( to be allowe5 to the work( its a5vance m9st
5epen5 on ver> wi5e co-operation@ an5 the more so as the several items o= proo= ten5 to
lose their e==ect as the> rece5e into the past. *he e?perimental investigations m9st be
greatl> e?ten5e5( the spontaneo9s phenomena m9st be =ar more intelligentl> watche5 =or
an5 recor5e5( be=ore the place o= telepath> in scienti=ic ps>cholog> can be absol9tel>
ass9re5 . . UW:TUW3
%O*E P"# M'. M#E'/Q O% ) /U&&E/*E$ MO$E O+ 1/#-.I-)L
I%*E')-*IO%.
S 2. *he h>potheses containe5 in this note are tentativel> a5vance5( b9t ma> at least
5irect observation . . UWW
S U. *he theor> which represents a veri5ical phantasm as the e?ternalisation o= a
telepathic impression enco9nters a 5i==ic9lt> in the =act that when two Por moreQ persons
are together the phantasm is 9s9all>( tho9gh not alwa>s( perceive5 b> both . . UWWTUW7
ii-?iv!
S :. *his comple? =act seems in the =irst place inconsistent with the pop9lar theor> o= a
material ghost( or Bmeta-organism(CAa theor> on other gro9n5s obDectionable@ . . UW7T
UWX
S 3. %or can we alwa>s ass9me a separate telepathic imp9lse =rom ) to " an5 =rom ) to
-. Mr. &9rne> there=ore s9pposes a =resh telepathic comm9nication =rom " to -: . . UWX
S V. "9t no s9ch cases o= comm9nication o= hall9cinations are recor5e5 b> alienists who
have treate5 o= B=olie G 5e9?C@ . . UWXTU7;
S 8. )n5 in morbi5 hall9cinations o= the sane( no 5egree o= 59ration or intensit> seems to
e==ect this comm9nication o= the hall9cination to b>stan5ers . . U7;TU7U
S W. Moreover( in Mr. &9rne>4s collection o= casual hall9cinations o= the sane( there are
no collective cases which are in5isp9tabl> falsidical/ . . U7UTU73
S 7. )llege5 phantasms o= the dead( =or instance( cannot all be classe5 with certaint> as
merel> ill9sor> in the present state o= o9r knowle5ge . . U73
S X. It ma> be better( then( to =all back on observation o= the e?perimental cases( an5 to
note that in them the percipient e?ercises a species o= s9pernormal activit> . . U73TU78
S 2;. /9ch activit>( i= p9she5 =9rther( might become =irst telepathic clairvo>ance( then
in5epen5ent clairvo>ance . . U78TU7W
S 22. -lairvo>ant perception seems to be e?ercise5 in inverse ratio to activit> o= normal
=ac9lties( an5 to be stim9late5 b> in=l9ence =rom another min5 . . U7W
S 2U. I= this be so( we have an analog> which throws light on cases in this book where a
5reaming( or even a waking( percipient becomes conscio9s o= a 5istant scene@ . . U7WTU7X
S 2:. )n5( =9rthermore( o9r cases s9ggest that correspon5entl> with clairvo>ant
perception there ma> be phantasmogenetic e==icac>: . . U7X
S 23. /o that all the persons present together ma> be eE9all> likel> to 5iscern the
phantasmal correlate o= the 5>ing man4s clairvo>ant perception@ an5 collective cases will
no longer present a 9niE9e 5i==ic9lt> . . U7XTUX;
S 2V. )n5 this will hol5 goo5 whatever view we take o= the relation ii-?v! to space or
(atter( either o= the clairvo>ant percipience or o= its phantasmal correlate . . UX;TUX2
S 28. *his view s9ggests test-e?periments. 1oints to be notice5 in a collective
hall9cination@ . . UX2TUXU
S 2W. )n5 in a hall9cination in59ce5 b> h>pnotic s9ggestion . . UXUTUX:
S 27. "9t i= the 5>ing man4s conception o= himsel= is th9s presente5 as a E9asi-percept to
a gro9p o= persons collectivel>( then some cases where there is one percipient onl> ma>
be similarl> e?plaine5 . . UX:TUX3
S 2X. I= we consi5er the in5ications o= origin in one or the other min5 given b> the dress
o= phantoms( we =in5 no clear case where s9ch origin m9st be re=erre5 to the percipient4s
min5@ . . UX3TUXW
S U;. )n5 the s,(bolis( o= phantoms also is generall> s9ch as ma> have been common
to both min5s . . UXWTUX7
S U2. On the other han5 there are cases where the 5>ing man4s act9al 5ress at the
moment( tho9gh an improbable one( is repro59ce5 b> the phantom( which th9s is clothe5
accor5ing to the 5>ing man4s conception o= himsel=( an5 probabl> not accor5ing to the
percipient4s antece5ent conception o= him@ . . UX7
S UU. )n5 the s>mbolism o= the =ig9re sometimes conve>s tr9e in=ormation( or is in other
wa>s probabl> re=erable to the 5>ing man . . UXXT:;;
S U:. )n5 the cases o= imper=ect or 5e=erre5 recognition seem similarl> to in5icate that
the aspect o= the apparition has not been 5etermine5 b> the percipient himsel= . . :;;T:;2
S U3. Moreover( the attraction which 5etermines the phantasmal presence seems
sometimes to be local rather than personal/ as i= the percipient merel> saw an apparition
which was generate5 b> ca9ses in5epen5ent o= himsel= . . :;2T:;U
S UV. It ma> be sai5 that on this view the mass o= o9r cases sho9l5 be reciprocal. "9t in
or5er to prove a case reciprocal it is necessar> that clairvo>ant percipience sho9l5 be
recollected( which is a rare thing . . :;UT:;:
S U8. /till =9rther( the agent4s death o=ten prevents his reco9nting s9ch percipience as he
ma> have enDo>e5. .is last wor5s sometimes in5icate that there has been s9ch
percipience. $r. Ormsb>4s case . . :;:T:;8
S UW. In o9r =ew cases o= voluntar, self6pro5ection the e?perience seems rarel> to have
persiste5 into waking memor>@ . . :;8T:;W
ii-?vi!
S U7. )n5 a=ter clairvo>ant 5reams the =act o= the clairvo>ant invasion ma> be =orgotten
till revive5 b> acci5ental presence in the scene th9s 5iscerne5 . . :;W
S UX. Invasion( however( is sometimes remembere5@ =aintl> an5 brokenl> b> an agent
-a1ing at the time@ . . :;WT:;7
S :;. More o=ten an5 more 5istinctl> b> an agent sleeping at the time . . :;7
S :2. /9ch reciprocit> seems =9rther =acilitate5 b> a state o= trance or deliriu( . . :;XT
:2;
S :U. /tages b> which( in this view( veri5ical phantasms gra59all> approach a reciprocal
t>pe . . :2;T:22
S ::. 1ower o= the 5eath or crisis o= one person to evoke the clairvo>ant percipience( an5
invite the s9pernormal invasion( o= another. 1arallel with clairvo>ance mesmericall>
in59ce5 . . :22T:2U
S :3. ) tr9e classi=ication m9st 5epen5 on the con5ition an5 crises o= the 9nconscio9s
rather than o= the conscio9s sel= . . :2UT:23
S :V. In the meantime reciprocal percipience ma> be taken as the t>pe o= a =9ll>-
5evelope5 veri5ical hall9cination@ its relation to space an5 matter being as >et
9nknown . . :23
S:8. /9ggeste5 analog> o= telepathic with vital or organic comm9nication . . :23T:28
/U11LEME%*.
I%*'O$U-*IO%.
S 2. *he s9pplementar> evi5ence =or telepath>( like that in the main bo5> o= the work(
consists o= e.peri(ental cases P-hap. I.Q an5 o= spontaneous cases P-haps. II.-I\.Q . . :U2
S U. *he spontaneo9s cases( in the aggregate( have less =orce than those which have
prece5e5Athe chances o= error in man> o= them being ver> appreciable( an5 some o=
them being secon5-han5. /till( the evi5ence is =or the most part o= a character which
allows 9s to s9ppose that the essential ii-?vii! point has been tr9l> retaine5( even tho9gh
5etails ma> have been altere5 or a55e5 . . :U2T:UU
S :. )n5 since this evi5ence( which might not prove the realit> o= spontaneo9s telepath>(
is s9==icient( even alone( to establish a ver> strong pres9mption =or it( it len5s an
important s9pport to the c9m9lative arg9ment alrea5> presente5 . . :UUT:U:
-.)1*E' I.
+U'*.E' E\)M1LE/ O+ *.OU&.*-*')%/+E'E%-E( 1'I%-I1)LL# I% .#1%O*I- -)/E/.
S 2. E?periments in the trans=erence o= tastes an5 pains . . :U3T:UX
Occasionall> the trans=erence seems to be =rom the Bs9bDectC to the operator . . ::;T::2
S U. E?amples o= the power o= the -ill in pro59cing the h>pnotic con5ition( or in evoking
partic9lar actions . . ::2T::3
S :. *rans=erences o= i5eas 9nconnecte5 with movement. One remarkable recor5 P%o.
:88Q e?empli=ies a ver> long-contin9e5 s9sceptibilit> on the percipient4s part. /everal o=
the cases( here treate5 as telepathic( have been attrib9te5 witho9t s9==icient gro9n5s to
in5epen5ent clairvo>ance . . ::3T:37
-.)1*E' II.
I$E)L( EMO*IO%)L( )%$ MO*O' -)/E/.
S 2. E?amples o= spontaneo9s tho9ght-trans=erence o= a tolerabl> literal kin5( several o=
which s9ggest a =9gitive =ac9lt> o= percipience 5evelope5 b> illness . . :3XT:8U
S U. E?amples o= an apparentl> abnormal int9ition o= the approach or pro.i(it, o= certain
persons . . :8:T:8V
S :. -ases where the Bagenc>C is 5i==ic9lt or impossible to assign( an5 which recall the
&reek notion o= ji . . :8VT:W;
S 3. Emotional impressions Pinvolving in one caseA%o. :X2A5istinct ph>sical
5iscom=ortQ which the percipients connecte5 at the moment with partic9lar in5ivi59als . .
:W;T:W3
ii-?viii!
S V. Emotional impressions not so connecte5 . . :W3T:W8
S 8. E?amples o= (otor e==ects . . :W8T:WX
-.)1*E' III.
$'E)M/.
S 2. E?amples o= sim9ltaneo9s 5reams correspon5ing in content . . :7;T:7:
S U. E?amples o= 5reams which have seeme5 to represent some thought or (ental picture
in the min5 o= a waking agent . . :7:T:X:
S :. E?amples o= 5reams which have 5irectl> correspon5e5 with a real event P9s9all>
5eathQ that be=ell the agent . . :X:T3;2
S 3. E?amples o= pictorial 5reams with a similar correspon5ence@ in man> o= which the
5reamer has investe5 the i5ea with original Ps>mbolic or =antasticQ imager> . . 3;2T3U7
S V. E?amples o= 5reams that ma> be 5escribe5 as telepathicall> clairvo,ant( in several o=
which P%os. 372T3Q the obDect prominentl> presente5 has been a letter . . 3U7T337
-.)1*E' IV.
B"O'$E'L)%$C -)/E/.
S 2. +irst-han5 cases o= rather remote 5ate: Vis9al cases . . 33XT3VX
)95itor> cases . . 3VXT382
S U. +irst-han5 an5 more recent cases: Vis9al cases . . 382T3W;
)95itor> cases . . 3W;T3W3
S :. ) gro9p o= =irst-han5 cases taken =rom printe5 so9rces . . 3W3T3WW
S 3. /econ5-han5 cases =rom in=ormants who were nearl> relate5 to the original witnesses
. . 3WWT3X8
S V. )n5 =rom in=ormants who were not so relate5 . . 3X8TV;7
ii-?i?!
-.)1*E' V.
VI/U)L -)/E/.
S 2. +irst-han5 5eath-cases . . V;XTVU:
S U. +irst-han5 cases where the con5itioning event on the agent4s si5e was something
other than 5eath . . VU:TV:U
S :. /econ5-han5 cases =rom in=ormants who were nearl> relate5 to the original
witnesses. In connection with one o= these cases P%o. V7:Q some remarks are ma5e on the
/cotch Bsecon5 sightC@ another case P%o. V78Q ill9strates the 5i==erence between the right
an5 the wrong sort o= transmitte5 evi5ence. . V:UTV3U
S 3. /econ5-han5 cases =rom in=ormants who were not nearl> relate5 to the original
witnesses . . V3:TVV7
S V. )ncient cases( which( b> rare e?ception( were recor5e5 in s9ch a wa> as to have
permanent val9e . . VV7TV8;
-.)1*E' VI.
)U$I*O'# )%$ *)-*ILE -)/E/.
S 2. -ases where the impression was o= 5istinct wor5s . . V82TV87
S U. -ases where the impression apparentl> represente5 what was act9all> in the agent4s
ears at the time . . V87TVW;
S :. %on-vocal cases . . VW;TVW3
S 3. *actile cases . . VW3TVW8
) case s9ggesting a pec9liar s>mpath> o= ph>sical con5ition . . VW8TVWW
-.)1*E' VII.
-)/E/ )++E-*I%& MO'E *.)% O%E O+ *.E 1E'-I1IE%*4/ /E%/E/ . . VW7TV7X
-.)1*E' VIII.
'E-I1'O-)L -)/E/ . . VX;TVXX
ii-??!
-.)1*E' I\.
-OLLE-*IVE -)/E/.
S 2. *hree o9tl>ing cases . . 8;;T8;:
S U. Vis9al cases( apparentl> connecte5 with the con5ition o= a 5istant agent( occ9rring to
percipients who were apart . . 8;:T8;W
S :. )n5 to percipients who were together . . 8;WT8U:
S 3. Vis9al cases where it is 5o9bt=9l whether there was an> Bagenc>C on the part o= the
person whom the phantasm represente5 . . 8U:T8:;
S V. )95itor> cases( where the impression was o= a recognise5 voice . . 8:2T8:3
S 8. )n5 where the impression was o= inartic9late or non-vocal so9n5s . . 8:3T832
)$$I*IO%)L -.)1*E'
O= -)/E/ 'E-EIVE$ *OO L)*E +O' I%/E'*IO% I% *.EI' 1'O1E' 1L)-E/.
S 2. E?perimental casesA
'epro59ction o= 5iagrams . . 83UT8V:
*rans=erence o= i5eas o= n9mbers( wor5s( an5 obDects . . 8V:T888
*rans=erence o= tastes . . 888T88X
*rans=erence o= i5eas below the threshol5 o= conscio9sness . . 88XT8W2
S U. *ransitional casesA
1ro59ction o= vis9al phantasms at a 5istance . . 8W2T8W8
.>pnotic e==ects at a 5istance . . 8W8T87W
S :. /pontaneo9s cases o= vario9s t>pes. *he last two P%os. W;2 an5 W;UQ a==or5 a
speciall> goo5 ill9stration o= the ps>chological i5entit> o= 5reams an5 hall9cinations . .
87WTW;V
* )"LE O+ %UM"E'E$ -)/E/ . . W;WTWUU
) %)L#/I/ O+ *.E * )"LE . . WU:
I %$E\ . . WUVTW::
ii-??i!
!//(#(%"$ !"/ +%RR&+#(%"$.
)%'.M& ((.
1age 2:( line 2: =rom bottom. BOne in ever> X; o= the pop9lation.C *he probabilit> that
the ratio 2 v X;( observe5 in the specimen-gro9p( ma> be =airl> ass9me5 as correct =or the
whole pop9lation( a5mits o= precise 5etermination. ) general i5ea o= its 5egree o=
correctness ma> be obtaine5 =rom the =ollowing analog9e( which I owe to Mr. +. #.
E5geworth. /9ppose V87; balls to be 5rawn =rom a bag containing immense n9mbers o=
black an5 white balls( mi?e5 in a certain ratio. I= the real ratio o= black balls to the total
be 2 v 7;( the o55s against o9r 5rawing so small a proportion o= black balls as 2 v X;Ai.e.(
the o55s against the ratio appearing to be 2 v X;Aare abo9t 2; to 2. I= the real ratio be
2 v 8;( the o55s against its appearing to be so small as 2 v X; are abo9t V;; to 2. I= the real
ratio be 2 v 3V( the o55s against its appearing to be so small as 2 v X; are more than
2;;(;;; to 2. It will become obvio9s( I think( as we procee5( that even in this last
contingenc>Aon the violentl> improbable ass9mption that the tr9e ratio o= hallucin4s in
the pop9lation is double that observe5 in the specimen gro9pAm> general concl9sion
wo9l5 remain sa=e( even =or the a95itor> cases@ an5 3 fortiori =or the vis9al cases( where a
=ar smaller ratio is s9bstit9te5 =or 2 v X;. "9t it is eno9gh to notice that practicall>( as the
ratio =or the pop9lation is as likel> to be less than the specimen-ratio as greater( an5 as it
cannot 5i==er =rom it ver> materiall> on either si5e( the specimen-ratio ma> sa=el> be
9se5.
1age U3( line 2. +or 2: rea5 2U( an5 =or 8 rea5 W. Lines 2WTUU. )mong the Brecognise5C
vis9al cases( I incl95e three where the =ig9re seen 5i5 not represent the person who was
probabl> the agent. I 5o not reckon on either si5e two cases o= mis-recognition( which
might eE9all> well be 5escribe5 as partial recognition@ nor three cases where the
recognition was retrospective@ nor =o9r BcollectiveC cases where one o= the percipients
recognise5 the agent( b9t the other was a stranger to him. I reckon in the 9nrecognise5
class three cases where the percipient was a stranger to the agent( b9t 5escribe5 his
appearance correctl>. )mong the Brecognise5C a95itor> cases( I incl95e two where the
voice hear5 was not that o= the s9ppose5 agent. I 5o not reckon on either si5e case UWX@
nor case V;W where the recognition was retrospective@ nor the case o= mis-recognition(
%o. VW;.
1age UV( note. *he slight 5i==erence =rom the n9mbers given in Vol. I.( pp. :XU an5 3X7( is
59e to cases receive5 since those pages were printe5 o==.
ii-??ii!
1age U8( lines 2U an5 2:. +or :XX rea5 3;2( an5 =or :;: rea5 :;3.
1age UW. B*he onl> wa> o= meeting this arg9ment(C [c. In more technical lang9age( the
point stan5s th9s. *he 5etermination o= the 3 posteriori probabilit> that certain events
took place b> chance 5epen5s not onl> on the BobDectiveC probabilit> o= the occ9rrence o=
s9ch events 9n5er a r4gi(e o= chance( b9t on 3 priori probabilities 5epen5ing Pe?cept in
imaginar> problems abo9t bags an5 ballsQ on what 1ro=essor ). Marshall has =elicito9sl>
calle5 Bthat abstract an5 essence o= past e?perience which is on the one si5e science( an5
on the other practical instinct.C )n5 as Mr. +. #. E5geworth remarks( in writing to me on
this topic( B/cratches or or5ering boots might be as 9niE9e e?periences as 5eath( or at an>
rate not materiall> more =reE9ent@ >et all wo9l5 agree that the 3 priori probabilit> o= a
ca9sal connection between a phantasm an5 or5ering boots is nil/ while as to 5eath( man>
wo9l5 think 5i==erentl>.C %ow in appl>ing this remark( it m9st be remembere5 that that
which alone co9l5 make a n9mber o= the coinci5encesAwhether between phantasms an5
or5erings o= boots( or between phantasms an5 5eathsAe?plicable as acci5ental
occ9rrences( wo9l5 be the 9niversal tho9gh 9nknown an5 9nnotice5 prevalence o=
spectral ill9sions. *his is itsel= a h9ge improbabilit>( 5etermine5 as s9ch b> the relation o=
the statistical res9lts o= m> cens9s to comple? 3 priori probabilities concerning =acts o=
h9man memor> an5 testimon>. )n5 what I have implie5 in the te?t is simpl> that it is an
improbabilit> so h9ge as to o9tweigh the 3 priori improbabilit> o= a ca9sal connection
between phantasms an5 5eaths( tho9gh not perhaps the 3 priori improbabilit> o= a ca9sal
connection between phantasms an5 or5erings o= boots.
1age :W( =irst note. /ince this note was printe5( I have met with an interesting case o= the
pec9liar sensation 5escribe5( in connection with p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations. Mr. F.
'9ssell Lowell tells me that in past >ears he ha5 =reE9ent hall9cinations o= vision( o= both
the recognise5 an5 the 9nrecognise5 sort( which greatl> intereste5 him@ an5 that the
e?perience was 9shere5 in Phe believes invariabl>Q b> a =eeling o= (ar1ed chill( which
seeme5 to ascen5 =rom the =eet to the hea5.
1age :W( secon5 note. Mr. Lowell also tells me that tho9gh the =ig9res he saw were
sometimes E9ite nat9ral-looking( at other times the> were o= the semi-transparent sort
here 5escribe5( allowing the wall or =9rnit9re to be seen thro9gh them. .e spoke o= these
as looking as i= compose5 o= Bbl9e =ilmCAa 5escription which is o= great interest( when
taken in connection with some o= the telepathic cases( e.g.( %os. U2;( :22( :2V( 37V( VVV.
1age :X( line U =rom bottom. +or )ct rea5 )cte.
1age 3U( case UU8. In conversation( &eneral .. in=orme5 Mr. 1o5more that the native
who was with him at the time o= his e?perience was not =acing the =ig9re( b9t still wo9l5
probabl> have been aware o= the presence o= a real person who occ9pie5 the spot where
the =ig9re was seen.
ii-??iii!
1age 88 note. +or case 2XW rea5 cases 2XW an5 V;X.
1age 8W( case U3V. *he narrator has a55e5( in conversation( that he was in .955ers=iel5
=or the 5a> onl>( an5 that his s955en resolve necessitate5 his telegraphing to the =rien5s
with whom he was sta>ing. +or the moment he 5oes not know the a55ress o= these
=rien5s@ b9t he hopes to proc9re 9s their recollections as to the receipt o= this telegram
an5 his s9bseE9ent e?planation o= it.
1age W2( case U3X. *he =ollowing corroboration is s9pplie5 b> Mr. an5 Mrs. -oates( o=
2V8( ,aperton 'oa5( "ra5=or5( who were with Mr. -arr at the time:A
BF9ne U:( 2778.
B,e shall onl> be able to con=irm the statement o= Mr. *. -arr. /o =ar as we can
remember( while we were sitting in the room( *. -. came =rom his chair to the win5ow@
an5( while looking o9t o= the win5ow( he ma5e the remark( u)h( there is Y\.Z coming to
see 9s(4 an5 steppe5 back =rom the win5ow( waiting to hear a knock at the 5oor( which
however 5i5 not come. *. -. remarke5 that he m9st have gone 9p the >ar5( an5 looke5 at
the clock to see what time it was. ,e a=terwar5s hear5 that at the time we tho9ght Y\.Z
was in the >ar5( he was D9st abo9t 5>ing.
B-.)'LE/ -O)*E/.
B)%%IE -O)*E/.C
In conversation( Mr. -oates gave the time as abo9t 3 p.m.@ an5 spoke o= Mr. -arr4s
cons9lting his -atch.
1age WU( case UV;. In conversation I have learnt =rom Mr. /cho=iel5 that he ha5 been
absent =rom home =or some 5a>sAwhich e?plains his having hear5 nothing o= the illness.
*he 5ecease5 ha5 a warm a==ection =or his mother.
1age 7V( case UVW. /ince this case was printe5( a hall9cination representing the same
person has been seen b> a =o9rth percipient. Mrs. &lanville writes =rom /h9te .a>e(
,al5itch( "ri5port( on )9g. U:( 2778:A
B)=ter break=ast this morning( I was o9tsi5e the break=ast-room win5ow( looking abo9t(
when I saw Mrs. /tone walking 9p one o= the paths b> the si5e o= the lawn. I =ollowe5
her. *he path is long an5 win5s ro9n5. I saw her t9rn the corner into a path that le5
thro9gh the orchar5( b9t when I came there I co9l5 not see her. I won5ere5 at her walking
so E9ickl> as to go o9t o= sight( an5 strolle5 on( =ollowing the path( which le5 me back to
the ho9se. .ere I saw Mrs. /tone talking to the gar5ener. /he was s9rprise5 when I aske5
her how I co9l5 have misse5 her( an5 sai5 she ha5 not been walking at all( ha5 not le=t her
plants. ,ell( I saw her( her black 5ress( her white cap( her walk( Mrs. /tone certainl>( b9t
whether o9t o= hersel=( or b> an impression on m> brain( I cannot tellAb9t I never saw
an>thing more 5istinctl>.C Y) plan o= the paths was enclose5.Z
Mrs. /tone writes( )9g. UV( 2778:A
B#o9 wish me to give an acco9nt o= m> procee5ings when Mrs. &lanville ii-??iv! saw
m> 5o9ble. )bo9t 2; on the morning o= Mon5a>( )9g9st U:r5( I ha5 gone 5irect =rom the
ho9se to water some =lowers in a greenho9se marke5 in Mrs. &lanville4s plan. M> min5
was rather 5ist9rbe5 at not hearing =rom m> son. I was watering in a rather 5a]e5(
mechanical wa>( b9t 5i5 not lose conscio9sness. ,alking =rom the place I met Mrs.
&lanville( who sai5( u.ow co9l5 >o9 get here witho9t m> seeing >o9r4 I ha5 not been
near the spot where she saw me.C
*he percipient in this case has ha5 one other vis9al hall9cination representing a living
person( which was ver> likel> telepathic. /he th9s 5escribes it:A
BI remember one e?perience o= the same sort happening when I was a girl. I certainl> did
see an ol5 gentleman in the street who was then on his 5eath-be5( b9t nobo5> wo9l5
believe it. .e was stan5ing o9tsi5e his shop-5oor@ there were two other men with him. I
can see him now in m> min54s e>eAa tall thin man@ I knew his =ace E9ite well. ,hen I
sai5 at 5inner that Mr. ,orth was better( =or I ha5 seen him in the street( m> =ather tol5
me he ha5 D9st calle5( an5 Mr. ,orth was ver> ill( in =act 5>ing( an5 I (ust be mistaken.C
1age 22U( case UWW. *he narrator has e?plaine5 to me that her mother was taken ill on the
/at9r5a> night( an5 la> all that night an5 the ne?t 5a> on the so=a( m9ttering to hersel=(
b9t not tho9ght to be 5>ing.
1age 228( case U72. ,e have proc9re5( =rom the )cting 'egistrar-&eneral at +iDi( a
certi=icate which shows that the 5eath took place on /ept. 7( 27WV. "9t we learn =rom the
)stronomer-'o>al that( 9ntil recentl>( the nomenclat9re o= 5a>s o= the month at +iDi
=ollowe5 the r9le o= )9stralia. /ept. 7( 27WV( there=ore( began there nearl> 2U ho9rs
be=ore it began here@ so that 9nless the 5ecease5 was bathing late in the evening( the
narrator4s e?perience m9st have =ollowe5 the 5eath b> more than 2U ho9rs. *his( o=
co9rse( is on the s9pposition that the e?perience was reall> on the night o= the 7th( an5
not o= the Wth@ in which latter case the coinci5ence might have been e?act. *he narrator is
s9re that the 7th was the 5ateAnot( however( =rom an> in5epen5ent recollection o= the
n9mber 7( b9t on the gro9n5 that she re=erre5 to her 5iar> a=ter she hear5 o= the 5eath(
an5 veri=ie5 the coinci5ence( which she then mentione5 to one or two persons. "9t it will
be seen =rom her acco9nt that( =or a9ght she knew( the 5eath might have occ9rre5 on the
Wth@ an5 there=ore the 5a>s wo9l5 have seeme5 to her to have ver> probabl> coinci5e5 i=
the 5a> which she =o9n5 note5 in her 5iar> was also the Wth. /ho9l5 the 5iar> ever be
=o9n5( the point ma> be cleare5 9p.
1age 2U:( case U7W. /ince this case was printe5( I have learnt =rom $r. Foseph /mith that
he was seeing Mrs. &an5> nearl> ever> 5a>. .e nevertheless =eels prett> con=i5ent that
his e?perience was not 59e to an>thing that he ha5 hear5 or observe5Aarg9ing that that
e?planation o= it( i= it ha5 been the tr9e one( wo9l5 have occ9rre5 to him at the time. "9t
e?tremel> slight an5 transient impressions ma>( =or a9ght we know( serve as the germ o=
s9bseE9ent hall9cinations( D9st as the> ma> serve as the ii-??v! germ o= s9bseE9ent
5reams@ an5 the case o9ght not( I think( to have receive5 an evi5ential n9mber.
1age 2XX( case :2X. "oth witnesses are positive that the case was not one o= mere
ill9sion@ tho9gh it was 59sk( there was eno9gh light =or the clerg>man to observe that the
=ig9re o9tsi5e was rather ba5l> 5resse5( besi5es 5i==ering =rom $r. -ant in being
consi5erabl> sto9ter an5 wearing a bear5. *he> 5isc9sse5 the matter the same evening( at
abo9t 22 p.m. In the interval( something ha5 occ9rre5 b> which $r. -ant tells 9s that he
was a goo5 5eal impresse5. )t abo9t 7 p.m. he was calle5 to visit a stranger( who was
5>ing( an5 who ha5 e?pressl> 5esire5 his atten5ance@ an5 he was startle5 b> the close
Ptho9gh not e?actQ resemblance o= this man to the hall9cinator> =ig9re.
1age U;X( case :U8. Mrs. '.4s sister( Miss %orman( o= /tone( /ta==or5( has sent the
=ollowing in5epen5ent testimon>( 5ate5 F9ne U2( 2778:A
B)=ter the lapse o= so man> >ears( the statement I now write is all that I can remember o=
seeing m> =ather an5 mother walking together( in the >ear 273:( in the village where we
then resi5e5. )t the time( m> =ather was =rom home( ver> ill@ an5 m> mother( to the best
o= m> remembrance( was o9t on that 5a>. I have a ver> vivi5 recollection o= the vision(
which I think remarkable. M> parents were walking together b> the ch9rch>ar5 wall(
close to the parsonage. *his happene5 in /eptember( 273:.C
Mrs. '. writes that she is con=i5ent that neither she nor the manservant saw her mother4s
=ig9re:AB.e saw D9st what I sawAm> =ather entering the ch9rch b> the vestr> 5oor.C
)=ter so long an interval( it is likel> eno9gh that the sisters4 acco9nts might 5i==er( even i=
their e?periences ha5 been i5entical. "9t it seems E9ite possible( on the analog> o=
several other cases( that the sim9ltaneo9s hall9cinations were not e?actl> i5entical.
1age U:W( line U3. )=ter Mr. '. .o5gson insert Ban5 later the present writer.C
1age U3W( lines 3( V. *he testimon> in E9estion has now been obtaine5( an5 is as =ollows:
A
BLakesi5e -ottages( %ewb> "ri5ge.
BF9ne( 2778.
BIt was one evening( abo9t 3 >ears ago( that I sat in the kitchen( at Lin5ale 1arsonage( at
s9pper( an5 looking at the win5ow I saw( at the si5e o= the blin5( which was not hanging
E9ite straight( a ver> pale =ace looking at me. It was t9rne5 si5ewa>s when I =irst saw it(
an5 thinking it was one o= the >o9ng men =rom the village come 9p to make game o= 9s( I
ma5e a =ace at it@ then it t9rne5 =9ll =ace towar5s me( an5 I saw that it was the =ace o=
Mrs. Fohn 'obinson( m> present h9sban54s =irst wi=e. It looke5 ver> pale. I watche5 it
with the other servants =or abo9t : min9tes perhaps( an5 then it 5roppe5 5own an5
5isappeare5. I co9l5 see all ro9n5 it(
2
so that I ii-??vi! co9l5 see that it was not a real
=ace( an5 it was too close to the win5ow =or that. It looke5 as i= resting on the sill.
BI have never on an> other occasion seen an>thing which was not reall> there.
B.ELE% 'O"I%/O%.C
1age UXW( line 23. "e=ore p. V38 insert Vol. I.
1age ::8( case :88. *he phenomena o= mesmeric rapport 5escribe5 in this case strongl>
s9ggest a speci=ic in=l9ence e?ercise5 b> the operator( o= a sort not as >et recognise5 in
the vario9s scienti=ic theories o= h>pnotism@ b9t a more 5ecisive proo= o= s9ch an
in=l9ence is o= co9rse a==or5e5 i= the same operator has pro59ce5 kin5re5 e==ects on more
than one Bs9bDect.C )=ter the case in the te?t was printe5( I hear5 =rom Mrs. 1inhe> o=
another occ9rrence which( =rom this point o= view( is o= the greatest interest( besi5es
s9ppl>ing a parallel to the e?amples o= the telepathic pro59ction o= h>pnotic sleep given
in Vol. I.( p. 77( an5 below( pp. 8WXT7W. $9ring the perio5 when the events 5escribe5 in
case :88 were procee5ing( Mrs. 1inhe> was sta>ing with some =rien5s at 1akenham( an5
was reE9este5 b> /ir ,alter *revel>an( one o= the part>( to tr> to in59ce mesmeric sleep
in another g9est( Miss Lo==t. Mrs. 1inhe> was rather 9nwilling( b9t at last consente5.
B*he e?periment was E9ite s9ccess=9l as =ar as it went. Miss L. soon went o== into the
sleep an5 was lai5 9pon a be5 in that state. I believe she 5i5 not wake =or some ho9rs.
*he *revel>ans an5 Miss Lo==t were to leave the ne?t 5a>( an5 be=ore the> 5i5 so /ir
,alter startle5 me b> making the =ollowing reE9est: u,o9l5 I( as an e?periment an5 to
oblige him( 9n5ertake to retire at a certain ho9r( which he =i?e5( that evening( an5 make
the 9s9al passes with an intention o= again mesmerising Miss Lo==t( who wo9l5 b> that
time be with him an5 his wi=e at a hotel at Lincoln or Leicester( or some town which he
name5 b9t which I have now =orgottenr4 )gain I hesitate5. < < .owever( c9riosit>( an5 a
com=ortable ass9rance that there co9l5 be nothing in it( gra59all> conE9ere5 m>
rep9gnance( an5 I promise5 to make the attempt( heartil> hoping that it might not
s9ccee5. *he *revel>ans an5 Miss Lo==t all le=t at abo9t noon =or the railwa> station( an5
travelle5 b> train to their 5estination. *he 5a> passe5 as 9s9al( an5 I began to =eel more
con=i5ence an5 co9l5 almost la9gh at m> =ormer =ears. ,hen the appointe5 time came( I
retire5 E9ietl> to m> own room( an5( imagining Miss Lo==t be=ore me( I ma5e the 9s9al
passes
2
D9st as I ha5 5one the evening be=ore( an5 =or abo9t the same length o= time. It
appeare5 ver> abs9r5 an5 I co9l5 not help la9ghing at the sit9ation@ b9t I kept m> own
co9nsel an5 sai5 nothing to an>one.
B) 5a> or two later( when I ha5 ret9rne5 home( a letter came =or me =rom /ir ,alter
*revel>an. It in=orme5 me in a =ew wor5s that at the preconcerte5 ho9r Miss Lo==t was
sitting at table a=ter tea or s9pper( that she s955enl> began to =eel ver> 5rows>( sai5 her
sensations were the same as when she was being mesmerise5( an5 that at last she slept
m9ch as she ha5 5one the evening be=ore( tho9gh( I think( less 5eepl> an5 =or a shorter
time. I con=ess that I was so astonishe5 at this news( an5 =o9n5 it so 5isagreeable an5
bewil5ering( that I 5estro>e5 the letter( an act I have ii-??vii! o=ten since regrette5( an5
sai5 as little as possible abo9t the matter to an>one. I instinctivel> =elt that it wo9l5 be
commonl> regar5e5 as so incre5ible that I ha5 better sa> nothing abo9t it( lest it sho9l5
throw 5iscre5it 9pon the other e?periments. %evertheless( the main =acts are per=ectl>
tr9e( tho9gh I will not 9n5ertake to answer =or ever> 5etail. +or instance( it is certainl>
tr9e that Miss Lo==t was a==ecte5 in the wa> I have 5escribe5( b9t I cannot remember to
what e?act e?tent.C
Y) niece o= Miss Lo==t tells 9s that she remembers Mrs. 1inhe> mesmerising her a9nt at
1akenham@ b9t she was not tol5 o= the s9bseE9ent e?periment.Z
O= co9rse i= this occ9rrence stoo5 alone( the most nat9ral h>pothesis wo9l5 be that /ir
,alter *revel>an ha5 in some wa> betra>e5 what was being attempte5( an5 that the
trance was ca9se5 b> s9ggestion an5 e?pectanc>. "9t in view o= other cases o= the same
sort( an5 especiall> o= the recent +rench recor5s( it is not 9nreasonable to s9ppose that he
was s9==icientl> on his g9ar5 not to mar his own care=9ll>-planne5 e?periment( an5 that
the inci5ent was gen9inel> telepathic.
1age 32:( case 33V. ,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the la5>4s 5eath took place
on March U( 273:. *he narrator tells me that there was no imme5iate apprehension o= itA
that( =or a9ght he knew( Bshe might have live5 =or U; >ears.C .e thinks( b9t cannot be
s9re( that his e>es were open.
1age 3UU( lines 3 an5 28. +or .arle> rea5 .olles. *he note to this case Pwithin bracketsQ
is not E9ite correct( as a sailing-vessel bo9n5 =or Melbo9rne might have 8 weeks4 start(
an5 still be o9tstrippe5 b> a steamer. "9t even with this correction( the time o= the secon5
5ream cannot be bro9ght into correspon5ence with an> c9stomar> ho9r =or a Lon5on
=9neral.
1age 38;( secon5 note. +or V87 rea5 V8X@ =or 8:X rea5 8:7@ =or 8V3 rea5 8V:.
1age 37V( case VUU. ) sister o= the narrator4s( who ha5 also hear5 o= the e?perience =rom
her =ather4s lips( con=irms the acco9nt given.
1age V22( case VVU. In conversation( Mrs. 'ooke mentione5 that she saw the =ig9re as she
was coming o9t a=ter pra>ers( all the students being behind her. *his is important( as
telling against the h>pothesis o= mistaken i5entit>. /he regar5s that h>pothesis as o9t o=
the E9estion( the recognition o= the =ace being complete. *he 5ress was a gre> s9it with
black-barre5 pattern( an5 cap to match( s9ch as the >o9ng man ha5 been 9se5 to wear at
the college. Mrs. 'ooke 5i5 not mention her e?perience to her h9sban5( not liking to
appear s9perstitio9s@ b9t both he an5 she agree that she mentione5 it as soon as the news
o= the 5eath arrive5( which was abo9t 8 weeks later@ the wor5s Bman> monthsC in her
acco9nt seem there=ore to be a slip.
1age 82U( note. Omit 8VX( an5 a55 cases :;( 2X;( 2X7( 3XV( V:;( V:W( VX2.
ii-??viii!
ii-2!
+!P#&R 0(((.
#& #&%R- %F +!"+&-+%("+(/&"+&.
S 2. )% iss9e has now to be serio9sl> consi5ere5 which I have several times re=erre5 to as
a =9n5amental one( b9t which co9l5 not be treate5 witho9t a preliminar> st95> o= the
s9bDect o= sensor> hall9cinations. That, as I have trie5 to show( is the or5er o= nat9ral
phenomena to which Bphantasms o= the livingC in general belong@ the> are to be regar5e5
as proDections o= the percipient4s brain b> which his senses are 5eceive5. ,e have =9rther
=o9n5 that in a certain n9mber o= casesAwhich ma> be taken as representing the still
larger n9mber to be cite5 in the =ollowing chaptersAa phantasm o= this kin5 is allege5 to
have coinci5e5 ver> closel> in time with the 5eath( or some serio9s crisis in the li=e( o=
the person whose presence it s9ggeste5. *he E9estion =or 9s now is whether these
coinci5ences can( or cannot( be e?plaine5 as acci5ental. I= the> can, then the theor> o=
telepath>Aso =ar as applie5 to apparitionsA=alls to the gro9n5. I= the> cannot, then the
e?istence o= telepath> as a =act in %at9re is prove5 on the evi5ence@ an5 the proo= co9l5
onl> be resiste5 b> the ass9mption that the evi5ence( or a ver> large part o= it( is in its
main =eat9res 9ntr9stworth>. It is ver> necessar> to 5isting9ish these two E9estionsA
whether the evi5ence ma> be tr9ste5@ an5 i= tr9ste5( what it proves. It is the latter
E9estion that is now be=ore 9s. *he character o= the evi5ence was 5isc9sse5 at some
length in the =o9rth chapter( an5 is to be D95ge5 o= b> the narratives E9ote5 thro9gho9t the
book. In the present chapter it is ass9me5 that these narratives are in the main
tr9stworth>@ that in a large proportion o= them the essential =eat9res o= the caseAi.e., two
marke5 e?periences an5 a time-relation between themAare correctl> recor5e5.
.ere( then( is the iss9e. ) certain n9mber o= coinci5ences o= a partic9lar sort have
occ9rre5: 5i5 the> or 5i5 the> not occ9r b> ii-U! chancer %ow there are 5o9btless some
who 5o not perceive that this E9estion 5eman5s a reasone5 e?amination at all. *he> settle
it 3 priori. BOne is constantl> coming across ver> startling coinci5ences(C the> observe(
Bwhich no one thinks o= ascribing to an>thing b9t chance@ wh> sho9l5 not these( which
are no more startling than man> others( be o= the n9mberrC *his i5ea nee5 har5l> 5etain
9s: the point in o9r cases is( o= co9rse( not that the coinci5ence is startling
2
Athat alone
wo9l5 be insigni=icantAb9t that the sa(e sort o= startling coinci5ence is again an5 again
repeate5. *hat is clearl> a =act which 5eman5s treatment b> a partic9lar metho5( o=ten
vag9el> appeale5 to as Bthe 5octrine o= chances.C *he act9al application o= that 5octrine(
however( even to simple cases( seems to reE9ire more care than is alwa>s bestowe5 9pon
it.
Especiall> is care reE9ire5 in the simple preliminar> matter o= 5eci5ing( be=ore one
begins to calc9late( what the s9bDect-matter o= the calc9lation is to beAwhat precise class
o= phenomena it is to which the 5octrine o= chances is to be applie5. I nee5 onl> recall
Lor5 "ro9gham4s treatment o= his own case PVol. I.( pp. :X8TWQ. .is attempte5
e?planation( as we saw( entirel> 5epen5e5 on his miscalling his e?perience( an5 re=erring
it to the class o= 5reamsAa class n9mero9s eno9gh( as he rightl> perceive5( to a==or5
scope =or n9mbers o= startling coinci5ences. )n5 his remarks ill9strate what is reall> a
ver> common o9tsi5e view o= ps>chical research. $reams( an5 hall9cinations( an5
impressions( an5 warnings( an5 presentimentsAit is hel5Aare the Bps>chicalC stock-in-
tra5e@ an5 these phenomena are all m9ch on a par( an5 ma> all be shown b> the same
arg9ments to be 9n5eserving o= serio9s attention. *here has been the more e?c9se =or this
view( in that those who have claime5 obDective vali5it> =or what others 5ismiss as p9rel>
s9bDective e?periences have o=ten themselves been eE9all> 9n5iscriminating. Even this
book might ii-:! lea5 a critic who con=ine5 his per9sal to the hea5ings o= the chapters to
imagine that 5reams =orm a corner-stone o= the arg9ment@ an5 in a5mitting that topic at
all( we have so =ar lai5 o9rselves open to mis9n5erstan5ing. *h9s a 5isting9ishe5 =oreign
critic o= o9r e==orts tho9ght the s9bDective nat9re o= what we regar5 as telepathic inci5ents
s9==icientl> prove5 b> the s9ggestion that Ban> ph>sician will consi5er it E9ite within the
bo9n5s o= probabilit> that one per cent. o= the pop9lation o= the co9ntr> are s9bDect to
remarkabl> vivi5 drea(s, illusions, visions, [c.(C an5 that each o= these persons is
Bs9bDect to a drea( or vision once a week.C
2
It is obvio9s eno9gh that in circles whose
members have Bspectral ill9sionsC o= their =rien5s as o=ten as once a week( the
appro?imate coinci5ence o= one o= these e?periences with the 5eath o= the correspon5ing
person will be an insigni=icant acci5ent. "9t we have not o9rselves met with an>
specimen o= this class@ an5 the present collection comprises =irst-han5 acco9nts o=
recognise5 apparitions( closel> coinci5ing with the 5eath o= the original( =rom 2;X
percipients( o= whom onl> a small minorit> can recall having e?perience5 even a single
other vis9al hall9cination than the apparition in E9estion.
U
Once again( then( let me repeat
that( tho9gh this work connects the sleeping an5 the waking phenomena in their theoretic
and ps,chological aspects( it care=9ll> an5 e?pressl> separates them in their
de(onstrational aspect. *he e?tent to which either class 5emonstrates the realit> o=
telepath> can onl> be known thro9gh the application o= the 5octrine o= chances@ b9t the
application ii-3! m9st be ma5e to them separatel>( not together@ we m9st not( like Lor5
"ro9gham( arg9e to one class =rom the 5ata o= the other. I have alrea5> applie5 the
5octrine to a partic9lar class o= 5reams( with res9lts which( tho9gh n9mericall> striking(
le=t room =or 5o9bt( owing to the pec9liar 9ntr9stworthiness o= memor> in 5ream-matters.
It remains to appl> it to the waking phantasms@ an5 here I think that the res9lts ma> =airl>
be hel5 to be 5ecisive.
S U. It is clear that the points to be settle5 are two:Athe =reE9enc> o= the phantasms
which have marke5l> correspon5e5 with real events@ an5 the =reE9enc> o= phantasms
which have ha5 no s9ch correspon5ence( an5 have been obvio9sl> an5 wholl> s9bDective
in character. *hese points are absol9tel> essential to an> concl9sion on the E9estion
be=ore 9s@ an5 i= not settle5 in an> other wa>( the> m9st be settle5 b> g9esses or tacit
ass9mptions. *he theor> o= chance-coinci5ence( as oppose5 to that o= telepath>( has so =ar
5epen5e5 on two s9ch ass9mptions. *he =irst is that the coinci5ences themselves are
e.tre(el, rare. *he> can then be acco9nte5 =or as acci5ental. +or we know that there are
s9ch things as hall9cinations representing h9man =orms( which 5o not correspon5 with
an> obDective =act whatever o9tsi5e the organism o= the percipient@ an5 it wo9l5 be rash
to 5en> that the 5eath o= the person represente5 ma> now an5 then( in the worl54s histor>(
have =allen on the same 5a> as the hall9cination. *he secon5 ass9mption is that these
p9rel> s9bDective apparitions o= =orms are e.tre(el, co((on. It can then be arg9e5 that
even a consi5erable n9mber o= them might =all on the same 5a> as the 5eath o= the
correspon5ing h9man being. /9pposing that we co9l5 each o= 9s recall the occasional
e?perience o= ga]ing at =rien5s or relatives in places which were reall> empt>( thenA
since people are perpet9all> 5>ing who are the =rien5s an5 relatives o= some o= 9sAever>
>ear might >iel5 a certain crop o= the coinci5ences.
"9t as soon as we make these ass9mptions e?plicit an5 look at them( we see how baseless
an5 arbitrar> the> are. ,h> sho9l5 either o= them be a5mitte5 witho9t challenger *he
secon5 one especiall> seems oppose5 to what we ma> call the common-sense view o=
or5inar> intelligent men. *he E9estion whether or not a ver> large proportion o= the
pop9lation have ha5 e?perience o= morbi5 or p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations is one( I
s9bmit( where the opponents o= the chance-theor> might =airl> take their stan5 ii-V! on
the or5inar> observation o= e59cate5 persons( an5 have thrown on others the onus o=
proving them wrong. On this point a broa5 view( base5 on one4s general knowle5ge o=
onesel= an5 one4s =ellows( 5oes e?ist@ an5 accor5ing to it( Bspectral ill9sionsCA5istinct
hall9cinations o= the sense o= visionAare ver> =ar =rom the ever>5a> occ9rrences which
the> wo9l5 have to be i= we are to s9ppose that( whenever the> coinci5e in time with the
5eath o= the person seen( the> 5o so b> acci5ent. %a>( i= we take even one o= o9r critics(
an5 bring him =airl> =ace to =ace with the E9estion( BI= ,ou all at once saw in >o9r room a
brother whom >o9 ha5 believe5 to be a h9n5re5 miles awa>@ i= he 5isappeare5 witho9t
the 5oor opening@ an5 i= an ho9r later >o9 receive5 a telegram anno9ncing his s955en
5eathAhow sho9l5 >o9 e?plain the occ9rrenceCr he 5oes not as a r9le repl>( B9is 5a>
an5 ho9r =or 5>ing happene5 also to be (, 5a> an5 ho9r =or a spectral ill9sion( which is
nat9ral eno9gh( consi5ering how common the latter e?perience is.C *he line that he takes
is( B*he s9pposition is abs9r5@ there are no reall> a9thentic cases o= that sort.C Un5er the
imme5iate press9re o= the s9ppose5 =acts( he instinctivel> =eels that the arg9ment o=
chance-coinci5ence wo9l5 not seem e==ective.
/till( Bcommon-senseCAtho9gh it wo9l5 s9pport what I sa>Ais not here the tr9e co9rt o=
appeal. )n5( moreover( it is not 9nanimo9s. On the secon5 point( as on the =irst( I have
receive5 the most 5ivergent replies =rom persons whom I have cas9all> aske5 to give a
g9ess on the s9bDect@ an5 some have g9esse5 the =reE9enc> o= the p9rel> s9bDective
hall9cinations as ver> m9ch belo- what it act9all> is. *he moralAthat we cannot
a5vance a step witho9t statisticsAseems prett> obvio9s( tho9gh the st95ent o= the s9bDect
ma> rea5 ever> wor5 that has ever been p9blishe5 on both si5es o= the arg9ment witho9t
enco9ntering a hint o= the nee5. *here is plent> o= assertion( b9t no =ig9res@ an5 a single
instance( one wa> or the other( seems o=ten to be tho9ght 5ecisive. *o )( who has himsel=
seen a =rien54s =orm at the time o= his 5eath at a 5istance( the connection between the two
=acts seems obvio9s@ "( having hear5 o= a phantasm o= a living person which raise5
apprehensions as to his sa=et>( b9t which Bcame to nothing(C is at once s9re that )4s case
was Ba chanceC I have even seen this view e?pan5e5( an5 a lea5ing review gravel> 9rging
that the coinci5ences m9st be regar5e5 as acci5ental( i= against ever> hall9cination which
has marke5l> correspon5e5 with a real event we can set another which has not. ii-8!
*his is certainl> a statistical arg9mentAo= a sortAan5 might be represente5 as =ollows:
A)t the en5 o= an ho9r4s ri=le-practice at a long-5istance range( the recor5 shows that =or
ever> shot that has hit the b9ll4s-e>e another has misse5 the target: there=ore the shots that
hit the b9ll4s-e>e 5i5 so b> acci5ent.
S :. 1erhaps the neglect o= statistics has in part been 59e to an apparent hopelessness o=
attaining a s9==icient E9antit> o= reliable =acts on which to =o9n5 an arg9mentAto an i5ea
that an> cens9s on which a concl9sion co9l5 be =o9n5e5 wo9l5 have to be carrie5 o9t on
a scale so vast as to be practicall> impossible. B$o >o9 inten5(C I have been sometimes
aske5( Bto ask ever> man an5 woman in Englan5 whether he or she has e?perience5 an>
s9bDective hall9cination 59ring( sa>( the last twent> >ears( an5 also to get a complete
recor5 o= all the allege5 coinci5ences within the same perio5( an5 then to compare the
two listsrC .appil> nothing at all approaching this is reE9ire5. ,e shall =in5 that
appro?imatel> acc9rate =ig9res are necessar> onl> on one pointAthe =reE9enc> o= the
s9bDective hall9cinations@ an5 this can be ascertaine5 b> making inE9iries o= an> =raction
o= the pop9lation which is large an5 varie5 eno9gh to serve as a =air sample o= the whole.
Even this smaller task( however( is a ver> te5io9s one( consisting( as it 5oes =or the most
part( in care=9ll> registering negative in=ormation. *he believer in telepath> ma> =eel that
he is 5oing m9ch more to a5vance his belie= b> narrating a striking positive instance at a
5inner part> than b> ascertaining( =or instance( =rom twent> o= his acE9aintance the 59ll
=act that the> have never e?perience5 a 5istinct vis9al hall9cination. F9st in the same wa>
a scienti=ic lect9rer ma> win more regar5 at the moment b> a sensational e?periment with
prett> colo9rs an5 lo95 e?plosions than b> laborio9s E9antitative work in his laborator>.
"9t it m9st be persistentl> impresse5 on the =rien5s o= Bps>chical researchC that the
laborio9s E9antitative work has to be 5one@ an5 it is some satis=action to think that the
=acts themselves ma> stan5 as material =or others to 5eal with( even i= the concl9sions
here 5rawn =rom them are incorrect.
%or has the 59lness o= the work been b> an> means the onl> 5i==ic9lt>: its p9rpose has
been wi5el> misconceive5( an5 its scope has thereb> been m9ch c9rtaile5. *he proposal
=or a n9merical estimate was intro59ce5 in a circ9lar letter( ever> wor5 o= which might
have been penne5 b> a ]ealo9s sceptic( an?io9s above all things to prove that( in cases
where the phantasm o= a 5istant person has appeare5 ii-W! sim9ltaneo9sl> with the
person4s 5eath( the coinci5ence has been an acci5ental one. %ot a s>llable was 9se5
impl>ing that the a9thors o= the letter ha5 themselves an> opinion as to whether
phantasms to which no real event correspon5s are or are not common things@ it was
simpl> pointe5 o9t that it is necessar> to have some i5ea ho- common the> are( be=ore
5eci5ing whether phantasms to which real events do correspon5 are or are not to be =airl>
acco9nte5 =or b> chance. )n5 since sensor> hall9cinations( whatever their =reE9enc>( are
at an> rate phenomena as completel> a5mitte5 as measles or colo9r-blin5ness( it 5i5 not
occ9r to 9s that the =ollowing E9estion co9l5 possibl> be mis9n5erstoo5:A
!ince Januar, 2( 27W3( have ,ouE-hen in good health, free fro( an.iet,, and co(pletel,
a-a1eEhad a vivid i(pression of seeing or being touched b, a hu(an being, or of
hearing a voice or sound -hich suggested a hu(an presence, -hen no one -as thereJ
es or noJ
2
-learl>( the more ,eses are receive5 to this E9estionAi.e., the co((oner the p9rel>
s9bDective hall9cinations prove to beAthe stronger is the arg9ment =or chance as an
a5eE9ate e?planation o= the instances o= coinci5ence@ the more noesAthe rarer the
p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations prove to beAthe stronger the arg9ment that the 5eath or
other crisis which coincides with the apparition is in some wa> the cause o= the
apparition. ,e sho9l5 have e?pecte5( i= an> inD9stice was to be 5one 9s( that it wo9l5
have taken the =orm o= attrib9ting to 9s an inor5inate 5esire =or noes. *o o9r ama]ement
we =o9n5 that we were s9ppose5 to be aiming e?cl9sivel> at ,esesAan5 not onl> at
,eses, b9t at ,eses e?pan5e5 into ortho5o? Bghost-storiesCAto be an?io9s( in =act( that
ever> one in an5 o9t o= "e5lam who ha5 ever imagine5 something that was not there( or
mistaken one obDect =or another( sho9l5 tell 9s his e?perience( with a view that we might
imme5iatel> interpret it as 59e to the intervention o= a boge>. ) more sing9lar instance o=
the power o= e.pectanc,Ao= the power o= gathering =rom wor5s an> ii-7! meaning that
a critic comes pre5ispose5 to =in5 thereAcan har5l> be conceive5. ) statistical E9estion
on a per=ectl> well-recognise5 point in the nat9ral histor> o= the senses was treate5( in
scienti=ic an5 9nscienti=ic E9arters alike( as a mani=esto o= =aith in Bs9pernat9ralC
agencies@ an5 we =o9n5 o9rselves solemnl> reb9ke5 =or ignoring the morbi5 an5
s9bDective character o= man> hall9cinationsAthat is to sa>( =or ignoring the =act which we
ha5 set =orth as the ver> basis o= o9r appeal( an5 =rom which its whole an5 sole point was
5erive5.
S 3. I= I have 5welt th9s on 5i==ic9lties an5 misconceptions( it is not that I ma> boast o=
having altogether tri9mphe5 over them. On the contrar>( the> have ma5e it impossible to
attain more than a =raction o= what I once hope5. I began with the i5ea that the cens9s
might be e?ten5e5 to V;(;;; persons@ the gro9p act9all> incl95e5 n9mbers onl> VW;V.
/till( tho9gh this is certainl> not a show> n9mber( an> one who is =amiliar with work in
averages will( I think( a5mit that it is a5eE9ate =or the p9rpose@ an5 the =rien5s who have
assiste5 in the collection o= the answers Pto whom I take this opport9nit> o= o==ering m>
grate=9l thanksQ nee5 certainl> not =eel that their labo9r has been in vain. It is possible =or
a s(all gro9p to be E9ite =airl> representative. *h9s( i= V; males were taken at ran5om
=rom the inhabitants o= Lon5on( i= the heights o= their respective owners were meas9re5(
an5 a55e5 together( an5 i= the total were 5ivi5e5 b> V;( the res9lt might be taken as
representing( within e?tremel> small limits o= error( the average height o= a59lt male
Lon5oners@ we sho9l5 not get a m9ch more correct res9lt b> taking the mean o= V;;( or
V;;(;;; heights. *his is the simplest sort o= case. ,hen it is a E9estion o= what
proportion o= the pop9lation have ha5 a certain e?perience which man> o= them have not
ha5( we m9st take a larger specimen-n9mber( a5D9sting it to some e?tent b> o9r ro9gh
previo9s knowle5ge. +or instance( i= we want to know what proportion o= the inhabitants
o= Lon5on have ha5 t>phoi5 =ever( it wo9l5 not be sa=e to take V; o= them at ran5om( an5
then( i= we =o9n5 that 2; o= these ha5 ha5 the illness( to arg9e that one-=i=th o= the
inhabitants o= Lon5on ha5 ha5 it. O9r ro9gh knowle5ge is that a great man> have not ha5
it( an5 that a goo5 man> have@ an5 in s9ch circ9mstances we sho9l5 probabl> get a ver>
appreciabl> more certain res9lt b> enlarging o9r representative gro9p to V;;.
2
I=( again(
the ii-X! e?perience was o= e?traor5inar> rarit>( s9ch as lepros>( the n9mber o= o9r
specimen-gro9p wo9l5 have to be again increase5@ even i= we took as man> as V;;(;;;
people at ran5om( that is abo9t one-ninth o= the pop9lation( an5 ascertaine5 that one o=
them was a leper( it wo9l5 not be sa=e to concl95e that there were nine lepers in Lon5on.
%ow o9r ro9gh knowle5ge as to hall9cinations wo9l5 place them in this regar5 ver>
m9ch more on a par with t>phoi5 =ever than with lepros>. ,e realise that a great man>
people have not ha5 e?perience o= them@ b9t we realise also that the> are in no wa>
marvello9s or pro5igio9s events. )n5 i= a gro9p o= VW;V persons seems a somewhat
arbitrar> n9mber b> which to test their =reE9enc>( the view that it is too s(all an5 that
V;(;;; wo9l5 be greatl> pre=erable( is one that can at an> rate har5l> be hel5 with
consistenc> b> a5vocates o= the theor> o= chance-coinci5ence. +or the main prop o= that
theor>( as we have seen( is the ass9mption that p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations are
tolerabl, co((on e?periences@ whereas it is onl> o= decidedl, rare e?periences that the
=reE9enc>( in relation to the whole pop9lation( wo9l5 be m9ch more correctl> estimate5
=rom the proportion o= fift, tho9san5 people that have ha5 them than =rom the proportion
o= five tho9san5 people that have ha5 them. .owever( the a5eE9ac> o= the latter n9mber
approves itsel= most clearl> in the co9rse o= the cens9s itsel=. ,e =in5 as we go on that
hall9cinations are s9==icientl> 9ncommon to =orce 9s to take o9r specimen-gro9p o=
persons in tho9san5s( not in h9n5re5s( b9t not so 9ncommon as to =orce 9s to take ver>
man> tho9san5s: a=ter the =irst tho9san5 is reache5 the proportion o= B>esesC to BnoesC
keeps prett> 9ni=orml> stea5>Aas wo9l5( no 5o9bt( be the case i= the E9estion aske5
relate5 not to hall9cinations b9t to t>phoi5 =ever.
)s regar5s the sort o= persons =rom whom the answers have been collecte5Ai= there have
been an> answers =rom persons whose 5e=iciencies o= e59cation or intelligence ren5ere5
them 9n=it s9bDects =or a simple inE9ir> bearing on their personal e?perience( the> =orm( I
ma> con=i5entl> sa>( an inappreciable =raction o= the whole. 1erhaps a =o9rth o= the
persons canvasse5 have been in the position o= shopkeepers an5 artisans or e(plo,4s o=
vario9s sorts@ b9t the large maDorit> have belonge5 to what wo9l5 be known as the
e59cate5 class( being relatives an5 =rien5s o= the vario9s collectors. It is( no 5o9bt( sa=est
to ass9me that a certain 5egree o= e59cation is a pre-reE9isite to even the simplest =orm o=
participation in scienti=ic ii-2;! work@ an5 this con5ition( it will be observe5( in no wa>
5etracts =rom the representative character o= the gro9p. ) =ew tho9san5 e59cate5 persons(
taken at ran5om( present an ab9n5antl> s9==icient variet> o= t>pes@ an5( in5ee5( =or the
p9rpose in view( the gro9p is the more tr9l> representative =or belonging mainl> to the
e59cate5 class( inasm9ch as it is =rom that class that the maDorit> o= the cases which are
presente5 in this work as probabl> telepathic are also 5rawn.
S V. *o sa>( however( that the answers came in the main =rom an e59cate5 class( is not( o=
co9rse( a g9arantee o= the acc9rac> o= the cens9s@ an5 be=ore giving the act9al res9lts it
ma> be well to =orestall some possible obDections.
It ma> be sai5( to begin with( that people ma> have ha5 the e?perience inE9ire5 abo9t(
b9t ma> have =orgotten the =act. *his is the obDection which was consi5ere5 above in
respect o= 5reams o= 5eath( an5 which there seeme5 to have 5eci5e5 =orce. In respect o=
waking hall9cinations o= the senses( its =orce is ver> m9ch less. %o 5o9bt hall9cinations
ma> e?hibit all 5egrees o= vag9eness@ an5 it is ver> possible that e?tremel> slight an5
momentar> specimens ma> make little impression( an5 ma> rapi5l> be =orgotten@ b9t =or
the p9rposes o= the cens9s it wo9l5 not in the least matter that persons whose e?perience
ha5 been o= this slight an5 momentar> kin5 sho9l5 answer no instea5 o= ,es. It wo9l5
have been 9nwise to complicate the E9estion aske5 b> an attempt to 5e=ine the e?tent o=
vivi5ness that the hall9cination m9st have reache5( to be reckone5 as an item in o9r
cens9s@ b9t clearl> the onl> s9bDective hall9cinations o= which it reall> concerns 9s to
ascertain the =reE9enc> are those which are in themselves as distinct and i(pressive as
the hall9cinations that we represent as telepathic@ an5 an> that =all below this point o=
5istinctness an5 impressiveness have no bearing on the arg9ment. )n5( per contra, it will
be seen that b> not limiting the wor5ing o= the E9estion to 5istinct an5 impressive
hall9cinations( the collector e?poses himsel= to receiving the answer B>esC =rom persons
whose hall9cination act9all> was ver> vag9e an5 momentar>( b9t who 5o( as it happens(
remember its occ9rrence. In point o= =act( this has occ9rre5 a goo5 man> times@ an5 the
swelling o= the list o= ,eses b> this means probabl> o9tweighs an> losses o= what sho9l5
have been gen9ine ,eses thro9gh =ail9re o= memor>. +or consi5er what s9ch =ail9re o=
memor> wo9l5 impl>. ) =act o= sight( hearing( or to9ch( as clear an5 9neE9ivocal as most
o= the sensor> impressions which we a559ce as evi5ence =or telepath>( m9st be ver> clear
an5 ii-22! 9neE9ivocal in5ee5. )n5 the absence o= the normal e?ternal ca9se o= s9ch an
impression( when recognise5( can har5l> =ail to give rise to gen9ine s9rpriseAthe
s9rprise that =ollows a novel an5 9nacco9ntable e?perience: this has been the res9lt o=
almost all the BtelepathicC phantasms( E9ite in5epen5entl> o= the news which a=terwar5s
seeme5 to connect them with realit>. %ow( can it be a common thing =or an e?perience as
9n9s9al an5 s9rprising as this to be( within a 5o]en >ears or an> shorter perio5( so 9tterl>
obliterate5 =rom a person4s min5 that his memor> remains a blank( even when he is
pointe5l> aske5 to tr> an5 recall whether he has ha5 s9ch an e?perience or notr
) secon5 obDection is this. It has been s9ggeste5 that 9ntr9e answers ma> be given b>
persons wishing to am9se themselves at o9r e?pense. %ow I cannot 5en> that persons
ma> e?ist who wo9l5 be gla5 to thwart 9s( an5 am9se themselves( even at the cost o=
9ntr9th. "9t when the E9estion is p9t( B$o >o9 remember having ever 5istinctl> seen the
=ace or =orm o= a person known to >o9( when that person was not reall> thererC it is not at
once obvio9s whether the a(using 9ntr9th wo9l5 be B#esC or B%oC In neither case wo9l5
the Doke seem to be o= a ver> e?hilarating E9alit>@ b9t( on the whole( I sho9l5 sa> that
B#esC wo9l5 be the =avo9rite( as at an> rate representing the rarer an5 less commonplace
e?perience. B#esC is( moreover( the answer which Pas I have e?plaine5Q it has been ver>
generall> tho9ght that we o9rselves pre=erre5@ so that to give it might pro59ce a piE9ant
sense o= =ooling 9s to the top o= o9r bent. "9t the rea5er has seen that( so =ar as the cens9s
might be th9s a==ecte5( it wo9l5 be a==ecte5 in a 5irection adverse to the telepathic
arg9ment@ =or the commoner the p9rel> cas9al hall9cinations are reckone5 to be( the
stronger is the arg9ment that the visions which correspon5 with real events 5o so b,
chance. )n5 i= the n9mber o= these coinci5ent visions makes the chance-arg9ment
9ntenable( even when the basis o= estimation is a==ecte5 in the wa> s9ppose5( 3 fortiori
wo9l5 this be the case i= the ,eses were re59ce5 to their tr9e n9mber.
#et another obDection is that persons who have ha5 hall9cinations ma> sometimes be
5isincline5 to a5mit the =act( an5 ma> sa> B%oC instea5 o= B#esC in sel=-5e=ence. *his
so9rce o= error m9st be =rankl> a5mitte5@ b9t I =eel tolerabl> con=i5ent that it has not
a==ecte5 the res9lts to a reall> 5etrimental e?tent. )n> rel9ctance to give the tr9e answer
is( as a r9le( observable at the moment@ an5 ii-2U! in most cases it 5isappears when the
p9rpose o= the cens9s is e?plaine5( an5 care=9l s9ppression o= names is g9arantee5. )n5
against this ten5enc> to swell the noes ma> be set several reasons wh>( E9ite apart =rom
9ntr9th( a cens9s like this is s9re to pro59ce an 9n=air n9mber o= ,eses. }9ite apart =rom
an> wish to 5eceive( the ver> general impression that ,eses were what was speciall>
wante5 co9l5 not b9t a==ect some o= the answers given( at an> rate to the e?tent o=
ca9sing in5istinct impressions to be represente5 as vivi5 sensor> e?periences@
2
an5 it has
also le5 some o= those who have ai5e5 in the collection to p9t the E9estions to persons o=
whom it was 1no-n beforehand that their answer wo9l5 be ,es. Moreover( when
E9estion-=orms to be =ille5 9p are 5istrib9te5 on a large scale( it is impossible to bring it
home to the min5s o= man> o= the persons whose answer wo9l5 be B%oC that there is an,
use in recor5ing that answer. *he> probabl> have a vag9e i5ea that the> have hear5
Bnegative evi5enceC 5isparage5( an5 =ail to see that ever> percentage in the worl5
involves itAthat we cannot know that one man in 2;; is si? =eet high witho9t evi5ence
that XX men in 2;; are not si? =eet high. *his 5i==ic9lt> has been enco9ntere5 again an5
again@ an5 on the whole I have no 5o9bt that the proportion o= ,eses is 5eci5e5l> larger
than it o9ght to be. +ort9natel>( incorrectness on this si5e nee5 not tro9ble 9sAits onl>
e==ect being that the telepathic arg9ment( i= it prevail( will prevail tho9gh base5 on
5istinctl> 9n=avo9rable ass9mptions.
S 8. )n5 now to procee5 to the act9al res9lts o= the cens9s( an5 to the calc9lations base5
thereon. I will begin with a95itor> cases. O= the VW;V persons who have been aske5 the
E9estion( it appears that X8 have( within the last 2U >ears( when awake(
U
e?perience5 an
a95itor> hall9cination o= a voice. *he voice is allege5 to have been 9nrecognise5 in 37
cases( an5 recognise5 in 33( in 2: o= which latter cases the person whose voice seeme5 to
be hear5 was known to have been 5ea5 =or some time. In the remaining 3 cases it has
been ii-2:! impossible to 5iscover whether the voice was recognise5 or not@ the
n9mbers being so even( I shall perhaps be D9sti=ie5 in assigning U o= these to one class(
an5 U to the other. *he comp9tation will be clearer i= we consi5er onl> the cases in which
the voice was recognise5( an5 the person whom it s9ggeste5 was living@ these( then ma>
be taken as ::. "9t( o9t o= the :: persons( 2;
2
pro=ess to have ha5 the e?perience more
than once. /9ch cases o= repetition( or at an> rate most o= them( might =airl> have been
5isregar5e5@ =or since the large maDorit> o= the persons who have ha5 one o= the
coinci5ental hall9cinations( which appear later in the calc9lation( can recall no other
hall9cination besi5es that one( I might in the same proportion con=ine the present list(
which consists wholl> o= non-coinci5ental or p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations( to
similarl> uni2ue e?periences( an5 leave o9t o= acco9nt those occ9rring to people who
seem rather more pre-5ispose5 to s9ch a==ections. .owever( in or5er to make ample
allowance =or the possibilit> that the witnesses in the coinci5ental cases ma> have ha5
s9bDective hall9cinations which the> have =orgotten( let 9s take the repetitions into
acco9nt@ an5 let 9s s9ppose each o= the 2; persons D9st mentione5 to have ha5 3
e?periences o= the sort within the speci=ie5 2U >ears. *he most convenient wa> o= making
this allowance will be to a55 :; to the =ormer total o= ::Ai.e., to take the n9mber o=
persons who have ha5 the e?perience 9n5er the given con5itions as 8:. *his amo9nts to 2
in ever> X; o= the gro9p o= VW;V persons name5( or Pi= that gro9p be accepte5 as =airl>
representative o= the pop9lation o= this co9ntr>Q 2 in ever> X; o= the pop9lation.Y~Z
Let 9s now see what the proportion o= the pop9lation who have ha5 s9ch an e?perience
o9ght to be( on the h>pothesis that the similar impressions o= recognise5 voices presente5
in this book as telepathic were reall> chance-coinci5ences. )s be=ore in the case o=
5reams PVol. I.( pp. :;:TWQ( I take cases where the coinci5ence o= the hall9cination was
with deathAthe reasons =or this selection being P2Q that 5eath is the prominent event in
o9r telepathic cases@ an5 PUQ that =or the p9rpose o= an acc9rate n9merical estimate it is
important to select an event o= a ver> 5e=inite an5 9nmistakeable kin5( s9ch as onl>
happens once to each in5ivi59al. )gain also( in accor5ance with the o==icial ret9rns which
give UU v 2;;; as the ann9al 5eath-rate( the proportion o= an>one4s relatives an5
acE9aintances ii-23! who 5ie in the co9rse o= 2U >ears is taken as U83 v 2;;;@ an5 as we
have seen PVol. I.( pp. :;VT8Q( it will make no appreciable 5i==erence to the calc9lation
whether a person4s circle o= relatives an5 acE9aintances( the voice o= an> one o= whom
his hall9cination ma> represent( is large or small. *he probabilit>( then( that a person
hall9cinate5 in the wa> s9ppose5 will( b> acci5ent( have his hall9cination within 2U ho9rs
on either si5e o= the 5eath o= the relative or acE9aintance whose voice it represents( is 2 in
2U y :8V y 2;;; v U83( or 2 v 28(VX2. *hat is to sa>( each coinci5ental hall9cination o= the
sort in E9estion implies 28(VX; p9rel> s9bDective cases o= the same t>pe. %ow o9r
collection ma> be reckone5 to incl95e 2: =irst-han5 an5 well-atteste5 coinci5ental cases
o= this kin5( which have occ9rre5 in this co9ntr> within the speci=ie5 time.
2
On the
h>pothesis( there=ore( that these cases were acci5ental( the circle o= persons =rom whom
the> are 5rawn o9ght to s9ppl> altogether( in the speci=ie5 2U >ears( U2V(8W; e?amples.
*he ne?t point to 5eci5e is the si]e o= the circle =rom which o9r coinci5ental cases are
5rawn. *he n9mber here is not one that it is possible to estimate acc9ratel>: what m9st be
5one( there=ore( is to make s9re that o9r margin is on the si5e a5verse to the telepathic
arg9ment( i.e., to take a n9mber clearl> in e?cess o= the tr9e one. O9r chie= means o=
obtaining in=ormation has been b> occasional reE9ests in newspapers. ) million-an5-a-
hal= wo9l5 probabl> be an o9tsi5e estimate o= the circ9lation o= the papers which have
containe5 o9r appeals@ b9t it b> no means =ollows that ever> paragraph in a paper is
st95ie5 b> ever> person( or b> a tenth o= the persons( whom the paper reaches. .owever(
I will make the e?treme ass9mption that as man> as a E9arter o= a million o= people have
b> this means become aware o= the kin5 o= evi5ence that was being so9ghtAan
ass9mption which probabl> arrogates to 9s who so9ght it man> times as m9ch =ame as
we reall> possess@ an5 I will allow another V;(;;; =or those who have become aware o=
the obDect o= o9r work thro9gh private channels. *his wo9l5 raise the n9mber o= the circle
=rom whom o9r evi5ence is 5rawn to :;;(;;;( or abo9t 2 v 7; o= the a59lt pop9lation.
U
%o
one( I think( ii-2V! will maintain on re=lection( that I am taking too low an estimate.
,o9l5 an>one( =or instance( s9ppose that i= he canvasse5 the =irst 2;;; a59lts whom he
met in the streets o= an> large town( he wo9l5 =in5 that 2U or 2: o= them ha5( within the
last three >ears( been aware o= what we wante5( an5 o= the a55ress to which in=ormation
might be sentran5 =or r9ral 5istricts s9ch a s9pposition wo9l5 be even more violent. "9t I
am =9rther s9pposing that this area o= :;;(;;; persons has been 5raine5 5r>Aagain an
e?travagant concession@ =or tho9gh it is easil> ass9me5 that an>one who has ever ha5 a
Bps>chicalC e?perience is 5esiro9s to p9blish it abroa5( as a matter o= =act people 5o not
9s9all> take the tro9ble to write a letter abo9t =amil> an5 personal matters to per=ect
strangers( on the gro9n5 o= a newspaper appeal@ an5 I have alrea5> mentione5 that we
o9rselves know o= m9ch evi5ence which the rel9ctance or in5i==erence o= the parties
concerne5 has ma5e 9navailable =or o9r collection@ we cannot( there=ore( 5o9bt that m9ch
more remains 9nelicite5 even among those whom o9r appeal has reache5. ) =9rther
strong arg9ment =or the e?istence o= these 9nelicite5 =acts is the ver> large proportion o=
o9r act9al cases that has been 5rawn =rom a circle o= o9r own( 9nconnecte5 with
Bps>chicalC inE9ir>A=rom the =rien5s( or the =rien5s4 =rien5s( o= a gro9p o= some hal=-
5o]en persons who have ha5 no s9ch e?periences themselves( an5 who have no reason to
s9ppose their =rien5s or their =rien5s4 =rien5s better s9pplie5 with them than an>bo5>
else4s.
2
.ere( then( is the concl9sion to which we shall be 5riven( i= o9r coinci5ental cases were
reall> p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations( an5 the coinci5ence was an acci5ent:Athat in a
circle o= :;;(;;;( within 2U >ears( U2V(8W; s9bDective hall9cinations o= the t>pe in
E9estion have taken place@ that is that( on an average( W persons in ever> 2; have ha5
s9ch an e?perience within the time. "9t the res9lt o= the cens9s above 5escribe5 showe5
the proportion to be 2 person in ever> X; onl>. *h9s the theor> o= chance-coinci5ence( as
applie5 to this ii-28! class o= cases( wo9l5 reE9ire that the proportion o= those who have
not ha5( to those who have ha5( a s9bDective hall9cination o= a recognise5 voice sho9l5
be 8: times as large as it has been shown to be@ that is( wo9l5 reE9ire either that the
s9bDective hall9cinations sho9l5 be 8: times as n9mero9s as the> act9all> are( or else that
the circle =rom whom o9r coinci5ental cases are 5rawn sho9l5 amo9nt to 8: times the
ass9me5 si]eAin other wor5s( that o9r e?istence an5 obDects sho9l5 have been
prominentl> be=ore the min5s o= more than three-=o9rths o= the a59lt pop9lation o= the
co9ntr>s )nother =orm o= the estimate is as =ollows. *he probabilit> that a person( taken
at ran5om( will( in the co9rse o= 2U >ears( have the =orm o= hall9cination in E9estion is
2 v X;@ the probabilit> that an> assigne5 member o= the general pop9lation( an5 there=ore
an> partic9lar person whose phantasmal voice is hear5( will 5ie within 2U ho9rs o= an
assigne5 point o= time is UU v 2;;; y 2 v :8V@ hence the probabilit> that( in the co9rse o=
2U >ears( a hall9cination o= this =orm and the 5eath o= the person whose voice seems to be
hear5 will =all within 2U ho9rs o= one another is 2 v X; y UU v 2;;; y 2 v :8V( or almost
e?actl> 2 in 2(V;;(;;;. )n5 the circle =rom which o9r coinci5ental cases are 5rawn is
ass9me5 to be :;;(;;;. +rom these 5ata it ma> be calc9late5 that the o55s against the
occ9rrence( b> acci5ent( o= as man> coinci5ences o= the t>pe in E9estion as that circle
pro59ce5( are (ore than a trillion to 1.
S W. "9t the reductio ad absurdu( becomes =ar more striking when we appl> the 5octrine
o= chances to visual cases. O9t o= the VW;V persons taken at ran5om( o= whom the above
E9estion was aske5( onl> U2 co9l5 recall having( in the con5itions name5 an5 within the
speci=ie5 2U >ears( e?perience5 a vis9al hall9cination representing a living person known
to them. "9t two o= the U2 ha5 ha5 U e?periences o= the sort@ so let 9s take the total as
U:.
2
*hat is( the e?perience has =allen to the lot o= one U37th o= the gro9p o= persons
aske5( or( i= that gro9p be =airl> representative( to 2 person in ever> U37 o= the
pop9lation.
U
%ow( D9st as be=ore( each coinci5ental ii-2W! hall9cination o= the sort in
E9estion( s9pposing it to have been p9rel> s9bDective an5 the coinci5ence to have been
acci5ental( sho9l5 stan5 =or 28(VX; p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations. "9t o9r collection
incl95es :2 =irst-han5
2
an5 well-atteste5 coinci5ental cases o= this t>pe( which have
occ9rre5 in this co9ntr> within the speci=ie5 time@
U
an5 the circle o= persons =rom whom
the> were 5rawnAliberall> s9ppose5( as be=ore( to n9mber :;;(;;;Ao9ght( there=ore( to
s9ppl> altogether( in the speci=ie5 2U >ears( V23(UX; e?amples. *hat is to sa>( it o9ght to
have happene5 on an average to ever>bo5> once( an5 to most people twice( within the
given time( 5istinctl> to see an absent relation or acE9aintance in a part o= space that was
act9all> vacant. "9t the cens9s has shown that( within the given time( onl> abo9t 2 in
ever> U37 persons has ha5 s9ch an e?perience even once. *h9s the gro9p o= vis9al
coinci5ental cases now in E9estion( i= ascribe5 to acci5ent( wo9l5 reE9ire either that the
s9bDective hall9cinations sho9l5 be more than :X8 times as n9mero9s as the> act9all> are@
or else that the circle =rom whom o9r coinci5ental cases are 5rawn sho9l5 amo9nt to
more than :X8 times the ass9me5 si]eAin other wor5s( that o9r e?istence an5 obDects
sho9l5 have been prominentl> be=ore the min5s o= ever> a59lt member o= a pop9lation V
times as large as the e?isting one.
*he secon5 =orm o= estimate in the last section( applie5 to vis9al cases( will give as the
probabilit> that the hall9cination an5 the 5eath will =all within 2U ho9rs o= one another(
2 v U37 y UU v 2;;; y 2 v :8V( or 2 in 3(223(V3V. )n5 the circle =rom which o9r
coinci5ental cases are 5rawn is ass9me5 to be :;;(;;;. +rom these 5ata it ma> be
calc9late5 that the o55s against the occ9rrence( b> acci5ent( o= as man> coinci5ences o=
the t>pe in E9estion as the :2 which that circle pro59ce5( are abo9t a thousand billion
trillion trillion trillions to 1. Or( to p9t it in >et another wa>Athe theor> o= chances(
which gives 2 as the most probable n9mber o= coinci5ences o= the t>pe in E9estion =or
ever> 3(223(V3V o= the pop9lation to >iel5( will give 8 as the most ii-27! probable
n9mber =or the whole a59lt pop9lation to >iel5( within the given perio5. #et we 5raw
more than V times that n9mber =rom a =raction o= the a59lt pop9lation which can onl> b>
an e?travagantl> liberal estimate be ass9me5 to amo9nt to an 7;th part o= the whole( an5
which has been ver> ina5eE9atel> canvasse5.
S 7. In the above estimates( I have allowe5 to the so-calle5 coinci5ence the rather wi5e
limit o= 2U ho9rs. "9t in most o= the act9al cases it has been m9ch closer than this@ an5 it
will be worth while to show how a single case o= ver> close coinci5ence ma> legitimatel>
strengthen the arg9ment. +irst( it m9st be 9nreserve5l> a5mitte5 that a single case( i= it
stoo5 alone an5 no similar one ha5 ever been hear5 o=( wo9l5 have no cogenc> whatever
as evi5ence o= the operation o= an>thing be>on5 chance. *he most e?traor5inar>
coinci5ence( as above remarke5( ma> >et be totall> insigni=icant. *he 3 priori
improbabilit> that the tallest man o= the cent9r> will be born 59ring a transit o= Ven9s is
enormo9s@ b9t s9ch a conD9nction o= events( i= it happene5( might be at once an5 with
moral certaint> ascribe5 to acci5ent@ an5 with eE9al certaint> might it be pre5icte5 that
s9ch a conD9nction wo9l5 never rec9r. )n5 witho9t resorting to imaginar> e?amples( we
o=ten enco9nter conD9nctions an5 coinci5ences which wo9l5 have appeare5( be=ore the>
happene5( to be e?tremel> improbable( b9t the happening o= which is none the less
clearl> acci5ental. *he o55s are ver> great against two o= the =oremost men in a cent9r>
being born on the same 5a>@ >et this happene5 in the case o= $arwin an5 Lincoln( an5 no
one imagines that one birth 5epen5e5 on the other. BE?traor5inar> coinci5encesC are( in
=act( E9ite or5inar> things@ an5 onl> when previo9s e?perience has given 9s gro9n5 =or
s9specting Phowever =aintl>Q that the conD9nction in time or special combination is 59e to
some positive ca9sal link( can we connect the 3 priori improbabilit> o= a new case with
an X posteriori arg9ment that cases o= that t>pe are not 59e to chance.
2
%ow the res9lt o=
S W ma> be ii-2X! s9mmarise5 as =ollows. *he cens9s lea5s 9s to in=er that( 59ring the
>ears 27W3T7V( o9t o= :;;(;;; inhabitants o= this co9ntr> taken at ran5om( U: y
:;;(;;; v VW;V or 2U;X have ha5 a recognise5 vis9al hall9cination( representing a living
person( which 5i5 not coinci5e with the 5eath o= that person. )n5 59ring the same perio5(
o9t o= the same n9mber o= persons Ps9pposing o9r inE9iries reall> to have e?ten5e5 to so
wi5e a circle(Q at least :2 have ha5 a recognise5 vis9al hall9cination which 5i5 coinci5e
Ain the sense o= =alling withing 2U ho9rs o=Athe 5eath o= the person seen. *hat is( o9t o=
2U;X :2 or 2U3; hall9cinations( :2( or 2 in 3;( have =allen within 2U ho9rs o= the 5eath
o= the person seen. %ow let 9s appl> this concl9sion to case U7 PVol. I.( p. U2;Q. ,hen Mr.
/. ha5 his vis9al hall9cination representing his =rien5( he wo9l5 have been D9sti=ie5 in
regar5ing the probabilit> that his =rien5 wo9l5 prove to have 5ie5 within 2U ho9rs o= the
vision as 2 in 3;@ whereas( i= there was no gro9n5 at all =or s9rmising that a ca9sal
connection ma> e?ist between 5eaths an5 apparitions( he wo9l5 onl> have been D9sti=ie5
in regar5ing the probabilit> o= his =rien54s 5>ing on that 5a> as abo9t 2 in U;(33;A
estimate5 =rom the 5eath-rate which tables o= mortalit> give =or men o= his =rien54s age
P37 >earsQ. "9t it will be observe5 that the 5eath an5 the apparition( =or a9ght we know(
were absol9tel> sim9ltaneo9s( an5 at an> rate were within a E9arter o= an ho9r o= one
another. /ince( however( the 5eath ma> have occ9rre5 2U min9tes be=ore or 2U min9tes
a=ter the apparition( we m9st take into acco9nt the 5o9ble perio5@ or( to allow =or
5i==erence o= clocks( let 9s sa> hal=-an-ho9r. %ow( on the s9pposition that telepath> is a
realit> in the worl5( closeness o= coinci5ence rather increases than otherwise the
probabilit> that the 5eath an5 the apparition in an> partic9lar case are ca9sall> connecte5@
whereas the probabilit> o= a 5eath acci5entall> =alling in a partic9lar hal=-ho9r is( o=
co9rse( 37 times less than that o= its =alling on a partic9lar 5a>. *h9s the 3 priori
probabilit> that the 5eath( i= 9nconnecte5 with the apparition( wo9l5 =all in the partic9lar
hal=-ho9r in which the apparition =ell( was 2 in X72(2U;@ an5 in consi5ering the E9estion
o= connection( it is this e?tremel> small 5egree o= probabilit> which has to be contraste5
with the 2 in 3; which we have taken as ii-U;! abo9t the tr9e 4 priori probabilit> that
this partic9lar hal=-ho9r wo9l5 prove to be that o= the 5eath.
"9t the signi=icance o= e?treme closeness o= coinci5ence ma> be >et more strikingl>
s9ggeste5( i= we consi5er the probabilit> o= the Doint event be=ore either part o= it has
occ9rre5. M> cens9s gives 2 v U37 as the probabilit> that a partic9lar in5ivi59al wo9l5
within 2U >ears have a vis9al hall9cination o= a =rien5 not known to be 5ea5. Mr. /. has(
sa>( . =rien5s( o= whom abo9t a =o9rth wo9l5 nat9rall> 5ie in this perio5@ an5 the perio5
comprises U2;(U3; hal=-ho9rs. *h9s the probabilit> o= Mr. /.4s hitting o== b> chance s9ch
a coinci5ence as he 5i5 hit o== was 2 v U37 y 2 v ? y ? v 3 y 2 v U2;(U3; or abo9t 2 in U;7
millions.
2
It might( I think( be sa=el> sai5 that( in the worl54s histor>( no one has ever
contemplate5 the possible participation o= himsel=( or o= an> other speci=ie5 person( in an
event o= this 5egree o= 9nlikelihoo5( an5 has a=terwar5s =o9n5 his i5ea realise5. "9t apart
=rom this( the points to be speciall> weighe5 are P2Q that Mr. /.4s case was 5rawn =rom a
ver> inconsi5erable =raction o= the pop9lationAa =raction liberall> estimate5 at 2 v 7;@
an5 PUQ that this =raction o= the pop9lation has s9pplie5 man> other parallel instances o=
great closeness o= coinci5ence. *aking onl> the Bbor5erlan5C an5 waking phantasms
recor5e5 on =irst-han5 testimon> in the main bo5> o= this work( I =in5 that 88 o= them are
represente5 as having occ9rre5 within an ho9r o= the event on the agent4s si5eAwhich
event in 32 o= the 88 cases was 5eath@ 2V more( accor5ing to the =acts state5( were within
two ho9rs o= the event( which in 2; o= the 2V cases was 5eath@ an5 in nearl> all these
cases( as well as in several others( it is E9ite possible that the coinci5ence was absol9tel>
e?act. I 5o not =orget( what I have e?pressl> pointe5 o9t in -hapter IV.( that e?aggeration
o= the closeness o= the coinci5ence is a likel> =orm =or e?aggeration in s9ch matters to
take@
U
b9t in a consi5erable ii-U2! n9mber o= the cases mentione5( goo5 reason is shown
=or believing it to have been as close as is state5.
"9t the h9ge total o= improbabilit> is nothing like complete. %othing has been sai5 o= the
aggregate strength o= the cas9s where the phantasm was 9nrecognise5. %othing has been
sai5 o= the large arra> o= cases where the coinci5ent event was not 5eath( b9t some other
=orm o= crisisAa class which 5oes not len5 itsel= easil> to a precise n9merical estimate(
b9t whose collective =orce( even i= it stoo5 alone( wo9l5 be ver> great. Once more( each
o= the two classes o= casesAthe BreciprocalC an5 the BcollectiveCAwhich still await
5isc9ssion( incl95es specimens o= vis9al an5 a95itor> phantasms@ an5 some o= these
a==or5 an immensel> higher probabilit> =or a ca9se other than chance( than the more
or5inar> cases where onl> one person is impresse5. +or the improbabilit> o= one sort o=
coinci5ence( that between "4s 9n9s9al hall9cination an5 )4s con5itionAhas now to be
m9ltiplie5 b> the improbabilit> o= another sort o= coinci5ence( that between "4s
hall9cination an5 a secon5 9n9s9al impression Pwhether a hall9cination or o= some other
=ormQ on the part o= ) or -. %or even so will the arg9ment =or telepathic phantasms be
nearl> e?ha9ste5. +or it will have been observe5 that thro9gho9t I have been taking into
acco9nt nothing be>on5 the bare =acts o= the 5eath an5 the hall9cination( an5 altogether
neglecting the correspon5ences o= 5etail which in some cases a55 in5e=initel>( an5 almost
in=initel>( to the improbabilit> o= the chance occ9rrence.
It wo9l5 be ver> eas> to ampli=> this reasoning( an5 to e?ten5 an5 var> the comp9tations
themselves@ b9t the specimens given are perhaps s9==icient. *he> cannot possibl> be
ma5e interesting@ b9t the> are in5ispensable i= the E9estion is ever to be set at rest( an5
the appeal to the 5octrine o= chances to be an>thing better than empt> wor5s. +ig9res( one
is sometimes tol5( can be ma5e to prove an>thing@ b9t I con=ess that I sho9l5 be c9rio9s
to see the =ig9res b> which the theor> o= chance-coinci5ence co9l5 here be prove5
a5eE9ate to the =acts. ,hatever gro9p o= phenomena be selecte5( an5 whatever metho5 o=
reckoning be a5opte5( the estimates =o9n5e5 on that theor> are hopelessl> an5 even
l95icro9sl> overpasse5. ,ith so enormo9s a margin to 5raw on( there is no partic9lar
temptation to e?aggerate the e?tent to which the evi5ence =or the phenomena is to be
relie5 on. In some cases it is possibl> erroneo9s@ in man> it is 9n5o9bte5l> incomplete@
narratives ma> have been a5mitte5 which a more sagacio9s criticism wo9l5 have
e?cl95e5. "9t a=ter ii-UU! all allowances an5 5e59ctions( the concl9sion that o9r
collection comprises a large n9mber o= coinci5ences which have ha5 some other ca9se
than chance will still( I believe( be ampl> D9sti=ie5.
2
S X. "9t I have not >et 5one. *here are consi5erations o= a E9ite 5i==erent kin5 which still
=9rther strengthen the arg9ment =or telepath> as against chance. )t the close o= the last
chapter( I brie=l> re=erre5 to certain points o= contrast between the telepathic an5 the
p9rel> s9bDective class o= hall9cinations. I have now to take 9p this threa5 an5 to show
that( tho9gh the hall9cinations which ma> be regar5e5 as telepathic or veri5ical incl95e
man> cases which ma> 5i==er =rom p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations o= the sane onl> in the
=act o= being veri5ical( >et the group, as a whole( presents some well-marke5
pec9liarities.
*he =irst o= these pec9liarities is the great preponderance of visual cases. )mong
hall9cinations o= the insane( the proportion o= a95itor> to vis9al cases is o=ten given as
abo9t : to 2@ this estimate( however( seems to have been merel> copie5 b> one writer
=rom another since the 5a>s o= EsE9irol@ an5 I am not aware that an> statistics( on a large
scale( have been obtaine5 or p9blishe5. $r. /avage( however( tells me that he thinks that
this is abo9t the 9s9al proportion at "ethlem .ospital@ an5 $r. Lockhart 'obertson writes
to me( BEsE9irol has p9t the proportion lower than I sho9l5 5o. I sho9l5 sa> V to 2 at
least@ a95itor> hall9cinations are ver> =reE9ent( vis9al rare.C ,ith respect to the transient
hall9cinations o= the sane( so =ar as the res9lts o= m> cens9s are accepte5( there is no
5o9bt on the matter. ,e have seen that( o9t o= VW;V persons taken at ran5om( 38 prove5
to have ha5( within the last 2U >ears( an a95itor> hall9cination o= the Brecognise5C t>pe(
o= whom 2; ha5 ha5 the e?perience more than once@ an5 onl> U2 a vis9al one( o= whom U
ha5 ha5 the e?perience more than once. It becomes( then( at once a ver> remarkable =act
that o= the hall9cinations which( within the same perio5( have coinci5e5 with real events(
:2 sho9l5 be vis9al( an5 onl> 2: a95itor>Aor U8 an5 7( i= we omit V which a==ecte5 both
senses@ while the whole collection o= n9mbere5 cases in this work incl95es UW2
phantasms which were vis9al witho9t an> a95itor> element( an5 7V onl> which were
a95itor> witho9t an> vis9al element. *his ii-U:! 5i==erence wo9l5 alone be a serio9s
obDection to e?plaining the coinci5ences as acci5ental. %or co9l5 the a5vocates o= the
chance-theor> =airl> eva5e the obDection b> attrib9ting the inversion o= the or5inar>
proportion to =a9lts o= evi5ence. +or wh> sho9l5 evi5ence be =a9lt> in this partial an5
one-si5e5 wa>r ,h> sho9l5 people4s memories 5eceive them more as to the =act o=
having seen something on a partic9lar 5a> than as to the =act o= having heard somethingr
On the telepathic theor>( on the other han5( the pec9liarit> seems to a5mit o= e?planation.
*he maDorit> o= the a95itor> cases( in transient hall9cinations o= the sane( are o= hearing
the name calle5( or o= hearing some short =amiliar phrase@ an5 o= s9ch cases( as we saw
above PVol. I.( pp. 37XTX;Q( the most nat9ral ph>siological e?planation is that the> are not
pro59ce5 b> a 5ownwar5 stim9lation =rom the higher tracts o= the brain( b9t are 59e to a
s955en reverberation at the sensor> centre itsel=( which is rea5il> e?cite5 to vibrations o=
a =amiliar t>pe. *he telepathic hall9cinations( on the other han5( were trace5 Pas =ar as
their 5evelopment in the percipient is concerne5Q to a stim9lation passing 5ownwar5s to
the sensor> centres =rom the higher or i5eational tracts o= the brain. *here is( then( no
5i==ic9lt> in s9pposing that the a95itor> centre is more prone than the vis9al to
spontaneo9s recr95escence o= vibrations@ b9t that the 5ownwar5 e?citation( which h9rries
i5eas an5 images on into 5el9sive sensor> percepts( =in5s a rea5ier passage to the vis9al
centre than to the a95itor>Aor at an> rate that( where the i5ea o= a partic9lar in5ivi59al is
to be abnormall> embo5ie5 in a sensor> =orm( it is more nat9ral an5 5irect to visualise it(
in a shape that conve>s his permanent personal attrib9tes( than to verbalise it in some
imagine5 or remembere5 phrase.
) s9bor5inate point( b9t one which is still worth noting( is that the proportion o= cases
where more senses than one have been concerne5 is consi5erabl> larger in the telepathic
than in the p9rel> s9bDective class o= hall9cinationsAwhich seems to impl> what ma> be
calle5 a higher average intensit> in the =ormer class. O9t o= VX; s9bDective cases( I =in5
that 3X( that is( a tri=le over 7 per cent. o= the whole n9mber( are allege5 to have
concerne5 more senses than one@ o= which U3 were vis9al an5 a95itor>( 7 vis9al an5
tactile( 2: a95itor> an5 tactile( an5 3 concerne5 all three senses. *aking the telepathic
evi5ence( I =in5 that( o9t o= 3U: cases where a sensor> hall9cination seems to have been
5istinctl> e?ternalise5( 7;( or 2X per cent. o= the whole n9mber( are allege5 to have
concerne5 more senses than one@ ii-U3! o= which V: were vis9al an5 a95itor>( 2: vis9al
an5 tactile( 8 a95itor> an5 tactile(Y~Z an5 7 concerne5 all three senses. I ma> a55 that the
proportion o= 2X per cent. remains e?actl> the same i= onl> the =irst-han5 cases incl95e5
in the bo5> o= the work be taken into acco9nt( an5 cannot there=ore be attrib9te5 to
e?aggeration o= the =acts in those narratives in the /9pplement which are given at secon5-
han5.
2
*he ne?t 5isting9ishing mark o= the class o= phantasms which have coinci5e5 with real
events is the enormo9s proportion o= them in which the =ig9re or the voice was
recognised. In the p9rel> s9bDective class o= transient hall9cinations o= the sane( the
recognise5 an5 9nrecognise5 phantasms seem to be abo9t eE9al in n9mber. *h9s( i= we
con=ine o9rselves to cases where a h9man presence was s9ggeste5( o= the canvasse5
gro9p o= VW;V persons( 2W ha5 seen 9nrecognise5 =ig9res( to U2 who ha5 seen recognise5
ones@ an5 V; ha5 hear5 9nrecognise5 voices( to 38 who ha5 hear5 recognise5 ones. O= the
visible phantasms 5escribe5 in this work as probabl> telepathic( which represente5
h9man =orms or =aces witho9t an> so9n5 o= a voice( U:W have been recognise5( an5 onl>
2: 9nrecognise5. O= the phantasms 5escribe5 in this work as probabl> telepathic( which
consiste5 simpl> o= voices 9ttering wor5s( :8 have been o= a recognise5 an5 U2 o= an
9nrecognise5 voice@ b9t among these U2 I incl95e 8 cases where the wor5s hear5 were as
closel> associate5 with the agent as i= the tone ha5 been his( since the> act9all> name5
him@ an5 a seventh where a place speciall> connecte5 with him was name5. O9t o= :7
cases which incl95e5 both a =orm an5 a voice( the phantasm was 9nrecognise5 in onl> U.
It ma> be sai5 that the =act o= recognition is the ver> =act which has le5 9s to re=er the
phantasm to the telepathic class( an5 that there=ore it is no won5er i= the recognise5
phantasms prepon5erate in o9r evi5ence. "9t this is not what has happene5. Important as
the recognition is( an5 greatl> as the lack o= it 5etracts =rom the evi5ential =orce o= a case(
it is the coincidence, not the recognition, that we have thro9gho9t regar5e5 as the main
point@ an5 cases have never been s9ppresse5 =or lack o= recognition alone( provi5e5 the
coinci5ence was closeAnon-recognition being easil> e?plicable on the view o= telepathic
hall9cinations above propo9n5e5 ii-UV! PVol. I.( pp. V:XT3;Q. *he =act is simpl> that we
have receive5 comparativel> =ew cases o= 9nrecognise5 phantasms o= h9man =ig9res or
voices which have closel> coinci5e5( an5 a=terwar5s been associate5( with some marke5
event closel> a==ecting the percipient@ an5 those which we have receive5( on tr9stworth>
a9thorit>( have been incl95e5 in o9r collection. )n5 i= it be =9rther s9ggeste5 that the
persons concerne5 are themselves little likel> to remark the coinci5ence( i= the
phantasmal =orm or voice was not recognise5( m> repl> is P2Q that this seems a ver>
sweeping ass9mption@ an5 PUQ that so =ar as it is vali5 as an arg9ment( it implies the
e?istence o= a large n9mber o= 9nnote5 cases( over an5 above those which it is possible to
collect( o= those ver> coinci5ences whose perpet9al repetition is alrea5> s9ch a
mo9ntaino9s obstacle to the theor> that the> occ9r b> chance.
2
Y~Z
+9rther knowle5ge ma> possibl> bring to light other points in which the hall9cinations
that have correspon5e5 with real eventsAtaken in their imme5iate aspect as phenomena
an5 E9ite apart =rom this correspon5enceAma> be 5isting9ishe5 =rom the general bo5>
o= transient hall9cinations o= the sane. )n5 while the resemblances( bro9ght o9t in the
two prece5ing chapters( between the coinci5ental an5 the non-coinci5ental or p9rel>
s9bDective e?periences( were s9==icient( I think( to show that the coinci5ental cases are
tr9l> hall9cinations o= the percipient4s senses( clearl> ever> =eat9re which can be name5
as 5isting9ishing these hall9cinations(Aever> =eat9re which ten5s to separate them o== as
a restricte5 gro9pAthereb> increases the 5i==ic9lt> o= attrib9ting the correspon5ences to
chance.
*he last point to which I m9st call attention( as con=licting with ii-U8! the theor> o=
chance-coinci5ence( is a characteristic not o= the telepathic phantasms themselves( b9t o=
the 5istant events with which the> an5 other telepathic impressions coinci5e@ b9t it none
the less serves to 5isting9ish these coinci5ences as 59e to a 5e=inite an5 pec9liar ca9se. It
is the ver> large proportion o= cases in which the 5istant event is death.
2
It is in this
pro=o9n5est shock which h9man li=e enco9nters that these phenomena seem to be
o=tenest engen5ere5@ an5( where not in 5eath itsel=( at least in one o= those special
moments( whether o= strong mental e?citement or o= bo5il> collapse( which o= all living
e?periences come nearest to the great crisis o= 5issol9tion. *h9s among the 887 cases o=
spontaneo9s telepath> in this book( :XX( Por among 3U: e?amples o= the sensor>
e?ternalise5 class( :;:(QY~Z are 5eath-cases( in the sense that the percipient4s e?perience
either coinci5e5 with or ver> shortl> =ollowe5 the agent4s 5eath@ while in UV more cases
the agent4s con5ition( at the time o= the percipient4s e?perience( was one o= serio9s illness
which in a =ew ho9rs or a =ew 5a>s terminate5 in 5eath. %or( in this connection( can I
avoi5 once more re=erring to the large n9mber o= cases in which the event that be=ell the
agent has been 5eath Por a ver> near approach to itQ b> dro-ning or suffocation. O9t o=
the :XX 5eath-cases D9st mentione5( there are :V( or nearl> X per cent.( where the 5eath
was b> 5rowning(Aclearl> a ver> m9ch higher proportion than 5eaths o= this partic9lar
=orm bear to all 5eaths( =or even o= acci5ental 5eaths among the male pop9lation( onl> V
per cent. are 59e to 5rowningAan5 in 8 other cases the agent4s escape ii-UW! =rom s9ch
a 5eath was a narrow one.
2
)n5 i= we 5o not insist on the =orm o= 5eath( b9t onl> on its
s955enness( the above proportion still remains a ver> striking =act@ since 5eaths b>
acci5ent( even among males( are onl> a little over 3 per cent. o= the total o= 5eaths.
,e 5o not know wh> the con5itions o= 5eath generall>( or o= s955en 5eath( or o= an>
partic9lar =orm o= 5eath(
U
or o= e?citement or collapse( sho9l5 be e==ective@ b9t we at all
events know that the con5itions are themselves unusual. /imilarl> in most cases o=
e?perimental tho9ght-trans=erence( the agent4s min5 is unusuall, occ9pie5 b> its
concentrate5 =i?ation on a single obDect@ an5 whether it be in the c9riosities o= an
a=ternoon or in the crises o= a li=etime that telepath> =in5s its occasion( the pec9liarit> o=
the agent4s state has at an> rate that 5egree o= e?planator> power which s9ccee5s in
connecting the rare e==ect with the rare ca9se. In neither case can we trace o9t the act9al
process whereb> the percipient is in=l9ence5@ b9t we have the same sort o= gro9n5 =or
re=9sing to attrib9te to chance the o=t-repeate5 apparitions at the time o= 5eath( as the o=t-
repeate5 s9ccesses in g9essing car5s an5 repro59cing 5iagrams.
*he onl> wa> o= meeting this arg9ment wo9l5 be to show that similar coinci5ences have
been =reE9entl> met with in connection with 5e=inite events which pro59ce5 no 9n9s9al
ph>sical or mental state in the person to whom the> occ9rre5.Y~Z +or instance( i= " at a
5istance has a vision o= ) on the 5a> that ) scratches his =inger or or5ers a new pair o=
boots( it wo9l5 seem wholl> irrational to connect the two =acts. )ccor5ingl>( i= man>( or
even several( s9ch coinci5ences were on recor5( I sho9l5 have to a5mit that the
operations o= chance altogether overpass m> estimate( an5 that the 5ata on which the
previo9s arg9ment reste5 m9st( there=ore( be somehow 5e=ective. Or( to take a case where
some emotional 5ist9rbance is, as a r9le( involve5( i= it prove5 to be not e?tremel>
9ncommon to have a vision o= an absent =rien5 on the morning o= his marriage( I sho9l5
=eel that m> arg9ment was so =ar weakene5@ =or it wo9l5 be 5i==ic9lt to s9ppose that the
emotions connecte5 with that one ii-U7! morning stoo5 5istinctl> apart =rom those o=
other seasons 5e5icate5 to happiness an5 the a==ections.
2
"9t in point o= =act we 5o not
=in5 that coinci5ences o= these t>pes prevail. *he coinci5ental phantasms seem limite5 to
seasons o= e?ceptional crisis or e?citement on the agent4s part@ an5 this limitation( in once
more marking o9t these phantasms as a 5istinct gro9p o= nat9ral phenomena( strongl>
con=irms the s9bstantial acc9rac> o= the statistical res9lts.
I am not =orgetting( in these =inal remarks( what I have e?pressl> state5 be=ore PVol. I.( p.
XWQ( that the action o= telepath> m9st not be 5ogmaticall> con=ine5 to those e?amples o=
striking coinci5ence which are s9itable to be E9ote5 in 5emonstration o= it@ an5 even in
respect o= s9ch e?treme a==ections as hall9cinations o= the senses( I sho9l5 hesitate to
assert that the> cannot be 59e to an absent agent whose con5ition is not marke5l>
abnormal.
U
I regar5 it( however( as so 9nlikel> that this is o=ten their so9rceAI regar5 the
probabilit> as so enormo9s that a phantasm seen or hear5 b> ) onl>( an5 representing "
who is at the time living a piece o= or5inar> li=e( is o= p9rel> s9bDective originAthat the
above arg9ment remains in m> view a =air one@ an5 it is at an> rate =airl> a55resse5 to
those Pwhom o= co9rse I have ha5 chie=l> in view thro9gho9t the present chapterQ who
have not hitherto a5mitte5 or consi5ere5 the case =or telepath> even as base5 on the
marke5l> coinci5ental e?amples.
ii-UX!
+!P#&R 0().
F.R#&R )($.!' +!$&$ %++.RR("* #% ! $("*'& P&R+(P(&"#.
S 2. I% -hapter \II.( a goo5 man> specimens o= telepathic phantasms were E9ote5( in
ill9stration o= certain special points@ an5 partic9larl> as showing what part in the
phenomena we ma> attrib9te to the obsc9re action o= the agent4s an5 o= the percipient4s
min5 respectivel>( an5 how the original imp9lse ma> become mo5i=ie5 in transitu. ) still
larger n9mber o= cases remain( o= which onl> a =ew present speciall> noticeable
characteristics o= 5ress( or 5evelopment( or phantasmal imager>@ b9t which have their
share with the others in the c9m9lative proo= o= telepath>( an5 incl95e moreover several
=resh =eat9res an5 t>pes. *he present chapter will be 5evote5 to vis9al e?amples.
In the B&eneral /ketch o= .all9cinationsC PVol. I.( pp. 37;T: an5 377Q( I mentione5 the
vario9s 5egrees o= e?ternalisation that the phenomena ma> present@ beginning with the
i5eal pict9re which is not a sensor> hall9cination at allAwhich is realise5 as a p9rel>
internal impression( as seen b> the Bmin54s e>eC@ an5 en5ing with the act9al percept(
which( tho9gh eE9all> the pro59ct o= the percipient4s min5( seems to take its place in the
e?ternal worl5 on a par with all the other obDects within his range o= vision. %ow between
these =irst an5 last stages there seems a wi5e gap@ an5 i= o9r review o= telepathic inci5ents
ha5 to pass at one step =rom the vivi5 pict9res =lashe5 =rom min5 to min5( to the
phantasmal =ig9re Bo9t in the room(C there might be a certain 5i==ic9lt> in conceiving two
s9ch 5i==erent-seeming phenomena as having a similar origin. It is satis=actor>( then( to be
able to point to several interme5iate stages. *hat s9ch stages are =o9n5 in the telepathic(
as well as in the p9rel> s9bDective or pathological( class o= phantasms( is onl> a =resh
in5ication that telepathic phantasms( in spite o= their pec9liar origin( are worke5 Pso to
speakQ b> the or5inar> mechanism o= hall9cination.
ii-:;!
I ma> =irst E9ote a case which shows how the percipient ma> himsel= be 5o9bt=9l as to
the 5egree o= e?ternalit> that the phantasmal appearance ha5. In the s9mmer o= 2773( Mr.
.enr> .. .oworth( M.1.( o= Eccles( Manchester( =ille5 9p a E9estion-=orm with the
in=ormation that one morning( in 27VW( he ha5 a vis9al hall9cination representing a great-
9ncle@ an5 a55e5:A
PU27Q BM> great 9ncle 5ie5 at the ver> time@ an5 someone came to bring me home =rom
school( where I then was. I 5on4t think I was at all e?citable or impressionable. M> 9ncle
was a ver> 9nlikel> person =or me to have tho9ght abo9t. .e ha5 been =or >ears tro9ble5
with go9t o= a chronic t>pe( b9t was otherwise heart> an5 well( an5 to a bo> ha5 the
appearance o= rob9st health. .e was m9ch attache5 to m> mother an5 her chil5ren.
B.E%'# .. .O,O'*..C
'eco9nting the same inci5ent on $ecember Un5( 277V( Mr. .oworth wrote:A
BI was a >o9ng bo> abo9t 2U >ears ol5( an5 at school at ,halle>( when I =elt an
overpowering sense that something ver> serio9s ha5 happene5 to m> great-9ncle( who
ha5 been a =oster-=ather to m> mother( an5 was m9ch attache5 to me. *he same 5a>
someone came to =etch me home( as he ha5 5ie5. ,hen >o9 look across a gap o= :;
>ears( memor> is bl9nte5 as to 5etails( an5 I cannot preten5 to =ill in the stor>. I never
remember having a similar visitation.C
On m> pointing o9t that the secon5 acco9nt 5i==ere5 =rom the =irst in making no mention
o= an> visual e?perience( Mr. .oworth wrote:A
BI co9l5 not sa> at this 5istance o= time whether the e?perience I ha5 was vis9al or mental
merel>( =or the 5istinction in the case o= a bo> wo9l5 perhaps not be marke5 in the
memor>. I can onl> sa> the impression was a ver> vivi5 an5 sharp one.C
I sho9l5 regar5 this in5istinctness o= memor> as a tolerabl> s9re sign that the impression
was not o= the tr9l> sensor> Pthat is( o= the most 9niE9e an5 startlingQ sort( b9t rather a
vivi5 mental pict9re o= the t>pe notice5 in Vol. I.( pp. U;X( an5 =9rther e?empli=ie5 in the
8th chapter. In the stage ne?t above this( the observer ma> still =in5 it har5 to sa> whether
what impresses him is p9rel> i5eal( or whether his sense-organs are partl> concerne5A
there being a sense o= e?ternalit>( b9t not e?actl> a proDection into the s9rro9n5ing worl5.
-ase 88 PVol. I.( pp. U8WQ was reall> an e?ample in pointAthe scene having apparentl>
been something more than a vivi5 mental pict9re b9t not con=o9n5e5 with the obDective
worl5( or locate5 in the act9al place where the percipient was at the time. Ver> similar is
an e?perience which be=ell a master at a large p9blic school( in the ii-:2! s9mmer o=
27W3 or 27WV. .aving been 5etaine5 at home while a part> o= bo>s( accompanie5 b>
some masters an5 la5ies( ma5e a steamer e?c9rsion( he was( he sa>s(
PU2XQ B/tan5ing vacantl> at the 5oor o= his ho9se( 5o9btless thinking o= the absentees an5
conDect9ring how the> were then emplo>e5. /955enl> he seeme5 to see a bo> slip( when
crossing the lan5ing stage =rom the E9a> to the vessel( an5 =all into the water( wo9n5ing
his mo9th as he =ell. *here the vision en5e5. Mr. ). Ythe narratorZ ret9rne5 to his work( in
which he was absorbe5( 9ntil the ret9rn o= Mrs. ).@ b9t so vivi5 was the impression on his
min5 o= the realit> o= the occ9rrence that he ha5 looke5 at his watch an5 note5 the time
e?actl>.
BOn his wi=e4s ret9rn Mr. ). at once sai5 to her( u$i5 >o9 get that bo> o9t o= the waterr4
BuOh( >es@ there was no harm 5one be>on5 the =right. "9t how sho9l5 >o9 know an>thing
abo9t itr I am the =irst to arrive@ the, are walking. : 5rove.4
Bu,ell( how abo9t his lipr ,as it ba5l> c9tr4
BuIt was not h9rt at all@ >o9 know \. has a harelip.4
BMr. ). has no e?planation to o==er: these are the =actsC
YMr. ). was 9n5er the impression that the coinci5ence was precise. "9t the time o= the
vision was abo9t W p.m.@ an5 we learn =rom the wi=e o= the hea5-master( who was present(
that the acci5ent occ9rre5 be=ore l9ncheon@ there=ore( i= telepathic( the case was one o=
the 5e=erre5 class. *his la5> remembers that some o= the part> were a=rai5 that the bo>
ha5 c9t his =ace( till the =act o= the harelip was recalle5. I= we s9ppose the agent to have
been Mrs. ).( then the impression o= the scene Pas in the somewhat similar 5ream-case(
%o. 2;2Q wo9l5 seem to have been trans=erre5( so to speak( rea5>-ma5eAan5 to have
receive5 no 5evelopment =rom the percipient.Z
*he =ollowing case( tho9gh 9n5o9bte5l> sensor>( seems still to belong to a somewhat
in5escribable stage o= vis9alisation. I= interprete5 as telepathic( it is =9rther o= interest as
ill9strating that rarer t>pe where the phantasm is not merel> representative o= the agent(
b9t visibl> repro59ces some act9al percept or i5ea which is prominentl> present at the
time to the agent4s conscio9sness Psee -hap. \II.( beginning o= S VQ. *he acco9nt is =rom
Mr. +. &ottschalk( o= U;( )5amson 'oa5( "elsi]e 1ark( %.,.( an5 is 5ate5 +eb. 2U( 2778.
PUU;Q Mr. &ottschalk begins b> 5escribing a =rien5ship which he =orme5 with Mr.
-o9rtena> *horpe( at the rooms o= $r. />lvain Ma>er( on the evening o= +ebr9ar> U;th(
277V. On +ebr9ar> U3th( being an?io9s to hear a partic9lar recitation which Mr. *horpe
was shortl> going to give( Mr. &ottschalk wrote to him( at the 1rince4s *heatre( to ask
what the ho9r o= the recitation was to be. BIn the evening I was going o9t to see some
=rien5s( when on the roa5 there seeme5 s955enl> to 5evelop itsel= be=ore me a 5isc o=
light( which appeare5 to be on a 5i==erent plane to ever>thing else in view. It was not
possible =or me to =i? the 5istance at ii-:U! which it seeme5 to be =rom me.
2
E?amining
the ill9mine5 space( I =o9n5 that two han5s were visible. *he> were engage5 in 5rawing a
letter =rom an envelope which I instinctivel> =elt to be mine an5( in conseE9ence( tho9ght
imme5iatel> that the han5s were those o= Mr. *horpe. I ha5 not previo9sl> been thinking
o= him( b9t at the moment the conviction came to me with s9ch intensit> that it was
irresistible. %ot being in an> wa> awe-str9ck b> the e?traor5inar> nat9re an5 novelt> o=
this inci5ent( b9t in a per=ectl> calm =rame o= min5( I e?amine5 the pict9re( an5 =o9n5
that the han5s were ver> white( an5 bare5 9p to some 5istance above the wrist. Each
=orearm terminate5 in a r9==le@ be>on5 that nothing was to be seen. *he vision laste5
abo9t a min9te. )=ter its 5isappearance I 5etermine5 to =in5 o9t what connection it ma>
have ha5 with Mr. *horpe4s act9al p9rs9it at the moment( an5 went to the nearest lamp-
post an5 note5 the time.
B"> the =irst post the ne?t morning( I receive5 an answer =rom Mr. *horpe( which began
in the =ollowing wa>: u*ell me( pra> tell me( wh> 5i5 I( when I saw >o9r letter in the rack
at the 1rince4s *heatre( know that it was =rom >o9r4 Y,e have seen this letter( which is
5ate5 B*9es5a> nightC@ an5 +ebr9ar> U3th( 277V( =ell on a *9es5a>.Z Mr. *horpe ha5 no
e?pectation o= receiving a letter =rom me( nor ha5 he ever seen m> writing. Even ha5 he
seen it( his knowle5ge o= it wo9l5 not a==ect the iss9e o= the E9estion( as he ass9re5 me
that the impression arrive5 the moment he saw there was a letter 9n5er the u* clip(4 be=ore
an> writing was visible. YMr. &ottscbalk e?plains that =rom the constr9ction o= the rack(
which he has e?amine5( the a55ress on the envelope wo9l5 be invisible.Z
BOn the evening o= +ebr9ar> UWth( b> arrangement( I again met him at the rooms o= $r.
Ma>er( an5 there p9t E9estions to him with a view to eliciting some e?planation. )s near
as possible( I give them as the> were p9t at the time( an5 a55 the answers. It is necessar>
=or me here to state that he an5 the $octor were in complete ignorance o= what ha5
happene5 to me. .aving =irst impresse5 9pon him the necessit> o= answering in a
categorical manner an5 with the greatest possible acc9rac>( I commence5:A
Bu,hen 5i5 >o9 get m> *9es5a>4s letterr4 u)t W in the evening( when I arrive5 at the
theatre.4 u*hen what happene5r4 uI rea5 it( b9t( being ver> late( in s9ch a h9rr> that when I
ha5 =inishe5 I was as ignorant o= its contents as i= I ha5 never seen it.4 u*henr4 uI 5resse5(
went on the stage( pla>e5 m> part( an5 came o==.4 u,hat was the time thenr4 u)bo9t U;
min9tes past 7.4 u,hat happene5 thenr4 uI talke5 =or a time with some o= the compan> in
m> 5ressing-room.4 u+or how longr4 u*went> min9tes.4 u,hat 5i5 >o9 then 5or4 u*he>
having le=t me( m> =irst tho9ght was to =in5 >o9r letter. I looke5 ever>where =or it( in
vain. I t9rne5 o9t the pockets o= m> or5inar> clothes( an5 searche5 among the man>
things that enc9mbere5 m> 5ressing-table. I was anno>e5 at not =in5ing it imme5iatel>(
especiall> as I was an?io9s to know what it was ii-::! abo9t. /trangel> eno9gh I
5iscovere5 it event9all> in the coat which I ha5 D9st worn in the piece B/chool =or
/can5al.C I imme5iatel> rea5 it again( was 5elighte5 to receive it( an5 5eci5e5 to answer
at once.4 u%ow be ver> e?act. ,hat was the time when >o9 rea5 it on the secon5
occasionr4 u)s nearl> as I can sa> 2; min9tes to X.4
B*here9pon I 5rew =rom m> pocket a little pocket-5iar> in which I ha5 note5 the time o=
m> vision( an5 aske5 $r. Ma>er to rea5 what was written 9n5er the 5ate U3th +ebr9ar>.
BuEight min9tes to X.4
YMr. &ottschalk has kin5l> allowe5 9s to inspect his 5iar>( which con=irms all the 5ates
given.Z
B.aving establishe5 in this wa>( witho9t an> assistance( the coinci5ence o= time between
his act9all> opening the envelope an5 m> seeing him 5o so( I was satis=ie5 as to the
principal part( an5 procee5e5 to anal>se the inci5ent in 5etail. *he whiteness o= the han5s
was acco9nte5 =or b> the =act that actors invariabl> whiten their han5s when pla>ing a
part like the one Mr. *horpe was engage5 inAu/nake4 in the u/chool =or /can5al.4 *he
r9==les also =orme5 part o= the 5ress in this piece. *he> were attache5 to the short sleeves
o= the shirt which Mr. *horpe was act9all> wearing when he opene5 m> letter.
B*his is the =irst hall9cination I ever ha5. I have ha5 one since o= a similar nat9re( which I
will reco9nt separatel>.
B+E'$I%)%$ &O**/-.)L0.C
$r. Ma>er( o= 3U( /omerset /treet( 1ortman /E9are( ,.( corroborates as =ollows:A
BMarch 2( 2778.
BI well remember having rea5 something Yi.e.( in Mr. &ottschalk4s 5iar>ZAthe e?act
wor5s memor> will not allow me to giveAwhich tallie5 almost e?actl> with the stor>
tol5 b> -o9rtena> *horpe@ an5 can bear positive testimon> o= the above conversation
having taken place.
B/#LV)I% M)#E'.C
Y,e cannot la> an> stress on Mr. *horpe4s impression as to the letter an5 its writer( since
that ma> easil> have been acci5ental. "9t it is a point to be notice5 that he rea5 the letter
with ver> 5eci5e5 pleas9re( a=ter a consi5erable h9nt =or itAin other wor5s( that the
rea5ing o= the letter stoo5 o9t rather 5istinctl> =rom the general r9n o= s9ch e?periences.
*ho9gh the inci5ent is trivial( the close correspon5ence o= time an5 5etail is strongl>
s9ggestive o= telepathic clairvo>ance. In the secon5 case mentione5( an ill9minate5 5isc
was again seen( which Bseeme5 not to belong to the s9rro9n5ingsC@ b9t the 5etails were
not E9ite as 5istinctive as in the above instance.Z
*he =ragmentar> nat9re o= the hall9cination in this case has parallels( as we have seen( in
the p9rel> s9bDective class.
2
*he B5isc o= lightC is also to be notice5. P/ee -hap. \II( S W(
an5 compare the ii-:3! Bbright ovalC in Vol. I.( pp. V;:( the Blarge =lickering oval(C p.
2W8( an5 the =ace Bin the centre o= a bright( opaE9e( white mass(C in case 273. *he e?act
5escriptionAa B5isc o= lightCArec9rs in the 5ream-case %o. 383.Q
In the ne?t stage o= vis9alisation the percipient sees a =ace or =ig9re proDecte5 or 5epicte5(
as it were( on some convenient s9r=aceAthe image being th9s tr9l> e?ternalise5( b9t in an
9nreal an5 9ns9bstantial =ashion( an5 in a bi]arre relation to the real obDects among which
it appears. In this respect it might be compare5 to the Ba=ter-imageC o= the s9n( or o= some
obDect that has been intentl>-scr9tinise5 thro9gh a microscope( which we invol9ntaril>
import into o9r views o= the s9rro9n5ing scene. *he =ollowing e?ample is taken =rom the
'e(oirs of 7eorgiana, ;ad, Chatterton, b> E. .. $ering P27W7Q( pp. 2;;T2;U. It
e?empli=ies again the pec9liarit> observe5 in the last caseAthe blood being a =eat9re in
the vision which we ma> con=i5entl> re=er to the agent4s min5. La5> -hatterton narrates:
A
PUU2Q BM> mother Ythe wi=e o= the 'ev. *remonger Lascelles( 1reben5ar> o= ,inchester(Z
ha5 not been ver> well( b9t there was nothing alarming in her state. I was s9==ering =rom
a ba5 col5( an5 went earl> to be5 one night( a=ter leaving her in the 5rawing-room in
e?cellent spirits( an5 tolerabl> well. I slept 9n9s9all> well( an5 when I awoke( the moon
was shining thro9gh the ol5 casement brightl> into the room. *he white c9rtains o= m>
be5 were 5rawn to protect me =rom the 5ra9ght that came thro9gh the large win5ow@ an5
on this c9rtain( as i= 5epicte5 there( I saw the =ig9re o= m> mother( the =ace 5ea5l> pale(
with bloo5
2
=lowing on the be5-clothes. +or a moment I la> horror-stricken an5 9nable to
move or cr> o9t( till( thinking it might be a 5ream or a 5el9sion( I raise5 m>sel= 9p in be5(
an5 to9che5 the c9rtain. /till the appearance remaine5 Paltho9gh the c9rtain on which it
was 5epicte5 move5 to an5 =ro when I to9che5 itQ as i= re=lecte5 b> a magic-lantern. In
great terror I got 9p( an5 throwing on a cloak( I r9she5 o== thro9gh some rooms an5 a
long passage to m> mother4s room. *o m> s9rprise( I saw =rom the =9rther en5 o= the
passage that her 5oor was open( an5 a strong light coming =rom it across the passage. )s
she invariabl> locke5 her 5oor when she went to be5( m> =ears were increase5 b> the
sight( an5 I ran on more E9ickl> still( an5 entere5 her room. *here she la>( D9st as I ha5
seen her on the c9rtain( pale as 5eath( an5 the sheet covere5 with bloo5( an5 two 5octors
stan5ing b> the be5si5e. /he saw me at once an5 seeme5 5elighte5 to see me( tho9gh too
weak to speak or hol5 o9t her han5. u/he has been ver> ill(4 sai5 the 5octor( ub9t she
wo9l5 not allow >o9 to be calle5( lest >o9r col5 sho9l5 be ma5e worse. "9t I tr9st all
5anger is over now. w *he sight o= >o9 has 5eci5e5l> 5one her ii-:V! m9ch goo5.4 /o
she ha5 been in 5anger( an5 wo9l5 not 5ist9rb mes Ohs how thank=9l I =elt to the vision or
=anc>( or whatever it ma> have been.C
Mrs. +errers( o= "a55esle> -linton( 0nowle( a niece o= La5> -hatterton4s( wrote to 9s on
October U3th( 277:( B*his acco9nt is taken =rom a 5iar> o= m> a9nt4s.C /he a55s later:A
BI have o=ten an5 o=ten hear5 m> a9nt relate that vision( b9t it was not( so =ar as I know(
recor5e5 in an> contemporar> 5iar>.
BLa5> -. relate5 the stor> to Lockhart an5 his 5a9ghter abo9t 273:( an5 then wrote it
5own in her 5iar>. *he entr> is not 5ate5@ the 5ate be=ore it is Ma>( 273:( that which
=ollows( 273U( b9t it was evi5entl> written 5own between 27:X an5 2737. *he book is
ver> ba5l> arrange5 as to chronolog>. I can4t =i? the 5ate o= La5> -.4s mother4s 5eath
=rom it e?cept that it was prior to 27:8.
B'. .. +E''E'/.C
.ere the pict9re( tho9gh not pro59cing the impression o= a soli5 an5 in5epen5ent obDect(
was clearl> no mere ill9sion( no mere momentar> translation o= the =ol5s or pattern o= the
5raper> into a h9man =ace@ it was acc9rate an5 persistent eno9gh to resist a to9ch which
shook the c9rtain on which it was shown. It is a point o= interest that Pbesi5es a secon5
veri5ical case given in -hap. \II( S W(Q La5> -hatterton mentions having e?perience5
another hall9cination which( like the one D9st E9ote5( appeare5 on a flat surface.
2
On the
theor> o= telepathic phantasms e?plaine5 in -hap. \II( S V( it is o= co9rse E9ite nat9ral
that a veri5ical an5 a non-veri5ical vision( or that several veri5ical visions( occ9rring to
the same person( sho9l5 present this amo9nt o= likeness( as( e.g., in Mr. &ottschalk4s
e?perience. "9t the point is one that we can rarel> observe( as =ew o= o9r telepathic
percipients have ha5 an> secon5 hall9cination o= the senses at all.
"9t >et =9rther stages remain( on the path to the =inal one o= nat9ral soli5-looking
e?ternalit>. In the =ollowing case the image appeare5 with somewhat more o= apparent
relie= than in La5> -hatterton4s( b9t certainl> not >et as co-or5inate in an> nat9ral =ashion
with the real obDects in view. *he acco9nt is =rom Mr. 'ichar5 /earle( barrister( o= .ome
Lo5ge( .erne .ill( who tells 9s that he has ha5 no other e?perience o= a hall9cination.
B%ovember Un5( 277:.
PUUUQ BOne a=ternoon( a =ew >ears ago( I was sitting in m> chambers in the *emple(
working at some papers. M> 5esk is between the =ireplace an5 one o= the win5ows( the
win5ow being two or three >ar5s on the le=t si5e o= m> chair( an5 looking o9t into the
*emple. /955enl> I became aware that I was looking at the bottom win5ow-pane( which
was abo9t on a level ii-:8! with ra> e>es( an5 there I saw the =ig9re o= the hea5 an5 =ace
o= m> wi=e( in a reclining position( with the e>es close5 an5 the =ace E9ite white an5
bloo5less( as i= she were 5ea5.
BI p9lle5 m>sel= together( an5 got 9p an5 looke5 o9t o= the win5ow( where I saw nothing
b9t the ho9ses opposite( an5 I came to the concl9sion that I ha5 been 5rows> an5 ha5
=allen asleep( an5( a=ter taking a =ew t9rns abo9t the room to ro9se m>sel=( I sat 5own
again to m> work an5 tho9ght no more o= the matter.
BI went home at m> 9s9al time that evening( an5 whilst m> wi=e an5 I were at 5inner( she
tol5 me that she ha5 l9nche5 with a =rien5 who live5 in &lo9cester &ar5ens( an5 that she
ha5 taken with her a little chil5( one o= her nieces( who was sta>ing with 9s@ b9t 59ring
l9nch( or D9st a=ter it( the chil5 ha5 a =all an5 slightl> c9t her =ace so that the bloo5 came.
)=ter telling the stor>( m> wi=e a55e5 that she was so alarme5 when she saw the bloo5 on
the chil54s =ace that she ha5 =ainte5. ,hat I ha5 seen in the win5ow then occ9rre5 to m>
min5( an5 I aske5 her what time it was when this happene5. /he sai5( as =ar as she
remembere5( it m9st have been a =ew min9tes a=ter U o4clock. *his was the time( as
nearl> as I co9l5 calc9late( not having looke5 at m> watch( when I saw the =ig9re in the
win5ow-pane.
BI have onl> to a55 that this is the onl> occasion on which I have known m> wi=e to have
ha5 a =ainting-=it. /he was in ba5 health at the time( an5 I 5i5 not mention to her what I
ha5 seen 9ntil a =ew 5a>s a=terwar5s( when she ha5 become stronger. I mentione5 the
occ9rrence to several o= m> =rien5s at the time.
B'. /.C
Mr. 1a9l 1ierrar5( o= UW( &lo9cester &ar5ens( ,.( writes as =ollows:A
B3th $ecember( 277:.
BIt ma> be interesting =or special observers to have a recor5 o= an e?traor5inar>
occ9rrence which happene5 abo9t =o9r >ears ago at m> resi5ence( UW( &lo9cester
&ar5ens( ,.
B)t an a=ternoon part> o= la5ies an5 chil5ren( among whom were Mrs. /earle( o= .ome
Lo5ge( .erne .ill( an5 her little niece( Lo9ise( there was a rather nois>( b9stling( an5
am9sing game ro9n5 a table( when little Lo9ise =ell =rom her chair an5 h9rt hersel=
slightl>. *he =ear o= a grave acci5ent ca9se5 Mrs. /earle to be ver> e?cite5( an5 she
=ainte5.
B*he 5a> a=ter( we met Mr. /earle( who state5 that in the a=ternoon o= the prece5ing 5a>
he ha5 been rea5ing important cases in his chambers( %o. 8( 19mp -o9rt( *emple( when a
pec9liar =eeling overcame him( an5 he 5istinctl> saw( as it were in a looking-glass( the
ver> image o= his wi=e leaning back in a swoon( which seeme5 ver> strange at the
moment.
B"> comparing the time( it was =o9n5 that this e?traor5inar> vision was pro59ce5 at the
ver> same instant as the relate5 inci5ent.
B,e o=ten spoke o= the case together( an5 co9l5 not =in5 an> e?planation to completel>
satis=> o9r min5s@ b9t we registere5 this rare =act =or which a name is wante5.
B1)UL 1IE'')'$.4
.ere there was more than the mere representation o= the agent@ she was represente5
apparentl> in the aspect which she act9all> wore( b9t in which the percipient ha5 never
seen her( an5 in which ii-:W! she wo9l5 har5l> be conscio9sl> pict9ring hersel=. ,e are
scarcel> 5riven( however( in this case( to the 5i==ic9lt conception o= Btelepathic
clairvo>anceC set =orth in -hapter \II( S 7@ =or it is possible to s9ppose that the idea o=
=ainting( impresse5 on Mr. /earle4s min5( worke5 itsel= o9t into perception in an
appropriate =ashion.
*he stage o= vis9alisation in the ne?t case is partic9larl> interesting. *he narrator is Mrs.
*a9nton( o= "rook Vale( ,itton( "irmingham.
BFan9ar> 2Vth( 2773.
PUU:Q BOn *h9rs5a> evening( 23th %ovember( 278W( I was sitting in the "irmingham
*own .all with m> h9sban5 at a concert( when there came over me the ic> chill which
9s9all> accompanies these occ9rrences.
2
Y~Z )lmost imme5iatel>( I saw with per=ect
5istinctness( between m>sel= an5 the orchestra( m> 9ncle( Mr. ,.( l>ing in be5 with an
appealing look on his =ace( like one 5>ing. I ha5 not hear5 an>thing o= him =or several
months( an5 ha5 no reason to think he was ill. *he appearance was not transparent or
=ilm>( b9t per=ectl> soli5-looking@ and ,et : could so(eho- see the orchestra, not
through, but behind it. I 5i5 not tr> t9rning m> e>es to see whether the =ig9re move5 with
them( b9t looke5 at it with a =ascinate5 e?pression that ma5e m> h9sban5 ask i= I was ill.
I aske5 him not to speak to me =or a min9te or two@ the vision gra59all> 5isappeare5( an5
I tol5 m> h9sban5( a=ter the concert was over( what I ha5 seen. ) letter came shortl> a=ter
telling o= m> 9ncle4s 5eath. .e 5ie5 at e?actl> the time when I saw the vision.
BE. +. *)U%*O%.C
*he signat9re o= Mrs. *a9nton4s h9sban5 is also appen5e5.
B'I-.. .. *)U%*O%.C
,e =in5 =rom an obit9ar> notice in the Belfast Ne-s6;etter that Mr. ,. 5ie5 on %ovember
23th( 278W.
*he phantasm here was per=ectl> e?ternal( an5 is 5escribe5 as Bper=ectl> soli5-lookingC@
>et it certainl> 5i5 not hol5 to the real obDects aro9n5 the same relation as a =ig9re o= =lesh
an5 bloo5 wo9l5 have hel5@ it was in a pec9liar wa> transparent. *his =eat9re is
noticeable( as it is one which occasionall> occ9rs also in hall9cinations o= the p9rel>
s9bDective class.
U
Y~Z It ma> th9s be taken as one o= the n9mero9s minor in5ications o=
the hall9cinator> character o= telepathic phantasms Psee -hapter \II( S 2;Q.
ii-:7!
S U. In the remaining cases the ill9sion seems to have been practicall> complete. *he>
constit9te what ma> be calle5 the normal t>pe o= these abnormal phenomena. *he
hall9cination goes thro9gh no gra59al process o= =ormation( an5 is e?ternalise5 as =9ll>
an5 nat9rall> as a real obDect@ the agent contrib9tes to it little( i= an>( o= the act9al 5etail o=
his con5ition@ the percipient contrib9tes to it no special imager> or setting o= his own.
*he =ollowing narrative is =rom M. &aston +o9rnier( o= U2( '9e 5e "erlin( 1aris( an
intimate =rien5 o= o9r esteeme5 collaborator( M. -h. 'ichet. .e has ante5ate5 the
occ9rrence b> abo9t 27 months.
B28( October( 277V.
PUU3Q BLe U2 =Hvrier( 27WX( D4Ntais invite a 5ner che] mes amis( M. et Mme. "AA. En
arrivant 5ans le salon( De constate I4absence 549n commensal or5inaire 5e la maison( M.
54EAA( E9e De recontrais presE9e to9Do9rs G le9r table. F4en =ais la remarE9e( et Mme. "
AA me rHpon5 E9e 54EAA( emplo>H 5ans 9ne importante maison 5e banE9e( Htait sans
5o9te =ort occ9pH en ce moment( car on ne l4avait pas v9 5ep9is 5e9? Do9rs. ) partir 5e ce
moment( il ne fut plus plus 2uestion de d>EE. Le repas s4achNve =ort gaiement( et sans
E9e Mme. "AA 5onne la moin5re marE9e visible 5e prHocc9pation. 1en5ant le 5ner(
no9s avions =ormH le proDet 54aller achever notre soirHe a9 thHGtre. )9 5essert Mme. "
AA se lNve po9r aller s4habiller 5ans sa chambre( 5ont la porte( restHe entr4o9verte(
5onne 5ans la salle-G-manger. "AA et moi Htions restHe G table( =9mant notre cigare(
E9an5( aprNs E9elE9es min9tes G peine( no9s enten5ons 9n cri terrible. -ro>ant G 9n
acci5ent( no9s no9s prHcipitons 5ans la chambre( et no9s tro9vons Mme. " assise( prMte G
se tro9ver mal. %o9s no9s empressons a9to9r 54elle@ elle se remet pe9 G pe9( et no9s =ait
alors le rHcit s9ivant. YTranslationZ
B)prNs vo9s avoir E9ittHs( De m4 habillais po9r sortir( et D4Htais en train ii-:X! 5e no9er
les bri5es 5emon chapea9 5evant ma glace( E9an5 to9t-G-co9p D4ai v9 5ans cette glace 54E
entrer par la porte.
2
Il avait son chapea9 s9r la tMte@ il Htait ple et triste@ sans me reto9rner
De l9i a5resse la parole( B*iens( 54EAA( vo9s voilG@ asse>e]-vo9s 5oncC@ et comme il ne
rHpon5ait pas( De me s9is alors reto9rnH et De n4ai pl9s rien v9@ prise alors 5e pe9r( D4ai
po9ssH le cri E9e vo9s ave] enten59.4 YTranslationZ
B"AA( po9r rass9rer sa =emme( se met G la plaisanter( traitant l4apparition
54hall9cination nerve9se( et l9i 5isant E9e 54E serait trNs =lattH 54appren5re G E9el point il
occ9pait sa pensHe@ p9is( comme Mme. "AA restait to9te tremblante( po9r co9per co9rt
G son Hmotion( no9s l9i proposons 5e partir to9t 5e s9ite( allHg9ant E9e no9s allions
manE9er le lever 59 ri5ea9. uFe n4ai pas pensH 9n se9l instant G 54EAA(4 no9s 5it Mme.
"AA( u5ep9is E9e M. + m4a 5eman5H la ca9se 5e son absence. Fe ne s9is pas nerve9se(
et De n4ai Damais e9 54hall9cination@ De vo9s ass9re E94il > lG E9elE9e chose
54e?traor5inaire( et E9ant G moi( De ne sortirai pas avant 54avoir 5es no9velles 5e 54 E
AA. Fe vo9s s9pplie 54aller che] l9i( c4est le se9l mo>en 5e me rass9rer.4 Fe conseille G
"AA 5e cH5er a9 5Hsir 5e sa =emme( et no9s partons to9s les 5e9? che] 54EAA( E9i
5eme9rait G trNs pe9 5e 5istance. *o9t en marchant no9s plaisantions bea9co9p s9r les
=ra>e9rs 5e Mme. "AA. YTranslationZ
BEn arrivant che] 54 EAA( no9s 5eman5ons a9 concierge( u$4 EAA( est-il che] l9i4r
uO9i( messie9rs( il n4est pas 5escen59 5e la Do9rnHe.4 $4 EAA habitait 9n petit
appartement 5e garon@ il n4avait pas 5e 5omestiE9es. %o9s montons che] l9i( et no9s
sonnons G pl9sie9rs reprises sans avoir 5e rHponse. %o9s sonnons pl9s =ort( p9is no9s
=rappons G to9r 5e bras( sans pl9s 5e s9ccNs. "AA( HmotionnH malgrH l9i( me 5it( u-4est
abs9r5e( le concierge se sera trompH@ il est sorti@ 5escen5ons.4 Mais le concierge no9s
a==irme E9e 54EAA n4est pas sorti( E94il en est absol9ment str. VHritablement e==ra>Hs(
no9s remontons avec l9i( et no9s tentons 5e no9vea9 5e no9s =aire o9vrir@ p9is n4
enten5ant rien bo9ger 5ans *appartement( no9s envo>ons chercher 9n serr9rier. On =orce
la porte( et no9s tro9vons le corps 5e 54E( encore chaud, co9chH s9r son lit( et tro9H 5e
5e9? co9ps 5e revolver. YTranslationZ
BLe mH5ecin( E9e no9s =aisons venir a9ssitLt( constate E9e 54EAA avait 54abor5 tentH
5e se s9ici5er en avalant 9n =lacon 5e la95an9m( et E94 ens9ite( tro9vant sans 5o9te E9e le
poison n4 agissait pas asse] vite( il s4Htait tirH 5e9? co9ps 5e revolver G la place 59 coe9r.
$4aprNs la con-station mH5icale( la mort remontait G 9ne he9re environ. /ans E9e De
p9isse prHciser l4he9re e?acte( c4Htait cepen5ant 9ne conci5ence presE94 absol9e avec la
soi-5isant hall9cination 5e Mme. "AA. /9r la cheminHe il > avait 9ne lettre 5e 54EAA(
annonant G M. et Mme. "AA sa resol9tion( lettre partic9liNrement a==ect9e9se po9r
Mme. "AA. YTranslationZ
B&)/*O% +OU'%IE'.C
In conversation with Mr. M>ers( M. +o9rnier e?presse5 himsel= 9ncertain as to the
correctness o= his 5ate. ,e have proc9re5 a cop> o= the )ct de D4cWs,Y~Z which recor5s
that the 5ate o= 54E4s 5eath was October W( 277;@ also that it took place at 2; a.m. I= this
was so( it ii-3;! wo9l5 still be E9ite possible that the bo5>( which was clothe5( sho9l5
be =o9n5 warm in the evening. 1robabl> the ho9r co9l5 not be state5 with an>thing like
precision@ an5 it is as likel> that the o==icial recor5 =i?e5 it too earl> as that M. +o9rnier4s
me5ical a9thorit> Ps9pposing him to be correctl> E9ote5Q =i?e5 it too late. "9t we clearl>
cannot ass9me the coinci5ence to have been nearl> as e?act as M. +o9rnier imagine5.
Mme. ". is 5ea5. M. ". is 9n=ort9natel> in /o9th )merica@ an5 tho9gh we hope to obtain
his acco9nt o= the occ9rrence( it has not arrive5 in time =or insertion.
Mrs. Leonar5 *hr9pp( o= 8W( 0ensington &ar5ens /E9are( ,.( narrates:A
B%ovember( 277:.
PUUVQ BIn the month o= October( 27V;( I was sta>ing in the ho9se o= Mr. $.( an East
In5ian merchant( %o. 2( /o9thwick -rescent( .>5e 1ark.
BOne evening( a Mr. ".( with three 5a9ghters( came to 5ineAthe >o9ngest a blooming
ros> girl o= 2W. Mr. ". ha5 latel> bo9ght a ho9se in $evonshire( which was being a55e5
to an5 =9rnishe5. .e ma5e o9r host promise to go 5own to the ho9se-warming at
-hristmas.
B) =ew weeks a=terwar5s( that gentleman was o9t one night( an5 his sister( Mrs. '.( an5 I
sat b> the =ire in a large 5o9ble 5rawing-room. /he was knitting( an5 =rom her position
co9l5 see into the smaller room which was not lighte5. I ha5 m> back to that room( an5
was rea5ing alo95 one o= -harles $ickens4 serial stories. )ll o= a s955en she 5roppe5 her
work( e?claiming =aintl>( u&oo5 &o5s4 u,hat is the matterr4 I crie5. /he pointe5 into the
semi-5arkness( an5 whispere5 Pas i= awe-str9ckQ( u*here4s Lo9isa ".4 I rose( looke5( b9t
saw nothing. /he sai5( u)re >o9 a=rai5 to go inr4 u%ot at all(4 I replie5( an5 went( an5
passe5 m> arm ro9n5 to prove it was mere =anc> on her part. .owever( the res9lt showe5
that was >o9th=9l pres9mption on m> part.
B*he ne?t morning( Mr. $. hear5 the stor> =rom his sister in her own apartment( where
she break=aste5. .e sai5 to me in the break=ast-room( u$i5 not ,ou see an>thing last
night( Miss .illr4 u%othing whatever(4 I replie5. u,ell(4 sai5 he( uI s9ppose >o9 think 9s
/cotch ver> s9perstitio9s( b9t an a9nt o= o9rs an5 two o= m> sisters have the gi=t o=
secon5-sight.4
B*hat 5a> passe5( b9t the =ollowing 5a> at noon( Mr. $. met me at the bottom o= the stairs
with an open letter an5 sai5( u*hat was no =anc> o= Mrs. '.4s@ poor Lo9isa ". 5ie5 at X
o4clock that evening( o= brain =ever( a=ter measles.4
B)%%E ELIJ)"E*. *.'U11C
/ince giving this acco9nt( Mrs. *hr9pp has re=erre5 to ol5 letters( an5 has come to the
opinion that the 5ate m9st have been towar5s the en5 o= 273W. ,e =in5( however( =rom
the obit9ar> in the 7entle(ans 'agaAine that a 5eath( which is almost certainl> that o=
the Miss Lo9isa ". o= the narrative( took place on F9l> 7( 273W. *his s9ggests that the
5etail o= sitting b, the fire is inacc9rateAthe temperat9re at X p.m. on that 5a>( as we
learn =rom the &reenwich Observator>( having been 8;@ b9t Mrs. *hr9pp is E9ite certain
that her memor> is right on this point. /he =9rther tells 9s that there were reasons wh>
Miss ". sho9l5 have wishe5 to see Mr. $.( who was an ol5 =rien5 o= the =amil>( b9t that
she knew little o= Mrs. '. Mrs '. has been 5ea5 some >ears@ an5 Mrs. $9rwar5( a la5>
who was her companion at the ii-32! time( an5 whoAas Mrs. *hr9pp recollectsA
assiste5 Mrs. '. to be5( remembers no more o= the matter than that Mrs. '. was e?cite5.
/he mentions( however( that Mrs. '. was Bs9bDect to a kin5 o= sei]9re(C in which she
wo9l5 become E9ite rigi5( an5 point with her =inger to where she imagine5 her h9sban5
to be( e?claiming( B*here he is.C *hese =its occ9rre5 perhaps hal= a 5o]en times in a >ear(
an5 were bro9ght on b> an> news o= him that 5istresse5 her. Mrs. $9rwar5 never knew
her to have apparitions o= an>one e?cept her h9sban5.
*his case is an e?ample o= an appearance to a person onl> slightl> connecte5 with the
agent@ an5 it cannot b9t s9ggest the E9estion( wo9l5 Mr. $. have seen the =ig9re ha5 he
been presentr I shall rec9r to the point in connection with BcollectiveC hall9cinations
P-hap. \VIII.( S WQ. )s to Mrs. '.4s pathological visions( I ma> point o9t that the e?tent
to which the> weaken the evi5ence =or telepath> a==or5e5 b> the present inci5ent ma>
easil> be e?aggerate5. 1eople seem sometimes to regar5 an> real or s9ppose5 ten5enc> to
s9bDective hall9cination on the part o= the percipient as at once =atal to an allege5
telepathic case. %ow let 9s grant =or the moment that Mrs. '4s visions o= her h9sban5
prove a ten5enc> to similar s9bDective visions o= other persons known to her@ an5 let 9s
make the e?treme s9pposition that( 9nknown to her intimate atten5ant who never knew
her to have an> s9ch e?perience( she act9all> ha5 V; in the co9rse o= her a59lt li=eAor on
an average one in ever> UXU 5a>s( i= we reckon her a59lt li=e as 3; >ears. *hen the
probabilit> o= her having a vision o= the sort on the partic9lar 5a> on which Miss ". 5ie5
wo9l5 be 2 v UXU. "9t the probabilit> that that partic9lar vision wo9l5 represent Miss ".(
with whom she ha5 onl> a slight acE9aintance( wo9l5 clearl> be ver> small@ let 9s be
liberal( an5 call it 2 v V;. *h9s the probabilit> o= her hitting o== the above coinci5ence b>
acci5ent wo9l5 be at most 2 v 238;;( even i= we took onl> the i5entit> o= da, into
acco9nt@ an5 ver> m9ch less i= we relie5 on the allege5 i5entit> o= hour. It wo9l5 s9rel>
be irrational to e?cl95e =rom the c9m9lative telepathic evi5ence a case where the
probabilit> o= acci5ental occ9rrence remains as min9te as this.
*he ne?t case is =rom &eneral ..( who( 9n=ort9natel>( will not permit the p9blication o=
his name. *he acco9nt was proc9re5 thro9gh the kin5ness o= Miss ). ). Leith( o= 7(
$orset /E9are( %.,.
B%ovember 22th( 2773.
PUU8Q BIn 27V8 I was engage5 on 59t> at a place calle5 'oha( some 3; miles so9th o=
"omba>( an5 moving abo9t in the 5istricts Pas it is terme5 in In5iaQ. M> onl> shelter was
a tent( in which I live5 =or several months in the >ear. M> parents( an5 onl> sister( abo9t
UU >ears ii-3U! o= age( were living at 0.( =rom which place letters 9se5 to take a week
reaching me. M> sister an5 I were reg9lar correspon5ents( an5 the post generall> arrive5
abo9t 8 a.m.( as I was starting to m> work. It was on the 27th )pril o= that >ear Pa 5a>
never to be =orgottenQ that I receive5 a letter =rom m> mother( stating that m> sister was
not =eeling well( b9t hope5 to write to me the ne?t 5a>. *here was nothing in the letter to
make me =eel partic9larl> an?io9s. )=ter m> 9s9al o9t-5oor work( I ret9rne5 to m> tent(
an5 in 59e co9rse set to m> or5inar> 5ail> work. )t U o4clock m> clerk was with me(
rea5ing some native 5oc9ments that reE9ire5 m> attention( an5 I was in no wa> thinking
o= m> sister( when all o= a s955en I was startle5 b> seeing m> sister Pas it appeare5Q walk
in =ront o= me =rom one 5oor o= the tent to the other( 5resse5 in her night 5ress.
2
*he
apparition ha5 s9ch an e==ect 9pon me that I =elt pers9a5e5 that m> sister ha5 5ie5 at that
time. I wrote at once to m> =ather( stating what I ha5 seen( an5 in 59e time I also hear5
=rom him that m> sister ha5 5ie5 at that time.Y~Z
BF. -. ..C
)n obit9ar> notice in )llens :ndian 'ail shows that &eneral ..4s sister 5ie5 on )pril
27th( 27V8.
In answer to inE9iries( &eneral .. writes:
B"> the conte?t o= the narrative >o9 will see it was U p.m.( broa5 5a>light. M> vision
correspon5e5 with the e?act time o= 5eath.
BI have never seen an> other apparition.
B#o9 m9st e?c9se m> sanctioning m> name being appen5e5 to the acco9nt( tho9gh I am
as certain o= it as I am o= m> own e?istence.C
Y&eneral .. =9rther in=orms 9s that his parents are 5ea5( an5 that there is no =rien5 living
who ma> have seen his letter.Z
*he ne?t caseAa recent oneAis o= a ver> 9n9s9al t>pe as regar5s the e==ect on the
percipient( an5( perhaps( on that ver> acco9nt s9ggests the telepathic e?planation rather
more strongl> than the =acts warrant. "9t as regar5s the =acts themselves( there can be
little 5o9bt. *he evi5ence( tho9gh it 5oes not come =rom the percipient( is o= the sort
which is as goo5 as =irst-han5@ an5 this is the more =ort9nate( in that( as it happens( there
never was a moment at which the =irst-han5 evi5ence co9l5 have been given. *he acco9nt
is in the wor5s o= Mr. .. 0ing( o= the 'o>al Militar> -ollege( #ork *own( +arnboro9gh(
.ants.
BMarch( 277V.
PUUWQ BOn *h9rs5a> night( October :;th Y2773Z( .. M. an5 I went to 5ine at "roa5moor.
,e sta>e5 till 2; p.m. or so( an5 on leaving the ho9se were talking o= 5i==erent things( M.
being E9ite as 9s9al@ when( a=ter =ive min9tes4 walk( M s955enl> stoppe5( an5 sai5(
uLook( looks oh( looks4 ,e tho9ght nothing o= it at =irst( b9t he still kept pointing with his
=inger at some imaginar> thing in the 5arkness. *he spot we were in was ver> 5ark( with a
woo5 on o9r right an5 a =iel5 on o9r le=t( ii-3:! separate5 =rom 9s b> a railing. *hinking
M. saw somebo5> hi5ing behin5 a b9sh I went =orwar5( b9t saw nothing. M. now( still
sa>ing uLook at her( look at her(4 =ell back against the railing an5 la> motionless with his
back against it. ,e ran to him( asking him what was the matter( b9t he onl> moane5.
)=ter a while he seeme5 better. ,e wante5 him to come on( b9t he sai5( u,here is m>
stickr4Awhich he ha5 5roppe5. uOh( never min5 >o9r stick(4 I sai5( =or I was a=rai5 o=
not being at the college be=ore the sh9tting o= the 5oors@ b9t he wo9l5 look =or his stick(
which he =o9n5 b> lighting a match. ,e walke5 on together( M.( notwithstan5ing all m>
e==orts to get him into conversation( not sa>ing a wor5. )=ter walking =or abo9t a E9arter
o= a mile( he s955enl> sai5( u,here were the> carr>ing her tor I tell >o9 the> were
carr>ing her@ 5i5n4t >o9 see them carr>ing herr4 I trie5 to E9iet him( b9t he kept on
sa>ing( uI tell >o9 the> were carr>ing her.4 In a short time he was paci=ie5 an5 walke5
E9ietl> on =or hal= a mile or so( when he sai5( looking ro9n5 in s9rprise( u.9llos we m9st
have come a short c9t. I know this ho9se.4 I sai5 we ha5n4t@ b9t he sai5( u,e m9st have
r9n then. It seems onl> a min9te ago since we le=t the ho9se.4 .e several times e?presse5
his s9rprise at the E9ickness we ha5 5one the last hal=-mile in. .e was all right =rom this
to the college.
BOn /9n5a> morning he tol5 me that something ver> ba5 happene5 on *h9rs5a> night.
)n ol5 la5> who was ver> =on5 o= him( b9t whom he ha5n4t seen =or a long time( ha5
5ie5 s955enl> o= heart 5isease. /he ha5 been o9t somewhere an5 ha5 come home( when(
as she was receiving some =rien5s( she =ell 5ea5( an5( to 9se his wor5s( she was carrie5
o9t. I imme5iatel> aske5 him at what ho9r 5i5 she 5ier .e sai5 at between 2; an5 22. PIt
was a little a=ter 2; when he saw his vision.Q I co9l5 not get the e?act ho9r o= the la5>4s
5eath( as he 5i5n4t like the s9bDect. ,hen he tol5 me this( he knew nothing o= what
occ9rre5 on the walk home. ,hen he was tol5 o= it( he 5i5n4t remember a thing abo9t the
vision@ b9t sai5 i= he ha5n4t known that he ha5n4t 5r9nk an>thing Pwhich was tr9eQ( he
wo9l5 have sai5 he ha5 been 5r9nk. .e seeme5 to have been in a sort o= st9por all the
time. I think I o9ght to mention that he tol5 me long be=ore this that he ha5 seen a vision
o= a girl who ha5 been 5rowne5.
2
*his is a tr9e acco9nt o= what happene5.
P/igne5Q B.. 0I%& Pthe writer o= the aboveQ.
B). .)MIL*O%-FO%E/.C
Mr. .. 0ing a55s( BM> =rien5 YMr. FonesZ remembers per=ectl> M.4s not being s9rprise5
at the news Yo= the 5eathZ( an5 his sa>ing it seeme5 to have happene5 be=ore.C
YMr. '. ). 0ing( o= :8( &rove Lane( $enmark .ill( 9ncle o= the narrator( thro9gh whose
kin5ness we obtaine5 this acco9nt( sa>s: BM. has s9ch a horror o= the whole a==air that
m> nephew 5oes not let me write to ask him abo9t the ol5 la5>4s 5eath.C ,e are th9s
9nable to veri=> the 5ate o= the 5eath in5epen5entl>. M.4s name is known to me. .e has
le=t the Militar> -ollege.Z
*he ne?t case is =rom the 'ev. +. "arker( late 'ector o= -ottenham( -ambri5ge.
ii-33!
BF9l> Un5( 2773.
PUU7Q B)t abo9t 22 o4clock on the night o= $ecember 8th( 27W:( I ha5 D9st got into be5(
an5 ha5 certainl> not =allen asleep( or even into a 5o]e( when I s955enl> startle5 m> wi=e
b> a 5eep groan( an5 when she aske5 the reason( I sai5( uI have D9st seen m> a9nt. /he
came an5 stoo5 besi5e me( an5 smile5 with her ol5 kin5 smile( an5 5isappeare5.4 )
m9ch-love5 a9nt( m> mother4s sister( was at that time in Ma5eira( =or her health(
accompanie5 b> m> co9sin( her niece. I ha5 no reason to think that she was criticall> ill
at this time( b9t the impression ma5e 9pon me was so great that the ne?t 5a> I tol5 her
=amil> Pm> mother among themQ what I ha5 seen. ,ithin a week a=terwar5s we hear5 that
she ha5 5ie5 on that ver> night( an5( making all allowance =or longit95e( at abo9t that
ver> time.
B,hen m> co9sin( who was with her to the last( hear5 what I ha5 seen( she sai5( uI am
not at all s9rprise5( =or she was calling o9t =or >o9 all the time she was 5>ing.4
B*his is the onl> time I have e?perience5 an>thing o= this nat9re. I think( perhaps( this
stor> =irst-han5 ma> interest >o9. I can onl> sa> that the vivi5 impression I receive5 that
night has never le=t me.
B+'E$E'I-0 ")'0E'.C
,e =in5 the 5ate o= 5eath con=irme5 in the Ti(es obit9ar>.
Mrs. "arker4s acco9nt is as =ollows:A
BI recollect the circ9mstances well( 9pon which m> h9sban5 wrote to >o9. It m9st have
been somewhere abo9t 22 o4clock. .e was not asleep P=or he ha5 onl> D9st spokenQ( when
he groane5 5eepl>. I aske5 what was the matter( an5 he sai5 his a9nt( who was then in
Ma5eira( ha5 appeare5 to him( smiling at him with her own kin5 smile( an5 then
vanishe5. .e sai5 she ha5 usomething black( it might have been lace( thrown over her
hea5.4 *he ne?t 5a> he tol5 man> relations o= the occ9rrence( an5 it t9rne5 o9t she 5ie5
that ver> night. .er niece( Miss &arnett( tol5 me she was not at all astonishe5 that he
sho9l5 have seen her a9nt( =or that while she was 5>ing she was calling o9t =or him. .e
ha5 been to her almost like a son.
B1. /. ")'0E'.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. "arker sa>s( BM> recollection is o= some lace-like hea5-gear(
as o= a black lace veil thrown ro9n5 the hea5.C
*he =ollowing statement is =rom Miss &arnett( who was with Mr. "arker4s a9nt at the
time o= her 5eath:A
B,>resi5e( near Lancaster.
BOctober( 277V.
BI beg to certi=> that I was with m> a9nt( Miss AA( at the time o= her 5eath in Ma5eira(
$ecember 8th( 27W:. On hearing that m> co9sin( the 'ev. +. "arker( now living in /tanle>
1lace( -hester( ha5 ha5 some kin5 o= a vision o= m> a9nt at a time almost e?actl>
correspon5ing with that o= her 5eath( I tol5 m> 9ncle( =rom whom I hear5 o= the
occ9rrence( that I was not s9rprise5( since m> a9nt ha5 so =reE9entl> e?presse5 a wish to
see Mr. "arker 59ring the last =ew 5a>s o= her li=e.
BLOUI/) &)'%E**.C
ii-3V!
*he =ollowing case was =irst p9blishe5 in Bur(a, *ast and *resent, b> Lie9t.-&en. )lbert
+>tche( -/I( Vol. I.( pp. 2WWT7.
PUUXQ B) remarkable inci5ent occ9rre5 to me at Ma9lmain( which ma5e a 5eep
impression 9pon m> imagination. I saw a ghost
2
with m> own e>es in broa5 5a>light( o=
which I co9l5 make an a==i5avit. I ha5 an ol5 school=ellow( who was a=terwar5s a college
=rien5( with whom I ha5 live5 in the closest intimac>. #ears( however( passe5 witho9t o9r
seeing each other. One morning I ha5 D9st got o9t o= be5( an5 was 5ressing m>sel=( when
s955enl> m> ol5 =rien5 entere5 the room. I greete5 him warml>@ tol5 him to call =or a c9p
o= tea in the veran5ah( an5 promise5 to be with him imme5iatel>. I 5resse5 m>sel= in all
haste( an5 went o9t into the veran5ah( b9t =o9n5 no one there. I co9l5 not believe m>
e>es. I calle5 to the sentr> who was poste5 at the =ront o= the ho9se( b9t he ha5 seen no
strange gentleman that morning@ the servants also 5eclare5 that no s9ch person ha5
entere5 the ho9se. I was certain I ha5 seen m> =rien5. I was not thinking abo9t him at the
time( >et I was not taken b> s9rprise( as steamers an5 other vessels were =reE9entl>
arriving at Ma9lmain. ) =ortnight a=terwar5s news arrive5 that he ha5 5ie5 8;; miles o==(
abo9t the ver> time I ha5 seen him at Ma9lmain.C
&eneral +>tche writes to 1ro=essor /i5gwick as =ollows:A
B$9rling $ean( ,est -li==( "o9rnemo9th(C
B$ecember UUn5( 277:.C
B) paper containing answers to >o9r list o= E9estions is enclose5. I 5on4t think I have
an>thing =9rther to a55( e?cept to reiterate m> conviction that m> =rien54s c nmoda 5i5
appear to me as state5. M> =rien54s 5eath was a s955en one@ I ha5 never hear5 o= his
previo9s illness( nor ha5 I been thinking abo9t him in an> wa>. In animistic philosoph>(
savage or civilise5( I believe it is a5mitte5 that an apparition o= the kin5 bears the
likeness o= its =leshl> bo5>.
B)nswers to E9estions as to the apparition at Ma9lmain:A
P2Q B*he printe5 narrative was written =rom memor>. I kept no 5iar> a=ter m> papers were
b9rnt at "assein Psee p. U3 o= bookQ. *here are no letters e?tant which I am aware o=
which were written at the time o= the occ9rrence.
PUQ B*he news o= m> =rien54s 5eath was conve>e5 b> the p9blic newspapers( which
arrive5 at Ma9lmain b> the mail steamer abo9t a =ortnight a=ter the inci5ent in E9estion.
*he> state5 that the 5eath o= m> =rien5 occ9rre5 in the earl> morning o= the 5a> his spirit
appeare5 to me.
P:Q B,hen the apparition was a55resse5 b> me( it 5i5 not respon5 b> wor5 or sign( at
least so =ar as I observe5. I was not thinking o= an apparition. I took it =or m> =rien5 in the
=lesh.
P3Q B*he event occ9rre5 some U8 >ears ago( an5 the persons who resi5e5 near me at the
time( an5 whom I visite5 on the morning o= the occ9rrence( are 5ea5. *he >ear =ollowing
I visite5 Englan5( an5 mentione5 the circ9mstance to several members o= m> =amil>( an5
amongst others( I think( m> co9sin( Lo9is *enn>son 54E>nco9rt( one o= the Lon5on
magistrates( b9t it was not a matter that I ever talke5 m9ch abo9t.
PVQ BI have ha5 no similar e?perience. I have ha5 no hall9cination o= ii-38! sight or
hearing( an5 have alwa>s been consi5ere5 as a person o= the strongest nerve.
B). +#*-.E P&eneralQ.C
Mr. 54E>nco9rt writes =rom :2( -ornwall &ar5ens( /.,.( on $ec. U2( 277V:A
B&eneral +>tche pai5 me a visit at .a5le> a >ear or two
2
be=ore he p9blishe5 his bookAI
sho9l5 sa> =rom 2V to 27 >ears since( an5 tol5 me the stor> as narrate5 a=terwar5s in his
book@ an5 it ma5e a great impression on me an5 m> =amil>. I cannot remember what >ear
he tol5 me( b9t certainl> not UV >ears since@ perhaps U; wo9l5 be nearer the mark.C
Y&eneral +>tche is 9n5er a promise not to 5isclose his =rien54s name@ which prevents 9s
=rom ascertaining the e?act 5ate o= the inci5ent.Z
*he ne?t case is =rom Mr. Evans( o= ">ron -ottage( -hal=or5( near /tro95.
B)pril 2Wth( 2773.
PU:;Q BIn the =all o= 278W( I took a trip to -ana5a@ an5 one evening( the earl> part o=
October( the same >ear( I was sitting with a merchant o= *oronto( in the 5ress-circle o= the
theatre@ an5 59ring the evening m> attention was attracte5 towar5s a portion o= the pit(
which was( thro9gh sha5ow( slightl> obsc9re5( b> a =ace looking 9p at me in an intent(
weir5( an5 agonising manner( that ca9se5 a =eeling o= awe to overpower me( as I
recognise5 in the =eat9res m> twin brother(
U
who at that time was in -hina. *he =ig9re(
altho9gh in sha5ow( appeare5 lighte5 9p s9pernat9rall>( an5 reveale5 itsel= plainl>( so that
I co9l5 not be mistaken abo9t the =ace. I instantl> e?claime5 to m> =rien5( u&oo5 &o5s
there is m> brother(4 pointing at the same time to the =ig9re. .e sai5( uI cannot see an>one
looking 9p here.4 .owever( I was so e?cite5 I r9she5 5own to the pit where he stoo5( b9t
co9l5 not see an>one resembling him in =eat9res whatever. I am not s9perstitio9s or a
/pirit9alist( b9t co9l5 not get over the startling circ9mstances =or some time.
BOn m> ret9rn home to Englan5( shortl> a=terwar5s( m9ch to m> grie= an5 sorrow( I
=o9n5 m> brother ha5 5ie5 at the +rench .ospital( /hanghai( on the 8th October( 278W.
*he inci5ent in the theatre =lashe5 into m> tho9ghts( an5 impresse5 me I ha5 seen his
apparition( an5 I took the tro9ble to ascertain 5ate o= per=ormance( an5 =o9n5 it
correspon5e5. I co9l5 not be mistaken( as it occ9rre5 the =irst week I was in *oronto( an5
the patronage o= the militar> place5 the per=ormance precisel> on the 8th October( 278W.
BI am prepare5 to make an a==i5avit that s9ch are the =acts.
BF. EV)%/.C
,e =in5 =rom a certi=ie5 cop> o= the 'egister o= $eaths kept at the "ritish -ons9late( at
/hanghai( that the 5eath took place on October 8th( 2787 Pnot 278WQ( at the &eneral
.ospital.
I wrote to Mr. Evans( e?plaining that it wo9l5 be the evening( P2;.:W p.m.Q not o= October
8th( b9t o= October Vth( at *oronto( that wo9l5 correspon5 with October 8th( mi55a>( at
/hanghai. )s I anticipate5( it ii-3W! t9rne5 o9t that he ha5 assu(ed that October 8th in
one place wo9l5 be October 8th in another( an5 ha5 simpl> aske5 which opera was
per=orme5 on October 8th. .e sa>s:A
BI wrote to m> =rien5 in *oronto( asking him i= the u&ran5 $9chess4 were per=orme5 on
October 8th( an5 he replie5 in the a==irmative@ b9t at the same time it was per=orme5 on
the Vth( I am s9re( as well as on the 8th. *he compan> was per=orming opera bouffe
59ring the entire week.
BI have never ha5 an> hall9cinations be=ore or since.C
,e have proc9re5 =rom *oronto a cop> o= the Dail, 7lobe, which shows that the B&ran5
$9chessC was per=orme5 on both nights.
YMr. Evans has ha5 no recent comm9nication with his companion o= the evening( who
was onl> an acE9aintance@ an5 corroboration cannot be obtaine5. *he 9ncertaint> as to
the 5a> o= the apparition seems irremovable. I= it was the Vth( the coinci5ence ma> have
been E9ite e?act@ i= it was the 8th( the 2U ho9rs4 limit m9st have been e?cee5e5( 9nless the
5eath took place in the ho9r or two prece5ing mi5night.Z
.ere we have to notice once more the lu(inous appearance o= the phantasm P-hap. \II(
S WQ.
*he =ollowing narrative appeare5 in the Dail, Telegraph, in October( 2772. Un=ort9natel>
we have been 9nable to obtain corroboration or =9rther 5etails( as we have =aile5 to
5iscover the writer4s present a55ress. ,e learn =rom the ,ar O==ice that he resigne5 his
militia commission in )9g9st( 277;.
B,est "rompton.
BOctober UVth( 2772.
PU:2Q B/I'(AO= man> comra5es who gave 9p their lives =or }9een an5 co9ntr> in
J9l9lan5 an5 %atal( =or none have I( or those who knew him( =elt a keener pang o= regret
than =or '95olph &o9gh. In %ovember( 27W7( &o9gh( having retire5 =rom the -ol5stream
&9ar5s( procee5e5 as a vol9nteer to %atal( where on arrival he was given a compan> in
-omman5ant %ettleton4s battalion o= the %atal %ative -ontingent( with which regiment
he serve5 in the =irst a5vance into J9l9lan5. *he Etshowe relie= col9mn commence5 its
a5vance on March UXth( an5 reache5 the In>one 'iver on the evening o= that 5a>. *o all
o9r astonishment( &o9gh( who ha5 risen =rom a sick be5 in $9rban( accompanie5 b>
Lie9tenant &eorge $avis o= his own regiment( arrive5 in camp at 59sk( having ri55en
thro9gh =rom $9rban( a 5istance o= 7U miles( in little over a 5a>. &o9gh( who ha5
s9==ere5 ba5l> en route, was again severel> attacke5 b> that c9rse o= /o9th )=rican
)rmiesA5>senter>Aan5 was or5ere5 to one o= the amb9lances( where he remaine5 9ntil
the morning o= the action o= &ingihlovo. *he moment the alarm so9n5e5( the poor =ellow
staggere5 o9t an5 took comman5 o= his compan>( an5 a=terwar5s act9all> le5 his men
over the shelter trench( when the cheer was starte5 an5 the charge so9n5e5. *he
e?citement an5 e?ertion prove5 too m9ch =or m> poor =rien54s en=eeble5 =rame( an5 9tter
collapse =ollowe5.
BOn )pril 2Wth( D9st be=ore utattoo(4 I was sitting in the gips>-looking e5i=ice that the
o==icers o= the 0ing4s 'o>al 'i=le -orps ha5 rigge5 9p( ii-37! which we 59bbe5 the
umess ho9se4 or ubanE9eting hall(4 =inishing a letter to a newspaper =or which I acte5 as
correspon5ent( when the briga5e b9gler rang o9t ulast post.4 I walke5 to the 5oor( o9tsi5e
o= which I saw stan5ing the man who( two 5a>s ago( I ha5 been tol5 was 5>ing on the
other si5e o= the *9gela. I co9l5 not 5escribe on paper the e?traor5inar> sensation that
&o9gh4s 9ne?pecte5 appearance gave me.
B/ome =ew 5a>s a=ter I ret9rne5 to +ort 1earson to re-ass9me comman5 o= the %atal
%ative 1ioneers. )=ter reporting m> arrival( I ma5e m> wa> to the post-o==ice( where I
was m9ch shocke5 at being tol5 o= m> =rien54s 5eath. *he postmaster han5e5 me a
telegram( which ha5 been s9==ere5 to remain in a pigeon-hole =or some 5a>s( instea5 o=
being sent on to the =ront. It was =rom the civil s9rgeon( who helpe5 to soothe the last
moments o= m> =rien5( an5 ran as =ollows: u-aptain the .on. .. '. &o9gh is 5>ing. .e
has been asking =or >o9 all 5a>. -ome 5own here i= possible.4 On s9bseE9ent inE9iries at
the hospital( I =o9n5 that he ha5 5ie5 at e?actl> the ho9r I =ancie5 I ha5 seen him o9tsi5e
the mess ho9se at &ingihlovo. 1rior to the occ9rrence I have narrate5( I never ha5 the
=aintest belie= in the act9alit> o= s9pernat9ral
2
phenomena o= an> nat9re.
B/*U)'* /*E1.E%/.
BPLate Lie9tenant 3th "attalion 'o>al $9blin +9siliers.QC
Miss I. +. &alwe> writes to 9s =rom V( Earls=ort *errace( $9blin:A
BMa> 27th( 277V.
BI met two o= >o9ng &o9gh4s co9sins on /at9r5a>@ an5 the> ass9re me that the acco9nt
given b> Mr. /tephens is a per=ectl> a9thentic one( an5 is =9ll> believe5 b> all the =amil>@
b9t the> know nothing o= Mr. /tephens( e?cept that he was a comra5e o= poor '95olph4s(
an5 that D9st be=ore his 5eath he ha5 e?presse5 an earnest 5esire to see him.C
Y*he ;ondon 7aAette =or F9l> UUn5( 27WX( gives the 5ate o= the 5eath o= -aptain &o9gh
as )pril 2Xth. It seems ver> probable that the B2WthC in Mr. /tephens4 acco9nt is a
misprint. +or i= he inE9ire5 at the hospital an5 learnt the i5entit> o= hour, it is not likel>
that he ma5e so grave a mistake as to the da,. "9t =rom the !outh )frican Ca(paign of
1#OM, b> F. '. Mackinnon( we learn that -aptain &o9gh ha5 been 5esperatel> ill =or some
5a>s be=ore his 5eath@ so that even i= the vision 5i5 prece5e the 5eath b> two 5a>s( it
might still be connecte5 with his con5ition. It is clear( too( =rom the wor5s o= the telegram
that his tho9ghts ha5 been 5irecte5 to the percipient =or some little time be=ore his 5eath.Z
It might perhaps seem that this case o9ght to have been 5isallowe5( on the principle that(
when the percipient is in an?iet> abo9t the person whose phantasm appears( there is an
appreciable chance that the appearance is the p9rel> s9bDective creation o= his own brain
PVol. I.( pp. V;7TXQ. "9t it wo9l5( perhaps( be a tri=le pe5antic to appl> this principle to
cases which occ9r in the thick o= a war( where the i5ea o= 5eath is constant an5 =amiliar.
In s9ch circ9mstances( the ii-3X! mental attit95e ca9se5 b> the knowle5ge that a
comra5e is in peril seems scarcel> parallel to that which similar knowle5ge might
pro59ce among those who are sitting broo5ing at home. )t an> rate( i= an?iet> =or the =ate
o= absent comra5es be a nat9ral an5 known so9rce o= hall9cinations 59ring campaigns( it
is o55 that( among several h9n5re5s o= cases o= s9bDective hall9cination( I =in5 no secon5
instance o= the phenomenon.
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom a la5>( Miss ..( whose name an5 a55ress ma> be given to
private inE9irers( an5 who wo9l5 gla5l> have allowe5 its p9blication ha5 =rien5s not been
9nwilling. .aving state5 that on *h9rs5a>( %ovember 28th( 27V3( abo9t 2; o4clock at
night( she ha5 a vision o= an intimate =rien5( who 5ie5 that evening at O, she was aske5 to
=9rnish partic9lars( an5 replie5:A
B%ovember( 277V.
PU:UQ BI ha5 ha5 28 ho9rs4 travelling in the interior o= a 5iligence( crossing the )pennines
=rom "ologna to +lorence. I was per=ectl> well( b9t 9n9s9all> tire5. I was in the .otel
E9ropa( in +lorence( an5 was E9ite wi5e awake( not having ha5 the necessar> moments in
which to compose m>sel= to sleep. M> sister ha5 D9st =allen asleep. M> =rien5 stoo5 at the
si5e o= the be5 nearest to me( near the =oot( an5 looke5 at me =i?e5l>. /he was in white(
an5 looke5 e?actl> as she 5i5 in li=e. /he was an ol5 la5>( an5 ha5 been almost be5ri55en
=or long. /he ha5 taken ver> keen interest in o9r Italian to9r. I lost m> presence o= min5(
an5 woke m> sister. I also calle5 o9t to m> =ather( who was in the a5Doining room( not >et
asleep( b9t too tire5 to 5o more than answer( tho9gh he remembere5 the circ9mstance o=
m> calling to him the ne?t morning. $irectl> this alarm was shown( the vision
5isappeare5. It was both vivi5( an5 pro59ce5 a supernatural sensation which I never
be=ore or since e?perience5 to an>thing like the same e?tent.
BE. .. ..C
,e =in5 =rom the Ti(es obit9ar> that the 5eath took place on *h9rs5a>( %ovember 28th(
27V3. InE9iries have been ma5e at the hotel in +lorence( in or5er to obtain con=irmation
o= the 5ate o= Miss ..4s sta> there: b9t the hotel change5 han5s a =ew >ears later( an5 the
in=ormation cannot be got.
Miss .. has e?perience5 onl> one other hall9cination( an5 that was Bin the height o= a
severe illness(C when she =ancie5 her mai5 was at the be5si5e. In answer to inE9iries( she
writes that the sister who was with her cannot recall the occ9rrence@ an5 a55s:A
B*he =act is she onl> woke =or an instant( an5 as she is X >ears >o9nger than m>sel=( an5 I
saw she believed I ha5 onl> been 5reaming this( I spare5 her. I ha5 not =allen asleep. I 5i5
not arg9e the point with her( or re=er to it again =or some long time a=ter. It was the same
with m> =ather. I calle5 o9t Mrs. ,.4s name( an5 he re=erre5 to it as a 5ream in the
morning. "9t I confided in a sister( then recentl> marrie5 to a %or=olk clerg>man( who
was ver> near m> own age. I was the more le5 to 5o this as the la5> who stoo5 near me
was her h9sban54s mother.C *he acco9nt goes on to sa> how e?ceptionall> ii-V;!
intereste5 the la5> ha5 been in the ro9te an5 e?perience o= the travellers@ an5 concl95es
th9s: BIn those 5a>s s9ch things were s9bDects o= ri5ic9le an5 9nbelie= more than the>
now are( an5 I am s9rprise5 how lightl> I took what >et I =elt positive was no 5ream.C
*he sister to whom Miss .. mentione5 her e?perience writes to her as =ollows( on
$ecember 3th( 277V:A
BM# $E)' ELI/E(AI =9ll> remember >o9r naming the vision o= Mrs. ,. which >o9 ha5
on the ver> evening on which she 5ie5. ,e compare5 notes =aith=9ll> at the time@ an5 it
was most remarkable beca9se she ha5 not been visibl> worse( an5 5ie5 at the last
s955enl>. /he ha5 tho9ght a great 5eal abo9t >o9 being in a 'oman -atholic co9ntr> at
the time o= some great co9ncil( an5 ha5 name5 in two or three letters that she sho9l5 be
gla5 when >o9 got home@ so >o9 were on her min5. I believe >o9 name5 it in a letter( b9t
I can4t =in5 it. "9t I am as sure o= the fact o= >o9r telling me Pon >o9r ret9rn home( an5
coming here on the wa>Q all particulars as i= it was >ester5a>Athe rooms en suite, an5
o9r =ather hearing >o9 call o9t to Memie( who ha5 =allen asleep be=ore >o9@ an5 >o9
naming uMrs. ,.4 to =ather( an5 he( s9pposing it was a 5ream( tr>ing to soothe >o9. )n5
>o9( tho9gh =eeling sure >o9 were awake( >et trie5 to thin1 it was a sort o= 5ream uas
when one awaketh.4 *he =irst news >o9 receive5 =rom Englan5 was the acco9nt o= the
peace=9l an5 rather s955en 5eath o= one who was renowne5 =or energ> o= spirit all her
li=e( an5 who was =9ll o= imagination an5 great love =or >o9. *his is m> statement. *he
5ates were carefull, compare5( that I am s9re o=. M> h9sban5 is as certain as I am o= all I
sa>.A#o9r a==ectionate sister(
BM. ). ,.C
*he ne?t case( like the last( seems =airl> to =all among waking rather than Bbor5erlan5C
impressions( since a special reason is remembere5 =or wake=9lness. It is( however( still
more remote( an5 5epen5s on a single memor>. *he 'ev. .. E. %o>es( o= -hrist -h9rch
Vicarage( 0ingstown( a nephew o= Mrs. &.( the narrator( P=ormerl> o= the 1arsonage(
0ingstown(Q vo9ches =or the strength o= the impression ma5e on her.
B277:.
PU::Q BOn +ebr9ar> U8( 27V;( I was awake( =or I was to go to m> sister-in-law( at
0ingstown( an5 visiting was then an event to me. )bo9t U o4clock in the morning m>
brother walke5 into o9r room Pm> sister4sQ an5 stoo5 besi5e m> be5. I calle5 to her(
u*here is AA.4 .e was at the time E9artere5 at 1aisle>( an5 a mail car =rom "el=ast
passe5( abo9t that ho9r( not more than abo9t hal= a mile =rom o9r village. ,hen he co9l5
get a short leave( he like5 to come in 9pon 9s an5 give 9s a 5elight=9l s9rprise. I even
recollect its crossing m> min5 what there was in the ho9se rea5> that we co9l5 give him
to eat. .e looke5 5own most lovingl> an5 kin5l>( an5 wave5 his han5 an5 he was gone. I
recollect it all as i= it were onl> last night it all occ9rre5( an5 m> =eeling o= astonishment(
not at his coming into the room at all( b9t at where he co9l5 have gone. )t that ho9r he
5ie5.C
,e have con=irme5 the 5ate o= 5eath in the )r(, ;ist( an5 =in5 =rom a newspaper notice
that the 5eath took place in the earl> morning( an5 was e?tremel> s955en.
ii-V2!
*he ne?t acco9nt was given to 9s b> Mrs. /withinbank( o= Ormleigh( Mowbra> 'oa5(
Upper %orwoo5. *he inci5ent occ9rre5 abo9t 278W.
B277U.
PU:3Q B,hen m> son .. was a bo>( I one 5a> saw him o== to school( watching him 5own
the &rove( an5 then went into the librar> to sit( a room I rarel> 9se5 at that time o= the
5a>. /hortl> a=ter( he appeare5( walking over the wall opposite the win5ow. *he wall was
abo9t 2: =eet 5istant =rom the win5ow an5 low( so that when m> son stoo5 on it his =ace
was on a level with mine( an5 close to me. I hastil> threw 9p the sash( an5 calle5 to ask
wh> he ha5 ret9rne5 =rom school( an5 wh> he was there@ he 5i5 not answer( b9t looke5
=9ll at me with a =rightene5 e?pression( an5 5roppe5 5own the other si5e o= the wall an5
5isappeare5. %ever 5o9bting b9t that it was some bo>ish trick( I calle5 a servant to tell
him to come to me( b9t not a trace o= him was to be =o9n5( tho9gh there was no screen or
place o= concealment. I m>sel= searche5 with the same res9lt.
B)s I sat still won5ering where an5 how he ha5 so s955enl> 5isappeare5 a cab 5rove 9p
with .. in an almost 9nconscio9s state( bro9ght home b> a =rien5 an5 school=ellow( who
sai5 that 59ring a 5ictation-lesson he ha5 s955enl> =allen backwar5 over his seat( calling
o9t in a shrill voice( uMamma will know(4 an5 became insensible. .e was ill that 5a>(
prostrate the ne?t@ b9t o9r 5octor co9l5 not acco9nt =or the attack( nor 5i5 an>thing =ollow
to throw an> light on his appearance to me. *hat the time o= his attack e?actl>
correspon5e5 with that at which I saw his =ig9re was prove5 both b> his master an5 class-
mates.C
*he 'ev. .. /withinbank( el5est son o= the writer o= the above( e?plains that the point at
which the =ig9re was seen was in a 5irect line between the ho9se Psit9ate5 at /9mmerhill
*errace( %ewcastle-on-*>neQ an5 the school( b9t that Bno animal b9t a bir5 co9l5 come
5irect that wa>(C an5 that the walking 5istance between the two places was nearl> a mile.
.e 5escribes his brother as o= a nervo9s temperament( b9t his mother as D9st the opposite(
a calm person( who has never in her li=e ha5 an> other similar e?perience.
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom -olonel /wine>( o= the $9ke o= -ornwall4s 'egiment. 1ossibl>(
in this as in some other cases( p9blication ma> lea5 to o9r obtaining corroborative
evi5ence =rom persons to whom we have as >et been 9nable to appl> =or it.
C 'ichmon5 "arracks( $9blin( F9l> 23th( 277V.
PU:VQ BIt was some time in the latter en5 o= /eptember( 2783( when E9artere5 at
/horncli==e -amp( I tho9ght I saw m> el5est brother Pwhom at the time I believe5 to be in
In5ia( where he was serving in the 'o>al EngineersQ walking towar5s me( an5 be=ore I
co9l5 recover =rom m> astonishment( the =ig9re ha5 5isappeare5. I per=ectl> well
remember mentioning the =act to some o= m> brother o==icers( an5 sa>ing how c9rio9s it
was( b9t never tho9ght m9ch abo9t it 9ntil I receive5 news o= his 5eath( which ha5
occ9rre5 abo9t Pas near as I can recollect( witho9t having ma5e an> noteQ the time I ha5
imagine5 I ha5 seen himAvi].( /eptember U3th( 2783Aat %agpore( East In5ies( an5 b9t
=or the =act o= his 5eath( I sho9l5 never probabl> have recalle5 the circ9mstance. I 5o ii-
VU! not attach m9ch importance to this@ it might have been a coinci5ence( remarkable
certainl>( b9t nothing more. I am a=rai5 it will not be o= m9ch 9se to >o9 in >o9r
inE9iries( as hal= its val9e is gone b> m> not being able to bring corroborative evi5ence to
prove that I ha5 mentione5 the =act prior to hearing o= his 5eath( altho9gh in m> own
min5 I am per=ectl> certain I 5i5 so. 'ichar5 E5gc9mbe was E9artere5 at /horncli==e at
the ver> time this occ9rre5.
B/. -. /,I%E#.C
YIt was =rom Mr. '. E5gc9mbe that we =irst hear5 o= this inci5ent. .e 5i5 not himsel= hear
o= it 9ntil some >ears a=ter its occ9rrence.Z
In answer to inE9iries -olonel /wine> a55s:A
P2Q B#ears a=terwar5s( in 27W2( at the -ape o= &oo5 .ope( I wrote a long acco9nt o= it to
a #orkshire gentleman who was collecting 5ata on the s9bDect o= hall9cination.
PUQ BI have ha5 a personal interview with -olonel /chwabe( who was a s9baltern with me
in the -arabineers( an5 he cannot recall the circ9mstances at all( in5ee5 has no
recollection whatever abo9t it. *his ma> be acco9nte5 =or b> the =act o= his having gone
abroa5 ver> shortl> a=terwar5s( an5 we 5i5 not meet =or some months a=ter I ha5 hear5 o=
m> brother4s 5eath. )t the time I hear5 o= his 5eath I was stopping with -harles &9rne>(
shooting( near %orwich( some time the latter en5 o= October( i= not the beginning o=
%ovember. ,hen I receive5 the letter I knew what was in it@ an5 i= I onl> knew -harles
&9rne>4s a55ress( I sho9l5 like to have aske5 him i= he ever remembers the morning I
receive5 the ba5 news be=ore I le=t =or Lon5on( sa>ing u.ow c9rio9s@ I tho9ght I saw him
coming towar5s me at /horncli==e a =ew weeks ago.4
P:Q B*he U3th o= /eptember( 2783( was a /9n5a>. I cannot sa> whether that was the 5a> I
mentione5 it. M> brother 5ie5 some time( as =ar as I can recollect( a=ter the =amil> with
whom he was stopping ha5 ret9rne5 =rom ch9rch@ =or I remember the letter sa>ing: u.e
was so m9ch better( an5 asleep( that we tho9ght it sa=e to leave him =or an ho9r or so. On
o9r ret9rn(4 it went on to sa>( uwe =o9n5 he was ver> =everish( an5 he 5ie5 that a=ternoon.4
%ow the time I saw the hall9cination co9l5 not have been later than U p.m. )llowing =or
the =ive ho9rs 5i==erence o= longit95e( that wo9l5 be abo9t X a.m.( an5 wo9l5 not tall>.C
Y-olonel /wine> seems to have reckone5 the 5i==erence the wrong wa>( )t an> moment
the time o= 5a> in In5ia is =o9r or =ive ho9rs later than the time o= 5a> in Englan5@ an5
th9s( i= the 5a>s were the same( the 5eath an5 the vision ma> have coinci5e5 e?actl>.Z
*he )r(, ;ist =or $ecember( 2783( an5 )llens :ndian 'ail =or October U;th( 2783( give
the 5ate o= Lie9t. Fohn $. /wine>4s 5eath as /eptember UVth@ an5 it was the UVth( not the
U3th( that =ell on a /9n5a>. ,hen -olonel /wine> hear5 o= the 5eath he was clearl> 9n5er
the impression that his e?perience ha5 occ9rre5 on a /9n5a>Awhich is a marke5 5a>@
an5 his s9bseE9ent mistake as to the 5a> o= the month seems there=ore 9nimportant.
*he ne?t case is =rom Miss "ale( o= -h9rch +arm( &orleston.
B/eptember 2Wth( 277V.
PU:8Q BIn the F9ne o= 277;( I went to a sit9ation as governess. On the =irst 5a> o= m>
going there( a=ter retiring =or the night( I hear5 a noise which ii-V:! was like the ticking
o= a watch. I took no partic9lar notice o= it( b9t I notice5 that ever> time I was alone I
hear5 it( more especiall> at night. I even went so =ar as to search( thinking there m9st be a
watch conceale5 somewhere in the room. *his contin9e5 9ntil I grew E9ite acc9stome5 to
it. It was on the 2Uth o= F9l>( when I was coming =rom the 5ining-room with a tra> o=
glasses that I saw what appeare5 to me to be a 5ark =ig9re stan5ing D9st o9tsi5e the 5oor(
with o9tstretche5 arms. It startle5 me( an5 when I t9rne5 to look again it was gone.
BOn the U:r5 /eptember I receive5 news that m> brother was 5rowne5 on the 2Uth o=
F9l>. I hear5 the ticking 9p to the time I ha5 the letter( b9t never once a=terwar5s.
B+. ). ")LE.C
,riting again( Miss "ale sa>s:A
BI enclose the letter in=orming 9s o= m> brother4s 5eath( also one =rom the captain o= the
ship( =or >o9r per9sal.
BI ma5e no entr> in m> 5iar> o= the apparition I saw on the 2U th o= F9l>( b9t I 5istinctl>
remember the time. I sat 5own a little while to recover m> =right( an5 then I looke5 at the
time@ it was U; min9tes past 8. I enclose the a55ress o= a =rien5 who I am s9re remembers
it as well as I 5o. #o9 will see b> enclose5 where m> brother was when he met with his
5eath.
B*he apparition 5i5 remin5 me o= m> brother( as I last saw him in a long 5ark 9lster( an5
it was abo9t his height( b9t that was all I co9l5 5iscover( =or when I looke5 a secon5 time
it was gone. ,hat ma5e me mention the ticking was the pec9liarit> o= its =ollowing me
ever,-here, provi5ing I was alone.F
*he enclose5 letter( written b> the 'ev. ,. ). 19re>--9st on boar5 the /hip
BMelbo9rne(C anno9nce5 that Mr. ,illiam "ale4s 5eath occ9rre5 at 8 p.m.( on F9l> 2Uth(
277;( abo9t 2V; miles so9th o= *ristan 54)c9nha( longit95e 2U 5eg. :; ,. Mr. 19re>-
-9st has since tol5 9s that on that 5a>Aan5 on that 5a> onl>Athe position o= the ship
ha5 to be =o9n5 b> 5ea5 reckoning( the s9n not being visible. *he error in time arising in
this wa> co9l5 not( however( have amo9nte5 to more than a min9te or two( an5 Mr.
19re>--9st gives partic9lars which make it almost impossible that he can be mistaken in
stating that the acci5ent occ9rre5 at 8 p.m( b> the ship4s clock.
Mrs. .art( o= "aker /treet( &orleston( writes to 9s:A
B/eptember U7th( 277V.
BOn the night o= the 2Uth o= F9l>( 277;( Miss "ale came to m> ho9se to s9pper( an5 she
tol5 me that she was coming =rom the 5rawing-room an5 she saw a 5ark =ig9re stan5ing
D9st o9tsi5e the 5oor@ she appeare5 ver> nervo9s. /he sai5 it remin5e5 her o= her brother(
an5 remarke5 to me then that she knew something m9st have happene5 to him. I aske5
her i= she notice5 the time she saw it( an5 she tol5 me that the apparition ha5 startle5 her
ver> m9ch( an5 she ha5 sat 5own a little time to recover the =right it gave her( an5 then
she looke5 at the time@ it was 8.U;. /he ha5 previo9sl> tol5 me o= a ticking she hear5
ever>where she went( so long as she was alone( b9t 5irectl> an>one Doine5 her it cease5@
an5 she tol5 me she hear5 it 9p to the 5a> she receive5 the news o= her brother4s 5eath(
b9t not a=terwar5s.
B.. .)'*.C
Miss "ale a55s:A
ii-V3!
B/eptember U3th( 277V.
B*here was one inci5ent I 5i5 not tell >o9( thinking it too trivial( as I 5i5 not notice the
5ate or ho9r( b9t I know it was shortl> be=ore I hear5 the news o= m> brother4s 5eath. I
ha5 been in be5 a short time( an5 I hear5 a tremen5o9s crash like the smashing o= a lot o=
china. I =elt too nervo9s to go an5 see what it was( b9t nothing was broken or 5ist9rbe5 in
the morning( an5 =or three nights in s9ccession I hear5 the same. I am not incline5 to
think that it was in an> wa> correspon5ing with m> brother4s 5eath. I certainl> have
never hear5 imaginar> voices nor seen imaginar> =ig9res e?cept the apparition I saw the
5a> m> brother was 5rowne5.C
Y*here seems to be no reason =or connecting the ticking so9n5 with Mr. "ale4s 5eath( an>
more than the crash o= china@ an5 it is probable that it was 59e to a merel> ph>sical
a==ection( to which the shock o= receiving the news perhaps p9t an en5. It seeme5 right(
however( to mention it@ since( i= it was a hall9cination( it wo9l5 ten5 to show that Miss
"ale was =or some time in a con5ition =avo9rable to p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinationsA
which wo9l5 slightl> weaken the =orce o= the coinci5ence o= the vis9al hall9cination with
her brother4s 5eath. It will be notice5 that( allowing =or longit95e( the 5eath occ9rre5A
accor5ing to the statements ma5eAabo9t hal=-an-ho9r a=ter the apparition "9t as the
5i==erence is so small( it seems more probable that it is 59e to error in Miss "ale4s
observation or memor>( or in the time o= her clock( than that so close a coinci5ence was
p9rel> acci5ental.Z
*he ne?t =ew cases( tho9gh 5epen5ing in the =irst instance on witnesses in a h9mbler
station( are( as =ar as I can D95ge( =aith=9ll> reporte5. *he narrator o= the =irst o= them is
Ellen M. &rean>( a tr9ste5 an5 val9e5 servant in the =amil> o= Miss 1orter( at 28( '9ssell
/E9are( ,.-.
BMa> U;th( 2773.
PU:WQ BI sat one evening rea5ing( when on looking 9p =rom m> book( I 5istinctl> saw a
school-=rien5 o= mine( to whom I was ver> m9ch attache5( stan5ing near the 5oor. I was
abo9t to e?claim at the strangeness o= her visit( when( to m> horror( there were no signs
o= an> one in the room b9t m> mother. I relate5 what I ha5 seen to her( knowing she
co9l5 not have seen( as she was sitting with her back towar5s the 5oor( nor 5i5 she hear
an>thing 9n9s9al( an5 was greatl> am9se5 at m> scare( s9ggesting I ha5 rea5 too m9ch or
been 5reaming.
B) 5a> or so a=ter this strange event( I ha5 news to sa> m> =rien5 was no more. *he
strange part was I 5i5 not even know she was ill( m9ch less in 5anger( so co9l5 not have
=elt an?io9s at the time on her acco9nt( b9t ma> have been thinking o= her@ that I cannot
testi=>. .er illness was short( an5 5eath ver> 9ne?pecte5. .er mother tol5 me she spoke
o= me not long be=ore she 5ie5( an5 won5ere5 I ha5 not been to see her( thinking( o=
co9rse( I ha5 some knowle5ge o= her illness( which was not the case. It ma> be as well to
mention she le=t a small bo? she pri]e5 rather( to be given to me in remembrance o= her.
/he 5ie5 the same evening an5 abo9t the same time that I saw her vision( which was the
en5 o= October( 27W3.
BELLE% M. &'E)%#.C
ii-VV!
In answer to an inE9ir>( Ellen &rean> a55s that this hall9cination is the onl> one she has
ever e?perience5. /he tells Miss 1orter that she went to see her 5ea5 =rien5 be=ore the
=9neral( which accor5s with her statement that she hear5 the news o= the 5eath ver> soon
a=ter it occ9rre5@ an5 there is no reason to 5o9bt that( at the time when she hear5 the
news( she was able correctl> to i5enti=> the 5a> o= her vision.
.er mother corroborates as =ollows:A
C )cton( F9l>( 2773.
BI can well remember the instance m> 5a9ghter speaks o=. I know she was not an?io9s at
the time( not knowing her =rien5 was ill. I took no notice o= it at the time( as I 5o not
believe in ghosts( b9t tho9ght it strange the ne?t 5a>( when we hear5 she was 5ea5( an5
5ie5 abo9t the same time that m> 5a9ghter saw her.
BM)'&)'E* &'E)%#.C
YI have seen Ellen &rean>( who is a s9perior an5 intelligent person. /he went over her
stor> witho9t prompting( giving an entirel> clear an5 consistent acco9nt( an5 stan5ing
cross-e?amination per=ectl>. "9t the =avo9rable e==ect o= s9ch an interview on one4s own
min5 cannot( o= co9rse( be conve>e5 to others.Z
*he =ollowing acco9nt was =irst p9blishe5 in The >nglish(an, on Ma> 2:th( 27W8.
PU:7Q B) labo9rer name5 $9ck( emplo>e5 b> Mr. $i?on( o= Mil5enhall ,arren +arm(
near Marlboro9gh( was in charge o= a horse an5 water-cart on the =arm( when the animal
took =right an5 knocke5 him 5own. *he wheel went over his chest( an5 he 5ie5 shortl>
a=terwar5s. Imme5iatel> a=ter the acci5ent( Mr. $i?on 5espatche5 a woman to 'amsb9r>(
where $9ck live5( to make known the =act to his wi=e. On arriving at her home the
messenger =o9n5 her o9t gathering woo5( b9t shortl> a=ter a girl( who was her
companion( arrive5( an5 witho9t being tol5 o= what ha5 occ9rre5( vol9nteere5 the
statement that 'ia PMrs. $9ckQ was 9nable to 5o m9ch that morning( that she ha5 been
ver> m9ch =rightene5( having seen her h9sban5 in the woo5. /hortl> a=terwar5s Mrs.
$9ck ret9rne5 witho9t an> woo5( an5 being in=orme5 b> a neighbo9r that a woman =rom
Mil5enhall ,oo5lan5s wishe5 to see her( eDac9late5 uM> $avi54s 5ea5 then.4 InE9ir> has
since been ma5e b> Mr. $i?on o= the woman( an5 she positivel> asserts that she saw her
h9sban5 in the woo5( an5 sai5( u.allo( $avi5( what win5 blows >o9 herer4 an5 that he
ma5e no answer. Mr. $i?on inE9ire5 what time this occ9rre5( an5 she replie5 abo9t 2;
o4clock( the time at which the =atal acci5ent occ9rre5.C
On the appearance o= this acco9nt( o9r =rien5( Mr. +. ,. 1ercival( o= :8( "r>anston /treet(
,.( wrote to Mr. $i?on to inE9ire into the =acts( an5 receive5 =rom him the =ollowing
con=irmation:A
BMa> UVth( 27W8.
B)s soon as it happene5 P$9ck4s 5eathQ( I sent one o= m> =emale servants to in=orm his
wi=e o= the sa5 occ9rrence( to a place calle5 'amsb9r>( abo9t =o9r miles =rom where it
occ9rre5. "9t when she got ii-V8! there( his wi=e was gone to get woo5 at a 5istant
woo5( the woman stopping =or her ret9rn at an a5Doining cottage. "9t Maria ret9rne5
witho9t an> woo5( sa>ing she ha5 seen her h9sban5( an5 aske5 him how he came thereA
telling the woman that she knew her b9siness( that she was come to in=orm her o= her
h9sban54s 5eath( an5 that she ha5 seen him as plain as ever she 5i5 in her li=e( an5 sai5 to
him( u.allo( $avi5( what win5 blew >o9 herer4 b9t as she saw him no more( she became
m9ch =rightene5( an5 le=t the woo5.C
BF9ne 2st( 27W8.
B*he woman I sent tol5 me( when she got to 'amsb9r> to $9ck4s ho9se( her neighbo9r
tol5 her that she was gone to get woo5 an5 her Pthe neighbo9r4sQ little girl was gone with
her. *he girl soon ret9rne5 sa>ing Maria $9ck was m9ch =rightene5 in the woo5( an5 ha5
seen her h9sban5 an5 spoken to him( b9t as he ma5e no repl> she became =aint( an5 tol5
the girl to go home( as she knew something ha5 happene5 to $avi5. *hat was be=ore she
knew the woman was sent. ,hen she got home an5 =o9n5 the woman waiting =or her
ret9rn she sai5 she knew her erran5( an5 aske5 her i= her h9sban5 was not 5ea5( an5
seeme5 m9ch =rightene5( the woman telling her he was ver> ill( an5 tho9ght he wo9l5 not
be living to see her again. ,hen she got to ,arren( she =o9n5 him 5ea5( an5 tol5 9s the
time she saw him( which was e?actl> the time he lost his li=e@ there=ore I think the p9blic
is bo9n5 to believe it( altho9gh it seems to 9s E9ite a m>ster>. $9ck4s wi=e is now in
.9nger=or5 Union( her home broken 9p b> his 5eath. *he woman I sent is Mar> .olick(
has been living with me some time( an5 her wor5 is to be relie5 on.
B"E%F)MI% $I\O%.C
Mrs.$9ck has since 5ie5@ b9t Mrs. .olick 5ictate5 an5 signe5 the =ollowing acco9nt:A
BFan9ar> U8th( 2778.
BI well remember abo9t poor ol5 $avi5 $9ck. I am never likel> to =orget it. *he cart-
wheel passe5 over his chest an5 kille5 him( an5 I was sent 5own b> Mr. $i?on to tell his
wi=e at 'amsb9r>. /he was not at home@ she was o9t gathering woo5 with the little girl o=
a neighbo9r@ so I went to this neighbo9r4s ho9se to wait. 1resentl> the little girl came in(
an5 sai5 that Mrs. $9ck was in a great wa> beca9se she ha5 seen her h9sban5 in the
woo5( an5 when she spoke to him an5 sai5( u,hat win5 blows >o9 here( $avier4 he
5isappeare5 awa>( an5 she =ell back on the bank hal= =ainting with =right@ an5 the little
girl ran 5own an5 =o9n5 her like it. /o she ha5 gathere5 ver> little woo5. I= the little girl
ha5 not tol5 me =irst( I never co9l5 have reall> believe5 that she ha5 seen him. "9t when
she came back( abo9t hal=-an-ho9r a=ter the little girl Pwho ha5 come on in =ront( =9ll o=
what Mrs. $9ck ha5 seenQ( it was all tr9e. I shall never =orget her@ she came in with her
han5s stretche5 o9t( an5 sai5( looking at me( u/he has come to tell me that m> $avie is
kille5. I knew he was@ I have seen his ghost. I 5i5n4t nee5 an>one to tell me.4 )n5 then
she tol5 9s( a=terwar5s( how she ha5 s955enl> seen him in =ront o= her( in his 9s9al
clothes@ an5 how she spoke to him( an5 he vanishe5. /he live5 abo9t hal= a mile =rom the
woman I was waiting with@ an5 we sent another woman to her ho9se to tell her( when she
came home( that a person =rom Mr. $i?on4s wante5 to see her. /o 5irectl> she tol5 her(
ii-VW! she sai5( u/he has come to tell me m> poor $avie is kille5@ b9t I 5i5n4t want
an>one to tell me( =or I 1no-/ I have D9st seen his ghost.4 )n5 the woman sai5( u$on4t
give wa> now( b9t come with me( there4s a goo5 woman.4 )n5 the> came@ an5 I shall
never =orget her as she came st9mbling 9p the steps( an5 looke5 at me an5 sai5( u+or
&o54s sake tell me@ m> $avie is 5ea5.4 /he ha5 seen him D9st as nat9ral as li=e( ever> bit@
b9t the little girl never saw an>thing( onl> she knew Mrs. $9ck ha5( when she helpe5 her
o== the bank( where she =ell when he 5isappeare5. /he was a ver> goo5 woman( I think(
an5 her h9sban5 was a ver> E9iet man@ an5 she was as strong as an> man( an5 worke5
har5 =rom earl> morning.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that $avi5 $9ck 5ie5 on March :2( 27W3.
YMrs. .olick4s acco9nt =airl> comes into the class o= evi5ence reckone5 as on a par with
=irst-han5 PVol. I.( pp. 237Q@ as( tho9gh she 5i5 not act9all> receive a 5escription o= the
apparition =rom Mrs. $9ck4s own lips be=ore Mrs. $9ck hear5 the =atal news( she saw her
in the state o= agitation( an5 hear5 her e?press the conviction( which the apparition ha5
pro59ce5. Mrs. .olick is E9ite clear that she hersel= was the =irst to comm9nicate the
news.Z
In the ne?t e?ample acci5ent has ma5e the evi5ence =or the =acts ver> =airl> strong@ b9t
the case is to some e?tent weakene5 b> the percipient4s knowle5ge that the person whose
phantasm he saw was ill. *he case was =irst 5escribe5 to 9s b> a clerg>man as =ollows:A
BMarch Vth( 277V.
PU:XQ B/ome 27 or 2X >ears ago( I remember calling on a working maltster( whose
emplo>er was living at Lincoln. .is emplo>er was ill at the time( an5 I aske5 the man i=
he ha5 hear5 =rom him latel>.4%o(4 he sai5( ub9t I am a=rai5 he is 5ea5.4 )n5 on m>
inE9iring wh> he tho9ght so( he replie5 that on going o9t that morning earl>( he ha5 seen
his emplo>er stan5ing on the top o= the steps that lea5 9p to the kiln 5oor( as plainl> as he
ever ha5 seen him in his li=e.
It was as he e?pecte5: the =irst news that came reporte5 his emplo>er4s 5eath.
BI have no 5o9bt the man I speak o= either saw this appearance( or believed he saw it.C
In answer to inE9iries( this in=ormant sa>s:A
BMarch 2Uth( 277V.
B/ince receiving >o9r letter( I have ha5 the c9riosit> to look over m> ol5 5iaries( thinking
I might have ma5e a note o= the occ9rrence( an5 9n5er the 5ate o= *h9rs5a>( the UUn5 o=
October( 278:( I =in5 the =ollowing:Au'eport o= Mr. ,.4s 5eath. :$ea5.< M. saw his
BwraithC on *9es5a> morning abo9t V o4clock.4
B*his 5i==ers somewhat =rom what I tol5 >o9 in m> last letter( =or I sai5 that the man ha5
seen the appearance that same morning in which I spoke with him. .ere it seems it was
two 5a>s be=ore. "9t still he ha5 ii-V7! tol5 me before it was known =or a certaint> that
Mr. ,. was 5ea5. +or >o9 observe the wor5 u5ea54 p9t in over the :. *his I know =rom
m> own habit was p9t in a=terwar5s. *here is no comm9nication between this place an5
Lincoln( e?cept on the market 5a>( +ri5a>. )t that time o= >ear( moreover( the carriers
who go to Lincoln wo9l5 not get back be=ore night( an5 conseE9entl> I sho9l5 most
probabl> not have learne5 the certaint> o= the report 9ntil some time on /at9r5a>. *hen(
instea5 o= making a new note o= it( I simpl> p9t in the wor5 u5ea54 to show that the report
was tr9e when I =irst hear5 it. Moreover( I 9se5 the /cotch wor5 uwraith4 instea5 o=
ughost4 or uspirit(4 as I ha5 an i5ea that the =ormer wor5 was applie5 to appearances be=ore
5eath.
BI observe that the man sai5 uabo9t V o4clock.4 O= co9rse( this wo9l5 be a vag9e
e?pression =or an> time 9p to V.:;( or thereabo9ts( when the morning wo9l5 not be ver>
clear perhaps( b9t s9==icientl> so to enable one to see an obDect some 2; or 2U >ar5s o==(
an5 I am not s9re it was E9ite so m9ch. BI cannot sa> that Mr. ,. was 5ea5 at the time M.
saw the appearance( b9t he was certainl> 5ea5 at the time he tol5 me o= it( otherwise I
sho9l5 not have inserte5 the wor5 u5ea54 where I 5i5.
I ma> a55 that Mr. ,. ha5 =ormerl> live5 in this village( an5 I ha5 known him well. .e
ha5 gone to live in Lincoln onl> a short time be=ore his 5eath. .is malt kiln was his onl>
means o= provi5ing =or his wi=e an5 =amil>A=ive or si? >o9ng chil5renAan5 he ha5 been
in the habit o= coming over to see how things went on( twice a week. *here is nothing
more nat9ral than that his tho9ghts Pan5 the> m9st have been ver> an?io9s tho9ghtsQ
sho9l5 have been =i?e5 on that one place.C
*he =ollowing is the percipient4s own acco9nt:A
B'i5le>4s #ar5( %orth &ate( %ewark( %otts.( March 28th( 277V.
BI have receive5 >o9r letter asking me to =orwar5 >o9 what I sai5 abo9t m> 5ear Mr.
,right( =or he was a ver> goo5 master. I sai5 I saw him stan5ing on the steps( with one
han5 on the han5rail@ m> light went o9t( an5 I saw no more( an5 he 5ie5( an5 I hope he is
at rest. *hat was at 3 o4clock in the morning( be=ore he 5eparte5 =rom 9s.
BF. ME''ILL.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. Merrill a55s( on )pril 8( 277V:A
BI am ver> sorr> to let >o9 know that I 5o not remember the 5ate that 5ear Mr. ,right
5ie5( b9t I think it was the latter en5 o= 278:. I looke5 m> ol5 books over( b9t( with the
tra5e being carrie5 on in the same wa>( I have nothing to go b>. I saw him as plain as in
the mi55le o= the 5a>( =or he stoo5 D9st the same as he 5i5 when he came at noon( looking
on to the ho9se =or me to go to him. I never saw an>thing be=ore( to m> min5.C Y*he last
sentence is in answer to the E9estion whether the above was his onl> e?perience o= a
hall9cination.Z
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that Mr. ,right 5ie5 on October UU( 278:( o=
Bgastric =ever.C *he apparition there=ore took place two 5a>s be=ore the 5eath( b9t no
5o9bt at a time o= critical illness. In conversation( Mr. Merrill4s wi=e state5 that she
remembere5 la9ghing at her h9sban54s acco9nt o= his strange e?perience when he
ret9rne5 home. %either o= them seems to have then connecte5 the apparition with the i5ea
o= 5eath.
*he =ollowing case was written 5own b> o9r val9e5 helper( Miss ii-VX! 1orter( =rom the
acco9nt o= Mrs. "anister( o= Eversle>( mother o= the percipient( Mrs. Ellis( o= 1ortesber>
'oa5( -amberle>( who has signe5 it as correct.
B)9g9st Vth.
PU3;Q BIn /eptember( 27W7( I( then resi5ing in #ork *own( /9rre>( three times 59ring the
5a> 5istinctl> saw the =ace o= an ol5 =rien5( Mr. Fames /tephenson( who I a=terwar5s
hear5 5ie5 that 5a> in Eversle>( =ive miles o==. I saw it =irst abo9t hal=-past 2; in the
morning@ the last time it was nearl> 8 o4clock. I knew him to be ill.
P/igne5Q BM)'# ELLI/.C
) memorial car5 shows that Mr. /tephenson 5ie5 on /ept. 2X( 27W7.
Mr. /tephenson ha5 not been on =rien5l> terms with Mrs. "anister or her 5a9ghter@ b9t
Mrs. "anister( b> his 5esire( went to see him D9st be=ore his 5eath.
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. Ellis sa>s:A
BI tol5 m> h9sban5( an5 a >o9ng man( whose name is /wine>( at the tea-table the same
a=ternoon( an5 a=ter leaving the table to go into another room I saw it againAwhich was
the last time. I 5i5 not hear o= Mr. /tephenson4s 5eath 9ntil the ne?t 5a>( nor 5i5 I know
that he was so near 5eath. M> h9sban5 remembers it well( b9t the chil5ren were then too
>o9ng to notice s9ch a thing. I have never seen an>thing like it be=ore or since( an5 I hope
I never shall again.
BM)'# ELLI/.C
Mr. Ellis writes:A
BI E9ite well remember m> wi=e speaking o= the =ig9re that she ha5 seen 59ring the 5a>.
*he ne?t 5a> we hear5 o= Mr. /tephenson4s 5eath.
BE. F. ELLI/.C
Mr. .erbert /wine>( writing on /eptember UXth( 277V( =rom *regarthen .o9se( 'om=or5
'oa5( +orest &ate( sa>s that he onl> =aintl> recollects the matter.
I= correctl> reporte5( this case presents two o= the rarer =eat9res which are common to
telepathic an5 to p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations@ the frag(entar, nat9re o= the percept
Aa =ace onl>(Aan5 the repetition a=ter an interval o= some ho9rs.
2

*he ne?t case m9st be reckone5 as one o= non-recognition( as the resemblance between
the phantasm an5 the person who 5ie5 was not remarke5 9ntil the =act o= 5eath was
known. *he narrator( Mr. /. F. Masters( o= 7W( -li==or5 -rescent( /o9thampton( will
har5l> be acc9se5 o= e?cessive sentimentalit>.
B$ecember 23th( 277U.
PU32Q BLast Easter /9n5a>( I was retiring to be5( D9st a=ter 22 o4clock( an5 ha5 steppe5 o==
the stairs on the lan5ing that le5 to m> room Pm> parents4 be5room 5oor being in =ront o=
me( abo9t 2; or 2U=t.( an5 m> 5oor ii-8;! being abo9t U=t. to the right( so that I ha5 to
pass it to get to m> roomQ. I saw their be5room 5oor was open( an5 I was rivette5 to the
spot b> seeing stan5ing in the room 5oorwa> in =ront o= me( a =ig9re o= a =emale@
altho9gh I co9l5 not 5isting9ish the 5ress( I co9l5 plainl> see the =eat9res( an5 especiall>
the e>es. I m9st have stoo5 there at least U; secon5s( =or m> mother( hearing me stop
s955enl> be=ore reaching m> room( at last opene5 the 5oor PbelowQ an5 aske5 what was
the matter. I then came 5ownstairs an5 stoppe5 with them till we all retire5 together. *he
=ig9re collapse5 when m> mother calle5 9pstairs( an5 the light I hel5 in m> han5 shone
thro9gh the 5oorwa> to the opposite wall( which ha5 been obsc9re5 b> the =ig9re( as i= it
ha5 ha5 a tangible bo5>.
BIt was not till the =ollowing ,e5nes5a> that m> mother( on rea5ing the mi5-weekl> local
paper( saw the 5eath o= a >o9ng la5> with whom I ha5 once kept compan> =or a short
time. On inE9ir>( I =o9n5 she 5ie5 abo9t the same time as I saw the apparition. I =eel
convince5 it was her( =or the e>es ha5 the same e?pression( altho9gh I co9l5 not
recognise her at the time@ not having seen the girl =or E9ite si? months( I ha5 almost
=orgotten her e?istence. /he 5ie5 in 5ecline( which acco9nts =or her not being abo9t the
town be=ore her 5eath.
B/. F. M)/*E'/.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the 5eath took place on March V( 277U. *his was
a /9n5a>( b9t not Easter /9n5a>. *he mention o= the "ednesda, paper seems also to be a
mistake@ as the 5eath 5oes not appear in the ,e5nes5a> iss9e o= either o= the two bi-
weekl> /o9thampton papers( tho9gh it appears in the /at9r5a> iss9e o= one o= them( on
March 22th. *hese mistakes are not important. +or even apart =rom Mr. Masters4
observation o= the coinci5ence at the time( Easter /9n5a> seems a ver> 9nlikel> 5a> to
have been name5( i= the e?perience ha5 reall> =allen on a week-5a>@ an5 i= it =ell on a
/9n5a>( there is no reason to 5o9bt that it =ell on the /9n5a> be=ore the anno9ncement o=
the 5eathAi.e., on the 5a> o= the 5eath.
*he narrator4s mother corroborates as =ollows:A
BI remember( per=ectl> well( the circ9mstance( an5 the e==ect it pro59ce5 on m> son at the
time. .e is not o= a nervo9s 5isposition( nor a believer in an>thing at all approaching
/pirit9alism( as we all belong to the -h9rch. .is =ather an5 I tho9ght it might betoken the
5eath o= some near =rien5 or relative( having hear5 o= s9ch things( b9t never ha5 seen so
5irect an appearance o9rselves.
BELIJ)"E*. M)/*E'/.C
YMr. Masters has reason to think that the >o9ng la5>4s attachment to him ha5 contin9e5.
.e reports that on more e?act inE9ir>( he =in5s the 5eath to have occ9rre5 within a
E9arter-o=-an-ho9r o= the apparitionAprobabl> a=ter rather than be=ore it. )ske5 i= he ha5
ever e?perience5 an> other hall9cinations( he replie5 in the negative.Z
*he ne?t case is one o= the most sing9lar in o9r collection. It is =rom Mrs. -lerke( o=
-li=ton Lo5ge( +arE9har 'oa5( Upper %orwoo5( /.E.
ii-82!
BOctober :;th( 277V.
PU3UQ BIn the month o= )9g9st( 2783( abo9t : or 3 o4clock in the a=ternoon( I was sitting
rea5ing in the veran5ah o= o9r ho9se in "arba5oes. M> black n9rse was 5riving m> little
girl( abo9t 27 months or so ol5( in her peramb9lator in the gar5en. I got 9p a=ter some
time to go into the ho9se( not having notice5 an>thing at allAwhen this black woman
sai5 to me( uMissis( who was that gentleman that was talking to >o9 D9st nowr4 u*here
was no one talking to me(4 I sai5. uOh( >es( 5ere was( MissisAa ver> pale gentleman(
ver> tall( an5 he talke5 to >o9( an5 >o9 was ver> r95e( =or >o9 never answere5 him.4 I
repeate5 there was no one( an5 got rather cross with the woman( an5 she begge5 me to
write 5own the 5a>( =or she knew she ha5 seen someone. I 5i5( an5 in a =ew 5a>s I hear5
o= the 5eath o= m> brother in *obago. %ow( the c9rio9s part is this( that : 5i5 not see him(
b9t sheAa stranger to himA5i5@ an5 she sai5 that he seeme5 ver> an?io9s =or me to
notice him.
BM)# -LE'0E.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. -lerke sa>s:A
BP2Q *he 5a> o= 5eath was the same( =or I wrote it 5own. I think it was the :r5 o= )9g9st(
b9t I know it was the same.
BPUQ *he 5escription( uver> tall an5 pale(4 was acc9rate.
BP:Q I ha5 no i5ea that he was ill. .e was onl> a =ew 5a>s ill.
BP3Q *he woman ha5 never seen him. /he ha5 been with me =or abo9t 27 months( an5 I
consi5ere5 her tr9th=9l. /he ha5 no ob5ect in telling me.C
In conversation( I learne5 that Mrs. -lerke ha5 imme5iatel> mentione5 what the servant
sai5( an5 the =act that she ha5 written 5own the 5ate( to her h9sban5( -olonel -lerke( who
corroborates as =ollows:A
BI well remember that on the 5a> on which Mr. Fohn "eres=or5( m> wi=e4s brother( 5ie5 in
*obagoAa=ter a short illness o= which we were not awareAo9r black n9rse 5eclare5 she
saw( at as nearl> as possible the time o= his 5eath( a gentleman( e?actl> answering to Mr.
"eres=or54s 5escription( leaning over the back o= Mrs. -lerke4s eas>-chair in the open
veran5ah. *he =ig9re was not seen b> an> one else.
B/.)$,ELL .. -LE'0E.C
,e =in5 it state5 in "9rke4s *eerage that Mr. F. .. 5e la 1oer "eres=or5( /ecretar> =or the
Islan5 o= *obago( 5ie5 on )9g9st :( 278: Pnot 2783Q.
I= this inci5ent is to be interprete5 telepathicall>( it is scarcel> possible to s9ppose that
Mrs. -lerke4s own presence 5i5 not pla> a part in the phenomenon. *he case wo9l5 then
be comparable to some o= the BcollectiveC cases Pto be cite5 in -hap. \VIII.Q( where one
o= the percipients is a stranger to the agent@ the 5i==erence being that here the person who
sho9l5 Pso to speakQ have been the principal percipient was as 9nconscio9s o= the
impression which she receive5 ii-8U! as we have =o9n5 the percipient to be in some o=
the e?perimental cases.
2
)nother instance o= the same kin5 is %o. :VV Pp. UV8( an5 see p.
U8WQ.
S :. I will now give a gro9p o= cases in respect o= which the h>pothesis o= (ista1en
identit, has to be taken into acco9nt. *he apparition in all o= them was seen o9t-o=-5oors(
an5 in several o= them in the streetAwhich is the place where s9ch mistakes are most
liable to occ9r. %ow( with respect to mistakes o= i5entit>( ma5e at the time when the
person who seems to be seen is reall> 5>ing at a 5istance( one general remark has to be
ma5eAnamel>( that cases in which the> have occ9rre5 are not thereb> at once p9t o9t o=
co9rt( =or the p9rpose o= m> arg9ment. +or i= telepathic hall9cinations are =acts in nat9re(
the possibilit> o= telepathic illusions cannot reasonabl> be e?cl95e5. Ill9sions( as I have
remarke5( PVol. I.( p. 38;(Q ii-8:! are merel> the sprinkling o= =ragments o= gen9ine
hall9cination on a backgro9n5 o= tr9e perception@ an5 it is s9rel> not more 5i==ic9lt to
s9ppose that a min5 which is telepathicall> a==ecte5 can proDect its sensor> 5el9sion on
some real =ig9re which bears a general resemblance to the agent( than that it can proDect it
in vacanc>. "9t o= co9rse the coinci5ence with )4s 5eath o= an illusion in which the
perceiver mistook " =or ) wo9l5 have =ar less =orce as evi5ence =or telepath> than the
coinci5ence with )4s 5eath o= a hallucination representing him( simpl> beca9se p9rel>
s9bDective mistakes as to i5entit> are =ar commoner things than p9rel> s9bDective
hall9cinations. *o =in5 the probabilit> that a person will b> acci5ent make a partic9lar
mistake o= i5entit> on a partic9lar 5a> o= his li=e( we m9st m9ltipl> the =raction
2 v n9mber o= 5a>s o= his li=e b> the n9mber o= similar mistakes( in similar circ9mstances
o= light( 5istance( [c.( that he makes altogether@ an5 we m9st 5ivi5e the res9lt b> the
n9mber o= acE9aintances an> one o= whom( i= chance alone acte5( is as likel> as the one
who 5ie5 on the partic9lar 5a> to be the one wrongl> i5enti=ie5 on that 5a>. *his process
ma> re59ce the probabilit> o= a telepathic e?planation o= the coinci5ence =rom o55s o=
millions to 2 Pas =o9n5 in the case o= hall9cinations( pp. 27TU;Q to o55s o= tho9san5s to 2@
b9t in a c9m9lative arg9ment( o55s o= that magnit95e are clearl> not to be neglecte5.
.owever( with regar5 to the =ollowing specimens( or most o= them( s9ch consi5erations
are har5l> nee5e5. *he> seem prett> certainl> to be cases o= hall9cination( an5 stan5( =or
instance( on 5i==erent gro9n5 =rom the inci5ents mentione5 above PVol. I.( pp. 2U:T3Q(
where the h>pothesis o= mistaken i5entit> seeme5 =airl> pla9sible.
*he =irst acco9nt is =rom the -hevalier /ebastiano +en]i( o= the 1ala]]o +en]i( +lorence(
a correspon5ing member o= the /.1.'. *he pec9liar melanchol> 5escribe5 as prece5ing
the vision ma> possibl> e?empli=> the gradual emergence o= telepathic impressions into
conscio9sness( which was e?empli=ie5 in -hap. \II.( S :.
B%ovember 2:th( 277:.
PU3:Q B/ome months be=ore his 5emise( m> brother P/enator -arlo +en]iQ one 5a>( as we
were 5riving to town together =rom o9r villa o= /t. )n5rea( tol5 me that i= he sho9l5 be
s9mmone5 =irst( he wo9l5 en5eavo9r to prove to me that li=e contin9e5 be>on5 the chasm
o= the grave( an5 that I was to promise him the same in case I went =irst@ Ybut, sai5 he( uI
am s9re to go =irst( an5( min5 >o9( I =eel E9ite s9re that be=ore the >ear is o9tAna>( in
three monthsAI shall be no more.4 *his was sai5 in F9ne an5 he 5ie5 on the Un5 o=
/eptember( the same >ear( 2772.
ii-83!
B%ow( on that =atal morning Pthe Un5 o= /eptemberQ( I was some W; miles awa> =rom
+lorence( namel>( at +ort9llino( a villa o= o9rs on a rock on the sea( 2; miles so9th-east o=
Leghorn. ,ell( at abo9t hal=-past 2; in the morning( I was sei]e5 with a =it o= 5eep
melanchol>Aa thing ver> 9n9s9al with me( who enDo> great serenit> o= min5. I ha5(
however( no reason =or being alarme5 abo9t m> brother( who was then in +lorenceAas(
altho9gh he ha5 not been ver> well( the latest news o= him was ver> goo5( as m> nephew
ha5 written to sa>( uSncle is doing ver, co(fortabl,, and it cannot even be said that he
has reall, been ill4Aso that I co9l5 not acco9nt =or this s955en gloom> impression@ >et
the tears stoo5 in m> e>es( an5 in or5er not to b9rst o9t cr>ing like a bab> be=ore o9r
=amil> part>( I r9she5 o9t o= the ho9se witho9t m> hat on( altho9gh it was blowing a
h9rricane( an5 the rain =ell in torrents( accompanie5 b> permanent =lashes o= lightning(
an5 the lo95 an5 9nceasing roar o= the sea an5 o= th9n5er.
BI ran an5 ran( an5 onl> stoppe5 when I ha5 reache5 the en5 o= a spacio9s lawn( =rom
whence are seen( close on the other si5e o= a small stream Pthe +ort9llaQ( the h9ge stones
or rocks heape5 on one another( an5 stretching =or a goo5 hal= mile along the sea coast. I
there ga]e5 to tr> an5 see a >o9th( a co9sin o= mine( who( having been born among the
J9l9s( retaine5 eno9gh o= love =or savage li=e to have >iel5e5 to the wish o= going o9t in
that terrible weather( uto enDo>(4 he sai5( uthe =9r> o= the elements.4 F95ge o= m> s9rprise
an5 astonishment when( instea5 o= &iovanni Ps9ch is m> co9sin4s nameQ( I saw m>
brother( with a top hat an5 his big white mo9stachios( stepping leis9rel> along =rom one
rock to another( as i= the weather were =air an5 calms I co9l5 not believe m> e>es@ an5
>et( there he wasAhe( 9nmistakeabl>s I tho9ght o= r9shing back to the ho9se to call ever>
one o9t to give him a heart> welcome( b9t then pre=erre5 waiting =or him( an5 meanwhile
wave5 m> han5 to him an5 calle5 o9t his name as lo95 as I possibl> co9l5( altho9gh with
the aw=9l noise o= win5( an5 sea( an5 th9n5er combine5( nothing co9l5 nat9rall> be
hear5. .e meanwhile contin9e5 to a5vance( 9ntil( having reache5 a rock larger than the
rest( he slippe5 behin5 it. *he 5istance between m>sel= an5 the rock was( as nearl> as I
can D95ge( not more than 8; paces. I waite5 =or him to reappear on the other si5eAb9t to
no p9rpose( an5 I onl> saw &iovanni( who was D9st then emerging =rom a woo5( an5
stepping on to the rocks. &iovanni( tall an5 slight( with a broa5-brimme5 hat an5 5ark
bear5( was altogether a ver> 5i==erent t>pe( an5 I tho9ght that m> having seen -harles(
m> brother( m9st have been a =reak o= m> sense o= vision( an5 =elt rather anno>e5( an5
almost bl9she5 at the i5ea that I co9l5 have been so 5eceive5 b> a sort o= phantom o= m>
own =anc>@ >et co9l5 not help telling &iovanni( u*here m9st be some =amil> likeness( =or
I m9st positivel> have taken >o9 =or -harles( altho9gh I cannot make o9t how >o9 co9l5
have gone =rom behin5 the h9ge rock into the woo5 witho9t m> seeing >o9 cross over.4 u:
never -as behind the roc1, he said, Yfor -hen ,ou sa- (e, : had but 5ust put (, foot on
the roc1s.
BMeanwhile we went home( p9t on =resh clothes( an5 then Doine5 the rest to break=ast.
M> melanchol> ha5 le=t me( an5 I converse5 merril> with all the >o9ng people. )=ter
break=ast a telegram came( telling me an5 m> 5a9ghter -hristina to hasten home( as -arlo
ha5 s955enl> been taken ver> ii-8V! ill. ,e ma5e preparations to at once 5epart( an5
meanwhile another telegram came( 9rging 9s to make all possible haste( as the illness was
making rapi5 stri5es( b9t altho9gh we ca9ght the nearest train( we onl> arrive5 in
+lorence at night@ where we =o9n5( to o9r horror( that m> brother ha5 5ie5 D9st at the time
when in the morning I ha5 seen him on the rocks( when( =eeling that his moments were
n9mbere5( he ha5 been contin9all> asking =or me( regretting not to see me appear.
BIn kissing his col5 =orehea5 with intense sorrow( as we ha5 live5 together( an5 love5 one
another 59ring o9r whole lives( I tho9ght( u*oor, dear Charlie/ he 1ept his -ordT4
B/E")/*I)%O +E%JI.C
In answer to inE9iries( -hevalier +en]i tells 9s that his Be>esight is e?cellent( especiall>
at mo5erate 5istances.C .e has ha5 one other e?perience o= vis9al hall9cinationA
representing an 9nrecognise5 =ig9reAwhich was probabl> s9bDective.
*he B&iovanniC o= the narrative corroborates as =ollows:A
B)thens( PEnglish a55ress( 2:2( *avistock /treet( "e5=or5Q.
BMa> :r5( 2773.
BM> co9sin( /ebastiano +en]i( o= +lorence( has sent me >o9r letter o= 2:th March last(
with a reE9est that I wo9l5 give >o9 m> recollections o= the strange circ9mstance
atten5ing the 5eath o= his brother( -arlo +en]i( in /eptember( 2772( a circ9mstance which
ma5e Pan5 has le=tQ a 5eep impression on m> min5. I will en5eavo9r to recall the whole
circ9mstance. %earl> three >ears( it is tr9e( have since passe5( b9t m> recollection o= the
event( on acco9nt o= its strangeness( remains clear.
B1assing thro9gh Ital> in the a9t9mn o= 2772( I pro=ite5 b> the occasion to visit m>
relatives. )t Milan I learnt that the maDor portion were at +ort9llino( m> co9sin4s seasi5e
villa. *hither I accor5ingl> went( arriving the last 5a>s o= )9g9st. +ort9llino is a
charming villa( sit9ate5 on the top o= a cli== on the sea( an5 s9rro9n5e5 b> 5eep growths
o= trees an5 shr9bs. *he weather( 59ring the beginning o= m> sta>( was ver> ba5( rain(
th9n5er( strong win5s( an5 heav> sea. I remember that on the morning o= m> co9sin4s
5eathAnone then 5reame5 the en5 was nearAin59lging in a =avo9rite weakness PrQ.AI
starte5 o== alone =or an escapa5e along the shore. $escen5ing b> the hillsi5e to the beach(
I passe5 on( leaping =rom bo9l5er to bo9l5er( climbing over( or passing ro9n5 them when
too h9ge( past a ben5( which hi5 me =rom a view o= the villa( =or some 5istance along the
shore.
B'et9rning =or break=ast( I =o9n5 the rain P5riven into m> =ace b> the win5Q blin5ing( an5(
=earing an acci5ent( entere5 the woo5. *he 9n5ergrowth o= the shr9bs( an5 the wet state
o= the gro9n5( 9rge5 me to tr> the open again. *his I 5i5( emerging D9st insi5e the ben5( in
=9ll sight o= the ho9se. *o m> s9rprise I saw m> co9sin stan5ing on the e5ge o= the cli==.
,hen I approache5 him he remarke5 that there m9st be a strange =amil> likeness( as he
ha5 mistaken me =or his brother -arlo( being on the rocks( b9t won5ere5 how I ha5
manage5 to enter the woo5 9nseen b> him( an5 then s955enl> leave it again. I replie5 that
he ha5 not seen me on the rocks be=ore leaving the woo5 P=or I was o9t o= sightQ. *he
matter shortl> a=terwar5s 5roppe5. /carcel> was break=ast over than a wire arrive5(
s9mmoning him an5 his 5a9ghter -hristina to +lorence(A-arlo was ver> ill. *he> le=t at
once( I sta>ing( at their reE9est( with ii-88! the >o9nger members at +ort9llino. O9r ne?t
news was that -arlo +en]i ha5 5ie5Aabo9t the ver> time that /ebastiano ha5 =ancie5 to
have mistaken me =or his brother.
BFO.% $OU&L)/ $E +E%JI.C
YEven apart =rom the evi5ence that B&iovanniC was not in sight when the =ig9re was seen(
it wo9l5 be 5i==ic9lt to regar5 this as a case o= mistaken i5entit>. +or -hevalier +en]i(
being speciall> on the look o9t =or B&iovanni(C wo9l5 be speciall> 9nlikel> to mistake
him =or someone else.Z
.ere we enco9nter a =eat9re o= which there are altogether nine e?amples in the present
collection
2
Y~ZAa previo9s compact between the parties that the one who 5ie5 =irst
sho9l5 en5eavo9r to make the other sensible o= his presence. -onsi5ering what an
e?tremel> small n9mber o= persons make s9ch a compact( compare5 with those who 5o
not( it is 5i==ic9lt to resist the concl9sion that its e?istence has a certain e==icac>. *he
ca9se o= this might be so9ght in some E9ickening o= the agent4s tho9ght( in relation to the
percipient( as the time =or =9l=ilment approache5. "9t consi5ering how o=ten spontaneo9s
telepath> acts witho9t an> conscio9s set o= the 5istant min5 towar5s the person
impresse5( it is sa=er to re=er the phenomenon to the same sort o= blin5 movements as
seem sometimes( at s9preme crises( to evoke a response o9t o= memories an5 a==inities
that have long lapse5 =rom conscio9sness Psee -hap. \II.( S XQ@ on which view( the
e==icac> o= the compact ma> E9ite as rea5il> be conceive5 to 5epen5 on its latent place in
the percipient4s min5 as in the agent4s.
In the ne?t caseA=rom MaDor Owen( o= 3( &rove 'oa5( Eastbo9rneAthe tie between the
two parties was( we learn( one rather o= bloo5 than o= a==ection.
B%ovember 2Wth( 277:.
PU33Q BIn the >ear 27W;( I went one morning =rom m> then home( in -li=ton( to or5er
vario9s eatables =or the 5a>. On m> wa>( I saw coming towar5s me( on the same si5e o=
the street( F. E. ..( a male co9sin. *o avoi5 meeting him( I went across to the other si5e(
an5 walke5 into a =ishmonger4s shop( an5 watche5 him pass on. I remaine5 in the same
place( looking into the street( an5 I saw him Por itQ pass back again. I =elt so anno>e5 at
the i5ea o= F. E. .. being in -li=ton that I h9rrie5 home to tell m> wi=e that I ha5 seen F.
E. ..( an5 that he was evi5entl> making inE9iries as to o9r resi5ence( an5 wo9l5 certainl>
be here 5irectl>. I sta>e5 at home all that morning( b9t F. E. .. never appeare5.
B*he ne?t 5a>( or 5a> a=ter( I receive5 a letter =rom a son o= F. E. ..( telling me his =ather
ha5 5ie5 the ver> 5a> I ha5 seen the apparition.
B.. M. )'*.U' O,E%.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. Owen sa>s:A
ii-8W!
BI have ascertaine5 =rom the wi5ow o= F. E. .. that he 5ie5 *9es5a>( %ovember Un5(
278X( not as I wrote to >o9( 27W;( between U an5 : p.m. I saw( as I believe to this
moment( F. E. ..( certainl> be=ore noon on that 5a>. M> wi=e can testi=> to the =act o= m>
having seen F. E. .. be=ore I hear5 o= his 5eath( as I went back to m> ho9se to tell her F.
E. .. was in -li=ton( an5 she m9st e?pect to see him an> moment.C
Mrs. Owen corroborates as =ollows:A
BI per=ectl> recognise the circ9mstance 5etaile5 to >o9 b> m> h9sban5 o= his having( as
he tho9ght( seen F. E. .. walking in the streets o= -li=ton@ in5ee5( he came home on
p9rpose to prepare me =or his coming to o9r ho9se( an5 the whole 5a> we were e?pecting
he wo9l5 appear.
BM. O,E%.C
YMaDor Owen has ha5 no other hall9cination( an5 his sight is e?cellent. In conversation(
Mrs. Owen 5escribe5 F. E. ..4s =ig9re to Mr. 1o5more as 9nmistakeable@ ver> tall an5
thin( with small black e>es an5 a ver> small hea5.Z
*he ne?t case is =rom the 'ev. ,. E. $9tton( o= Lothers5ale 'ector>( -ononle>( Lee5s. It
will be seen that the impression ma> possibl> have been reciprocal.
BFan9ar>( :;th( 277V.
PU3VQ BI am not E9ite clear as to the e?act 5ate( b9t abo9t the mi55le o= F9ne( in the >ear
278:( I was walking 9p the .igh /treet o= .955ers=iel5( in broa5 5a>light( when I saw
approaching me( at a 5istance o= a =ew >ar5s( a 5ear =rien5 who I ha5 ever> reason to
believe was l>ing 5angero9sl> ill at his home in /ta==or5shire. ) =ew 5a>s be=ore( I ha5
hear5 this =rom his =rien5s. )s the =ig9re 5rew nearer( I ha5 ever> opport9nit> o=
observing it@ an5( altho9gh it =lashe5 across m> min5 that his recover> ha5 been s955en( I
never tho9ght o= 5o9bting that it was reall> m> =rien5. )s we met he looke5 into m> e>es
with a sa5 longing e?pression( an5( to m> astonishment( never appeare5 to notice m>
o9tstretche5 han5( or respon5 to m> greeting( b9t E9ietl> passe5 on. I was so taken b>
s9rprise as to be 9nable to speak or move =or a =ew secon5s( an5 co9l5 never be E9ite
certain whether there was 9ttere5 b> him an> a95ible so9n5( b9t a clear impression was
le=t on m> min5( uI have wante5 to see >o9 so m9ch( an5 >o9 wo9l5 not come.4
'ecovering =rom m> astonishment( I t9rne5 to look a=ter the retreating =ig9re( b9t it was
gone. M> =irst imp9lse was to go to the station an5 wire a message@Y~Z m> ne?t( which
was acte5 9pon( was to start o== imme5iatel> to see whether m> =rien5 was reall> alive or
5ea5( scarcel> 5o9bting that the latter was the case. ,hen I arrive5 ne?t 5a> I =o9n5 him
living( b9t in a state o= semiconscio9sness. .e ha5 been repeate5l> asking =or me( his
min5 apparentl> 5welling on the tho9ght that I wo9l5 not come to see him. )s =ar as I
co9l5 make o9t( at the time I saw him on the previo9s 5a> he was apparentl> sleeping. .e
tol5 me a=terwar5s that he =ancie5 he saw me( b9t ha5 no clear i5ea how or where. I have
no means o= acco9nting =or the apparition( which was that o= m> =rien5 clothe5( an5 not
as he m9st have been at the time.
2
M> min5 was at the moment =9ll> occ9pie5 with other
matters( an5 I was not thinking o= him.
ii-87!
BI ma> a55 that he rallie5 a=terwar5s( an5 live5 =or several months. )t the time o= his
5eath I was =ar =rom home( b9t there was no repetition o= the m>sterio9s e?perience.
B,. E. $U**O%.C
In answer to the E9estion whether this was his onl> e?perience o= a hall9cination o= the
senses( Mr. $9tton replies:A
BI have never ha5( so =ar as I can remember( an> other e?perience o= the nat9re 5escribe5
in m> narrative( an5 5o not think I am a s9bDect =or s9ch impressions. *his makes the
solitar> e?perience all the more m>sterio9s to me.C
)ske5 as to his e>esight( he a55s:ABI am not an5 never have been shortsighte5( b9t D9st
the contrar>. %or 5o I remember to have ma5e a mistake o= i5entit> e?cept on one
occasion( an5 that in the case o= a person I ha5 seen onl> once.C
Y.ere the behavio9r o= the phantasm is ver> 9nlike that o= a stranger who =o9n5 himsel=
mistaken =or someone else. *he case is o= co9rse weakene5 b> Mr. $9tton4s knowle5ge
o= his =rien54s serio9s illness( which makes it more likel> than it wo9l5 otherwise be that
the hall9cination was p9rel> s9bDective PVol. I.( p. V;XQ. "9t the =act o= his =rien54s min5
having been 5istinctl> occ9pie5 with him Ppossibl> even telepathicall> clairvo>ant o=
himQ is a point on the other si5e.Z
Mr. )rth9r Irelan5( o= the /chool .o9se( /o9th ,itham( near &rantham( wrote to 9s on
Fan9ar> V( 2773:A
PU38Q B)bo9t 23 >ears ago( abo9t : o4clock one s9mmer4s a=ternoon( I was passing in
=ront o= *rinit> -h9rch( Upper 0ing /treet( Leicester( when I saw on the opposite si5e o=
the street a ver> ol5 pla>mate( whom( having le=t the town to learn some b9siness( I ha5
=or some time lost sight o=. I tho9ght it o55 he took no notice o= me@ an5 while =ollowing
him with m> e>es( 5eliberating whether I sho9l5 accost him or not( I calle5 a=ter him b>
name( an5 was somewhat s9rprise5 at not being able to =ollow him an> =9rther( or to sa>
into which ho9se he ha5 gone( =or I =elt pers9a5e5 he ha5 gone into one. *he ne?t week I
was in=orme5 o= his somewhat s955en 5eath at "9rton-on-*rent( at abo9t the time I =elt
certain he was passing in =ront o= me. ,hat str9ck me most at the time was that he sho9l5
take no notice o= me( an5 that he sho9l5 go along so noiselessl>
2
an5 5isappear so
s955enl>( b9t that it was E. 1. I ha5 seen I never =or one moment 5o9bte5. I have alwa>s
looke5 9pon this as a hall9cination( b9t wh> it sho9l5 have occ9rre5 at that partic9lar
time( an5 to me( I co9l5 never make o9t.
B)'*.U' I'EL)%$.C
*o inE9iries( Mr. Irelan5 replies:A
P2Q BI have never on an> other occasion ha5 an> hall9cination o= the senses at all.
PUQ BI mentione5 the inci5ent o= having met E. 1. to m> mother( an5 remarke5 on the
seeming slight o= his not acknowle5ging me. O= co9rse( when the news o= his 5eath
came( mother remarke5 that I was mistaken( ii-8X! an5 altho9gh not =eeling convince5(
I ha5 to assent to s9ch a seemingl>-apparent tr9ism. M> mother has since 5ie5( or we
might have ha5 this a55e5 testimon>.
P:Q BI am thank=9l to sa> that m> e>esight is goo5( an5 I remember no instance o=
mistaking one person =or another. O= co9rse I co9l5 not swear that there was no mistake@
b9t I 5o assert that I( witho9t knowing he ha5 le=t the town( an5 with nothing to make me
think o= him( was s955enl> certain that E. 1. was coming towar5s me on the opposite si5e
o= the street@ that I watche5 him attentivel> =or an> sign o= recognition@ that I calle5 a=ter
him( an5 co9l5 never e?plain his 5isappearance( or acco9nt =or the 9nnat9ral
noiselessness o= his movements or the s955enness o= his appearance.
BI concl95e b> ass9ring >o9 that so =ar I have been o= a ver> realistic t9rn o= min5( an5
am not aware that I am in the least s9perstitio9s or even imaginative. *hat which I have
written is the tr9th( accor5ing to m> e?perience( place5 at >o9r 5isposal to help( i= o= an>
service( in the 9nravelling o= that =or which at present there seems no a5eE9ate
e?planation.C
Mr. Irelan5 was in 5o9bt as to the e?act 5ate. ,e learn thro9gh a sister o= Mr. E. 1.4sA
an5 have con=irme5 her statement b> the 'egisterAthat the 5eath occ9rre5 on Fan9ar>
Xth( 278X. Mr. Irelan5 was there=ore mistaken in re=erring it to the s9mmer. "9t he is
E9ite certain that he Breceive5 the in=ormation o= it within a week a=ter it took place(C an5
remarke5 to his mother on the e?actit95e o= the coinci5ence.
Y.ere the wor5s Bwitho9t knowing he ha5 le=t the townC somewhat weaken the case. "9t
the mo5e o= appearance an5 5isappearance strongl> s9ggests that the =ig9re seen was not
a stranger mistaken =or E. 1. b9t a hall9cination@ an5 i= so( there is the strongest
probabilit> that it was telepathicZ
*he ne?t case is taken =rom a book calle5 John ;eifchild, D.D.( his *ublic 'inistr,/
founded upon an )utobiograph,( b> F. '. Lei=chil5( his son Pp9blishe5 b> Fackson(
,al=or5 an5 .o55er( 278:Q. *he acco9nt is in the wor5s o= $r. Lei=chil5 himsel=( not o=
his son.
PU3WQ BI give an acco9nt o= an occ9rrence which soon a=ter be=ell m> a9nt( =or the tr9th o=
which( as an event( I can vo9ch( b9t o= which I can o==er no sol9tion. /he was stan5ing in
a little shop =ronting the street while a c9stomer was being serve5. On a s955en( her
absent son passe5 in the street be=ore her( an5( as he passe5( gave her a look o=
recognition( which so s9rprise5 an5 overDo>e5 her that( =orgetting ever>thing else( she
r9she5 into the street a=ter him. ,hen there( she co9l5 not see him( an5 concl95e5 that he
was gone to the alle>( which le5 to the abbe>( an5 meant to hi5e himsel= awa>. ,e went(
as soon as we co9l5 assemble( in search o= him( b9t co9l5 not 5iscover an> trace o= the
son. M> a9nt then concl95e5 that she ha5 seen his spirit( an5 =ell serio9sl> ill. I notice5
the circ9mstances in writing at the time( an5 pon5ere5 over them.
B) =ew weeks a=terwar5s m> =ather came to see 9s( an5 m> a9nt tr9l> 5ivine5 his erran5.
.e ha5 receive5 a letter =rom the captain o= the ship in which her son was sailing( stating
that the 9n=ort9nate la5 ha5 =allen =rom the mast( an5 =ract9re5 his sk9ll. ,hile l>ing on
his ii-W;! 5eath-be5 he 5irecte5 the captain to write to m> =ather( whose a55ress he
name5. *he 5ates o= this mis=ort9ne an5 the hall9cination correspon5e5 precisel>.C
Y*his certainl> cannot be prove5 not to have been a case o= mistaken i5entit>@ =or the
Blook o= recognitionC cannot be presse5( that being D9st the sort o= 5etail that might creep
in a=terwar5s( an5 the evi5ence =or it being secon5-han5. )t the same time( the sense o=
realit> seems to have been o= a kin5 which e?cl95e5 this h>pothesis in the percipient4s
min5: people 5o not as a r9le B=all serio9sl> illC as a conseE9ence o= mistaking one
person =or another in the street.Z
*he ne?t case was th9s narrate5 b> Mr. )n5rew Lang( in an article on B)pparitions(C
>nc,clop+dia Britannica( Vol. II.( p. U;W.
PU37Q B*he writer once met( as he believe5( a well-known an5 learne5 member o= an
English Universit> Y1ro=essor -oningtonZ( who was reall> 5>ing at a place more than 2;;
miles 5istant =rom that in which he was seen. /9pposing( =or the sake o= arg9ment( that
the writer 5i5 not mistake some other in5ivi59al =or the e?tremel> noticeable person
whom he seeme5 to see( the coinci5ence between the s9bDective impression an5 the 5eath
o= the learne5 pro=essor is( to sa> the least( c9rio9s.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. Lang wrote( on Fan9ar> :;th( 2778:A
B/avile -l9b.
BIt was when I was living in /t. &iles that I saw the real or sham F. -. I was 9n5er the
lamp in Oriel Lane( abo9t X at night( in winter( an5 I certainl> ha5 a ver, good vie- of
hi(. I believe this to have been on a *h9rs5a>( b9t it ma> have been a +ri5a>. I think it
was on the /at9r5a> that /cott .ollan5 5i5 not come to a break=ast part>( an5 sent a note
that -onington was 5angero9sl> ill. I sai5( u.e can4t have been ver> ill on *h9rs5a> Por
>ester5a>( I can4t be s9re whichQ( =or I met him near -orp9s.4
BI am constantl> =ailing to recognise people. -onington( however( was not easil>
mistaken( an5 I know no one in O?=or5 who was at all like him. ,hoever he was( he was
in cap an5 gown.
B). L)%&.C
Mr. Lang tells 9s that he has never ha5 a hall9cination on an> other occasion.
*he notice o= the 5eath in the Ti(es shows that it took place on /at9r5a>( October U:(
278X@ b9t in=ormation receive5 =rom -anon /cott .ollan5( who hear5 =rom 1ro=essor
-onington =o9r times in the co9rse o= the week( leaves no 5o9bt that he knew himsel= to
be 5>ing on the *h9rs5a> night. *he e?perience narrate5 there=ore coinci5e5 with a time
o= critical illness( tho9gh not with the 5eath.
Y*his is( no 5o9bt( an e?perience which might have been witho9t 5i==ic9lt> acco9nte5 =or
as a mistake o= i5entit>( ha5 the person who seeme5 to be seen been in a normal state at
the time. "9t in an> s9ch case the coincidence is an ine?p9gnable =act or =actor( the
probabilit> o= which( as the res9lt o= acci5ent( cannot reasonabl> be estimate5 save in
relation to n9mbers o= similar an5 more striking e?amples@ an5 its =orce( as I pointe5 o9t
above Ppp. 8UT:Q( is b> no means entirel> 5epen5ent on the s9pposition that the
e?perience was a hall9cination an5 not an ill9sion.Z
ii-W2!
*he ne?t case is =rom Mr. *. .. -arr( o= 2( *he *errace( -arlton .ill( ,oo5ho9se Lane(
Lee5s.
B+ebr9ar> 27th( 2778.
PU3XQY~Z BI cannot make >o9 =9ll> 9n5erstan5 the case 9nless >o9 are acE9ainte5 with
the +rien5s4 Meeting .o9se premises. In passing thro9gh the =ront gate( the Meeting
.o9se is on the le=t( an5 m> ho9se( the =irst o= V terrace ho9ses( 9p a =ew steps on the
right han5@ b9t the> stan5 back a =ew =eet at the en5 o= a high wall. )n5 on acco9nt o= the
height o= this wall we co9l5 onl> D9st see the top part o= the hea5 an5 hat o= an>
gentleman coming.
BIt was when I was stan5ing at m> =ront win5ow on -hristmas $a>( 2773( that I saw the
hea5 o= a gentleman walking 9p the >ar5 which I tho9ght was $aniel 1ickar5 coming 9p(
b9t on getting nearer I saw that the hair was whiter than $aniel4s@ an5 on looking again( I
tho9ght it was the hea5 an5 hat o= Mr. \. "9t to see him right( I tho9ght he wo9l5 think
me r95e to be stan5ing close to the win5ow an5 watching him t9rn the corner( so I
walke5 backwar5s a co9ple o= paces( e?pecting to see him pass close to the terrace. "9t(
to m> s9rprise( he vanishe5 in a moment( an5 I saw no more. I was str9ck with the a==air(
an5 took o9t m> watch( an5 it was D9st 3 o4clock.
B) co9ple o= ho9rs a=ter( ". &e55ar5( the caretaker( came 5own the >ar5( an5 sai5( u.ast
tho9 hear5 that Mr. \. is 5ea5r4 I sai5( u%o@ when has he 5ie5r4 .e replie5( u*o-5a> at 3
o4clock.4
B*.OM)/ .. -)''.C
,e =in5 =rom a newspaper obit9ar> that Mr. \. 5ie5 on $ecember UVth( 2773( a=ter an
illness o= less than a week.
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. -arr a55s that =or 5istant obDects his e>esight is e?cellent@ that
he has never on an> other occasion e?perience5 an> sort o= hall9cination o= the senses@
an5 that( tho9gh he knew Mr. \. to be ill( he ha5 no i5ea that the illness was serio9s.
It was impossible to D95ge o= this case witho9t an act9al observation on the spot. Mr.
-arr4s ho9se stan5s in an enclos9re which is 5ivi5e5 =rom the street b> open railings@ an5
nobo5> wo9l5 be walking along the line which the =ig9re appeare5 to be taking( 9nless he
were coming to the small row o= ho9ses o= which Mr. -arr4s is the =irstAin which case
his whole =ig9re wo9l5 be visible in a ver> =ew secon5s a=ter the 9pper part o= it came
into view. *o 5isappear as it 5i5( the =ig9re wo9l5 have ha5 to retire b> the wa> that it
came( but closer to the -all. Mr. -arr was per=ectl> =amiliar with the aspect o= Mr. \.(
who 9se5 =reE9entl> to come to see him( an5 whose hea5 an5 tall hat were E9ite s9==icient
to 5isting9ish him =rom other people known to enter this private enclos9re. *he broa5
brim o= the hat was pec9liar@ an5 Mr. \. also walke5 with a pec9liar 5roop o= the
hea5 Moreover( the =act that at the =irst moment Mr. -arr took the person he saw =or
some one else( an5 then correcte5 his D95gment( shows at an> rate that his recognition o=
Mr. \. was not that o= a mere hast> glance. .e was e?tremel> startle5 b> the s955en
5isappearance o= his =rien5( an5 at once h9rrie5 o9t to see what co9l5 have become o=
him( b9t no one the least resembling him was in view. *he inci5ent perple?e5 an5
5ist9rbe5 him at the moment =ar more than the wor5s BI was str9ck with the a==airC might
seem to impl>.
ii-WU!
*he =inal case o= this gro9p Pproc9re5 =or 9s b> the 'ev. F. ). Mac5onal5( o= 'h>l(Q is
=rom Mr. /cho=iel5( o= :V;( "elgra5e *errace( Manchester( a man9=act9ring chemist( an5
an o==ice-bearer in the -oll>h9rst ,esle>an -h9rch.
PUV;Q B)bo9t the >ear 27VW( while I was apprentice5 at "ac9p( I came home to
%ewch9rch( in 'ossen5ale( one ,e5nes5a> evening. On arriving at the gate o= the gar5en
=ronting m> =ather4s ho9se( I saw Martha Mills( a >o9ng woman with whom we were well
acE9ainte5( at the gate as i= coming =rom the ho9se. I spoke to her( b9t she ma5e no
answer( an5 I passe5 on into the ho9se. ,hen I got into the ho9se I remarke5 to m>
mother that I ha5 met Martha Mills at the gate( an5 that she 5i5 not answer me when I
spoke to her. M> mother Ysince 5ea5Z sai5( u#o9 co9l5 not have seen her( =or she is either
5ea5 or 5>ing.4 I ha5 not hear5 o= her illness@ b9t she 5ie5 abo9t the same time that I ha5
seen her.Y~Z
B'I-.)'$ /-.O+IEL$.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. /cho=iel5 tells 9s that he has never ha5 an> other vis9al
hall9cination. .e a55s:A
BIt was in the winter( an5 the light wo9l5 not be s9==icient to enable me to 5isting9ish a
living person at the 5istance at which Martha Mills appeare5 to me@ >et I saw her ver>
5istinctl>( an5 at the time ha5 no 5o9bt that it was she. I was not astonishe5 at the time at
the vivi5ness with which I ha5 seen her =eat9res@ =or I 5i5 not 9ntil a=terwar5s re=lect
9pon the 5istance o= the street lamp( an5 general 5arkness o= the night.C
*he 'egister o= $eaths con=irms Mr. /cho=iel54s recollection that the occ9rrence =ell on a
"ednesda,( an5 in the -inter( b9t shows that it is rather more remote than he s9ppose5A
the 5ate o= Martha Mills4s 5eath being $ecember 2V( 27VU. *he coinci5ence o= time
between the vision an5 the 5eath was( as =ar as he can remember( e?act. Martha Mills was
D9st a neighbo9r( who wo9l5 be in an5 o9t at the /cho=iel5s4 witho9t ceremon>.
.ere Mr. /cho=iel5 asserts that he saw the =ace 5istinctl>@ b9t a=terwar5s a55s that the
light was ins9==icient to a5mit o= s9ch 5istinct perception( ha5 the =ig9re been a real
person. %ow( taken together( these statements might seem to tell in =avo9r o= the
abnormalAthe hall9cinator>Anat9re o= the vision:
2
at the same time it wo9l5 be an
eE9all> reasonable in=erence that perhaps he 5i5 not reall> see the =ace as 5istinctl> as he
a=terwar5s s9ppose5. ,hen persons whom ii-W:! one knows are seen in places where it
is ver> nat9ral that the> sho9l5 be( one o=ten accepts a ver> slight an5 general glance as a
s9==icient gro9n5 o= recognition@ an5 it is eas> a=terwar5s to mistake the in=erence that
one 5rew =rom this glance =or act9al oc9lar observation. "9t( on the other han5( Mr.
/cho=iel5 spoke to the =ig9re( an5 it 5i5 not answer him@ which wo9l5 at an> rate be
9nlikel> con59ct on the part o= a real person.
S 3. *he ne?t t>pe that presents itsel= is 5i==erent =rom an> that has >et been mentione5.
,e have enco9ntere5 several cases( which there seeme5 strong gro9n5s =or consi5ering
telepathic( where the phantasmal =orm was not recognise5@ an5 we have seen that on the
theor> that the telepathic imp9lse ma> take place on vario9s levels( or even below an>
level( o= conscio9sness( an5 ma>be proDecte5 into sensor> =orm b> the percipient with
vario9s 5egrees o= 5istinctness( this lack o= recognition is not s9rprising. "9t all the vis9al
cases so =ar e?amine5 have presente5 a hu(an appearance: the hall9cination has been
5evelope5 at an> rate 9p to that point. It will be remembere5( however( that there have
been instances where the h9man appearances 5evelope5 o9t o= something o= a =ormless
kin5( which gra59all> ass9me5 o9tline an5 5etail P-hap. \II.( S :Q@ an5 this might
nat9rall> lea5 9s to e?pect that other cases might occ9r o= a more r95imentar> t>peA
hall9cinations( as we might sa>( o= arreste5 5evelopment( an5 not s9ggestive or b9t
=aintl> s9ggestive o= an> h9man likeness. Instances o= the 9n5evelope5 t>pe are met with
among the p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations o= the sane@ b9t the> are ver> rare in
comparison with the hall9cinations which represent a 5e=inite =ig9re@
2
it nee5 not(
there=ore( s9rprise 9s to =in5 that the analogo9s gro9p( which there are gro9n5s =or
regar5ing as ver> possibl> telepathic( is a small one. 1h>siologicall>( we might compare
these 9n5evelope5 =lashes o= hall9cination to a (otor e==ect ii-W3! which( instea5 o=
taking the comple? =orm o= a9tomatic writing( is limite5 to a single start or twitch. *he
e?periments in -hap. II.( S 2:( seeme5 to in5icate that the seE9el o= a telepathic imp9lse
might be a single tremor or vibration( sent 5own to the motor centre =rom the higher
tracts o= the brain@ D9st so ma> we s9ppose the speech-centre to have been stim9late5 in
the case o= Mrs. 0.4s cr> PVol. I.( p. :X7Q@ an5 in the r95imentar> hall9cinations the
stim9lation o= the sensor> centre ma> be conceive5 as o= the same simple an5 e?plosive
sort.
*he =ollowing case stan5s in an interme5iate position( as there was a s9ggestion( b9t not
e?actl> a representation( o= h9man =orm. *he acco9nt is =rom a witness whom we believe
to have state5 the =acts correctl>. /he is the wi=e o= an Inspector on the &.%. 'ailwa>( an5
resi5es at 3( *a>lor4s -ottages( Lon5on 'oa5( %ottingham.
B)pril U:r5( 277:.
PUV2Q B,e receive5 a letter a =ew 5a>s since( asking me to give >o9 the acco9nt o= o9r
5ear little girl4s 5eath( which took place on the 2Wth o= Ma>( 27WX. I beg to state it is as
=resh on m> min5 as i= it onl> occ9rre5 a =ew 5a>s ago. *he morning was ver> bright( an5
I think the s9n shone more bright than I ha5 ever seen it be=ore. *he chil5 was =o9r >ears
an5 =ive months ol5( an5 a ver> =ine girl. ) =ew min9tes a=ter 22 she came r9nning into
the kitchen an5 sai5 to me( uMother( ma> I go an5 pla>r4 I sai5( u#es.4 /he then went o9t.
/oon a=ter I spoke to her( I went an5 =etche5 a pail o= water =rom the be5room. )s I was
walking across the >ar5( the chil5 came in =ront o= me like a bright sha5ow(
2
an5 I
stoppe5 E9ite still an5 looke5 at her( an5 t9rne5 m> hea5 to the right( an5 saw her pass
awa>. I emptie5 m> water( an5 was coming in. M> h9sban54s brother( who was sta>ing
with 9s( calle5 to me( an5 sai5( u+ann> have got r9nne5 over.4 I then came thro9gh the
ho9se an5 went D9st across the roa5( an5 =o9n5 her. /he was knocke5 5own b> the horse4s
=eet( an5 the wheel o= a baker4s cart ha5 broken the brain at the back o= her neck. /he
onl> breathe5 a =ew min9tes in m> arms.
B*his is D9st as the sa5 acci5ent occ9rre5. I have been looking =or the piece o= paper with
it in( b9t I cannot =in5 it.
B)%%E E. ,'I&.*.C
*he acci5ent occ9rre5 at $erb>. *he Derb, and Chesterfield =eporter gives a =9ll
acco9nt o= it( which completel> correspon5s with the above.
YIn a conversation with Mr. an5 Mrs. .. /i5gwick on $ecember 28th( 277:( Mrs. ,right
e?plaine5 that the apparition was Blike a =lash o= lightning in the =orm o= a chil54s
sha5ow.C It co9l5 not have been a real chil5@ it was Bnot the least like one(C nor 5i5 she
recognise in it the image o= an> partic9lar chil5@ b9t it gave her a kin5 o= shock an5 ma5e
her think( BI won5er where those chil5ren are.C It laste5 long eno9gh =or her to ga]e
stea5il> at itABabo9t hal= a min9teCAan5 Bmove5 awa> to the right( with her e>es 9pon
it(C an5 so 5isappeare5. ii-WV! %ot more than a E9arter or three-E9arters o= a min9te
passe5 be=ore her brother-in-law calle5 to her. It m9st have been V or W min9tes since the
chil5 ha5 gone to pla>( when the acci5ent happene5. Mrs. ,right a=terwar5s learnt =rom
an e>e-witness what the chil5 ha5 been 5oing o9t in the roa5 =or some min9tes previo9sl>
to the acci5ent. ,hile hol5ing the 5>ing chil5 in her arms( she sai5 to the people stan5ing
b>( B*his is her 5eath-blow. I saw her sha5ow in the >ar5.C /he has ha5 no hall9cination
o= vision on an> other occasion.Z
It is open to 5o9bt( o= co9rse( whether the e?perience here was o= a s9==icientl> marke5
kin5 to have remaine5 in the percipient4s min5( ha5 no acci5ent occ9rre5. "9t the
5escription o= the phantasm appears at an> rate to point to something more than a mere
ill9sion ca9se5 b> the s9nlight@ nor is it o= a sort that seems speciall> likel> to have been
9nconscio9sl> invente5 or e?aggerate5 a=ter the event.
*he ne?t two cases are o= a m9ch more r95imentar> t>pe. *he narrator o= the =irst is the
'ev. Fames ,ent( M.).( o= /o9thlea( 0nighton( Leicester( .ea5master o= the Leicester
&rammar /chool.
B$ecember U2st( 277V.
PUVUQ BIn the >ear 27W;( I hel5 an assistant-mastership in a large grammar school in the
Mi5lan5 co9nties. )t the beginning o= one o= the school terms a bo> ha5 come to the
town to resi5e with his 9ncle( =or the sake o= atten5ing the school. .e was a E9iet(
tho9ght=9l-looking bo>( an5 he an5 I were( I think( attracte5 to each other. ) short time
a=ter he ha5 come to the school( he was taken ill 59ring school ho9rs. /eeing that he was
in pain I s9ggeste5 that he sho9l5 go home( an5 he 5i5 so. .e was absent =or perhaps
three or =o9r 5a>s( an5( I think( meantime I ma5e inE9iries o= his co9sin( who also
atten5e5 the school( an5 got the impression that he was not serio9sl> ill. )t all events( I
ha5 no i5ea that he was in an> 5anger( nor( in5ee5( as I ascertaine5 a=terwar5s( ha5 his
=rien5s. One evening I was sitting in m> 5rawing-room rea5ing( m> wi=e being in the
5ining room behin5( when I became aware o= a vag9e presence within a =ew =eet o= me. It
ass9me5 no shape( an5 was nothing more than an in5e=inable 5ark appearance as o=
masse5 an5 5isor5ere5 5raper>( tho9gh there was no r9stling. /light as it was( however( I
was E9ite conscio9s o= it( an5 I can recall it at this 5istance o= time. It ma5e me =eel a
little 9ncom=ortable( an5 I p9t 5own m> book an5 Doine5 m> wi=e in the ne?t room. *he
5iscom=ort passe5 awa> at once( an5 I tho9ght no more o= it. In the co9rse o= an ho9r(
however( I receive5 a note which in=orme5 me that m> p9pil ha5 5ie5 at abo9t the same
time( so =ar as I co9l5 make o9t( that I ha5 been conscio9s o= this appearance. I was( o=
co9rse( at once remin5e5 o= it( an5 took some little tro9ble to ascertain the time. ,hen I
receive5 the note in=orming me o= his 5eath I mentione5 the inci5ent to m> wi=e( an5 she
at the present time remembers m> 5oing so.
BI give the narrative =or what it is worth. It is ver> vag9e( b9t I have en5eavo9re5 not to
overstate the inci5ent.
BF)ME/ ,E%*.C
In answer to an inE9ir>( Mr. ,ent sa>s:ABI have never on an> other occasion ha5 an>
hall9cination o= the senses.C
ii-W8!
Mrs. ,ent writes as =ollows on $ec. UX( 277V:A
BI remember well m> h9sban5 mentioning to me( 5irectl> a=ter he hear5 o= the bo>4s
5eath( a E9eer sensation that he ha5 e?perience5 an ho9r previo9sl> that evening( an5 his
belie= that he ha5 seen something which he co9l5 not 5escribe.
B+')%-E/ F. ,E%*.C
*he stage o= 5evelopment here seems D9st on a par with that o9t o= which the appearances
in cases 2X:( 2X3( an5 :2V took 5e=inite shape.
*he ne?t case is =rom the late 'ev. /tephen .. /a?b>( o= Mo9nt Elton( -leve5on( who
was present when the inci5ent occ9rre5.
B277:.
PUV:Q B)bo9t the >ear 2732( I was in a room with m> =ather in o9r ho9se in the Isle o=
,ight( when he e?claime5( u&oo5 &o5( what is thatr4 starting 9p as he spoke( an5
apparentl> looking at something. .e then t9rne5 to me an5 sai5 that he ha5 seen a ball o=
light pass thro9gh the room( an5 a55e5( u$epen5 9pon it( %9rse /imon5s is 5ea5.4 *his
was an ol5 servant in Lon5on( to whom he ha5 been sen5ing mone>( in illness. In co9rse
o= post came in=ormation that she passe5 awa> at the ver> time in E9estion.
B/. .. /.C
Y*he e?act 5ate o= 5eath cannot be trace5( the name being a common one.Z
It is s9per=l9o9s to remark that s9ch an inci5ent as this wo9l5 5eserve no attention i= it
stoo5 alone@ =or therein it onl> resembles almost an> e?ample o= coinci5ence that can be
a559ce5. "9t in the case o= the r95imentar> vis9al phantasms( the evi5ential weakness
e?ten5s to the whole class( which is =ar too small to carr> an> conviction( or to be even
worth presenting on its own acco9nt@ an5 to man>( I am aware( the ver> mention o= it will
seem rather to weaken than to strengthen m> arg9ment. "9t it is onl>( I think( the vag9e
habit o= conceiving 5eath-apparitions as obDective presences instea5 o= as hall9cinations(
that makes a Bball o= lightC appear so m9ch more biAarre an5 improbable a mani=estation
than the semblance o= the 5istant person4s =orm. I= the percipient has never on an> other
occasion ha5 an e?perience o= the kin5( it seems 9nreasonable to leave the =act o= the
coinci5ence o9t o= acco9nt( merel> beca9se the hall9cination is o= a rare t>pe@ an5 seeing
that this small r95imentar> class is backe5 b> the =ar larger an5 more convincing class o=
recognise5 phantasms( we ma> a5mit the pres9mption th9s raise5 that the smaller gro9p(
like the larger( is telepathic( while still a5mitting that the smaller gro9p a55s no
appreciable weight o= its own to the c9m9lative proo= o= telepath>. *he same remarks
appl> to the r95imentar> auditor, cases( some o= which will be given in the ne?t chapter
Atho9gh to these the conception o= arreste5 5evelopment is less applicable.
ii-WW!
S V. *he t>pes that ne?t claim notice are pec9liar in that the> involve no coinci5ence with
an> ostensibl> abnormal con5ition o= the agent. Evi5ence that certain hall9cinations are
telepathic( an5 not p9rel> s9bDective( in origin ma> be a==or5e5 b> coinci5ences o= a
5i==erent sort. *h9s( a person ma> have a hall9cination representing a =rien5 in some
cost9me in which he has never seen him or imagine5 him( b9t which proves to have been
act9all> worn b> him at the time. Or again( several persons( at 5i==erent times( ma> have
ha5 a hall9cination representing the same person( tho9gh that person was apparentl>
e?periencing nothing 9n9s9al on an> o= the occasions when his =orm was th9s seen.
-learl> it wo9l5 be 5i==ic9lt to regar5 a repetition o= this sort as acci5ental. It being
comparativel> a rare event =or a sane an5 health> person to see the =orm o= an absent
person at all( that two or more sane an5 health> persons at 5i==erent times sho9l5 see the
=orm o= the sa(e absent person( is( on the theor> o= chances( so 9nlikel> as to s9ggest a
speci=ic =ac9lt> on the absent person4s part =or prom9lgating telepathic imp9lses.
*his latter t>pe is important =rom its bearing on the E9estion whether the pec9liarit> o=
organisation which con59ces to telepathic trans=erences belongs rather to the percipient
or to the agent( or Pas e?periment wo9l5 lea5 9s to s9pposeQ in some meas9re to both. *o
5eci5e this E9estion we sho9l5 nat9rall> ask which happens the more =reE9entl>Athat the
same percipient( or that the same agent( is concerne5 in several telepathic inci5ents. %ow
o= repetitions to the same percipient we have several e?amples@
2
b9t that the same agent
sho9l5 =ig9re repeate5l> is ma5e 9nlikel> b> the ver> nat9re o= the or5inar> t>pe o= case(
which implies Pover an5 above an> nat9ral pec9liarit> o= organisationQ an e?ceptional
crisisAin5ee5( more o=ten than not the crisis o= 5eath( thro9gh which no one can pass
more than once. *he onl> chance =or a 5>ing agent to show a special =ac9lt> =or
originating telepathic impressions is b> impressing several persons@ an5 cases o=
sim9ltaneo9s or collective percipience( which ma> possibl> be so ii-W7! e?plicable( will
be consi5ere5 later Pin -hap. \VIII.Q. Meanwhile the cases where telepathic impressions
seem now an5 again to be thrown o== at hapha]ar5( an5 in5epen5entl> o= 5eath or an>
other crisis( are theoreticall> o= at least eE9al interest. +or the> ten5 to con=irm what
e?periment wo9l5 lea5 9s to s9ppose( that agenc> as well as percipience 5epen5s on
speci=ic con5itions as >et 9nknown@ an5 this 5epen5ence on pec9liarit> o= constit9tion in
t-o people wo9l5 go =ar to acco9nt =or an otherwise p9]]ling =actAthe rarit>( in
comparison with the n9mber o= 5eaths an5 crises that take place( o= spontaneo9s
telepathic inci5ents connecte5 with them.
O= the class o= repeated hall9cinations representing the same person( we have abo9t =ive
presentable recor5s.
2
Most o= the inci5ents therein 5escribe5 seem to ill9strate what ma>
be calle5 p9rel> cas9al agenc>@ b9t in a =ew o= them the agent4s state was more or less
abnormalAwhich is so =ar o= co9rse in =avo9r o= a telepathic e?planation o= the
phenomena. *he =irst acco9nt is =rom Mrs. .awkins( o= "e>ton 'ector>( "9r> /t.
E5m9n5s.
BMarch UVth( 277V.
PUV3Q BI sen5 >o9 m> co9sins4 acco9nts o= m> apparition.
BI have also sent >o9 the acco9nt o= m> ne?t appearance( which 9n=ort9natel> cannot
now be relate5 b> the e>e-witness.
B)gain( a thir5 time one o= m> little sisters reporte5 that she ha5 seen me on the stairs(
when I was seven miles o==Ab9t she might so easil> have been mistaken that I have
never p9t an> =aith in that appearance. *hen I was abo9t U;.
B+or man> >ears a=ter that these appearances seem to have entirel> cease5( b9t in the
a9t9mn o= 27WW I was seen in this ho9se b> m> el5est son( then age5 UW( who ma>( I
hope( give >o9 his own acco9nt o= it.
BLU-# .),0I%/.C
Mrs. .awkins pre=aces her co9sins4 acco9nts th9s:A
B*he event 5escribe5 in the enclose5 acco9nts took place at -herington( near /hipston-
on-/to9r( in ,arwickshire( the resi5ence o= m> 9ncle( Mr. ,illiam $ickins( who was =or
man> >ears chairman o= }9arter /essions in ii-WX! the co9nt>. *he la5ies who saw the
appearance are two o= his 5a9ghters( one o= them a little ol5er than m>sel=( the other : or
3 >ears >o9nger. I was then D9st 2W.
B*he onl> mistake that I can 5iscover in either o= the acco9nts is that Mrs. Malcolm sa>s
I ha5 been hi5ing with her ubrother(4 whereas I ha5 reall> been all the time with her sister(
Miss L9c> $ickinsAa =act o= no importance e?cept that she PMiss $.Q might Pi=
necessar>Q bear witness that I had reall> been with her all the time in the washho9se( an5
so co9l5 not have been near where I was seen.
BI remember we were all somewhat awe5 b> what ha5 happene5( an5 that it broke 9p o9r
game. I m>sel= E9ite tho9ght it was a warning o= spee5> 5eath@ b9t as I was not a nervo9s
or e?citable girl( it 5i5 not make me an?io9s or 9nhapp>( an5 in co9rse o= time the
impression passe5 o==.
,riting to Mrs. .awkins in /eptember( 2773( Miss $ickins sai5:A
B&eorgie YMrs. MalcolmZ is coming here on +ri5a>( an5 I propose then to show her >o9r
letters( an5 Mr. &9rne>4s( an5 that we sho9l5 each write o9r impressions o= what we saw
in5epen5entl>( an5 see how =ar the> agree( an5 we will sen5 the res9lt to >o9. It is all
ver> =resh in m> memor>( an5 I can at this moment conD9re >o9 9p in m> min54s e>e( as
>o9 appeare5 9n5er that tree an5 5isappeare5 in the >ar5. I even recollect 5istinctl> the
5ress >o9 wore( a sort o= brown an5 white( rather large check( s9ch as was in =ashion
then( an5 is now( b9t was in abe>ance in the interme5iate >ears.C
/hortl> a=terwar5s Miss $ickins wrote:A
B-herington( /hipston-on-/to9r.
B/eptember UXth( 2773.
BI sen5 the two acco9nts which &eorgie an5 I wrote abo9t >o9r apparition. ,e wrote
them in5epen5entl>( an5 so I think the> are won5er=9ll> goo5 evi5ence( as the> tall> to
almost ever> partic9lar( e?cept the little =act that I tho9ght she Doine5 me in searching the
>ar5 =or >o9( an5 she thinks notAb9t that has nothing to 5o with the main =act o= the
stor>( o9r entire belie= that we saw >o9 in the bo5>.C
BIn the a9t9mn o= 273V( we were a large part> o= >o9ng ones sta>ing in the ho9se( an5 on
one occasion were pla>ing at a species o= hi5e-an5-seek( in which we were allowe5 to
move =rom one hi5ing-place to another( 9ntil ca9ght b> the opposite si5e. )t the back o=
the ho9se there was a small =ol5->ar5 opening on one si5e into the orchar5( on the other
into the stable>ar5( an5 there were other b9il5ings to the le=t. I came ro9n5 the corner o=
these b9il5ings( an5 saw m> co9sin stan5ing 9n5er some trees abo9t U; >ar5s =rom me(
an5 I 5istinctl> saw her =ace@ m> sister( who at the moment appeare5 on the other si5e(
also saw her an5 sho9te5 to me to give chase. M> co9sin ran between 9s in the 5irection
o= the =ol5->ar5( an5 when she reache5 the 5oor we were both close behin5 her an5
=ollowe5 instantl>( b9t she ha5 entirel> 5isappeare5( tho9gh scarcel> a secon5 ha5
elapse5. ,e looke5 at one another in ama]ement( an5 searche5 ever> corner o= the >ar5
in vain@ an5 when =o9n5 some little time a=terwar5s( she ass9re5 9s that she ha5 never
been on that si5e o= the ho9se at all( or an>where near the spot( b9t ha5 remaine5 hi55en
in the same place 9ntil 5iscovere5 b> one o= the enem>.
B/. +. $.C
ii-7;!
BI well remember the inci5ent o= >o9r u=etch4 appearing to 9s. I believe I wrote 5own the
5etails at the time( b9t 5o not know what has become o= that recor5( so m9st tr9st to m>
memor> to recall the circ9mstances( an5 5o not =ear its YnotZ being =aith=9l tho9gh nearl>
3; >ears have passe5.
B,e were pla>ing o9r =avo9rite game o= &olowain( which consiste5 in 5ivi5ing into si5es
at hi5e-an5-seek( the part> hi5ing having the privilege o= moving on =rom place to place
9ntil the> reache5 the u.ome(4 9nless meanwhile ca9ght b> the p9rs9ing part>.
B)s I stoo5 towar5s the en5 o= the game( as a seeker( in the orchar5( I saw >o9( who
belonge5 to the opposite part>( stealing towar5 me. )s >o9r 5ress was the same as >o9r
sister4s( an5 there was the possibilit> o= m> mistaking >o9 =or her( who was on m> si5e( I
sho9te5 her name( an5 she answere5 me =rom the opposite si5e o= the woo5. I then gave
chase( an5 >o9 t9rne5( an5 looke5 at me la9ghing( an5 I saw >o9r =ace 5istinctl>. "9t at
the same instant( %ina( also m> =rien5( b9t >o9r enem>( appeare5 ro9n5 some corner( an5
being still nearer to >o9 than I was( I le=t the glor> o= >o9r capt9re to her. /he was close
9pon >o9 as >o9 =le5 into a cow->ar5. I was so s9re >o9r =ate was seale5 that I =ollowe5
more slowl>( an5 hearing the bell ring( that( accor5ing to the r9les o= o9r game( recalle5
9s to the u.ome(4 I went on there( to =in5 %ina 9pbrai5ing >o9 =or having so m>sterio9sl>
escape5 her in this cow->ar5.
BIn astonishment >o9 sai5 >o9 never ha5 been near the place. O= co9rse I s9pporte5 m>
little sister in her assertion@ whilst o9r brother s9pporte5 ,ou( sa>ing he ha5 been hi5ing
with >o9( an5 that( being tire5( >o9 ha5 both remaine5 hi55en in one place 9ntil the bell
warne5 >o9 that the game was overAthat place being a washho9se in a 5istinct part o=
the premises =rom the cow or =ol5->ar5( into which we believe5 we ha5 chase5 >o9.
B&. M. Pn4e $ickinsQ.C
In answer to inE9iries( both Miss $ickins an5 Mrs. Malcolm sa> that the> have never ha5
an> other e?perience o= vis9al hall9cination.
Mrs. .awkins contin9es:A
B*he secon5 appearance o= m> u5o9ble4 was in the spring P+ebr9ar> or MarchQ o= 273W(
at Leigh 'ector>( in Esse?( m> =ather( the 'ev. 'obert E5en Pnow 1rim9s o= /cotlan5Q(
being rector o= the parish.
B*he person who saw it was the n9rser>mai5. I am not E9ite s9re o= her name@ b9t i=( as I
think( she was a certain u-aroline(4 she has been 5ea5 man> >ears( there=ore I can onl>
give >o9 m> own ver> vivi5 recollections o= her stor>( tol5 with tears o= agitation.
B"9t =irst I sho9l5 mention that I ha5 the m9mps at that time( an5 was going abo9t with
m> hea5 tie5 9p( an5 the onl> other person in the ho9se who ha5 it was m> little brother(
nearl> 2; >ears >o9nger than m>sel=( who co9l5 not possibl> be mistaken =or me.
BOn the =irst =loor o= Leigh 'ector> there is a passage which r9ns the length o= the ho9se(
terminate5 at one en5 b> the 5oor o= a room that was then the n9rser>. One morning(
abo9t 2;.:;( u-aroline4 came o9t o= the n9rser>( an5( walking along the passage( ha5 to
pass a 5oorwa> opening on to the stairs which le5 5own into the =ront hall. )s she passe5(
she glance5 5own( an5 saw me Pconspic9o9s b> the white han5kerchie= ro9n5 m> hea5(
ii-72! an5 =acing herQ come o9t o= the 5rawing-room 5oor an5 walk across the corner o=
the hall to the librar>. /he procee5e5 along the passage( an5( coming to the =oot o= the
attic stairs( met o9r mai5( who sai5 to her( u$o >o9 know where Miss E5en isr I want to
go to her room.4 uOh >es(4 answere5 -aroline( uI D9st saw her go into the librar>. /o the>
came together 9p to m> room( which was one o= the attics( an5 =o9n5 me sitting there(
where I ha5 been =or at least hal= an ho9r( writing a letter. )=ter a moment4s pa9se o=
astonishment( the> =le5( tho9gh I calle5 to them to come in. ,hen I went 5ownstairs a
=ew min9tes a=terwar5s( an5 reache5 the passage( I saw in the n9rser> a gro9p o= mai5s(
all looking so pert9rbe5 that( instea5 o= procee5ing 5own the =ront stairs( I went on to the
n9rser> an5 aske5 what was the matter. "9t as no one answere5( an5 I saw the
n9rser>mai5 was cr>ing( I tho9ght the> ha5 been E9arrelling( an5 went awa>( E9ite
9nconscio9s that it was on m> acco9nt the> were so 5ist9rbe5.
BLU-# .),0I%/.C
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom Mrs. .awkins4 son:A
BF9ne U;th( 277V.
BIn the a9t9mn o= 27WW( I was living at m> =ather4s ho9se( "e>ton 'ector>( "9r> /t.
E5m9n5s. *he ho9sehol5 consiste5 o= m> =ather( mother( three sisters( an5 three mai5
servants. One moonlight night I was sleeping in m> room( an5 ha5 been asleep some
ho9rs( when I was awakene5 b> hearing a noise close to m> hea5( like the chinking o=
mone>. M> waking i5ea( there=ore( was that a (an was tr>ing to take m> mone> o9t o=
m> tro9sers pocket( which la> on a chair close to the hea5 o= m> be5. On opening m>
e>es( I was astonishe5 to see a -o(an( an5 I well remember thinking with sorrow that it
m9st be one o= o9r servants who was tr>ing to take m> mone>. I mention these two
tho9ghts to show that I was not thinking in the slightest 5egree o= m> mother. ,hen m>
e>es ha5 become more acc9stome5 to the light( I was more than ever s9rprise5 to see that
it was m> (other(
2
5resse5 in a pec9liar silver-gre> 5ress( which she ha5 originall> got
=or a =anc> ball. /he was stan5ing with both han5s stretche5 o9t in =ront o= her as i=
=eeling her wa>@ an5 in that manner move5 slowl> awa> =rom me( passing in =ront o= the
5ressing-table( which stoo5 in =ront o= the c9rtaine5 win5ow( thro9gh which the moon
threw a certain amo9nt o= light. O= co9rse( m> i5ea all this time was that she was walking
in her sleep. On getting be>on5 the table she was lost to m> sight in the 5arkness. I then
sat 9p in be5( listening@ b9t hearing nothing( an5( on peering thro9gh the 5arkness( saw
that the 5oor( which was at the =oot o= m> be5( an5 to get to which she wo9l5 have ha5 to
pass in =ront o= the light( was still sh9t. I then D9mpe5 o9t o= be5( str9ck a light( an5
instea5 o= =in5ing m> mother at the =ar en5 o= the room( as I e?pecte5( =o9n5 the room
empt>. I then =or the =irst time s9ppose5 that it was an uappearance(4 an5 greatl> 5rea5e5
that it signi=ie5 her 5eath.
BI might a55 that I ha5( at that time( E9ite =orgotten that m> mother ha5 ever appeare5 to
an> one be=ore( her last appearance having been abo9t the >ear 273W( three >ears be=ore I
was born.
BE$,)'$ .),0I%/.C
ii-7U!
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. E. .awkins sa>s:ABI can ass9re >o9 that neither be=ore nor
since that time have I ever ha5 an> e?perience o= the sort.C
*he secon5 acco9nt is =rom the 'ev. *. L. ,illiams( Vicar o= 1orthleven( near .elston.
B)9g9st 2st( 2773.
PUVVQ B/ome >ears ago PI cannot give >o9 an> 5ate( b9t >o9 ma> rel> on the =actsQ( on
one occasion when I was absent =rom home( m> wi=e awoke one morning( an5 to her
s9rprise an5 alarm saw m> c nmoda stan5ing b> the be5si5e looking at her. In her =right
she covere5 her =ace with the be5clothes( an5 when she vent9re5 to look again the
appearance was gone( On another occasion( when I was not absent =rom home( m> wi=e
went one evening to week-5a> evensong( an5 on getting to the ch9rch>ar5 gate( which is
abo9t 3; >ar5s or so =rom the ch9rch 5oor( she saw me( as she s9ppose5( coming =rom the
ch9rch in s9rplice an5 stole. I came a little wa>( she sa>s( an5 t9rne5 ro9n5 the corner o=
the b9il5ing( when she lost sight o= me. *he i5ea s9ggeste5 to her min5 was that I was
coming o9t o= the ch9rch to meet a =9neral at the gate. I was at the time in ch9rch in m>
place in the choir( where she was m9ch s9rprise5 to see me when she entere5 the
b9il5ing. I have o=ten en5eavo9re5 to shake m> wi=e4s belie= in the realit> o= her having
seen what she thinks she saw. In the =ormer case I have tol5 her( u#o9 were onl> hal=
awake an5 perhaps 5reaming.4 "9t she alwa>s con=i5entl> asserts that she was broa5
awake( an5 is E9ite certain that she saw me. In the latter case she is eE9all> con=i5ent.
BM> 5a9ghter also has o=ten tol5 me( an5 now repeats the stor>( that one 5a>( when living
at home be=ore her marriage( she was passing m> st95> 5oor which was aDar( an5 looke5
in to see i= I was there. /he saw me sitting in m> chair( an5 as she ca9ght sight o= me I
stretche5 o9t m> arms( an5 5rew m> han5s across m> e>es( a =amiliar gest9re o= mine( it
appears. I was not in the ho9se at the time( b9t o9t in the village. *his happene5 man>
>ears ago( b9t m> wi=e remembers that m> 5a9ghter mentione5 the circ9mstance to her at
the time.
B%ow nothing whatever occ9rre5 at or abo9t the times o= these appearances to give an>
meaning to them. I was not ill( nor ha5 an>thing 9n9s9al happene5 to me. I cannot
preten5 to o==er an> e?planation( b9t simpl> state the =acts as tol5 me b> persons on
whose wor5s I can 5epen5.
B*here is one other thing which I ma> as well mention. ) goo5 man> >ears ago there was
a ver> 5evo9t >o9ng woman living in m> parish( who 9se5 to spen5 m9ch o= her spare
time in ch9rch in me5itation an5 pra>er. /he 9se5 to assert that she =reE9entl> saw me
stan5ing at the altar( when I was certainl> not there in the bo5>. )t =irst she was alarme5(
b9t a=ter seeing the appearance again an5 again she cease5 to =eel an>thing o= terror. /he
is now a /ister o= Merc> at .onol9l9.
B*.OM)/ LO-0#E' ,ILLI)M/.C
Y*he circ9mstances( an5 the =reE9enc>( o= this thir5 percipient4s e?periences 5eci5e5l>
=avo9r the view that the> were merel> s9bDective.Z
Mrs. ,illiams writes:A
BF9ne U;th( 277V.
B)s reE9este5( I write to tell >o9 what I saw on two occasions. I ii-7:! am sorr> that I
am 9nable to give >o9 the 5ates( even appro?imatel>( as man> >ears have passe5 since I
ha5 the e?periences re=erre5 to. On one occasion m> h9sban5 was absent in
/omersetshire( an5 on waking one morning I 5istinctl> saw him stan5ing b> m> be5si5e.
I was m9ch alarme5( an5 instinctivel> covere5 m> =ace with the be5clothes. M> =rien5s
have o=ten trie5 to pers9a5e me that I was not broa5 awake( b9t I am E9ite certain that I
was( an5 that I reall> saw m> h9sban54s appearance.
B*he other occasion was on a certain evening I was going to ch9rch( an5 on getting to the
ch9rch>ar5 gate( which is abo9t U; >ar5s =rom the 5oor o= the ch9rch( I saw m> h9sban5
come o9t o= the ch9rch in his s9rplice( walk a little wa> towar5s me( an5 then t9rn o==
ro9n5 the ch9rch. I tho9ght nothing o= it 9ntil on entering the ch9rch I was startle5 at
seeing him in his place in the choir( abo9t to con59ct the service. It was then broa5
5a>light( an5 I am E9ite s9re that I saw the appearance. %othing whatever occ9rre5 a=ter
either o= these appearances( an5( o= co9rse( I can in no wa> acco9nt =or them.
BEMM) ,ILLI)M/.C
In repl> to the E9estion whether his wi=e or 5a9ghter ha5 ever e?perience5 an> other
hall9cination o= the senses( Mr. ,illiams replies con=i5entl> in the negative.
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom Miss .opkinson( o= :W( ,ob9rn 1lace( ,.-. It will be
seen that in this case an5 the ne?t( the evi5ence is not =irst-han5 =rom an> o= the
percipients@ nor are the cases strictl> covere5 b> the r9le PVol. I.( p. 237Q which a5mits to
the bo5> o= this work the evi5ence o= persons to whom the percipient4s e?perience has
been 5escribe5 be=ore the arrival o= news o= the agent4s e?ceptional con5ition.
2
"9t that
there was here no s9ch e?ceptional con5ition 5oes not in an> wa> increase the probabilit>
that the narrator has imagine5 that she was in=orme5 o= e?periences o= which in =act she
was not in=orme5. )n5 the news that some one has ha5 a waking vision o= oneself being
calc9late5 to make rather a special impression on the min5 an5 memor>( the agent in
these instances is at an> rate in a 5i==erent position =rom an or5inar> secon5-han5 witness.
B+ebr9ar> U;th( 2778.
PUV8Q BIn the co9rse o= m> li=e I have been acc9se5 =o9r times o= appearing to people@
neither can I acco9nt =or those s9ppose5 visits.C
)ske5 to give 5etails( an5 to obtain corroboration( Miss .opkinson replie5:A
BIt wo9l5 be reall> E9ite e?c9sable i= >o9 5i5 not believe one wor5 o= m> statements. I
can get >o9 no =9rther in=ormation to s9pport them. In the =irst instance o= m> s9ppose5
appearance( which happene5 ii-73! some >ears ago( the >o9ng la5> 5ie5 ver> shortl>
a=terwar5s. .er parents( too( are also 5ea5. In the secon5( I gave the gentleman on whom
I calle5 to 9n5erstan5 that he ha5 ma5e a mistakeAI co9l5 not ask him abo9t it now. In
the thir5( tho9gh the la5> onl> a 5a> or two ago repeate5 to me her original acco9nt o=
m> visit to her( she totall> 5ecline5 writing it o9t =or me( or letting me 9se her name( on
the i5ea( which I =in5 ver> common( that these sort o= things are irreligio9s. *he =o9rth
time rather 5i==ere5 =rom the others@ b9t the >o9ng la5> in that case 5ie5 soon a=ter. I am
conscio9s that in all these cases I was thinking intensel> o= the in5ivi59als.C
*he =ollowing are the =9ller 5etails:A
B-ase 2 occ9rre5 man> >ears ago. ) >o9ng la5>( sleeping in a ho9se ne?t 5oor to the one
I was in( 5eclare5 that I visite5 her 59ring the night when she was l>ing awake( an5 that I
per=orme5 some slight service =or her. /he was so positive in her statements that m>
5enial was not believe5 b> those aro9n5 her. I was per=ectl> certain I ha5 never le=t m>
room( nor co9l5 I have 5one so witho9t its being known. I will not 5raw on m> memor>
=or =9rther partic9lars@ I might be wrong a=ter so long a time.
B-ase U. /even >ears ago. I ha5 gone into the -it> Pa place I alwa>s avoi5Q on a small
matter o= b9siness connecte5 with a relative o= mine( an5 I was ver> an?io9s he sho9l5
know nothing abo9t it@ m> tho9ghts there=ore were occ9pie5 b> him. I was almost
startle5 =rom m> reverie b> the clock o= "ow -h9rch striking :. In the evening I saw m>
relative( an5 the =irst thing he sai5 was( uL.( where 5i5 >o9 go to-5a>r I saw >o9 come in
to m> place( b9t >o9 passe5 m> o==ice an5 I 5on4t know what became o= >o9.4 I sai5( u)t
what time were >o9 ri5ic9lo9s eno9gh to think I sho9l5 call 9pon >o9r4 u)s the clock
str9ck :(4 he replie5. I t9rne5 the s9bDectAnor have I ever reverte5 to it since. *his
gentleman knew m> 5ress an5 general appearance most intimatel>. O= co9rse( I was not
likel> to visit him e?cept on b9siness( an5 b> appointment.
B-ase :. )bo9t 8 >ears ago. I was sta>ing in a co9ntr> town 2;; miles =rom Lon5on( at a
b9s>( matter-o=-=act home( with bright >o9ng people. One morning I came 5own to
break=ast oppresse5 with a sensation I co9l5 not 9n5erstan5 nor shake o==. It resolve5
itsel= towar5s the a=ternoon in an absorbing tho9ght o= a relative in Lon5on( an5 I then
wrote to ask her what she was 5oing. "9t a letter =rom her crosse5 mine( to ask me the
same E9estion. ,hen I ne?t saw her she tol5 me what onl> last week she e?actl> repeate5
again: she was sitting E9ietl> working( when the 5oor opene5( an5 I walke5 in( looking as
9s9al@ an5 tho9gh she believe5 I was miles awa>( she concl95e5 I ha5 come back( an5 5i5
not realise to the contrar> till I t9rne5 an5 walke5 o9t o= the room.
B-ase 3. +o9r >ears ago. ) >o9ng la5> asserte5 I stoo5 at the bottom o= her be5 Pshe was
not well at the timeQ an5 tol5 her 5istinctl> to get 9p an5 5ress hersel=( an5 that I tho9ght
her well eno9gh to 5o so. /he obe>e5. I tol5 her she was E9ite mistaken@ I ha5 5one
nothing o= the sort. /he evi5entl> tho9ght I was 5en>ing the =act =or some reason. I was
abo9t U; min9tes4 walk =rom this >o9ng la5>4s room at the time. ii-7V! /he was
per=ectl> clear in her statement@ an5 I wo9l5 not arg9e the point with her. .er illness was
not in the least mental.
BLOUI/) .O10I%/O%.C
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom Mrs. /tone( o= /h9te .a>e( ,al5itch( "ri5port.
B277:.
PUVWQY~Z BOn three occasions( each time b> 5i==erent persons( I have been seen when not
present in the bo5>. *he =irst instance that I was th9s seen was b> m> sister-in-law( who
was sitting 9p with me( the night a=ter the birth o= m> =irst chil5. /he looke5 towar5s the
be5 where I was sleeping( an5 5istinctl> saw me an5 m> 5o9ble@ the =irst m> nat9ral
bo5>( the secon5 spirit9alise5 an5 =ainter@ several times she sh9t her e>es( b9t on opening
them there was still the same appearance( an5 the vision onl> =a5e5 awa> a=ter some little
time. /he tho9ght it a sign o= m> 5eath. I 5i5 not hear o= it =or man> months.
B*he secon5 instance was b> m> niece@ she was sta>ing with 9s at $orchester. It was
rather earl> on a spring morning@ she opene5 her be5room 5oor( an5 saw me ascen5ing
the =light o= steps opposite her room( =9ll> 5resse5 in the mo9rning black gown( white
collar( an5 cap( which I was then wearing =or m> mother-in-law. /he 5i5 not speak( b9t
saw me( as she tho9ght( go into the n9rser>. )t break=ast she sai5 to her 9ncle( uM> a9nt
was 9p earl> this morning( I saw her go into the n9rser>.4 uOhs no( Fane(4 m> h9sban5
answere5( ushe was not ver> well( an5 is going to have her break=ast be=ore coming
5own.4
B*he thir5 instance was the most remarkable. ,e ha5 a small ho9se at ,e>mo9th( where
we occasionall> went =or the sea. ) Mrs. /amwa>s waite5 on 9s when there( an5 took
care o= the ho9se in o9r absence@ she was a nice E9iet woman( thoro9ghl> tr9stworth>( the
a9nt o= m> 5ear ol5 servant 0itt> "alston( then living with 9s at $orchester. /he ha5
written to her a9nt the 5a> be=ore the vision occ9rre5( telling her o= the birth o= m>
>o9ngest chil5( an5 that I was going on well. *he ne?t night Mrs. /amwa>s went to a
meeting-ho9se( near -larence "9il5ings@ she was a "aptist. "e=ore leaving( she locke5 an
inner 5oor lea5ing into a small co9rt>ar5 behin5 the ho9se( an5 the street-5oor a=ter her(
carr>ing both ke>s in her pocket. On her ret9rn( 9nlocking the street-5oor( she perceive5 a
light at the en5 o= the passage( an5 on going nearer saw( as she tho9ght( the >ar5-5oor
open. *he light showe5 the >ar5 an5 ever>thing in it( b9t in the mi5st she clearl>
recognise5 me( in white garments( looking ver> pale an5 worn. /he was terribl>
=rightene5( r9she5 into a neighbo9r4s ho9se P-aptain -o9rt4sQ( an5 5roppe5 in the
passage. )=ter recovering( -aptain -o9rt went with her into the ho9se( which was e?actl>
as she ha5 le=t it( an5 the >ar5-5oor sec9rel> locke5. I was taken ver> =aint abo9t the
same time( an5 lingere5 =or man> weeks( hovering between li=e an5 5eath.C
2

ii-78!
1ro=essor /i5gwick has visite5 Mrs. /tone( an5 a=ter thoro9ghl> E9estioning her on her
narrative( he writes P/eptember U:r5( 2773Q:AB/he certainl> 9n5erstan5s thoro9ghl> the
importance o= acc9rac>. /he sai5 she ha5 hear5 o= her apparition 5irect =rom the seers( in
the two =irst cases mentione5. /he ha5 never hear5 o= her sister-in-law having ha5 an>
other hall9cination be=ore this time P27::Q or a=terwar5s( 9ntil ver> latel>( when she has
ha5 an apparition o= a 5ea5 person. /he is ol5( an5 Mrs. /tone is 9nwilling to tro9ble her
on the matter. %or 5oes she think that her niece( Fane /t95le> Pwho is 5ea5Q( ever ha5 an>
other hall9cination. )s regar5s the thir5 instance( Mrs. /tone onl> hear5 it a=ter her
recover>( =rom 0itt> "alston( whose acco9ntAas repeate5 b> Mrs. /toneAwas that Mrs.
/tone was taken ill in the evening( or rather D9st be=ore the evening( an5 was E9ite
9nconscio9s at the time when she was seen b> Mrs. /amwa>s.C
YIn the last o= Mrs. /tone4s cases( we sho9l5 nat9rall> concl95e that the appearance( i=
telepathic( was connecte5 with her illness@ b9t the other two appearances seem to have
been p9rel> cas9al. 1ossibl>( however( the =irst ma> have been 59e to her sister-in-law4s
=ailing to =oc9s the two e>es together( which is a common in=irmit> in some cases o=
5ebilit>@ b9t we sho9l5 e?pect a person who s9==ere5 in this wa> to be aware that she was
in the habit o= seeing obDects 5o9ble.Z
*he remaining acco9nt is =rom Mr. &orham "lake(
2
mining engineer( now resi5ing at
Lo95sville( ,hite -o.( &eorgia( U./.).( an5 was sent to 1ro=essor "arrett in the s9mmer
o= 2773. Mr. "lake begins with an acco9nt o= long-contin9e5 s9ccess in alleviating pain
b> h>pnotic processesAa s9ccess which he attrib9tes in great meas9re to abstinence =rom
stim9lants( an5 to the =act that his pro=ession has necessitate5 m9ch active e?ercise in the
open air. .e then narrates the =ollowing cases( in all o= which Pe?cept the =irst( where the
percipient4s e?perience was not sensor> in characterQ the agenc>( i= s9ch it was( seems to
have been p9rel> cas9al.
PUV7Q BIn 278X( I crosse5 the great .9mbol5t P3; mileQ 5esert( in the /tate o= %eva5a( =or
the si?th time( alone( in the sa55le@ b> an acci5ent m> horse( a wil5 m9stang( escape5(
leaving me at 2; a.m. on =oot in that ankle-5eep alkali san5( 9n5er the bla]ing F9l> s9n(
an5 twent> miles =rom a 5rop o= water( e?cept that in m> sa55le-bags on m> horse. .o9rs
were spent in the chase =or m> horse. *hen I trie5 to shoot him( b9t he escape5( leaving
me e?ha9ste5( s9nstr9ck( 5i]]>( an5 =inall> helplessl> 5>ing on the hot sha5eless alkali(
abo9t noon. I passe5 the agon> o= 5eath b> thirst( heat( an5 e?ha9stion( an5 became
insensible. It was rarel> ii-7W! a traveller passe5 that wa> in that season( the track
marke5 onl> b> the bones o= 5ea5 animals. ) chance traveller came( saw m> horse( an5
=o9n5 me insensible( lai5 me in the sha5e o= his waggon( an5 bathe5 me with water an5
vinegar 9ntil I came back to li=e. .e lassoe5 m> horse( an5 at s9n5own I mo9nte5 an5
ro5e to the settlements. "etween U.:; an5 : o4clock that a=ternoon one o= m> sensitive
la5> =rien5s in "oston( Massach9setts PU(8;; miles 5istantQ( while talking with her
h9sban5( s955enl> threw 9p her han5s an5 sai5( uMr. "lake is 5ea5(4 an5 co9l5 not be
reconcile5 to the contrar>. /he pers9a5e5 her h9sban5 to visit m> =ather in the same cit>(
an5 learn where I was( [c. *wo >ears a=ter Pin 27W2Q I visite5 the =rien5s( an5 was
imme5iatel> aske5( u,here were >o9 two >ears ago( the last week in F9l>r4 On
comparing notes( an5 allowing =or the 5i==erence in time( we concl95e5 that at the time I
became insensible in the 5esert m> la5> =rien5 receive5 the intelligence. I know I tho9ght
o= the la5> an5 her h9sban5 while l>ing on the san5( as we were long 5ear =rien5s.C
*he percipient in this case( Mrs. -opp( an5 her h9sban5( are 5ea5. "9t I have copie5 the
=ollowing e?tract =rom a letter P5ate5 "oston( $ec. 2X( 277VQ written to Mr. &orham
"lake b> Mrs. $resser( who was one o= their most intimate =rien5s. /he sa>s: BIt is
written D9st as I remember Mrs. -opp an5 the -aptain telling 9s on their si5e.C Mrs.
$resser4s acco9nt begins b> 5escribing how the =rien5ship between the -opps an5 Mr.
"lake began( thro9gh the latter4s care o= -aptain -opp in a 5angero9s illness on boar5
ship.
BIn the >ear 278AYshe is not s9re o= the 5ateZ Mr. ". ha5 not been in Massach9setts =or
>ears. One 5a> Mrs. -. was talking cheer=9ll> with her sister abo9t tri=ling matters( an5(
while walking across the room( hol5ing a 5ish with both han5s( s955enl> the 5ish an5
contents were 5roppe5 on the =loor( an5 at the same instant she e?claime5( uOh( 5ears ".
is 5ea5s4 .er sister( s9rprise5( sai5( u,hat 5o >o9 meanr4 *he answer was( uI 5on4t know.4
"9t again( in the same imp9lsive wa>( she crie5 o9t( uOh( he is 5ea5s4 /he co9l5 give no
reason wh> she sai5 this( onl> that she was (ade to 5o it. *his =act impresse5 her so
sa5l>( an5 also her h9sban5 when he was tol5 o= it( altho9gh it was ine?plicable( that the>
agree5 to write 5own the 5ate( so that the> co9l5 re=er to it sho9l5 occasion reE9ire. )
month a=terwar5s( -aptain -. inE9ire5 b> letter o= Mr. ".4s brother what news ha5 been
receive5 =rom -ali=ornia( b9t gave no reasons =or this inE9ir>. u#es(4 was the repl>( uwe
have D9st hear5 =rom there@ an5 he was in goo5 health.4 )=ter this report -aptain -. an5
wi=e 5i5 not tro9ble themselves abo9t the above inci5ent.
BIt so happene5 that in that same a9t9mn Mr. ". visite5 Massach9setts@ an5 these =rien5s
were among the =irst seen. )=ter a m9t9al interchange o= the news which ha5 occ9rre5(
-aptain -. happene5 to remember that c9rio9s inci5ent( an5 inE9ire5 at once( u".( what
were >o9 5oing one 5a> last AAr ,ere >o9 sick at the timer4 ". replie5( u%o( I was well
Anothing was the matter with me.4 "9t a=ter =9rther inE9ir> abo9t the time( Mrs. -.
cons9lte5 the recor5 she ha5 ma5e o= the e?act 5ate when the event happene5( an5 then
tol5 him o= her pec9liar e?perience(CAwhere9pon Mr. ". narrate5 his a5vent9re( o=
which Mrs. $resser4s version agrees with his own 5escription above.
ii-77!
YIt will be seen that the 5iscrepancies between the two acco9nts are ver> tri=ling.Z
Mr. "lake contin9es:A
BIn the >ear 27W; I was in -ambri5ge( Massach9setts( near "oston( an5 ha5 an occasional
correspon5ence with Miss /.( an )merican( then resi5ing in E9rope. I receive5 a letter
=rom her( 5ate5 MRr]]9schlag( )9g9st 8th( 27W;( in which she sa>s: u#ester5a> I sat
alone in m> room( arranging m> herbari9m( till I was ver> tire5( b9t there was s9ch a
=ascination in the work that I 5i5 not seem able to break the spell an5 leave it@ b9t o= a
s955en someone to9che5 m> sho9l5er with s9ch =orce that I imme5iatel> t9rne5. #o9
were as plainl> to be seen as i= in the bo5>( an5 I sai5( B,h>( Mr. "lake( are >o9 reall>
hererC an5 5irecte5 b> >o9 I lai5 asi5e m> work( an5 went to the woo5s. I 5o not know
that m> min5 was 9pon >o9 at the time. I trie5 to trace the in=l9ence to a concentration o=
tho9ght 9pon >o9( b9t =aile5 to 5o it. ,hether it was >o9r letter( >o9r spirit( or m>
imagination( certainl> it was a realit> to me.4 I wrote =or more partic9lars. /he answere5:
uVienna( )9stria( U:r5 October( 27W;. In e?planation o= >o9r coming to me( I hear5 >o9r
voice( or a voice( speak m> name. I t9rne5( an5 >o9 stoo5 near me. I arose as i= it were a
realit>( an5 as I t9rne5 again >o9 were gone@ an5 >et be=ore I 5i5 that it seeme5 man>
min9tes( =or I sai5( BIs it >o9rC an5 >o9 replie5( B$o >o9 not know merC an5 then >o9
sai5( BI have come beca9se >o9 are tire5( =or >o9 to go to the woo5s an5 rest >o9rsel=(C
an5( as I tol5 >o9( I obe>e5 the s9mmons( an5 wishe5 that I co9l5 have a tangible
evi5ence o= >o9r companionship.4 M> 5iar> 5oes not recor5 an> 5ream or tho9ght o=
Miss /. on )9g9st Vth( 27W;. I was at home( an5 E9iet( an5 9n5er goo5 con5itions =or
s9ch a visit as that 5escribe5 b> Miss /.
BIn %ovember( 277:( being in %ew #ork( I was in correspon5ence with Mrs. &.( who was
resi5ing in /an +rancisco. ) letter written b> her in %ovember( sa>s: uLast evening( I saw
>o9 5istinctl> stan5ing b> m> si5e@ >o9 seeme5 tr>ing to speak( b9t 5i5 not@ >o9 ma5e
passes over me( an5 I =elt >o9r in=l9ence plainl>@ >o9 were here several min9tes( then
5isappeare5.4
BIn another letter she wrote: u#o9 came to me >ester5a> a=ternoon( in Market /treet( at
the corner o= /tockton /treet( >o9 crosse5 the street with me. I t9rne5 to speak with >o9(
an5 >o9 were gone. I have seen >o9 man> times in this wa>.4
B,hile Mrs. &. has been sitting in a room( sewing an5 conversing( I( being in a room 3;
=eet 5istant( have wille5( or aske5( that she come to me( an5 she instantl> broke o== the
conversation( came to m> room( knocke5( an5 on m> asking her to come in she opene5
the 5oor( entere5( an5 seeme5 a little con=9se5( an5 sai5( u,ell( I 5on4t know what I came
in here =or.4 I have ha5 man> instances o= this kin5.C
Mr. "lake has =orwar5e5 to 9s the =ollowing letter( written to him b> the Mrs. &. o= these
last inci5ents. It will be seen that she is to some e?tent pre5ispose5 to hall9cination(
which o= co9rse weakens these items o= the evi5ence.
B/an +rancisco( -al.
BMarch UUn5( 277V.
B$E)' /I'(A#o9 ask me to narrate the circ9mstances 9n5er which ii-7X! I saw >o9( as
I wrote >o9 in %ovember( 277:. )t that time I was in m> room in /an +rancisco( -al.(
an5 I saw >o9 5istinctl> stan5ing b> m> si5e. It was abo9t 22 o4clock p.m. #o9 seeme5
tr>ing to speak( b9t 5i5 not. #o9 ma5e passes over me( the in=l9ence o= which I plainl>
=elt. #o9 remaine5 several min9tes( then 5isappeare5.
B)nother time >o9 came to me at 2U o4clock( while I was walking on Market /treet( near
the corner o= /tockton. #o9 crosse5 the street with me. I t9rne5 to speak with >o9( b9t
>o9 ha5 5isappeare5. I have seen >o9 several times that wa>( as I have three other persons
whom I know to be alive an5 in goo5 health.A#o9rs tr9l>(
BM)'# ). &O'$O%.C
Mr. "lake contin9es:A
BOn /eptember U7th( 27W;( I arrive5 in %ew #ork =rom "oston abo9t W o4clock a.m.(
having with me a valise an5 9mbrella. I went to $r. 1.4s ho9se on +o9rth )ven9e( rang the
bell( an5 $r. 1. came to the 5oor( when the =ollowing conversation took place:A"lake:
u&oo5 morning. -an >o9 accommo5ate me with a roomr4 $r. 1.: u#es( b9t wh> 5i5n4t >o9
come in last eveningr4 ".: u"eca9se I was in "oston last evening.4 1.: u,h> >o9 calle5
here last evenings4 ".: u*hat4s impossible( =or I have D9st arrive5 on the boat this
morning.4 1.@ uI certainl> saw >o9 here last evening. #o9 aske5 =or a room. I aske5 >o9 to
walk in@ >o9 t9rne5 an5 went awa>. I tho9ght it strange( an5 that >o9 m9st have
mis9n5erstoo5 me. I think m> wi=e saw >o9 too.4 *9rning to his wi=e: u$i5 >o9 see Mr.
". last eveningr4 Mrs. 1.: u#es( he was stan5ing at the 5oor with a valise in one han5 an5
9mbrella in the other@ then t9rne5 an5 went awa>. I saw him as I passe5 thro9gh the
hall.4
2
".: uIt4s a mistake( or m> 5o9ble( =or >o9 can see b> m> 5iar> that I was in "oston
>ester5a>( an5 the b9siness I atten5e5 to.4
BI le=t m> baggage in the room an5 went 5own town( ret9rning in the evening. $r. 1.
calle5 me into the parlo9r( where I met an acE9aintance( $r. -. $r. 1. imme5iatel> sai5(
u)nother witness on o9r si5e. $r. -. saw >o9 5own town last evening.4 u#es(4 sai5 $r. -(
uI saw >o9 walking along "roa5wa>. #o9 seeme5 to be in a h9rr>( an5 I was in a h9rr> to
catch the =err>-boat@ I bowe5 to >o9( an5 >o9 ret9rne5 it( an5 h9rrie5 on. #o9 ha5 a valise
in >o9r right han5 an5 9mbrella in >o9r le=t han5( an5 ha5 on a high silk hat( while I have
seen >o9 be=ore in a =elt hat( low crowne5.4 ,e all concl95e5 it was m> 5o9ble( as at
abo9t the ho9r the> saw me( 8 p.m.( I was resting E9ietl> aboar5 the boat be=ore she le=t(
an5 remembere5 thinking where I sho9l5 take a room a=ter getting to %ew #ork in the
morning@ b9t I 5i5 not remember the partic9lars relate5 b> $r. an5 Mrs. 1.( or $r. -. I
think I =ell into a 5o]e( or short sleep( while resting( as has been the case several other
times when (, double has been seen at a 5istance =rom where m> bo5> was.
B&O'.)M "L)0E.C
*he =irst-han5 testimon> o= the percipients is o= co9rse m9ch nee5e5( an5 I e?plaine5 to
Mr. &orham "lake the importance o= obtaining it. .e has ma5e e==orts to 5o so( b9t
cannot ascertain the present a55resses o= the persons concerne5. .e writes:A
ii-X;!
BI enclose the onl> two papers on the s9bDect that I can now =in5@ one =rom Mrs. &or5on
YE9ote5 aboveZ( an5 one =rom Mrs. &o9l5( that I 5i5 not be=ore write o=. In connection
with the latter I will sa> that I calle5 at the ;ight for Thin1ers o==ice( )tlanta( &eorgia(
an5 saw Mrs. &o9l5 =or the =irst time. /he sai5 she ha5 seen m> =ace be=ore( an5 tol5 me
as relate5 in enclose5 paper. /he was not =eeling well( an5 I hel5 her han5s( an5 place5
mine on her hea5 to impart magnetism( an5 relieve5 her. I saw her two or three times
while in the cit>( an5 receive5 the enclose5 =rom her a=ter m> ret9rn home.C
*he enclos9re is as =ollows:A
B)pril( 277V.
BOne 5a>( while resting( I happene5 to glance towar5s a win5ow( in the =i=th stor>( an5(
D9st o9tsi5e( behel5 the spirit
2
o= m> =rien5( Mr. "lake( who seeme5 9nable to get into the
room@ b9t( on rising an5 throwing 9p the sash( he appeare5 to come in an5 stan5 b> m>
chair( make passes over me( magnetising me( an5 seeming to envelope me with
something( D9st as a spi5er 5oes a =l> in its web. "e=ore this( in =act some three or =o9r
weeks before I ha5 ever met or seen him( while in a passive moo5( I saw his hea5
clairvo>antl>( so 5istinctl> that when he came to m> o==ice =or the =irst time I recognise5
him as the person. )n5 altho9gh he was at these times alive an5 well( I saw an5
recognise5 his presence as 5istinctl> as tho9gh he ha5 been there in =orm.
B-. E. &OUL$.C
Y*he last inci5ent cannot( o= co9rse( carr> m9ch weight( as the recognition was a
completel> retrospective act@ an5 as regar5s Mrs. &o9l54s other e?perience( the =act that
Mr. "lake ha5 been h>pnotising her m9st perhaps be regar5e5 as =avo9ring the
h>pothesis o= a p9rel> s9bDective hall9cination. )t the same time( I am not aware o= an>
s9==icient evi5ence that h>pnotic treatment in59ces a liabilit> to hall9cinations
representing the h>pnotiser( 9nless that hall9cination has been speciall> impose5 on the
Bs9bDect4s YsicZ min5Aas an> other might beAwhile in the state o= trance.Z
)nother =oreign e?ample is omitte5( as we have been 9nable to obtain the testimon> o=
the percipients. It is clear that the =act o= the telepathic trans=erence in these cas9al cases
cannot be consi5ere5 to be prove5@
U
b9t the mention o= the t>pe here ma> serve to elicit
=9rther instances.
S 8. O= the other class mentione5( where pec9liarities o= 5ress or aspect a==or5 the onl>
pres9mption that a hall9cination was more than p9rel> s9bDectiveAi.e.( was 59e to an
absent agent who( nevertheless( was in a per=ectl> normal state at the timeAthe =ollowing
e?amples ma> serve.
:
*he =irst is =rom -aptain ). /. "ea9mont( o= 2( -rescent 'oa5(
/o9th %orwoo5 1ark.
ii-X2!
B+ebr9ar> U3th( 277V.
PUVXQ B)bo9t /eptember( 27W:( when m> =ather was living at VW( Inverness *errace( I was
sitting one evening( abo9t 7.:; p.m.( in the large 5ining-room. )t the table( =acing me(
with their backs to the 5oor( were seate5 m> mother( sister( an5 a =rien5( Mrs. ,.
/955enl> I seeme5 to see m> wi=e b9stling in thro9gh the 5oor o= the back 5ining-room(
which was in view =rom m> position. /he was in a (auve 5ress. I got 9p to meet her(
tho9gh m9ch astonishe5( as I believe5 her to be at *enb>. )s I rose( m> mother sai5(
u,ho is thatr4 not PI thinkQ seeing an>one hersel=( b9t seeing that I 5i5. I e?claime5(
u,h>( it4s -arr>(4 an5 a5vance5 to meet her. )s I a5vance5( the =ig9re 5isappeare5.
2
On
inE9ir>( I =o9n5 that m> wi=e was spen5ing that evening at a =rien54s ho9se( in a ma9ve
5ress( which I ha5 most certainl> never seen. I ha5 never seen her 5resse5 in that colo9r.
M> wi=e recollecte5 that at that time she was talking with some =rien5s abo9t me( m9ch
regretting m> absence( as there was going to be 5ancing( an5 I ha5 promise5 to pla> =or
them. I ha5 been 9ne?pecte5l> 5etaine5 in Lon5on.
B)LE\. /. "E)UMO%*.C
*he =ollowing corroboration is =rom the =rien5 who was present:A
B22( &rosvenor /treet( ,.
BMarch Vth( 277V.
B)s =ar as I can recollect( -aptain "ea9mont was sitting talking( when he looke5 9p( an5
gave a start. .is mother aske5 him what was the matter. .e replie5( uI saw m> wi=e walk
across the en5 o= the room( b9t that is nothing@ she o=ten appears to people@ her servants
have seen her several times.4 *he room we were in was a 5o9ble 5ining-room( one en5
was lit with gas( an5 the other( where Mrs. "ea9mont appeare5( was comparativel> 5ark.
%o one else saw her e?cept her h9sban5. Mrs. "ea9mont was at the time in ,ales( an5
this happene5 in Inverness *errace( "a>swater.
B+LO'E%-E ,.I1.)M.C
Mrs. "ea9mont sa>s:A
BI 5istinctl> remember hearing =rom m> h9sban5( either the ne?t 5a> or the secon5 5a>
a=ter his e?perience@ an5 in his letter he aske5( u,hat were >o9 5oing at s9ch an ho9r on
s9ch a nightr4 I was able to recall that I was stan5ing in a gro9p o= =rien5s( an5 that we
were regretting his absence. I was in a ma9ve 5ress( which I am con=i5ent that he co9l5
never have seen.
U

B-. "E)UMO%*.C
ii-XU!
-aptain "ea9mont a55s that he has never ha5 an> other hall9cination o= the senses e?cept
on the occasion ne?t 5escribe5. *his other case( in which the same agent an5 percipient
were concerne5( an5 a thir5 case appen5e5 to it Pin which the sameness o= agent an5
5i==erence o= percipient recall the repetitions o= the prece5ing sectionQ( wo9l5 be E9ite
witho9t evi5ential val9e i= the> stoo5 alone@ b9t the> are o= interest in connection with
the =oregoing stronger e?ample.
B+ebr9ar> U3th( 277V.
PU8;Q BIn 27W2 I was sta>ing at %orton .o9se( *enb>( =or the =irst time( an5 ha5 D9st gone
to be5( an5 was wi5e awake. I ha5 the can5le on m> right si5e( an5 was rea5ing. )t the
=oot o= the be5 an5 to the right was a 5oor( which was locke5( an5( as I learnt a=terwar5s(
paste5 9p on the other si5e.
B*hro9gh this I saw the =ig9re o= m> =9t9re wi=e Pthe la5> o= the ho9seQ enter( 5rape5 in
white =rom hea5 to =oot. O55l> eno9gh( I was not speciall> startle5. M> i5ea was that
some one was ill( an5 that she ha5 come to get something o9t o= the room. I averte5 m>
hea5( an5 when I looke5 9p again the apparition was gone. I s9ppose that I saw it =or two
or three secon5s.
B)LE\. /. "E)UMO%*.C
Mrs. "ea9mont sa>s:A
B+ebr9ar> U3th( 277V.
BIn 27WU( two or three months a=ter m> marriage( -aptain "ea9mont an5 I ret9rne5 =rom
Lon5on to *enb>. I went 9p into m> 5ressing-room an5 gave the ke>s o= m> l9ggage to
m> servant( Ellen "assett. I was stan5ing be=ore the looking-glass with m> back t9rne5 to
her( an5 I hear5 her 9tter a little sharp cr>. I t9rne5 ro9n5( sa>ing( u,hat4s the matterr4
an5 saw her with m> nightcap in her han5. /he sai5( uO( nothing( nothing(4 an5 I went
5ownstairs. *he 5a> a=ter( m> h9sban5 saw her taking o== the paper which paste5 9p the
5oor between m> be5room an5 ii-X:! the 5ressing-room. .e sai5( u,hat are >o9
5oingr4 /he sai5 she was opening that 5oor. .e sai5( u,h>( the =irst night that I slept in
this ho9se( I saw >o9r mistress walk thro9gh that 5oor.4 PI m9st e?plain that -aptain
"ea9mont ha5 been a g9est in this ho9se on a goo5 man> occasions be=ore o9r marriage.
On the occasion mentione5( he ha5 imagine5 that perhaps someone was ill in the ho9se(
an5 that I ha5 entere5 his room to get something( thinking him s9re to be asleep.Q *hen
the mai5 tol5 him that she ha5 seen me the night be=ore we came homeAshe 5i5 not
know e?actl> what 5a> we were coming( an5 ha5 been sleeping in the same be5 as he ha5
been in when he saw me. /he was D9st going to step into be5( when she saw me enter
uthro9gh the 5oor(4
2
with a nightcap on( an5 a can5le in m> han5. /he was so terri=ie5 that
she r9she5 o9t o= the room b> the other 5oor( an5 tol5 the other servants she was s9re I
was 5ea5. *he> com=orte5 her as well as the> co9l5( b9t she wo9l5 not ret9rn to the
room. *he ca9se o= her cr>ing o9t( when I hear5 her 5o so( was that( in 9npacking( she
recognise5 the i5entical nightcap that the apparition ha5 worn. *he c9rio9s point is that
the nightcap was one that I ha5 bo9ght in Lon5on( an5 ha5 not mentione5 to her( an5 was
per=ectl> 9nlike an> that I ha5 ever worn be=ore. It ha5 three =rills. I ha5 been acc9stome5
to wear nightcaps o= colo9re5 m9slin witho9t =rills.
B*he same servant( some months a=ter the nightcap inci5ent( went into the kitchen an5
sai5 to the other servants( u,e shall have news o= miss9s to-5a>@ I4ve D9st seen her
stan5ing in the 5ining-room 5oor@ she ha5 on a black velvet bonnet an5 black cloak.4 P,e
ha5 been in Lon5on some weeks.Q *his occ9rre5 abo9t X o4clock a.m. )bo9t 2;.:; she
receive5 a telegram =rom 9s to sa> we sho9l5 be home that evening@ the telegram was
sent =rom 1a55ington /tation as we waite5 =or o9r train. *he bonnet an5 cloak ha5 been
bo9ght in town witho9t her knowle5ge.
B*he mai5 was with me =or >ears( an5 was certainl> not nervo9s or h>sterical. I have now
parte5 with her =or some >ears.
B-. "E)UMO%*.C
*he ne?t case is =rom Mrs. M9rra> &la5stone( o= /he5=iel5 -ottage( "otle>( .ants.
BFan9ar> 27th( 2778.
PU82Q BI went on /at9r5a> a=ternoon YlastZ to see an ol5 man an5 woman name5 "e5=or5(
who live in a cottage abo9t hal= a mile =rom o9r ho9se. Mrs. "e5=or5 was ill in be5( an5 I
went 9pstairs to see her. I sat 5own b> the be5stea5( an5 talke5 to her =or a =ew min9tes.
,hilst I was there( the tho9ght str9ck me that the light =rom the win5ow( which was
opposite the =oot o= the be5( was too strong =or the invali5@ an5 I 5etermine5( witho9t
sa>ing a wor5 abo9t it to either Mr. or Mrs. "e5=or5( to give her a c9rtain. *his PMon5a>Q
a=ternoon I again went to see the ol5 co9ple@ b9t this time I onl> saw Mr. "e5=or5 in the
room 5ownstairs. )n5 a=ter a =ew remarks he sai5( uM> wi=e has seen >o9 >ester5a>
P/9n5a>Q morning@ she t9rne5 her hea5 towar5s the si5e o= the be5 an5 sai5( BIs that
herrC PI 5i5 not speak( as I tho9ght she was 5reaming.Q B#es(C she went on( Bit is Mrs.
&la5stone( an5 she is hol5ing 9p a c9rtain with both her han5sC Pimitating the post9reQ(
Bb9t she sa>s it is not long eno9gh. *hen ii-X3! she smile5 an5 5isappeare5.C4 ,hen Mr.
"e5=or5 ha5 tol5 me the above( I e?claime5( u*hat is D9st what I 5i5 >ester5a> morning
whilst I was 5ressing. I went to a c9pboar5 in m> room( an5 took o9t a piece o= serge(
which I tho9ght wo9l5 answer the p9rpose( an5 hel5 it 9p with both han5s to see the
length( an5 sai5 to m>sel=( BIt is not long eno9gh.C4 I ma> mention that I ha5 onl> once
be=ore been to visit Mrs. "e5=or5( abo9t a >ear ago( be=ore I went on /at9r5a>@ an5( o=
co9rse( both times wore m> walking 5ress. "9t when seen b> Mrs. "e5=or5 in this vision(
she partic9larl> notice5 that I wore no bonnet( which m9st have been the case( as this
occ9rre5 be=ore X o4clock.
B)U&U/*) &L)$/*O%E.C
Mrs. &la5stone a55s:A
BMrs. ". 5escribe5 me as being in white( an5 I aske5 her what I ha5 on m> hea5. /he
sai5( u) thing like this4Ataking hol5 o= a woollen cap which I ha5 given her. It was the
=ac-simile o= one which I m9st have ha5 on at the time@ an5 the> were not common( =or I
ha5 knitte5 them o= wool an5 o= a partic9lar shape.C
Mrs. "e5=or5 has ha5 one other hall9cination( when she saw the =ig9re o= a >o9ng
gran5chil5 stan5ing b> her be5si5e. *his( however( happene5 at night( an5 ma> have been
hal= a 5ream.
,hen Mrs. "e5=or5 5escribe5 her e?perience to the present writer( she 5i5 not 9se the
wor5 curtain( an5 she 5i5 not recall the re(ar1 abo9t the st9== not being long eno9gh@
which s9ggeste5 that these items might have crept into the narrative after Mrs.
&la5stone4s si5e o= the a==air ha5 been relate5. Mr. "e5=or5 is( however( positive that the>
=orme5 part o= what his wi=e tol5 him at the time( an5 be=ore he saw Mrs. &la5stone@ an5
Mrs. &la5stone is eE9all> positive that the> were incl95e5 in his acco9nt to her( an5 also
that she has hersel= hear5 o= them =rom Mrs. "e5=or5.
*he ne?t e?ample is =rom -olonel "igge( o= U( Morpeth *errace( /.,.( who took the
acco9nt o9t o= a seale5 envelope( in m> presence( =or the =irst time since it was written on
the 5a> o= the occ9rrence.
PU8UQ B)n acco9nt o= a circ9mstance which occ9rre5 to me when E9artere5 at
*emplemore( -o. *ipperar>( on U; +ebr9ar>( 273W.
B*his a=ternoon( abo9t : o4clock p.m.( I was walking =rom m> E9arters towar5s the mess-
room to p9t some letters into the letter-bo?( when I 5istinctl> saw Lie9t.--olonel 'ee5(
W;th 'egiment( walking =rom the corner o= the range o= b9il5ings occ9pie5 b> the
o==icers towar5s the mess-room 5oor@ an5 I saw him go into the passage. .e was 5resse5
in a brown shooting Dacket( with gre> s9mmer reg9lation twee5 tro9sers( an5 ha5 a
=ishing-ro5 an5 a lan5ing-net in his han5. )ltho9gh at the time I saw him he was abo9t 2V
or U; >ar5s =rom me( an5 altho9gh an?io9s to speak to him at the moment( I 5i5 not 5o
so( b9t =ollowe5 him into the passage an5 t9rne5 into the ante-room on the le=t-han5 si5e(
where I e?pecte5 to =in5 him. On opening the 5oor( to m> great s9rprise( he was not
there@ the onl> person in the room was }9artermaster %olan( W;th 'egiment( an5 I
imme5iatel> aske5 him i= he ha5 seen the colonel( an5 he replie5 he ha5 not@ 9pon which
I sai5( uI s9ppose he has gone 9pstairs(4 an5 I imme5iatel> le=t the room. *hinking he
might have gone ii-XV! 9pstairs to one o= the o==icer4s rooms( I listene5 at the bottom o=
the stairs an5 then went 9p to the =irst lan5ing place@ b9t not hearing an>thing I went
5ownstairs again an5 trie5 to open the be5room 5oor( which is opposite to the ante-room(
thinking he might have gone there@ b9t I =o9n5 the 5oor locke5( as it 9s9all> is in the
mi55le o= the 5a>. I was ver> m9ch s9rprise5 at not =in5ing the colonel( an5 I walke5 into
the barrack->ar5 an5 Doine5 Lie9tenant -a9l=iel5( 88th 'egiment( who was walking there@
an5 I tol5 the stor> to him( an5 partic9larl> 5escribe5 the 5ress in which I ha5 seen the
colonel. ,e walke5 9p an5 5own the barrack->ar5 talking abo9t it =or abo9t 2; min9tes(
when( to m> great s9rprise( never having kept m> e>e =rom the 5oor lea5ing to the mess-
room Pthere is onl> one o9tlet =rom itQ( I saw the colonel walk into the barracks thro9gh
the gateAwhich is in the opposite 5irectionAaccompanie5 b> Ensign ,illington( W;th
'egiment( in precisel> the same 5ress in which I ha5 seen him( an5 with a =ishing-ro5 an5
a lan5ing-net in his han5. Lie9tenant -a9l=iel5 an5 I imme5iatel> walke5 to them( an5 we
were Doine5 b> Lie9t.--olonel &ol5ie( 88th 'egiment( an5 -aptain .art=or5( an5 I aske5
-olonel 'ee5 i= he ha5 not gone into the mess-room abo9t 2; min9tes be=ore. .e replie5
that he certainl> ha5 not( =or that he ha5 been o9t =ishing =or more than two ho9rs at some
pon5s abo9t a mile =rom the barracks( an5 that he ha5 not been near the mess-room at all
since the morning.
B)t the time I saw -olonel 'ee5 going into the mess-room( I was not aware that he ha5
gone o9t =ishingAa ver> 9n9s9al thing to 5o at this time o= the >ear@ neither ha5 I seen
him be=ore in the 5ress I have 5escribe5 59ring that 5a>. I ha5 seen him in 9ni=orm in the
morning at para5e( b9t not a=terwar5s at all 9ntil : o4clockAhaving been engage5 in m>
room writing letters( an5 9pon other b9siness. M> e>esight being ver> goo5( an5 the
colonel4s =ig9re an5 general appearance somewhat remarkable( it is morall> impossible
that I co9l5 have mistaken an> other person in the worl5 =or him. *hat I did see him I
shall contin9e to believe 9ntil the last 5a> o= m> e?istence.
B,ILLI)M M)**.E, "I&&E(
BMaDor( W;th 'egiment.C
On F9l> 2Wth( 277V( a=ter -olonel "igge ha5 5escribe5 the occ9rrence( b9t be=ore the
acco9nt was taken =rom the envelope an5 rea5( he was goo5 eno9gh to 5ictate the
=ollowing remarks to me:A
B,hen -olonel '. got o== the car abo9t a co9ple o= ho9rs a=terwar5s( -olonel &ol5ie an5
other o==icers sai5 to me( u,h> that4s the ver> 5ress >o9 5escribe5.4 *he> ha5 not known
where he was or how he was engage5. *he month( +ebr9ar>( was a most 9nlikel> one to
be =ishing in. -olonel 'ee5 was m9ch alarme5 when tol5 what I ha5 seen.
B*he E9artermaster( sitting at the win5ow( wo9l5 have been bo9n5 to see a real =ig9re@ he
5enie5 having seen an>thing.
BI have never ha5 the slightest hall9cination o= the senses on an> other occasion.C
YIt will be seen that these recent remarks e?hibit two slips o= memor>. It is E9ite
9nimportant whether -olonel 'ee5 was seen walking in at the gate or getting o== a car.
"9t in making the interval between the vision an5 the ret9rn two ho9rs instea5 o= ten
min9tes( the later acco9nt 9n59l> 5iminishes the =orce o= the case. I= there is an>
D9sti=ication at all =or the ii-X8! provisional h>pothesis that the sense o= impen5ing
arrival is a con5ition =avo9rable =or the emission o= a telepathic in=l9ence( it is o=
importance that( at the time when the phantasmal =orm was seen( -olonel 'ee5 was not
b9s> with his =ishing( b9t was rapi5l> approaching his 5estination@ =or th9s the inci5ent(
at an> rate( gets the bene=it o= analog> with other cases. *his ill9strates what was sai5
above PVol. I.( p. 2:2Q( that where memor> errs( it is not alwa>s in the 5irection o=
e?aggeration.Z
S W. *he last case E9ote5 might eE9all> well serve as an e?ample o= the ne?t an5
concl95ing gro9p( the pec9liarit> o= which is that the real person whom the phantasm
represents isA9nknown to the percipientAact9all> approaching. ,hen these Barrival
casesC were re=erre5 to above PVol. I.( p. 72WQ( it was note5 that the mere sense o=
ret9rning home cannot be hel5 to constit9te an abnormalit> in the least 5egree parallel to
5eath( or the other recognise5 con5itions o= spontaneo9s telepath>@ an5 o9r =irst-han5
specimens are in themselves too =ew =or complete ass9rance that we have in them a
gen9ine t>pe o= trans=er. )t the same time the> =in5 a parallel in the i(pression6cases
E9ote5 in Vol. I.( pp. UVUT3@ an5 taken in connection with the two prece5ing gro9ps( the>
at an> rate increase the probabilit> that impressions =rom a nor(al agent ma> be
occasionall> capable o= acting as the germ o= a telepathic phantasm.
*he =irst e?ample is =rom Mr. Fames -arroll( who gave the acco9nt E9ote5 in Vol. I.( p.
U72. *he agent was the same twin-brother who was concerne5 in that =ormer case.
B/eptember( 2773.
PU8:Q BIn the a9t9mn o= 27WW( while at /holebrook Lo5ge( *owcester( %orthamptonshire(
one night( at a little a=ter 2; o4clock( I remember I was abo9t to move a lamp in m> room
to a position where I 9s9all> sat a little while be=ore retiring to be5( when I s955enl> saw
a vision o= m> brother. It seeme5 to a==ect me like a mil5 shock o= electricit>. It s9rprise5
me so that I hesitate5 to carr> o9t what I ha5 inten5e5( m> e>es remaining =i?e5 on the
apparition o= m> brother. It gra59all> 5isappeare5( leaving me won5ering what it meant. I
am positive no light or re=lection 5eceive5 me. I ha5 not been sleeping or r9bbing m>
e>es. I was again in the act o= moving m> lamp when I hear5 taps along the win5ow. I
looke5 towar5s itAthe win5ow was on the gro9n5-=loorAan5 hear5 a voice( m>
brother4s( sa>( uIt4s I@ 5on4t be =rightene5.4 I let him in@ he remarke5( u.ow cool >o9 are@ I
tho9ght I sho9l5 have =rightene5 >o9.4
B*he =act was( that the 5istinct vision o= m> brother ha5 E9ite prepare5 me =or his call.
.e =o9n5 the win5ow b> acci5ent( as he ha5 never been to the ho9se be=ore@ to 9se his
own wor5s( uI tho9ght it was >o9r win5ow( an5 that I sho9l5 =in5 >o9.4 .e ha5
9ne?pecte5l> le=t Lon5on to pa> me a visit( an5 when near the ho9se lost his wa>( an5
ha5 =o9n5 his wa> in the 5ark to the back o= the place.C
ii-XW!
In repl> to inE9iries( Mr. -arroll sa>s:A
B#o9 are E9ite right in s9pposing the hall9cination o= m> brother to be the onl> instance
in m> e?perience.C
In another letter( Mr. -arroll sa>s:A
B)s to the apparition o= m> brother in %orthamptonshire( at a place an5 win5ow where he
ha5 never be=ore been(AI think I sai5 the room was ver> light in5ee5( the night ver>
5ark. Even ha5 I looke5 o9t o= the win5ow I co9l5 not have seen him. ,ith m> hea5
t9rne5 =rom the win5ow( I 5istinctl> saw his =ace. I was a==ecte5 an5 s9rprise5. It seeme5
like a slight shock o= electricit>. I ha5 not recovere5 =rom the e==ects when the secon5
s9rprise came( the realit>Am> brother. I 5i5 not mention the s9bDect to him then( being
rather =lattere5 at his astonishment at m> cool 5emeano9r. *he coolness was ca9se5 b>
the apparition =irst o= him. *he win5ow m> brother came to was at the back o= the ho9se.
.e =o9n5 m> win5ow o9t onl> b> acci5ent( or( as he sai5( he tho9ght it was m> win5ow.C
YMr. -arroll is a clear-hea5e5 an5 care=9l witness. .e is E9ite positive as to this being his
onl> e?perience o= a hall9cination. In conversation( he state5 that there were no mirrors in
the room( an5 that the =ig9re was seen not in the 5irection o= the win5ow. .e thinks that
the interval between the hall9cination an5 his brother4s appearance was abo9t a min9te.Z
.ere the gradual 5isappearance( i= correctl> remembere5( is interesting as a =eat9re
which is occasionall> met with in p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations P-hap. \II.( SS U an5
2;Q.
2

*he ne?t e?ample is a BcollectiveC case(
U
b9t ha5 better be E9ote5 in the present
connection. *he narrator is the late 'ev. ,. Mo9nt=or5( o= "oston( U./.).( a minister an5
a9thor o= rep9te.
PU83Q BOne 5a>( some 2V >ears ago( I went =rom the place o= m> abo5e to see some
=rien5s who resi5e5 in the =en 5istricts o= %or=olk. *he> were persons whom I knew( not
merel> well( b9t intimatel>. *he> were two brothers who ha5 marrie5 two sisters. *heir
ho9ses were a mile an5 a E9arter apart( b9t stan5ing on the same roa5( an5 with onl> two
or three other habitations intervening. *he roa5 was a straight( bare( open roa5( like what
is so o=ten to be seen in the =ens( an5 9se5 chie=l> an5 almost e?cl9sivel> b> the
occ9pants o= the =ew =arms alongsi5e o= it. *he ho9se at which I was visiting stoo5 abo9t
2; >ar5s =rom the e5ge o= the roa5. *he 5a> was =ine an5 clearAa 5a> in March. )bo9t 3
o4clock in the a=ternoon I stoo5 at the win5ow( an5 looking 9p the roa5 I sai5( u.ere is
>o9r brother coming.4 M> host a5vance5 to the win5ow an5 sai5( uOh >es( here he is@ an5
see( 'obert has got $obbin o9t at last.4 $obbin was a horse which( on acco9nt o= some
acci5ent( ha5 not been 9se5 =or some weeks. *he la5> also looke5 o9t at the win5ow( an5
sai5 to me( u)n5 I ii-X7! am so gla5( too( that m> sister is with him. *he> will be
5elighte5 to =in5 >o9 here.4
BI recognise5 5istinctl> the vehicle in which the> ro5e as being an open one( also the la5>
an5 the gentleman( an5 both their 5ress( an5 their attit95es.
BO9r =rien5s passe5 at a gentle pace along the =ront o= the win5ow( an5 then t9rning with
the roa5 ro9n5 the corner o= the ho9se( the> co9l5 not longer be seen. )=ter a min9te m>
host went to the 5oor an5 e?claime5( u,h>( what can be the matterr *he> have gone on
witho9t calling( a thing the> never 5i5 in their lives be=ore. ,hat can be the matterr4
B+ive min9tes a=terwar5s( while we were seate5 b> the =iresi5e( the parlo9r 5oor opene5(
an5 there entere5 a la5> o= abo9t UV >ears o= age@ she was in rob9st health an5 in =9ll
possession o= all her senses( an5 she was possesse5( besi5es( o= a strong common-sense.
/he was pale an5 m9ch e?cite5( an5 the moment she opene5 the 5oor she e?claime5( uOh(
a9nt( I have ha5 s9ch a =right. +ather an5 mother have passe5 me on the roa5 witho9t
speaking. I looke5 9p at them as the> passe5 b>( b9t the> looke5 straight on an5 never
stoppe5 nor sai5 a wor5. ) E9arter o= an ho9r be=ore( when I starte5 to walk here( the>
were sitting b> the =ire@ an5 now( what can be the matterr *he> never t9rne5 nor spoke(
an5 >et I am certain that the> m9st have seen me.4
B*en min9tes a=ter the arrival o= this la5>( I( looking thro9gh the win5ow 9p the roa5(
sai5( u"9t see( here the> are( coming 5own the roa5 again.4
BM> host sai5( u%o( that is impossible( beca9se there is no path b> which the> co9l5 get
on to this roa5( so as to be coming 5own it again. "9t s9re eno9gh( here the> are( an5
with the same horses .ow in the worl5 have the> got herer4
B,e all stoo5 at the win5ow( an5 saw pass be=ore 9s precisel> the same appearance
which we ha5 seen be=oreAla5> an5 gentleman( an5 horse an5 carriage. M> host ran to
the 5oor an5 e?claime5( u.ow 5i5 >o9 get herer .ow 5i5 >o9 get on to the roa5 to be
coming 5own here again nowr4
BuI get on the roa5r ,hat 5o >o9 meanr I have D9st come straight =rom home.4
Bu)n5 5i5 >o9 not come 5own the roa5 an5 pass the ho9se( less than a E9arter o= an ho9r
agor4
Bu%o(4 sai5 the la5> an5 gentleman both. u*his is the =irst time that we have come 5own
the roa5 to-5a>.4
Bu-ertainl>4 we all sai5( u>o9 passe5 these win5ows less than a E9arter o= an ho9r ago.
)n5( besi5es( here is Mar>( who was on the roa5 an5 saw >o9.4
Bu%onsense(4 was the answer. u,e are straight =rom home( as >o9 ma> be ver> s9re. +or
how co9l5 >o9 have seen 9s pass b> be=ore( when >o9 5i5 see 9s coming 5own nowr4
Bu*hen >o9 mean to sa> that reall> >o9 5i5 not pass b> here 2; or 2V min9tes agor4
Bu-ertainl>@ =or at that time( probabl>( we were D9st coming o9t o= the >ar5 an5 starting to
come here.4
B,e all o= 9s remaine5 m9ch ama]e5 at this inci5ent. *here were =o9r o= 9s who ha5 seen
this appearance( an5 seen it 9n5er s9ch circ9mstances ii-XX! as apparentl> precl95e5
an> possibilit> o= o9r having mistaken some cas9al passengers =or o9r intimate =rien5s.
,e were E9ite satis=ie5 that we ha5 reall> not seen o9r bo5il> =rien5s pass 5own the roa5(
that =irst time when we tho9ght that we saw them. )s =or m>sel=( I was s9re that it was
not the>@ an5 >et har5l> co9l5 I help =eeling that it co9l5 have been no persons else.
B*here is an ol5 sa>ing abo9t keeping a thing 2; >ears( an5 then =in5ing a 9se =or it. *his
c9rio9s e?perience o= mine is as vivi5 in m> min5 as tho9gh it were o= >ester5a>. Is it o=
9se as ill9strating mistakes as to i5entit>( or is it rather a sing9lar instance o= what is
calle5 secon5-sightr
BM.C
*his acco9nt was =irst p9blishe5 in the !piritual 'agaAine =or )9g9st( 278;. On o9r
writing to Mr. Mo9nt=or5 on the s9bDect he replie5:A
B"eacon /treet( "oston( U./.).
B7th )9g9st( 2773.
B*he narrative o= which >o9 have sent me a cop> was written b> m>sel=( as >o9 ha5
rightl> s9ppose5. It was care=9ll> prepare5( an5 I believe it to be as e?actl> tr9e as an>
report ever ma5e b> phonograph or photograph.
B)t the time when the occ9rrence happene5( I was simpl> ama]e5 at it( an5 I =elt b9t D9st
simpl> as some 9nta9ght plo9ghman might have =elt in the open =iel5( i= an aerolite ha5
=allen at his =eet( hot =rom the skies.
B*he persons besi5es m>sel=( o= whom I wrote in that acco9nt( were all o= the =amil>
name o= -oe( an5 were all o= Islington( near 0ing4s L>nn@ an5 the> were all living at the
time when I wrote abo9t them( b9t the> have all been carrie5 awa>.
BI have onl> to a55 that Mrs. 'obert -oe sai5 that she an5 her h9sban5 knew o= their
5a9ghter4s having starte5 to see her a9nt( b9t that the> ha5 ha5 no intention o= =ollowing
her till Mr. 'obert -oe( s955enl> starting =rom his chair b> the =iresi5e( e?claime5 uLet 9s
go to -lement4s.4C
YIt is m9ch to be regrette5 that this e?perience was not recor5e5 in writing at the moment(
an5 signe5 b> all the persons concerne5. )t the same time the h>pothesis that it was a
mere mistake or ill9sion is strongl> 5isco9ntenance5 b> the persistence o= the contrar>
impression in a so9n5 an5 rationall> sceptical min5. +or the nat9ral ten5enc> o= s9ch a
min5 is 9n5eniabl> to be less certain o= the realit> o= abnormal =acts a=ter a long interval
than at the time o= their occ9rrence.
2
Z
It will be convenient to complete the acco9nt o= this BarrivalC t>pe b> citing at once a
co9ple o= a95itor> cases( which belong b> rights to the ne?t chapter. *he =ollowing
acco9nt is =rom Mr. F. /tevenson( o= U7( 1rospect /treet( &ateshea5.
ii-2;;!
B)pril U;th( 277V.
PU8VQ B$9ring the months o= Ma> an5 F9ne( 2772( m> brother was sta>ing with 9s. .e
went o9t one /9n5a> night between V an5 8 o4clock. .e 5i5 not sa> what time he wo9l5
ret9rn( b9t his time was generall> abo9t 2; p.m. )bo9t W o4clock( while I was rea5ing b>
the win5ow( an5 Mrs. /tevenson b> the =ire( all being E9iet( I hear5 a voice sa> uDavid is
co(ing.4 I instantl> t9rne5 to Mrs. /.( asking what she sai5. /he sai5( uI have not spoken a
wor5.4 I tol5 her that I hear5 someone sa> that u$avi5 is coming.4 I then tho9ght I ha5
imagine5 it( b9t( lo an5 behol5s in less than : min9tes( in he comes( E9ite 9ne?pecte5. I
was s9rprise5( b9t 5i5 not mention an>thing to him abo9t it. *he position o= the ho9se
prevente5 9s =rom seeing him 9ntil D9st abo9t to enter the ho9se. .e was in goo5 health(
as we all were at the time. *his is a can5i5 statement o= the =acts.
BFO/. /*EVE%/O%.C
In answer to an inE9ir>( Mr. /tevenson a55s:A
B*his was the sole e?perience I have ha5 o= the kin5. I have never e?perience5 an>
hall9cination.C
Mrs. /tevenson corroborates as =ollows:A
BIn re=erence to m> h9sban54s letter o= )pril U;th( I have pleas9re in testi=>ing to the
acc9rac> o= his acco9nt( an5 o= his 5rawing m> attention to the =act at the time
mentione5.
B/E'E%) /*EVE%/O%.C
*he remaining a95itor> specimen PU88Q is =rom Mrs. 'obinson( resi5ing at *he ,arren(
-aversham( 'ea5ing( who has never e?perience5 a hall9cination on an> other occasion.
/ome 23 >ears ago( she tells 9s( she was sitting at nee5lework in the evening( when she
hear5 the voice o= her son( /tans=or5 'obinsonAwho was s9ppose5 to be abroa5( b9t ha5
not been hear5 o= =or some timeAcalling( B%ar( %ar( %ar(C the pet name o= an ol5 =amil>
n9rse. *he triple call was twice repeate5. Mrs. 'obinson opene5 the 5oor( =9ll> e?pecting
to =in5 her son in the hall( b9t no one was there. *he son Bret9rne5 9ne?pecte5l> ne?t 5a>(
ver> ill( an5 5ie5 soon a=ter.C
2

ii-2;2!
+!P#&R 0).
F.R#&R !./(#%R- +!$&$ %++.RR("* #% ! $("*'&
P&R+(P(&"#.
S 2. I% e?amining cases o= a95itor> phantasms which have strikingl> correspon5e5 with
real events( we have two main points to look to. +irst( there is the phantasm regar5e5
merel> as a sensor> phenomenon( on a par with the vis9al phantasms. *his( o= co9rse( is
the so9n5 in itsel=@ which is occasionall> o= an inartic9late sort( a simple noise@ b9t which
in the large maDorit> o= instances represents the tone o= a h9man voiceAthe voice( like
the vis9al phantasm( being either recognise5 or 9nrecognise5. "9t( secon5l>( when the
phantasm is a voice( there is a =9rther element( which has as a r9le no analog9e in the
vis9al classAnamel>( what the voice sa>s@ an5 this is likel> to a==or5 9s some cl9e as to
whether a complete an5 5e=inite i5ea has been telepathicall> conve>e5 =rom the agent or
merel> an imp9lse or germ which the percipient has 5evelope5 in his own wa>. ,e =in5
that the a95itor> cases( like the vis9al( present vario9s stages o= apparent e?ternalisation@
2
b9t the 5iscriminations here are less marke5Ait being more 5i==ic9lt in the case o= so9n5s
than o= sights to 5eci5e( in recalling them( how =ar the impression seeme5 inwar5( an5
how =ar o9twar5@ while even i= the special stage be clear in the percipient4s min5( it is not
eas> to =in5 wor5s to 5escribe it.
I will begin with recognise5 voices@ an5 will =irst E9ote a =ew cases where the analog> to
e?perimental tho9ght-trans=erence is strongest( inasm9ch as what the percipient hear5
seems to have represente5 the act9al sensation o= the agent(
U
the ver> wor5s which he was
hearing while he 9ttere5 themAin one instance( however( so 59lle5 as to be
in5isting9ishable as wor5s. *he =ollowing acco9nt ii-2;U! is =rom Mrs. /tone( o=
,al5itch( "ri5port( the narrator o= case UVW( above.
BFan9ar> UXth( 277:.
PU88Q BOn the 2:th o= Fan9ar>( 277U( m> el5est son( who ha5 been pa>ing 9s a visit( le=t
b> a morning train =or his home@ b9t I 5i5 not know the e?act time at which he wo9l5
reach his 5estination. In the a=ternoon o= that 5a>( m> 5a9ghter having gone to the
neighbo9ring town P"ri5portQ( I was sitting at work b> a win5ow o= which the 9pper
ventilator was open. /955enl> I hear5 m> son4s voice 5istinctl>@ I co9l5 not mistake it@ he
was speaking eagerl>( an5 as i= bothere5@ the voice seeme5 wa=te5 to me b> an air
c9rrent( b9t I co9l5 not 5isting9ish wor5s. I was startle5( b9t not ver> m9ch =rightene5@
the voice 5i5 not seem to in5icate acci5ent or calamit>. I looke5 at m> watch( which
pointe5 to three min9tes past :. In perhaps a =ew secon5s( his voice began again( b9t soon
became =aint( an5 5ie5 awa> in the 5istance. ,hen m> 5a9ghter came in( I tol5 her( an5
mentione5 the ho9r@ she sai5 that was D9st the time m> son e?pecte5 to arrive( i= the train
was p9nct9al. I also mentione5 it to m> son who is living with me. *he ne?t morning I
was ver> thank=9l to get a post-car5 =rom m> el5est son: u)rrive5 all right( train ver>
p9nct9al( D9st three min9tes past :@ b9t to m> anno>ance( I =o9n5 no carriage waiting =or
me( or m> l9ggage( onl> +rank on his bic>cle. .e e?plaine5 that the> ha5 ma5e a mistake
b> looking at the station clock Pwhich was an ho9r too slowQ( an5 ha5 5riven awa> again.4
I wrote the whole acco9nt to m> son( b9t he is rather sceptical on these s9bDects@ he co9l5
not b9t own it was a strange coinci5ence( b9t aske5( u,h>( mother( 5i5n4t >o9 hear
+rank4s voice toor4
BLU-I) -. /*O%EC
Miss E5ith /tone has con=irme5 verball> what is recor5e5 o= her in the above acco9nt.
)nother son( Mr. ,alter /tone( also recollects having been tol5 o= the inci5ent.
On +ebr9ar> 28th( 277V( Mrs. /tone wrote as =ollows:A
B) =ew 5a>s since( I came 9pon m> son4s letter( written rather more than a week a=ter the
occ9rrence. *he post-car5 mentione5 was lost( an5 it was b> chance this letter t9rne5 9p.
I enclose the =irst page =or what it is worth( ver> trivial save =or the impression it ma5e on
me. I am more than ever convince5 o= the val9e o= veri=>ing matters o= this kin5.C
*he =irst page o= the son4s letter ran as =ollows:A
BEton( Fan9ar> UUn5( 277U.
B$E)'E/* MO*.E'(AI= >o9 hear5 m> voice it m9st have been when I was waiting =or
the arrival o= the carriage( an5 e?pressing lo95l> m> s9rprise at its not having arrive5 at
the station to meet me. I think I tol5 >o9 that +rank was there( on his bic>cle( an5 we both
Dabbere5 consi5erabl>. #o9 o9ght to have hear5 him too.C
YMrs. /tone has ha5 no other hall9cination o= a recognise5 voice( e?cept on one occasion(
U; >ears ago( soon a=ter a bereavement Psee Vol. I.( pp. V2;TUQ. More than =ive >ears ago(
she ha5 on several evenings the impression o= hearing voices in the room below her own.
*his slight pre5isposition to a95itor> hall9cination wo9l5 har5l> a==ect the case@ b9t the
coinci5ence is o= co9rse ren5ere5 less striking b> the re=lection that ii-2;:! Mr. /tone
ma> have spoken Beagerl> an5 as i= bothere5C on a goo5 man> other occasions.Z
*he ne?t case is more complete( inasm9ch as the act9al wor5 9se5 b> the agent was
5isting9ishe5 b> the percipient. *he acco9nt is =rom Mr. '. +r>er( o= "ath( brother o= o9r
val9e5 =rien5 an5 helper( the 'ev. ). *. +r>er( o= -lerkenwell( who tells 9s that he
B5istinctl> remembers being tol5 o= the occ9rrence within a =ew weeks o= its happening.C
.e e?plains that B'o5C was the name b> which his brother( the percipient( was calle5 in
the =amil>.
BFan9ar>( 277:.
PU87Q B) strange e?perience occ9rre5 in the a9t9mn o= the >ear 27WX. ) brother o= mine
ha5 been =rom home =or : or 3 5a>s( when( one a=ternoon( at hal=-past V Pas nearl> as
possibleQ( I was astonishe5 to hear m> name calle5 o9t ver> 5istinctl>. I so clearl>
recognise5 m> brother4s voice that I looke5 all over the ho9se =or him@ b9t not =in5ing
him( an5 in5ee5 knowing that he m9st be 5istant some 3; miles( I en5e5 b> attrib9ting
the inci5ent to a =ancie5 5el9sion( an5 tho9ght no more abo9t the matter. On m> brother4s
arrival home( however( on the si?th 5a>( he remarke5 amongst other things that he ha5
narrowl> escape5 an 9gl> acci5ent. It appeare5 that( whilst getting o9t =rom a railwa>
carriage( he misse5 his =ooting( an5 =ell along the plat=orm@ b> p9tting o9t his han5s
E9ickl> he broke the =all( an5 onl> s9==ere5 a severe shaking. u-9rio9sl> eno9gh(4 he sai5(
uwhen I =o9n5 m>sel= =alling I calle5 o9t >o9r name.4 *his 5i5 not strike me =or a
moment( b9t on m> asking him 59ring what part o= the 5a> this happene5( he gave me the
time( which I =o9n5 correspon5e5 e?actl> with the moment I hear5 m>sel= calle5.C
In answer to an inE9ir>( Mr. '. +r>er a55s:A
BI 5o not remember ever having a similar e?perience to the one narrate5 to >o9@ nor
sho9l5 I care to( as the sensation( together with the s9spense as to the wh> an5 where=ore
o= the event( is the reverse o= pleasant.C
In conversation( he has e?plaine5 that he ha5 =reE9entl> e?post9late5 with his brother on
the latter4s habit o= alighting =rom trains in motion@ an5 the a9tomatic 9tterance o= his
name( on this occasion( might th9s be acco9nte5 =or b> association.
*he agent4s acco9nt o= the matter is as =ollows:A
B%ewbri5ge 'oa5( "ath.
B%ovember 28th( 277V.
BIn the >ear 27WX( I was travelling( an5 in the co9rse o= m> Do9rne> I ha5 to stop at
&lo9cester. In getting o9t o= the train( I =ell( an5 was assiste5 to rise b> one o= the railwa>
o==icials. .e aske5 i= I was h9rt( an5 aske5 i= I ha5 an>one travelling with me. I replie5
u%o4 to both E9estions( an5 inE9ire5 wh> he aske5. .e replie5( u"eca9se >o9 calle5 o9t
B'o5.C4 I 5istinctl> recollect making 9se o= the wor5 'o5.
BOn arriving home( a 5a> or two a=terwar5s( I relate5 the circ9mstance( an5 m> brother
inE9ire5 the time an5 5ate. .e then tol5 me he ha5 hear5 me call at that partic9lar time.
.e was so s9re o= its being m> voice that he ma5e inE9iries as to whether I was abo9t or
not.
BFO.% *. +'#E'.C
ii-2;3!
-9rio9sl> similar is the ne?t case( sent to 9s b> Miss +rome( o= Ewell( /9rre>( in the
han5writing o= the =rien5( a 5octor b> pro=ession whose e?perience is narrate5. /he
thoro9ghl> relies on his wor5( an5 has comm9nicate5 his name. .e himsel= 5islikes the
s9bDect( an5 has no belie= that s9ch coinci5ences can be an>thing b9t acci5ental.
B)pril 23th( 2773.
PU8XQ BIn +ebr9ar>( 278U( an 9n5ergra59ate o= one o= o9r northern 9niversities was( an5
ha5 been =or some time( rea5ing har5 =or the approaching e?amination =or the 5egree
which he was 5esiro9s o= acE9iring. .is brother( an o==icer in the merchant service( was
at sea( an5 at this time in a ship not =ar =rom the coast o= the East In5ies.
BOne evening( abo9t W p.m.( the =ormer was at work in his own rooms( in compan> with a
=rien5( also st95>ing with the same obDect( when he s955enl> hear5 his -hristian name(
shortene5 as was the c9stom in his own =amil> circle( o= which there were none Por even
o= intimate =rien5sQ in the cit> he was then inhabiting. .e hear5 himsel= calle5 sharpl>
an5 clearl>( an5( astonishe5 rather( looke5 9p =rom his books an5 aske5 his =rien5 i= he
spoke( who answere5 in the negative( evi5entl> s9rprise5. )gain( in an instant( he hear5
the so9n5 again( an5 t9rne5 to his =rien5( sa>ing( u$on4t be =oolish@ what is itr4 *he repl>
was( uI sai5 nothing.4 .e then aske5( u$i5 >o9 not hear an>thingr M> name calle5r4 u%o(
I hear5 nothing(4 was the answer.
B)lmost as these brie= wor5s were passing between the two men( he o= whom this stor> is
relate5 hear5 again( once( twice( E9ickl> repeate5( his name( clearl> an5 5istinctl>( an5
then he seeme5 to recognise it as like his brother4s voice. .e co9l5 not 9n5erstan5 it( an5(
=eeling rather m>sti=ie5 an5 p9t o9t( tho9ght he wo9l5 stop work an5 rest( so telling his
=rien5 he wo9l5 5o no more that night( went o== to the theatre. On his ret9rn( sitting over
the =ire( he tho9ght the matter over( an5 came to the concl9sion that( being o9t o= health
to some e?tent( the mental =atig9e he was going thro9gh ha5 9pset his brain =9nctions a
little@ so he p9t the s9bDect =rom him( simpl> making a note o= the occ9rrence( an5
tho9ght no more o= it.
B/ome months later( abo9t the en5 o= F9ne( he was in Lon5on to meet his brother( who
was ret9rning =rom sea. On the evening o= the arrival o= the latter( the two brothers were
talking together( the >o9nger 5escribing his vo>age an5 the vario9s inci5ents that ha5
happene5( an5 s955enl> sai5( u"> the wa>( I was ver> nearl> not coming home an> more@
I ha5 a ver> narrow sE9eak o= being 5rowne5. I =ell overboar5 one night somewhere
abo9t mi5night( an5 I tho9ght I was 5one =or( b9t a=ter a while I was l9ckil> picke5 9p.
.owever( it was a close shave( an5 I 5i5 not e?pect to see >o9 again( ol5 chap( b9t I
tho9ght o= >o9( an5 s9ng o9t an5 calle5 at >o9.4
B*he el5er brother( recollecting the occ9rrence to himsel= in the northern cit>( aske5 the
other when this occ9rre5( an5 hear5 in repl> that it was on the same 5a> on which that
which has been state5 happene5 to him. .e then tol5 his brother his stor>( an5( comparing
the two( all points agree5 e?cept the ho9rs( abo9t W o4clock an5 abo9t mi5nightAwhen
the sailor brother E9ietl> pointe5 o9t that( allowing =or the 5i==erence o= time in the two
places( the act9al time was probabl> the same.
ii-2;V!
B*he> talke5 the matter over( b9t co9l5 make no more o= it. %either o= them ha5 an>
belie= in s9pernat9ral mani=estations. %othing o= the kin5 ever happene5 to them again in
a=ter li=e in an> 5egree. *he >o9nger brother 5ie5 at sea a =ew >ears ago.C
.ere we have once more the =eat9re o= repetition a=ter a short interval( which seems( b>
the wa>( to be 5eci5e5l> commoner in a95itor> hall9cinations o= the telepathic than o= the
p9rel> s9bDective class.
2
)nother =act to be notice5 is that the voice was not hear5 b> the
percipient4s companionAthis being a point in which the hall9cinator> character o=
telepathic a==ections o= the senses o=ten appears P-hap. \II.( S 2;Q.
U

In the =ollowing case( it is allege5 that the act9al wor5s hear5 were 9se5 b> the agent. *he
narrative is =rom an English ph>sician resi5ing in a =oreign town( who wishes his name
s9ppresse5( =earing pro=essional preD95ice.
BOctober UUn5( 277:.
PUW;Q B#ears ago there were two girls( hal= Italian hal= English( here( one with a ver> =ine
voice. *he poor girl =rom over-straining got spitting o= bloo5. I atten5e5 her. One
morning she begge5 me to see her sister( who was cr>ing her heart o9t( as she e?presse5
it( h>sterics( [c.( [c.( owing to an abs9r5 5ream( she sai5. I went into her sister4s room(
an5 =o9n5 her as 5escribe5@ she then tol5 me it was not a 5ream( b9t that she was broa5
awake( an5 hear5 her sister4s voice =rom the gar5enAu&eorgie( &eorgie( I m9st see >o9
be=ore I 5ie.4 "> 5int o= coa?ing( b9ll>ing( reasoning( an5 e?hortation( I got her E9iete5
5own( an5 nothing more was tho9ght o= it@ b9t at the time reE9ire5 to hear =rom Englan5(
a letter came anno9ncing her sister4s 5eath@ an5 =9rther inE9iries elicite5 that it occ9rre5
e?actl> at the time she hear5 the voice Pallowing =or 5istanceQ( an5 that the last wor5s she
9ttere5 were those hear5 =rom the gar5en.C
YIn answer to an inE9ir>( the narrator sa>s that he 5i5 not act9all> see the letter which
conve>e5 the intelligence o= the sister4s 5eath@ the e?actit95e o= the coinci5ence rests
there=ore on secon5-han5 evi5ence. .e was( however( in 5ail> comm9nication with the
=amil>.Z
In the ne?t case( the wor5s hear5 were vivi5l> imagine5 b> the agent( an5 ma> ver>
probabl> have been 9ttere5( or hal=-9ttere5. *he acco9nt is =rom Mr. F. 1ike( o= 2UU(
/tockwell 1ark 'oa5( /.,.
BOctober( 277:.
PUW2Q B*ravelling some >ears since =rom -arlisle to .ighb9r>( b> the night mail train(
an5( =in5ing m>sel= alone in m> compartment( I la> at =9ll length on the seat with a view
to sleep( having previo9sl> reE9este5 the ii-2;8! g9ar5 to wake me at the -am5en *own
/tation. I soon =ell into a 5eep sleep( one o= those pro=o9n5 sl9mbers the awakening =rom
which is almost pain=9l. 'o9se5 s955enl> b> the g9ar5 waking me Psomewhat ro9ghl>
an5 impatientl>( beca9se the train was behin5 its timeQ( I =o9n5 that I ha5 been 5reaming
Pwhat prove5 in5ee5 to be the caseQ that it was morning@ that I was at home( in m>
be5room( in the act o= 5ressing( an5 at the moment o= awakening ha5 been on the lan5ing
an5 twice calle5 the servant b> her name( u/arah(4 an5 aske5 her to bring me some hot
water.
BOn act9all> arriving at home( I learnt that at the time when I ha5 been th9s 5reaming
that I was calling to the servant( she ha5 hear5 her name calle5 b> me t-ice( 5istinctl>@
thatA=orgetting =or the moment that I was not in the ho9seAshe( hastil> 5iscontin9ing
the break=ast preparations( ran 9pstairs( an5 a=terwar5s came 5own again uas white as a
ghost4Aaccor5ing to the 5escription given to me b> the chil5ren who( with astonishment(
witnesse5 her procee5ings( an5 not having themselves hear5 the call( nat9rall> won5ere5
what it all meant. /arah s9bseE9entl> in=orme5 me that the u=right4 she e?perience5 on
realising the =act that I was not there ha5 ma5e her uE9ite ill4C
Mr. 1ike4s 5a9ghter gave the =ollowing corroboration on Oct. :;( 277::A
BI 5istinctl> remember the inci5ent o= o9r servant being =rightene5 b> hearing m> =ather4s
voice calling =rom 9pstairs( at a time when we knew he co9l5 not be an>where near o9r
home. *he servant took a poker in her han5 an5 went 9pstairs( thinking there m9st be
some man there who ha5 imitate5 m> =ather4s voice. %othing( however( was 5iscovere5
to e?plain the m>ster> 9ntil m> =ather4s arrival at home( when he tol5 9s that at the time
the call was hear5 he ha5 been 5reaming that he was at home an5 calling =or hot water.
B)LM) M. 1I0E.C
Y*he gen9ineness o= this case 5oes not( o= co9rse( 5epen5 on the servant4s evi5ence( b9t
on the testimon> o= Miss 1ike that the servant mentione5 her e?perience be=ore Mr.
1ike4s arrival. I have state5 above PVol. I.( p. V23Q that m> collection o= p9rel> s9bDective
hall9cinations incl95es several instances where a servant has seeme5 to hear her mistress
calling herAa =act which o= co9rse goes to weaken the =orce o= the 5escribe5
coinci5ence. "9t the s9perior vivi5ness o= the impression in the present instance seems
prove5 b> the emotion an5 alarm which =ollowe5 it( an5 which ha5 no sort o= parallel in
the p9rel> s9bDective cases re=erre5 to.Z
.ere( it will be seen( the con5ition o= the agent was not one o= 5istress or crisis( b9t
simpl> that o= vivi5 5ream@ an5 the case is in this wa> e?ceptional. )==ections o= a
waking percipient b> a 5reaming agentAor at an> rate cases which co9l5 be 9se5 as
evi5ence =or s9ch a==ectionsAseem a rarer t>pe than that o= sim9ltaneo9s an5
correspon5ent 5reaming( ill9strate5 in Vol. I.( pp. :23T7( an5 in -hap. III. o= the
/9pplement@ b9t cases X3 an5 X8 were ver> probabl> e?amples o= it. In the present
instance( it sho9l5 be note5 that the part o= the 5ream which apparentl> a==ecte5 the
percipient took place in the ver> shock o= waking@ an5 s9ch a shock( ii-2;W! tho9gh not
critical or e?actl> pain=9l( clearl> involves a =ar wi5er an5 more s955en change o=
ps>chical con5ition than o=ten occ9rs to 9s 59ring waking li=e.
In the ne?t case it is ver> possible that the agent act9all> 9se5 the wor5s hear5( b9t proo=
o= this =act is 9nattainable. I= he 5i5 not( we m9st s9ppose some i5ea o= his 5istress to
have been obDecti=ie5 b> the percipient in the Bagonise5 tone.C *he acco9nt is =rom Mr.
Lister Ives( master at the &rammar /chool( /tockport.
B277:.
PUWUQ B)bo9t mi55a> o= the U3th F9l>( 27WV( I was in the baths at Llan595no( when I
s955enl> an5 5istinctl> hear5 m> bo>4s voice calling lo95l> an5 in an agonise5 tone. /o
ass9re5 was I o= it being his voice( that I hastil> got o9t o= the bath an5 looke5 o9t o= the
nearest win5ow( thinking he m9st be on the rocks beneathAthe bath-ho9se stan5s on a
rock( tho9gh since then m9ch has been c9t awa>Atho9gh I believe5 him at the time to
be( as in5ee5 he was( at the other si5e o= the Orme4s .ea5( three or =o9r miles awa>. *he
bo> was kille5 at that ver> time b> a =all =rom the rocks.C
,e =in5 =rom a report o= the acci5ent in the !toc1port )dvertiser that the 5ate was the
U8th Pnot the U3thQ o= F9l>. *he bo> ha5 Doine5 his parents on the U3th( which ma>
perhaps acco9nt =or the mistake.
Mrs. Ives sa>s:A
BUntil late at night( when the bo> 5i5 not ret9rn( m> h9sban5 ha5 tho9ght no more o= the
circ9mstance. ,hen the bo> co9l5 not be =o9n5 he e?claime5( u,e shall never see him
alive again(4 =or he remembere5 the so9n5 o= the voice@ b9t it was not 9ntil some time
a=terwar5s that he tol5 me that he =elt ass9re5 he ha5 hear5 the last cr>( not a s9pernat9ral
warning( b9t a cr> =or help when none co9l5 reach him. I ma5e memoran5a o= all the
circ9mstances connecte5 with the 9nhapp> a==air( an5 o= that Yi.e.( the voiceZ among the
rest. ,ith regar5 to the 5istance which the so9n5 came( I can scarcel> give absol9te
in=ormation. *he hea5lan5 is o= pec9liar =orm@ b9t accor5ing to local maps( i= the> are to
be relie5 9pon( i= it were possible to take a 5irect line through the mo9ntain =rom the
-rab 'ocks( where m> bo> was =o9n5( to the baths where Mr. Ives was( it wo9l5 meas9re
something over :(;;; >ar5s@ ro9n5 b> the path( as it then was( abo9t : miles@ over the
s9mmit( I cannot tell how =ar.C
Mr. -. 0roll Laporte( o= "irk5ale( /o9thport( sa>s:A
BMr. Ives tol5 me all this Yi.e.( the inci5ent o= the voiceZ the 5a> a=ter the =9neral( an5 I
note5 it 5own.C
YO9r colleag9e( Mr. 'ichar5 .o5gson( has ha5 an interview with Mr. an5 Mrs. Ives. Mr.
Ives has ha5 no other hall9cinations. *he time o= the bo>4s 5eath was esti(ated onl>. .e
was e?pecte5 back to 5inner at 2 p.m.( an5 it was between 2U an5 2 p.m. that Mr. Ives
was bathing an5 hear5 the cr>. *he wor5s he hear5 were( u1apas mammas4 in an agonise5
tone. *he bo> was 27 >ears o= age. .e appeare5 to have =allen on the rocks =ace
5ownwar5s( =rom a height o= abo9t 7; =eet. *he ii-2;7! cli== at the spot begins at the
s9mmit with a sloping bank o= grass( which s955enl>( however( is =ollowe5 b> an almost
sheer precipice( not seen =rom the top o= the bank.Z
S U. ,e come now to cases where the name hear5 was probabl> not act9all> spoken. *he
=act that the impression so o=ten takes the =orm o= a call o= the percipient4s name might be
connecte5 with the =act that this is also the commonest =orm o= p9rel> sub5ective a95itor>
hall9cination@ an5 might be taken as a =resh in5icationAparallel to the in5ications which
have been note5 in the vis9al classAthat the telepathic phantasm( as a sensor>
phenomenon( tr9l> belongs to the class o= hall9cinations. "9t it is in the ver> nat9re o=
this =orm o= comm9nication that it sho9l5 strongl> s9ggestAwhat in the =ollowing
instance is positivel> a==irme5Aa certain occ9pation o= the agent4s tho9ghts with the
percipient. ,e have o=ten in5epen5ent reason to s9ppose a similar con5ition in the vis9al
cases@ b9t there is sel5om an>thing in the vis9al phantasm o= the agent to make it
apparent.
*he =irst case is =rom Mr. &. ). ,itt( o= +ontena> .o9se( &rove 1ark( $enmark .ill( /.E.
B/eptember U8th( 277V.
PUW:Q B,hen I le=t "omba>( on March 2st( 27W8( b> ss. u1ersia(4 =or %aples( an el5er
brother o= mine was living in &erman>( an5 in ver> ba5 health( tho9gh I 5i5 not( at the
time( anticipate his earl> 5eath. ,hen in the 'e5 /ea one 5a>( sitting on 5eck an5 rea5ing
the !aturda, =evie-( with other passengersAan5 I think Mrs. +agan alsoAsitting near
me an5 rea5ing( I =ancie5 I hear5 m> brother4s voice calling me b> m> -hristian name. It
seeme5 so 5istinctl> his voice( an5 I tho9ght I hear5 m> name so clearl> calle5( that it
E9ite startle5 me( an5 ma5e s9ch an impression on me that I mentione5 it to some o= m>
=ellow passengers( an5 at their s9ggestion took note o= the ho9r an5 5a> it occ9rre5.
BOn arriving at %aples( some 2U or 23 5a>s later( I =o9n5 a letter there =rom m> mother(
bearing the same 5ate as the one I ha5 p9t 5own in the 'e5 /ea( in which she tol5 me that
she was sitting writing b> m> brother4s 5eathbe5( [c.( a55ing in a postscript the same
5a> that he ha5 D9st passe5 awa>.
BI never ascertaine5 whether the ho9r I ha5 p9t 5own was the same in which m> poor
brother ha5 5ie5( an5 now reall> all I remember is what I have D9st state5.
B&. ). ,I**.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr ,itt sa>s:A
BI was( at the time( not at all an?io9s abo9t m> brother@ an5 the uvoice4 at the time
impresse5 me as ver> strange( as I reall> ha5 not tho9ght o= him =or some time. M>
brother 5ie5 in 0iel( .olstein. *he 5ate was the 2:th o= March( 27W8. *his was the 5ate o=
m> brother4s 5eath@ an5 I remember that that was what ca9se5 me to mention the matter
again to those whom I ha5 tol5 on boar5 the steamer that I ii-2;X! tho9ght I ha5 hear5
m> brother4s voice. I m9st repeat( however( that what I am stating now is =rom memor>
onl>( an5 the unote4 I ha5 ma5e o= the occ9rrence at the time no longer e?ists.
BIt is also the onl> time that( as =ar as I remember( an>thing o= the kin5 has happene5 to
me.C Y*his is in answer to the E9estion whether he ha5 e?perience5 a hall9cination o= the
senses on an> other occasion.Z
Mrs. +agan( o= U8( Manchester /E9are( ,.( writes to 9s as =ollows:A
B)9g9st U7th( 277V.
BOn boar5 ship( coming =rom In5ia( one morning I passe5 Mr. ,itt( who was rea5ing on
5eck. .e stoppe5 me an5 sai5 that a strange thing ha5 happene5 to him( an5 on m>
asking what it was( sai5 that he ha5 hear5 his brother4s voice calling him( u&9stave(4
more than once Pthree times( I think( b9t am not s9reQ. .e a55e5 that he ha5 hear5( be=ore
leaving "omba>( that his brother was ver> serio9sl> ill(
2
an5 thinking that perhaps he was
then 5>ing( or D9st 5ea5( he ma5e a note o= the 5ate. I aske5 him to let me know
a=terwar5s i= the brother reall> 5ie5 abo9t that time( an5 he sai5 he wo9l5 5o so.
BOn meeting him in Lon5on a=terwar5s( I inE9ire5 i= his conDect9re ha5 prove5 correct(
an5 he sai5 it ha5. I 5o not know whether the time when Mr. ,itt hear5 the voice
coinci5e5 e?actl> with the brother4s 5eath( as the 5i==erence in the local time ma5e it
5i==ic9lt to 5eci5e that point witho9t calc9lation@ an5 I 5i5 not hear that an> calc9lation
was ma5e. "9t the two events occ9rre5 at abo9t the same time. Mr. ,itt o==ers no
e?planation or opinion on the matter( onl> sa>ing that it was ver> strange.C
,e have proc9re5( thro9gh the "Rrgermeister o= 0iel( an o==icial certi=icate o= the 5eath
o= Mr. Fohn *. ,itt( which shows that it occ9rre5 on March 2:( 27W8( at X.:; p.m.
/9pposing there=ore that Mr. &. ). ,itt4s e?perience was imme5iatel> mentione5 b> him(
an5 that Mrs. +agan is right in her recollection that this was in the morning( it m9st have
prece5e5 the 5eath b> a goo5 man> ho9rs. I= either o= these s9ppositions is incorrect( the
coinci5ence ma> have been closer.
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom Mrs. /tella( o= -hieri( Ital>( who was the percipient in the vis9al
case( %o. 2X7.
B$ecember UXth( 277:.
PUW3Q BOn the UUn5 o= Ma>( 277U( I was sitting in m> room working with other members
o= m> =amil>( an5 we were talking o= ho9sehol5 matters( when s955enl> I hear5 the voice
o= m> el5est son calling repeate5l> uMamma.4 I threw 5own m> work e?claiming( u*here
is %ino(4 an5 went 5ownstairs( to the astonishment o= ever> one. %ow m> son was at that
time in Lon5on( an5 ha5 onl> le=t home abo9t a =ortnight be=ore( =or a two months4 to9r(
so nat9rall> we were all s9rprise5 to think he ha5 arrive5 so s955enl>. On reaching the
hall( no one was there( an5 the> all la9ghe5 at m> imagination. "9t I certainl> hear5 him
call( not onl> once( b9t three or =o9r times( impatientl>. I learnt( a =ew 5a>s a=terwar5s(
that on that 5a> he ha5 been taken ill in Lon5on at the ho9se o= some =rien5s( an5 ii-
22;! that he ha5 =reE9entl> e?presse5 a wish that I sho9l5 come an5 n9rse him( as not
speaking English he co9l5 not make himsel= 9n5erstoo5.C
Mrs. /tella tells 9s( on inE9ir>( that this is her onl> e?perience o= an a95itor>
hall9cination.
*he =ollowing corroboration is =rom a la5> who was present at the time:A
B"resla9( +ebr9ar> 27th( 2773.
BMrs. /tella aske5 me to give >o9 an acco9nt o= an episo5e which occ9rre5 in m>
presence( while on a visit to her two >ears ago@ an5 the =ollowing are the =acts as nearl>
as I can remember them. ,e were sitting working together( when Mrs. /tella sai5 she
hear5 the voice o= her son( who was absent in Englan5 at the time( calling her. *his
ca9se5 9s some s9rprise( as he was not e?pecte5 home( nor ha5 we hear5 an> so9n5s o=
an arrival.
BOn going 5ownstairs to meet him( we =o9n5 no one( which astonishe5 9s( as Mrs. /tella
ha5 been so positive that she ha5 hear5 him call. ,e a=terwar5s hear5 that on that 5a> he
ha5 been taken ill in Lon5on. I ma> here remark that >o9ng Mr. /tella is ver> m9ch
attache5 to his mamma( an5 especiall> 5epen5ent 9pon her in sickness.
B-L)') /-.MI$*.C
*he ne?t case is =rom Mr. ,. *. "ra>( o= /chekol5in4s 1aper Mill( Vimishma(
&overnment o= 0ostroma( '9ssia.
BF9ne 23th PO./.Q( 277V.
PUWVQ BI was emplo>e5 as assistant engineer on the Moscow-09rsk 'ailwa>( an5 one 5a>
was stan5ing in the erecting shop. *here were 23 engines 9n5er repair( an5 3 ten5ers( an5
ami5st all the atten5ant noise o= s9ch work o= =itters an5 boilermakers( I hear5 a voice
E9ite close to me call twice( u,ill( ,ills4 *he voice resemble5 m> =ather4s Phe was the
onl> person who calle5 me u,ill4Q( an5 in a tone he 9se5 when he wishe5 to partic9larl>
5raw m> attention to an>thing. ,hen I went home I remarke5 to m> wi=e I was a=rai5( i=
ever I hear5 =rom poor =ather again( or =rom an> one abo9t him( Ythere ha5 been a certain
breach o= interco9rse(Z it wo9l5 be ba5 news( =or I 5istinctl> hear5 him call me twice.
)bo9t three weeks a=terwar5s( I ha5 a letter =rom a sister( stating he ha5 5ie5( an5 when@
an5 his last wor5s were( u&oo5-b>e( ,ills goo5-b>e( ,ills4 Upon comparing the 5ate an5
time( he 5ie5 abo9t the time I hear5 the voice.C
Mr. "ra> a55s( in a letter 5ate5 )9g9st U2st PO./.Q( 277V:A
BI am sorr> I cannot get a =ew lines likel> to con=irm m> statement to >o9@ the
circ9mstance occ9rre5 so long ago. I remember mentioning it to m> wi=e at the time( b9t
she cannot 5istinctl> remember it( an5 I mentione5 it to no one b9t her( an5 then onl> at
the time. I remembere5 the work I was looking a=ter at the time( an5 9pon hearing o= m>
=ather4s 5eath I trace5 the time b> the =actor> books@ an5 as no one either here or in
Englan5 ever calle5 me u,ill4 b9t he( I alwa>s =eel E9ite satis=ie5 in m> own min5 that I
hear5 his voice( especiall> as I was tol5 in the letter anno9ncing his 5eath his last wor5s
were( u&oo5-b>e( ,ills goo5-b>e( ,ills4
B,. *.O/. "')#.C
In answer to a E9estion whether he ha5 ever ha5 an> other a95itor> ii-222!
hall9cination( Mr. "ra> replies( B/9ch a thing never occ9rre5 to me be=ore( neither has
an>thing occ9rre5 since.C .e a55s that his =ather 5ie5 on March UU( 27W:@ an5 we have
con=irme5 this 5ate b> the 'egister o= $eaths.
,e =irst hear5 o= this case =rom Mr. "ra>4s son( who sai5 that he was himsel= tol5 o= his
=ather4s e?perience at the time( an5 that at his s9ggestion a note o= the 5a> an5 ho9r was
ma5e. "9t his acco9nt presents so man> 5i==erences =rom the =irst-han5 one that his
memor> on this point cannot be relie5 on.
*he ne?t case is =rom Mr. $. F. .9tchins( o= 2W:( /evern 'oa5( -ar5i==.
B$ecember 2Wth( 277:.
PUW8Q BM> =ather 5ie5 s955enl>( abo9t 37 miles awa> =rom where m> mother resi5e5. I
ha5 to acE9aint her o= the melanchol> =act. ) railwa> Do9rne>( an5 then a 5rive o= 2U
miles wo9l5 take me to her abo5e. I sho9l5 arrive abo9t 8 a.m. on a 5ark %ovember
morning. /ecretl> perple?e5 how I sho9l5 break the news( I was relieve5 an5 s9rprise5 to
see( as I neare5 the ho9se( smoke iss9ing =rom parlo9r an5 kitchen chimne>s. On arriving
at the gate( an5 be=ore time was given me to D9mp o9t o= the trap( mother was at the 5oor
an5 sai5( u$aniel( >o9r =ather is 5ea5.4 I aske5( u.ow 5o >o9 knowr4 /he replie5( u.e
came an5 calle5 =or me last night abo9t X o4clock( an5 then vanishe5. I have not been to
be5 since.4 /orrow( combine5 with a strange =eeling that somehow or other she might
have been the means o= hastening his 5eath( ca9se5 her to 5ie s955enl> a short time
a=terwar5s. /he was an intensel> religio9s woman( witho9t s9perstition. I well remember
the anger she alwa>s 5ispla>e5 when she hear5 that her chil5ren ha5 been listeners to the
9s9al =iresi5e talk abo9t ghosts an5 presentiments.
B$. F. .U*-.I%/.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. .9tchins a55s:A
B+ebr9ar> 2Vth( 2778.
B,ith re=erence to the time o= the 5eath o= m> =ather( it was on the U2st %ovember( 27VV.
.e was =o9n5 5ea5 in the =iel5s between Llantrissant /tation an5 Lancla> .o9se(
Llantrissant( where he ha5 =or man> >ears resi5e5 as ho9se-stewar5 to La5> Mar> -ole.
YIn conversation Mr. .9tchins has e?plaine5 that his =ather was last seen alive( walking
=rom the station( an5 apparentl> in per=ect health( abo9t 8 p.m.( an5 that his bo5> was
=o9n5 soon a=ter X o4clock the same evening.Z M> mother was in o9r cottageA'ose
-ottageAnear 1enrice -astle( where we 9s9all> resi5e5 59ring s9mmer. /he was
preparing to leave D9st preparator> to closing the place =or the winter. M> =ather le=t her
on the morning o= the 5a> o= his 5eath( Yhaving been reE9este5 to s9perinten5 some work
at a 5istanceZ.
B)t the time when I wrote to >o9( the circ9mstances were more vivi5 in m> memor> than
at present@ conseE9entl> I cannot act9all> sa> whether m> mother sai5( u#o9r =ather
appeare5 to me(4 in connection with his voice. "9t this I 5istinctl> remember: m> mother
sai5( uI hear5 >o9r =ather call me b> m> name( BMar>( Mar>(C an5 then I went to the 5oor@
an5 I have not been in be5 since.4C In conversation( however( it appeare5 that Mr.
.9tchins is morall> certain that the e?perience was vis9al as well as a95itor>.
ii-22U!
In a later letter( Mr. .9tchins e?presse5 some 5o9bt as to the >ear o= the occ9rrence@ an5
we =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the 5eath took place on %ovember U2st( 27V:(
not 27VV.
*he ne?t case is =rom Miss "9rrows( resi5ing at .ollar5 .all( /tret=or5 'oa5(
Manchester.
B$ecember( 2773.
PUWWQ BI can =9rnish >o9 with an instance o= m> name being calle5 b> m> mother( who
was 27 miles o==( an5 5>ing at the time. I was not aware she was ill( nor was I thinking
abo9t her at the time( YsicZ %o one here knew m> name( an5 it was her voice calling( as I
was alwa>s a55resse5 at home( uLi]]ie.4 I can give >o9 more e?act in=ormation i= >o9
reE9ire it.Y~Z
BE. "U''O,/.C
Later( Miss "9rrows writes:A
BMarch 27th( 277V.
BIn regar5 to the voice which I hear5 call m> name on the 2Xth +ebr9ar>( 277U( I
recognise5 it instantl> as being that o= m> mother. It was ver, loud( sharp( an5 impet9o9s(
as i= =rightene5 at something O9r ho9se is 5etache5( ver> E9iet( an5 the onl> inmates o=
the ho9se besi5e m>sel= were two gentlemen( age5 respectivel> V7 an5 :W( an5 a
wi5owe5 5a9ghter-in-law Yo= the el5er gentlemanZ who ha5 live5 with them =ive >ears@
an5 not one o= them knew m> -hristian name. I was th9n5erstr9ck( an5 ran o9t o= m>
room to see i= I co9l5 acco9nt =or the voice. : told the lad, the sa(e (orning.
BI never saw an>thing I tho9ght s9pernat9ral( an5 onl> once be=ore ha5 an>thing like a
similar hall9cination. Y*his other e?perience took place 2U >ears previo9sl>( when Miss
"9rrows an5 her mother hear5 some so9n5s which seeme5 to them 9nacco9ntable.Z M>
=ather an5 mother were not s9perstitio9s people( an5 a healthier =amil> co9l5 not possibl>
be than o9rs.4
In answer to inE9iries( Miss "9rrows a55s:A
BI hear5 the voice call m> name on the /9n5a> morning at 7. M> mother was 5>ing( an5
E9ite 9nconscio9s( =rom the /at9r5a> night Pthe night be=oreQ 9ntil the Mon5a> at 7 a.m.(
when she 5ie5.C
,e =in5 =rom an obit9ar> notice in the Bur, 7uardian that Mrs. "9rrows 5ie5 on
Mon5a>( +ebr9ar> U;( 277U.
Mrs. &ri==iths( o= :2( 'osaville 'oa5( +9lham 'oa5( /.,.( con=irms as =ollows:A
BMarch UVth.
BI am ver> gla5 to be able to corroborate the statement ma5e b> Miss "9rrows( abo9t
hearing hersel= calle5 b> name at the time o= her mother4s 5eath. I cannot remember the
e?act 5ate( b9t it was a /9n5a> morning in +ebr9ar>( 277U( an5 when I came 5own to
break=ast she tol5 me abo9t it( an5 sai5 that a voice calle5 uLi]]>4 5istinctl>( an5 it
so9n5e5 D9st like her mother4s. *he ne?t morning she ha5 the news o= her mother4s 5eath@
an5 she ha5 not an> i5ea that she was ill be=ore( so that it co9l5 not have been =anc>.
B.. &'I++I*./.C
It will be seen that Miss "9rrows gives +ebr9ar> 2Xth as the 5ate o= her e?perience( an5
Mrs. &ri=iiths mentions in5epen5entl> that the 5a> ii-22:! was a /9n5a> in +ebr9ar>.
*he 2Xth o= +ebr9ar>( 277U( =ell on a /9n5a>. *here having been an interval o= U3 ho9rs
between the percipient4s e?perience an5 the 5eath( the case co9l5 not be incl95e5 in the
gro9p which I 9se5 in the statistical arg9ment above( -hap. \III( S 8.Z
,e owe the ne?t case to Mrs. 1assingham( o= Milton( -ambri5ge. *he narrator is Mrs.
,alsh( a sick-n9rse whom Mrs. 1assingham knew well( an5 o= whom she sa>s:A
PUW7Q B*he =act o= her having E9arrelle5 with her =avo9rite sister( an5 her 5>ing witho9t a
reconciliation( a==ects her 5eepl>( an5 she ha5 tears in her e>es as she tol5 me the stor>.
/he declares she was not asleep( an5 it was not a 5ream@ she ha5 onl> D9st p9t o9t the
light an5 ha5 not got into be5.C
Mrs. ,alsh writes to 9s on Ma> 8th( 2773:A
B2;W( }9een4s -rescent( .averstock .ill.
BOn October U3th( 27WW( I was in Lon5on( an5 a=ter preparing to go to be5( I ha5 D9st
e?ting9ishe5 the light( when I hear5 the voice o= m> sister( who was then in
,olverhampton( call me b> m> name( uFoanna.4 I instantl> answere5( u#es( 1oll>.4 *he
voice was low( almost a whisper( b9t per=ectl> clear( an5 I was so s9re that she spoke that
I t9rne5 to the part o= the room =rom which the voice came. )gain I hear5 the voice( an5
a=ter that( once more( making three times in all.
B,hen I realise5 that it co9l5 not possibl> be m> sister( I =eltAnot e?actl> =rightene5A
b9t awe5( an5 I co9l5 not sleep till near morning =or thinking o= it. *he ne?t 5a>( I hear5
=rom m> =amil> that the> ha5 ha5 a telegram to sa> that she was 5angero9sl> ill( an5
some one was to go to her. )nother sister went an5 =o9n5 her 5ea5@ an5 the time o= her
5eath agree5 e?actl> with the time when I hear5 the voice. /he 5ie5 ver> s955enl> o=
morti=ication( an5 I ha5 not the least i5ea she was ill@ also( we ha5 become estrange5
=rom each other( altho9gh we were e?cee5ingl> =on5 o= each other( an5 I think that is the
reason she spoke to me.
BFO)%%) ,)L/..C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the 5eath took place at ,olverhampton on the
U:r5 October( 27WW( an5 not the U3th. *he U3th was probabl> impresse5 on Mrs. ,alsh4s
memor>( as being the 5a> when the alarming news reache5 her.
In repl> to inE9iries( Mrs. ,alsh a55s:A
BIn answer to >o9r =irst E9estion I m9st tell >o9 that at the time o= m> sister4s 5eath I was
with almost entire strangers( an5 there=ore 5o not think I mentione5 what I ha5 hear5 to
an>one 9ntil a=ter I ha5 a letter sa>ing she was ill( an5 almost 5irectl> a=terwar5s a
telegram sa>ing she was 5ea5. *o e?plain clearl>( when I ha5 the letter sa>ing she was ill(
I mentione5 it to m> sister who bro9ght the letter@ then when I ha5 the telegram to sa> she
was 5ea5( I =o9n5 that the time correspon5e5 e?actl> with the time I hear5 her voice.
B*his is the onl> e?perience o= the kin5 that I ever ha5. Y*his is in answer to the E9estion
whether she ha5 ever ha5 an> other hall9cination o= the senses.Z
ii-223!
BI 5i5n4t =or one moment 5o9bt whose voice it was( as I imme5iatel> answere5 b> name.C
S :. I ma> make the transition =rom the recognise5 to the 9nrecognise5 a95itor>
phantasms b> an acco9nt o= several e?periences( occ9rring to the same percipient( in one
o= which the voice was recognise5( b9t not in the others. *he witness is Mrs. ,ight( o=
2U( /inclair 'oa5( ,est 0ensington.
PUWXQ BOn =ive occasions in m> li=e I have hear5 m> -hristian name 9ttere5 in a
peremptor> manner( as i= b> some one who was in nee5 o= m> ai5@ an5 a=ter each
occasion I have learnt that a relation ha5 5ie5 at a time closel> correspon5ing to the call. I
have never on an, other occasion ha5 an> sort o= hall9cination o= the senses whatever.
B*he =irst two occasions o= m> hearing the call correspon5e5 with the 5eaths o= two
a9nts( who ha5 bro9ght me 9p in m> chil5hoo5( when m> parents were in In5ia. In these
cases I cannot sa> whether the call was on the ver> 5a> o= the 5eath or not@ it was
certainl> within a ver> =ew 5a>s.
B*he ne?t an5 most striking occasion was at the time o= the 5eath o= m> mother( which
took place in In5ia( on %ovember 7th( 2783. I was living at the time with a co9sin( Mrs.
.arnett( an5 her h9sban5( at /t. Fohn4s ,oo5. I was sitting one morning in a room with
Mr. .arnett( when we both 5istinctl> hear5 a voice 9tter m> name as it seeme5 =rom
o9tsi5e the room. I at once went to look( b9t it prove5 that no inmate o= the ho9se ha5
calle5 me. In5ee5( there was no one e?cept m> co9sin who wo9l5 have 9se5 m> -hristian
name@ an5 all o9r search an5 e==orts to solve the m>ster> were 9navailing. )s Mr. .arnett
ha5 hear5 o= the similar occ9rrence on the 5eath o= m> a9nts( he ma5e a note in writing
o= the 5ate. In abo9t three weeks( we receive5 the news o= m> mother4s 5eath in In5ia(
a=ter a week4s illness@ an5 I ha5 Mr. .arnett4s ass9rance( as well as m> own memor>( that
the 5ate o= 5eath correspon5e5 with the 5a> o= the call.
B*he ne?t occasion was at "righton@ an5 this was the onl> time when the voice was
recognised. )s I awoke in the morning( I hear5 the voice o= )5miral ,ight( m> =ather-in-
law( who ha5 5ie5 be=ore m> mother( calling me as he =reE9entl> ha5 5one in li=e. In a
5a> or so( his wi5ow wrote an5 tol5 me o= the 5eath o= his son( m> h9sban54s hal=-
brother. I ha5 known that he was ver> ill( b9t was not in imme5iate an?iet> abo9t him.
B*he =i=th occasion was in F9ne( 27W8( an5 was imme5iatel> =ollowe5 b> the news o= the
5eath o= an in=ant niece( age5 X months( whom also I ha5 known to be ailing. In these last
two cases( again( I cannot be s9re whether the 5a>s o= the call an5 o= the 5eath
correspon5e5@ i= not( the> most certainl> ver> nearl> 5i5.
B/)'). ,I&.*.C
Y*he above acco9nt was written o9t b> me( Fan9ar> :2st( 2773( imme5iatel> a=ter a long
interview with Mrs. ,ight( in which ever> 5etail was gone over again an5 again. I sent
the acco9nt to Mrs. ,ight( who ma5e a =ew tri=ling a55itions( an5 signe5 it.Z
ii-22V!
Mrs. ,ight a55s:ABMrs. .arnett is in 5elicate health( an5 I sho9l5 not like to tro9ble
her. ,hen I spoke to her abo9t it( she remembere5 the inci5ent.C
*he strength o= this narrative( o= co9rse( lies in the thir5 case( where the correspon5ence
o= 5a> was ma5e o9t to be e?act. *he h>pothesis that the call on this occasion was a real
call o9tsi5e the ho9se( tho9gh rep95iate5 b> Mrs. ,ight( cannot be so con=i5entl>
reDecte5 b> those who realise the 5i==ic9lt> o= localising so9n5s with precision. /till( the
=act o= her having on other occasions e?perience5 impressions o= e?actl> this =ormAthe
commonest o= all =orms o= sensor> hall9cinationA5istinctl> s9pports the view that the
e?perience was hall9cinator>@ an5 i= so( the coinci5ence o= 5a> is a strong point in =avo9r
o= the telepathic e?planation. I will not pa9se here on the =act that in this instance there
was a second percipient( as that topic will be =9ll> 5isc9sse5 in the chapter on B-ollective
-ases.C
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom Mr. &oo5>ear( now o= )voca Villa( 1ark 'oa5( "evois .ill(
/o9thampton( who re=ers in it to a vis9al case E9ote5 in -hap. \II.( S:.
B+ebr9ar> Xth( 2773.
PU7;Q BI am ver> =on5 o= shooting( an5 one evening I ha5 gone o9t with m> bag an5 g9n.
I was crossing some open mea5ows( when s955enl> a =ear=9ll> shrill cr> o= u*om4 rang in
m> ears. I instantl> answere5 lo95l>( u#es( >es(4 t9rning sharpl> ro9n5 to see who was in
pain( b9t there was no one near( an5 again the scream rang o9t terribl> lo95. I answere5
again( u#es( >es(4 an5 then I hear5 no more. I retrace5 m> steps( =or I was E9ite 9nstr9ng@
b9t later on( when it was 5ark( I went over to see the keeper in whose woo5s I was going
to shoot( an5 tol5 him what ha5 happene5. .e sai5( u"a5 news(4 an5 he was right@ =or ne?t
morning s9mmone5 me to Doin m> bereave5 sweetheart( who at that ver> time( certainl>
to within a ver> =ew min9tes( lost her =ather. I knew her =ather was ill( ha5 been =or some
27 months( b9t was not thinking abo9t them at the time. I 5o not know whether these
cases are partic9larl> striking( or whether there are heaps o= similar ones( b9t the> are D9st
what happene5( an5 will =or ever live =resh in m> memor>.
B*. ,. &OO$#E)'.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the 5eath took place on March W( 27W8( a=ter a U
>ears4 illness.
)ske5 i= this is the onl> a95itor> hall9cination that he can recall( Mr. &oo5>ear replies in
the a==irmative.
)ske5 whether the la5> reall> 9ttere5 his name at the time( he replies( BM> wi=e 5oes not
think she 9ttere5 m> name alo95( tho9gh =or several reasons she was thinking intensel>
o= me.C .e has tol5 me in con=i5ence special circ9mstances which ca9se5 the min5 o= the
5>ing man ii-228! to be m9ch occ9pie5 with him( an5 which ca9se5 the min5 o= his
fianc4e to be 5irecte5 towar5s him with a special longing =or his presence.
*he =ollowing acco9nt was receive5 in October( 2773( =rom Mrs. ,ilkie( who pre=ers that
her a55ress sho9l5 not be p9blishe5.
PU72Q BIn /eptember( 27WV( I was in -allan5er( in lo5gings with m> sister an5 other
=rien5s. On the night o= the 7th I ha5 gone to be5( b9t ha5 onl> latel> p9t o9t the light(
an5 was E9ite wi5e awake@ when I hear5 =rom apparentl> D9st behin5 the c9rtain( at the
si5e o= the be5( the wor5s uOhs Eli]a(4 Pm> nameQ in a mo9rn=9l tone. I was so m9ch
impresse5 b> the occ9rrence that I note5 5own the 5ate ne?t morning( an5 tol5 m> sister
o= what I ha5 hear5. )s time passe5 on( an5 I hear5 =rom all m> own people an5 hear5 o=
nothing having happene5 to an> o= them( I E9ite =orgot the circ9mstance.
B/everal months a=ter( I hear5 o= the 5eath b> 5rowning( in the +iDi Islan5s( o= a
gentleman( a 5istant co9sin o= mine( whom I ha5 known ver> well. .is relations 5i5 not
know on which 5a> his 5eath took place( b9t it was between the Wth an5 Xth o=
/eptember( as the> got a letter =rom him beg9n on the Wth( an5 his partner( who was awa>
=rom the place( came home on the Xth( an5 =o9n5 him 5rowne5. .e ha5 gone o9t bathing(
it was s9ppose5( an5 taken cramp.Y~Z
BE. 0. ,IL0IE.C
,e =in5 a notice in the >dinburgh Courant which states that the 5eath occ9rre5 Bearl> in
/eptember( 27WV.C
In answer to the E9estion whether this was the onl> hall9cination o= the senses that she
has ever ha5( Mrs. ,ilkie replies( B#es( the onl> one.C /he believes that the 5iar> in
which her e?perience was at once note5 ma> still be in e?istence( b9t has searche5 =or it
in vain. /ho9l5 she ever =in5 it( she has promise5 to show me the entr>.
Mrs. ,ilkie4s sister( Mrs. 'owe( writes to 9s on $ecember 2( 2773:A
B/o9th YsicZ /te. Marie( Mich.( U./.).
BIn the >ear 27WV( the month o= /eptember( I was sta>ing at -allan5er with m> sister(
Mrs. ,ilkie. I remember her telling me one morning o= having hear5 her name spoken
the night be=ore( =rom behin5 the c9rtain at the hea5 o= her be5( these wor5s: uOhs Eli]a4
an5 this occ9rre5 before she hear5 o= the 5eath o= her =rien5.
B$O') .. 'O,E.C
*he narrator o= the ne?t case is Mrs. ,>l5( o= VX( $evonshire 'oa5( "irkenhea5.
BMa> 2;th( 277V.
PU7UQ BI wo9l5 ver> gla5l> write the short statement >o9 ask =or( b9t tho9gh to m> own
min5 it is prett> concl9sive( still I =eel that to o9tsi5ers it is wanting in two important
5etails: P2Q I mentione5 the =act o= hearing the voice to no one at the time Yb9t see belowZ(
an5 PUQ I co9l5 not tell whose voice it was.
BIt was on *h9rs5a> evening( Fan9ar> 2;th( 2773( that I was sitting alone in the ho9se
rea5ing( an5 it seeme5 strange( an5 still not strange( to hear m> name calle5 with a sort o=
eager entreat>.
ii-22W!
B/hortl> a=ter( the others came in. I was leaving =or Ellesmere ne?t 5a>( an5 in the b9stle
o= 5epart9re I tho9ght no more o= the circ9mstance. It was onl> when coming 5own to
break=ast on the /at9r5a> morning an5 =in5ing the letter telling o= E.4s 5eath( that I
instantl> recalle5 the circ9mstances( an5 saw that the ti(e an5 da, correspon5e5 with
when the> knew she m9st have slippe5 o9t( an5 5own to the river.
BI won5er I 5i5 not associate it with her( =or she ha5 written me some ver> pitiable letters
be=orehan5. I ha5 not the least i5ea her min5 was a==ecte5. ,e were school-=ellows
together =or nearl> three >ears an5 great =rien5s.
BM)'# ,#L$.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. ,>l5 a55s:A
BI never have ha5 a hall9cination o= the senses at an> other time. It was abo9t 7 o4clock
in the evening( I =anc>( when I hear5 the voice. /he was not =o9n5 till U oclock the ne?t
morning when the ti5e t9rne5 on the river@ she then ha5 been 5ea5 several ho9rs( having
slippe5 o9t( I =anc>( between W an5 X the previo9s evening.C
,e have veri=ie5 the 5ate given( an5 the circ9mstances o= the 5eath( in two local
newspapers. It appears that tho9gh the bo5> was not recovere5 till earl> ne?t morning( it
was seen( an5 the shawl that was ro9n5 it was even sei]e5 an5 5rawn into a boat( at 2;
p.m.
Mrs. ,>l5 a=terwar5s =o9n5 that she had mentione5 her e?perience at the time to her
mother( who writes to 9s on March 2X( 2778:A
BMrs. ,>l5 was sta>ing with me in /carboro9gh( when she hear5 the voice in which >o9
are intereste5. /he was alone in the ho9se Pe?cepting servantsQ( an5 when I ret9rne5( an
ho9r a=ter( she relate5 what ha5 seeme5 to her pec9liar. *he 5ate I 5o not now remember@
b9t Mrs. ,>l5 le=t /carboro9gh the ne?t 5a>@ an5 in two or three 5a>s a=ter( she wrote to
tell me o= the sa5 event having taken place that evening.
BM. ")L&)'%IE.C
Y*he non6recognition here rather ten5s to strengthen the case( b> increasing the
improbabilit> that the hall9cination was 59e to an?iet> abo9t the absent =rien5.Z
*he =ollowing case is =rom Miss .arriss( o= UV( /hepher54s "9sh 'oa5( ,.
BFan9ar> UVth( 2773.
PU7:Q BE?actl> the ho9r in the a=ternoon that m> mother 5ie5( being o9t =or a long walk in
the co9ntr> with a companion( an5 having parte5 =rom her to pick wil5 =lowers( I hear5
m>sel= 5istinctl> calle5 several times. ,ith a =eeling as i= some ill were approaching( I
looke5 at m> watch instinctivel>( an5 =o9n5 it hal=-past 3. I cannot tell wh> I 5i5 so( =or I
was then onl> a school-girl( an5 calling to m> companion I =o9n5 she ha5 not a55resse5
me. I 5reame5 o= m> mother4s 5eath the same night.
B). .)''I//.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss .arriss a55s:A
BM> mother 5ie5 on UVth /eptember( 27WV. /he was in better health than I ha5 seen her
=or >ears when I le=t her abo9t si? weeks be=ore( which was the reason o= m> 5oing so.
/he 5ie5 s955enl> o= heart 5isease. I ha5 hear5 =rom her onl> two 5a>s be=ore( in goo5
health an5 spirits. *he ii-227! ho9r o= 5eath was state5 in the letter an5 telegram@ I think
I have both still.
BI never ha5 another a95itor> hall9cination. I never ha5 another 5ream o= 5eath besi5es
that abo9t m> mother@ it was ver> vivi5 an5 5istressing. I saw her 5>ing.C
*he =ollowing is an e?tract( copie5 b> the present writer( =rom a letter written to Miss
.arriss b> her =ather( an5 5ate5 /eptember UV( 27WV:A
B)sh=iel5.
BM# $E)' )%%IE(A#o9 will be m9ch s9rprise5 that >o9r 5ear mamma passe5 awa> this
a=ternoon abo9t :.3V( so gentl> that we co9l5 not believe that she was reall> gonew I
think she was not E9ite conscio9s at the time.A#o9r a==ectionate =ather(
BF. .. .)''I//.C
*he =rien5 who was with Miss .arriss at the time writes to 9s on F9l> 2U( 2773( =rom V7(
-ornwall &ar5ens( /.,.:A
B*he =ollowing is an answer to >o9r inE9iries regar5ing m> recollection o= a certain
inci5ent relating to the 5eath o= Miss .arriss4 mother. I remember her coming 5own one
morning m9ch 5ist9rbe5 at a ver> vivi5 5ream she ha5 59ring the night( in which she saw
her mother l>ing 5ea5. )bo9t an ho9r a=ter she tol5 9s( the post came in( bringing Miss
.arriss the news o= her mother4s 5eath. *he previo9s 5a> Miss .arriss ha5 been in the
woo5s with me( an5 came an5 aske5 me wh> I calle5 her( an5 what was the matter. On
=in5ing I ha5 not( she tol5 me she ha5 been E9ite s9re some one was calling her( an5
wante5 her. I believe a=terwar5s we were str9ck at the c9rio9s coinci5ence o= her mother
being taken ill that a=ternoon( an5 being act9all> 5ea5 abo9t the time o= her 5ream.
BE$I*. $)',I%.C
YIn conversation( Miss .arriss ass9re5 me again that she is positive that the ho9r at which
she hear5 the voice was the ho9r o= her mother4s 5eath. I= her recollection o= the time
which she note5 b> her watch is correct( this is an instance o= e?aggeration o=
correctness( as there was an interval o= three-E9arters o= an ho9r.Z
.ere we can har5l> attrib9te the 5ream to an> e?citement ca9se5 b> the previo9s
hall9cination( since that 5oes not appear to have s9ggeste5 her mother to Miss .arriss. I=
we regar5 both inci5ents as telepathic( an5 as 59e to a common ca9se( the case wo9l5 be
an interesting instance o= B5e=erre5 impressionCAthe 5im imp9lse which imme5iatel>
a=ter the 5eath emerge5 as an 9nrecognise5 phantasm( 5eveloping into more 5e=initel>
Bveri5icalC shape in sleep.
S 3. )n5 now we come to cases where the a95itor> impression was o= a complete
sentence( conve>ing either a piece o= in=ormation or a 5irection. *he =ollowing acco9nt is
=rom the 'ev. '. .. 0illick( o= &reat /meaton 'ector>( %orthallerton( an5 is E9ote5 =rom
an 9n5ate5 letter to the 'ev. '. .. $avies( o= -helsea( who tells me( on %ovember UVth(
277V( that it m9st have been receive5 Bten or ii-22X! twelve >ears ago.C Mr. 0illick sent
9s on )pril U:r5( 2773( an almost precisel> similar acco9nt. ,e have not been able to
obtain 5irect con=irmation =rom his wi=e( who is an invali5@ b9t he tells 9s that her
memor> con=irms his own. *he inci5ent happene5( however( rather more than :; >ears
ago.
PU73Q B) ver> m9ch love5 little 5a9ghter Pnow marrie5Q was with m> =amil> at o9r
vicarage in ,iltshire( an5 I was in 1aris. One /9n5a> a=ternoon( I was sitting in the
co9rt>ar5 o= o9r hotel( taking co==ee( when a s955en tho9ght shot into m> min5( uEtta has
=allen into the water.4 YIn the later acco9nt the parallel cla9se isABwhen all at once I
seeme5 to hear a voice sa>( Y>tta has fallen into the pond.FZ I sho9l5 tell >o9 that we ha5
large gro9n5s( an5 a =ine piece o= arti=icial water( with a grass walk all ro9n5( an5 a
water=all an5 cave( [c.Aa =avo9rite part. YIn the later acco9nt( Mr. 0illick a55s that this
pon5 Bwas m> horror =or the chil5ren. *he> were never allowe5 to go near it( e?cept with
one o= the =amil>.CZ I trie5 to banish the tho9ght( b9t in vain. I went o9t into the cit> an5
walke5 =or ho9rs( tr>ing to obliterate the impression in ever> possible wa>( b9t in vain. I
walke5 till I was too tire5 to walk an> longer( an5 ret9rne5 an5 went to be5( b9t not to
sleep. I went ne?t 5a> to the 1ost-o==ice( hoping =or letters@ b9t there were none. I co9l5
not sta> in 1aris( so I went to the )mbassa5or4s an5 got a passport =or "r9ssels.
BIn the co9rse o= time I ha5 letters sa>ing all were well@ an5 I =inishe5 m> Do9rne>( an5
never spoke o= m> u=oolish nervo9sness4Aas I a5mitte5 it to be.
B/ome months a=terwar5s I was at a 5inner part>( an5 the hostess sai5( u,hat did >o9 sa>
abo9t Etta( when >o9 hear5r4
Bu.ear5 whatr4 I sai5.
BuOhs4 sai5 the la5>( uhave I let o9t a secretr4
BI sai5( uI 5on4t leave till I learns4
B/he sai5( u$on4t get me into tro9ble( b9t I mean abo9t her =alling into the pon5.4
Bu,hat pon5r4
Bu#o9r pon5.4
Bu,henr4
Bu,hile >o9 were abroa5.4
BI was abo9t leaving( so I sai5 ver> little more( b9t hastene5 home. I so9ght o9r
governess( an5 inE9ire5 what it all meant.
B/he sai5( uOh( how cr9el to tell >o9( now it4s all overs ,ell( one /9n5a> a=ternoon we
were walking b> the pon5( an5 *heo5ore sai5( BEtta( it4s so =9nn> to walk with >o9r e>es
sh9tC@ so she trie5( an5 =ell into the water. I hear5 a scream( an5 looke5 ro9n5 an5 saw
Etta4s hea5 come 9p( an5 I ran an5 sei]e5 her an5 p9lle5 her o9t. Oh( it was so 5rea5=9ls
)n5 then I carrie5 her 9p to her mamma( an5 she was p9t to be5( an5 soon got all right.4
BI inE9ire5 the 5a>@ it was the ver, !unda, that I was in 1aris( an5 ha5 this 5rea5=9l
conviction.
BI aske5 the ho9r. )bo9t 3 o4clocks *he ver> time( also( that the 9nwelcome tho9ght
pl9nge5 into m> min5.
ii-2U;!
BI sai5( u*hen it was reveale5 to me in 1aris the instant it happene54@ an5( =or the =irst
time( I tol5 her o= m> sa5 e?perience in 1aris on that /9n5a> a=ternoon.
B'. .E%'# 0ILLI-0.C
Mr. 0illick writes 9s on Ma> 8th( 2773:A
B)s to >o9r E9eries: >o9 ask was the impression uni2ue in m> e?perience. I think it was.
I cannot remember an>thing like it. #o9 ask( was the pon5 a so9rce o= 5anger( [c. *he
chil5ren were never allowe5 to go near it witho9t grown-9p people being with them@ it
was prohibite5@ an5 it was E9ite awa> =rom their part o= the gro9n5s. ,e were so strict
an5 care=9l that the acci5ent seeme5 an impossibilit>. ,e ha5 never ha5 an> alarm on the
s9bDect.
B)t that time I ha5 ten chil5ren at home@ an5 >et it was the special one that ha5 the
acci5ent who was present to m> min5 at that moment. *he voice seeme5 to sa>( u>tta has
=allen into the pon5.4C
*he two e?pressions B) s955en tho9ght shot into m> min5(C an5 BI seeme5 to hear a
voice sa>(C are per=ectl> compatible( as e?pressing a hall9cination onl> slightl>
e?ternalise5 PVol. I.( pp. 37;T2Q@ b9t s9ch 5escriptions might( no 5o9bt( appl> eE9all> to
something too inwar5 to be calle5 hall9cination at all@ an5 in =act a parallel b9t less
5istinct case P%o. 7;Q has been classe5 among emotional an5 not sensor> impressions. In
other respects( the present narrative remin5s 9s o= Mr. F9kes4s case PVol. I.( p. 3;WQ( an5
o= Mr. Everitt4s case PVol. I.( p. 3;XQ. *he sense o= a thir5 personalit>Aa messengerA
implie5 in the =orm o= the message( ma> be interprete5 as the s9bDective contrib9tion o=
the percipient@ who proDects his impression in the =ashion in which it wo9l5 most
nat9rall> strike his senses( i= it reall> came to him in a normal wa> =rom witho9t.
) still more remarkable case has been s9pplie5 to 9s b> $r. %icolas( -o9nt &onHm>s( o=
-or=9( a member o= o9r /ociet>( =rom whose long paper( which was in +rench( the
=ollowing acco9nt is abstracte5. *he =irst person is retaine5 =or the sake o= clearness.
B+ebr9ar>( 277V.
PU7VQ BIn the >ear 278X( I was O==icer o= .ealth in the .ellenic arm>. "> comman5 o= the
,ar O==ice( I was attache5 to the garrison o= the Islan5 o= Jante. )s I was approaching
the islan5 in a steamboat( to take 9p m> new position( an5 at abo9t two ho9rs4 5istance
=rom the shore( I hear5 a s955en inwar5 voice sa> to me( over an5 over again( in Italian(
u&o to Volterra.4 I was ma5e almost 5i]]> b> the =reE9enc> with which this phrase was
repeate5. )ltho9gh in per=ectl> goo5 health at the time( I became serio9sl> alarme5 at
what I consi5ere5 as an a95itor> hall9cination. I ha5 no association with the name o= M.
Volterra( a gentleman o= Jante with whom I was not even acE9ainte5( altho9gh I ha5 once
seen him( 2; >ears be=ore. I trie5 the e==ect o= stopping m> ears( an5 o= tr>ing to 5istract
m>sel= b> conversation with ii-2U2! the b>stan5ers@ b9t all was 9seless( an5 I contin9e5
to hear the voice in the same wa>. )t last we reache5 lan5@ I procee5e5 to the hotel an5
b9sie5 m>sel= with m> tr9nks@ b9t the voice contin9e5 to harass me. )=ter a time a
servant came( an5 anno9nce5 to me that a gentleman was at the 5oor who wishe5 to
speak with me at once. u,ho is the gentlemanr4 I aske5. uM. Volterra(4 was the repl>. )n5
M. Volterra entere5( weeping violentl> in 9ncontrollable 5istress( an5 imploring me to
=ollow him at once( an5 see his son( who was in a 5angero9s con5ition.
BI =o9n5 a >o9ng man in a state o= maniacal =ren]>( nake5( in an empt> room( an5
5espaire5 o= b> all the 5octors o= Jante =or the last =ive >ears. .is aspect was hi5eo9s(
an5 ren5ere5 the more 5istressing b> constantl>-rec9rring choreic spasms( accompanie5
b> hissings( howlings( barkings( an5 other animal noises. /ometimes he crawle5 on his
bell> like a serpent@ sometimes he =ell into an ecstatic con5ition on his knees@ sometimes
he talke5 an5 E9arrelle5 with imaginar> interloc9tors. *he violent crises were o=ten
=ollowe5 b> perio5s o= pro=o9n5 s>ncope. ,hen I opene5 the 5oor o= his room he 5arte5
9pon me =9rio9sl>( b9t I stoo5 m> gro9n5 an5 sei]e5 him b> the arm( looking him =i?e5l>
in the =ace. In a =ew moments his ga]e =ell@ he tremble5 all over( an5 =ell on the =loor with
his e>es sh9t. I ma5e mesmeric passes over him( an5 in hal= an ho9r he ha5 =allen into the
somnamb9lic state. *he c9re laste5 two months an5 a hal=( 59ring which man> interesting
phenomena were observe5. /ince its completion( the patient has ha5 no ret9rn o= his
mala5>.C
) letter written to -o9nt &onHm>s b> M. Volterra( 5ate5 Jante( Wth P2XthQ F9ne( 277V(
contains the most complete corroboration o= the above statement in all that concerns the
Volterra =amil>. *he letter concl95es as =ollows:A
B"e=ore >o9r arrival at Jante I ha5 no acE9aintance with >o9 whatever( altho9gh I have
been man> >ears at -or=9 as $ep9t> to the Legislative )ssembl>@ nor ha5 we ever spoken
together( nor ha5 I ever sai5 a wor5 to >o9 abo9t m> son. )s I be=ore sai5( we ha5 never
tho9ght o= >o9( nor 5esire5 >o9r assistance( 9ntil I calle5 on >o9 on >o9r arrival as o==icer
o= health( an5 begge5 >o9 to save m> son.
B,e owe his li=e =irst to >o9 an5 then to mesmerism.
BI hol5 it m> 59t> to 5eclare to >o9 m> sincere gratit95e( an5 to s9bscribe m>sel=
a==ectionatel> an5 sincerel> >o9rs(
B$EME*'IO VOL*E'')( -o9nt -rissoplevri.
P)55itional signat9resQ BL)U') VOL*E'')C YM. Volterra4s wi=eZ.
B$IO%I/IO $. VOL*E'')( -o9nt -rissoplevri.C
B bcl_gcbek a_hedk do`_C P)nastasio Volterra( the c9re5 patientQ.
B-. V)//O1OULO/ %co(e testi(onio&F
B$EME*'IO( -OM*E &UE'I%O %confer(o&.F
BLO'E%JO *. ME'-)*I.C
*he =orm o= the monition here( as the =orm o= the statement in the =ormer cases( I sho9l5
attrib9te to the percipient4s shaping imagination. *he narrative( however( will be seen to
present one ii-2UU! pec9liarit> which we have enco9ntere5 in no other instance@
2
at the
time that the impression was receive5( the agent an5 the percipient were personall>
9nknown to one another. /till( i= m> s9rmise be allowable as to the con5itions b> which a
line o= telepathic comm9nication ma> be establishe5 between persons 9nconnecte5 b>
bloo5 or a==ection( we might certainl> =in5 a likel> con5ition in s9ch an attit95e as that o=
the s9ppose5 agent in this case. ,e cannot reasonabl> s9ppose that an> cas9al stranger
ha5 as goo5 a chance o= being telepathicall> impresse5 b> M. Volterra as the person who
Atho9gh his name an5 personalit> ma> have ha5 no place in M. Volterra4s min5Awas
>et( b> virt9e o= his special knowle5ge an5 o= his act9al approach( more nearl> connecte5
than an> one else with the engrossing s9bDect o= his tho9ghts.
*he =ollowing e?ample( =rom a clerg>man who 9n=ort9natel> withhol5s his name =rom
p9blication( is ver> similar( the in-ard nat9re o= the so9n5 being again noticeable. "9t
here the agent an5 percipient were =rien5s.
PU78Q BIn March( 27WA( I went to the c9rac> o= ).( an5 ha5 been( as well as I remember(
abo9t a month there( when the =ollowing happene5. I am a native o= a town in the %orth
o= Englan5( an5 in m> chil5hoo5 ha5 a =rien5 o= m> own age whom I will call -. O9r
=rien5ship laste5 till manhoo5( tho9gh o9r circ9mstances an5 walks o= li=e were ver>
5i==erent@ an5 I ha5 alwa>s a great 5eal o= in=l9ence over him( insom9ch that he wo9l5
allow himsel= to be restraine5 b> me when he wo9l5 not b> others. .e became( towar5s
his U;th >ear or so( rather a55icte5 to 5rink( b9t I alwa>s ha5 the same =rien5ship =or him(
an5 wo9l5 have 5one an>thing to serve or help him.
BIn 27WA his =amil> were living at \. Pnear J.Q( an5 as all m> other ol5 =rien5s ha5 long
le=t the neighbo9rhoo5 o= J.( m> native town( I alwa>s 9se5 to go to them whenever I
visite5 that part( as I was an5 am still on s9==icientl> =rien5l> terms with them to go at an>
time witho9t notice. On the 5a> in E9estion I ha5 been visiting some o= the parishioners(
an5 having ma5e an en5 o= this( came to a cross-roa5 o= two o= the lanes near the ch9rch@
an5 not onl> was I not thinking o= m> =rien5( whom I ha5 not hear5 o= =or some >ears(
b9t I 5istinctl> remember what I -as thinking o=( which was whether to go home to m>
lo5gings =or m> tea( t9rning to the le=t( or whether to trespass on the hospitalit> o= a la5>
who live5 to the right o= the crossing. ,hen th9s stan5ing in 5o9bt( a kin5 o= sh955er
passe5 thro9gh me( accompanie5 b> a most e?traor5inar> =eeling( which I can onl>
compare to that o= a D9g o= col5 water po9re5 on the nape o= the neck( an5 r9nning 5own
the spine@
U
an5 as this passe5 o==( tho9gh I cannot sa> I heard a voice( I was 5istinctl>
conscio9s o= the wor5s( u&o to J. b> this evening4s train(4 being sai5 in m> ear. *here was
no one at the ii-2U:! time within 2;; >ar5s o= me. I was not ver> =l9sh o= mone> D9st
then( an5 co9l5 not well a==or5 the e?pense( besi5es not wishing to absent m>sel= =rom
59t> so soon a=ter taking it 9p. "9t it seeme5 so 5istinct that I almost ma5e 9p m> min5
to obe> it@ b9t on anno9ncing the =act to m> lan5la5>( to whom( o= co9rse( I co9l5 not tell
m> tr9e reason( she remonstrate5 so earnestl> that( co9pling this with the a==airs o= m>
59t>( [c.( I 5i5 concl95e to 5isregar5 it. I co9l5 not( however( settle to an>thing( rea5(
write( or sit in com=ort( till the time was elapse5 when I co9l5 have ca9ght the train( when
the 9neas>( restless =eeling gra59all> went o==( an5 in a =ew ho9rs I was rea5> to la9gh at
m>sel=.
B*hree or =o9r 5a>s a=ter( I receive5 the sa5 news that m> =rien5 ha5 on that 5a> gone
5own home =rom Lon5on( ha5 been taken ill( an5 two 5a>s a=terwar5s ha5( in a =it o=
temporar> insanit>( p9t an en5 to his li=e. I have no 5o9bt in m> own min5 that ha5 I
obe>e5 the intimation I might have save5 his li=e@ =or I m9st have gone to their ho9se( no
other in the neighbo9rhoo5 being available@ an5 ha5 I =o9n5 him in the con5ition in
which he was( >o9 ma> be ver> s9re he wo9l5 never have got o9t o= arm4s length o= me
9ntil all 5anger was over. I have ever since reproache5 m>sel= with it( an5 have ma5e 9p
m> min5 that sho9l5 I ever have s9ch another e?perience I will 5o what is 5irecte5( seem
it never so abs9r5 or 5i==ic9lt.C
In repl> to inE9iries( the narrator a55s:A
BI was in health D9st as 9s9al( no better an5 no worse. I ha5 goo5 health all the time I was
at ).( an5 in partic9lar I never have s9==ere5 =rom in5igestion since I was a chil5. I have
never at an> other time ha5 s9ch a ph>sical sensation( or s9ch a sensation o= a voice@ an5
nothing has ever happene5 to me which wo9l5 lea5 at all satis=actoril> to the concl9sion
that an> abnormal phenomena were present.C
*he narrator has privatel> tol5 9s the >ear o= the occ9rrence( an5 the place where the
s9ici5e took place@ an5 we have veri=ie5 these 5etails in the 'egister o= $eaths. *he event
took place later in the >ear than he imagine5Ain %ovember. In conversation( he has
e?plaine5 that B&o to J.C practicall> meant the same =or him as B&o to these =rien5s(C as
he wo9l5 be E9ite certain to sta> with them. *heir place o= b9siness was still at J. )t the
time o= his e?perience( his =rien5 was in a ver> critical con5ition.
*he ne?t case is worth E9oting as parallel to the two last( tho9gh it has less evi5ential
=orce@ =or( at this 5istance o= time( we cannot make s9re that something ha5 not occ9rre5
59ring the prece5ing 5a>s( that might have hal= 9nconscio9sl> s9ggeste5 to the percipient
the nee5 which he was so strangel> impelle5 to relieve. *he acco9nt is =rom $r. Foseph
/mith( =or man> >ears lea5ing me5ical practitioner in ,arrington( an5 a class-lea5er in
the ,esle>an Metho5ist -h9rch.
B%ovember U3th( 2773.
PU7WQ B,hen I live5 at 1enketh( abo9t 3; >ears ago( I was sitting one evening rea5ing(
an5 a voice came to me( sa>ing( u/en5 a loa= to Fames &an5>4s.4 /till I contin9e5 rea5ing(
an5 the voice came to me again( u/en5 a loa= to Fames &an5>4s.4 /till I contin9e5 rea5ing(
when a thir5 ii-2U3! time the voice came to me with greater emphasis( u/en5 a loa= to
Fames &an5>4s4@ an5 this time it was accompanie5 b> an almost irresistible imp9lse to get
9p. I obe>e5 this imp9lse( an5 went into the village( bo9ght a large loa=( an5 seeing a la5
at the shop 5oor( I aske5 him i= he knew Fames &an5>4s. .e sai5 he 5i5@ so I gave him a
tri=le an5 aske5 him to take the loa= there( an5 to sa> a gentleman ha5 sent it. Mrs. &an5>
was a member o= m> class( an5 I went 5own the ne?t morning to see what ha5 come o= it(
when she tol5 me that a strange thing ha5 happene5 to her last night. /he sai5 she wante5
to p9t the chil5ren to be5( an5 the> began to cr> =or =oo5( an5 she ha5 not an> to give
them@ =or her h9sban5 ha5 been =or =o9r or =ive 5a>s o9t o= work. /he then went to
pra>er( to ask &o5 to sen5 them something@ soon a=ter which a la5 came to the 5oor with
a loa=( which he sai5 a gentleman gave him to bring to her. I calc9late5( 9pon inE9ir>
ma5e o= her( that her pra>er an5 the voice which I hear5 e?actl> coinci5e5 in point o=
time.Y~Z
BFO/E1. /MI*.( M.$.C
S V. I will now give one case where the so9n5 hear5( tho9gh vocal( was not artic9late.
2

*he seemingl> 5irect repro59ction o= the act9al so9n5 which the agent was making Pan5
there=ore hearingQ at the time recalls the =irst cases o= this chapter@ b9t in the present
instance there was no recognition( which is o= co9rse an evi5ential 5e=ect. *he case is one
where pros an5 cons have to be care=9ll> balance5@ it has been a5mitte5 as the e?perience
o= a matter-o=-=act man( b9t wo9l5 certainl> have been reDecte5 ha5 it been that o= a
nervo9s or imaginative woman. *he narrator is Mrs. ".( who contrib9te5 also case 2XU(
Pto which she re=ers in the =irst line(Q an5 whose name ma> be given to an>one intereste5
in the s9bDect.
B$ecember( 2773.
PU77Q B/ome si? >ears a=ter the above occ9rrence( in the /eptember o= 27W;( m> h9sban5
was at $. .all =or his holi5a>. .is parents were then living at $ieppe. .e was ro9se5 one
night b> a pec9liar moaning( as i= some person or animal was in pain. .e got 9p an5 went
thro9gh the ho9se an5 o9t into the gar5ens an5 shr9bberies( b9t co9l5 see nothing. .e
hear5 the same noise at intervals all that 5a>( b9t co9l5 not =in5 o9t the ca9se. .e
ret9rne5 to Lon5on ne?t 5a>( to =in5 a telegram s9mmoning him to $ieppe( as his mother
was 5>ing. ,hen he got into the ho9se at $ieppe( the =irst so9n5 he hear5 was a
repetition o= the same noise that he hear5 at $. .all( an5 he =o9n5 it was his mother who
was making it( an5 he learne5 she ha5 been 5oing so =or two 5a>s. /he 5ie5 a =ew ho9rs
a=ter he arrive5. ,e ha5 no knowle5ge o= Mrs. ".4s illness at the time m> h9sban5 hear5
the noise.
BM> h9sban54s parents ha5 been oblige5 to leave $. .all 9n5er pain=9l circ9mstances(
an5 possibl> the tho9ghts o= her love5 home ma> have been paramo9nt with Mrs. ".( or it
ma> have been that the> =lew to ii-2UV! m> h9sban5( who was her >o9ngest son. )t an>
rate( m> h9sban5 alwa>s hel5 that it was his mother4s moaning he hear5 at $. .all
tho9gh she was in +rance. /he was speechless when he reache5 her( so no sol9tion co9l5
be arrive5 at.
BE. ). ".C
,e =in5 =rom a newspaper obit9ar> that the 5eath took place at $ieppe( on /eptember 2U(
27W;.
In repl> to inE9iries( the narrator sa>s:A
BM> late h9sban5 was alone( at his ol5 home in %or=olk( when he hear5 the moaning I
tol5 >o9 o=. .e was shortl> a=ter Pthe same a=ternoon( I thinkQ telegraphe5 =or to go to
$ieppe to see his mother. .e was E9ite 9naware( till he got the telegram( that she was ill.
.e ret9rne5 to /elh9rst( where we were living( an5 where I was( on his -a, to Dieppe(
an5 then tol5 me abo9t this noise. On his return =rom $ieppe( a=ter his mother4s 5eath( he
sai5( u#o9 remember m> telling >o9 o= the moaning I hear5 at $. *he =irst so9n5 I hear5
in the ho9se at $ieppe was the same( an5 it was m> mother making it.4 .e =9rther a55e5
that he was tol5 she ha5 ma5e it =or a 5a> or two. I am per=ectl> clear abo9t his hearing it
=irst at night in the ho9se( an5 on the =ollowing morning in the shr9bberies( which were a
little 5istance =rom the ho9se. I never hear5 either m> h9sban5 or his =ather speak o= ever
hearing so9n5s( or seeing an>thing be=ore or a=ter the occ9rrences I have mentione5 Yi.e.(
this case an5 case 2XUZ. *he> were both matter-o=-=act men( an5 ver> =ree =rom
s9perstitio9s i5eas. I was a >o9ng woman at the time these things took place PI am onl>
32 nowQ( so m> memor> o= them is ver> clear an5 goo5. /i? weeks or two months a=ter
m> h9sban5 hear5 these so9n5s( we were together at $.( an5 he showe5 me the spot in
the shr9bber> where the so9n5 ha5 been lo95est.C
YI= the percipient4s e?perience ha5 been con=ine5 to the moaning hear5 in the night( the
inci5ent wo9l5 not have been worth atten5ing to( =or reasons to be imme5iatel> a559ce5.
"9t the contin9ance o= the so9n5 59ring the 5a>( an5 o9t o= 5oors( makes a 5eci5e5
5i==erence.Z
S 8. ,e now come to a =ew specimens o= the non-vocal so9n5-phantasmsAthe mere
noises or shocksAwhich are the parallel among a95itor> hall9cinations to the
r95imentar> vis9al hall9cinations which were consi5ere5 in the last chapter. "9t the
a95itor> cases nee5 a =ar more Dealo9s scr9tin>( be=ore we are D9sti=ie5 in regar5ing them
as even probabl> telepathic in origin. O55 noises( especiall> at night( are ver> common
phenomena@ an5 tho9gh the partic9lar ca9se o= them is o=ten har5 to 5etect( the ph>sical
con5itions o= o9r in5oor li=e are proli=ic o= possible ca9ses. Most o= 9s are in constant
pro?imit> to win5 that ma> blow thro9gh crevices( an5 rattle or =lap or 5islo5ge loose
parts o= o9r win5ows an5 walls an5 chimne>s@ an5 to water in pipes or cisterns that ma>
leak( or b9rst( or ma> contain b9bbling air@ an5 to slates that ma> =all@ an5 to woo5en
=9rnit9re an5 =loors that ma> crack an5 creak. )n5 i= an> one sho9l5 sa> that he has hear5
a noise which( =rom its nat9re or its position( co9l5 not be ii-2U8! acco9nte5 =or b> an>
s9ch ascertainable ca9se( he might be remin5e5 that so9n5s are the har5est things in the
worl5 to localise@ an5 that no one who has not given special attention to the s9bDect can
realise how eas> it is to mistake the so9rce an5 character o= an a95itor> impression.
2

*h9s( while it is impossible to conten5 that the Bball o= lightC which appeare5 to Mr.
/a?b> was a real ball( an5 impossible there=ore to 5en> that the coinci5ence o= the
hall9cination with the 5eath o= some one to whom he was attache5 was an o55
circ9mstance( it is E9ite possible to conten5 that some 9nacco9ntable crash which
someone has hear5 was not a hall9cination at all( b9t a real obDective so9n5@ an5 the
coinci5ence o= s9ch a crash with the 5eath o= a near relative is the less o55 in proportion
as 9nacco9ntable crashes are common occ9rrences. /till( 9nacco9ntable noises are not o=
s9ch 5ail> an5 ho9rl> occ9rrence b9t that a s9==icientl> large an5 well-establishe5 gro9p
o= the coinci5ences in E9estion might be taken as possible ii-2UW! in5ications o=
telepathic action( especiall> as we have the analog> o= r95imentar> vis9al hall9cinations
to point to.
2
Moreover( there is no 5o9bt that s9rprising noises an5 crashes( tho9gh o=ten
59e to 9n5iscovere5 e?ternal ca9ses( are also a =orm o= p9rel> s9bDective hall9cination
U

Awhich makes it at least probable( i= telepath> be a realit>( that the> will also be a =orm
o= telepathic hall9cination.
*he kin5s o= non-vocal impression which are least likel> to be 59e to a real b9t
9n5iscoverable ca9se in the vicinit> are those which are 5istinctl> (usicalAthe so9n5
being pro59ce5 not in the gli5ing ran5om =ashion o= an olian harp( b9t in a series o=
well-5e=ine5 tones. /ome e?amples o= literal m9sic will be given in -hap. \VIII. "9t I
will give here an e?ample where the so9n5 hear5 was o= the ringing o= bells( which is a
known =orm o= hall9cination.
:
*he narrator is a gentleman who 5oes not wish his name
an5 a55ress to be p9blishe5( tho9gh he has no obDection to their being comm9nicate5
privatel>.
BMa> U7th( 277V.
PU7XQ BIn 278U( I saile5 to "omba> in one o= $9nbar4s ol5 =rigate-b9ilt ships. I was
5epresse5 the whole vo>age with an 9n5e=ine5 presentiment o= uba5 news =rom home.4 )t
"omba> I 9se5 to get m> messmates to go ashore =or letters Pa great privilegeQ( even
when it was m> t9rn to 5o so@ m> nervo9sness was so great. .owever( we saile5 =or
home( an5 reache5 an5 le=t /t. .elena( an5 no blac1 letter was 5elivere5 to me.
B*wo 5a>s a=ter leaving /t. .elena I was 9p alo=t 5oing some tri=ling sailor4s work with
the =o9rth o==icer( on the mi]en topsail or top gallant >ar5( when I hear5 a bell begin to
toll. I sai5 to him( u$o >o9 hear that bell tollingr4 u%o(4 he sai5( uI hear nothing.4
.owever( m> agitation was so great that I went 5own an5 e?amine5 both o9r bells@ an5
place5 m> arm near them( to see i= the> were vibrating or i= an> chance rope was
swinging loose an5 striking them. .owever( while 5oing this( I still hear5 the boom o= the
tolling bell( an5 it seeme5 =ar awa>. I then( when I ha5 satis=ie5 m>sel= that the so9n5 was
not attrib9table to either o= o9r ship4s bells( went 9p alo=t an5 scanne5 the hori]on in
search o= a sail( b9t saw none. I then sai5 to m> messmates( u*hat4s m> Bblack letter.C I
knew I sho9l5 have ba5 news this vo>age.4
ii-2U7!
B)t +almo9th we calle5 =or or5ers@ an5 there I =o9n5 that a la5> who =ille5 the place o=
el5er sister to me Pm> a9nt b> marriageQ( an5 to whose >o9nger sister I am marrie5 now(
ha5 been s955enl> carrie5 o== b> illnessAat that time( as near as we co9l5 calc9late(
allowing =or the 5i==erent longit95e. /he was >o9ng PUXQ( lovel>( an5 most winning in her
manners. I( bo>-like( a5ore5 her( an5 she 9se5 to sa> that I was her >o9ng sailor lover@ as
m> 9ncle( a captain in the %av>( was her ol5 sailor lover.
BI am 3; >ears ol5 now( an5 have been thro9gh 5angers o= all sorts( in imminent 5anger
o= 5eath man> times( b9t I have never ha5 a presentiment since. )=ter nearl> UV >ears I
can still remember the boom( boom( o= that ol5 bell in the Man? ch9rch>ar5( which I
hear5 in latit95e 23 /.( or thereabo9ts.C
)ske5 whether he ha5 ever e?perience5 a hall9cination on an> other occasion( the
narrator replie5:A
BI have never s9==ere5 =rom an> hall9cinations. I have le5 an active li=e( incl95ing m9ch
loneliness( being =or weeks together in the D9ngles shooting an5 s9rve>ing alone( save =or
native servants( an5 =ar =rom white men( an5 59ring all that time m> brain never pla>e5
me an> tricks.C Later( he wrote:ABI have not been a 5reamer( =ool( or a m>stic( b9t a
har5-working( clear-hea5e5 man o= b9siness. I tell >o9 all this( not in a boasting spirit( b9t
simpl> to prove( so =ar as possible( that I am not a likel> s9bDect =or uill9sions4 or
uhall9cinations.4 #o9 m9st remember that this occ9rre5 when I was a careless >o9ngster
o= 2W( on m> =irst vo>age to sea. I co9l5 not acco9nt =or it then@ nor can I now. *he
impression is as vivi5 as ever.C
)ske5 whether an> bells wo9l5 have been ringing at the time o= the la5>4s 5eath( he sa>s:
A
B#es. Malen -h9rch bell wo9l5 have been tolling in -astletown at that time( =or the
passing bell or =or the =9neral. I never aske5 whether the passing bell was r9ng( b9t it is a
common habit in the Isle o= Man to toll the ch9rch bell imme5iatel> a=ter the 5ecease o=
an> one o= some social importance. I =eel s9re it was 5one in this case@ we were so well
known there. I mean it is 5one =or the gentr>( an5 s9ch o= the =armers an5 shopkeeping
class who care to pa> =or it.
BI ma> a55 that the la5> who 5ie5 was ine?pressibl> 5ear to me( being more like a sister
than an a9nt.C
*he name o= the la5> was given to 9s in con=i5ence( an5 also the 5ate o= her 5eath@ an5
we have veri=ie5 this 5ate b> re=erence to an Isle o= Man newspaper. *he 5a> prove5 to
be a /9n5a>. *his was pointe5 o9t to o9r in=ormant( in case he might be able to recall
an>thing which wo9l5 point to a /9n5a> as the 5a> o= his e?perience. .e replie5:A
BI cannot well remember the 5a>( b9t I think that( =rom what I 5o remember( it was a
/9n5a>. I was probabl> stowing the mi]en topgallant sail( or 5oing some necessar> work
9p alo=t@ b9t I remember that when I went 5own to look at the bells the ship was still( an5
I 5on4t remember an> work going on. I am( however( not certain on this matter.C
ii-2UX!
I= this case was telepathic( it m9st remain 5o9bt=9l whether the =orm o= the impression
represente5 the last sensations or i5eas o= the 5>ing person( or was a piece o= 5eath-
imager> s9pplie5 b> the percipient( as ill9strate5 in several o= the vis9al cases o= -hap.
\II. *he prece5ing 5istress an5 nervo9sness were probabl> s9bDective( b9t can scarcel>
be regar5e5 as the ca9se o= the hall9cination.
,hen we pass =rom m9sical impressions to noise proper( the 5egree o= o55ness an5
9nacco9ntableness in a so9n5 is a point which it is ver> har5 to D95ge o= =rom 5escription.
*he rea5er ma> =orm his own opinion o= the =ollowing acco9nt( receive5 =rom Mrs.
/am95a( o= /hipton -o9rt( -hipping %orton. I 5o not n9mber it as an evi5ential case.
BI= the 5etails o= what occ9rre5 to me Pan5 which I believe to have been p9rel>
acci5entalQ can be o= an> service to >o9r /ociet>( I will with pleas9re 5escribe them@ b9t
in 5oing so I m9st beg that >o9 will thoro9ghl> 9n5erstan5 that I 5o not in the least
believe in an> o= these coinci5ences( an5 at the time was m9ch am9se5 when I was tol5
that the so9n5s I hear5 were 5eath-warnings. On the Vth o= October( 27W7( abo9t :
o4clock in the morning( I was s955enl> aro9se5 b> three distinct loud 1noc1s e?actl> over
the hea5 o= m> be5. )t the time I was ill( an5 the n9rse was sleeping in m> room. /he
also 5istinctl> hear5 the so9n5s. *he =irst thing the ne?t morning( I receive5 a telegram to
sa> m> gran5=ather( /ir +rancis &rant( 1.'.).( ha5 5ie5 s955enl> the night be=ore at 7
o4clock. ,hen I tol5 the n9rse o= the telegram( she instantl> sai5 the three knocks I ha5
hear5 were a 5eath warning.
BOn the U;th March( 27WX( I receive5 a letter =rom m> mother( sa>ing that m> brother(
'9pert Markham( had been ill( b9t was now going on E9ite well again( an5 that I nee5 not
be the least an?io9s. On the morning o= the U2st( abo9t : o4clock in the morning( I
5istinctl> hear5 the same three knocks@ m> h9sban5 also hear5 them. )t 2; o4clock that
morning I receive5 a telegram 5esiring me to come imme5iatel>( as m> brother was
5>ing. ,hen I arrive5 at Melton Mowbra>( X.:; p.m.( m> brother was D9st 5ea5.
B)bo9t the Un5 o= Ma>( 27WX( at 8 o4clock in the morning( m> h9sban5 an5 I both hear5
the same three knocks( an5 were so m9ch impresse5 at this occ9rring =or a thir5 time that
he instantl> ma5e a note o= it. )t that time m> el5est brother ha5 D9st starte5 =or J9l9lan5(
so we m9ch =eare5 something might have happene5 to him. +or three weeks a=ter this we
hear5 nothing( then a letter came sa>ing m> brother was 5angero9sl> ill( b9t shortl>
a=terwar5s we hear5 b> telegram that he was per=ectl> well again. I tell >o9 this thir5
instance to show >o9 that there cannot possibl> be an>thing b9t a mere chance in these
acci5ents being repeate5.C
Y*he coinci5ence in the =irst case was probabl> closer than is represente5@ =or all the
newspaper acco9nts give the 5ate o= /ir +. &rant4s 5eath as /at9r5a>( October Vth@ the
Ti(es an5 the ;eicester Chronicle sa> B/at9r5a> (orningF@ an5 the Dail, Telegraph
sa>s( Bearl, on /at9r5a> morning.C
*he ;eicester Chronicle con=irms the 5ate o= 5eath in the secon5 case.Z
ii-2:;!
Mrs. /am95a 5oes not sa> whether she hersel= regar5s the knocks as hall9cinations( or as
obDectivel> ca9se5. I= the> were the =ormer( then the E9estion o= Bbelie= in these
coinci5encesCAi.e., the E9estion whether the> are 59e to acci5ent( or to telepath>Am9st
Pas we have seenQ be D95ge5 b> the application o= the 5octrine o= chances on a basis o=
ver> wi5e statistics@ an5 certainl> will not be 5eci5e5 in =avo9r o= acci5ent b> the =act
that the percipient has observe5 a coinci5ence in two cases an5 not in a thir5. "9t the
coinci5ence with the 5eath was not ver> close in the secon5 case( an5 possibl> not in the
=irst@ an5 real so9n5s 59e to some 5e=ect in the ho9se or =9rnit9re ma> have happene5 to
be a little lo95er than 9s9al on these occasions( an5 perhaps a=terwar5s became
e?aggerate5 in memor>. *he =act that the e?perience was in each case share5 b> a secon5
person is strongl> Ptho9gh( as we shall see later( not 5ecisivel>Q in =avo9r o= this view.
*he =ollowing case has more weight. *he acco9nt was written 5own on F9ne Un5( 27W8(
b> Mr. .ensleigh ,e5gwoo5( =rom the 5ictation o= the percipient( the late Miss Va9ghan(
o= 8( -hester 1lace( 'egent4s 1ark( %.,.
PUX;Q BIn the a9t9mn o= 27V8( Mrs. $. was l>ing 5angero9sl> ill( near ,in5sor@ when I
receive5 a letter on +ri5a> =rom her 5a9ghter( who ha5 been invite5 to the marriage o=
Mr. -o? with Miss )l5erson( telling me that as their mother was rather better( the>
tho9ght the> might come 9p to the marriage on *9es5a> i= I co9l5 give them a be5. On
the /at9r5a> night I went to be5 at m> 9s9al ho9r( 2U o4clock( b9t 5i5 not go to sleep =or
some time@ when I was s955enl> startle5 b> three sets o= three e?traor5inar> lo95 knocks(
like strokes o= a hammer on an empt> bo?( at m> be5 hea5( =ollowe5 imme5iatel> b> a
long lo95 cr> o= a woman4s voice( which seeme5 to 5ie awa> in the 5istance. I calle5 m>
mai5 instantl>( an5 begge5 her to look o9t o= the win5ow( an5 see i= there was an>one in
the street. /he opene5 the sh9tters( threw 9p the win5ow( an5 sai5 there was no one@ that I
m9st have been 5reaming@ it was E9ite late. I sai5 u%o( it ha5 not >et str9ck 2(4 an5 sent
her to look at the clock@ she ret9rne5( an5 sai5 it wante5 2; min9tes to 2. I sai5 the noise
m9st have come =rom the room a5Doining mine( in the ne?t ho9se. /he sai5 the ho9se was
empt>@ b9t this I co9l5 not believe( so I sent her earl> on /9n5a> morning to see. /he
came back( sa>ing the win5ows were all sh9t( an5 she ha5 knocke5 =or some time in vain.
On the =ollowing morning I sent her to the person in )lban> /treet who ha5 charge o= the
ho9se( thinking somebo5> m9st have slept in it on /at9r5a> night. *he person in charge
sai5 this co9l5 not be the case( as she ha5 the ke>@ b9t she went to look( an5 came to tell
me that no one co9l5 possibl> have got in.
BIn a ver> =ew ho9rs a=terwar5s I receive5 a letter =rom one o= the Miss $.4s( to tell me
that their mother became s955enl> worse on ii-2:2! /at9r5a> morning( an5 ha5 5ie5 in
the co9rse o= the night. /ome time s9bseE9entl>( I ha5 an opport9nit> o= seeing the n9rse(
an5 she tol5 me that Mrs. $. ha5 e?actl> 5ie5 at a E9arter be=ore 2 on /9n5a> morning(
9ttering a lo95 cr> at the moment o= her 5eath. /he ha5 D9st been giving her a c9p o= bee=
tea( an5 ha5 replace5 it on the mantelpiece( where there was a clock( on which she
observe5 the ho9r. I ha5 tho9ght that the whole m9st have procee5e5 =rom the ne?t
ho9se.
BMrs. $. ha5 been a ver> intimate =rien5 o= mine@ I know I was m9ch in her tho9ghts( an5
a =ew 5a>s be=ore her 5eath she ha5 sai5 she hope5( now she was a little better( to be well
eno9gh to see me.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that Mrs. $.4s 5eath took place on a /9n5a>A
October U8th( 27V8.
In %ovember( 27W8( Mr. .. ,e5gwoo5 rea5 the acco9nt o= Miss Va9ghan4s vision to
Miss E. *.( a common =rien5 o= Miss Va9ghan4s an5 Mrs. $.4s( whom Mr. ,e5gwoo5 has
known all his li=e. /he was sta>ing with her sister at .astings at the time o= the inci5ent(
an5 receive5 a letter =rom Miss Va9ghan telling them o= Mrs. $.4s 5eath( an5 o= her
having come to her. Miss *. was greatl> intereste5 in this intelligence( an5 h9rrie5 9p to
Lon5on( where she hear5 =rom Miss Va9ghan the stor> e?actl> as narrate5 b> Mr.
,e5gwoo5( 5own to the news o= Mrs. $.4s 5eath@ b9t Miss Va9ghan ha5 not then seen the
n9rse( an5 was conseE9entl> ignorant o= the precise agreement in time between the =act
o= her o9tcr> at the moment o= 5eath an5 Miss Va9ghan4s hearing the scream. *wo or
three months a=ter( Miss Va9ghan tol5 her what she ha5 hear5 =rom the n9rse.
Miss *. has seen this statement( an5 appen5s the wor5s: B}9ite correct.AE. .. *.
%ovember Vth( 277:.C
Mrs. Va9ghan( o= the $eaner>( Llan5a==( writing on F9ne 2;( 2778( sen5s 9s an acco9nt o=
the occ9rrence which 5i==ers =rom Miss Va9ghan4s onl> in one or two tri=ling 5etails( an5
a55s: BMiss Va9ghan o=ten spoke o= it to 9s.C
*he =act o= the scream( tho9gh it seems to have correspon5e5 with an act9al cr> o= the
s9ppose5 agent( co9l5 not be presse5@ as s9ch so9n5s are not 9ncommon in Lon5on
streets at night( an5 the lo95ness an5 apparent closeness o= the cr> ma> have been
e?aggerate5. "9t the knocks in this case( i= correctl> 5escribe5( seem less eas> to e?plain(
e?cept as hall9cination@ an5 the hall9cination Pi= the present class be a5mitte5 at allQ
wo9l5 have a pri(0 facie claim to be consi5ere5 telepathicAthe tie o= a==ection between
the two parties being a strong one( an5 the coinci5ence e?tremel> close. *echnicall>( the
inci5ent o9ght perhaps to be classe5 among Bbor5erlan5C cases@ b9t this partic9lar =orm
o= hall9cination 5oes not seem to be speciall> connecte5 with the moments that
imme5iatel> prece5e or =ollow sleep@ an5 the percipient m9st apparentl> have been wi5e
awake be=ore the so9n5s cease5. ) =ew more e?amples o= the non-vocal sort will be
=o9n5 among the BcollectiveC cases in -hap. \VIII.@ others( ii-2:U! in view o= the
evi5ential weakness o= the class( are relegate5 to the /9pplement.
I will concl95e this chapter with a case o= a phantasm which( tho9gh locate5 in the ear(
perhaps rather concerne5 the sense o= to9ch than that o= hearing. I= it was telepathic( it is
a remarkabl> clear instance o= the 5irect repro59ction o= the agent4s sensation in the
percipient4s conscio9sness.
2
*he acco9nt is =rom Mrs. )rth9r /evern( o= "rantwoo5(
-oniston.
B277:.
PUX2Q B#ears ago( in /cotlan5( at m> own home( I was in the 5rawing-room with m>
mother an5 a9nt@ the latter was b9s> writing at a table in the mi55le o= the room( =acing
m> mother( who was on a so=a sewing( while I was E9ietl> am9sing m>sel= in m> own
wa>. It was all ver> E9iet( when s955enl> I was m9ch startle5 b> m> mother( who gave a
scream an5 threw hersel= back on the so=a( p9tting both her han5s 9p to cover her ears(
sa>ing( uOh( there4s water r9shing =ast into m> ears( an5 I4m s9re either m> brother( or
son Fames( m9st be 5rowning( or both o= thems4 M> a9nt Margaret D9mpe5 9p( an5 was
rather angr> an5 sai5( u-atherine( I never hear5 s9ch nonsense( how can >o9 be so
=oolishs4 M> a9nt seeme5 ve?e5 an5 ashame5 it sho9l5 happen be=ore me( =or I was ver>
=rightene5( an5 remember it all so vivi5l>. M> poor mother crie5( sa>ing( uOh( I know it4s
tr9e( or wh> wo9l5 this water keep r9shing into m> earsr4
B)lass it prove5 too tr9e( =or ver> soon I co9l5 see people r9nning ver> har5 towar5s the
bathing-place( an5 I remember the sh955er that then ran thro9gh me( an5 the hope that
m> mother wo9l5 not look o9t o= an> o= the win5ows. /oon m> 9ncle came h9rr>ing to
the ho9se ver> white an5 5istresse5@ all he co9l5 sa> was( uhot blanketss4 b9t it was too
lateApoor Fames was 5rowne5. .e was U2 >ears ol5( an5 m> mother4s el5est chil5. "oth
the other witnesses o= this scene are 5ea5.
BFO)% '. /EVE%.C
Y*he narrator4s brother( Fames )gnew( was 5rowne5 while bathing in the river "la5noch.
*he 5ate( as we =in5 =rom a cop> o= an inscription in ,igtown ch9rch>ar5( was F9ne 7(
27V:.Z
It is to be note5 that the narrator here was hersel= the percipient in the still more
remarkable case o= apparentl> 5irect trans=erence( E9ote5 in Vol. I.( p. 277.
U

ii-2::!
+!P#&R 0)(.
#!+#('& +!$&$ !"/ +!$&$ !FF&+#("* M%R& #!" %"& %F
#& P&R+(P(&"#;$ $&"$&$.
S 2. I% the chapter on Bbor5erlan5C cases( an5 again in -hap. \II.( when ill9strating the
5evelopment o= hall9cinations b> the percipient4s own imagination 9n5er the stim9l9s o=
a telepathic imp9lse( I E9ote5 several instances in which two o= his senses pla>e5 a partA
as where an impression o= so9n5 prece5e5 an5 le5 9p to the visible phantasm. )n5 I have
mentione5 Ppp. U:T3Q that the proportion o= the telepathic cases in which the e?perience
ass9mes s9ch a comple? or m9ltiple =orm seems 5eci5e5l> larger than obtains among the
p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations o= the sane. *he present chapter will contain those
remaining telepathic instances which belong to seasons o= complete waking
conscio9sness. In some o= these( as it happens( the sense o= touch is involve5@ an5 I ma>
take the opport9nit> o= sa>ing a necessar> wor5 or two on a==ections o= that sense.
)mong p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations o= the sane( those o= to9ch seem to be rarer even
than those o= sight( an5 m9ch rarer than those o= hearing. M> large collection incl95es
onl> 87 e?amples Pa =ew being cases o= repeated e?periencesQ( o= which 3: were o= to9ch
onl>( 7 were associate5 with a vis9al hall9cination( 2: with an a95itor> hall9cination(
while 3 concerne5 all three senses. *he canvasse5 gro9p o= VW;V persons Ppp. W( 7Q
>iel5e5 onl> U: 5istinct e?periences o= the sort@ an5 o= these U:( one occ9rre5 to a person
who was o9t o= health( one in association with a vis9al( an5 two in association with an
a95itor> hall9cination. Moreover( in man> o= the cases where to9ch alone has been
concerne5( it is eas> to s9ppose that the sensation was ca9se5 b> an invol9ntar> m9sc9lar
twitchAan instance is even on recor5 where a hall9cination o= sight an5 so9n5 took its
origin in an obDective sensation( ca9se5 b> the momentar> cramp o= a m9scle
2
A ii-2:3!
so that the n9mber o= gen9ine tactile hall9cinations wo9l5 be even smaller than appears.
It will not s9rprise 9s( then( to =in5 that telepathic a==ections o= this senseAor what might
reasonabl> be a559ce5 as s9chAare also rare. ) co9ple o= cases have been alrea5>
E9ote5@ in neither o= which 5i5 the to9ch s9ggest an> h9man contact( while each incl95e5
a pec9liarit> be>on5 the mere to9chAthe =irst that o= pain PVol. I.( p. 277Q( an5 the
secon5 probabl> that o= sound Pp. 2:U( aboveQ. ,e have( however( a =ew cases where the
mere to9ch is allege5 to have been more or less 5istinctive(
2
o= which I will E9ote here
one specimen. Mr. F. -. .arris( o= ,ellington( %ew Jealan5( proprietor o= the Ne-
Pealand Ti(es an5 Ne- Pealand 'ail, writes:A
BF9l> 8th( 277V.
PUXUQ BM> wi=e ha5 an 9ncle( a sea captain( who was ver> =on5 o= her as a chil5( an5
o=ten( when at home at Lon5on( 9se5 to take her on his knee an5 stroke 5own her long
thick hair. /he( with her parents( went =rom Lon5on to />5ne>( an5 her 9ncle p9rs9e5 his
avocation in other parts o= the worl5. /ome : or 3 >ears a=terwar5s( she was 9pstairs(
5ressing =or 5inner( an5 ha5 her hair loose 9pon her sho9l5ers@ s955enl> she =elt a han5
place5 on the top o= her hea5( an5 bro9ght 5own smartl> along her hair on to her
sho9l5ers. /tartle5( she t9rne5 ro9n5 an5 e?claime5( u,h>( mother( how co9l5 >o9
=righten me sor4 =or she ass9me5 her mother ha5 pla>e5 a little Doke on her. *here was no
one there however. ,hen she relate5 the circ9mstance at the 5inner-table( a s9perstitio9s
U
=rien5 present a5vise5 them to make a note o= the 5a> an5 5ate. *his was 5one. In 59e
co9rse came the news o= the 5eath o= her 9ncle( ,illiam( on that 5a>Aallowing =or
5i==erence o= longit95e at abo9t the time she =elt the han5 on her hea5.
BF. -.)%*'E# .)''I/.C
*he =ollowing is Mrs. .arris4s own acco9nt o= her e?perience:A
B.ill /treet( ,ellington( %ew Jealan5.
B$ecember Vth( 277V.
BI regret e?tremel> that( an?io9s as we are to assist( in however small a 5egree( the ca9se
o= science( it is not in m> power to give con=irmator> evi5ence o= m> own little
e?perience. O= the =rien5s who were associate5 with me at the time( b9t one is living( an5
she lives awa> in }9eenslan5. *he notes were not consi5ere5 o= s9==icient conseE9ence
to be kept@ an5 neither mo9rning car5 nor obit9ar> notice are available. -onseE9entl> m>
acco9nt cannot( as I E9ite 9n5erstan5( have m9ch val9e( 9ncorroborate5 as it is. .owever(
as a matter o= co9rtes>( I will make m> statement( =eeling well ass9re5 that >o9 will
accept it as a9thentic.
ii-2:V!
B*he occ9rrence happene5 so long ago that( while the inci5ent is =resh eno9gh to m>
memor>( the precise 5ate Pnever care=9ll> note5Q has escape5 it. *he >ear was 278;( the
month )pril. I was a >o9ng girl( stan5ing be=ore the 5ressing-table in m> be5room(
arranging some 5etail o= m> toilet. It was abo9t 8 p.m.( at that time o= >ear( twilight(
when s955enl> a han5 was place5 9pon m> hea5( passe5 5own m> hair( an5 =ell heavil>
on m> le=t sho9l5er. /tartle5 at the 9ne?pecte5 to9ch( I t9rne5 E9ickl> to remonstrate with
m> mother =or entering so E9ietl>( when( to m> s9rprise( I =o9n5 no one there. On the
instant m> min5 =lew to Englan5( whither m> =ather ha5 gone the prece5ing Fan9ar>( an5
I tho9ght usomething has happene5(4 tho9gh what I co9l5 not 5e=ine.
BI went 5ownstairs( an5 relate5 m> =right to the =amil>. In the co9rse o= the evening( Mrs.
an5 Miss ,. came in( an5( on commenting 9pon m> paleness( were tol5 abo9t the matter.
Mrs. ,. imme5iatel> sai5( u19t 5own the 5ate( an5 see what comes o= it.4 *his was 5one@
an5 the inci5ent soon cease5 to tro9ble 9s( tho9gh the =amil> awaite5 with some an?iet>
m> =ather4s =irst letter =rom home. It came in 59e time( an5 tol5 how( when he reache5
Englan5( he =o9n5 his brother .enr> serio9sl> illA5>ing( in =act. )s a chil5 I ha5 been
his little =avo9rite( an5 in 5eath m> name was the last wor5 he 9ttere5.
BUpon comparing 5ates( an5 allowing =or 5i==erence in longit95e( we =o9n5 that the time
o= m> 9ncle4s 5eath coinci5e5 e?actl> with that o= m> strange e?perience. I recollecte5(
too( that it was a =amiliar habit o= m> 9ncle to stroke m> hair with a caressing to9ch. M>
mother( who resi5es with me( is the onl> person who can con=irm the stor>( an5 she
appen5s her signat9re to this( in con=irmation thereo=.
BELIJ)"E*. .)''I/.C
P)ttesting signat9reQ BELIJ)"E*. "')$+O'$.C
In answer to the E9estion whether she has ever ha5 a hall9cination o= the senses on an>
other occasion( Mrs. .arris replies:A
B*his is the onl> e?perience o= the kin5 in m> li=e.C
,e =in5 =rom the Tha(e 7aAette an5 the 8.ford Chronicle that Mrs. .arris4s 9ncle 5ie5
on Ma> 2U( Pnot in )pril(Q 278;( age5 V2.
Y*he coinci5ence here seems to have been ver> close( i= we can tr9st Mrs. .arris4s
memor> that a written note o= the 5ate o= her impression was compare5 with the 5ate o=
the 5eath. "9t it will be seen that she 5i5 not at the time associate her e?perience with her
9ncle4s =ormer mo5e o= to9ching her.Z
"9t the more concl9sive cases o= recognition are nat9rall> those where a second sense
has been concerne5@ the element o= to9ch being then a nat9ral eno9gh =eat9re in a highl>
5evelope5 phantasmal impression. In the =ollowing case the secon5 sense involve5 is that
o= hearing. *he acco9nt is in the wor5s o= Mrs. /tone( o= /h9te .a>e( ,al5itch( "ri5port@
it is atteste5( as will be seen( b> the percipient.
PUX:Q B) well-known inhabitant o= ,al5itch( a little village near "ri5port( $orset( 5ie5
s955enl> last Ma>( 2772. ,e were all ver> sorr>( an5 =elt m9ch =or those she ha5 le=t. /he
was an honest( in59strio9s woman( a goo5( a==ectionate wi=e an5 mother. /he ha5 been
somewhat ailing =or ii-2:8! some time past( b9t there was no special ca9se =or alarm(
an5 m> 5a9ghter saw her engage5 Pshe was a washerwomanQ in her 9s9al occ9pation the
5a> be=ore her 5eath. +rom her h9sban5 I hear5 the =ollowing narrative o= =acts( which he
receive5 =rom his son( when the latter came 5own to his mother4s =9neral:A
BuM> wi=e latterl> was 9neas> abo9t one o= her sons( Foseph &9n5r>( who is a pointsman
on the Mi5lan5 'ailwa>( an5 ha5 risen to an o==ice o= m9ch responsibilit>. %ot hearing
=rom him =or some time( she =eare5 that he ha5 =allen ill( an5 5i5 not like to write till
there sho9l5 be no longer an> ca9se =or alarm. *here was( in =act( s9ch a press o= b9siness
that he co9l5 not =in5 time to write. On the night( or rather morning( o= his mother4s
5eath( he ha5 the night-59ties( an5( there being no train abo9t( he sat 5own =or a short
time( leaning his arms on a table. .e was not asleep an5 ha5 har5l> settle5 himsel=( when
a han5 was place5 on his sho9l5er( an5 a voice sai5 5istinctl>: uFoe( >o9r mother wants
>o9.4 )s =ar as we can ascertain this was abo9t the time that his mother passe5 awa>. .e
5i5 not recognise the voice( an5 saw no one. )s there is no post =rom "ri5port that co9l5
reach him 9n5er two 5a>s( his =ather telegraphe5. ,hen the telegram was bro9ght to him(
he sai5( BI know what it is( m> mother is 5ea5.C4C
*he percipient writes:A
B.a> /treet( /awle>( $erb>.
B+ebr9ar> 28th( 277:.
BI have per9se5 the attache5( Yi.e.( the above acco9ntZ an5 =in5 it to be s9bstantiall>
correct. I attest the acc9rac> o= the report as printe5( an5 I am prepare5 to bear it o9t.
BFO/E1. &U%$'#.C
Mr. &9n5r> =9rther in=orms 9s that he has never on an> other occasion e?perience5 an>
sort o= hall9cination o= the senses.
In the ne?t e?ample the sense o= so9n5 is again concerne5. *he case might be a55e5 to
those E9ote5 in -hap. \II.( S:( o= the gra59al 5evelopment o= telepathic hall9cinations(
lea5ing =inall> to recognition. *he narrator is the 'ev. 1. .. %ewnham( late Vicar o=
Maker( $evonport( alrea5> so o=ten mentione5.
PUX3Q BIn F9l>( 278W( I was living at "o9rnemo9th( an5 was temporaril> acting as
chaplain to the /anatori9m there. ) ver> sa5 case came in 9ne?pecte5l> o= a >o9ng man
in the last stage o= cons9mption. .e was so ill that we co9l5 not take him into the
instit9tion( b9t accommo5ate5 him in lo5gings. I visite5 him =or some time( as his
clerg>man. *hen the chaplain ret9rne5 home@ an5 I m>sel= le=t =or m> holi5a>. I 5i5 not
e?pect to see the >o9ng man again@ b9t( to m> s9rprise( on m> ret9rn home( on /eptember
U2st( I =o9n5 he was still alive@ an5 the 5octors sai5 he might >et live some weeks.
BOn /9n5a>( /eptember UXth( I ha5 been rea5ing pra>ers at the chapel in the /anatori9m(
an5 the chaplain preache5 at the evening service. It was near the en5 o= the sermon( an5
abo9t 7 o4clock( not later( b9t I cannot tell to =ive min9tes. I s955enl> =elt a =irm( b9t
gentle to9ch on m> right sho9l5er. /o impresse5 was I with the instinct ii-2:W! that this
in5icate5 the presence o= some 9nseen being( that I at once aske5 uIs it /.r4 Pthe -hristian
name o= a p9pil o= mine( who 5ie5 in 278;Q. *he answer came back at once( in the clear
tones o= the inner voice(
2
u%o( it4s ,illiam.4 I have no recollection o= an>thing more.
B)=ter service was over( I inE9ire5 abo9t m> >o9ng =rien5( an5 was tol5 that the matron
ha5 been sent =or to him( as he was s955enl> taken m9ch worse. %e?t morning I hear5
that he 5ie5 abo9t 7.2;. It was( there=ore( abo9t 2; min9tes be=ore his act9al 5eath that I
e?perience5 the comm9nication. I ma> a55 that I ha5 not been thinking speciall> abo9t
him( that I ha5 not visite5 him( or receive5 an> message =rom him since m> ret9rn( an5
that I ha5 no reason whatever to e?pect his spee5> 5ecease.
B1. .. %E,%.)M.C
)n obit9ar> notice in the ;,(ington and :sle of "ight Chronicle con=irms the =act that
,illiam "r>er 5ie5 on /eptember UX( 278W.
Mrs. %ewnham corroborates as =ollows:A
BI per=ectl> remember m> h9sban5 telling me( on his ret9rn home =rom the service at the
/anatori9m -hapel( o= the to9ch an5 voice( an5 sa>ing he =elt s9re ,illiam was 5ea5. .e
5i5 not hear o= his 5eath till the ne?t morning.
BM %E,%.)MC
YMr. %ewnham seems to have a slight pre5isposition to s9bDective a95itor> phantasms(
b9t has never e?perience5 a similar vivi5 hall9cination o= to9ch.Z
*his can har5l> be regar5e5 as a s9bDective e?perience 59e to an?iet>. Mr. %ewnham ha5(
no 5o9bt( a certain emotional interest in the >o9ng man who 5ie5( an5 was aware o= his
critical con5ition. "9t i= his hall9cination ha5 been a p9rel> s9bDective one( ca9se5 b> the
latent emotional i5ea( one wo9l5 certainl> have e?pecte5 that it wo9l5 have taken a =orm
s9ggestive o= ,illiam@ whereas Mr. %ewnham act9all> connecte5 it at =irst with a
5i==erent person. /o that the non-recognition in this case ten5s to increase the probabilit>
o= the telepathic e?planation Pcf. case U7U aboveQ.
In the ne?t case( the secon5 sense involve5 is that o= sight. *he narrator is Mrs. 'an5olph
Lich=iel5( o= -ross $eeps( *wickenham. .er h9sban5 was precl95e5 =rom attesting the
acco9nt in writing( b> a pain=9l a==ection o= the han5.
B277:.
PUXVQ BI was sitting in m> room one night( be=ore I was marrie5( close be=ore a toilet-
table( on which the book I was rea5ing reste5@ the table =itte5 into the corner o= the room(
an5 the wi5e glass on it reache5 nearl> to the ceiling( so that an> one in the room co9l5
be seen =9ll length. *he book I was rea5ing was not at all calc9late5 to a==ect m> nerves(
or e?cite ii-2:7! m> imagination in an> wa>. I was per=ectl> well( in goo5 spirits( an5
nothing ha5 occ9rre5 since receiving m> morning4s letters( to remin5 me o= the person
concerne5 in the strange e?perience >o9 have aske5 me to relate.
BM> e>es were =i?e5 on m> book( when s955enl> I felt(
2
b9t 5i5 not see( some one come
into m> room. I looke5 straight be=ore me into the glass to see who it was( b9t no one was
visible. I nat9rall> tho9ght that m> visitor( seeing me 5eep in m> book( ha5 gone o9t
again( when( to m> astonishment( I =elt a 1iss on m> =orehea5Aa lingering( loving
press9re. I looke5 9p( witho9t the least sensation o= =ear( an5 saw m> lover stan5ing
behin5 m> chair( stooping as i= to kiss me again. .is =ace was ver> white an5
ine?pressibl> sa5. )s I rose =rom m> chair in great s9rprise( be=ore I co9l5 speak( he ha5
gone( how I 5o not know@ I onl> know that( one moment I saw him( saw 5istinctl> ever>
=eat9re o= his =ace( saw the tall =ig9re an5 broa5 sho9l5ers as clearl> as I ever saw them in
m> li=e( an5 the ne?t moment there was no sign o= him. +or the =irst min9te I =elt nothing
b9t s9rprise@ perple.it, e?presses better what I mean@ =ear( or the i5ea I ha5 seen a spirit(
never entere5 m> min5@ the ne?t sensation was that there m9st be something the matter
with m> brain( an5 a =eeling o= thank=9lness that it ha5 not conD9re5 9p some terri=ic
vision( instea5 o= an agreeable one. I remember pra>ing that I might not =anc> an>thing
that wo9l5 =righten me.
B*he ne?t 5a>( to m> great s9rprise( there was not m> 9s9al morning4s letter =rom him@
=o9r posts came in an5 no letter@ all the ne?t 5a>( no letter. I nat9rall> obDecte5 to the
novel =eeling o= =in5ing m>sel= neglecte5( b9t sho9l5 not have tho9ght o= letting the
neglector know it( so wo9l5 not write to inE9ire the ca9se o= his silence. On the thir5
nightAstill no letter all 5a>Aas I was going 9pstairs to be5( thinking o= something
totall> 9nconnecte5 with '.( as I p9t m> =oot on the top stair( I =elt( s955enl>( b9t most
intensel>( that he was in m> room( an5 that I co9l5 see him D9st as I ha5 5one be=ore. +or
the =irst time came the =ear that something ha5 happene5 to him. I knew well how intense
his 5esire to see me wo9l5 be( an5 tho9ghtAu-o9l5 it have been reall> that I saw him the
other nightr4
BI went straight to m> room( convince5 I sho9l5 see him@ there was nothing to be seen. I
sat 5own an5 waite5( an5 the sensation that he was there( an5 striving to speak to me( an5
to make me see him( became stronger an5 stronger. I waite5 till I became so sleep> I
co9l5 not sit 9p an> longer( an5 went to be5 an5 to sleep. "> the =irst morning4s post I
wrote an5 tol5 him I =eare5 he m9st be ill( as I ha5 not ha5 a letter =or three 5a>s. I sai5
not one wor5 o= what I have tol5 >o9 in this. *wo mornings a=ter( I ha5 a =ew lines(
shockingl> written( to tell me he ha5 h9rt his han5 o9t h9nting( an5 co9l5 not hol5 a pen
till that 5a>( b9t was in uno 5anger.4 It was not till a =ew 5a>s a=ter( when he co9l5 write
5istinctl>( that I knew the whole tr9th.
B*his is it. .e ha5 been ri5ing an Irish h9nter( a splen5i5 horse across co9ntr>( b9t a most
vicio9s creat9re. *his horse was so 9se5 to getting ri5 o= an> one he =o9n5 on his back( i=
he obDecte5 to their presence there( an5 ha5 s9ch a variet> o= metho5s o= 5oing so(
throwing ii-2:X! grooms( h9ntsmen( an> one( when the =it sei]e5 him( an5 when he
=o9n5 no amo9nt o= rearing( kicking( no bolting( an5 stopping s955enl>( no ub9ck-
D9mping4 wo9l5 9nseat m> fianc4( an5 that he ha5 at last =o9n5 his master( he became
5esperate. .e stoo5 still =or an instant( then r9she5 across the roa5 backwar5s( reare5
per=ectl> straight( an5 presse5 his ri5er4s back against the wall. *he cr9sh an5 pain were
so intense( '. tho9ght it m9st be 5eath( an5 remembere5 sa>ing( as he lost conscio9sness(
uMa>( m> little Ma>s 5on4t let me 5ie witho9t seeing her again.4 It was that night he ha5
bent over an5 kisse5 me. .e t9rne5 o9t not to be reall> inD9re5( tho9gh( o= co9rse( in
=right=9l pain( an5 his han5 co9l5 not possibl> hol5 a pen. *he night I =elt so s955enl>
an5 so certainl> that I sho9l5 see him( an5( when I 5i5 not( =elt so thoro9ghl> he was
there an5 tr>ing to let me know it( he was at the time worr>ing himsel= abo9t not writing
to me( an5 wishing intensel> that I might =eel there was some reason =or his silence.
BI tol5 m> mother Ysince 5ecease5Z all( D9st as I have tol5 >o9( an5 she a5vise5 me to sa>
nothing abo9t his s9ppose5 visit to me till he was E9ite strong an5 well again( an5 I co9l5
5o so personall>. ,hen he came to see me a=terwar5s( I ma5e him tell the whole o= his
acco9nt be=ore I mentione5 one wor5 o= m> strange e?perience o= those two nights.
BI have D9st rea5 this over to him( an5 he vo9ches =or m> having e?actl> 5escribe5 his
share o= this strange e?perience.C
S U. *he remaining cases involve the senses o= sight an5 hearing. *he =ollowing acco9nt
is =rom the 'ev. F. ). .a>5n( LL.$.( 'ector o= %antenan( -o. Limerick( an5 was =irst
comm9nicate5 b> him to the O?=or5 1hasmatological /ociet>.
B%antenan &lebe( )skeaton.
BF9ne 27th( 277:.
PUX8Q BI beg to s9bmit to >o9r /ociet> the =ollowing brie= narrative( e?tracte5 =rom m>
5iar>.
B%ine miles =rom m> resi5ence( in the town o= )5are( -o. Limerick( live5 a gentleman(
name5 1hillips( an5 his wi=e. *he> were on terms o= 9n9s9all> close an5 a==ectionate
interco9rse with m>sel= an5 m> =amil>@ the> =reE9entl> 5riving over to spen5 the 5a>
here( an5 we as =reE9entl> ret9rning the visit.
BOn *h9rs5a>( October 28th( 27WX( the acco9chement o= Mrs. 1hillips took place@ it ha5
been anticipate5 with some an?iet> b> her me5ical atten5ant@ b9t we were grati=ie5 to
learn b> a letter =rom Mr. 1hillips that the event ha5 passe5 witho9t evil conseE9ences(
an5 that his wi=e was rapi5l> recovering.
BMatters were in this con5ition when( at 2; o4clock on the night o= the ens9ing
,e5nes5a>( October UUn5( I went to be5 as 9s9al. I slept in a little be5stea5 in an angle o=
m> st95> 5ownstairs@ all the members o= the ho9sehol5 sleeping in the 9pper stor>. I ha5
seen the 5oors =astene5( an5 the chil5ren an5 servants were all in be5. )s is m> c9stom( I
was rea5ing in be5( when( in the mi5st o= the hitherto 9nbroken silence( I hear5 E9ick(
light =ootsteps( evi5entl> those o= a =emale( procee5ing along the hall( as i= entering =rom
the =ront 5oor( an5 then traversing the passage that lea5s to m> st95> 5oor.
ii-23;!
B)rrive5 imme5iatel> o9tsi5e( the> seeme5 to me to resemble those o= a person in the
5ark( vag9el> tr>ing to =in5 where the 5oor was. Un5er the =9ll impression that m> wi=e
ha5 come 5ownstairs( I calle5 her name lo95l>( an5 aske5 what was the matter. ,hile I
spoke( the noise cease5( b9t it recommence5 imme5iatel>@ an5 while I stare5 at the 5oor(
I both hear5 an5 saw the han5le t9rne5 hal=wa> ro9n5(
2
an5 then let go( as i= the person
entering ha5 change5 her min5. /9rprise5 an5 alarme5( I sprang 9p with the lamp in m>
han5 an5 opene5 the 5oor. )ll was per=ectl> still an5 silent witho9t. %one o= the
ho9sehol5 ha5 stirre5( nor was an> 5oor opene5 that ha5 been close5.
BI ret9rne5 to be5( an5 some =ew min9tes a=ter I hear5 the clock strike 22. %o =9rther
5ist9rbance occ9rre5. This happene5( observe( on ,e5nes5a> night( October UUn5( at a
little be=ore 22 o4clock.
BOn +ri5a> morning I got a letter =rom -anon O4"rien( the rector o= )5are( to sa> that
Mrs. 1hillips ha5 5ie5 on *h9rs5a> morning. I imme5iatel> set o9t to )5are to see m>
bereave5 =rien5( an5 =o9n5 him almost besi5e himsel= with grie=. Mrs. 1hillips( while in
other respects a5vancing to convalescence( ha5 s955enl> been sei]e5 with scarlatina(
which ha5 prove5 =atal. *hinking it might ease m> poor =rien5 to tell me the sa5 5etails( I
enco9rage5 him to speak on the s9bDect. .e complaine5( as one o= his bitterest grie=s( that
=or the last night o= her li=e his wi=e was 5elirio9s( an5 5i5 not know him or her mother(
who was present. u/he sank gra59all> on ,e5nes5a>(4 he sai5( uan5 lost her senses on that
nightAraving abo9t persons an5 places that ha5 been =amiliar to her( an5 evi5entl>
=anc>ing hersel= act9all> present in 5istant spots. #o9 were one o= the =irst-mentione5@
she imagine5 that she was in >o9r ho9se speaking to >o9. I E9ietl> aske5 whether he
happene5 to have an> i5ea as to what ho9r this was at( when he answere5( u) =ew
min9tes be=ore 22( as I 5istinctl> remember looking at m> watch.4
B*h9s( at the ver> time that I( nine miles awa>( hear5 the 9nacco9ntable noises( m> 5>ing
=rien5 was speaking an5 acting as i= she were in m> presence. It seems impossible not to
connect the circ9mstances.
BFO.% )'MOU' .)#$%.C
In answer to o9r inE9ir> whether he ha5 ever e?perience5 an> other hall9cination( Mr.
.a>5n replies( BM> senses have never on an> occasion pla>e5 me =alse.C .e =9rther
e?plains:A
B*he =acts o= the narrative an5 its 5ates are e?tracte5 =rom the 5iar>( b9t not the act9al
lang9age. *hose =acts were written b> me in m> 5iar> imme5iatel> a=ter their occ9rrence@
m> c9stom( as a general r9le( being to recor5 the events o= an> given 5a> on the
=ollowing morning. *he act9al e?tracts I can give( i= reE9ire5( an5 sho9l5 be happ> to 5o
so. *he stor>( as tol5 in the printe5 slip Yi.e.( the above acco9ntZ( is acc9rate in all
partic9lars( an5 most 9tterl> reliable. I ma> a55( an5 5eepl> regret to 5o so( that poor
1hillips himsel= has since 5ie5.C
*he =ollowing are the verbatim e?tracts =rom the 5iar>:A
B*h9rs5a>( October 28th( 27WX. "irth 1hillips. On the 28th inst.( the wi=e o= Fohn $.
1hillips( /. I. )5are( 'o>al Irish -onstab9lar>( o= a son.C
B*h9rs5a>( October U:r5( 27WX. ) most sing9lar thing occ9rre5 last night. F9st a=ter going
to be5( while I was rea5ing( I hear5 steps ii-232! o9tsi5e m> 5oor an5 in the passage( as
o= a =emale walking aimlessl>. *hinking it might be Lo9e>( I calle5( b9t there was no
answer. Imme5iatel> a=ter the so9n5s cease5( the clock str9ck 22.C
B+ri5a>( October U3th( 27WX. Letter =rom L9ci9s O4"rien( to sa>Aan5 it was appalling
newsAthat Mrs. 1hillips is 5ea5s /he 5ie5 >ester5a> morning( o= =ever an5 scarlatina. I
at once 5etermine5 on going over to )5are( altho9gh the roa5s were knee-5eep an5 the
5a> savagel> shower>. I can never =orget the agon> o= poor 1hillips... .e tol5 me that she
was getting rapi5l> worse all 5a> on ,e5nes5a>( an5 that at about half6past 2; on
"ednesda, night she beca(e delirious, and raved of places -here she had been.F
*he ;i(eric1 Dail, Chronicle con=irms Oct. U:( 27WX( as the 5ate o= 5eath.
*he hall9cination here( i= telepathic( well ill9strates the manner in which the impression
receive5 ma> be 5evelope5 b> the percipient PVol. I.( p. V:XT3;Q. *he 5>ing woman4s
tho9ghts( in t9rning to her =rien5( wo9l5 nat9rall> be o= seeing him an5 speaking to him(
not o= an ine==ect9al attempt to enter his room. "9t the impression which the brain
e?ternalise5 seems to have got no =9rther than the s9ggestion o= a strange an5 9ne?pecte5
visit.
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom Miss 1aget( o= 2:;( +9lham 'oa5( /.,. It will be seen that the
wor5s which the percipient hear5 ma> not 9nnat9rall> be re=erre5 to the s955en i5ea in
the agent4s min5 that his 9n=oreseen acci5ent wo9l5 probabl> get him into a scrape.
BF9l> 2Wth( 277V.
PUXWQ B*he =ollowing is the e?act acco9nt o= the c9rio9s appearance to me o= m> brother.
It was either in 27W3 or 27WV. M> brother was thir5 mate on boar5 one o= ,igram4s large
ships. I knew he was somewhere on the coast o= )9stralia( b9t I have no recollection o=
m> having been thinking o= him in an> special wa>@ tho9gh as he was m> onl> brother(
an5 we were great =rien5s( there was a ver> close bon5 alwa>s between 9s. M> =ather was
living in the co9ntr>( an5 one evening I went into the kitchen b> m>sel=( soon a=ter 2;( to
get some hot water =rom the boiler. *here was a large $9ple? lamp in the kitchen( so it
was E9ite light@ the servants ha5 gone to be5( an5 I was to t9rn o9t the lamp. )s I was
5rawing the water( I looke5 9p( an5( to m> astonishment( saw m> brother coming towar5s
me =rom the o9tsi5e 5oor o= the kitchen. I 5i5 not see the 5oor open( as it was in a 5eep
recess( an5 he was crossing the kitchen. *he table was between 9s( an5 he sat 5own on
the corner o= the table =9rthest awa> =rom me. I notice5 he was in his sailor 9ni=orm with
a monke> Dacket on( an5 the wet was shining on his Dacket an5 cap.
2
I e?claime5( uMiless
,here have >o9 come =romr4 .e answere5 in his nat9ral voice( tho9gh ver> E9ickl>( u+or
&o54s sake( 5on4t sa> I4m here.4 *his was all over in a =ew secon5s an5 as I D9mpe5
towar5s him he was gone. I was ver> m9ch ii-23U! =rightene5( =or I ha5 reall> tho9ght it
was m> brother himsel=@ an5 it was onl> when he vanishe5 that I realise5 it was onl> an
appearance. I went 9p to m> room an5 wrote 5own the 5ate on a sheet o= paper( which I
p9t awa> in m> writing-table( an5 5i5 not mention the circ9mstance to an> one.
B)bo9t three months a=terwar5s m> brother came home( an5 the night o= his arrival I sat
with him in the kitchen( while he smoke5. I aske5 him in a cas9al manner i= he ha5 ha5
an> a5vent9res( an5 he sai5( uI was nearl> 5rowne5 at Melbo9rne.4 .e then tol5 me he
was ashore witho9t leave( an5 on ret9rning to the ship( a=ter mi5night( he slippe5 o== the
gangwa> between the si5e o= the ship an5 the 5ock. *here was ver> little space( an5 i= he
ha5 not been ha9le5 9p at once( he m9st have been 5rowne5. .e remembere5 thinking he
was 5rowning( an5 then became 9nconscio9s.
2
.is absence witho9t leave was not =o9n5
o9t( so he escape5 the p9nishment he e?pecte5. I then tol5 him o= how he ha5 appeare5 to
me( an5 I aske5 him the 5ate. .e was able to =i? it e?actl>( as the ship saile5 =rom
Melbo9rne the same morning( which was the reason o= his =ear o= being p9nishe5( as all
han5s were 59e to be on boar5 the evening be=ore. *he date was the same as the 5ate o=
his appearance to me( b9t the ho9rs 5i5 not agree( as I saw him soon a=ter 2; p.m.( an5 his
acci5ent was a=ter mi5night. .e ha5 no recollection o= thinking speciall> o= me at the
time( b9t he was m9ch str9ck b> the coinci5ence( an5 o=ten re=erre5 to it. .e 5i5 not like
it( an5 o=ten when he went awa> sai5( u,ell( I hope I shan4t go 5o5ging abo9t as I 5i5 that
time.4
BI was abo9t UU at the time( an5 he was U;. I was alwa>s rather a=rai5 I might see him or
others a=ter this( b9t I have never( be=ore or since( ha5 an> hall9cination o= the sense o=
sight. M> brother 5ie5 abroa5 three >ears ago( an5 I ha5 no warning then( nor 5o I
imagine I shall ever see an>thing again. I am never on the look o9t =or things o= that kin5(
b9t i= I ever saw an>thing again I wo9l5 make a note o= it. I 5estro>e5 the note I ma5e o=
the 5ate as soon as I ha5 veri=ie5 it( not thinking it co9l5 interest or concern an>one else.
B'U*. 1)&E*C
YI receive5 a thir5-han5 acco9nt o= this inci5ent two >ears be=ore the above was written(
an5 this ol5er acco9nt completel> agree5 with the present more recent one@ which shows(
at an> rate( that the inci5ents stan5 o9t with 5istinctness in Miss 1aget4s memor>. In
conversation( Miss 1aget tol5 me that at the moment when she mistook the apparition =or
her brother himsel=( she acco9nte5 =or the -etness( which she so 5istinctl> remarke5( b>
s9pposing that he ha5 got wet thro9gh with rain. /he is E9ite s9re that the coinci5ence o=
night was clearl> ma5e o9t( when she an5 her brother talke5 the matter overAwhich o=
co9rse makes her statement as to the coinci5ence o= date technicall> incorrect( as the
acci5ent occ9rre5 a=ter mi5night. I= longit95e be allowe5 =or( the impression m9st have
=ollowe5 the acci5ent b> abo9t 2; ho9rs.Z
*he ne?t case is =rom Marian .9ghes( con=i5ential mai5 an5 secretar> to Miss F9lia
,e5gwoo5( o= :2( }9een )nne /treet( ,.
ii-23:!
B$ecember( 277U.
PUX7Q BIn the winter o= 27W7( m> sister( Mrs. "arnes( was m9ch presse5 to marr> a man
name5 "enson( who was m9ch attache5 to her@ an5 not s9ccee5ing in his s9it( he tol5 her
i= she wo9l5 not marr> him( he wo9l5 take emplo>ment in In5ia. .e obtaine5 a sit9ation
to go o9t to Ma5ras.
BOne /at9r5a> night( abo9t X o4clock( I( in the =ollowing spring( went to see m> sister@
she was m9ch agitate5( an5 tol5 me that( D9st be=ore I came in( she ha5 been on her knees
scr9bbing the =loor o= a room on the gro9n5 =loor Pwith a win5ow that an>one co9l5 stan5
at an5 look inQ( when she hear5 hersel= calle5 twice( u)nnie( )nnie(4 an5 looking 9p at the
win5ow( she saw what looke5 to her like the =ace o= the =rien5 who ha5 wante5 to marr>
her. /he at once got 9p an5 r9she5 o9t( b9t =in5ing no one there became convince5 she
ha5 seen an apparition anno9ncing the 5eath o= her =rien5. On the =ollowing Mon5a>( she
sent to the =irm in the -it> with which he was connecte5( an5 was in=orme5 that he ha5
been ill( b9t was better when last hear5 o=. /hortl> a=terwar5s( knowing Mr. ..
,e5gwoo54s interest in this kin5 o= stor>( I in=orme5 him o= the occ9rrence( be=ore it was
known how it =are5 with m> sister4s =rien5 in In5ia.
BM> sister( some weeks a=terwar5s( tol5 me that she ha5 learnt =rom his emplo>ers in the
-it> that he ha5 5ie5 on the evening o= the 5a> she ha5 seen the apparition in Lon5on.
BM)'I)% .U&.E/.C
*he 'egistrar o= the $iocese o= Ma5ras writes to 9s that he can =in5 no recor5 o=
"enson4s b9rial@ an5 an e?ha9stive search in the recor5s o= the In5ia O==ice has been
eE9all> 9ns9ccess=9l. ,e learn( however( =rom the In5ia O==ice that the ret9rns 5o not
pro=ess to be absol9tel> complete.
,riting on the case on March 3( 277:( Mr. .ensleigh ,e5gwoo5 sa>s:A
B*he stor> was tol5 me b> Marian .9ghes( m> 5a9ghter4s con=i5ential mai5 an5 attache5
=rien5( whose tr9th=9lness ma> be entirel> relie5 on. I wante5 to hear it =rom her sister
hersel=( b9t =o9n5 that she consi5ere5 it too solemn a s9bDect to speak abo9t. I was tol5 o=
the apparition o= the =rien5 in In5ia shortl> a=ter it occ9rre5( an5 reE9este5 Marian to
in=orm me as soon as the> ha5 news o= the res9lt.C .e a55s:A
BM> note o= the case Yi.e.( the original note ma5e when he =irst hear5 Marian .9ghes4
acco9ntZ was 5ate5 Ma> 28th( 27W7. I sa>( uOne /at9r5a> evening abo9t si? weeks ago(4
[c. On F9l> 2Xth( in an article( I sa>( u"> the en5 o= F9ne it was known that )nnie4s
=rien5 ha5 5ie5 s955enl> on the evening o= /at9r5a>( :;th March( the 5a> note5 b> )nnie
as the 5a> o= the apparition.4C
YMrs. "arnes has ha5 an a95itor> hall9cination on one other occasion( when she hear5
hersel= calle5 b> the voice o= her h9sban5( who( it t9rne5 o9t( ha5 5ie5 at a 5istance two
5a>s be=ore.Z
It is rare =or nautical stories to reach the level o= evi5ence. *he =ollowing( however( is a
case where the testimon> seems har5l> to leave room =or a 5o9bt that a hall9cination o= a
partic9lar kin5 was e?perience5 at a partic9lar crisis@ an5 the E9estion o= its interpretation
is a matter not o= na9tical b9t o= scienti=ic D95gment. *he statement Pwhich was =irst
p9blishe5 in the !piritualistQ was 5rawn 9p si?teen ii-233! 5a>s a=ter the inci5ent
occ9rre5( thro9gh the prompt energ> o= Mr. ,. .. .arrison( an5 on the s9ggestion o= the
late Mr. -romwell +. Varle>( +.'./.( who ha5 E9estione5 -aptain "lacklock on the
s9bDect.
PUXXQ B*he steamship u'obert Lowe4 ret9rne5 to the *hames on *9es5a>( October 22th(
27W;( =rom /t. 1ierre( %ew=o9n5lan5( where she ha5 been repairing one o= the +rench
)tlantic *elegraph -ompan>4s cables. )n engineer on boar5( Mr. ,. .. 1earce( o= :W(
)9g9sta /treet( East In5ia 'oa5( 1oplar( was taken ill with the t>ph9s =ever( an5 on the
3th o= October last he 5ie5. One o= his mates( Mr. $. "rown( o= 2( E5war5 /treet(
.95son4s 'oa5( -anning *own( 1laistow( a strong( health> man( a stoker( not likel> to be
le5 astra> b> imagination( atten5e5 him till the 5a> be=ore he 5ie5. Y"rown( it appears(
bore the best o= characters( an5 ha5 a strong =rien5ship =or 1earce.Z On the a=ternoon
be=ore his 5eath( at : o4clock( in broa5 5a>light( "rown was atten5ing the sick man( who
wante5 to get o9t o= be5( b9t his companion prevente5 him. )n5 this is what the witness
sa>s he saw:A
BuI was stan5ing on one si5e o= the b9nk( an5 while tr>ing to prevent 1earce =rom rising( I
saw on the other si5e o= the b9nk( the wi=e( two chil5ren( an5 the mother o= the 5>ing
man( all o= whom I knew ver> well( an5 the> are all still living. *he> appeare5 to be ver>
sorrow=9l( b9t in all other respects were the same as or5inar> h9man beings. I co9l5 not
see thro9gh them@ the> were not at all transparent. *he> ha5 on their or5inar> clothes(
an5( perhaps( looke5 rather paler than 9s9al. *he mother sai5 to me in a clearl> a95ible
voice( B.e will be b9rie5 on *h9rs5a>( at 2U o4clock( in abo9t =o9rteeen h9n5re5 =athoms
o= water.C *he> all then vanishe5 instantl>( an5 I saw them no more. 1earce 5i5 not see
them( as he was 5elirio9s( an5 ha5 been so =or two 5a>s previo9sl>. I ran o9t o= the berth
in a state o= great e?citement( an5 5i5 not enter it again while he was alive. .e 5ie5 on
*9es5a>( not *h9rs5a>( an5 was b9rie5 at 3 o4clock( not 2U.
2
It was a s955en s9rprise to
me to see the apparitions. I e?pecte5 nothing o= the kin5( an5 when I saw them I was
per=ectl> cool an5 collecte5. I ha5 never be=ore seen an>thing o= the kin5 in m> li=e( an5
m> health is( an5 alwa>s has been( goo5. )bo9t =ive min9tes a=terwar5s I tol5 -aptain
"lacklock I wo9l5 stop with the sick man no longer( b9t wo9l5 not tell him wh>( thinking
that i= I 5i5( nobo5> else wo9l5 take m> place. )bo9t an ho9r later( I tol5 -aptain
"lacklock an5 Mr. $9nbar( the chie= engineer( whose a55ress is Ol5 Mill( near 1ort
,illiam( ,igtownshire( /cotlan5.4
B*he other sailors on boar5 sa> that the> saw that Mr. "rown was greatl> agitate5 =rom
some ca9se( an5 the> gra59all> 5rew this narrative o9t o= him.C -aptain "lacklock sa>s:
A
B"rown came 5own into the cabin( looking ver> pale an5 =rightene5( an5 5eclare5 in a
strong an5 5eci5e5 wa> that he wo9l5 not atten5 the sick man an> more on an>
con5itionsAnot =or a tho9san5 po9n5s. I tol5 ii-23V! him that he o9ght to atten5 a sick
an5 5>ing comra5e( especiall> as a storm was raging( an5 he nee5e5 kin5 an5 consi5erate
help( s9ch as an> o= 9s might nee5 one 5a>. I presse5 him all the more( as I wante5 a
strong stea5> man to atten5 the 5elirio9s invali5@ besi5es( it being ba5 weather( the other
men were =agge5 an5 over-worke5. "rown wo9l5 not go back( an5 he le=t the cabin( as I
think( cr>ing( so I sent him o9t a glass o= bran5>. /hortl> a=ter that( I hear5 he was ver>
ill( an5 that his mates ha5 some tro9ble in soothing an5 calming him.
B,e the 9n5ersigne5( o==icials on boar5 the u'obert Lowe(4 5eclare the above statements
to be tr9e( so =ar as each o= the circ9mstances came 9n5er o9r personal notice( b9t we
none o= 9s commit o9rselves to an> opinion as to the ca9se o= the phenomenon. ,e give
the statement simpl> beca9se we have been reE9este5 to 5o so( r9mo9rs o= the occ9rrence
having gone abroa5 an5 ca9se5 inE9iries to be ma5e.
P/igne5Q BF. "L)-0LO-0( -omman5er.C
B)%$'E, $U%")'( +irst Engineer.
P/ignat9res o= si? other members o= the crew.Q
B,itness( ,. .. .)''I/O%.
BOctober U;th( 27W;.C
Y-aptain "lacklock is 5ea5. *he B'obert LoweC was lost in 27WU( an5 onl> one or two o=
the crew escape5. *he acco9nt incl95e5 a 5escription o= some 5istressing e?periences o=
Mrs. 1earce4s( which ha5 occ9rre5 in Lon5on 59ring the =ew 5a>s be=ore her h9sban54s
5eath( an5 =ille5 her with an?iet> on his acco9nt@ b9t this an?iet> cannot be sa=el>
ass9me5 to have been in an> wa> a con5ition o= "rown4s e?perience.Z
It cannot( o= co9rse( be prove5 that this was not a case o= p9rel> s9bDective hall9cination(
as "rown knew the 1earce =amil> b> sight. "9t the vision( both in its character an5 its
e==ects( was 9nlike an> o= those which were treate5 above PVol. I.( -hap. \I.Q as 59e to
e?pectanc> or an?iet>. )n5 we at an> rate have the coinci5ence that a health> man
e?perience5 the one hall9cination o= his li=eAan5 an e?tremel> vivi5 an5 highl>-
5evelope5 specimenAin broa5 5a>light( at a time when the =rien5 in whose beclo95e5
min5 the ver> scene evoke5 ma> well have been 5ominant( was 5>ing in close pro?imit>
to him.
2

*he =ollowing is another na9tical case( as to which it is not eas> to =orm an opinion. *he
points against it are that it is =rom an 9ne59cate5 witness@ an5 that it contains an acco9nt
o= an e?perience which in one respectAthe length o= its 59rationAhas scarcel> a parallel(
as =ar as I know( among hall9cinations o= sane an5 health> persons.
U
%evertheless( 9nless
the acco9nt is an absol9te =abrication( ii-238! which seems ver> 9nlikel>( the reasonable
concl9sion( I think( wo9l5 be that a telepathic hall9cination was pro59ce5( tho9gh its
5etails ma> have been e?aggerate5. Mr. Lo9is L>ons( o= :( "o9verie /E9are( +olkestone(
wrote( on October U2st( 277U:A
P:;;Q B/ome time ago( m> son tol5 me that a =rien5 o= his( a ro9gh an5 simple-min5e5
=ellow( ha5 ret9rne5 =rom /hiel5s( an5 tol5 him a c9rio9s tale. *he man is a sailor( an5
ha5 serve5 with his =ather ever since he was a bo>( in a collier which tra5es between this
port an5 the %orth. *he >o9th( having become ver> pro=icient in his calling( went on his
vo>ages( leaving his =ather( now an el5erl> man( at home. $9ring a storm> vo>age( an5
not =ar o== the .9mber( the >o9ng sailor saw his =ather( whom he ha5 le=t in e?cellent
health( pacing the 5eck( an5 calling o9t several times( as he was wont to 5o( uMin5 >o9r
helm( Foes4 *he >o9ng man wishe5 to speak to his =ather( b9t co9l5 not@ some occ9lt
power prevente5 him. )t the en5 o= the vo>age a letter awaite5 the >o9ng sailor(
anno9ncing the 5eath o= the =ather at the precise time when he appeare5 to his son@ b9t
please to remark Pa matter o= some importance( I think(Q that the apparition remaine5 on
5eck some three ho9rs( 9ntil the vessel got to &rimsb>. Y*his 5i==ers =rom the =irst-han5
acco9nt.Z
BI 5isbelieve5 m> son4s stor>( an5 reE9este5 him to ask his =rien5 to come an5 take tea
with me( that I might hear the acco9nt =rom his own mo9th. .e came. *he simplicit> o=
his manner( his plain( open-hearte5 acco9nt( an5 I ma> even sa> his st9pi5it>( mani=este5
in his pec9liar 5iction( imparte5 an impress to his tale.C
)t o9r reE9est Mr. L>ons interrogate5 E5war5 /ings more =ormall>( the ne?t time that the
latter visite5 +olkestone. *he =ollowing is /ings4 own acco9nt:A
B+olkestone.
B$ecember UXth( 277U.
BI le=t m> =ather last abo9t si? >ears ago( on a &oo5 +ri5a>. .e was in goo5 health when I
le=t him. ,e were in a gale o= win5( an5 we were r9nning in the .9mber@ we carrie5 the
main ga== awa>@ I was at the wheel steering her in. .e came to me : or 3 times( tappe5
me on the sho9l5er( an5 tol5 me to min5 the helm( an5 I tol5 the captain m> =ather was
5rowne5( or something happene5 to him. )=ter we got in( when it was m> watch( he was
walking to an5 =ro with me( an5 I went 5own below an5 tol5 m> mate I co9l5 not stop 9p(
an5 I 5i5 not like to. M> mate took m> watch. I never co9l5 speak to m> =ather( =or
something kept me =rom 5oing so. I hear5 o= m> =ather4s 5eath a week a=terwar5s. %o
one else saw m> =ather4s spirit.
2
M> =ather stoppe5 on 5eck with me an ho9r( an5 as I
co9l5 not stan5 it an> longer I went below( an5 m> mate took m> place. ,e cast both
anchors( an5 were towe5 into &rimsb>. M> mother an5 sister were at m> =ather4s 5eath-
be5( an5 the> tol5 me that m> =ather aske5 several times whether I was in the harbo9r.
BI certi=> this to be a tr9e acco9nt.
BE$,)'$ /I%&/.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that E. /ings4 =ather 5ie5 on ii-23W! )pril W( 27WW(
age5 V:. &oo5 +ri5a> =ell on March :;@ an5 this( it will be seen( correspon5s ver> well
with the above statement.
Mr. L>ons has kin5l> visite5 /ings4 mother an5 sister( at 8W( *ontine /treet( +olkestone(
an5 receive5 a similar acco9nt =rom them.
*he ne?t case is =rom a la5> whose name ma> be given privatel>. /he hersel= wo9l5 have
been per=ectl> willing that it sho9l5 be p9blishe5( beca9se the inci5ent Bis as nat9ral an5
real to me as an> other event in m> li=eC@ b9t she thinks that the p9blication might give
anno>ance to some o= her relatives.
BB-AA 'ector>.
BMa> U:r5( 2773.
P:;2Q BIn F9ne( 27W7( when n9rsing a brother who was ill( I woke 9p s955enl> abo9t U
o4clock on the night o= the U3th( calling him( an5 =eeling strongl> that he wante5 me. I
D9mpe5 9p an5 went to the table( inten5ing to get his me5icine( as I was in the habit o=
5oing b> 5a>( b9t the to9ch o= the table bro9ght me to m> senses( an5 I went back to be5(
thinking it was merel> =anc>. I was 2W then( E9ite strong an5 well( an5 ha5 never been
conscio9s o= an> s9ch impression be=ore. M> sister( who slept in a room opening o==
mine( hear5 me call m> brother4s name( an5 came in to see what I was 5oing( an5 sta>e5
with me =or some time.
BOn asking m> brother the ne?t morning what sort o= night he ha5 ha5( he sai5( uVer>
wake=9l at =irst( b9t a=ter >o9 came in at U o4clock I went to sleep all right.4 I sai5 nothing
to him o= m> e?perience at that ho9r( b9t tol5 him I ha5 never been in his room all night.
.e answere5( uO= co9rse >o9 were@ >o9 came in an5 gave me m> 5rops( an5 settle5 m>
pillows( an5 then I got 9p an5 5i5 what >o9 tol5 me(4 which was opening the win5ow. I
ass9re5 him I ha5 5one nothing o= the kin5( when he sai5 E9ite impatientl>( uI co9l5n4t
have imagine5 it 9nless >o9 ha5@ b9t >o9 m9stn4t 5o it again or >o9 will catch col5(
r9nning abo9t the ho9se at night.4
BI sai5 no more abo9t it =or =ear o= alarming him( an5 I never tol5 an>one o= it( lest the>
sho9l5 think the n9rsing was making me ill( b9t I was E9ite strong an5 well at the time. I
p9t it 5own in m> note-book that 5a>( an5 a >ear later I have another re=erence there to
this same event.
B*wo months later( in )9g9st( 27W7( I was in .ampshire( m> brother in /9sse?. I knew he
was 5>ing( b9t ha5 no reason =or thinking him in an> more imme5iate 5anger on that 5a>.
)bo9t X o4clock( 59ring break=ast( a s955en =eeling o= great 5epression came over me(
which increase5 an5 I co9l5 not shake it o== all the morning( tho9gh I 5i5 not partic9larl>
connect it with m> brother. One o= m> sisters notice5 it( an5 aske5 i= I =elt ill. Later on( a
telegram came to sa> that m> brother ha5 5ie5 E9ite s955enl>( a =ew min9tes past X
o4clock. I onl> mention this beca9se it was the onl> other occasion on which I ever
remember being conscio9s o= s9ch a sensation.
B0. ). O.C
Y*his last coinci5ence ma> easil>( o= co9rse( have been acci5ental.Z
ii-237!
Miss O. a55s:A
BM> sister is awa> =rom home( so I wrote to her witho9t giving an> reason =or wanting
her evi5ence( an5 trie5 to sa> nothing that wo9l5 recall this occ9rrence to her min5. I
simpZ> aske5 her( B$o >o9 remember >o9r coming into m> room one night 59ring ..4s
illnessr I= >o9 5o( I want a written statement o= what >o9 remember.4
BI enclose her repl>. /he mentions that I calle5 his name( an5 that she =o9n5 me cr>ing(
which was tr9e( as the impression that he wante5 me was so strongl> 9pon me( an5 >et I
believe5 it to be =anc>. /he knows that I never le=t m> room( otherwise I might have
tho9ght that I ha5 reall> gone 5own the passage to m> brother4s room( which was at the
other en5( b9t I never walke5 in m> sleep in m> li=e.
BM> brother was so positive abo9t it that I =elt certain he believe5 I ha5 act9all> 5one
what I ha5 trie5 to 5o in m> own room. It seeme5 per=ectl> nat9ral to me( b9t I sai5
nothing to m> people( =or =ear the> sho9l5 think the strain o= n9rsing wo9l5 make me ill.
B*hese are the re=erences in m> note-book: On F9ne UVth( 27W7( among other things
abo9t m> brother( u.e sai5 that in the night he woke 9p( =irml> pers9a5e5 that I ha5 been
in his room( an5 was talking to him( an5 he got 9p at once( an5 5i5 e?actl> as I tol5 him.4
On F9ne U3th( 27WX: uIt was this night last >ear that I woke 9p in the mi55le o= the night
calling ..( an5 then E. came in. )n5 the ne?t morning he tol5 me that D9st at that moment
he tho9ght I came into his room( an5 he got 9p to 5o as I tol5 him.4
BI can4t acco9nt =or his thinking I tol5 him to open the win5ow( 9nless =rom the =act that I
got 9p an5 went over to the win5ow in m> room where the table was.
BM> brother was several >ears ol5er than m>sel=( an5 I was e?tremel> attache5 to him@ he
was acc9stome5 to m> 5oing this sort o= thing =or him b> 5a>.
B*his happene5 at /aleh9rst Vicarage( in /9sse?( two months be=ore m> =ather came
here. I never spoke o= it to them 9ntil this week( when I tol5 m> brothers an5 sisters.C
*he =ollowing is the enclos9re mentione5:A
BMa> U2st( 2773.
BI remember well the event >o9 all95e to( o= how >o9 awoke one night( calling =or
.erbert( an5 I went into >o9r room( =o9n5 >o9 cr>ing( an5 trie5 to com=ort >o9. I have
o=ten tho9ght o= it since.
BEMIL# -. O.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss 0. ). O. sa>s:A
B#o9 ask i= this e?perience was 9niE9e in m> brother4s case( an5 I believe it to be so. .e
wo9l5 have treate5 an>thing o= the kin5 merel> as a Doke( an5 the i5ea that s9ch a thing as
tho9ght-trans=erence was possible wo9l5 never have crosse5 his min5. %othing that I ha5
5one be=ore co9l5 have ma5e him e?pect me at night( =or I ha5 never 5one an> night
n9rsing( an5 he himsel= scol5e5 me =or what he imagine5 the impr95ence o= m>
procee5ing. I= I ha5 been in the habit o= going to his room( then I sho9l5 have gone at
once when I =elt he wante5 me( b9t as I ii-23X! ha5 never 5one so( I was a=rai5 o=
alarming him b> going in at night. I have never ha5 an> similar e?perience.C
*his case resembles %o. UW2 above( in the point that the Bagenc>C was apparentl>
e?ercise5 at the moment o= startle5 waking =rom sleep@ b9t consi5ering the
circ9mstances( the present coinci5ence co9l5 more easil> than the other be regar5e5 as
acci5ental. .a5 the brother4s e?perience been a 5ream( or even a vision between sleeping
an5 waking( we sho9l5 =eel that to be the reasonable view. *here is one =eat9re in the
acco9nt( no 5o9bt( which looks ver> like 5reamingAthe brother4s remark( Bou gave (e
(, drops.F "9t it will be observe5 that this is not mentione5 in the entr> in the note-
book@ it seems there=ore ver> probable that it was an 9nconscio9s a55ition on Miss O.4s
part. On the other si5e we have her brother4s recor5e5 testimon> that the phantasmal visit
took place at a time when he was Bver> wake=9lC@ an5 it wo9l5 be at least noteworth> that
he sho9l5 have ha5 what we are le5 to s9ppose was the one waking hall9cination o= his
li=e( at the ver> time that his sister was also e?periencing a 9niE9e an5 closel>
correspon5ing impression.
S :. *he ne?t case is o= a rarer t>pe@ as( tho9gh the senses o= sight an5 hearing were both
a==ecte5( the two impressions were not combine5 in the same inci5ent( b9t were separate5
b> several ho9rs interval. *he acco9nt is =rom Mr. &arling( o= 2U( ,estbo9rne &ar5ens(
+olkestone( a witness as =ree =rom cre59lit> an5 s9perstitio9s =ancies as can well be
imagine5.
B+ebr9ar>( 277:.
P:;UQ BOne *h9rs5a> evening( abo9t the mi55le o= )9g9st in 273X( I went( as I o=ten 5i5(
to pass the evening with the 'ev.A .arrison an5 his =amil>( with whom I ha5 =or man>
>ears live5 on terms o= the closest intimac>. *he weather being ver> =ine( we ma5e 9p a
part> with the neighbo9rs( an5 went to the /9rre> Joological &ar5ens( an5 spent the
evening there. I note this partic9larl>( beca9se it proves that he an5 his =amil> were in
goo5 health incontestabl> on that 5a>( an5 that no s9spicion o= what was to =ollow so
soon e?iste5 with an>one. *he ne?t 5a> I went 5own on a visit to some relatives in
.ert=or5shire( who live5 at a ho9se calle5 +lamstea5 Lo5ge( abo9t U8 miles =rom
Lon5on( on the high roa5. ,e 9s9all> 5ine5 at U o4clock( an5 on Mon5a> a=ternoon
=ollowing( a=ter their earl> 5inner( I le=t the la5ies in the 5rawing-room( an5 sa9ntere5
thro9gh the pa55ock 5own to the high roa5. #o9 will note the time was in the mi55le o= a
s9nn> )9g9st 5a>( in a wi5e( p9blic( commonplace high roa5( not a h9n5re5 >ar5s =rom a
roa5si5e p9blic-ho9seAI m>sel= in a per=ectl> cheer=9l( health> =rame o= min5Ano
s9rro9n5ings o= an> kin5 to e?cite the imagination( some co9ntr> people not =ar o==( ii-
2V;! in5ee5( at the time I speak o=. /955enl> a uphantom4 stoo5 be=ore me( so close that
ha5 it been a h9man being it m9st have to9che5 me@ blotting o9t =or a moment the
lan5scape an5 s9rro9n5ing obDects@ itsel= in5istinct in o9tline( b9t with lips that seeme5 to
move an5 m9rm9r something( an5 with e>es =ear=9ll> 5istinct that =i?e5 an5 =ollowe5 an5
glare5 into mine( with a look so intense an5 5eepl> earnest that I =airl> recoile5 =rom the
spot an5 starte5 backwar5s. I sai5 to m>sel= instinctivel> an5 probabl> 9ttere5 it alo95(
u&oo5 &o5( it is .arrisons4 tho9gh not thinking o= him or having reason to think o= him
in the remotest 5egree at the moment. In probabl> a =ew secon5s( which seeme5 to me =ar
longer( it vanishe5( leaving me roote5 to the spot =or a =ew moments( an5 sensible o= the
realit> o= the vision b> the c9rio9s ph>sical e==ect it le=t 9pon me. *his was as i= the bloo5
was like ice in m> veins@
2
no =l9tter o= the nerves( b9t a 5ea5l> chill =eeling that laste5
more or less =or nearl> an ho9r( an5 onl> gra59all> wore o== as the circ9lation ret9rne5. I
have never =elt an> similar sensation be=ore or since. I sai5 nothing to the la5ies when I
ret9rne5( as I sho9l5 have =rightene5 them o9t o= their wits( an5 the impression ma5e
9pon me gra59all> became =ainter as the 5a> wore o9t.
BI have sai5 that the ho9se was near the high roa5@ it stoo5 in its own gro9n5s b> the si5e
o= a co9ntr> lane lea5ing 9p to the village( U;; or :;; >ar5s or more =rom an> other
habitation( with a seven-=oot iron railing in =ront to keep o9t tramps@ gates alwa>s locke5
at night@ abo9t :; =eet o= har5 gravel an5 pave5 pathwa> =rom =ront 5oor to lane. )
bea9ti=9l E9iet s9mmer evening =ollowe5. 1lace5 as the ho9se was( with har5 gravel an5
high iron palisa5e an5 paving( no one co9l5 have approache5 the ho9se in the 5eep
silence o= that s9mmer evening witho9t being hear5 a long wa> o==. *here was( moreover(
a large 5og in a kennel( place5 so as to comman5 the =ront entrance( especiall> to warn
o== intr95ers@ an5 a little terrier insi5e that barke5 at ever>bo5> an5 at ever> noise. ,e
were D9st retiring to be5( an5 were sitting in the 5rawing-room( which was on the gro9n5
=loor( close b> the =ront 5oor( the terrier within. *he servants ha5 alrea5> gone to be5 in a
room E9ite at the back( 8; =eet awa>. *he>( when the> came 5own( tol5 9s the> were
asleep( an5 were ro9se5 b> the noise. /955enl> there came to the =ront 5oor a noise so
lo95 an5 contin9o9s Pthe 5oor seeming to shake in the =rame an5 to vibrate 9n5er some
tremen5o9s blowsQ( that we starte5 to o9r =eet in ama]ement( an5 the servants came in a
moment a=ter( hal=-5resse5( r9nning 5ownstairs =rom their room at the back to know what
it was. ,e went at once to the 5oor( b9t co9l5 neither hear nor see an>thing or an>bo5>.
)n5 the 5ogs gave no tong9e whatever. *he terrier( contrar> to its nat9re( sl9nk shivering
9n5er the so=a( an5 wo9l5 not stop even at the 5oor( an5 nothing co9l5 in59ce him to go
into the 5arkness. *here was no knocker on the 5oor( nothing to =all 5own( an5 no
possibilit> o= an>one approaching or leaving the ho9se( so sit9ate5( in that pro=o9n5
silence( witho9t 5iscover>. *he> were all horribl> =rightene5( an5 I =o9n5 it ver> 5i==ic9lt
to get them to go to be5( b9t I was m>sel= in so 9nimpressionable a =rame o= min5 that I
5i5 not at the time connect it with the uphantom4 in the a=ternoon@ b9t still went to ii-
2V2! be5 m>sel=( pon5ering 9pon it an5 seeking some obvio9s e?planation to satis=> the
members o= the ho9sehol5( b9t witho9t s9ccess.
BI stoppe5 there till ,e5nes5a> morning( having no s9spicion o= what ha5 happene5 in
m> absence. On that morning I ret9rne5 to town to m> chambers( then at %o. 22( 0ing4s
'oa5( &ra>s Inn. M> clerk met me at the 5oor with( u/ir( a gentleman has been here two
or three times@ is most an?io9s to see >o9@ sa>s he m9st see >o9 imme5iatel>@ he is gone
o9t =or a =ew min9tes to get a bisc9it( an5 he will be back 5irectl>.4 In a =ew min9tes the
gentleman ret9rne5( an5 I recognise5 at once a Mr. -ha5wick( also an intimate =rien5 o=
.arrison an5 his =amil>. .e then tol5 me( to m> ama]ement( u*here has been a =ear=9l
visitation o= cholera in the ,an5sworth 'oa5(4 meaning at Mr. .arrison4s@ uall are gone.
Mrs. 'osco was attacke5 on +ri5a>( an5 5ie5@ her mai5 the same evening( an5 5ie5. Mrs.
.arrison was attacke5 on /at9r5a> morning( an5 5ie5 that evening. *he ho9semai5 5ie5
on /9n5a>. *he cook also was taken ill( was carrie5 awa>( an5 escape5 ver> narrowl>.
1oor .arrison was attacke5 himsel= on /9n5a> night( was =ear=9ll> ill all Mon5a> an5
>ester5a>( an5 has been taken awa> =rom the 1est-ho9se in the ,an5sworth 'oa5 to Fack
/traw4s -astle at .ampstea5( to get into a better air@ he was begging an5 pra>ing =or the
people abo9t him( all Mon5a> an5 >ester5a>( to sen5 =or >o9( b9t nobo5> knew where
>o9 were gone to. #o9 m9st take a cab at once an5 come with me( or >o9 will not see him
alive.4 I went with -ha5wick at once( b9t he was 5ea5 be=ore I reache5 the place.
B.. ". &)'LI%&.C
*he obit9ar> in the "atch(an( =or )9g9st 2Vth( 273X( shows that Mrs. 'osco 5ie5 =rom
cholera on )9g9st 3th( Mrs. .arrison on )9g9st 7th( an5 the 'ev. *. .arrison on
*h9rs5a> Pnot ,e5nes5a>Q( the Xth( at .ampstea5.
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. &arling sa>s:A
B*he la5ies were ol5( an5 have been 5ea5 some UV >ears. O= the servants at the ho9se all
trace has been lost.C
Mr. &arling a55e5 a =ew 5etails in conversation with the present writer. *he =ig9re met
him on the high roa5( so close to his =ace that he har5l> observe5 an>thing in 5etail
e?cept the =ace. .e has ha5 one other hall9cination( when he seeme5 to see the =ig9re o= a
=rien5 at the =oot o= his be5. "9t the =rien5 was one whose =9neral he ha5 D9st been
atten5ing( an5 who( moreover( ha5 been acc9stome5( in li=e( to sit where the =ig9re was
seen@ an5 Mr. &arling himsel= was going to sleep at the time. *he e?perience( there=ore(
cannot be arg9e5 to show an> special proclivit> to s9bDective hall9cination.
*he a95itor> e?perience here is a goo5 specimen o= what I have calle5 the rudi(entar,
t>peAa class o= which the inconcl9siveness has been s9==icientl> 5welt on. "9t clearl>
the pres9mption that the so9n5 was telepathic in origin is strengthene5 b> the =act o= the
vis9al e?perience which prece5e5 it. *elepath> having Pas we ma> reasonabl> ii-2VU!
s9pposeQ pro59ce5 the =irst phenomenon( it is not 9nreasonable to cre5it it with the
secon5@ especiall> since the secon5( tho9gh it a==ecte5 so man> persons( seems in itsel=
partic9larl> har5 to acco9nt =or b> an> obDective ca9se in the vicinit>. It ma> appear( no
5o9bt( e?tremel> strange that the con5itions which =irst =lashe5 an impression to the one
person 5irectl> intereste5 sho9l5 a=terwar5s involve the whole ho9sehol5 in a ps>chic
storm@ b9t this topic belongs to the concl95ing chapter( on B-ollective -ases.C
ii-2V:!
+!P#&R 0)((.
R&+(PR%+!' +!$&$.
S 2. ,E have now to consi5er a E9ite new t>pe o= telepathic action. In the classes which
have so =ar been passe5 in review( whether e?perimental or spontaneo9s( the parts o= the
agent an5 the percipient have been well 5e=ine5( an5 the c9rrent o= in=l9ence has set =rom
the one to the other in an 9nmistakeable =ashion. "9t in several cases( it ma> be
remembere5( Pespeciall> %os. :V an5 X3(Q we have ha5 in5ications that the in=l9ence
might be a reciprocal oneAthat each o= the parties might receive a telepathic imp9lse
=rom the other( an5 so each be at once agent an5 percipient. *he cases re=erre5 to were
5o9bt=9l( beca9se the e?perience at one en5 o= the line was a 5ream@ an5 5reams having
an almost limitless scope( it was conceivable eno9gh that that o= Mr. %ewnham( =or
instance( tho9gh it c9rio9sl> correspon5e5 with his fianc4es actions an5 s9rro9n5ings at
the time( 5i5 so b> acci5ent@ an5 that there=ore his mental con5ition( while it a==ecte5 her(
was not a==ecte5 b> her. "9t ha5 he ha5 a -a1ing vision o= her( as she ha5 o= him( we
sho9l5 have consi5ere5 it probable that the in=l9ence was m9t9al@ since i= two rare or
9niE9e events( which present so obvio9s a pri(0 facie connection as )4s vision o= " an5
"4s vision o= )( =all at the same time( we cannot rea5il> ass9me the coinci5ence to be
acci5ental. )n5 i= there are =9rther an5 more 5istinct gro9n5s =or attrib9ting "4s vision to
telepath>Asa> beca9se ) is 5>ing at the timeAit will be onl> reasonable to regar5 )4s
vision as part o= the same comple? phenomenon( rather than to s9ppose that ) has an
accidental vision at the same time as " has a telepathic one. "9t o= co9rse the proo= o= a
reciprocal in=l9ence wo9l5 be stronger still i=( at the the time o= "4s impression o= )( )
e?presse5 in wor5s some piece o= knowle5ge as to "4s con5ition which co9l5 not have
been acE9ire5 in a normal manner. ,e th9s see that a gro9p o= cases which have all the
same claim to be consi5ere5 ii-2V3! telepathic( ma> have 5i==erent claims( ranging =rom
the ver> 5o9bt=9l to the ver> concl9sive( to be consi5ere5 reciprocall, telepathic.
2

I will begin with a co9ple o= the more 5o9bt=9l cases. *he =ollowing acco9nt was
receive5 thro9gh the kin5ness o= Mr. &. F. 'omanes( +.'./.( who is well acE9ainte5 with
the narrator.
BMarch 27th( 277:.
P:;:Q BOn the night o= the U8th o= October( 27WU( I s955enl> =elt ver> 9nwell( an5 went to
be5 abo9t hal=-past X( an ho9r earlier than 9s9al( an5 =ell asleep almost imme5iatel>(
when I ha5 a ver> vivi5 5ream( which impresse5 me greatl>@ so m9ch so( that I remarke5
to m> wi=e( on waking( that I =eare5 we sho9l5 shortl> receive ba5 news. I imagine5 I
was sitting in the 5rawing-room near a table( rea5ing( when an ol5 la5> s955enl>
appeare5 seate5 on the opposite si5e( close to the table. /he neither spoke nor move5
m9ch( b9t ga]e5 ver> intentl> on me( an5 I on her( =or at least U; min9tes. I was m9ch
str9ck b> her appearance( she having white hair( ver> 5ark e>ebrows( an5 penetrating
e>es. I 5i5 not recognise her at all( b9t tho9ght she was a stranger. M> attention was then
5irecte5 to the 5oor( which opene5( an5 m> a9nt entering an5 seeing me an5 the ol5 la5>
staring at each other in this e?traor5inar> wa>( with m9ch s9rprise an5 in a tone o=
reproach e?claime5( uFohns 5on4t >o9 know who this isr4 an5 witho9t giving me time to
repl> sai5( u,h>( this is >o9r gran5mother(4 where9pon m> ghostl> visitor s955enl> rose
=rom her chair( embrace5 me( an5 vanishe5.
ii-2VV!
)t that moment I awoke. /9ch was the impression it ma5e on m> min5( that I got m>
note-book an5 ma5e a note o= this strange 5ream( believing that it =orebo5e5 ba5 ti5ings.
.owever( several 5a>s passe5 witho9t bringing an> 5rea5e5 intelligence( when one night
I receive5 a letter =rom m> =ather( anno9ncing the rather s955en 5eath o= m>
gran5mother( which took place on the ver> night an5 ho9r o= m> 5ream( hal=-past 2;.
B)bo9t =o9r months a=ter her 5eath( I went to the Isle o= ,ight( where she live5( to get
in=ormation =rom m> relatives as to what m> gran5mother was reall> like. M> a9nt an5
co9sin 5escribe5 her in ever> partic9lar( an5 their 5escriptions o= her coinci5e5 most
marvello9sl> with the =ig9re an5 =ace that appeare5 to me( the white hair an5 5ark
e>ebrows being a pec9liarit> in her. *his I partic9larl> observe5 in m> 5ream. I learnt(
too( that she was e?tremel> =9ss> in the arrangement o= her cap( alwa>s being an?io9s
that no part( even the strings( sho9l5 be o9t o= place( an5 c9rio9s to relate( I notice5 in m>
5ream that she was nervo9sl> to9ching her cap strings( now an5 again( =or =ear the>
sho9l5 be o9t o= place. M> co9sin( who was with her when she 5ie5( tol5 me that m>
gran5mother ha5 been 5elirio9s =or some time previo9s to her 5epart9re@ an5 =or a
moment( when in that state( she s955enl> p9t her arms ro9n5 m> co9sin4s neck( an5 on
opening her e>es an5 regaining conscio9sness( she sai5 with a look o= s9rprise( uOh(
1oll>( is it >o9r I tho9ght it was some bo5> else.4 *his seems to me ver> c9rio9s( as it was
D9st what she 5i5 be=ore she vanishe5 =rom me in the 5rawing-room. I m9st a55 that I ha5
not seen m> gran5parent =or at least 23 >ears( an5 the last time I saw her she ha5 5ark
hair( b9t this ha5 gra59all> change5 to white( leaving her e>ebrows 5ark( an5 I am
positive that nobo5> ever mentione5 this pec9liarit> to me.C
2

BF. .. ,.C
Mrs. ,. sa>s:A
BF9l> 2st( 277V.
BI E9ite remember m> h9sban5 telling me( on m> going to m> room on the evening o= the
U8th October( o= a remarkable 5ream he ha5 D9st ha5( an5 also his making an entr> in the
pocket book on the =ollowing morning.
B+. ,.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that Fane ,. 5ie5 at the age o= WU( on Oct. U8( 27W;
Ysee belowZ( at "ri?ton( Isle o= ,ight.
Mr. 1o5more sa>s:A
BI calle5 on Mr. F. .. ,. to-5a> PF9l> 3th( 2773Q( an5 hear5 the acco9nt =rom him viv0
voce. .is co9sin4s corroboration( =or a reason which he e?plaine5 to me( cannot be
obtaine5. "9t he e?plaine5 to me that he went to see his co9sin within three months o= the
5eath( an5 receive5 =9ll partic9lars o= the 5eath-scene =rom her then. I aske5 him i= he
stoo5 b> the phrase uat least U; min9tes(4 pointing o9t that it was 5i==ic9lt to attach an>
precise meaning to these wor5s@ i= the> were a correct 5escription o= his impressions( a
grotesE9e inci5ent m9st have been interpolate5 ii-2V8! in the mi5st o= an otherwise
realistic 5ream. .e maintains that the wor5s are correct@ it seeme5 to him that he an5 the
ol5 la5> sat staring at each other across the table =or a ver> long time. Mr. ,. tol5 me that
he 5reams ver> little@ an5 that he has never ha5 another 5ream which he tho9ght worth
noting. .e has never 5reamt o= 5eath.C
)=ter a secon5 call( Mr. 1o5more writes:A
BI receive5 an acco9nt =rom Mrs. ,. o= her h9sban54s 5ream( as she remembere5 to have
hear5 it within an ho9r o= its occ9rrence an5 s9bseE9entl>( which tallie5 precisel> with
the acco9nt here given. I saw also the note ma5e on the =ollowing morning. It occ9rs at
the hea5 o= the =irst page o= a small pocket sketch-book( the rest o= the page being
occ9pie5 with pen or pencil memoran5a o= acco9nts( [c. *he entr> is uO55 5ream( night
o= October U8th( 27W;.4 *he last n9meral( which is ver> in5istinct( is apparentl> ;. Mr.
,.( in writing his original acco9nt in March( 277:( ha5 re=erre5 to this note an5 rea5 the
=inal n9meral as U. .ence the 5iscrepanc>. .e has no other memoran59m o= the 5eath.
BI presse5 him as =ar as I co9l5( b9t he still 5eclines to give his name( =earing that he
might acE9ire the rep9tation o= being ughostl>4 an5 =anci=9l( an5 th9s inD9re his
pro=essional prospects.C
-learl> the drea( here is =ar less likel> to have been acci5ental than Mr. %ewnham4s. "9t
the in=erence =rom the 5>ing woman4s wor5s( that she ma> have been in some wa>
a==ecte5 with a sense o= her gran5son4s presence( is( o= co9rse not one that can be presse5.
)n5 the same remark applies to several cases where )( who is in the crisis o= illness(
pro=esses act9all> to have seen( as tho9gh b> some clairvo>ant =lash( an absent relative(
"( who t9rns o9t to have ha5 at the same time a telepathic impression o= )@ =or 9nless
special 5etails o= "4s aspect or s9rro9n5ings are 5escribe5( )4s allege5 perception o= him
ma> alwa>s be s9ppose5 to have been a mere s9bDective 5ream or vision( an5 the
percipience is not 5emonstrabl> reciprocal.
2

*he ne?t e?ampleA=rom Mr. F. *. Milwar5 1ierce( o= "ow 'anche( 0no? -o9nt>(
%ebraska( U./.).(Astan5s somewhat apart.
B+rettons( $anb9r>( -helms=or5.
BFan9ar> Vth( 277V.
P:;3Q BI live in %ebraska( U./.( where I have a cattle ranche( [c. I am engage5 to be
marrie5 to a >o9ng la5> living in #ankton( $akota( UV miles north.
B)bo9t the en5 o= October( 2773( while tr>ing to catch a horse( I was kicke5 in the =ace(
an5 onl> escape5 being braine5 b> an inch or two@ ii-2VW! as it was I ha5 two teeth split
an5 a severe rap on the chest. *here were several men stan5ing near. I 5i5 not =aint( nor
was I insensible =or a moment( as I ha5 to get o9t o= the wa> o= the ne?t kick. *here was a
moment4s pa9se be=ore an>one spoke. I was stan5ing leaning against the stable wall(
when I saw on m> le=t( apparentl> E9ite close( the >o9ng la5> I have mentione5. /he
looke5 pale. I 5i5 not notice what she wore@ b9t I 5istinctl> notice5 her e>es( which
appeare5 tro9ble5 an5 an?io9s. *here was not merel> a =ace( b9t the whole =orm( looking
per=ectl> material an5 nat9ral. )t that moment m> baili== aske5 me i= I was h9rt. I t9rne5
m> hea5 to answer him( an5 when I looke5 again she ha5 gone. I was not m9ch h9rt b>
the horse@ m> min5 was per=ectl> clear( =or 5irectl> a=terwar5s I went to m> o==ice an5
5rew the plans an5 prepare5 speci=ications =or a new ho9se( a work which reE9ires a clear
an5 concentrate5 min5.
BI was so ha9nte5 b> the appearance that ne?t morning I starte5 =or #ankton. *he =irst
wor5s the >o9ng la5> sai5 when I met her were( u,h>( I e?pecte5 >o9 all >ester5a>
a=ternoon. I tho9ght I saw >o9 looking so pale( an5 >o9r =ace all blee5ing.4 PI ma> sa> the
inD9ries ha5 ma5e no visible scars.Q I was ver> m9ch str9ck b> this an5 aske5 her when
this was. /he sai5( uImme5iatel> a=ter l9nch.4 It was D9st a=ter m> l9nch that the acci5ent
occ9rre5. I took the partic9lars 5own at the time. I ma> sa> that be=ore I went into
#ankton( I was a=rai5 that something ha5 happene5 to the >o9ng la5>. I shall be happ> to
sen5 >o9 an> =9rther partic9lars >o9 ma> 5esire.
BF%O. *. MIL,)'$ 1IE'-E.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. 1ierce sa>s:A
BI think the vision laste5 as long as a E9arter o= a min9te(C .e has ha5 no other vis9al
hall9cination( e?cept that once( when l>ing shot thro9gh the Daw b> an In5ian( he tho9ght
he saw an In5ian stan5ing over him( an5 in=ers that it was not a real one( or he wo9l5
have been scalpe5.
Mr( 1ierce wrote on Ma> UWth( 277V:A
BI sent >o9r letter to the la5>( b9t 5i5 not get an answer be=ore leaving Englan5( an5 9pon
arriving here =o9n5 her ver> ill( an5 it is onl> recentl> I have been able to get the
in=ormation >o9 wishe5 =or. /he now wishes me to sa> that she recollects the a=ternoon in
E9estion( an5 remembers e?pecting me( an5 being a=rai5 something ha5 happene5(
tho9gh it was not m> 9s9al 5a> =or coming@ b9t altho9gh at the time she tol5 me that she
saw me with a =ace blee5ing( she 5oes not now appear to recollect this( an5 I have not
s9ggeste5 it( not wishing to prompt her in an> wa>.C
In another letter o= F9l> 2:th( 277V( Mr( 1ierce sa>s:A
BI am sorr> I can 5o no better =or >o9 than the enclose5 letter. *he =act seems to be that
events o= absorbing interest( an5 illness( appear to have 5riven nearl> all remembrance o=
the inci5ent =rom Miss Mac&regor4s min5( attaching no partic9lar importance to it at
=irst. I have prompte5 her memor>( b9t she onl> sa>s( no 5o9bt I am right( b9t that she
can4t now recollect it.C
ii-2V7!
*he letter enclose5 =rom Miss Macgregor is as =ollows:A
B#ankton( $.*.
BF9l> 2:th( 277V.
BI have rea5 the letter >o9 sent to Mr 1ierce. I am a=rai5 I cannot now recall the time >o9
mention clearl> eno9gh to give >o9 an> 5istinct recollection.
BI remember =eeling s9re some acci5ent ha5 happene5( b9t I tol5 Mr. 1ierce at the time
ever>thing 9n9s9al I =elt( an5 events that have since occ9rre5 have( I am a=rai5(
completel> e==ace5 all clear recollections o= the =acts.
B)%%IE M)-&'E&O'.C
0nowing Mr. 1ierce( I have no 5o9bt that his recollection o= what Miss Mac&regor tol5
him at the time is s9bstantiall> acc9rate( an5 i= so( it wo9l5 be nat9ral to interpret her
e?perience as telepathic. "9t his vision ma> have been p9rel> s9bDective. I am not aware(
it is tr9e( o= an> precisel> parallel case( 9nless in5ee5 it be Mr. 1ierce4s other e?perience(
with the In5ian. In m> collection o= p9rel> s9bDective cases( I have one =rom a la5> who
was tro9ble5 b> hall9cinations =or some time a=ter a conc9ssion o= the brain@ b9t the blow
which Mr. 1ierce receive5 was a comparativel> slight one. /till( seeing that on the one
han5 his =ac9lties ma> have been momentaril> 5isor5ere5 b> it( an5 that on the other the
person whose =orm he saw was in a completel> normal state at the time( it is sa=er not to
la> stress on the reciprocal aspect o= the case.
S U. *he remaining cases are@ I think( less 5o9bt=9l. *he =ollowing acco9nt is e?tracte5
=rom the evi5ence given b> the late Mr. -romwell +. Varle>( +.'./.( be=ore a -ommittee
o= the $ialectical /ociet>( on Ma> UV( 278X P=eport( p. 282. )nother case o= Mr. Varle>4s
will be =o9n5 in Vol. I.( p. U77Q.
P:;VQ BIn a secon5 case m> sister-in-law ha5 heart 5isease. Mrs. Varle> an5 I went into
the co9ntr> to see her( as we =eare5( =or the last time. I ha5 a nightmare an5 co9l5 not
move a m9scle( ,hile in this state( I saw the spirit
2
o= m> sister-in-law in the room. I
knew that she was con=ine5 to her be5room. /he sai5( uI= >o9 5o not move >o9 will 5ie4@
b9t I co9l5 not move( an5 she sai5( uI= >o9 s9bmit >o9rsel= to me( I will =righten >o9( an5
>o9 will then be able to move.4 )t =irst I obDecte5( wishing to ascertain more abo9t her
spirit-presence. ,hen at last I consente5( m> heart ha5 cease5 beating. I think at =irst her
e==orts to terri=> me 5i5 not s9ccee5( b9t when she s955enl> e?claime5( uOh( -romwells I
am 5>ing(4 that =rightene5 me e?cee5ingl>( an5 threw me o9t o= the torpi5 state( an5 I
awoke in the or5inar> wa>. M> sho9ting ha5 aro9se5 Mrs. Varle>@ we e?amine5 the 5oor(
an5 it was still locke5 an5 bolte5( an5 I tol5 m> wi=e what ha5 happene5( having note5
the ho9r( :.3V a.m.( an5 ii-2VX! ca9tione5 her not to mention the matter to an>bo5>( b9t
to hear what was her sister4s version( i= she all95e5 to the s9bDect. In the morning she tol5
9s that she ha5 passe5 a 5rea5=9l night@ that she ha5 been in o9r room( an5 greatl>
tro9ble5 on m> acco9nt( an5 that I ha5 been nearl> 5>ing. It was between :.:; an5 3 a.m.
when she saw I was in 5anger. /he onl> s9ccee5e5 in aro9sing me b> e?claiming( uOh(
-romwells I am 5>ing.4 I appeare5 to her to be in a state which otherwise wo9l5 have
en5e5 =atall>.C
Even this inci5ent might possibl> be e?plaine5 Plike case X3Q as an instance o=
sim9ltaneo9s 5reams
2
A an in5epen5ent an5 original nightmare o= one o= the two parties
concerne5 in59cing that o= the other( witho9t being reciprocall> in=l9ence5 b> it. *he
ne?t case( i= correctl> recor5e5( co9l5 not be so regar5e5. *he acco9nt is containe5 in a
letter =rom Mr. *. ,. /mith( late o= Leslie Lo5ge( Ealing( to the 1s>chological /ociet>(
5ate5 +ebr9ar> U8th( 27W8( an5 kin5l> lent to 9s b> Mr. +. 0. M9nton( who was secretar>
o= that /ociet>. Mr. /mith( who was known to 1ro=. "arrett( le=t Ealing earl> in 27WW( an5
his present a55ress cannot be ascertaine5.
P:;8Q BI =o9n5 the la5> who is now m> wi=e at a large p9blic instit9tion to which I was
appointe5 hea5master( in 27WU. On leaving her sit9ation( I in59ce5 her( =or certain
reasons( to conceal the =act o= o9r inten5e5 marriage =rom those o= her =rien5s whom she
ha5 le=t behin5 at the school( an5 the onl> wa> to 5o this was not to write to an> o= them.
B/ome si? months a=ter o9r marriage( I was rea5ing in be5( accor5ing to a habit o= mine(
m> wi=e asleep at m> si5e( when she awoke s955enl>( sat 9p( an5 e?claime5( in ver>
earnest tones( uOh( I have been to AA.4 I( o= co9rse( treate5 what she =orthwith began to
relate to me as a more than 9s9all> vivi5 5ream( an5 the ne?t 5a> cease5 to think o= it.
/he( however( rec9rre5 to her 5ream =rom time to time( an5 I remember the
circ9mstantial wa> in which she 5welt 9pon each point o= it( especiall> a pec9liar
e?pression which I 5i5 not =orget( tho9gh I ma5e no written note o= it at the time. *hree
months later m> wi=e went to visit her mother( an5 =o9n5 there a letter =rom one o= her
=rien5s( 9rgentl> entreating some one to write an5 sa> whether Miss AA Pm> wi=eQ was
alive or 5ea5. I was in59ce5 to go an5 see the writer( an5 then ascertaine5 the ca9se o= her
hastil>-written an5 strangel>-wor5e5 epistle. *he two occ9rrences on the same 5a>Aas
well as I co9l5 =i? the 5ate( =or neither o= 9s were E9ite certain as to that essential
partic9larApresent a coinci5ence which I have never been able satis=actoril> to e?plain
on an> h>pothesis consistent with what is at present known o= nat9re4s laws.
BM> wi=e 5reamt that she was in a well-remembere5 room( at the base o= the b9il5ing( in
compan> with =o9r =emalesAtwo o= whom were ol5 =rien5s an5 two strangers to her.
*he> were talking an5 la9ghing an5 preparing to retire to their several sleeping
apartments. /he saw one o= them t9rn o== the gas. /he =ollowe5 them 9pstairs( entere5
with two o= ii-28;! them into a be5room( saw u"essie4 place some things in a bo?(
9n5ress( an5 get into be5@ then she went to her( took her b> the han5( an5 sai5( u"essie( let
9s be =rien5s.4 /o m9ch =or the 5ream.
B*he writer o= the letter gave me this acco9nt o= what ha5 occasione5 her writing@ an5 I
nee5 scarcel> sa> that I 5i5 not =irst mention what m> wi=e ha5 5reamt( =or in that case it
might be s9ppose5 that I ha5 m>sel= assiste5 in s9ggesting the remarkable e?pression(
which( in m> opinion( removes the occ9rrence =rom the categor> o= uremarkable
coinci5ence.4 /he an5 her =rien5( u"essie(4 ha5 gone to be5 one /9n5a> night( when an
alarming cr> =rom the latter bro9ght the other to her be5si5e: uI have D9st seen AA4 Pm>
wi=eQ@ ushe to9che5 me an5 sai5( BLet 9s be =rien5s.C4
B*he ne?t 5a>( on 5isc9ssing the matter( tho9gh some o= them tho9ght that "essie ha5
been 5reaming( an5 imagine5 what she 5eclare5 she saw( others tho9ght it a usign4 that
m> wi=e was 5ea5. )n5 the one who was the best scribe amongst them 9n5ertook to write
to the onl> a55ress the> possesse5( in or5er to ascertain the tr9th. *he letter ha5 not been
=orwar5e5 to 9s beca9se m> wi=e ha5( it seems( tol5 her mother m> wish that no
comm9nication with her =ormer =rien5s sho9l5 take place.
B*he o55 thing abo9t the 5ream is that m> wi=e ha5 alwa>s been on goo5 terms with
u"essie(4 an5 was so on parting with her.
BIn the =oregoing acco9nt o= the 5ream( an5 what I ma> call its complement( I omit man>
minor points( s9ch as the =act that two new comers had taken the place o= two =ormer
=rien5s o= m> wi=e@ that the e==ect on both m> wi=e an5 "essie was be>on5 what an>
or5inar> 5ream wo9l5 have pro59ce5@ an5 that the two =emales( whom m> wi=e in her
5ream saw enter the be5room( 5i5 reall> occ9p> the same room.C
YIt is m9ch to be regrette5 that we have ha5 no opport9nit> o= e?amining the letter@
2
b9t
the correspon5ence o= the two e?periences wo9l5 har5l> have impresse5 Mr. /mith as it
5i5( i= it ha5 not incl95e5 a ver> striking 5etail.Z
ii-282!
*he evi5ential weakness o= this narrative is( o= co9rse( the 5o9bt as to the e?actit95e o=
the coinci5ence. /9pposing the two e?periences to have =allen on the same night( we can
har5l> help connecting B"essie4sC impression Pwhich seems to have been a hall9cination
an5 not a 5reamQ with Mrs. /mith4s remarkable vision@ which latter is again( apparentl>(
an instance o= tho9ght-trans=erence o= that e?treme =orm which I have 5escribe5 as
telepathic clairvo>ance.
2

*hat this last wor5 is the appropriate one =or 5escribing Pit is =ar eno9gh o= co9rse =rom
e?plainingQ the process appears =rom other e?amples@ an5 a glance at the con5ition o=
these reciprocal cases will show that it wo9l5 nat9rall> be so. *here is( as a r9le( no
5i==ic9lt> in 5eci5ing to which o= the two persons concerne5 the origin o= the comple?
phenomenon sho9l5 be trace5@ since one o= the two is in a more or less abnormal
con5ition( as compare5 to the other. In Mrs. /mith4s case( the abnormalit> Po9twar5l> at
an> rateQ was nothing be>on5 sleep@ b9t in other e?amples it is =ar more prono9nce5. I=(
then( it is ) who is in the abnormal stateA5>ing( or whatever it ma> beAwe attrib9te "4s
vision o= him to that state. "9t we cannot inversel> attrib9te )4s vision o= " to "4s state( i=
"4s state is completel> normal. It ma>( no 5o9bt( be sai5 that "4s state ceases ii-28U! to
be normal at the moment when ) a==ects him@ an5 that possibl> the power to react
telepathicall> on the impression is starte5 b> the mere =act o= receiving it. "9t the more
nat9ral acco9nt o= the matter wo9l5 s9rel> trace )4s impression( no less than "4s( to the
pec9liarit> o= )4s stateAb> s9pposing either that )4s power to act abnormall> in a certain
5irection has involve5 an abnormal e?tension o= his o-n susceptibilit, in the same
5irection@ or else that some in5epen5entl>-ca9se5 e?tension o= his own s9sceptibilit> has
involve5 the power to act abnormall>.
2
In either case( his reception o= the impression
wo9l5 be active rather than passive@ o= the sort that partl> seems Pas I trie5 to e?press it
be=oreQ like the momentar> 9sing o= "4s =ac9ltiesAaltho9gh "4s state is not now( as in the
=ormer clairvo>ant pict9res an5 5reams(
U
s9ppl>ing an> e?ceptional telepathic stim9l9s.
/till( tho9gh )4s percipience ma> not be con5itione5 b> "4s state( it m9st( I conceive( be
con5itione5 b> "4s e.istence an5 relation to )@ an5 the 5istinction again stan5s clear
between telepathic clairvo>ance( an5 that allege5 independent clairvo>ance where what
is 5iscerne5 cannot be trace5 in an> nat9ral wa> to the contents o= an> other h9man min5.
*he ne?t e?ample is =rom the .on. Mrs. 1arker( o= 8;( Elm 1ark &ar5ens( /.,.( who
wrote to 9s on Ma> U3th( 277::A
P:;WQ B*he =ollowing e?perience happene5 in the month o= %ovember( 27WW( in 'egenc>
/E9are( "righton. M> h9sban5 Ysince 5ecease5Z was 9n5ergoing a co9rse o= magnetism
=rom Mr. L.( an )merican. *he treatment consiste5 o= r9bbing b> mesmeric passes 5own
the back an5 arms an5 legs( b9t in all this there was no intention o= p9tting m> h9sban5 to
sleep. *he passes were inten5e5 to give strength. Mr. L. calle5 himsel=( I believe( a
pro=essional mesmerist( b9t at the time we emplo>e5 him he was not practising as s9ch.
.e ha5 come to "righton =or rest.
B)=ter the treatment m> h9sban5 was in the habit o= sitting( =or some ho9rs( in his wheel-
chair( at the top o= the /E9are gar5en( an5 on the 5a> ii-28:! o= which I am writing he
ha5 e?presse5 a wish to sta> o9t rather later than 9s9al. I went into the ho9se =or
l9ncheon( leaving him alone( b9t on looking o9t o= the win5ow a little later( at U o4clock(
I saw a man stan5ing in =ront o= his chair( an5 apparentl> talking to him. I won5ere5 who
it was( an5 concl95e5 it m9st be a stranger( as I 5i5 not recognise the =ig9re( or the wi5e-
awake hat an5 rather o55l>-c9t Inverness cape which he wore. .owever( as it ver> o=ten
happene5 that strangers 5i5 stop an5 speak to him( I was not s9rprise5. I t9rne5 awa> m>
e>es =or a moment( an5 when I again looke5 9p the gar5en( the man ha5 5isappeare5. I
co9l5 not see him leaving the gar5en b> an> o= the n9mero9s gates( an5 remarke5 to
m>sel= how ver> E9ickl> he m9st have walke5 to be so soon o9t o= sight. 'egenc> /E9are
5oes not possess a tree an5 scarcel> a shr9b( so that there was nothing to impe5e m>
view.
B,hen m> h9sban5 came in a little later( I sai5 to him( carelessl>( uOh( who was that
talking to >o9 in the sE9are D9st nowr4
B.e replie5( u%o one has spoken to me since >o9 le=t. %o one has even passe5 near me.4
Bu"9t I saw a man stan5ing in =ront o= >o9 an5Aas I tho9ghtAtalking to >o9 abo9t a
E9arter-o=-an-ho9r ago. .is 5ress was so o55( I co9l5n4t at all tell who it co9l5 be.4
B)t this m> h9sban5 la9ghe5( sa>ing( uI sho9l5 think not( =or there was no one to
recognise. I ass9re >o9 not a so9l has been near me since >o9 le=t.4
Bu.ave >o9 been asleepr4 I aske5( tho9gh I 5i5 not think it ver> likel>. .e ass9re5 me he
ha5 not. /o the s9bDect 5roppe5@ still in m> own min5 I knew I ha5 seen the m>sterio9s
=ig9re.
B*wo 5a>s a=terwar5s( Mr. L.( a=ter giving m> h9sban5 his treatment( came( as was his
9s9al habit( to speak to me be=ore leaving the ho9se. )=ter a =ew wor5s an5 5irections( he
sai5( uIt is a ver> o55 thing( b9t the same e?perience has happene5 to me twice since I
have atten5e5 >o9r h9sban5( that( when in E9ite another place( I have s955enl> =elt as i= I
were stan5ing b> his si5e( either in >o9r 5rawing-room or o9t there in the gar5en.4
BI looke5 at him( an5 =or the =irst time notice5 his overcoat which he ha5 p9t on be=ore
coming into the room( an5 the wi5e-awake in his han5. It str9ck me that these articles
were ver> similar to those worn b> the =ig9re I ha5 seen( an5 that in ever> wa> Mr. L.
resemble5 this same =ig9re. I aske5 him when( an5 at what time( he ha5 ha5 the last
e?perience spoken o=r *he 5a> be=ore >ester5a>(4 was the repl>. uI ha5 D9st =inishe5 an
earl> 5inner( an5 was sitting in =ront o= the =ire with a newspaper. It was abo9t U o4clock@
I remember the time per=ectl>. /955enl> I =elt I was no longer there( b9t stan5ing near
>o9r h9sban5 in the /E9are gar5en.4
BI then tol5 him o= the =ig9re I ha5 seen at the same time an5 place( an5 how I now
recognise5 it to be his. )=terwar5s I aske5 m> h9sban5 i= he ha5 mentione5 the
circ9mstance to Mr. L.( b9t he ha5 not 5one so( an5 ha5 in5ee5 =orgotten all abo9t it. M>
h9sban5 was the onl, person to whom I ha5 mentione5 the =act o= m> vision. It co9l5 not
b> an> possibilit> have got ro9n5 to Mr. L.
B)U&U/*) 1)'0E'.C
YIn answer to the inE9ir> whether she ha5 ever ha5 an> other hall9cination ii-283! o= the
senses( Mrs. 1arker replie5 that she ha5 ha5 one other. It seems likel>( however( that this
was merel> a case o= mistaken i5entit>( the =ig9re being seen at the en5 o= a long hotel-
passage@ an5 this was her own impression at the time.Z
*his case again seems 5i==ic9lt to e?plain e?cept on the reciprocal theor>. It is tr9e that
there is not the same proo= in the case o= Mr. L. as in that o= Mrs. /mith above( that the
scene which he saw was trans=erre5( an5 not spontaneo9sl> pict9re5@ =or the place was
=amiliar to him( an5 no 9n9s9al 5etails are mentione5. "9t( on the other han5( his
e?perience seems to have been E9ite 9nlike an or5inar> 5ream@ its ver> 9n9s9alness is
what allows 9s to connect it with Mrs. 1arker4s sim9ltaneo9s an5 9niE9e vision@ an5 i= we
ma> regar5 it as having been con5itione5 b> the presence in the perceive5 scene o= his
patient( Mr. 1arkerAwho =orms( so to speak( the pivot o= the caseAthe =act that Mr.
1arker himsel= was not conscio9sl> a==ecte5 can still be acco9nte5 =or on the analog> o=
s9ch instances as %os. U3U an5 :VV.
2

*he ne?t case was one o= collective percipience@ b9t its best place is in the present
chapter. *he =9ll names o= the persons concerne5 ma> be mentione5( b9t not printe5. Mrs.
/.( one o= the percipients( writes:A
B)pril( 277:.
P:;7Q B) an5 "
U
are two villages in %or=olk( 5istant abo9t =ive miles =rom each other. )t
the time o= the occ9rrence abo9t to be relate5( the clerg>men o= these parishes both bore
the same name( tho9gh there was no relationship between them@ at the same time there
was a great =rien5ship between the two =amilies. On the U;th +ebr9ar>( 27W;( a 5a9ghter(
-onstance( abo9t 23 >ears ol5( o= the clerg>man o= )( was sta>ing with the other =amil>
Aa 5a9ghter( Margaret( in that =amil>( being her great =rien5. E5war5 ,.( the el5est son
o= the 'ector o= )( was at that time l>ing 5angero9sl> ill at home with in=lammation o=
the l9ngs( an5 was =reE9entl> 5elirio9s. On the 5a> mentione5( at abo9t noon( Margaret
an5 -onstance were in the gar5en o= " 'ector>( r9nning 5own a path which was
separate5 b> a he5ge =rom an orchar5 a5Doining@ the> 5istinctl> hear5 themselves calle5
twice( apparentl> =rom the orchar5( th9s: u-onnie( MargaretA-onnie( Margaret.4 *he>
stoppe5( b9t co9l5 see no one( an5 so went to the ho9se( a 5istance o= abo9t 3; >ar5s(
concl95ing that one o= Margaret4s brothers ha5 calle5 them =rom there. "9t to their
s9rprise the> ii-28V! =o9n5 that this was not the case@ an5 Mrs. ,.( Margaret4s mother(
ass9re5 the girls no one ha5 calle5 them =rom the ho9se( an5 the> there=ore concl95e5
the> m9st have been mistaken in s9pposing the> ha5 hear5 their names repeate5. *his
appeare5 to be the onl> e?planation o= the matter( an5 nothing more was tho9ght o= it.
B*hat evening -onstance ret9rne5 to her home at ). On the =ollowing 5a>( Mrs. ,. 5rove
over to inE9ire =or the sick bo> E5war5. In the co9rse o= conversation( his mother sai5
that the 5a> be=ore he ha5 been 5elirio9s( an5 ha5 spoken o= -onstance an5 Margaret(
that he ha5 calle5 to them in his 5eliri9m( an5 ha5 then sai5( u%ow I see them r9nning
along the he5ge( b9t 5irectl> I call them the> r9n towar5s the ho9se.4 Mrs. ,.( o= "( at
once calle5 to min5 the m>ster> o= the previo9s 5a>( an5 aske5( u$o >o9 know at what
time that happene5r4 E5war54s mother replie5 that it was at a =ew min9tes past 2U( =or she
ha5 D9st given the invali5 his me5icine( 2U being his ho9r =or taking it. /o these wor5s
were spoken b> E5war5 at the same time at which the two girls ha5 hear5 themselves
calle5( an5 th9s onl> co9l5 the voice =rom the orchar5 be acco9nte5 =or.
BM. 0. /.C
P*he BMargaretC o= the narrative.Q
*he =ollowing statement is =rom Mrs. '.( the B-onstanceC o= the narrative.
B/ept. 2773.
BMargaret an5 I were walking in some =iel5s at ".( awa> =rom the roa5( b9t not ver> =ar
=rom the ho9se. .ere I hear5 a voice call u-onnie an5 Margaret4 clearl> an5 5istinctl>. I
sho9l5 not have i5enti=ie5 it with *e54s voice Yi.e.( her brother4s at ).Z( =or we tho9ght it
was one o= the " brothers at the time( till we =o9n5 no one ha5 calle5 9s. I remember that
it was be=ore earl> 5inner( an5 that I was e?pecting to be =etche5 home that same
morning( beca9se o= *e54s illness@ an5 that Mrs. ,. tho9ght o= asking mother i= *e5 ha5
mentione5 o9r names in an> wa>( before she tol5 her o= what ha5 passe5 at ". I o9ght to
a55 that an e?planation o= the stor> might be =o9n5 in the con59ct o= some " plo9gh-bo>(
pla>ing a trick 9pon 9s. *he sit9ation was s9ch that he might easil> have kept o9t o= sight
behin5 a he5ge.
B-. E. '.C
Mr. 1o5more sa>s:A
B%ovember U8th( 277:.
BI saw Mrs. '. >ester5a>. /he tol5 me that the> recognise5 the voice vag9el> as a well-
known one at the time. /he thinks that the coinci5ence in time was E9ite e?act( beca9se
Mrs. ,. o= " ma5e a note o= the circ9mstance imme5iatel>. .er brotherAan ol5 school-
=ellow o= mineAcannot recollect the inci5ent at all.C
YI= a written note was ma5e( the girls4 e?perience m9st have seeme5 o55er than the
Bnothing more was tho9ght o= itC in Mrs. /.4s acco9nt wo9l5 impl>.Z
Mrs. ,. o= ) sa>s:A
BM> son was abo9t 2W >ears ol5. .e ha5 ha5 =ever an5 in=lammation( an5 was weakene5
b> illness. It was abo9t 2U o4clock. I was sitting with him( a=ter his washing an5 5ressing(
an5 he seeme5 E9iet an5 ii-288! sleep>( b9t not asleep. .e s955enl> sprang =orwar5(
pointe5 his =inger( with arms o9tstretche5( an5 calle5 o9t in a voice the lo95ness o= which
astonishe5 me( u-onnie an5 Margarets4 with a stress on each name( unear the he5ge(4
looke5 wil5l> at them( an5 then sank 5own( tire5. I tho9ght it o55 at the time( b9t(
consi5ering it a sort o= 5ream( 5i5 not all95e to it. *he ne?t 5a>( Mrs. ,. calle5 with
-onnie an5 Margaret( an5 sai5 the girls ha5 hear5 their names calle5@ ha5 r9n home@ were
walking b> a he5ge in their =iel5( ha5 =o9n5 no one ha5 calle5 them =rom " 'ector>. *he
voice so9n5e5 =amiliar( b9t as =ar as I can rememberAm> 5a9ghter will sa>Ait was not
5istinctl> tho9ght to be E5war54s. I at once tol5 m> stor>( as it was too striking not to be
name5. *he> sai5 it was abo9t 2U o4clock. *ho9gh he was constantl> 5elirio9s in the
evening( when the p9lse rose( he was never so in the mi55le o= the 5a>( an5 there was no
appearance o= his being so at the time this occ9rre5.
BM. ). ,.C
Mrs. ,. o= " sa>s:A
B)9g9st( 2773.
B-onnie was sta>ing with 9s on acco9nt o= the illness o= her brother E5war5( an5 ha5A
with MargaretAbeen rea5ing with me one morning. )t abo9t 22.:; the> went into the
gar5en to pla> Pthe> were girls o= abo9t 2: an5 23Q( an5 in hal= an ho9r came 9p to the
win5ow to know what I wante5. I sai5 u%othing(4 an5 that I ha5 not calle5 them( tho9gh
the> ha5 hear5 both their names calle5 repeate5l>( I aske5 them where the> were when
the> hear5 it( an5 the> sai5 in the ne?t walkAwhich( >o9 will remember( is =orme5 on
one si5e b> the orchar5 he5ge. Margaret sai5 5irectl>( u*here( -onnie@ I sai5 it was not
mother4s( b9t a bo>4s voice.4 *hen I t9rne5 to look at the clockA=or we ha5 some bo>s as
p9pils thenAan5 I sai5( uIt wo9l5 not be one o= the bo>s( =or the> are not o9t o= the
st95>@ it is now 2U o4clock( an5 I hear them coming o9t.4
BI was to take -onnie home that a=ternoon(
2
an5( on arriving( o= co9rse m> =irst E9estion
was( u.ow was E5war5r4 Mrs. ,. tol5 me that he ha5 not been so well( an5 ha5 been
ver> 5elirio9s. /he sai5 that morning he ha5 been calling( u'argaretT ConnieT 'argaretT
ConnieT 8h, the, are running b, a hedge, and -ont listen to (e.4 I 5i5 not sa> what ha5
happene5 at home( b9t aske5 i= she knew at what time this ha5 so 5istresse5 him. /he
sai5 u#es@4 =or she ha5 looke5 at the clock( hoping it was nearl> time to give him his
me5icine( which alwa>s E9iete5 him( an5 was thank=9l to =in5 it was D9st 2U o4clock.C
.ere we seem to have( on the part o= the two girls( a telepathic hall9cination( repro59cing
the e?act wor5s that were in the mo9th an5 ear o= the sick bo>@ an5( on his part( a vision
re=lecte5 =rom their min5s( an5 once more ill9strating how what might be 5escribe5 as
clairvo>ance ma> be a tr9e variet> o= tho9ght-trans=erence. *he s9ggestion at the en5 o=
Mrs. '.4s acco9nt m9st not be over-looke5@ ii-28W! b9t I sho9l5 be gla5 to know o=
prece5ents =or hi55en plo9gh-bo>s calling o9t the -hristian names o= clerg>men4s
5a9ghters an5 their =rien5s. %or 5o I E9ite see how s9ch a =reak co9l5 merit the
5esignation o= a BtrickC@ it wo9l5 s9rel> be a mere piece o= aimless an5 pointless r95eness
A9nless( in5ee5 the plo9gh-bo> was enDo>ing a telepathic ch9ckle at the i5ea that his cr>
might be con=o9n5e5 with another( which was being sim9ltaneo9sl> 9ttere5 =ive miles
o==.
It will be seen that the n9mber o= these reciprocal cases Peven with the a55ition o= those
in the /9pplementQ is smallAso small that the gen9ineness o= the t>pe might =airl>
eno9gh be calle5 in E9estion. *here is some 5anger that o9r view o= the rarer telepathic
phenomena ma> be 9n59l> a==ecte5 b> the sense o= certaint> that gra59all> an5
reasonabl> =orms with regar5 to the broa5 =act o= telepath> itsel=. *he arg9ment =or the
realit> o= telepath>( we m9st remember( 5epen5s on a mass o= narratives so large as to
make a 9niversal error in the essential point o= all or nearl> all o= them e?cee5ingl>
improbable@ an5 is not available in respect o= pec9liar =eat9res( which are present in onl>
a ver> small proportion o= the allege5 cases. +or these( the vario9s possibilities o= error so
=9ll> 5isc9sse5 in the general sketch o= the evi5ence PVol. I.( -hap. IV.Q ma> seem E9ite
s9==icient to acco9nt@ an5 the greater the theoretic interest o= the pec9liarities( the more
Dealo9sl> m9st their evi5ential claims be scr9tinise5. )s to reciprocalit>( the rea5er will
=orm his own opinion. *hat the e?amples sho9l5 be =ew( as compare5 with those o= the
simpler telepathic t>pes( cannot at this stage o= o9r inE9ir> seem 9nnat9ral. +or i=( ami5
all the apparent opport9nities that h9man lives present( the 9nknown an5 probabl>
transient con5itions o= telepathic percipience an5 o= telepathic agenc> onl> occasionall>
chance to coinci5e( so as to pro59ce a telepathic phenomenon at all Ppp. WWT7Q@ an5 i=( o=
the two( the con5itions o= percipience are the rarer( as e?perimental tho9ght-trans=erence
wo9l5 lea5 9s to s9ppose@ then the complete con5itions o= a reciprocal case m9st be rare
among the rare. /till( i= the> have occ9rre5( the> will occ9r again. I= m> colleag9es an5 I
are right in s9pposing the t>pe to be a gen9ine one( we o9ght to obtain( as time goes on(
some more well-atteste5 specimens o= it@ an5 to this we look =orwar5 with consi5erable
con=i5ence.
ii-287!
+!P#&R 0)(((.
+%''&+#()& +!$&$.
S 2. *.E telepathic cases E9ote5 in the =oregoing chapters have almost all a==ecte5 a
single percipient onl>@ an5 the =act that sometimes the percipient was in compan> at the
time( an5 that his sensor> e?perience was 9nshare5 b> an> one present(
2
has con=irme5
the view Pto which all other consi5erations seeme5 to convergeQ that telepathic a==ections
o= the senses are in the most literal sense hallucinations. "9t we have alrea5>
enco9ntere5 a =ew cases where the senses o= more than one percipient have been
a==ecte5@
U
an5 what awaits 9s in the present chapter is the 5isc9ssion an5 complete
ill9stration o= this perple?ing =eat9re.
O= co9rse the =irst view which is s9ggeste5 b> the =act that two or more people have seen
or hear5 the same thing at the same time is that the sight or so9n5( however abnormal an5
9nacco9ntable( was 59e to some obDective realit> within the range o= their sense-organsA
in other wor5s( that it was not a hall9cination at all.
:
.ence those apparentl> telepathic
instances where a sensor> e?perience( representative o= some absent person( has been
share5 b> more than one percipient( wo9l5 impl> the imme5iate presence o= some sort o=
ph>sical wraith( or at an> rate o= an obDective h9man presence.
I scarcel> know how =ar the i5ea o= a literal wraith is serio9sl> entertaine5 b> an>
e59cate5 person in the present 5a>. &aseo9s an5 vaporo9s ghosts are( I imagine( E9ite at a
5isco9nt@ b9t the wor5 BetherC seems sometimes to be 9se5 as a wa> o9t o= the ii-28X!
5i==ic9lt>. +or man> ears the wor5 has( no 5o9bt( a convenient vag9eness@ b9t( in =act( we
know o= no mo5e b> which ether can a==ect the retina( e?cept thro9gh waves starte5 b>
l9mino9s s9bstances o= known t>pe. )n5 even i= etherial ghosts co9l5 be seen( the
auditor, phenomena wo9l5 remain a hopeless obstacle to a satis=actor> ph>sical
e?planation o= them. +or even the ass9mption o= some ten9o9s an5 el9sive =orm o=
matter( which somehow hangs abo9t in relation to the m>sterio9s ether( seems less
5esperate than the ass9mption that s9ch a ten9o9s presence co9l5 move the air in the
in=initel> comple? vibration-patterns which correspon5 to speech or m9sicAthat is to
sa>( co9l5 pro59ce at will an e==ect o= inconceivable 5i==ic9lt> an5 comple?it> on certain
gross elements o= the known material worl5.
)s to the notion o= an obDective presence which ma> a==ect the perceptive =ac9lt> o=
several persons witho9t pro59cing changes in the e?ternal worl5( one sort o= case is
conceivable which wo9l5 no 5o9bt =avo9r itAe.g.( i= two persons( sit9ate5 at some
5istance =rom one another( saw the appearance in the respective relations o= 5istance an5
post9re which a real obDect o= the same kin5 wo9l5 bear to themAone o= them( it might
be( seeing a =9ll =ace( an5 the other a pro=ile. "9t I know o= no e?amples o= this sort. )n5
as a mere theor>( the notion in E9estion ma> be le=t with a single general comment@ =or
tho9gh o9r path skirts( it ha5 better not enter( the metaph>sical lab>rinth s9ggeste5 b> the
wor5s BobDective realit>.C Let it be conce5e5 then that( where there is a consens9s o=
perception( it becomes a nice E9estion =or I5ealism to 5etermine how =ar( or in what
sense( the percept lacks an obDective basis. *o p9t an e?treme caseAs9ppose all the
seeing worl5( save one in5ivi59al( ha5 a vis9al percept( the obDect o= which nevertheless
el95e5 all ph>sical tests: wo9l5 the solitar> in5ivi59al be D9sti=ie5 in sa>ing that all the
others were victims o= a s9bDective 5el9sionr an5 i= he sai5 so( wo9l5 the> agree with
himr "9t then in this case( or in a less e?treme one o= the same kin5( we might at an> rate
ask one o= the perceivers to tell 9s what meaning he can attach to the ob5ectivit, o= his
percept( be>on5 that it has its e?istence in other min5s besi5es his own. I= he =ails to
s9ppl> 9s with an> =9rther meaning( on him s9rel> lies the onus o= proving that the
con5itions o= the percept lie o9tsi5e the perceiving min5s@ an5 i= no proo= be
=orthcoming( I then see no 5e=inite wa> o= 5isting9ishing this BobDectiveC view o=
Bcollective hall9cinationsC =rom the view to be consi5ere5 ii-2W;! imme5iatel>( which
regar5s the comm9nit> o= percipience as a =orm o= tho9ght-trans=erence.
2

B"9tCAsome obDectors ma> sa>ABthe E9estion has been begge5 b> ass9ming that the
collective percept el95es ph>sical tests. *r9e( apparitions have not >et been s9bDecte5 to
spectroscopic anal>sis( nor have phantasmal remarks been recor5e5 b> the phonograph@
b9t s9ppose that the =orm o= a 5>ing person not onl> appears( b9t opens the 5oor or the
win5ow( an5 the 5oor or the win5ow re(ains open( th9s a==or5ing to the m9scles o= the
servant who closes it a test o= a ph>sical change in the e?ternal worl5Awhat acco9nt is to
be given o= thisrC %ow clearl> s9ch phenomena( even i= establishe5( wo9l5 a==or5 no
convincing analog> b> which to D95ge o= cases where no similar ph>sical tests are
incl95e5. "9t( as a matter o= =act( no recor5s o= the sort that we have met with have
reache5 the evi5ential stan5ar5 which wo9l5 entitle them to a place in this book Psee Vol.
I.( p. 28VQ@ an5 9ntil the> are establishe5 b> irre=ragable evi5ence( there is another
analog> which has in ever> wa> a prior claimAnamel>( the =acts o= telepath> as so =ar set
=orth. -annot o9r =9rther =acts be e?plaine5 witho9t going be>on5 the p9rel> ps>chical
trans=erence =or which we believe that we have ample evi5encer
Let 9s see in what wa>s a theor> o= p9rel> ps>chical impressions co9l5 cover the
phenomena o= collective hall9cination. *wo possible views o= what ma> happen present
themselves. *he first o= these wo9l5 appl> onl> to veri5ical casesAcases which are
BtelepathicC in the literal sense. On this view the sim9ltaneo9s e?periences wo9l5 be
trace5 to a ca9se e?ternal to the percipients@ b9t this ca9se wo9l5 not be a real obDect
within the range o= the percipients4 senses( b9t a real con5ition o= an absent person. )(
who is passing thro9gh some crisis at a 5istance( pro59ces a sim9ltaneo9s telepathic
impression on the min5s o= " an5 o= -( who happen to be together@ both " an5 - proDect
this impression as a hall9cination o= the senses( in the wa> that has been so =9ll>
consi5ere5@ an5 the hall9cinations more or less nearl> resemble each other.
*he second view wo9l5 appl> eE9all> to the cases which are( an5 to those which are not(
telepathic( in this literal sense o= relating to a ii-2W2! distant agent. *he view is that the
hall9cination o= one percipient( however ca9se5( begets that o= the other( b> a process o=
tho9ght-trans=erence@ the hall9cination is in itsel=( so to speak( in=ectio9s. " an5 - are
together( an5 " has a hall9cinationAit ma> be veri5ical an5 59e to a telepathic
impression =rom the 5istant )( or it ma> be non-veri5ical an5 59e to a spontaneo9s
pathological 5ist9rbance o= "4s own brain@ an5 this e?perience o= "4s is then
comm9nicate5 to -( whose brain =ollows s9it an5 proDects a kin5re5 image. *he process
in =act wo9l5 strongl> recall those cases o= sim9ltaneo9s 5reaming where one 5ream ma>
be regar5e5 as the ca9se o= the other.
2
It wo9l5 be a =resh e?ample o= the ps>chological
i5entit> between the sleeping an5 the waking hall9cinations on which so m9ch stress has
alrea5> been lai5.
/9ch are the two possible views@ an5 we have now to 5eci5e how =ar either( or both( ma>
be reasonabl> entertaine5. I ma> state at once that in m> opinion the best sol9tion that the
problem at present a5mits o= involves a certain combination o= the two Psee S W belowQ@
b9t I shall cons9lt clearness b> =irst consi5ering each o= them separatel>.
S U. +irst( then( as regar5s the theor> o= the sim9ltaneo9s origination o= two or more
hall9cinations b> a 5istant agentAwe certainl> know o= no reason wh> a state o= the
agent which is telepathicall> e==ective at all( sho9l5 be bo9n5 to con=ine its e==ects to a
single percipient. *hat it generall> 5oes so con=ine them( ma> be easil> e?plaine5 b>
s9pposing a special s9sceptibilit> on the percipient4s part( or a special rapport between
him an5 the agent@ b9t that occasionall> the impression sho9l5 e?ten5 to others( who have
also been s>mpatheticall> relate5 to the agent( ma> seem no ver> asto9n5ing =act. %ow i=
the impression were a merel> inwar5 e?perience( an impression o= a merel> i5eal or
emotional kin5( an5 5i5 not give rise to act9al hall9cination( this acco9nt o= the matter
might be pla9sible eno9gh: it wo9l5 appl> =or instance to Mr. .. /. *hompson4s case(
Vol. I.( p. XX. "9t it will be remembere5 that we have seen reason to regar5 the
hallucination as 5istinctivel> the percipients workAas something proDecte5 b> him
9n5er a telepathic stim9l9s@ an5 we have =o9n5 these sensor> proDections to take vario9s
=orms accor5ing to the proDector4s i5ios>ncrasies. ,e have =o9n5( moreover( that the time
59ring ii-2WU! which s9ch hall9cinations ma> take place e?ten5s over several ho9rsA
that we cannot name an e?act moment at which the telepathic message will reach
conscio9sness( or e?ternalise itsel= to the sense. It becomes( then( e?tremel> improbable
that two or more persons sho9l5 in5epen5entl> invest their respective telepathic
impressions( at the sa(e moment( with the sa(e sensor> =orm@ that the> sho9l5 all at
once see the same =ig9re( or hear the same so9n5( in apparentl> the same place. ,e
sho9l5 e?pect to =in5 one o= them embo5>ing it in so9n5( an5 another( perhaps hal= an
ho9r later( in visible shape@ or one o= them embo5>ing it in so9n5 or shape( an5 another
onl> conscio9s o= it as an inwar5 i5ea@ an5 so on. )n5 =or 5ivergences o= this sort( the
evi5ence( tho9gh it e?ists( is small in amo9nt.
"9t this is not all. On the theor> that Doint telepathic hall9cinations are all e?cl9sivel> an5
5irectl> 59e to a 5istant agent( there is one thing that we sho9l5 not e?pect to happen( an5
one thing that we should e?pect to happen. P2Q ,e sho9l5 not e?pect the gro9p o=
percipients to incl95e an>one who was a stranger to the agent@ or who was not personall>
in s9ch relations with the agent as wo9l5 have ren5ere5 it nat9ral =or him( ha5 he chance5
to be alone at the time( to s9==er the same telepathic e?perience. %evertheless( cases e?ist
where s9ch an o9tsi5e person has share5 in the perception. )n5 PUQ we should e?pect that
in a =air proportion o= cases two or more percipients wo9l5 share the perception( tho9gh
the> were not in each other4s compan> at the time. +or on the theor> that is being
consi5ere5( there wo9l5 be no virt9e in the mere local pro?imit> o= the percipients to one
another@ the agent is s9ppose5 to a==ect them b> 5int o= his respective relations to each o=
them( which have nothing to 5o with their being together or apart. %ow( in point o= =act(
we have a gro9p o= cases where the persons Dointl> a==ecte5 have been apart( b9t the> are
5isproportionatel> rare in comparison with the e?periences share5 b> percipients who
have been together@ an5 in several o= them( moreover( " an5 -( the two percipients( were
near each other( an5 ha5 been to some e?tent sharing the same li=e-con5itions which ma>
have ha5 their share in the e==ect Psee pp. U88T7Q. .owever( the e?istence o= this t>pe
might no 5o9bt be regar5e5 as an arg9ment =or the occasional pro59ction ab e.tra o=
several similar an5 sim9ltaneo9s hall9cinations@ an5 o9r =ew specimens ma>
convenientl> be cite5 at once.
I have alrea5> given PVol. I.( pp. :8UT:Q a case where two vivi5 5reams o= a E9ite
9ne?pecte5 5eath were 5reamt b> persons who ii-2W:! were in the same ho9se( b9t not
in the same room. *he =ollowing is a somewhat similar instance( b9t onl> one o= the
e?periences was a 5ream. Mrs. "ettan>( o= U( Eckington Villas( )shbo9rne &rove(
$9lwich Pthe narrator o= case U;(Q writes:A
BF9ne( 277V.
P:;XQ BOn the evening o=( I think( March U:r5( 277:( I was sei]e5 with an 9nacco9ntable
an?iet> abo9t a neighbo9r( whose name I D9st knew( b9t with whom I was not on visiting
terms. /he was a la5> who appeare5 to be in ver> goo5 health. I trie5 to shake o== the
=eeling( b9t I co9l5 not( an5 a=ter a sleepless night( in which I constantl> tho9ght o= her as
5>ing( I 5eci5e5 to sen5 a servant to the ho9se to ask i= all were well. *he answer I
receive5 was( uMrs. F. 5ie5 last night.4
B.er 5a9ghter a=terwar5s tol5 me that the mother ha5 startle5 her b> sa>ing( uMrs.
"ettan> knows I shall 5ie.4
BI ha5 never =elt an interest in the la5> be=ore that memorable night. )=ter the 5eath( the
=amil> le=t the neighbo9rhoo5( an5 I have not seen an> o= them since.
BFE)%IE &,#%%E "E**)%#.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that Mrs. F. 5ie5 on March U:( 277:.
*he =ollowing is the evi5ence o= the servant who was sent to inE9ire:A
BFan9ar>( 2778.
BI remember Mrs. "ettan> sen5ing me to inE9ire i= all were well at Mrs. F.4s. *he answer
the> gave me was that Mrs. F. was 5ea5. Mrs. "ettan> sent me to inE9ire( beca9se she ha5
a presentiment that Mrs. F. was 5ea5 or 5>ing.C
Mrs. "ettan> a55s:A
BM> cook( to whom I ha5 not mentione5 m> presentiment( remarke5 to me on the same
morning: uI have ha5 s9ch a horrible 5ream abo9t Mrs. F.( I think she m9st be going to
5ie.4 /he 5istinctl> remembers that some one Pshe 5oes not know -ho( an5 I think never
5i5Q tol5 her in her 5ream that Mrs. F. was 5ea5.C
*he =ollowing is the =irst-han5 evi5ence to the 5ream:A
BFan9ar> 22th( 2778.
BI remember that some one in m> 5ream sai5 uMrs. F. is 5ea5.4 I 5o not remember the rest
o= the 5ream( b9t I know it was horrible. I tol5 Mrs. "ettan> at the time( an5 she then tol5
me abo9t her presentiment abo9t Mrs. F.
BM. ,E%*.C
YM. ,ent has occasionall> 5reamt o= the 5eaths o= people she knows( witho9t an>
correspon5ence.Z
*his case wo9l5 seem to have been in some wa> BreciprocalC an5 it is 9n=ort9nate that we
cannot obtain =9rther 5etails o= the 5>ing woman4s impression.
ii-2W3!
*he ne?t is a waking an5 sensor> e?ample o= the same kin5. It was =irst obtaine5 in
writing =rom Mrs. +agan( o= "ove> *race>( %ewton )bbot( the mother o= one o= the
percipients@ an5 her acco9nt e?empli=ies the inacc9racies which secon5-han5 evi5ence
ma> sometimes intro59ce( witho9t reall> a==ecting the case in an> vital point.
B277:.
P:2;Q B,hile the 'ev. -. -. *. +agan YMrs. +agan4s sonZ( then -haplain o= /ealkote(
In5ia( was 5ressing =or 5inner on -hristmas $a> evening( 27W8( his co9sin( -hristopher
2

+agan( being similarl> emplo>e5 in an a5Dacent room( both hear5 the name u+agan4
calle5. *he 'ev. -. -. *. +agan( tho9gh thinking it strange his co9sin sho9l5 th9s a55ress
him( >et knowing no one else was in the ho9se( went to him asking what he wante5( wh>
he ha5 not calle5 him u-harlie4 as 9s9al( an5 remarking that the voice was like that o=
-aptain -la>ton( a cavalr> o==icer( who ha5 been 9n5er his pastoral charge( b9t was then
at a 5istant station. .is co9sin replie5 that he too ha5 hear5 the voice( an5 probabl> it was
that o= MaDor -ollis( whom the> were e?pecting to 5inner. Upon this the> a5Do9rne5 to
the 5rawing-room( where the> =o9n5 the MaDor( b9t as he ha5 onl> D9st come in( he ha5
neither calle5 nor hear5 the voice.
B,hile telling him o= what ha5 occ9rre5( the> all three hear5 the same voice repeat the
same name( an5 MaDor -ollis remarke5( uIt is like -la>ton4s voice.4
B*he ne?t morning a telegram was receive5 to the e==ect that -aptain -la>ton 5ie5 at that
ho9r =rom an acci5ent receive5 while pla>ing at polo.C
MaDor -ollis tol5 o9r =rien5( the 'ev. ). *. +r>er( o= -lerkenwell( that Mr. +agan an5 his
co9sin were stan5ing in the 5oorwa> o= the 5rawing-room talking( when the> hear5 the
call( B+agan.C .e himsel= was 5ressing in his room( an5 the> calle5 o9t to him to know
what he wante5@ b9t he ha5 not spoken( nor ha5 he hear5 the call. ,hilst the> were
talking together( the voice came a secon5 time( an5 all three hear5 it.
On being applie5 to with regar5 to the 5iscrepanc> between these two acco9nts( the 'ev.
-. -. *. +agan writes:A
B/itap9r( )9g9st UVth( 277:.
B/o =ar as m> memor> serves( the statement o= MaDor -ollis is correct as to the c9rio9s
coinci5ence o= which he has tol5 >o9. .e was certainl> sta>ing in m> ho9se at the time(
an5 was not a g9est merel> invite5 to 5innerAas m> co9sin was. I cannot now sa> who
s9ggeste5 the voice so9n5e5 like that o= -aptain -la>ton.
B-. -. *. +)&)%.C
Mr. +agan sa>s( however( in another letter: BI am 9n5er the impression that m> co9sin 5i5
not hear the voice.C .e a55s: B)t or abo9t the time in E9estion( an5 on more occasions
than one( I have imagine5 that I hear5 people calling me( b9t( I ma> a55( this e?perience
is now sel5om or ever happening to me.C
ii-2WV!
MaDor -ollis writes to 9s on )9g9st U( 2773:A
B:( "arton *errace( $awlish.
BIn repl> to the E9estions >o9 ask( I have never ha5 e?perience o= an> other a95itor>
hall9cination: neither have I ever ha5 an> hall9cinations o= the senses whatever.
B&. -OLLI/.C
Mr. +agan4s co9sin( Lie9tenant &. +orbes +agan( o= the 2;th Lancers( writes to 9s:A
B/imla( F9l> :2st( 277V.
BI remember that on the a=ternoon o= the 5a> on which -aptain -la>ton met his 5eath( I
was in the 'ev. -. +aganus ho9se at /ealkote@ an5 he sai5 he ha5 hear5 his motherus voice
calling to him( an5 that something was s9re to happen. I hear5 no voice m>sel=. ,hen
news arrive5 o= -aptain -la>tonus 5eath( m> co9sin sai5 the voice m9st have ha5 some
connection with it.
B&. +. +)&)%.C
In an interview with Mrs. +agan( 1ro=essor /i5gwick learnt that -aptain -la>ton was
intimate with the 'ev. -. -. *. +agan( an5 also knew MaDor -ollis.
*he Calcutta >nglislunan o= $ecember U7th( contains a telegram o= $ecember U8th:
BLast evening -aptain -la>ton( e?tra ai5e-5e-camp to the Vicero>( was thrown while
pla>ing polo( an5 5ie5 59ring the night.C
In answer to a E9estion as to the ho9r o= the acci5ent( MaDor Lor5 ,illiam "eres=or5
writes to 9s:A
B)s well as I remember( it was 8.2V in the evening o= -hristmas $a>( 27W8( an5 he 5ie5
in m> arms e?actl> as the clock str9ck 2U. .e never spoke a=ter he =ell.C
Y*he somewhat ragge5 =orm in which this evi5ence is presente5 is 59e to the =act that the
'ev. -. -. *. +agan an5 MaDor -ollis are 9n5erstoo5 to 5islike the s9bDect( an5 that we
have scr9ple5 to press them. "9t it seems E9ite certain that at a time closel>
correspon5ing to that o= the acci5ent( two percipients( one o= whom has never ha5 an>
other hall9cination( hear5 a voice which belonge5 to no one in their vicinit>. )s to the
imme5iate connection o= the voice with -aptain -la>ton( the evi5ence is not so clear@ b9t
as regar5s Lie9t. +agan4s recollections( we cannot b9t remark the e?treme 9nlikelihoo5
that the two hearers sho9l5 imagine Mrs. +agan4s voice as calling her son b> his s9rname@
an5 also the 9nlikelihoo5 that( i= it was her voice that her son recognise5( he sho9l5 have
altere5 this interesting point in the acco9nt which he gave her. *he case is( o= co9rse( to
some e?tent weakene5 b> the =act that the 'ev. -. -. *. +agan has ha5 other a95itor>
hall9cinations. It is worth a55ing( however( that one o= these e?periences( when he hear5
his mother4s voice 9rgentl> calling him( prove5 to have coinci5e5 with a ver> s955en an5
e?ceptional longing =or his presence on her part P/9pplement( -hap. IV.( S 2Q@ an5 it ma>
possibl> have been the mention o= this =act that ca9se5 a con=9sion in Lie9t. +agan4s
memor>( an5 le5 him to associate Mrs. +agan with the present e?perience.Z
*he =ollowing case is part o= a recor5 o= some sing9lar h>pnotic e?periences( o= which
some =9rther specimens will be given in ii-2W8! -hap. I.( S :( o= the /9pplement. Mrs.
Fohn Evens( o= Ol5bank( Enniskillen( narrates as =ollows:A
B$ecember 3th( 277V.
P:22Q B,ith regar5 to the apparition or optical ill9sion( I have a per=ect an5 clear
remembrance. It occ9rre5 a=ter the e?perience relate5 Yi.e.( a=ter a cataleptic =it pro59ce5
9n5er h>pnotic in=l9enceZ. *he operator ha5 le=t me with an earnest reE9est to m>
h9sban5 to sen5 =or( or =etch him( sho9l5 an>thing seem to reE9ire it.
BI was wi5e awake( an5 enDo>ing the =ree5om =rom pain@ m> room being care=9ll>
5arkene5. *he operator ha5( while with me( been seate5 on a chair mi5wa> between m>
be5 an5 a chest o= 5rawersAabo9t three =eet =rom each. I was thinking ver> grate=9ll> o=
the relie= I ha5 e?perience5( when I notice5 a bl9eish-white light ro9n5 the chair. It
seeme5 to be =lickering an5 5arting in a large oval( b9t gra59all> concentrate5 on a =ig9re
seate5 on the chair.
2
*he appearance 5i5 not startle me in the least@ m> =irst tho9ght was(
uIt is Mr. *.( a >o9ng o==icer with whom we were ver> intimate( an5 who ha5 been in the
ho9se that evening. "9t the e?pression o= the mo9th str9ck me then( an5 I tho9ght u-an it
be Mr. $.r4Aa 5ear =rien5 who ha5 5ie5 some little time be=ore. )ll this time the =ace
seeme5 to be changing( an5( as it were( settling. /955enl> it =lashe5 into m> min5 uIt is
Mr. ".4 Pthe =ather o= the operatorQ. I 5i5 not know this gentleman at all( e?cept =rom
having seen his photograph( b9t ha5 no 5o9bt on the s9bDect. P-9rio9sl> eno9gh his
mo9th an5 that o= Mr. $.4s were sing9larl> alike in e?pression.Q *he =ig9re sat in a kin5
o= 5im halo. I =elt no s9rprise@ nor 5i5 I speak to it( b9t tho9ght( uOh( >o9 have come to
=in5 1. Pthe sonQ@ he has been here all the evening( b9t has gone home now.4 )s I tho9ght
this the halo gra59all> 5i==9se5 itsel=( as it ha5 be=ore become concentrate5( an5 the
=ig9re vanishe5. "esi5es the 5istinctness o= =eat9re( a movement( o= crossing an5
9ncrossing the knees two or three times( str9ck me.
B*hat same night( an5 it m9st have been nearl> at the same time( the =rien5 who ha5
magnetise5 me was awoke b> hearing his name calle5 twice. .is impression was that I
nee5e5 his ai5( an5 he was prepare5 to come Phe was living a mile o==Q( i= he hear5 the
call repeate5. "9t it was not. *he ne?t 5a>( when I saw him( witho9t telling him an> o=
this( I aske5( u.as >o9r =ather an> noticeable habit or trick o= movementr4 )t =irst he sai5
u%o(4 an5 then( u9nless >o9 wo9l5 5escribe as s9ch a wa> he has o= =reE9entl> crossing
an5 9ncrossing his knees. .e has varicose veins( an5 is restless at timess4
B*his was the whole matter. *he =ather( who 5islikes s9ch s9bDects( wo9l5 never sa>
whether he ha5 5reame5 or been thinking intentl> o= his son@ b9t probabl> it was so.
B)&%E/ EVE%/.C
In a letter 5ate5 27th $ecember( 277V( Mrs. Evens writes that she thinks the occ9rrence
took place in /eptember or October( 2772. /he has never e?perience5 an> other vis9al
hall9cination.
In answer to inE9iries( she a55s:A
ii-2WW!
P2Q BI cannot be s9re as to the time at which I saw the appearance( b9t( p9tting
circ9mstances together( I sho9l5 think between 2U an5 2 o4clockAnearer the latter ho9r.
PUQ BI am per=ectl> certain that I 9ttere5 no so9n5@ the phantom4s 5isappearance seeme5
to answer to the tho9ght that passe5 thro9gh m> min5( u#o9 want 1reston@ he has been
here all the evening( b9t went back to +ort *o9rgis some time since.4
P:Q BI ha5 not an> wish =or his presence. I was l>ing in E9iet enDo>ment o= the relie= =rom
agonising pain an5 E9ivering nerves( in which con5ition one has no active line o=
tho9ght. I ver> likel> tho9ght abo9t him( with a la]> kin5 o= gratit95e to him as the
a9thor o= the relie= I was e?periencing.C
-aptain "attersb>( '.).( +.'.)./.( o= Or5nance .o9se( Enniskillen( son-in-law o= Mrs.
Evens( writes:A
B$ecember U2st( 277V.
BI ha5 mesmerise5 Mrs. E. =or several months( =or severe ne9ralgia( with the view o=
a==or5ing her nat9ral sleep. One night she ha5 been in the mesmeric trance( an5 ha5 been
awoke b> me( an5 I ha5 ret9rne5 to barracksAsit9ate5 abo9t hal=-a-mile =rom her ho9se
Aleaving her in her room. I went to be5( an5 to sleep( an5 was awakene5 with a start b>
hearing m> name calle5 ver> 5istinctl>. I sat 9p in be5( an5 looke5 =or the caller( b9t saw
no one. It was too 5ark to look at m> watch( so that I cannot sa> what the time ma> have
been. It occ9rre5 to me at the time that Mrs. E. might want me =or something. I 5i5 not
recognise the voice( an5 in5ee5 ha5 no chance o= 5oing so( as it 5i5 not call again. In the
morning I went to see Mrs. E.( in or5er to =in5 o9t whether she ha5 ha5 an> 9n9s9al
e?perience. /he aske5 me i= an>thing ha5 happene5 to me the night be=ore. I sai5 u#es(4
an5 aske5 her wh> she p9t the E9estion. /he sai5( u.as >o9r =ather a habit o= moving one
leg over the other( now an5 then( in a restless wa>r4 *his was the case. /he then sai5(
abo9t 2 a.m. she ha5 been ro9se5 =rom sleep( an5 saw a phosphorescent appearance on
the chair near her be5( which resolve5 itsel= into a h9man =ig9re( recognise5 b> her as m>
=ather =rom a photograph in m> possession. It 5i5 not speak( b9t seeme5 to ask her
mentall> u,here is 1restonr4 *o which she respon5e5( also mentall>( u.e was here( b9t is
gone home4@ whereon the =ig9re 5isappeare5. I was somewhat alarme5 at the occ9rrence(
an5 wrote to ask i= m> =ather was well. .e was so@ an5 5i5 not remember having an>
5ream o= me on that night. Mrs. E. partic9larl> remarke5 his habit o= crossing =irst one
leg an5 then the other( o= which I ha5 not previo9sl> tol5 her.
B*. 1'E/*O% ")**E'/"#.C
In answer to inE9iries( -aptain "attersb> sa>s:A
BI beg to sa> that at no time( e?cept on the occasion re=erre5 to b> me in m> previo9s
letter( have I woke =rom sleep with the impression o= having been calle5 In =act this was
the onl> occasion in m> li=e in which I hear5 or saw an>thing 9n9s9al.C
*he BcollectiveC character o= these two e?periences is clearl> ver> 5o9bt=9l@ the> ma> not
have been 59e to an> agenc> on the ii-2W7! part o= -aptain "attersb>4s =ather( or
connecte5 with each other. "9t consi5ering that the acci5ental coinci5ence o= the two
9niE9e e?periences wo9l5 be most improbable( an5 that a h>pnotic rapport probabl>
e?iste5 between -aptain "attersb> an5 his patient( it is a reasonable s9pposition that his
min5 was either the so9rce or the channel o= a telepathic comm9nication to hers.
*he ne?t case was receive5 =rom Mrs. 1olson( o= 3( %o9velle 'o9te 5e Ville=ranche(
%ice.
BFan9ar>( 2773.
P:2UQ B/ome >ears since( when living at ,oolstone Lo5ge( ,oolstone( "erks( o= which
parish an5 ch9rch( [c.( [c.( m> h9sban5 was clerk in .ol> Or5ers( I le=t the =iresi5e
=amil> part> one evening a=ter tea( to see i= o9r &erman bonne co9l5 manage a little wil5
-ornish girl to prepare her school-room =or the morning. )s I reache5 the top o= the stairs
a la5> passe5 me who ha5 some time le=t 9s. /he was in black silk with a m9slin uclo954
over her hea5 an5 sho9l5ers( b9t her silk r9stle5. I co9l5 D9st have a glance onl> o= her
=ace. /he gli5e5 =ast an5 noiselessl> Pb9t =or the silkQ past me( an5 was lost 5own two
steps at the en5 o= a long passage that le5 onl> into m> private bo95oir( an5 ha5 no other
e?it. I ha5 barel> e?claime5 uOh( -aroline(4 when I =elt she was a something 9nnat9ral(
an5 r9she5 5own to the 5rawing-room again( an5 sinking on m> knees b> m> h9sban54s
si5e( =ainte5( an5 it was with 5i==ic9lt> I was restore5 to m>sel= again. *he ne?t morning(
I saw the> rather Doke5 me at =irst@ b9t it a=terwar5s came o9t that the little n9rser> girl(
while cleaning her grate( ha5 been so =rightene5 b> the same appearance( ua la5> sitting
near her( in black( with white all over her hea5 an5 sho9l5ers( an5 her han5s crosse5 on
her bosom(4 that nothing wo9l5 in59ce her to go into the room again@ an5 the> ha5 been
a=rai5 to tell me over night o= this con=irmation o= the appearance( thinking it wo9l5
shake m> nerves still more than it ha5 5one.
B)s chance wo9l5 have it( man> o= o9r neighbo9rs calle5 on 9s the ne?t morningAMr.
*9=nell( o= U==ington( near +aring5on( )rch5eacon "erens( Mr. )tkins( an5 others. )ll
seeme5 most intereste5( an5 Mr. *9=nell wo9l5 not be content witho9t noting 5own
partic9lars in his own pocket-book( an5 making me promise to write =or inE9iries that
ver> night( =or m> co9sin( Mrs. .enr> &ibbs. /he ha5 been sta>ing with 9s some time
previo9sl> =or a =ew 5a>s( an5 I ha5 a letter hal= written to her in the paper case.
BI wrote imme5iatel> to m> 9ncle Pthe 'ev. -. -rawle>( o= .artp9r>( near &lo9cester(Q
an5 a9nt( an5 reco9nte5 all that ha5 happene5. "> ret9rn o= post( u-aroline is ver> ill at
"elmont4 Ptheir =amil> place thenQ( uan5 not e?pecte5 to live4@ an5 5ie she 5i5 on the ver,
da, or evening she pai5 me that visit. *he shock ha5 been over-m9ch =or a not ver>
strong person( an5 I was one o= the ver> =ew members o= the -rawle> or &ibbs =amil>
who co9l5 not =ollow the =9neral.
B&EO'&I)%) 1OL/O%.C
Y*he three gentlemen whom Mrs. 1oison mentions as having been imme5iatel> in=orme5
o= her e?perience( have since 5ie5. I= the narrative ii-2WX! sho9l5 happen to meet the
e>e o= an> near relative o= the late 'ev. &. *9=nell( it might perhaps be possible to =in5
o9t whether the entr> in the pocket-book is still e?isting. )ccor5ing to the acco9nt( it
wo9l5 appear that the 'ev. -. -rawle> ha5 not hear5 o= the 5eath on the secon5 morning
a=ter its occ9rrence. *his ma> seem a little 9nlikel> Pas he was a relative living at no ver>
great 5istanceQ( b9t is still E9ite possible.Z
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. 1olson a55s:A
BI have never be=ore or since s9==ere5 =rom an> e?perience o= the kin5 Yi.e.( ha5 an>
vis9al hall9cinationZ.
BI cannot give >o9 the 5ate( it was so long ago. /till( the past 5a>s are o=ten present with
me( an5 the scenes o= that night are as =resh in remembrance as i= all ha5 occ9rre5
>ester5a>.
BI have no i5ea whatever what became o= the -ornish n9rser> girl.
BI wrote to m> a9nt an5 9ncle( near &lo9cester( to tell them o= what ha5 occ9rre5. *he>
replie5 the> ha5 hear5 Mrs. &ibbs P-arolineQ was ver> ill( an5 the ne?t comm9nication
in=orme5 9s o= her 5epart9re@ b9t I 5o not remember whether it took place earlier in the
a=ternoon or later at night than when I saw her.C
*he =ollowing is =rom the la5> who was with Mrs. 1olson as governess at the time:A
B-larence Villa( -h9rch 'oa5( ,at=or5.
BFan9ar> 22th( 2773.
BI 5o not in the least obDect to let >o9 know what I remember o= the inci5ent >o9 mention.
Man> >ears ago Mr. an5 Mrs. 1olson( with the chil5ren an5 m>sel=( were sitting one
evening in the 5rawing-room at ,oolstone. In the mi55le o= the evening Mrs. 1olson le=t
the room( b9t soon ret9rne5@ remaining silent( I looke5 9p( an5 saw her 5rop 5own on the
r9g =ainting. ,hen she recovere5( she tol5 9s she ha5 seen Mrs. &ibbs on be=ore her in
the long passage.
BI recollect hearing that the little -ornish girl sai5 she ha5 seen that same apparition
while cleaning her grate. )s to the 5ate o= the inci5ent I can onl> sa> that( to the best o=
m> recollection( it happene5 be=ore the >ear 27V2.
B.. L. M)-0E%JIE.C
,e =in5 =rom the Ti(es obit9ar> that Mrs. &ibbs 5ie5 on +ebr9ar> 28( 27V;.
In the ne?t case one o= the e?periences was emotional( not sensor>( b9t was apparentl> o=
a ver> marke5 sort. *he acco9nt is =rom an intelligent in=ormant( who has been =or man>
>ears in the service o= a =amil> known to the present writer. %either the witness nor Phe
believesQ his mother ever ha5 an> other e?perience o= the sort. .is mother has been 5ea5
=or some >ears.
BX( "lan5=or5 1lace( -larence &ate( 'egent4s 1ark.
BOctober U2st( 277U.
P:2:Q BIn the winter 27V;TV2( I( -harles Matthews( was living as b9tler( UV >ears o= age(
with &eneral Morse at *roston .all( near "9r> /t. E5m9n5s. M> mother( Mar> )nn
Matthews( was in the same establishment as cook an5 ho9sekeeper( a ver> 9pright an5
conscientio9s woman( ii-27;! an5 was m9ch like5 b> all the servants e?cepting the
la5ies4 mai5( whose name was /9san( b9t her =amil>-name I have =orgotten. *his /9san
ren5ere5 hersel= 5islike5 b> all in conseE9ence o= her tale-bearing an5 mischie=-making
propensities( b9t she stoo5 in some awe o= m> mother( whose =irmness o= character kept
her in check to a great e?tent.
B/9san =ell ill o= Da9n5ice( =or which she was me5icall> treate5 =or some months at
*roston .all( b9t 9ltimatel> was remove5 to "9r> /t. E5m9n5s .ospital( an5 place5 in
the servants4 war5( at &eneral Morse4s e?pense( where she 5ie5 abo9t a week a=ter
a5mission. .e 9se5 to sen5 a woman =rom the village to the hospital( seven miles 5istant(
to make inE9iries( on s9ch 5a>s as the carriage 5i5 not go to "9r> /t. E5m9n5s@ an5 on a
certain /at9r5a> the woman went( b9t 5i5 not ret9rn 9ntil the /9n5a> evening( when she
sai5 she ha5 =o9n5 /9san 9nconscio9s on her arrival( an5 as 5eath was evi5entl>
approaching( she was permitte5 to remain in the war5 9ntil the en5.
B$9ring this /at9r5a> night the =ollowing m>ster> occ9rre5( which has ever since been a
p9]]le to m>sel=. "eing asleep( I was awakene5 with or b> a s955en =eeling o= terror. I
stare5 thro9gh the 5arkness o= m> be5room( b9t co9l5 not see an>thing( b9t =elt overcome
b> an 9nnat9ral horror or 5rea5( an5 covere5 m>sel= with the be5-clothes( reg9larl>
scare5. M> room 5oor was in a narrow passage lea5ing to m> mother4s room( an5 an>one
passing wo9l5 almost to9ch m> 5oor. I passe5 the remaining portion o= the night in
restlessness. In the morning I met m> mother on coming 5ownstairs( an5 observe5 that
she looke5 ill an5 pale( an5 most 9n9s9all> 5epresse5. I aske5 u,hat4s the matterr4 /he
replie5( u%othing@ 5on4t ask me.4 )n ho9r or two passe5( an5 I still saw that something
was amiss( an5 I =elt 5etermine5 to know the ca9se( an5 m> mother seeme5 eE9all> bent
on not satis=>ing me. )t last I sai5( u.as it an>thing to 5o with !usanr4 /he b9rst into
tears an5 sai5( u,hat makes >o9 ask that E9estionr4 I then tol5 her o= m> scare 59ring the
night( an5 she then relate5 to me the =ollowing ustrange stor,4:A
BuI was awakene5 b> the opening o= m> be5room 5oor( an5 saw( to m> horror( !usan
enter in her night-5ress. /he came straight towar5s m> be5( t9rne5 5own the clothes( an5
lai5 hersel= besi5e me( an5 I =elt a col5 chill all 5own m> si5e where she seeme5 to to9ch
me.
2
I s9ppose I =ainte5( as I lost all recollection =or some time( an5 when I came to
m>sel= the apparition ha5 goneAb9t o= one thing I am s9re( an5 that is that it -as not a
drea(.4
B,e hear5 b> the village woman on her ret9rn the /9n5a> evening( that /9san 5ie5 in the
mi55le o= the night( an5 that previo9s to becoming 9nconscio9s her whole talk was abo9t
uret9rning to *roston .all.4 ,e ha5 ha5 no apprehension whatever o= the 5eath. ,e
tho9ght she ha5 gone to the hospital( not beca9se she was in 5anger( b9t =or the sake o=
special treatment.
B*his is a simple relation o= =acts( so =ar as I can state them. I m>sel= was not a
s9perstitio9s or simple =ellow( at the time( having seen a goo5 5eal o= the worl5@ b9t I
have never >et been able to satis=> m> own min5 as to the wh> or where=ore o= the
occ9rrence.C
ii-272!
Mr. Matthews tells me that he has never ha5 an> similar sensation@ an5 he believes that
the hall9cination was 9niE9e in the e?perience o= his mother( who 5ie5 some >ears ago.
In the remaining cases the percipients were m9ch more wi5el> separate5@ b9t
9n=ort9natel> the evi5ence as to i5entit> o= time is ver> =ar =rom complete. *he =ollowing
acco9nt is =rom Mrs. -oote( o= U7( $9ke /treet( &rosvenor /E9are( ,.
BF9l> UXth( 277V.
P:23Q BOn Easter ,e5nes5a>( 27WU( m> sister-in-law( Mrs. ,.( saile5 with her h9sban5
an5 three >o9ng chil5ren =rom Liverpool in the steamer( u/armatian(4 =or "oston( U./.(
where the> arrive5 in 59e co9rse an5 settle5. In the =ollowing %ovember she was sei]e5
with( an5 5ie5 =rom( s9ppresse5 small-po?( at that time raging in "oston. )bo9t the en5
o= %ovember( or the beginning o= $ecember in the same >ear( I was 5ist9rbe5 one
morning be=ore it was light( as near as ma> be between V an5 8 a.m.( b> the appearance o=
a tall =ig9re( in a long night-5ress( ben5ing over the be5. I 5istinctl> recognise5 this =ig9re
to be no other than m> sister-in-law( Mrs. ,.( who( as I =elt( 5istinctl> to9che5 me. M>
h9sban5( who was besi5e me asleep at the time( neither saw nor =elt an>thing.
B*his appearance was also ma5e to an age5 a9nt( resi5ing at this time at *he>5on "ois(
near Epping( Esse?. /he is now alive( age5 over 7; >ears( an5 resi5ing at .e?table( near
$art=or5( in 0ent. /he is still in =9ll possession o= all her =ac9lties. /he tol5 m> h9sban5
as recentl> as the 3th inst.( that the appearance came to her in the =orm o= a bright light
=rom a 5ark corner o= her be5room in the earl> morning. It was so 5istinct that she not
onl> recognise5 her niece( Mrs. ,.( b9t she act9all> notice5 the nee5lework on her long
night-5resss *his appearance was also ma5e to m> h9sban54s hal=-sister( at that time
9nmarrie5( an5 resi5ing at /tanhope &ar5ens. *he last name5 was the =irst to receive the
anno9ncement o= the 5eath o= Mrs. ,.( in a letter =rom the wi5ower 5ate5 $ecember P5a>
omitte5Q( 27WU( =rom 2V8( Eighth /treet( /o9th "oston( still preserve5. *he 5eath was
anno9nce5( among other papers Pas m> h9sban5 has recentl> learne5Q( in the Boston
9erald. ) comparison o= 5ates( as =ar as the> co9l5 be ma5e in two o= the cases( serve5 to
show the appearance occ9rre5 a=ter the same manner( an5 abo9t the same time( i.e.( at the
time o=( or shortl> a=ter( the 5eath o= the 5ecease5. %either m>sel= nor the age5 Mrs. ".(
nor m> h9sban54s hal=-sister( have e?perience5 an> appearance o= the kin5 be=ore or
since. It is onl> recentl>( when m> h9sban5 applie5 to his hal=-sister to h9nt 9p the
"oston letter( that we learnt =or the =irst time o= this third appearance.C
Mr. -oote writes to 9s as =ollows:A
B*hat Mrs. -oote4s uvision4 occ9rre5 within a week o= the 5eath o= Mrs. ,.( in "oston(
U./.( is 9n5o9bte5@ an5 witho9t an> e==ort to make o9r memories more precise( I ma>
a55( that =rom the =irst I have alwa>s tho9ght that the most marke5 =eat9re in the case was
PD95ging( o= co9rse( =rom an opinion =orme5 at the time when the circ9mstances were
=resh in m> memor>Q that it occ9rre5 within the U3 ho9rs a=ter 5eath. I am a=rai5 a=ter this
lapse o= time that nothing concl9sive can be arrive5 at as to utimes4 in the other two cases(
be>on5 the general i5ea that still ii-27U! obtains in the min5s o= both the age5 Mrs. ".
an5 Mrs. AA( that the visions occ9rre5 abo9t the same time as that o= Mrs. -oote( an5
a=ter the same manner. Mrs. -oote 5esires me to a55 that to this ho9r she has never
e?change5 i5eas 9pon this vision( even with the age5 Mrs. ".( which precl95es all
possibilit> o= coll9sion in the matter.
B-. .. -OO*E.C
YIt is not possible to obtain a =irst-han5 acco9nt o= the vision =rom Mr. -oote4s hal=-sister
at present.Z
*he =inal e?ample o= this t>pe is =rom Mr. 5e &9Hrin( o= X7( /an5gate 'oa5( +olkestone(
who has ha5 another apparentl> telepathic e?perience PVol. I.( p. 3U3Q. .e has ha5 no
s9bDective hall9cinations.
B277:.
P:2VQ B*he =irst instance occ9rre5 when I was in /hanghai. It was the month o= Ma>(
27V3. *he night was ver> warm( an5 I was in be5( l>ing on m> back( wi5e awake(
contemplating the 5angers b> which we were then s9rro9n5e5( =rom a threatene5 attack
b> the -hinese. I gra59all> became aware there was something in the room@ it appeare5
like a thin white =og( a mist> vapo9r(
2
hanging abo9t the =oot o= the be5. +anc>ing it was
merel> the e==ect o= a moonbeam( I took b9t little notice( b9t a=ter a =ew moments I
plainl> 5isting9ishe5 a =ig9re which I recognise5 as that o= m> sister +ann>. )t =irst the
e?pression o= her =ace was sa5( b9t it change5 to a sweet smile( an5 she bent her hea5
towar5s me as i= she recognise5 me. I was too m9ch =ascinate5 with the appearance to
speak( altho9gh it 5i5 not ca9se me the slightest =ear. *he vision seeme5 to 5isappear
gra59all> in the same manner as it came. ,e a=terwar5s learne5 that on the same 5a> m>
sister 5ie5Aalmost s955enl>. I imme5iatel> wrote a =9ll 5escription o= what I ha5 seen to
m> sister( Mrs. Elmslie Pthe wi=e o= the -ons9l at -antonQ( b9t be=ore it reache5 her( I ha5
receive5 a letter =rom her( giving me an almost similar 5escription o= what she ha5 seen
the same night( a55ing( uI am s9re 5ear +ann> is gone.4
B,hen I promise5 that I wo9l5 sen5 >o9 these partic9lars I at once wrote to m> sister(
Mrs. Elmslie( an5 she replies( uI 5o not think I was awake when +ann> appeare5 to me(
b9t I imme5iatel> awoke an5 saw her as >o9 5escribe. I stretche5 o9t m> arms to her an5
crie5 u+ann>s +ann>s4 /he smile5 9pon me( as i= sorr> to leave( then s955enl>
5isappeare5.4
B,hen this occ9rre5 we Yi.e.( Mr. 5e &9Hrin an5 Mrs. ElmslieZ were 9pwar5s o= 2(;;;
miles apart( an5 neither o= 9s ha5 a tho9ght o= her being serio9sl>( m9ch less 5angero9sl>
ill. "e=ore her 5eath she ha5 spoken o= 9s both to those aro9n5 her be5si5e. /he 5ie5 in
Ferse>( on the :;th Ma>( 27V3( between 2; an5 22 at night.C
*he Ferse> 'egister o= $eaths con=irms the 5ate given.
Mr. 5e &9Hrin kin5l> applie5 to Mrs. Elmslie =or a =9rther acco9nt. In her repl>( she
rightl> remarks that at s9ch a 5istance o= time memor> o= 5etails is 9nreliable( an5 is not
s9re Bwhether that which took place was in the nat9re o= a 5ream or o= a vision.C /he
5esires( there=ore( ii-27:! that her =9ll 5escription o= what she saw shall not be
p9blishe5@ b9t sa>s that the =ace was 9nniistakeable. /he a55s:A
BI reall> =orget whether it appeare5 imme5iatel> at the time o= o9r 5ear sister4s 5eath@ b9t
I know m> impression at the time was that it =oresha5owe5 s9ch an event( the news o=
which in 59e co9rse came b> mail.C
In conversation( Mr. 5e &9Hrin tol5 me that the =ig9re appeare5 sel=-l9mino9s Psee -hap.
\II.( S WQ. .e is certain that his own an5 Mrs. Elmslie4s visions were on the same night(
an5 that his own was abo9t 22 o4clock. .e cannot be certain whether the 5eath took place
at 22 o4clock p.m.( o= the previous 5a>( in which case it m9st have prece5e5 the visions
b> some twelve ho9rs@ or 22 o4clock p.m. o= the sa(e 5a>( in which case it m9st have
=ollowe5 the visions b> abo9t twelve ho9rs. Mr. 5e &9Hrin =9rther tol5 me that( tho9gh in
a 5ecline( his sister ha5 been ver> 5eci5e5l> better o= late( an5 he was in no sort o=
an?iet> abo9t her. *he last acco9nt ha5 been that she was gaining strength an5 =lesh. *he
5eath was e?traor5inaril> s955en.
S :. I t9rn now to the secon5 o= the two theories above propo9n5e5Athe theor> that one
percipient catches the hall9cination =rom another b> a process o= tho9ght-trans=erence.
*his is certainl> the e?planation that wo9l5 s9ggest itsel= in telepathic cases where one o=
the percipients has previo9sl> ha5 no relations( or onl> slight relations( with the 5istant
agent. "9t clearl> the most concl9sive evi5ence =or the theor> o= in=ection wo9l5 be
5erive5 =rom cases involving no 5istant BagentC at all@ cases which in their inception are
pathologic( not telepathicAp9rel> s9bDective 5el9sions on the part o= some one presentA
b9t which procee5 to comm9nicate themselves to some other person or persons. I= it can
be shown that this sel=-propagation is an occasional propert> o= hall9cinations as s9ch(
there will be no 5i==ic9lt> in e?ten5ing the same e?planation to cases where the
hall9cination is in its inception 59e to a 5istant agent. I= "4s purel, sub5ective
hall9cination ma> a==ect -( it is onl> what we sho9l5 3 priori e?pect that "4s telepathic
hall9cination might a==ect -: s9ch comm9nicabilit> wo9l5 merel> be one more o= those
points o= resemblance( which we have alrea5> seen to be so n9mero9s( between the
p9rel> s9bDective an5 telepathic classes. )n5 as collective hall9cinations even o=
s9bDective or non-veri5ical origin Pi.e.( not 59e to the critical sit9ation o= some 5istant
agentQ wo9l5 constit9te in themselves a =orm o= tho9ght-trans=erence( no e?c9se is
nee5e5 =or e?amining them here at some length.
,hat evi5ence( then( 5o we =in5 that hall9cinations o= the senses( as s9ch( ma> be
in=ectio9sr It m9st be allowe5 at starting that no propert> o= the sort has ever been
attrib9te5 to them b> ii-273! ps>chologists o= rep9te@
2
the 5octrine wo9l5 be as new to
science as ever> other variet> o= telepathic a==ection. *his( however( is easil> acco9nte5
=or. ,e have alrea5> seen that ps>chologists have never ma5e hall9cinations( or at an>
rate transient hall9cinations o= the sane( the s9bDect o= care=9l collection an5 tab9lation@
an5 it is among the sane rather than the insane
U
that we sho9l5 e?pect an> phenomenon o=
tho9ght-trans=erence to present itsel=. It is there=ore not s9rprising that the rare an5
spora5ic evi5ence =or collective hall9cinations sho9l5 have escape5 notice. "9t i=( on the
one han5( collective hall9cinations have not been recognise5 b> science( on the other
han5 phenomena have sometimes been 5escribe5 b> that title which have no sort o= claim
to it. It is here that the real importance o= 5isting9ishing illusions =rom hallucinations
lies@ an5 I cannot well procee5 witho9t =irst making this 5istinction plain.
Ill9sion consists either in perceiving a totall> wrong obDect in place o= the right one( as
when $on }9i?ote4s imagination trans=orme5 the win5mills into giants@ or in investing
the right obDect with wrong attrib9tes( as when the stone lion on %orth9mberlan5 .o9se
was seen to wag its tail.
:
Either sort o= ill9sion ma> easil> be collective. *he error is not
in the act9al sensor> impression( which is given b> the real obDect an5 is common to all
present( b9t in the s9bseE9ent act o= D95gment b> which the nat9re o= the obDect is
5etermine5@ an5 in this act o= D95gment one person has ever> opport9nit> o= being
in=l9ence5 b> another. In the attit95e o= tr,ing to imagine what =9rther attrib9tes will =it
in nat9rall> with those which the senses perceive( an5 will with them compose some
known obDect( the min5 is almost at the merc> o= e?ternal s9ggestion. ,e see this
constantl> e?empli=ie5 in cases where a gro9p o= people are p9]]ling as to the nat9re o=
some barel> visible obDect( or o= some imper=ectl> hear5 so9n5: as soon as someone
e?presses an opinion( someone else is prett> s9re to en5orse it( an5 to see or hear the
thing in the s9ggeste5 sense( tho9gh on nearer approach this ma> prove to have been
incorrect. Even in cases ii-27V! where we =eel as i= we were right be>on5 the possibilit>
o= mistake( it o=ten nee5s an e==ort to realise how little is given 9s( an5 how m9ch we
o9rselves s9ppl>. ) =ew slight sensor> signs will intro59ce to the min5 a whole arra> o=
attrib9tes that have been associate5 with them on other occasions@ the whole is then taken
to be a single an5 imme5iate perception o= the obDect@ an5 since the act9al sensor> signs
ma> be common to several 5i==erent gro9ps o= attrib9tesAi.e.( to several 5i==erent obDects
Ait ma> easil> happen that the> s9ggest some gro9p which is not the obDect act9all>
present. +or instance( the slight sensor> signs which /cott wo9l5 normall> have
interprete5 as the =ol5s o= coats an5 plai5s hanging in a 5iml>-lit hall( were interprete5 b>
him( at a moment when the i5ea o= ">ron was r9nning strongl> in his hea5( as the =ig9re
o= the 5ecease5 poet.
2
.ere the i5ea which happene5 to be 5ominant at the moment was
what 5etermine5 the =alse D95gment@ an5 s9ch a 5ominant i5ea ma>( o= co9rse( o=ten
operate 9pon man> min5s at once@ as when( in a con=lagration at the -r>stal 1alace( a
s>mpathetic crow5 watche5 the str9ggles o= an agonise5 chimpan]eeAalias a piece o=
tattere5 blin5Ain the roo=@ or when a horri=ie5 crew recognise5 in a piece o= ol5 wreck(
which was =loating on the waves( the =orm an5 pec9liar limping gait o= a 5rowne5
comra5e.
U
*he case o= the proverbial crow5 an5 the stone lion4s tail is somewhat
5i==erent@ =or there the obDect was clearl> seen( an5 recognise5 =or what it was. "9t we are
all o= 9s well e?ercise5 in imagining =amiliar obDects as moving in position an5 changing
in conto9r@ an5 the power o= evoking mental pict9res is o=ten( I think( strong eno9gh to
enable 9s slightl> to mo5i=> o9r vis9al impressions@ while s9ch 5evices as hal=-closing
o9r e>es( or sh9tting them alternatel> in E9ick s9ccession( or moving or inclining ii-
278! the hea5( will increase the ill9sion. It is not s9rprising( then( that a strong e==ort to
see a thing in a wa> in which others are pro=essing to see it( sho9l5( =or a brie= perio5(
intro59ce ill9sor> elements into what seems to be a clear an5 complete view o= the obDect.
*hese consi5erations will certainl> s9==ice to e?plain the maDorit> o= the collective
apparitions on recor5. *he visions seen 59ring battles( s9ch as are especiall> =reE9ent in
the histor> o= the -r9sa5esAeither signs in the heavens or phantom championsAma>
easil> have ha5 some obDective basis. *he streak o= clo95( which at one moment ma> be
Bver> like a whale(C might at another be eE9all> like a =ier> swor5@ real horsemen might
be 9nrecognise5( an5 the =irst breath o= r9mo9r that the> were s9pernat9ral assistants
wo9l5 be ca9ght 9p with avi5it>.
2
More 5eceptive cases however occ9r( which are not
ill9sions( b9t >et have as little claim as the prece5ing to be calle5 collective
hallucinations( i= that wor5 be Pas thro9gho9t this treatise it isQ con=ine5 to the strict
sensor> meaning. %othing( =or instance( co9l5 better ill9strate what collective
hall9cinations are not, than two cases which $r. "rierre 5e "oismont
U
has a559ce5 to
ill9strate what the> are. ) battalion o= in=antr>( a=ter a 3; miles4 march 9n5er a F9ne s9n(
was E9artere5 =or the night in a 5ismal b9il5ing which ha5 the rep9tation o= being
ha9nte5. *he s9rgeon o= the regiment 5escribes how( abo9t mi5night( these sol5iers
r9she5 o9t o= their E9arters with wil5 cries( an5 5eclare5 that the 5evil ha5 entere5 their
chamber Bin the =orm o= a large black 5og with c9rl> hair( who ha5 bo9n5e5 9pon them(
ran over their chests with the rapi5it> o= lightning( an5 5isappeare5 on the si5e opposite
to the one at which he ha5 entere5.C %owAon the s9pposition ii-27W! that no real 5og
or cat ha5 a share in shaping the i5eaAwhat can be more likel> than that the general
nervo9sness took s955en =orm =rom one man4s s955en cr>( on waking =rom a nightmarer
*here is not the slightest proo= that all present sim9ltaneo9sl> saw the 5og( an5 =ollowe5
his movements. I have alrea5> 5rawn attention to the ease with which 9ne59cate5 persons
ma> slip into believing that the> have seen what the> have onl> hear5 o=@ an5 9n5er
e?citement this is( o= co9rse( 5o9bl> eas>. One man ma> have believe5 that he sa-@ the
rest ma> merel> have believe5 the> had seen. $e "oismont4s secon5 case is that o= $r.
1or5age4s 5isciples in the mi55le o= the seventeenth cent9r>( who saw Bthe powers o= hell
pass in review be=ore them( seate5 in chariots( s9rro9n5e5 b> 5ark clo95s( an5 5rawn b>
lions( bears( 5ragons( an5 tigers. *hese were =ollowe5 b> in=erior spirits( who were
provi5e5 with the ears o= a cat or a gri==in( an5 with 5e=orme5 an5 5istorte5 limbs.C "9t
here the =act that Bit ma5e no 5i==erence whether their e>es were open or sh9tC ren5ers it
5o9bt=9l how =ar the impression was reall> more than a vivi5 inwar5 pict9re@ an5 there is
nothing to contra5ict( an5 ever>thing to s9ggest( the notion that one person 5escribe5 his
impressions in lang9age which wo9l5 easil> conD9re 9p the general scene in kin5re5 an5
e?cite5 min5s.
"9t apart =rom s9ch sp9rio9s t>pes( cases 9n5o9bte5l> remain o= reall> e?ternalise5
collective hall9cination( which are still per=ectl> e?plicable witho9t resorting to tho9ght-
trans=erence. *he histor> o= religio9s epi5emics s9pplies instances where a whole gro9p
o= persons have pro=esse5 to behol5 some e?citing or a5orable obDect( an5 probabl>
act9all> proDecte5 its image into space as part o= the s9rro9n5ing worl5@ b9t where(
witho9t proo= Pwhich has never been presente5Q that what was seen was in5epen5entl>
observe5 an5 5escribe5( it wo9l5 be rash to s9ppose an> other ca9se =or the similarit> o=
the in5ivi59al e?periences than a previo9s common i5ea an5 common e?pectanc>.
2
%or is
even e?pectanc> a necessar> con5ition@ there are cases where the s9ggestion o= the
moment seems s9==icient. *he most marke5 o= these are h,pnotic hall9cinations: it is as
eas> =or a mesmerist to pers9a5e a gro9p o= goo5 Bs9bDectsC that the> all see a partic9lar
phantasmal obDect( as to pers9a5e one o= them that he sees it. )n5 I think it m9st be
a5mitte5 as possible ii-277! that mere verbal s9ggestion ma> act similarl> on certain
min5s at certain times( witho9t the preliminar> o= an> 5e=inite h>pnotic process. I sa> at
certain ti(es a5vise5l>@ =or all clear evi5ence o= the sort seems to connect the
phenomenon with circ9mstances o= rather special absorption or e?citement( sometimes
even with a state o= semi-trance.
2
I 5o not know o= an> instance where the sane an5
health> )( simpl> b> sa>ing at a cas9al moment to the sane an5 health> "( B*here is s9ch
an5 s9ch an obDectC Pnot reall> present( an5 not capable o= being impose5 as an ill9sion
on some obDect reall> presentQ( has at once ca9se5 the obDect to be conD9re5 9p in space
be=ore "4s e>es. In the most e?treme case that has come to m> knowle5ge( where
something like this has prove5 possible( ver> strong insistance an5 repetition on )4s part(
o= the sort that a mesmerist emplo>s when seeking to 5ominate a Bs9bDect4sC min5( are
nee5e5 be=ore the impression 5evelops into sensor> =orm. In cases( there=ore( where )
has himsel= ha5 a hall9cination o= which he has spoken at the moment( an5 " has share5
it( it is too m9ch to ass9me at once that "4s e?perience (ust have been e?cl9sivel> 59e to
the verbal s9ggestion@ =or i= )4s mere s9ggestion can pro59ce s9ch an e==ect on " at that
partic9lar moment( wh> not at other moments when he s9ggests the imaginar> obDect
witho9t having himsel= seen itr %one the less( o= co9rse( o9ght the h>pothesis o= verbal
s9ggestion to be most care=9ll> consi5ere5( in relation to the special circ9mstances o=
each case( be=ore an> other h>pothesis is even provisionall> a5mitte5.
I have( perhaps( sai5 eno9gh to 5e=ine the phenomena which are reall> o= interest =or 9s
here. +airl> to allow o= e?planation b> ii-27X! tho9ght-trans=erence( a collective case
m9st present evi5ent marks P2Q o= being a hall9cination an5 not a mere ill9sion@ PUQ o=
having occ9rre5( so to speak( in an isolate5 wa>( an5 not 9n5er the 5ominance o= an>
special prepossession@ an5 P:Q o= having been in5epen5entl> proDecte5 b> the several
percipients( an5 not merel> conD9re5 9p b> one on the s9ggestion o= another. It is
nat9rall> not alwa>s eas> to ascertain how =ar these con5itions are met. In D95ging o= the
a95itor> cases( especiall>( great ca9tion is necessar>@ =or( as we have seen above Ppp.
2UVT8Q( there is scarcel> an> sort o= mere noise which ma> not have some 9n5iscoverable
e?ternal origin in the ho9se or the neighbo9rhoo5. Intelligent speech( on the other han5(
an5 certain m9sical so9n5s( s9ch as bell-so9n5s or 5istinct melo5ic seE9ences( i=
e?ternall> ca9se5( impl> con5itions the presence or absence o= which it is 9s9all>
possible to ascertain. /o again in the vis9al cases( the =act o= 5im or 9ncertain light ma>
=avo9r the h>pothesis o= ill9sion@ b9t where the light is goo5( the presence or absence o=
an a5eE9ate e?ternal ca9se in the vicinit> can o=ten be 5etermine5 with all b9t complete
certaint>.
2
One point o= 9ncertaint> o=ten remains( owing ii-2X;! to the wa> in which the
evi5ence reaches 9s: we cannot be s9re how =ar the mere verbal 5escription o= one
percipient( a=ter the occ9rrence( ma> not have ca9se5 another to =ill in or mo5i=> his own
recollection with 5etails which he 5i5 not himsel= observe. "9t i= both clearl> share5 in
the e?perience( it is not important that their percepts ma> not have been so precisel>
similar as is sometimes allege5. /o =ar( in5ee5( =rom telling against the theor> o= mental
trans=er( s9ch want o= i5entit> is rather what we might have e?pecte5( both =rom the
n9mero9s appro.i(ate s9ccesses in e?perimental tho9ght-trans=erenceAe.g.( in
repro59cing 5rawingsAan5 =rom the evi5ence that a telepathic impression is liable to be
reacte5 on in vario9s wa>s b> the person whom it a==ects.
S 3. I =ear to wear> the rea5er b> >et =9rther e?planations an5 5istinctions be=ore
e?amples are given. "9t 5i==ic9lt> o= e?position an5 risk o= misapprehension alike
c9lminate in this =inal chapter@ an5 the patience which has been able to accompan> me
th9s =ar m9st be so consi5erable that I vent9re to make one more 5eman5 on it.
I have propo9n5e5 the E9estion( what evi5ence 5o we =in5 that p9rel> s9bDective
hall9cinations o= the senses ma> be in=ectio9sr an5 I have implie5 that I am able to
pro59ce some evi5ence o= the sort. )n5( in =act( I am abo9t to cite e?amples which I think
that the maDorit> o= m> rea5ersAor o= s9ch o= them at an> rate as accept the s9bstantial
acc9rac> o= the =actsAwill regar5 as going some wa> to establish the point. "9t there are
those( I am aware( in whose min5s some o= m> instances will pro59ce a 5o9bt whether
the e?periences were reall> s9bDectiveAwhether the> ma> not have ha5 some 9nknown
origin e?ternal to an> o= the perceiving min5s@ an5 I a5mit( tho9gh the 5o9bt weakens m>
arg9ment( that it is one which I in some meas9re share. *o e?plain this( I m9st rec9r to a
point that was ver> brie=l> to9che5 on in -hap. \I. PVol I.( p. V2U( noteQ. It ma> be
remembere5 that the E9estion there arose whether post(orte( appearances o= persons
some time 5ecease5 were necessaril> s9bDective hall9cinations( or whether the> might not
be amenable to a telepathic e?planation@ an5 I observe5 that( while telepath>Abeing a
ps>chical an5 not a ph>sical conceptionAwas E9ite able to embrace these phenomena as
possibl> 59e to the action o= h9man min5s contin9ing a=ter bo5il> 5eath( >et the evidence
=or them Po= a sort that wo9l5 precl95e their being regar5e5 as p9rel> s9bDective
e?periencesQ was scant> an5 inconcl9sive@ an5 I 5ismisse5 the topic ii-2X2! as not
germane to an inE9ir> concerning telepathic trans=erences between the min5s o= living
persons. "9t the topic which was rightl> th9s 5ismisse5 when we were consi5ering
a==ections o= a single percipient( =orces itsel= on 9s again when we enco9nter cases o=
5oint percipience. +or s9ppose that the obDect which " an5 - both sim9ltaneo9sl> behol5
is the =orm o= the 5ecease5 ). *hen( i= P2Q the i5ea o= "4s an5 -4s a==ection b> the still
contin9ing min5 o= ) be reDecte5Aas it wo9l5 be b> 5isbelievers in s9rvival a=ter
ph>sical 5eathA>et "4s an5 -4s si(ultaneous affection remains a =act which 5eman5s
recognition in this book@ beca9se( i= ) 5oes not a==ect them( then one o= them m9st a==ect
the other( i.e.( the case is one o= trans=erence between the min5s o= living persons. )n5 i=
PUQ the i5ea o= )4s contin9ing power to a==ect " or - be a5mitte5 as tenable( b9t the 5oint
a==ection o= " an5 - b> ) be regar5e5 as improbable( Powing to the 5i==ic9lties alrea5>
pointe5 o9t o= conceiving the proDection( 9n5er a telepathic imp9lse( o= e?actl>
sim9ltaneo9s an5 correspon5ing hall9cinationsQ >et again a =act remains which 5eman5s
recognition in this book@ beca9se( i= ) a==ects " an5 not -( then -4s vision o= ) m9st be
obtaine5 =rom "( an5 the case is again one o= trans=erence between the min5s o= living
persons.
*he rea5er will now( perhaps( 5ivine wh> I hesitate to appl> the wor5s Bp9rel>
s9bDectiveC to some( at an> rate( o= the cases in the gro9p that awaits 9s. *ho9gh no
absent living person was concerne5 in them as agent( I think it wo9l5 be rash an5
9nscienti=ic to preD95ge the E9estion P5eliberatel> le=t open in -hap. \I.Q whether the>
ha5 an origin in ps>chical con5itions which have s9rvive5 the change o= 5eath. I have
shown that alike on either o= the above h>pothesesAalike( whether the 5ea5 P2Q have not(
or PUQ have( min5s which can in=l9ence the livingAcases o= collective percipience
s9ggestive o= the 5ea5 =all within the legitimate scope o= the present inE9ir>@ b9t I am
an?io9s to avoi5 an> appearance o= 5ogmatic 5ecision between P2Q an5 PUQ. I am abo9t
eE9all> 5issatis=ie5 with the arg9ments a559ce5 =or the =ormer( an5 with the evi5ence
a559ce5 =or the latter. "9t in m> view the cases( -hatever else the> involve( at an> rate
involve an element o= E9ite m9n5ane tho9ght-trans=erence between the min5s o= the
living persons concerne5@ an5 I m9st beg the rea5er to bear in min5 that it is simpl> as
probable or possible cases o= tho9ght-trans=erence( an5 not as mani=estations =rom the
5ea5( that those o= them which ma> seem to have re=erence to the 5ea5 are here a559ce5.
I= the senses o= " an5 - are similarl> an5 sim9ltaneo9sl> ii-2XU! a==ecte5 witho9t the
presence o= an> material ca9se( then alike whether there is or is not a real immaterial
ca9se o9tsi5e their two selves( I believe that the Doint phenomenon still 5epen5s Ppartl>( i=
there is s9ch a ca9se( wholl>( i= there is notQ on ps>chical comm9nication between their
two min5s. )s to the point that is le=t in abe>anceAthe e?istence or non-e?istence o= the
sai5 ca9seAall varieties o= opinion will be allowe5 =or b> 5e=ining the gro9p( not
positivel>( as cases o= Bp9rel> s9bDectiveC origin( b9t negativel>( as cases which 5o not
apparentl> originate in the con5ition o= an> absent living person.
S V. I will begin with vis9al e?amples. *he =ollowing is a collective hall9cination o= what
I have calle5 a r95imentar> t>pe( as not s9ggesting an> special =orm or h9man presence@
b9t it is a remarkabl> prolonge5 an5 elaborate specimen o= the sort.
2
*he narrator is Mrs.
,ar5( o= &len )ra> Lo5ge( ,in5sor.
ii-2X:!
P:28Q BIn Ma>( 27V2( I an5 m> h9sban5( the late E. M. ,ar5( '.).( ha5 a c9rio9s
e?perience which we were at a loss to acco9nt =or( tho9gh it became a s9bDect o= =reE9ent
conversation( an5 ever> e==ort was ma5e to =in5 =or it a =itting an5 rational e?planation.
B,e were living at %o. ::( .arewoo5 /E9are. It was in the month o= Ma>( an5 m>
h9sban5 an5 I ha5 been to a E9iet gathering o= =rien5s in the neighbo9rhoo5@ we ret9rne5
abo9t 2U o4clock( letting o9rselves in( =or the servants were in be5( an5 went straight to
o9r be5room. .aving passe5 s9ch a E9iet( 9ne?citing evening( there was nothing m9ch to
talk abo9t( an5 m> h9sban5 was E9ickl> in be5 an5 asleep. I ver> soon =ollowe5 him( an5
was D9st getting into be5( having p9t o9t m> can5le( with m> =ace towar5s the 5oor(
when( m9ch to m> s9rprise( I saw( as tho9gh s9spen5e5 a little 5istance =rom the top o=
the 5oor( a strange( =lickering =lame@ it was abo9t si? inches high( an5 =o9r inches across
the wi5est part( pear-shape5( an5 o= a bl9eish lilac tint. I was consi5erabl> startle5 an5
m9st have been m9ch agitate5( =or m> h9sban5 Pas he in=orme5 me a=terwar5sQ was
ro9se5 b> the so9n5 o= m> =ast beating heart. In repl> to his inE9iries( I 5rew his attention
to the strange =lame which I still saw s9spen5e5 =rom the 5oor =rame( an5 whilst we were
both won5eringl> spec9lating as to what it co9l5 be( it was Doine5 b> another =lame(
similar in ever> respect( b9t smaller. &reater still was o9r s9rprise when we observe5
these two m>sterio9s little lights slowl> a5vancing( si5e b> si5e( towar5s 9s@ the> came
right on to o9r be5( an5 then( 5etermine5 to anal>se their nat9re( we both sat 9p( an5 m>
h9sban5 graspe5 them with his han5s( r9bbing them an5 en5eavo9ring to ri5 9s o= their
societ>. "9t( to o9r astonishment( this treatment ha5 no more e==ect 9pon them than to
break them into small l9mino9s grains( which ran all over the be5-covering like
E9icksilver. &ra59all>( however( this bright in9n5ation began to =a5e( an5( as we still
contin9e5 o9r e==orts to e?ting9ish it( it 5isappeare5.
B/9ch is the acco9nt o= the occ9rrence. *hat it act9all> 5i5 occ9r to 9s we never
entertaine5 the slightest 5o9bt. I was certainl> wi5e awake at the time( an5 m> min5 was
tro9ble5 in no wa>( an5 I was in goo5 healthAotherwise there might be some gro9n5 =or
the belie= that the appearance was the hall9cination o= a 5isor5ere5 min5( or o= an over-
wro9ght brain. M> h9sban5( too( was 9n5o9bte5l> wi5e awake( an5 retaine5 a per=ect
recollection o= all the 5etails o= the vision the ne?t 5a>. ,e 5isc9sse5 it( an5 trie5 to
=athom its meaning( over an5 over again( b9t co9l5 never arrive at an> concl9sion abo9t it
at allAe?cept that as it 5i5 not act as a =orewarning to an> coming event( 5i5 not
correspon5 to an> important event( an5 5i5 not appear to serve an> p9rpose at all( its
appearance was 9tterl> meaningless.
B.E%'IE**) M)'# )$) ,)'$.C
In a later letter( Mrs. ,ar5 a55s:A
B)s the lights were coming to the be5( there were two streaks o= moonlight on the
co9nterpane( which co9l5 not come =rom an> win5ow( as the room was 5arkene5. *he>
also when to9che5( with the two lamps( merge5 into a mass o= 5iamon5s.C
In conversation( Mrs. ,ar5 tol5 9s that she ha5 never e?perience5 an> other hall9cination
o= the senses
ii-2X3!
,e have several other e?amples o= collective hall9cinations o= light. In one P5escribe5 to
9s b> Mrs. &. *. .al>( o= 2UU( -oningham 'oa5( /hepher54s "9sh( ,.( as having
occ9rre5 a =ew 5a>s a=ter her h9sban54s 5eath( an5 ass9me5 b> her to be connecte5 with
himQ( a =lame as o= a can5le( b9t bl9er( passe5 an5 repasse5 the be5 on which the two
percipients were l>ing( at abo9t 27 inches height =rom the =loor. In another( a l9mino9s
ball was seen in a corner o= the room. ) =o9rth ver> remarkable instance( o= the brilliant
ill9mination an5 then s955en 5arkening o= an empt> room( is 5escribe5 to 9s b> the 'ev.
E5war5 'am( o= %orwich( as a personal e?perience o= himsel= an5 his wi=eAb9t this was
in a ho9se where other 9nacco9ntable phenomena have been observe5@ as was also the
case in a =i=th instance( where a light is 5escribe5 b> one percipient( Mrs. ,. ".
'ichmon5( as a glow over the whole room( o9t o= which Paccor5ing to her recollectionQ
two bright little balls o= light seeme5 to =lash o9t@ an5 b> the other Pher motherQ as
B=lickering abo9tC speciall> in a partic9lar part o= the room. In none o= these cases 5oes it
seem possible that the light was in an> wa> cast or re=lecte5 into the room =rom o9tsi5e.
2

-oming to instances o= a more 5evelope5 t>pe( we have a consi5erable gro9p o= cases as
to which it might be a possibleAtho9gh I think a rather 5esperateAass9mption that what
was seen was a real obDect( most strangel> misinterprete5( or else appearing in most
improbable circ9mstances@ an5 which I 5o not there=ore n9mber as evi5ential items.
/peciall> ba==ling are some o= the cases where a carriage( as well as h9man beings( has
appeare5. +or instance( MaDor ,.( resi5ent near -onon "ri5ge( 'oss-shire( writes:A
B+ebr9ar> Xth( 277U.
BIt was the month o= )9g9st@ rather a 5ark night an5 ver> still@ the ho9r( mi5night@ when
be=ore retiring =or the night I went( as is o=ten m> c9stom( to the =ront 5oor to look at the
weather. ,hen stan5ing =or a moment on the step( I saw( coming ro9n5 a t9rn in the
5rive( a large close carriage an5 pair o= horses( with two men on the bo?. It passe5 the
=ront o= the ho9se( an5 was going at a rapi5 rate towar5s a path which lea5s to a stream(
r9nning( at that point( between rather steep banks. *here is no carriage-roa5 on that si5e
o= the ho9se( an5 I sho9te5 to the 5river to stop( as( i= he went on( he m9st 9n5o9bte5l>
come to grie=. ii-2XV! *he carriage stoppe5 abr9ptl> when it came to the r9nning water(
t9rne5( an5( in 5oing so( 5rove over the lawn. I got 9p to it@ an5 b> this time m> son ha5
Doine5 me with a lantern. %either o= the men on the bo? ha5 spoken( an5 there was no
so9n5 =rom the insi5e o= the carriage. M> son looke5 in( an5 all he co9l5 5iscern was a
sti==-looking =ig9re sitting 9p in a corner( an5 5rape5( apparentl>( =rom hea5 to =oot in
white. *he absol9te silence o= the men o9tsi5e was m>sterio9s( an5 the white =ig9re
insi5e( apparentl> o= a =emale( not being alarme5 or showing an> signs o= li=e( was
strange. Men( carriage( an5 horses were 9nknown to me( altho9gh I know the co9ntr> so
well. *he carriage contin9e5 its wa> across the lawn( t9rning 9p a roa5 which le5 past the
stables( an5 so into the 5rive again an5 awa>. ,e co9l5 see no traces o= it the ne?t
morningAno marks o= wheels or horse4s =eet on the so=t grass or gravel roa5@ an5 we
never again hear5 o= the carriage or its occ9pant( tho9gh I ca9se5 care=9l inE9iries to be
ma5e the =ollowing 5a>. I ma> mention that m> wi=e an5 5a9ghter also saw the carriage(
being attracte5 to the win5ow b> m> sho9t. *his happene5 on the U:r5 o= )9g9st( 27W7.C
)=ter a visit to the ho9se in /eptember( 2773( Mr. 1o5more wrote:A
BMaDor ,.( on whom I calle5 to-5a>( is practicall> satis=ie5 that what he an5 his =amil>
saw was not a real carriage. .e showe5 me the whole scene o= its appearance. *he spot
where the carriage appeare5 to t9rn barel> leaves s9==icient room =or the passage o= an
or5inar> carriage( an5 that a carriage sho9l5 t9rn ro9n5 there seems almost impossible.
*he carriage went =or some 5istance across the lawnAa moss> an5 rather 5amp piece o=
grassAan5 stoppe5 in =ront o= the ho9se =or more than a min9te( the while MaDor ,.
spoke to the man( b9t witho9t receiving an> repl>. .is wi=e( whom I also saw( was
attracte5 to the win5ow b> the so9n5 o= the wheels( in the =irst instance( on the gravel.
MaDor ,. ma5e man> inE9iries among his neighbo9rs( b9t co9l5 not =in5 that an>one ha5
seen the carriage at all. *he ho9se is sit9ate5 on a penins9la stretching between the
-romart> an5 Mora> +irths( an5 some : miles =rom the neck o= the penins9la. *he
localit> is ver> lonel>( there being no villages or hamlets( an5 b9t =ew private resi5ences
o= an> kin5@ an5 it is 5i==ic9lt to imagine the erran5 which co9l5 bring a strange carriage
into s9ch a co9ntr> at the 5ea5 o= night. MaDor ,. has ha5 one other p9rel> s9bDective
hall9cination.C
In another o= the carriage-cases( the hall9cination was o= a more bi]arre sort( the
coachman an5 =ootman on the bo? having black =aces( an5 the =o9r la5ies insi5e being
5resse5 completel> in black. *he vehicle passe5 the win5ow witho9t pro59cing an>
so9n5 on the gravel. In a thir5 case PE9ote5 above( pp. XWTXQ( one o= the percipients was
altogether apart =rom the three othersAthe> seeing the phantasmal carriage pass the
win5ow( an5 she meeting it some wa> 5own the roa5. In a =o9rth case( o9r in=ormantA
Mr. 1a9l "ir5( o= :X( /tran5( -alc9ttaA=ollowe5 a phantom gharrie =or 2;; >ar5s( into
the ver> portico o= .astings .o9se at )lipore( while the same vehicle was watche5 in its
approach b> his wi=e =rom a win5ow. "9t ii-2X8! more o= a p9]]le even than the
carriage-cases is a narrative receive5 =rom two 5a9ghters o= a well-known clerg>manA
neither romantic nor s9perstitio9s witnessesAwho 5escribe a vast swarm o= so9n5less
phantasmal shapes( 5resse5 in ol5-=ashione5 garments( most o= them 5war=ish( an5 two
with sparks ro9n5 their =aces( b> which the> an5 a mai5 were once accompanie5 =or
abo9t U;; >ar5s in a lane near O?=or5. BOne might imagine it to be a kin5 o= mirage@ onl>
the whole appearance Yowing to the 5ressesZ was so 9nlike what one wo9l5 have seen in
an> town at the time we saw it.C
2
I= this m9st be regar5e5 as ill9sion( beca9se it occ9rre5
in mist> moonlight( >et an i5entit> o= impression is 5escribe5 which still s9ggests mental
in=ection:ABI= one saw a man( all saw a man@ i= one saw a woman( all saw a woman@ an5
so on.C
I pass b>( however( as necessaril> inconcl9sive( the greater n9mber o= o9r instances o=
collective impression where the appearance was seen o9t o= 5oors in imper=ect lightA
tho9gh there is not one o= them which wo9l5 not be 5eci5e5l> more remarkable( as a
specimen o= Doint ill9sion( than an> that I have =o9n5 recor5e5 in print.
U
*he =ollowing
5a>light e?ample is =rom the Misses Montgomer>( o= "ea9lie9( $roghe5a.
BMarch Un5( 2773.
P:2WQ B)bo9t the >ear 27WV( I an5 m> sister Pwe were abo9t 2: >ears ol5 thenQ were
5riving home in the ta?-cart one s9mmer a=ternoon abo9t 3 ii-2XW! o4clock( when there
s955enl> appeare5( =loating over the he5ge( a =emale =ig9re moving noiselessl> across the
roa5@ the =ig9re was in white( an5 the bo5> in a slanting position( some 2; =eet above the
gro9n5. *he horse s955enl> stoppe5 an5 shook with =right( so m9ch so that we co9l5 not
get it on. I calle5 o9t to m> sister: u$i5 >o9 see thatr4 an5 she sai5 she ha5( an5 so 5i5 the
bo> -a==re>( who was in the cart. *he =ig9re went over the he5ge( on the other si5e o= the
roa5( an5 passe5 over a =iel5( till we lost sight o= it in a plantation be>on5. )ltogether( I
s9ppose( we watche5 it =or a co9ple o= min9tes. It never to9che5 the gro9n5 at all( b9t
=loate5 calml> along. On reaching home we tol5 o9r mother o= what we ha5 seen( an5 we
were per=ectl> certain it was not a mere 5el9sion or ill9sion( nor an owl( or an>thing o=
the kin5.
BI have never seen an>thing like this nor an> apparition be=ore or since. ,e were all in
goo5 health at the time( an5 no one ha5 s9ggeste5 an> gro9n5s =or the apparition
be=orehan5@ b9t we a=terwar5s hear5 that the roa5 was s9ppose5 to be ha9nte5( an5 a
=ig9re ha5 been seen b> some o= the co9ntr> =olks.
BVIOLE* MO%*&OME'#.
B/I$%E# MO%*&OME'#.C
1ro=essor "arrett( who knows the witnesses( a55s that Mrs. Montgomer> remembers the
inci5ent well( an5 the terror her chil5ren were in *he> both agree5 as to the realit> o= the
=ig9re. -a==re> has gone to )merica( an5 been lost sight o=.
%o one probabl> will s9ppose that the witnesses here have agree5 to repeat( =or o9r
bene=it( a romance which the> =abricate5 =or their mother4s at the time@ an5 however
m9ch allowance be ma5e =or chil5ish terror or e?aggeration( the comm9nit> o=
e?perience in broa5 5a>light seems to e?cee5 what can be attrib9te5 to verbal
s9ggestions( passe5 =rom one to another( 3 propos o= a =leece o= clo95 or an owl. ,e have
a ver> similar instance =rom Mr. ,. /. /o9tar( solicitor( o= "lairgowrie( %.".Awho
recor5s that he an5 his brother( as >o9ng bo>s( at pla> behin5 their =ather4s ho9se( in the
gloaming o= a s9mmer evening( Bboth saw an apparition in the shape o= a =emale =ig9re(
plainl> 5resse5( with a stripe5 apron over the =ace( an5 which glided( witho9t an>
apparent movement o= the =eet( =rom the roa5 till abo9t hal=-wa> between it an5 the he5ge
s9rro9n5ing a shr9bber> near the ho9se( when the =ig9re s955enl> 5isappeare5. *here
was no cover near( behin5 which the person Pi= in the bo5>Q co9l5 hi5e( the spot where it
5isappeare5 being bare an5 open.C *his case( however( is remote( an5 the secon5 witness
is 5ea5. ) m9ch more striking e?ample Pbro9ght to o9r notice b> Mr. ). +arE9harson( o=
%orth "ra5le>( *rowbri5ge( ,iltsQ is one where the senses o= two a59ltsAa gentleman-
=armer( 5escribe5 as a har5-hea5e5 9nromantic b9sinessman an5 his wi=eAwere similarl>
5el95e5 in an e?pose5 space an5 in ii-2X7! broa5 5a>light@ b9t the timi5it> o= the
witnesses precl95es me =rom giving 5etails.
*o come( however( to in5oor cases( o= a less 59bio9s t>pe. )s a r9le( the =ig9re seen PD9st
as in p9rel> s9bDective cases occ9rring to a single percipientQ is 9nrecognise5. *he
=ollowing acco9nt( tho9gh remote( is =irst-han5( an5 at an> rate 5eserves E9otation. It
occ9rs in ;etters of *hilip, Bnd >arl of Chesterfield P27UXQ( p. 22. *he inci5ent was
recor5e5 b> Lor5 -hester=iel5 in an M/. vol9me containing his letters an5 Bnotes =or m>
remembrance o= things an5 acci5ents( as the> >earl> happen to me.C
P:27Q B) ver> o55 acci5ent this >ear Y28VUZ be=ell mee( =or being come abo9t a law s9te
to Lon5on w I( waking in the morning abo9t 7 o4clock( w plainl> saw( within a >ar5 o=
m> be5si5e( a thing all white like a stan5
g
sheet( with a knot atop o= it( abo9t 3 or V =oot
high( w
h
I consi5ere5 a goo5 while( an5 5i5 ra>se m>sel= 9p in m> be5 to view the better.
)t last I thr9st o9t both m> han5s to catch hol5 o= it( b9t( in a moment( like a sha5ow( it
sli5 to the =eet o= the be5( o9t o= w
h
I( leap
g
a=ter it( c
5
see it no more. w $o9bting least
something might have happene5 to m> wi=e( I ri5 home that 5a> to 1etworth in /9sse?(
where I ha5 le=t her with her =ather( the Earl o= %orth9mberlan5( an5 as I was going
9pstairs to her chamber( I met one o= m> =ootmen( who tol5 me that he was comming to
me with a packet o= letters( the w
h
I having taken =rom him went to m> wi=e( who I =o9n5
in goo5 health( being w with La5> Esse?( her sister( an5 another gentlewoman( one Mrs.
'amse> w *he> all aske5 me what ma5e me to come home so m9ch sooner than I
inten5e5. ,here9pon I tol5 them what ha5 happene5 to me that morn
g
@ which the> all
won5ering at 5esire5 me to open an5 rea5 the letter that I ha5 taken =rom the =ootman(
which I imme5iatel> 5i5( an5 rea5 m> wi=e4s letter to mee alo95( wherein she 5esire5 m>
spee5> ret9rn
g
as =ear
g
that some ill w
5
happen to mee( beca9se that morning shee ha5
seen a thing all in white( with a black =ace( stan5ing b> her be5si5e. w "> e?amining all
partic9lars we =o9n5 that the same 5a>( the same ho9r( an5 Pas near as can be comp9te5Q
the same min9te( all that ha5 happene5 to me ha5 be=allen her( being =ortie miles as9n5er.
*he La5> Esse? an5 Mrs. 'amse> were witnesses to both o9r relations.C
2

ii-2XX!
.ere( it will be seen( the two percipients were wi5el> separate5( which e?cl95es the i5ea
o= Doint ill9sion or o= verbal s9ggestion@ an5 the case =orms a parallel( among sensor>
phantasms( to that given in Vol. I.( p. U3;( where the common e?perience was o= an i5eal
an5 emotional kin5.
In the ne?t e?ample the percipients( tho9gh near together( were not act9all> in one
another4s compan>. *he case is o= special interest( inasm9ch as the two percepts were
slightl> 5i==erent(Athe =ig9re being seen b> one observer with a hat on( an5 b> the other
witho9t( an5 the 5i==erence correspon5ing with the associations nat9ral to each in their
respective positions. ) clerg>man writing to 9s =rom Lincoln( on )pril UXth( 277V(
5escribes an a=ternoon call o= the prece5ing Fan9ar>.
P:2XQ BI was 9shere5 into the 5rawing-room( an5 was aske5 to take a low arm-chair in the
mi55le o= the room@ b9t I pre=erre5 sitting on a co9ch 5rawn 9p at right angles to the si5e
o= the =ireplace( where I co9l5 comman5 a view( thro9gh the win5ow( o= the gar5en.
+acing me( with her back to this win5ow( sat one la5>@ to m> le=t( seate5 not =ar =rom the
arm-chair mentione5( was another la5>( =ronting the hearth. ,hile we sat chatting 9pon
the s9bDect o= m> visit( an ol5 man( o= somewhat sa5 appearance( 5resse5 in a 5ark bl9e
over-coatAsomewhat shabb>Aan5 with a =lat-toppe5 =elt hat( an5 remarkable =or a
white bear5( passe5 the win5ow@ an5 imme5iatel> a=ter the =ront 5oor bell rang. *he la5>
o= the ho9se was e?pecting a visit =rom some la5> =rien5( an5 remarke5 u*his m9st be
AA.4 I sai5( u%o( it4s an ol5 man with a white bear5.4 )t which both la5ies present
e?presse5 s9rprise( an5 began won5ering who it co9l5 be. F9st then the 5oor o= the room
opene5( an5 in walke5 a well-known local practitioner. )s soon as he ha5 shaken han5s
all ro9n5( the la5> o= the ho9se sai5( u"9t where is the ol5 man with the white bear5r4 *o
which the 5octor replie5( u#es@ where is her4
BO9r =rien5( the 5octor( ha5 happene5 to be passing the gate a short time be=ore( an5 ha5(
witho9t preme5itation as he sa>s( s955enl> t9rne5 in( str9ck with the i5ea o= pa>ing an
a=ternoon call. .e came 9p the walk towar5s the hall 5oor( an5( in passing the win5ow
mentione5( looke5 into the ii-U;;! room where we were sitting( an5 saw( seated in the
lo- ar(6chair( an ol5 man e?actl> answering to the 5escription o= the ol5 man I ha5 seen
passing the win5ow P5o9btless when the 5octor passe5Q( with this e?ception( that the
person he saw ha5( o= co9rse( no hat on. *he 5octor was s9rprise5 not to =in5 the ol5
gentleman in the room@ hence his strange repl> to the la5>4s E9estion.
B%ow observe: : saw the ol5 man e?actl> at the time the 5octor was passing the win5ow.
I 5i5 not see the 5octor( whom I know well( who is m9ch shorter than the =ig9re I saw(
an5 who wore a bro-n top-coat( a silk hat( an5 no bear5. )n5 the 5octor saw the =ig9re in
the room( sitting 5own an5 witho9t a hat.Y~Z
BI am not( as =ar as I know( s9bDect to similar hall9cinations( i= the a==air ma> be rightl>
so-calle5.C
$r. -ant writes to 9s as =ollows:A
B/ilver /treet( Lincoln.
BMa> Wth( 277V.
BI have seen Mr. AA Ythe clerg>manZ( an5 E9ite agree with all he sai5. *he ol5 man was
sitting 5own in the room( an5 I =elt certain o= his presence( an5 was greatl> astonishe5 not
to =in5 him in the room. *he reports we have given are absol9tel> tr9e( witho9t an>
5o9bts in either o= o9r min5s.
B,. *. -)%*.C
$r. -ant was aske5 whether he ha5 ever ha5 an> other hall9cinations@ an5 also whether
he wo9l5 have been certain to see an> real person occ9p>ing the position where the
clerg>man saw the =ig9re. .e replie5:A
BIn answer to >o9r E9estions these phenomena are E9ite new to me( an5 I never
remember having one o= the sort be=ore( It was E9ite i(possible =or the =ig9re that Mr.
AA saw to have been there( as I m9st have seen it when passing( an5 he onl> saw one
=ig9re( an5 5i5 not see me at all.C
*he ne?t two cases resemble the last( in the point that the two percipients 5o not seem to
have seen e?actl> the same thing. /9rgeon-MaDor /am9el /mith( o= ,>n5ham .o9se(
0ings5own 1ara5e( "ristol( sent the =ollowing acco9nt to the "estern Dail, *ress P%ov.
:;( 2772Q( an5 has since con=irme5 it to 9s.
P:U;Q BI solemnl> vo9ch =or the tr9th o= the statement ma5e. I will a55 that I have been(
altho9gh not a pro=esse5 teetotaller( a total abstainer =rom stim9lants =or the past 2;
>ears( an5 that I am not a believer in /pirit9alism as it e?ists in the present 5a>.
B)bo9t U; min9tes past 22 o4clock on the night o= the U;th o= )pril last( I was engage5
with m> wi=e4s mother in pla>ing a selection =rom uLa +iglia 5el 'eggimento4 =or the
=l9te an5 piano. ,e were seate5 in the 5rawing-room( which was brilliantl> lighte5 b>
three large gaslights b9rning in globes which h9ng =rom the centre o= the ceiling( the onl>
other occ9pants o= the room being m> wi=e( who ha5 =allen asleep 9pon the co9ch( an5
the bab> asleep in the cra5le. M> wi=e4s brother( who ha5 been with 9s( le=t the room at
22 o4clock( an5 retire5 to rest. *he room itsel= is spacio9s( lo=t>( an5 parallelogram-
shape5( the piano occ9p>ing a position imme5iatel> opposite to the onl> 5oor o= entrance
in ii-U;2! the mi55le o= the correspon5ing long si5e( so that in pla>ing we sat with o9r
backs to the 5oor( which was close5.
BI was thoro9ghl> intent 9pon the m9sic( which was new to me( an5 5i==ic9lt to rea5( so
=ar as the =l9te was concerne5( owing to the small si]e o= the notes@ when s955enl>( in the
mi5st o= the per=ormance( a strange =eeling o= mingle5 awe an5 =ear came over me( an5 I
5istinctl> =elt the approach o= someone( or rather o= something( coming behin5 me( an5
this altho9gh I was so engrosse5 with pla>ing@ an5 in m> min5 I seeme5 to perceive the
shape. )s it approache5 nearer( I t9rne5 m> hea5 to the right( an5 5istinctl> perceive5 a
sha5e o= a gre>ish colo9r stan5ing b> me 9pon m> right han5( a little in a5vance o= me. I
5i5 not see the whole =ig9re( b9t what I saw was part o= a sha5ow> =ace( the o9tline o= the
=orehea5( nose( mo9th( chin( an5 a part o= the neck being visible. /trange to sa>( I 5o not
remember seeing the e>e( b9t the =ig9re appeare5 to have a top hat 9pon its hea5. )s I
ga]e5 9pon it( it vanishe5( an5 with it the =eelings( to a great e?tent( to which it gave rise.
O= the mingle5 =eelings which its presence raise5 in m> min5( I sho9l5 sa> that awe
pre5ominate5.
BI 5i5 not cease pla>ing( an5 s9bseE9entl> pla>e5 other pieces b> the ol5 masters( sang
some songs( an5 =inall> went to be5( an5 slept well. %or 5i5 I mention the matter to m>
wi=e4s mother that night( either at the time o= the occ9rrence( or be=ore retiring to rest.
%ow( however( comes the most remarkable part o= the matter. )t or abo9t 22.:; a.m. on
the =ollowing 5a>( m> wi=e4s mother came into the private room( an5 s955enl> sai5( u$i5
>o9 see something when >o9 t9rne5 >o9r hea5 last night( when >o9 were pla>ingr4 I 5i5
not imme5iatel> repl>( b9t the strange event o= the prece5ing night =lashe5 across m>
min5 instantl>. I was( in5ee5( too greatl> s9rprise5 to repl> at once( =or I 5i5 not believe
at the time that she ha5 notice5 the action 9pon m> part@ an5( as I have alrea5> sai5( I ha5
not mentione5 the matter to her( or even hinte5 at it.
Bu,h> 5o >o9 askr4 I replie5.
Bu"eca9se I tho9ght >o9 5i5.4
Bu$i5 >o9 see an>thingr4 I aske5.
Bu#es( I believe5 that someone ha5 come into the room( as I =elt that someone ha5 come
in.4
Bu$i5 >o9 think it was a man or a womanr4
BuI =elt that it was a man( an5 at =irst believe5 it to be Fames4 Pm> wi=e4s brotherQ( uwho
ha5 come 5own( an5 I won5ere5 how he co9l5 come in witho9t m> hearing him.4
Bu$i5 >o9 see an>thingr4 I aske5.
Bu#es( I saw the back an5 sho9l5ers o= the =orm o= a man@ it passe5 across like a sha5ow
behin5 >o9( stoo5 to >o9r right han5( an5 then 5isappeare5. I was not alarme5( b9t
s9rprise5.
B/o en5s the narrative. In no wa> can I e?plain the ca9se( or seE9ence o= events. )s the>
occ9rre5( so I present them.C
/9rgeon-MaDor /mith PFan9ar> 2Vth( 2778Q( in sen5ing his mother-in-law4s con=irmation(
a55s:A
BIn speaking o= the matter to-5a> she sai5 she =elt the presence o= the visitor in her min5
be=ore she saw it@ an5 this is m> e?perience o= it. I =elt its presence be=ore I saw it.C
2

ii-U;U!
B,>n5ham .o9se( 0ings5own( "ristol(
BFan9ar> 2Vth( 2778.
B)greeabl> to the reE9est o= Mr. &9rne>( I write( b9t have nothing to a55 to the statement
o= m> e?perience o= the strange visitation 5escribe5 in the "estern Dail, *ress in
%ovember( 2772@ the =acts being as therein state5.
B.)%%). 'O"I%/O%.C
Mr. /mith has repeate5 the acco9nt to me on the spot@ an5 it then became evi5ent that
Mrs. 'obinson( t9rning her hea5 the instant a=ter he 5i5 the same( wo9l5 have seen an>
=lesh-an5-bloo5 =ig9re rather (ore full6face than he 5i5@ instea5 o= which she saw the
bac1. *he e?tremel> 5istinct an5 startling character o= the e?perience came o9t more
impressivel> in conversation than in the written acco9nt. %either percipient can recall
having ha5 an>thing like a hall9cination on an> other occasion.
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom the 'ev. $. ,. &. &w>nne( M.$.( %e9a55vach(
1ontar59lais( /o9th ,ales. .e =irst 5escribes how he took 9p his abo5e at 1AA .o9se(
near *a9nton( in 27V:( an5 how both he an5 his wi=e were ma5e 9ncom=ortable b>
a95itor> e?periences to which the> co9l5 =in5 no cl9e. .e procee5s:A
P:U2Q BI now come to the m9t9al e?perience o= something that is as =resh in its
impression as i= it were the occ9rrence o= >ester5a>. $9ring the night I became aware o= a
5rape5 =ig9re passing across the =oot o= the be5 towar5s the =ire-place. I ha5 the
impression that the arm was raise5( pointing with the han5 towar5s the mantel-piece( on
which a night-light was b9rning. Mrs. &w>nne at this moment sei]e5 m> arm( an5 the
light -as e.tinguished. Not-ithstanding( I 5istinctl> saw the =ig9re ret9rning towar5s the
5oor( an5 being 9n5er the impression that one o= o9r servants ha5 =o9n5 her wa> into o9r
room( I leapt o9t o= be5 to intercept the intr95er( b9t =o9n5( an5 saw( nothing. I r9she5 to
the 5oor( an5 en5eavo9re5 to =ollow the s9ppose5 intr95er( an5 it was not 9ntil I =o9n5
the 5oor locke5( as 9s9al( that I was pain=9ll> impresse5. I nee5 har5l> sa> that Mrs.
&w>nne was in a ver> nervo9s state. /he aske5 me what I ha5 seen( an5 I tol5 her. /he
ha5 seen the same =ig9re( b9t her impression was that the =ig9re place5 its han5 over the
night-light an5 e?ting9ishe5 it.
B*he night-light in E9estion was relit an5 place5 in a toilette basin( an5 b9rne5 nat9rall>.
I trie5 to convince m>sel= that it might have been a g9st o= win5 5own the chimne> that
p9t the light o9t@ b9t that will not acco9nt =or the spectral appearance( which remains a
m>ster>.
B$. ,. &. &,#%%E.C
Mrs. &w>nne writes( on )pril 2V( 2773:A
BIn a55ition to m> h9sban54s statement( which I rea5( I can onl> sa> that the acco9nt he
has given >o9 accor5s with m> remembrance o= the u9nearthl> vision(4 b9t I 5istinctl>
saw the han5 o= the phantom place5 over the night-light( which was at once e?ting9ishe5.
I trie5 to cling to $r. &w>nne( b9t he leapt o9t o= be5 with a view( as he a=terwar5s sai5(
o= intercepting some s9ppose5 intr95er. *he 5oor was locke5 as 9s9al( an5 was so when
he trie5 it. .e lit a can5le at once( an5 looke5 9n5er the be5( an5 into a closet( b9t saw
nothing. *he night-light was also relit( ii-U;:! which was place5 on the wash-stan5( an5
together with the can5le( remaine5 b9rning all night. I m9st observe that I ha5 never
taken to 9se night-lights be=ore we live5 there( an5 onl> 5i5 so when I ha5 been so o=ten
5ist9rbe5 an5 alarme5 b> sighs an5 heav> breathing close to m> si5e o= the be5. $r.
&w>nne( on the appearance o= the phantom( in or5er to calm m> agitate5 state( trie5 to
reason with me( an5 to pers9a5e me that it might have been the e==ects o= the moonlight
an5 clo95s passing over the openings o= the sh9tter( an5 possibl> that a g9st o= win5
might have e?ting9ishe5 the light( b9t I knew 5i==erentl>. ,hen we ha5 both been
awakene5 at the same moment apparentl>( an5 together saw that 9npleasant =ig9re( tall
an5 as it were 5rape5 like a n9n( 5eliberatel> walk 9p to the mantel-piece an5 p9t o9t the
light with the right han5( there co9l5 be no mistake abo9t it@ an5 I 5istinctl> hear5 the
r9stling so9n5 o= garments as the =ig9re t9rne5 an5 le=t thro9gh the 5oor( a=ter m>
h9sban54s attempt to stop it with his open arms. *he moonlight was ver> clear an5 the
white 5imit> c9rtains onl> partl> close5.
BM)'# &,#%%E.C
Y)s telling against the p9rel> s9bDective origin o= this e?perience( I o9ght to mention that
there was 5istinct evi5ence o= others4 having observe5 9nacco9ntable phenomena in the
ho9se( tho9gh this was not known b> $r. an5 Mrs. &w>nne till a=ter their own
observation. *he> soon a=terwar5s gave 9p the ho9se.Z
In the ne?t case the 5i==erence is still more marke5( the percept being vis9al to one person
an5 a95itor> to the other@ while at the same time something o= the same i5ea seems to
have been s9ggeste5 to both. +or the p9rpose in view( the case Pin spite o= certain
5iscrepancies in the two acco9ntsQ is( perhaps( stronger than it looks. +or the =act that the
vis9al an5 the a95itor> e?perience were both 9nshare5( is a 5eci5e5 in5ication that the>
were neither o= them 59e to a real e?ternal ca9se@ an5 i= the> were hall9cinations( then
Psince no wor5s passe5 till a=ter both ha5 been e?perience5Q it seems at an> rate ver>
possible that one o= them pro59ce5 the other b> tho9ght-trans=erence. La5> -. writes( on
Oct. 2:( 2773:A
P:UUQ BIn October( 27WX( I was sta>ing at "ishopthorpe( near #ork( with the )rchbishop
o= #ork. I was sleeping with Miss J. *.( when I s955enl> saw a white =ig9re =l> thro9gh
the room =rom the 5oor to the win5ow. It was onl> a sha5ow> =orm( an5 passe5 in a
moment. I =elt 9tterl> terri=ie5 an5 calle5 o9t at once( u$i5 >o9 see thatr4 an5 at the same
moment Miss J. *. e?claime5( u$i5 >o9 hear thatr4 *hen I sai5( instantl>( uI saw an angel
=l> thro9gh the room(4 an5 she sai5( uI hear5 an angel singing.4
B,e were both ver> m9ch =rightene5 =or a little while( b9t sai5 nothing abo9t it to an>
one.
B0. -.C
Miss *. writes:A
B$ecember 2Xth( 2773.
BLate one night( abo9t October 2Wth( 27WX( La5> -. Pthen La5> 0. L.Q ii-U;3! an5 I
were preparing to go to sleep( a=ter talking some time( when I hear5 something like ver>
=aint m9sic( an5 seeme5 to =eel what people call ua presence.4 I p9t o9t m> han5 an5
to9che5 La5> -.( sa>ing( u$i5 >o9 hear thatr4 /he sai5( uOh( 5on4ts F9st now I saw
something going across the rooms4 ,e were both a goo5 5eal =rightene5( an5 trie5 to go
to sleep as soon as we co9l5. "9t I remember asking La5> -. e?actl> what she ha5 seen(
an5 she sai5( u) sort o= white sha5ow( like a spirit.4 *he above occ9rre5 at "ishopthorpe(
#ork.
BJ. F. *.C
In the ne?t two e?amples Pin which the =ig9re was 9nrecognise5Q no 5i==erence seems to
have been note5 in the impressions o= the two percipients. Mr. "ettan>( o= U( Eckington
Villas( )shbo9rne &rove( $9lwich( /.E.( writes:A
B%ovember( 2773.
P:U:Q BOne night( earl> this >ear( I became conscio9s o= a =ig9re in m> be5room. It was a
cro9ching =ig9re o= a woman( envelope5 in a black cloak an5 hoo5. M> impression was
that the woman was ol5( b9t I 5i5 not see a =ace. *his =ig9re slowl> an5 stealthil>
a5vance5 =rom the be5room 5oor to a war5robe on the same si5e o= the room. It then
s955enl> an5 entirel> 5isappeare5( an5( =rom the s955en shock( I gave a sharp lo95 cr>. I
never saw s9ch an appearance be=ore or since. I consi5er m>sel= 9n9s9all> 9nlikel> to see
apparitions. *his =ig9re an5 circ9mstance were like no 5ream( b9t were to me real an5
evi5ent( an5 there appeare5 to be no transition between waking an5 sleeping. I was
convince5 that what I saw was a waking sight. I have no i5ea whom the =ig9re
represente5. I ha5 then occ9pie5 this ho9se nearl> three >ears( an5 I know nothing o=
=ormer occ9pants.
B%o light was carrie5 nor was an> light b9rning in the room. *he =ig9re was visible an5
the war5robe was visible@ b9t when the =ig9re 5isappeare5 5arkness was complete.
2
*he
5oor was =o9n5 locke5.
B&. *. "E**)%#.C
Mrs. "ettan> Pthe narrator o= cases U; an5 :;XQ writes:A
BOn the night re=erre5 to( I woke s955enl>( I know not =rom what ca9se. M> h9sban5 was
leaning on his elbow( looking intentl> at a strange woman whom I saw cro9ching b> the
war5robe. I believe5 it to be a real person. It( however( s955enl> 5isappeare5. M>
h9sban5 then gave a cr> as he 5escribes. .e then tol5 me what he ha5 seen. I trie5 the
5oor an5 =o9n5 it locke5.
B*he tho9ght has occ9rre5 to me that I ma> have seen this b> s>mpathetic trans=erence
=rom m> h9sban5@ b9t( against this( I am m9ch more likel> to see something o= this kin5
than he.
B,itho9t having mentione5 this apparition to m> servants( the n9rsemai5 tol5 me( ne?t
5a>( that M9riel Pa chil5 o= three >earsQ ha5 woke her in the night( sa>ing( witho9t an>
=ear in her voice( u-lara( -lara( there is an ol5 woman in the room.4 *he n9rse hersel= saw
nothing. I ma> a55 that m> cook has on several occasions aske5 me i= I ha5 entere5 ii-
U;V! her room 59ring the night( on occasions when I ha5 certainl> not 5one so. /he
appeare5 m9ch m>sti=ie5 on learning this.
BFE)%IE &,#%%E "E**)%#.C
*he narrator o= the ne?t e?perience reE9ests that her name ma> not appear.
B+ebr9ar> 2Wth( 2773.
P:U3Q B/hortl> a=ter m> marriage( abo9t the >ear 273W( I went to sta> at m> =ather4s
ho9se. I ha5 at that time two sisters at home( 9nmarrie5. *he el5er o= the two was nearl>
two >ears >o9nger than m>sel=( an5 wo9l5 there=ore be abo9t UU >ears o= age at the time I
speak o=. *he other sister was m9ch >o9nger than 9s both( an5 at this time was abo9t 23
>ears ol5. M> two sisters slept together in a room a5Doining mine.
BOne morning( on m> going 5own to break=ast( m> el5er sister sai5 to me( u/arah( s9ch a
strange thing happene5 in the night. I was sleeping o9tsi5e Pthe other si5e o= the be5 was
against the wallQ( an5 I was awoke b> a =eeling o= oppression at m> chest( as tho9gh there
was a weight there( an5 I co9l5 not breathe. On opening m> e>es I was startle5 to see a
veile5 =ig9re ben5ing over me. ,hile I looke5( I =elt )nna4s arm come ro9n5 me. )=ter
what seeme5 to me a =ew min9tes the =orm 5isappeare5. *hen )nna whispere5( uOh
Li]]ie( I tho9ght it was going to take >o9 awa>.4C
B*his was m> sister4s acco9nt. I took an opport9nit>( when m> >o9nger sister an5 I were
alone( to ask her what that was that she an5 Li]]ie ha5 seen. /he sai5 she was awoke b> a
=eeling o= oppression( as tho9gh she co9l5 not breathe( an5 on opening her e>es( in the
5im light o= the room Pthe blin5 was 5own( b9t there was a gas lamp in =ront o= the ho9se(
which gave some light to the roomQ( she saw a veile5 =ig9re ben5ing over Li]]ie( an5 she
p9t her arm ro9n5 her( as she tho9ght it ha5 come to take her awa>.
BM> =ather an5 his =amil> shortl> a=ter move5 into another ho9se( m> sisters still
occ9p>ing a room together. *he> ass9re5 me that once in this other ho9se the> were
visite5 b> the same appearance( b9t this time it was over )nna. /he onl> live5 a short
time a=ter( 5>ing at si?teen an5 a-hal=.
BOn sen5ing this acco9nt to m> sister( in case I might( thro9gh lapse o= time( have altere5
the matter( she ass9res me that it is s9bstantiall> corerct( an5 a55s that the =orm was gre>(
5arker an5 thicker in the mi55le@ she also a55s that the =eeling o= horror was intense.
BL. /. ".C
YUn=ort9natel> the sister4s letter was 5estro>e5.Z
*he =ollowing case is a ver> sing9lar one. *he phenomenon o= m9t9al h>pnotisation Por
rather o= h>pnotisation o= one person thro9gh the process o= h>pnotising anotherQ is one
o= which we have other e?amples. "9t I have met with no other instance o= gen9ine
trans=er o= a hall9cination between two h>pnotise5 persons@ an5( i= this instance is a
gen9ine one( it is 5i==ic9lt to resist the concl9sion that it 5epen5e5 on the pec9liar
con5ition establishe5Athe two not being Bs9bDectsC in=l9ence5 in common b> a thir5
person( b9t the originator o= the hall9cination( whichever o= the two it was( having
e?erte5 an ii-U;8! active in=l9ence on the other( an5 pres9mabl> establishe5 the sort o=
rapport which is so common a =eat9re o= h>pnotism. It co9l5 o= co9rse onl> be b> the
rarest acci5ent that an operator who ha5 establishe5 s9ch a rapport sho9l5 then an5 there
become the victim o= a sensor> hall9cination( which wo9l5 th9s have a chance o= being
trans=erre5@ an5 the acci5ent in this case was the =act that the operator hersel= =ell into an
abnormal con5ition. I 5o not n9mber the narrative( as it is impossible to be E9ite certain
that some 9nconscio9s look or gest9re on the part o= one percipient 5i5 not evoke the
image in the other4s min5@ =or tho9gh the h>pnotic state in itsel= has no special ten5enc>
to promote hall9cinations( e?cept s9ch as are s9ggeste5 an5 impresse5 in the plainest
manner( in the present instance there seems to have been a certain amo9nt o= e?pectanc>(
which probabl> =acilitate5 the a==ection in both the persons concerne5. *he case was
receive5 =rom Miss "ecket( o= .otel Ven5Lme( "oston( U./.).( an )ssociate o= the
/.1.'.( who wrote on Fan9ar> UV( 2778.
Miss "ecket begins b> 5escribing how on one occasion she attempte5 to h>pnotise a
=rien5 who was stan5ing two or three >ar5s =rom her. /he ma5e slow 5ownwar5 passes
till her =rien5 Bshivere5 with col5.C /he then reverse5 the passes( b9t soon hersel= became
rigi5( with o9tstretche5 arms. B"oth the la5> an5 m>sel= t9rne5 o9r hea5s( an5 seeme5 to
=ollow with o9r e>es the movements o= some invisible bo5> aro9n5 the room. ,e seeme5
to see the same horrible something in the same part o= the room( =or o9r =aces ha5 an
e?pression o= 9n9tterable horror. /ometimes we looke5 behind this one obDect( as at
something =ollowing its progress ro9n5 the room( b9t o9r e>es instantl> ret9rne5 to the
greater attraction( an5 at last o9r =aces seeme5 so =ro]en in an agon> o= =ear that the
gentleman sprang towar5s his wi=e( an5 5ragge5 her to a seat( an5 9se5 great ph>sical
=orce be=ore he co9l5 ro9se her =rom the terrible spell. I seeme5 to be in part liberate5
with her( b9t it was a long time be=ore we were reall> =ree =rom the strange in=l9ence we
ha5 =allen 9n5er.
B,hen we co9l5 talk( we =o9n5 that we ha5 each seen the same vision( in ever> 5etail
alike. I have alwa>s ha5 a strong =aith in religion. M> =rien5s were too philosophical to
a5mit 5ogmas into their min5s. "9t the one horrible central =ig9re in o9r visions( it
seems( m9st have originate5 in (, brain( =rom its resemblance to (, i5ea o= a personal
5evil. )t all events( we both saw( s955enl> take =orm o9t o= empt> space( the giant =ig9re
o= a man. .is =ace e?presse5 =ien5ish cr9elt> an5 wicke5ness( an5 we =elt o9rselves in
part in his power( an5 knew that he was e?9lting in this power. .e seeme5 to be =ollowe5
b> a great man> pigm> =ig9res( that 5ance5 abo9t the room an5 ma5e 9gl> =aces at 9s( b9t
5are5 not 5o more in the presence o= this master spirit. It was when the s9pernat9ral
malignanc> o= this =right=9l creat9re ha5 almost overpowere5 9s with =ear an5 horror( that
o9r =aces e?presse5 s9ch tort9re as to ca9se the gentleman to inter=ere( an5 tr> to ro9se 9s
=rom the spell.
B)s I have sai5( it was entirel> o9t o= o9r plan that : sho9l5 share in ii-U;W! the vision. I
ha5 co9nte5 on watching the e==ects o= m> passes on m> =rien5@ an5 the shock o= this
9nwelcome s9rprise p9t an en5 to an> =9rther e?periments in =9t9re.
BM)'I) F. -. "E-0E*.C
*he =ollowing is an in5epen5ent an5 ver> 5i==erent 5escription( =rom Mrs. +re5eric $.
,illiams( the la5> who share5 in the e?perience:A
B:V
bis
( '9e 5e +le9r9s( 1aris.
BMarch U3th( 2778.
/he =irst narrates how Miss "ecket an5 she 9se5 to tr> on each other( stan5ing some
5istance apart( the e==ect o= Bmagnetic passes(C an5 how she hersel= 9se5 to =eel a hot
c9rrent o= air( an5 Miss "ecket a cool one@
2
an5 contin9es:ABI cannot remember who
Yi.e.( which o= 9sZ acte5 as magnetiser on the partic9lar occasion to which Miss "ecket
all95es: the chie= =eat9re o= it I( however( 5o recollect. *his was seeing a strange
somethingAan appearance o= a sha5ow>( transparent =ilm( or veil( or sheet o= thinnest
vapo9r(
U
=loat slowl> 9pwar5 between Miss "ecket an5 m>sel=( b9t Pas it appeare5 to meQ
nearer her. )n> possible 5o9bt( i= not o= the obDect itsel=( at least o= o9r perception o=
something 9n9s9al( sho9l5 be 5isprove5 b> the =act o= o9r e?claiming sim9ltaneo9sl>(
u$i5 >o9 see thats4Aor wor5s to that e==ect. I hesitate to sa> an>thing o= the tr9th o=
which I am not absol9tel> s9re@ b9t I have an impression amo9nting to certaint> that it
was 9pon the reverse passes being ma5e that the above inci5ent happene5. Y*his 5etail
agrees with Miss "ecket4s statement.Z
BL. L. ,.C
On receiving this acco9nt( I tol5 Mrs. ,illiams what Miss "ecket4s version was( an5 also
aske5 whether Mr. ,illiams remembere5 the inci5ent. /he replie5 that Mr. ,illiams
co9l5 corroborate her statement as being the same that she ma5e to him at the time( b9t
5oes not remember having been present( tho9gh he a5mits that he ma> have been. /he
remembers that her e?perience 5i==ere5 =rom Miss "ecket4s in not being alarming( an5
that Miss "ecket 5escribe5 hers as uin=ernal.4 ,hat she saw ha5 the same sort o= shape as
a veil =alling aro9n5 a h9man =orm( an5 change5 like a clo95 while being watche5. /he
concl95es:AuI ha5 =orgotten that Miss "ecket became rigi5( b9t now remember the
circ9mstance( an5 this =act( that I was ver> m9ch alarme5( not at what I saw Paltho9gh it
is E9ite tr9e we opene5 o9r e>es ver> wi5e at thatQ( b9t at the state into which Miss
"ecket was thrown( an5 also at the possibilit> o= having 5one her some serio9s harm
thro9gh m> ine?perience in s9ch matters@ which wo9l5 seem to 5eci5e( at least in m>
own min5( a point on which Miss "ecket an5 I seem to be at variance( namel>( that it was
I who was umagnetising(4 an5 not she. I 5o not know( however( that this is o= an>
importance.C
YMemor> is clearl> more likel> to have erre5 as to the rese(blance than as to the
difference o= the two visions. "9t even i= we onl> ha5 Mrs. ,illiams4s acco9nt( some
germ o= tho9ght-trans=erence wo9l5 be strongl> s9ggeste5 b> the s955en an5
sim9ltaneo9s occ9rrence o= two s9ch sing9lar e?periences.Z
ii-U;7!
I now come to cases where the =ig9re was recognise5. *he =ollowing transitional instance(
o= semi-recognition( is =rom -aptain -ecil %orton( late o= the Vth Lancers( who tells 9s
that he has ha5 no other hall9cination o= the senses.
BV( }9een4s &ate( /.,.
B$ecember U;th( 277V.
P:UVQ B)bo9t -hristmastime 27WV or 27W8( being o==icer on 59t>( I was seate5 at the mess
table o= the Vth Lancers( in the ,est -avalr> "arracks( at )l5ershot. *here were 2; or 2U
other o==icers present( an5 amongst them Mr. Fohn )tkinson Pnow o= Erch=ont Manor(
near $evi]es( ,iltsQ( the /9rgeon-MaDor o= the regiment( who sat on m> right( b9t at the
en5 o= the table =9rthest =rom me an5 ne?t to Mr. '9ssell. Y-aptain %orton was sitting at
the en5 o= the table an5 5irectl> =acing the win5ow.Z )t abo9t 7.3V p.m. )tkinson
s955enl> glare5 at the win5ow to his right( thereb> attracting the notice o= '9ssell( who(
sei]ing his arm( sai5( u&oo5 gracio9s( $octor( what4s the matter with >o9r4 *his ca9se5
me to look in the 5irection in which I saw )tkinson looking( vi].( at the win5ow opposite(
an5 I there saw P=or the c9rtains were loope5 9p( altho9gh the room was lighte5 b> a
power=9l central gas light in the roo= an5 b> can5les on the tableQ a >o9ng woman( in
what appeare5 a soile5 or somewhat worn bri5al 5ress( walk or gli5e slowl> past the
win5ow =rom east to west. /he was abo9t at the centre o= the win5ow when I observe5
her( an5 o9tsi5e the win5ow. %o person co9l5 have act9all> been in the position where
she appeare5( as the win5ow in E9estion is abo9t :; =eet above the gro9n5.
B*he nearest b9il5ings to the win5ow re=erre5 to are the In=antr> "arracks opposite(
abo9t :;; >ar5s 5istant. "ehin5 where I sat is a conservator>( which was e?amine5 b>
me( as well as the =ront win5ow( imme5iatel> a=ter the occ9rrence. *here was no person
in the conservator>. YIt was 9n9se5 in the winter.Z *he nearest b9il5ings to it are the
o==icers4 stables( over which are the sta== sergeants4 E9arters( abo9t V; >ar5s 5istant.
B*he occ9rrence ma5e little i= an> impression 9pon me( tho9gh it impresse5 others who
were in the room. )ll present ha5 been 5rinking ver> little wine@ an5 the 5inner ha5 been
ver> E9iet.
BIt has D9st occ9rre5 to me that I ma> be wrong as to the time o= >ear an5 that the
occ9rrence ma> have taken place abo9t 2Vth October or abo9t 2Vth March.
B-E-IL %O'*O%.C
Mr. )tkinson writes:A
BErch=ont Manor( $evi]es.
B)9g9st :2st( 277V.
B*he appearance o= a woman which I saw pass the mess-room win5ow at )l5ershot
seeme5 to be o9tsi5e( an5 it passe5 =rom east to west. *he mess-room is on the =irst =loor(
so the woman wo9l5 have been walking in the air. *here has been a ver> nice stor> ma5e
o9t o= itAlike most other ghost-stories( =o9n5e5 on an optical ill9sion.C
Y-aptain %orton4s viv0 voce acco9nt ma5e it tolerabl> clear( in m> opinion( that the case
was one o= hallucination( not ill9sion. .e ii-U;X! =9rther mentions that both Mr.
)tkinson an5 he were Bsatis=ie5 that the =ace an5 =orm o= the woman seen were =amiliar(C
tho9gh the> co9l5 not at the moment i5enti=> the person. -aptain %orton a=terwar5s =elt
s9re that the likeness was to a photograph which he was in the habit o= seeing in the room
o= the veterinar> s9rgeon o= the regiment( representing the s9rgeon4s 5ecease5 wi=e in
bri5al 5ress. O55l> eno9gh( this man was at the time( 9nknown to his =rien5s( act9all>
5>ing or within a 5a> or two o= 5eath( in the same b9il5ing. "9t Mr. )tkinson recalls
nothing abo9t the photograph@ an5 the coinci5ence is not one to which we can attach
weight.Z
*he ne?t instance m9st be reckone5 as Bambig9o9sC in origin@ as( tho9gh the person
whose =orm was seen was in an abnormal state( this ha5 been to some e?tent chronic( an5
no reason is known wh> he sho9l5 have e?ercise5 a telepathic agenc> on the 5a> in
E9estion more than on an> other. *he narrator 5esires that her name ma> not be printe5.
BOctober U7th( 277V.
P:U8Q BIn the month o= %ovember( 273:( m>sel=( m> el5est sister( an5 the man-servant
were 5riving home =rom a small town to o9r parsonage in the co9ntr>. *he time might be
abo9t hal= past 3 or V p.m. )s we came slowl> 9p the hill b> the ch9rch>ar5 wall( we saw
a gentleman in walking-cost9me going into the vestr> 5oor. ,e both e?claime5( u*hat4s
papa(4 an5 the man &eorge sai5 at the same moment( u,h> there4s the master.4 M> =ather
was then ill( an5 awa> =rom home man> miles awa>. .e 5ie5 the =ollowing Fan9ar> U:r5(
2733. .e wore a partic9lar long cloak which I sho9l5 have recognise5 an>where( an5
which he ha5 man> >ears( an5 wore as a loose wrap. Y,hat is meant clearl> is that the
cloak in which the =ig9re appeare5 to be 5resse5 e?actl> resemble5 that o= the narrator4s
=ather.Z .e looke5 e?actl> like himsel=( an5 was going in b> the small vestr> 5oor he 9se5
to enter the ch9rch b> when going to take 59t>. I 5o not think he looke5 at 9s( b9t seeme5
intent on entering the ch9rch( an5 5isappeare5 insi5e. ,e were all m9ch =rightene5( an5
searche5 ro9n5 the ho9se an5 ch9rch b9t co9l5 see no one( an5 no one ha5 been seen
abo9t. I recollect the occ9rrence as i= it ha5 been >ester5a>( an5( as I write( see all
5istinctl> in m> min54s e>e.
B*he man-servant is 5ea5@ m> sister begs to corroborate m> acco9nt.
B/. '.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. '. sa>s:A
BM> sister has alwa>s( when I have talke5 o= the vision( sai5 she saw it so likewise( an5
she reiterate5 that onl> last s9mmer( b9t she is not eE9al to write abo9t it.Y~Z I E9ite see
the weak point( i= the ch9rch was not searche5 insi5e. I can4t sa> it -as( nor can I sa> it
was not. Ol5 &eorge( the man( was most =on5 o= his master( an5 ma> have gone into the
ch9rch@ b9t I can4t sa>. I onl> know we were all so terribl> =rightene5. *he vision was
s955en( so tr9e to li=e( an5 even to the partic9lar long cloak( all gathere5 in to a collar
claspe5 at the throat. I o9ght to have sai5 that the =ig9re see(ed in the act o= going in b>
the vestr> 5oor: we 5i5 not see him enter( as we 5rove on in great =right to the ho9se. M>
=ather was then 9n5er me5ical treatment at %orthampton.C
Mrs. '. gives 5etails( showing the absol9te impossibilit> that her =ather ii-U2;! co9l5
reall> have Ble=t %orthampton( being a d,ing man( so to speak( when a5mitte5(C an5
come to the spot where he was seen( 9nknown to all his =rien5s. B*hen( again(C she a55s(
Bthe ch9rch was alwa>s kept locke5( the ke>s at the parsonage( s9pposing =or a moment
that we saw a living =ig9re. I recollect that inE9ir> was ma5e o= the villagers as to an>
strange gentleman having been seen abo9t( an5 the answer was u%o.4C
)ske5 whether she or her sister have ever ha5 a hall9cination o= the senses on an> other
occasion( Mrs. '. sa>s( BI can emphaticall> answer u%o(4 =or both o= 9s.C .er sister was
abo9t 2X at the time( an5 she hersel= 22ABa =resh >o9ng chil5 with per=ect nerves.C
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom Mrs. Moberle>( o= *>nwal5( .>the.
BMa> Xth( 2773.
P:UWQ B*he case o= hall9cination share5 b> m>sel= an5 a =rien5 was rather o55. ,e were
both convince5 we saw one a=ternoon a =rien5 pass be=ore the win5ow in which we stoo5(
an5 enter the gar5en. ,e both bowe5 to him( an5 believe5 he ret9rne5 the greeting. .e
was in sight =or some short time@ E9ite long eno9gh to allow o= a 5istinct recognition( an5
the roa5 along which he passe5 was near to the win5ow at which we stoo5. ) E9iet
co9ntr> roa5( we knew ever> passer-b> b> sight an5 name( an5 o9r =rien5 was a
remarkable man in some wa>s( not one to be easil> con=o9n5e5 with other peopleAa
short( brisk( alert( =oreign-looking man( with Det black hair an5 white whiskers( a
5eci5e5l> 9n-English overcoat( an5 a sal9te pec9liar to himsel=( a wave o= the hat an5 a
low bow( with which he never =aile5 to greet 9s. ,e waite5 to hear him anno9nce5 in
vain. On her wa> home m> =rien5 met his son( who was e?tremel> perple?e5 at hearing
that his =ather ha5 been to o9r ho9se. .e ha5 been inten5ing to come( b9t =in5ing that he
sho9l5 be engage5 ha5 sent his son instea5. O= co9rse when we all met( the m>ster> was
e?ha9stivel> 5isc9sse5( an5 5ismisse5 as a m>ster>.
B+')/. MO"E'LE#.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. Moberle> sa>s that the 5ate was 278:@ that she was 2X( an5 in
goo5 health@ an5 that she has never ha5 an> other hall9cination. *he la5> who share5 the
e?perience with her 5eclines to answer an> E9estions( sa>ing that Bit is a E9estion o=
principle.C Mrs. Moberle> a55s( B/he has not forgotten the circ9mstance: she wo9l5 have
been onl> too gla5 to sa> so.C
"earing in min5 the BarrivalC cases o= -hap. \IV.( S W( we cannot here ass9me it as E9ite
certain that the 5irection o= the absent person4s tho9ghts ha5 nothing to 5o with the
appearance@ b9t i= to this e?tent Bambig9o9s(C the case seems at an> rate one o= collective
hall9cination. *he same remark applies to the ne?t e?ampleA=rom Mrs. +ors>th .9nter(
o= U( Victoria -rescent( /t. .eliers( Ferse>.
B277U.
P:U7Q B)nother o55 appearance
2
was that o= m> el5er 5a9ghter( a bright livel> girl o=
=i=teen. I ha5 place5 her at a =inishing school in ii-U22! E5inb9rgh( an5 ret9rne5 to m>
cottage( in M. %e?t morning at break=ast( I s955enl> looke5 o9t o= the win5ow( an5 saw
her E9ite 5istinctl> coming in at the gar5en gate( in pork-pie hat( gre> 5ress loope5 9p
over a re5 petticoat( D9st as she ha5 been the 5a> be=ore. %ot a wor5 sai5 I( b9t M.( m>
secon5 5a9ghter Ysince 5ecease5Z( e?claime5 Do>o9sl> an5 won5eringl>( u*here is "s4 +or
the =ew secon5s the vision laste5( I saw her( as i= stooping to 9n5o the latch o= the gate.
)=terwar5s she tol5 me how 9nhapp> she ha5 been =or the =irst 5a> in school( an5 what
an intense longing ha5 sei]e5 her to ret9rn to 9s. %o 5o9bt both her sister an5 m>sel=
were thinking o= her( at the same time.C
In answer to the E9estion whether she can be E9ite certain that the =ig9re seen was not
that o= a stranger bearing some resemblance to her 5a9ghter( Mrs. .9nter replies:A
B#o9r s9pposition am9ses me. *he =ig9re (elted awa>( in the act o= seemingl> stooping
to 9n5o the latch o= o9r little gate. It was a bright a9t9mn morning. ,e were seate5 at
break=ast( the table close to a bow-win5ow( overlooking a strip o= gar5en( belonging to a
cottage at Melrose: the gate being a low woo5en gate( an5 no ho9se near. It -as m>
5a9ghter4s =ace( =ig9re( an5 5ress( D9st as she ha5 appeare5 the 5a> be=ore( when I took
her to school at E5inb9rgh. M> 5a9ghter was 5isting9ishe5-looking( an5 no one in that
neighbo9rhoo5 co9l5 at all be mistaken =or her. O9r sight was E9ite goo5( an5 neither
short-sighte5. In short( there is no 5o9bt that in some m>sterio9s wa> her longing an5 o9r
thinking Yo= herZ bro9ght abo9t this appearance. )nother e?planation might be that o9r
imaginations might at the same moment have calle5 9p the =ig9re.C
Y*he =acts that the phantasm presente5 e?actl> the aspect o= the real =ig9re so recentl>
seen( an5 that Mrs. .9nter4s tho9ghts were m9ch occ9pie5 with her absent 5a9ghter( an5
=9rther that she ha5 previo9sl> ha5 a s9bDective Ba=ter-imageC o= this ver> 5a9ghter
P-hap. \II.( S 3Q( 5eci5e5l> =avo9r the s9pposition that her e?perience on this occasion
was also o= that character. )n5 i= so( the case seems clearl> to be one where a p9rel>
s9bDective hall9cination has been trans=erre5.Z
In the ne?t e?ample( the apparition seems more 5e=initel> in5epen5ent o= an> conscio9s
mental action on the part o= the absent person@ =or it wo9l5 be har5 to attrib9te a special
telepathic in=l9ence to some cas9al image o= his 9s9al resort that ma> have =litte5 across
his min5( at the same time that his =orm appeare5. *he two percipients were at the time
secretaries to societies o= which the o==ices were in the same b9il5ing. *he narrator is Mr.
'. Mo9at( o= 8;( .9nting5on /treet( "arnsb9r>( %. .is acco9nt( which was written 5own
soon a=ter the occ9rrence( has been slightl> con5ense5.
P:UXQ BOn *h9rs5a>( the Vth o= /eptember( 278W( abo9t the ho9r o= 2;.3V a.m.( on
entering m> o==ice( I =o9n5 m> clerk in conversation with the porter( an5 the 'ev. Mr. ..
stan5ing at the clerk4s back. I was D9st on the point o= asking Mr. .. what ha5 bro9ght
him in so earl> Phe worke5 ii-U2U! in the same room as m>sel=( b9t was not in the habit
o= coming till abo9t mi5-5a>Q when m> clerk began E9estioning me abo9t a telegram
which ha5 misse5 me. *he conversation laste5 some min9tes( an5 in the mi5st o= it the
porter gave me a letter which e?plaine5 b> whom the telegram ha5 been sent. $9ring this
scene Mr. '.( =rom an o==ice 9pstairs( came in an5 listene5 to what was going on. On
opening the letter( I imme5iatel> ma5e known its p9rport( an5 looke5 Mr. .. =9ll in the
=ace as I spoke. I was m9ch str9ck b> the melanchol> look he ha5( an5 observe5 that he
was witho9t his neck-tie. )t this D9nct9re Mr. '. an5 the porter le=t the room. I spoke to
Mr. ..( sa>ing( u,ell( what4s the matter with >o9r #o9 look so so9r.4 .e ma5e no answer(
b9t contin9e5 looking =i?e5l> at me. I took 9p an enclos9re which ha5 accompanie5 the
letter an5 rea5 it thro9gh( still seeing Mr. .. stan5ing opposite to me at the corner o= the
table. )s I lai5 the papers 5own( m> clerk sai5( u.ere( sir( is a letter come =rom Mr. ..4
%o sooner ha5 he prono9nce5 the name than Mr. .. 5isappeare5 in a secon5. I was =or a
time E9ite 59mb=o9n5e5( which astonishe5 m> clerk( who Pit now t9rne5 o9tQ ha5 not
seen Mr. ..( an5 absol9tel> 5enie5 that he ha5 been in the o==ice that morning. *he
p9rport o= the letter =rom Mr. ..( which m> clerk gave me( an5 which ha5 been written
on the previo9s 5a>( was that( =eeling 9nwell( he sho9l5 not come to the o==ice that
*h9rs5a>( b9t reE9este5 me to =orwar5 his letters to him at his ho9se.
B*he ne?t 5a> P+ri5a>Q( abo9t noon( Mr. .. entere5 the o==ice@ an5 when I aske5 him
where he was on the *h9rs5a> abo9t 2;.3V( he replie5 that he ha5 D9st =inishe5 break=ast(
was in the compan> o= his wi=e( an5 ha5 never le=t his ho9se 59ring the 5a>. I =elt sh> o=
mentioning the s9bDect to Mr. '.( b9t on the Mon5a> =ollowing I co9l5 not re=rain =rom
asking him i= he remembere5 looking in on *h9rs5a> morning. u1er=ectl>(4 he replie5@
u>o9 were having a long con=ab with >o9r clerk abo9t a telegram( which >o9
s9bseE9entl> 5iscovere5 came =rom Mr. -.4 On m> asking him i= he remembere5 who
were present( he answere5( u*he clerk( the porter( >o9 an5 ..4 On m> asking him =9rther(
he sai5( u.e was stan5ing at the corner o= the table( opposite >o9. I a55resse5 him( b9t he
ma5e no repl>( onl> took 9p a book an5 began rea5ing. I co9l5 not help looking at him( as
the =irst thing that str9ck me was his being at the o==ice so earl>( an5 the ne?t his
melanchol> look( so 5i==erent =rom his 9s9al manner@ b9t that I attrib9te5 to his being
anno>e5 abo9t the 5isc9ssion going on. I le=t him stan5ing in the same position when I
went o9t( =ollowe5 b> the porter.4 On m> making known to Mr. '. that Mr. .. was 23
miles o== the whole o= that 5a> he grew E9ite in5ignant at m> 5o9bting the evi5ence o=
his e>esight( an5 insiste5 on the porter being calle5 9p an5 interrogate5. *he porter
however( like the clerk( ha5 not seen the =ig9re.C
Mr. '. has s9pplie5 in5epen5ent an5 precise corroboration o= these =acts( so =ar as he was
a part> to themAthe one insigni=icant 5i==erence being that he sa>s he 5i5 not spea1 to
Mr. ..( b9t Bgestic9late5 in =9n to him( pointing to Mr. M. an5 the clerk( who were
having an altercation abo9t a telegram@ b9t m> =9n 5i5 not seem at all catching( Mr. ..
apparentl> not being incline5( as he o=ten was( to make =9n o9t o= s9rro9n5ing
circ9mstances.C .e a55s that he has never e?perience5 an> other hall9cination o= the
senses@ an5 Mr. Mo9at ma5e a similar statement viv0 voce to the present writer.
ii-U2:!
-ases o= this t>pe nat9rall> s9ggest the E9estion whether the> ma> not be parallel to
those cases o= casual agenc, P-hap. \IV.( S VQ( where the same person has on several
occasions( 9nconnecte5 with an> crisis( been the so9rce o= hall9cination( now to one
=rien5 now to another. "9t even s9pposing s9ch an impression as the above( o= an absent
person who is in a normal state( to be telepathic an5 not p9rel> s9bDective in its inception(
no one on re=lection will maintain that b> p9re acci5ent two percipients were cas9all>
a==ecte5 in this e?tremel> rare wa> at the sa(e (o(ent. )n5 i= not( then something took
place between them@ whichAi= what one saw was not s9ggeste5 to the other b> verbal or
ph>sical signsAm9st be o= the nat9re o= tho9ght-trans=erence.
*he ne?t narrative is =rom Mr. Fames -owle>( who wrote =rom :U( Langton /treet(
-atha>( "ristol( on Fan. W( 2773:A
P::;Q BM> el5est son is a twin. *he night a=ter his 5ear mother was lai5 in the grave at the
.ighgate -emeter> P273VQ I ha5 him in be5 with me. PI was then resi5ing at :X( -harlotte
*errace( Islington.Q /omething ca9sing me to start =rom m> sleep( I saw( with all the
5istinctness possible to vis9al power( m> 5earest angel rece5ing( in a bent position( as i=
she ha5 been blessing one or both o= 9s( with a kiss. )t the same instant the chil5( onl>
two >ears an5 =ive months ol5( e?claime5( u*here4s mothers4 #o9 will har5l> won5er that(
a=ter the night ha5 passe5 awa>( I was perple?e5 to know whether I ha5 onl> 5reamt it( or
whether it was real. "9t the re=erence ma5e to the matter b> m> 5ear little motherless
one( the moment he awoke( remove5 all possibilit> o= 5o9bt.C
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom Mr. -harles ). ,. Lett( o= the Militar> an5 'o>al %aval -l9b(
)lbemarle /treet( ,.
B$ecember :r5( 277V.
P::2Q BOn the Vth )pril( 27W:( m> wi=e4s =ather( -aptain *owns( 5ie5 at his resi5ence(
-ranbrook( 'ose "a>( near />5ne>( %. /. ,ales. )bo9t 8 weeks a=ter his 5eath( m> wi=e
ha5 occasion( one evening abo9t X o4clock( to go to one o= the be5rooms in the ho9se.
/he was accompanie5 b> a >o9ng la5>( Miss "erthon( an5 as the> entere5 the roomAthe
gas was b9rning all the timeAthe> were ama]e5 to see( re=lecte5 as it were on the
polishe5 s9r=ace o= the war5robe( the image o= -aptain *owns. It was barel> hal= =ig9re(
2

the hea5( sho9l5ers( an5 part o= the arms onl> showingAin =act( it was like an or5inar>
me5allion portrait( b9t li=e-si]e. *he =ace appeare5 wan an5 pale( as it 5i5 be=ore his
5eath@ an5 he wore a kin5 o= gre> =lannel Dacket( in which he ha5 been acc9stome5 to
sleep. /9rprise5 an5 hal= alarme5 at what the> saw( their =irst i5ea was that a portrait ha5
been h9ng in the room( an5 that what the> saw was its re=lectionAb9t there was no
pict9re o= the kin5.
B,hilst the> were looking an5 won5ering( m> wi=e4s sister( Miss *owns( came into the
room( an5 be=ore either o= the others ha5 time to speak she e?claime5( u&oo5 gracio9ss
$o >o9 see papar4 ii-U23! One o= the ho9semai5s happene5 to be passing 5own stairs at
the moment( an5 she was calle5 in( an5 aske5 i= she saw an>thing( an5 her repl> was(
uOh( misss the master.4 &rahamA-aptain *owns4 ol5 bo5> servantAwas then sent =or(
an5 he also imme5iatel> e?claime5( uOh( Lor5 save 9ss Mrs. Lett( it4s the -aptains4 *he
b9tler was calle5( an5 then Mrs. -rane( m> wi=e4s n9rse( an5 the> both sai5 what the>
saw. +inall>( Mrs. *owns was sent =or( an5( seeing the apparition( she a5vance5 towar5s it
with her arm e?ten5e5 as i= to to9ch it( an5 as she passe5 her han5 over the panel o= the
war5robe the =ig9re gra59all> =a5e5 awa>( an5 never again appeare5( tho9gh the room
was reg9larl> occ9pie5 =or a long time a=ter.
B*hese are the simple =acts o= the case( an5 the> a5mit o= no 5o9bt@ no kin5 o= intimation
was given to an> o= the witnesses@ the same E9estion was p9t to each one as the> came
into the room( an5 the repl> was given witho9t hesitation b> each. It was b> the merest
acci5ent that I 5i5 not see the apparition. I was in the ho9se at the time( b9t 5i5 not hear
when I was calle5.
B-. ). ,. LE**.C
B,e( the 9n5ersigne5( having rea5 the above statement( certi=> that it is strictl> acc9rate(
as we both were witnesses o= the apparition.
B/)') LE**.
B/I""IE /M#*. Pn4e *O,%/Q.C
Mrs. Lett ass9res me that neither she nor her sister ever e?perience5 a hall9cination o= the
senses on an> other occasion. /he is positive that the recognition o= the appearance on the
part o= each o= the later witnesses was independent( an5 not 59e to an> s9ggestion =rom
the persons alrea5> in the room.
Y,e hope in time to receive the corroboration o= Miss "erthon( an5 o= Mrs. -rane( Mrs.
Lett4s n9rse.Z
*hese last are cases where the 5istinction to which I have calle5 attention Ppp. 2X;TUQ
m9st be speciall> borne in min5. M> central obDect being to prove that i5eas ma> be
trans=erre5 =rom min5 to min5 witho9t wor5s or ph>sical signs( I am presenting certain
collective sensor> e?periences which I think ma> constit9te one t>pe o= s9ch
trans=erence. %ow believers in comm9nications with the 5eparte5 will probabl> nee5 so
little convincing as to the general theor> o= the =ar less startling trans=erences between
living persons( that on them I am not concerne5 to press the evi5ence o= this partic9lar
t>pe. "9t o= the rest o= m> rea5ers I wo9l5 askAs9pposing the above an5 similar
occ9rrences to be tr9l> 5escribe5Aon what h>pothesis( other than that o= the
trans=erabilit> o= hall9cinations as s9ch( the> wo9l5 e?plain them.
I pass b> some other e?amples o= the same kin5@ as no insistance YsicZ on m> point o=
view in E9oting them wo9l5 prevent m> seeming to some to be e?plaining awa> veritable
mani=estations as s9bDective 5el9sions( an5 to others to be intro59cing BghostsC b> a si5e-
win5. "9t I give the =ollowing as a =9rther interesting case o= impressions ii-U2V! which(
tho9gh probabl> sim9ltaneo9s( were not similar. *he narrative was originall> printe5 in
F9l>( 277:( in an acco9nt o= the Orphanage where it occ9rre5( entitle5 The 8rphanage
and 9o(e, )berlour, Craigellachie( [c. Ppp. 33TVQ. *he narrator thro9gho9t is the 'ev.
-. F9pp( ,ar5en o= the Orphanage.
P::UQ BIn 27WV( a man 5ie5 leaving a wi5ow an5 si? orphan chil5ren. *he : el5est were
a5mitte5 into the Orphanage. *hree >ears a=terwar5s the wi5ow 5ie5( an5 =rien5s
s9ccee5e5 in getting =9n5s to sen5 the rest here( the >o9ngest being abo9t 3 >ears o= age.
YLate one evening( abo9t 8 months a=ter the a5mission o= the >o9nger chil5ren( some
visitors arrive5 9ne?pecte5l>@ an5Z the ,ar5en agree5 to take a be5 in the little ones4
5ormitor>( which containe5 2; be5s( X occ9pie5.
BIn the morning( at break=ast( the ,ar5en ma5e the =ollowing statement:Au)s near as I
can tell I =ell asleep abo9t 22 o4clock( an5 slept ver> so9n5l> =or some time. I s955enl>
woke witho9t an> apparent reason( an5 =elt an imp9lse to t9rn ro9n5( m> =ace being
towar5s the wall( =rom the chil5ren. "e=ore t9rning( I looke5 9p an5 saw a so=t light in the
room. *he gas was b9rning low in the hall( an5 the 5ormitor> 5oor being open( I tho9ght
it probable that the light came =rom that so9rce. It was soon evi5ent( however( that s9ch
was not the case. I t9rne5 ro9n5( an5 then a won5er=9l vision met m> ga]e. Over the
secon5 be5 =rom mine( an5 on the same si5e o= the room( there was =loating a small clo95
o= light( =orming a halo o= the brightness o= the moon on an or5inar> moonlight night.
BuI sat 9pright in be5( looking at this strange appearance( took 9p m> watch an5 =o9n5 the
han5s pointing to V min9tes to 2. Ever>thing was E9iet( an5 all the chil5ren sleeping
so9n5l>. In the be5( over which the light seeme5 to =loat( slept the >o9ngest o= the 8
chil5ren mentione5 above.
BuI aske5 m>sel=( B)m I 5reamingrC %os I was wi5e awake. I was sei]e5 with a strong
imp9lse to rise an5 to9ch the s9bstance( or whatever it might be P=or it was abo9t V =eet
highQ( an5 was getting 9p when something seeme5 to hol5 me back. I am certain I hear5
nothing( >et I felt an5 per=ectl> 9n5erstoo5 the wor5sAB%o( lie 5own( it won4t h9rt >o9.C
I at once 5i5 what I felt I was tol5 to 5o. I =ell asleep shortl> a=terwar5s an5 rose at hal=-
past V( that being m> 9s9al time.
Bu)t 8 o4clock I began 5ressing the chil5ren( beginning at the be5 =9rthest =rom the one in
which I slept. 1resentl> I came to the be5 over which I ha5 seen the light hovering. I took
the little bo> o9t( place5 him on m> knee( an5 p9t on some o= his clothes. *he chil5 ha5
been talking with the others@ s955enl> he was silent. )n5 then( looking me har5 in the
=ace with an e?traor5inar> e?pression( he sai5( BOh( Mr. F9pp( m> mother came to me last
night. $i5 >o9 see herrC +or a moment I co9l5 not answer the chil5. I then tho9ght it
better to pass it o==( an5 sai5( B-ome( we m9st make haste( or we shall be late =or
break=ast.C4
B*he chil5 never a=terwar5s re=erre5 to the matter( we are tol5( nor has it since ever been
mentione5 to him. *he ,ar5en sa>s it is a m>ster> to him@ he simpl> states the =act an5
there leaves the matter( being per=ectl> satis=ie5 that he was mistaken in no one
partic9lar.C
ii-U28!
In answer to inE9iries( the 'ev. -. F9pp writes to 9s:A
B*he Orphanage an5 -onvalescent .ome( )berlo9r( -raigellachie.
B%ovember 2:th( 277:.
BI =ear an>thing the little bo> might now sa> wo9l5 be 9nreliable( or I wo9l5 at once
E9estion him. )ltho9gh the matter was =9ll> 5isc9sse5 at the time( it was never mentione5
in the hearing o= the chil5@ an5 >et( when at the reE9est o= =rien5s( the acco9nt was
p9blishe5 in o9r little maga]ine( an5 the chil5 rea5 it( his co9ntenance change5( an5
looking 9p( he sai5( uMr. F9pp( that is me.4 I sai5( u#es( that is what we saw.4 .e sai5(
u#es(4 an5 then seeme5 to =all into 5eep tho9ght( evi5entl> with pleasant remembrances(
=or he smile5 so sweetl> to himsel=( an5 seeme5 to =orget I was present.
BI m9ch regret now that I 5i5 not learn something =rom the chil5 at the time.
B-.)/. FU11.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. F9pp sa>s that he has never ha5 an> other hall9cination o= the
senses@ an5 a55s( BM> wi=e was the onl> person of adult age to whom I mentione5 the
circ9mstance at the time. /hortl> a=ter( I mentione5 it to o9r "ishop an5 1rim9s.C
Mrs. F9pp writes( =rom the Orphanage( on F9ne U:( 2778:A
B*his is to certi=> that the acco9nt o= the light seen b> the ,ar5en o= this establishment is
correct( an5 was mentione5 to me at the timeCAi.e.( ne?t morning.
It is possible that the chil54s e?perience here was a 5ream@ i= so( the case might be taken
as a link between the two classes o= phenomenaAcollective hall9cinations an5
sim9ltaneo9s 5reamsAwhich I have re=erre5 to as so closel> relate5 Pp. 2W2Q.
2

I will give one more Brecognise5C case( which presents the c9rio9s =eat9re that the =ig9re
seen was that o= one o= the percipients. ii-U2W! I have spoken be=ore P-hap. \II.( S 7(
=irst noteQ o= a =orm o= hall9cination( as I hol5 it( which consists in seeming to see onesel=
as a person o9tsi5e one@ an5 I have also pointe5 o9t Pp. 7V( noteQ that one o= o9r
in=ormants who has ha5 an e?perience o= the sort is also one o= the =ew persons who have
given 9s evi5ence o= what I have calle5 casual agenc>( e?ercise5 in the mi5st o= E9ite
or5inar> li=e. %ow the =act that a person who has( so to speak( cas9all> impresse5 hersel=(
has at other times cas9all> impresse5 others( is in itsel= o= great interest@ b9t it lea5s 9s on
to the =ollowing still more interesting case( where the u5o9ble4 was seen b> its original
an5 b> others at the sa(e ti(e. *he acco9nt is =rom Mrs. .all( o= *he #ews( &retton(
near 0ettering( an5 was receive5 in $ecember( 277:.
P:::Q BIn the a9t9mn o= 278:( I was living with m> h9sban5 an5 =irst bab>( a chil5 o= 7
months( in a lone ho9se( calle5 /ibberton( near ,ans=or5( %orthamptonshire( which in
b>-gone 5a>s ha5 been a ch9rch. )s the weather became more wintr>( a marrie5 co9sin
an5 her h9sban5 ii-U27! came on a visit. One night( when we were having s9pper( an
apparition stoo5 at the en5 o= the si5eboar5. ,e =o9r sat at the 5ining-table@ an5 >et( with
great inconsistenc>( : stoo5 as this ghostl> visitor again( in a spotte5( light m9slin s9mmer
5ress( an5 witho9t an> terrible pec9liarities o= air or manner. ,e all =o9r saw it( m>
h9sban5 having attracte5 o9r attention to it( sa>ing( uIt is /arah(4 in a tone o= recognition(
meaning me. It at once 5isappeare5. %one o= 9s =elt an> =ear( it seeme5 too nat9ral an5
=amiliar.
B*he apparition seeme5 9tterl> apart =rom m>sel= an5 m> =eelings( as a pict9re or stat9e.
M> three relatives( who( with me( saw the apparition( are all 5ea5@ the> 5ie5 in abo9t the
>ears 2787T8X.
B/)'). F)%E .)LL.C
*he 5ress in which the =ig9re appeare5 was not like an> that Mrs. .all ha5 at the time(
tho9gh she wore one like it nearl> two >ears a=terwar5s. Mrs. .all has ha5 other vis9al
hall9cinations( which were all connecte5 with ill-health or nervo9s shock@ one which
occ9rre5 a =ew months be=ore that here 5escribe5 ha5 represente5 hersel= as i= Blai5 o9t.C
I now pass to a95itor> cases. I have spoken o= the ca9tion which these reE9ire@
2
b9t the
=ollowing instances m9st( I think( have been more than mere misinterpretations o= real
so9n5s.
*he =irst acco9nt is =rom a la5> o= 9nimpeachable veracit>@ an5 the acco9nt( tho9gh
written in the thir5 person( is =irst-han5.
B%ovember( 2773.
P::3Q B/ome U; >ears ago( Miss &. Ythe narratorZ was recovering =rom a severe illness(
an5 it was o= the 9tmost importance =or her to have a ii-U2X! goo5 night( in or5er to
win5 her 9p =or a Do9rne> to E5inb9rgh ne?t 5a>. )ll the ho9se was sent to be5 earl>( an5
the 9tmost E9iet enDoine5 9pon ever>bo5>. ) 5evote5 =rien5( whose name was Lo9isa(
went to be5 with her( in or5er to be close at han5 i= an>thing sho9l5 be wante5. )bo9t an
ho9r a=ter she ha5 lain 5own she was startle5 b> a lo95 o9tcr>( uLo9ie( Lo9ies4 as i=
someone was in 9rgent want o= assistance. Miss &. tho9ght that probabl> someone ha5
slippe5 an5 was hanging over the banisters@ she an?io9sl> t9rne5 to her =rien5 tr>ing to
ro9se her. .er =rien5 ma5e no o==er to rise( b9t sai5( in a ver> marke5 wa>( u$i5 ,ou hear
that voicer It was m> mother@ I hear it constantl>.4 %e?t morning ever> inE9ir> was
ma5e@ b9t no call whatever ha5 been ma5e.C
I have alrea5> mentione5 that the hearing o= the name( in the tones o= a =amiliar voice( is
one o= the commonest an5 most rec9rrent =orms o= s9bDective hall9cination@ b9t whatever
view be taken o= the origin o= the =rien54s impression( we ma> reasonabl> s9ppose that it
was thro9gh her that it was comm9nicate5 to Miss &.
*he ne?t e?ample was sent to 9s b> Mr. &eorge /a?on( o= 1arklan5s( "r9ton(
/omersetshire( who completel> con=irms the narrative as =ar as he was concerne5. *he
=ollowing is his wi=e4s acco9nt:A
B+ebr9ar> U8th( 277V
P::VQ BOn =irst coming to this ho9se to resi5e( in /eptember( 27WX( m>sel= an5 two
servants were in the kitchen talking one evening at abo9t 2;.:;@ an5 we all three
5istinctl> hear5 a voice coming =rom the ne?t room( or the passage that lea5s =rom the
kitchen to this room( sa>ing three times( u)re >o9 comingr4 On the =irst occasion I
answere5 an5 sai5( uI am coming( 5ear(4 thinking it was m> h9sban5 calling( whom I
s9ppose5 to be in the ne?t room. *he voice again sai5 the secon5 time( u)re >o9
comingr4 an5 one o= the servants sai5( u#o9 ha5 better go@ master is calling.4 *he voice
again sai5 the thir5 time( u)re >o9 ii-UU;! comingr4 I then went thro9gh the passage
be=ore mentione5( to the ne?t room( where I tho9ght to =in5 m> h9sban5( there being no
one else in the ho9se e?cept three chil5ren( who were 9pstairs =ast asleep. On going
thro9gh the passage into the ne?t room( I =o9n5 no one there( an5 no light( it being E9ite
5ark. I then ret9rne5 to the kitchen an5 obtaine5 a light( an5 went thro9gh the sai5 room
into the room be>on5( where I =o9n5 m> h9sban5( who was b9s> writing letters( an5 he
ha5 not calle5 or spoken. *his room he was in ha5 the 5oor sh9t. ,e all tho9ght it ver>
strange( an5 went 9p to see the chil5ren( who were all =ast asleep. One o= the servants
be=ore mentione5( I sho9l5 sa>( ha5 le=t m> service an5 ha5 onl> come 5own b> train P2;
milesQ =or the 5a>( an5 was to ret9rn Yarriving home at 7 p.m.Z b> the last train( which she
misse5 an5 ha5 to sta> the night. /he ha5 a 5a9ghter-in-law e?pecting to be con=ine5( to
whom she was going back. /he was an el5erl> person( ha5 lost a son not long be=ore( an5
9se5 to see at times ughosts(4 or what appeare5 h9man beings( b9t 5isappeare5 s955enl>
an5 m>sterio9sl>.
B-)'OLI%E )U&U/*) /)\O%.C
Mr. /a?on a55s:A
B*he ho9se is E9ite an isolate5 one( stan5ing in gar5ens awa> =rom a roa5( an5 abo9t
hal=-a-mile =rom the town. *he 5oors an5 win5ows were close5. *he voice was evi5entl>
within the ho9se@ an5 co9l5 not have come =rom an>one in the ho9se. O9r chil5ren4s ages
were respectivel> X >ears( W >ears( V >ears an5 W months. ,e were s9re the> were all
asleep at the time( as we went 9p at once to see. I aske5 them the ne?t 5a>@ besi5es( it was
not the voice o= the chil5ren( b9t seeme5 a low plaintive voice. %otwithstan5ing( m> wi=e
an5 the two servants tho9ght it m9st have been m>sel= calling =rom the ne?t room( I
being the onl> other being abo9t.C
I have e?amine5 the localities( an5 saw how nat9ral it was that Mrs. /a?on sho9l5
imagine her h9sban5 to be calling =rom the nearer room. /he 5escribes the voice as ver>
5istinct an5 startling. /he has occasionall> ha5 the hall9cination o= hearing her own name
calle5( when overtire5@ b9t never o= an>thing else.
.ere( as in the last e?ample( we have to note a slight ten5enc> to s9bDective hall9cination(
which in the servant4s case ma> have been intensi=ie5 b> recent tro9ble@ an5( witho9t
absol9tel> e?cl95ing the h>pothesis o= telepathic in=l9ence =rom her 5a9ghter-in-law(
2
I
still think it more probable that a p9rel> s9bDective hall9cination on her part( easil>
re=erable to her an?iet> abo9t her 5a9ghter-in-law4s con5ition( was ps>chicall>
trans=erre5 to her two companions.
*he ne?t e?ample is =rom the 'ev. ,. 'a>mon5( 'ector o= "all>heig9e( -o. 0err>. I nee5
not repeat with regar5 to it the comments ma5e on cases ::; an5 ::2. ,hatever view be
taken as to the origin o= the so9n5( it is impossible to s9ppose that it was b> acci5ent that
the two i5entical impressions so e?actl> coinci5e5.
ii-UU2!
B$ecember 27th( 2773.
P::8Q B)bo9t :; >ears ago( Miss Mil5re5 %ash( m> mother4s a9nt( 5ie5 in m> mother4s
ho9se( at the a5vance5 age o= 7U >ears. /he ha5 been blin5 =or some >ears( an5 an orphan
co9sin o= mine ha5 been m9ch in atten5ance on her. M> a9nt live5 an5 5ie5 in a room on
the gro9n5 =loor in the =ront o= o9r ho9se( which was sit9ate5 in a retire5 street o= *ralee.
) =ew 5a>s a=ter her 5eath( m> co9sin an5 I were sitting( on a s9mmer evening( at the
win5ow o= the room over the room in which m> a9nt ha5 5ie5. I hear5 5istinctl> the
wor5s u'os>( 'os>4 Pm> co9sin4s nameQ( apparentl> =rom the room beneath( an5 in m>
a9nt4s voice@ then I hear5 m> co9sin answer to the call@ she also hear5 the voice. I( str9ck
with the strangeness o= the circ9mstance( at once threw 9p the win5ow to see i= it were a
voice =rom the street( b9t there was no one visible( an5 there co9l5 be no one there
witho9t being seen. I then searche5 the ho9se all aro9n5( b9t there was nobo5> near
e?cept o9rselvesAm> co9sin an5 m>sel=. *he tale en5s there@ nothing a=terwar5s
happene5 in connection@Amerel> the 9nacco9ntable =act that two persons 5i5
in5epen5entl> hear s9ch a voice as I have mentione5. I hear5 both the name calle5 an5
the answer.
B,M ')#MO%$.C
,riting on Fan9ar> Xth( 277V( Mr. 'a>mon5 sa>s:A
BI sen5 >o9( as soon as I was able to get it( the enclose5 statement in corroboration( sent
me b> m> co9sin. /he mentione5 an item that helpe5 to =i? the =acts in her memor> Pan5
which shows the s9perstition o= the people hereQ( that her neighbo9rs all sai5 she sho9l5
not have answere5( b9t( as she sa>s( no harm came o= it. *his was m> onl> e?perience o=
a95itor> hall9cination.C
*he enclose5 statement was as =ollows:A
B*ralee( Fan9ar> 7th( 277V.
BM> co9sin( 'ev. ,illiam 'a>mon5( has aske5 me i= I remember abo9t the voice we
hear5 at the time o= the 5eath o= ol5 Miss %ash( his a9nt. I 5o remember that a =ew 5a>s
a=ter her 5eath he an5 I were sitting( one s9mmer evening( in the room over the room
where she 5ie5( that I hear5 m> name calle5( apparentl> =rom that room an5 in her voice(
an5 that I answere5 the call( an5 that we searche5 an5 co9l5 =in5 no one abo9t who co9l5
have spoken.
B'O/E ')#MO%$.C
In answer to an inE9ir>( Miss 'a>mon5 states that this is her sole e?perience o= an
a95itor> hall9cination.
It remains to ill9strate the (usical t>pe o= collective hall9cination. *he =ollowing acco9nt
is =rom Mr. an5 Mrs. /ewell( o= E5en Villas( )lbert 1ark( $i5sb9r>. *he latter Pwriting on
March UVth( 277VQ tells 9s that in the spring o= 278:( a little girl o= theirs( calle5 Lill>(
was ill.
P::WQ BM> h9sban5 came home abo9t : o4clock( an5( to please Lill>( sai5 he wo9l5 have
his 5inner in the be5room with her. I sat besi5e the be5 with one o= Lill>4s han5s in mine(
m> h9sban5 was eating his 5inner( an5 one little bo> was talking to Lill>( an5 all were
E9ietl> tr>ing to am9se the patient( when o9r attention was ro9se5 b> so9n5s o= the m9sic
o= an olian harp( which procee5e5 =rom a corner c9pboar5 in one corner o= ii-UUU! the
room. )ll was h9she5( an5 I sai5( uLill>( 5o >o9 hear that prett> m9sicr4 an5 she sai5(
u%o(4 at which I was m9ch s9rprise5( =or she was a great lover o= m9sic. *he so9n5s
increase5 9ntil the room was =9ll o= melo5>( when it gra59all> an5 slowl> seeme5 to pass
5own the stairs an5 cease5. *he servant( who was occ9pie5 in the kitchen( two stories
below( hear5 the so9n5s( an5 o9r el5est 5a9ghter( who was going into the lar5er( stoppe5
in the passage to listen an5 won5er where the m9sic came =rom( an5 the servant calle5 to
her( u$o >o9 hear that m9sicr4 It was then a =ew moments past 3 o4clock in the a=ternoon.
B*he ne?t 5a> P/9n5a>Q m> ol5 n9rse an5 a9nt came 9p to see how Lill> was( an5 were(
with m> h9sban5( all in the room with the chil5. I ha5 gone 5own into the kitchen to
prepare some little 5aint> milk-=oo5 =or her( when the same so9n5s o= olian m9sic were
hear5 b> all three in the room( an5 I hear5 the same in the kitchen. Mon5a> passe5( b9t
we ha5 no repetition. On *9es5a>( at the same ho9r( we Yi.e.( Mr. an5 Mrs. /ewellZ once
more hear5 the same wailing olian m9sic =rom the same part o= the room@ again it
increase5 in vol9me( 9ntil the room was =9ll o= wailing melo5>@ an5 again 5i5 the so9n5s
appear to pass thro9gh the 5oor( 5own the stairs( an5 o9t at the =ront 5oor. %ow( this
m9sic was hear5 three 5i==erent 5a>s( at the same time each 5a>( an5 not onl> b> those in
the room with the chil5( b9t b> m>sel=( m> 5a9ghter( an5 the servant( two =lights o= stairs
below the room the chil5 was in@ an5 on the secon5 5a> b> m> a9nt an5 n9rse an5 the
chil5ren( who were in the 5ining-room.
BOne circ9mstance( I think( was ver> remarkable: the chil5 hersel=( who ha5 a per=ect
passion =or m9sic( never hear5 a so9n5. *here cannot be an> mistake in the so9n5s( =or no
instr9ment pla>e5 b> h9man han5s can make the same so9n5s as the wailing olian
harp. ,e ha5 live5 in the same ho9se 8 >ears( an5 remaine5 in it 2U >ears more( an5 we
never hear5 similar m9sic either be=ore or a=ter.
B/)'). ). /E,ELL.C
Mr. /ewell sa>s:A
B)pril( 277V.
B*he onl> con=irmation which is now available is that o= m>sel=. I can speak with all
sincerit>. I hear5 the sweet m9sic i5enticall> with m> wi=e. *he m9sic was hear5 on
/at9r5a>( Un5 o= Ma>( a little be=ore 3 o4clock in the a=ternoon( also on the ne?t 5a> at
abo9t the same time( an5 also on the =ollowing *9es5a> at abo9t the same ho9r. *hose
who hear5 the m9sic were m> wi=e( m>sel=( m> wi=e4s a9nt( the n9rse( o9r son 'ichar5(
age5 W@ o9r son *homas( age5 X Pthe last =o9r all 5ea5Q( o9r el5est 5a9ghter( age5 22( an5
o9r servant( who shortl> le=t 9s an5 went to Irelan5 to her h9sban5( who was a sol5ier(
an5 was soon lost sight o=. O9r el5est 5a9ghter is now in %ew #ork( an5 I have no 5o9bt
b9t that she will remember the circ9mstance. I am E9ite satis=ie5 that the m9sic hear5 was
not pro59ce5 b> someone at a 5istance( =or o9r ho9se was then sit9ate5 in a long gar5en(
some V; >ar5s 5istant =rom the p9blic roa5( an5 the a5Doining ho9se to o9rs was
9nocc9pie5 at the time. *he so9n5 was not a m9==le5 so9n5 at all( b9t the so=t( wil5 notes
o= an olian harp( which rose an5 =ell 5istinctl>( an5 increase5 gra59all>( 9ntil the room
was =9ll o= so9n5( as lo95 as the =9ll swell o= an organ( an5 it rolle5 slowl> 5own the
stairs( 5>ing so=tl> on the ear in weir5 ca5ences. I am certain it was not pro59ce5 b>
h9man =ingers.
BM)*.E, /E,ELL.C
ii-UU:!
I have copie5 the =ollowing e?tract =rom a letter written to Mr. /ewell b> his 5a9ghter(
Mrs. Lee( an5 5ate5 F9l> U;th( 277V.
B,illiams "ri5ge( %ew #ork.
BI 5o 5istinctl> remember hearing the m9sic be=ore Lill>4s 5eath( an5 also remember the
impression it ma5e on 9s chil5ren at the time( the =eeling o= terror an5 =ear we ha5( at not
9n5erstan5ing where the m9sic came =rom an5 what kin5 o= m9sic it was.C
Y) personal interview with Mr. an5 Mrs. /ewell has ma5e evi5ent to me how 9niE9el>
impressive to them this inci5ent was. *he m9sic appeare5 to iss9e =rom a partic9lar
corner o= the room( which was not one =orme5 b> e?ternal walls@ an5 the nat9re o= the
so9n5 makes it har5 to e?plain as an obDective e==ect( 59e to air or water@ while the =act
that one person present( with sensitive ears( 5i5 not share the e?perience seems almost
=atal to s9ch an e?planation. *he so9n5 laste5 on each occasion not more than hal= a
min9te. *he little girl 5ie5 on the *9es5a> evening. I= the hall9cination be connecte5 with
her abnormal con5ition( the inci5ent Plike case ::V aboveQ wo9l5 belong to the
s9ccee5ing section.Z
) =9rther e?ample o= the m9sical class( with even more complete attestation( has on
acco9nt o= its length been place5 in the /9pplement Pp. 8:XQ: the =ollowing shorter
specimen ma> be given here. *he late Mrs. #ates( o= V3( -ol9mbia /E9are( E.( wrote in
2773:A
P::7Q BIn 27W; I lost a 5earl> love5 5a9ghter( U2 >ears ol5@ she 5ie5 at noon5a>( o=
ane9rism. )t night( m> onl> other 5a9ghter was with me( when all at once we both
ass9me5 a listening attit95e( an5 we both hear5 the sweetest o= spirit9al m9sic( altho9gh
it seeme5 so remote( m> ears were h9rt listening so intentl>. *ill some ho9rs a=ter( m>
5ear girl an5 I were a=rai5 to inE9ire o= each other ha5 we hear5 it( =or =ear we were
5el95e5( b9t we =o9n5 both ha5 been so privilege5 an5 blesse5.C
*o o9r reE9est =or Mr. #ates4s testimon>( Mrs. #ates replie5:A
BMr. #ates per=ectl> well remembers how m>sel= an5 the 5a9ghter who is now living
were a==ecte5 b> hearing m9sic that night( s9ch as mortals never sang@ b9t I have to write
=or him( he being tro9ble5 b> incapacit> o= his right han5.C
P/igne5 as correctQ B&EO'&E #)*E/.C
*he 5a9ghter wrote as =ollows( on Oct. X( 2773:A
B:2( /t. Fohn4s /treet 'oa5( -lerkenwell( E.-.
BI can speak with certaint> respecting the bea9ti=9l m9sic m> 5ear mother an5 I hear5 on
the U8th %ovember( 27W;. I shall never =orget it@ we were both a=rai5 to speak( it was so
e?E9isite.
B). "EIL"#.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. "eilb> a55s:A
B,e were living at :( .enr> /treet( 1entonville. *he two win5ows in the room were sh9t
tight an5 =astene5@ an5 as near as I can remember( it m9st have been between U an5 : in
the morning. *he m9sic laste5 several min9tes.C /he =9rther sa>s that( when the so9n5s
began( her mother e?claime5( B)nne( 5o >o9 hear thatrCAso that her mother4s statement
is not E9ite e?act@ b9t she con=irms the =act that some ho9rs passe5 be=ore the> vent9re5
to 5escribe their impressions to one another.
ii-UU3!
*he =oregoing instances ma> perhaps s9==ice to show that a p9rel> ps>chical acco9nt o=
these Doint e?periencesAas 59e either partl> or wholl> to a tho9ght-trans=erence between
the percipientsAis at all events possible@ an5 that acceptance o= the phenomena as
gen9ine( i.e.( as percepts tr9l> 5escribe5( 5oes not impl> an> materialistic theor> o=
phantasmal beings who travel abo9t thro9gh space Psometimes in their carriagesQ on their
own acco9nt. )n5 possibl> a certain n9mber o= m> rea5ers ma> =9rther agree with me in
s9pposing some( at an> rate( o= these cases to have been in their inception p9rel>
s9bDective( an5 will not =eel the nee5 o= invoking =or them an 9nknown or post6(orte(
Bagenc>(C however little 5ispose5 to r9le the possibilit> o= s9ch agenc> o9t o= co9rt. I
cannot( in5ee5( 5en> a certain =orce to an obDection which Mr. M>ers 9rges(
2
that we
know o= no instances where a hall9cination which can be connecte5 with insanit> or other
5istinctl> morbi5 con5itions in the person impresse5( an5 which is th9s E9ite clearl>
prove5 to be p9rel> s9bDective( has become collective in the wa> s9ppose5. "9t then
neither 5o we know o= instances where a person in one o= these morbi5 con5itions has
e?ercise5 an> other =orm o= telepathic in=l9ence. ,e have no instances o= telepathic
impressions o= the 5eaths o= 5>ing l9natics. *he 9ltimate con5itions o= telepathic agenc>
are as little known to 9s as the 9ltimate con5itions o= telepathic percipience@ an5 transient
hall9cinations o= the sane( s9ch as those o= the prece5ing e?amples( 5i==er so greatl> in
their nat9re an5 ostensible con5itions =rom the t>pes o= hall9cination to which Mr. M>ers
points as never trans=erre5( that it seems rash to ass9me that the> ma> not 5i==er also in
the partic9lar point o= trans=erabilit>. )t an> rate( whatever the 5i==ic9lties o= that view( it
is one that ma> be provisionall> entertaine5 b> those who see eE9al 5i==ic9lties in an>
other@ an5 whatever m> own s9rmises as to =9t9re 5iscover> ma> be( in the present state
o= the evi5ence I =eel as m9ch bo9n5 here to press the theor> o= tho9ght-trans=erence(
be=ore a5mitting ca9ses o= an obsc9rer kin5( as in a =ormer chapter to press the theor> o=
9nconscio9s ph>sical in5ications be=ore a5mitting the realit> o= tho9ght-trans=erence.
*he degree in which the in=ectio9s character ma> e?ist is ver> har5 in5ee5 to 5etermine@
=or the maDorit> o= hall9cinations Pp9rel> s9bDective an5 telepathic alikeQ occ9r to persons
who are aloneAsilence an5 recueille(ent being apparentl> =avo9rable con5itions@ an5
we ii-UUV! have no means o= knowing how man> o= these hall9cinations might have
been share5 b> some one else( i= some one else ha5 happene5 to be present at the time.
)ll that can be sai5 is that( taking the whole class o= transient hall9cinations o= the sane(
the cases where the e?perience has been share5 b> a secon5 person appear to be more
n9mero9s than those where a secon5 person has been present( awake( an5 rightl> sit9ate5(
an5 has not share5 the e?perience. %or( again( can I at all a5eE9atel> e?plain -h, these
phenomena sho9l5 be a =orm o= mental impression speciall> liable to sprea5 to
neighbo9ring min5s. *hat those o= them which are telepathicall> pro59ce5 in the =irst
instance sho9l5 have a ten5enc> to sprea5 in this wa> ma> appear( perhaps( less
remarkable( i= we remember that a telepathic imp9lse( as s9ch( seems sometimes to have
ver> 5istinct an5 pec9liar ph>siological e==ects@ witness Mrs. %ewnham4s e?ha9stion
PVol. I.( p. 83Q in e?periments where the i5eas conve>e5 were in themselves o= a E9ite
9ne?citing sort. "9t as regar5s the trans=erence in p9rel> s9bDective cases( all I can
s9ggest is that sensor> hall9cinations( an5 especiall> the occasional hall9cinations o= sane
an5 health> people( are to begin with an5 in themselves ver> pec9liar things@ an5 that a
=resh pec9liarit>( meeting 9s in something that we 5o not completel> see ro9n5 or
9n5erstan5( is less staggering than i= it met 9s in something o= which we have hel5 o9r
knowle5ge to be complete. )t an> rate the =act( i= a5mitte5( that p9rel> s9bDective
hall9cinations ma> spontaneo9sl> become collective( greatl> simpli=ies the consi5eration
o= the collective cases whose origin is traceable to an e?ternal Bagent.C *he appearance o=
an absent person4s =ig9re to several spectators at once has ha5 in it something speciall>
startling@ an5 when associate5 with the i5ea o= 5eath( it has almost inevitabl> s9ggeste5 a
material or BetherialC spiritAan in5epen5ent travelling ghost. "9t as soon as the
e?perience is anal>se5( it is =o9n5 to involve nothing new or antagonistic to scienti=ic
conceptions. In being connecte5 with the absent person( it is merel> on a par with other
specimens o= telepath>Ae.g.( man> o= those cite5 in the prece5ing chapters: in being
collective( it is merel> on a par with other specimens o= hall9cinationAe.g.( some o=
those alrea5> cite5 in this chapter. /till( tho9gh a telepathic imp9lse =rom an absent
person ma> not be an essential con5ition( it ma> be( an5 I believe is( an e?ceptionall>
=avo9rable con5ition( =or a collective hall9cination. )n5 I now procee5 to the =inal gro9p
o= e?amples( o= which that con5ition is the 5isting9ishing mark.
ii-UU8!
S 8. I will begin the list with the a95itor> class. *he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom Mr. F.
,oo5 "eilb>( o= 'e5bank -ottage( Elgin 'oa5( "eechworth( Victoria.
BOctober 2Wth( 277:.
P::XQ B) >o9ng la5>( a =rien5 o= m> wi=e4s( sta>ing with 9s in the b9sh( ha5 gone some
ho9rs( on horseback( to o9r post-townAsome eight miles 5istantAwhen m> wi=e an5 I in
the ho9se( a servant-man an5 woman an5 m> a5opte5 son( a >o9th( in an o9tsi5e kitchen(
hear5 this >o9ng la5> scream( an5 call o9t( uOh( Fohnnies Fohnnies4Athat being m> bo>4s
name( he being a 9s9al atten5ant to the =air eE9estrian. )ll sim9ltaneo9sl> r9she5 o9t@ b9t
nothing =9rther co9l5 be hear5 or seen o= the e?claimant =or nearl> an ho9r( when she
arrive5( an5 in=orme5 9s that at a spot between =o9r an5 =ive miles 5istant she ha5 to open
a gate. *r>ing to 5o this witho9t 5ismo9nting( she leane5 over it =rom her si5e-sa55le to
9n5o a sort o= hasp. .er horse took =right at something an5 bo9n5e5 asi5e( leaving her(
happil>( 5etache5 =rom him( hanging over the gate. /he sai5 she shrieke5 =or help( an5
=ancie5 uFohnnie4 was behin5( b9t got e?tricate5AI =orget howAan5 her horse ca9ght.
/he remo9nte5( an5 came on to 9s witho9t inD9r> b9t the =right. It was absol9tel>
impossible her nat9ral voice co9l5 have been hear5 over a =orest co9ntr> intervening =or
even one-thir5 o= the 5istance. *he strange thing to me is that others( not so speciall>
gi=te5 with magnetic impressions as I am( sho9l5 have sim9ltaneo9sl> an5 5istinctl>
hear5 the eDac9lation. )ll instantl> acte5 a repl>( going o9t o= the several ho9ses which
the> were in at the time( an5 making =or an entrance gate( e?pecting to =in5 the la5> in
some 5i==ic9lt> close at han5@ an5 all were astonishe5 that she was not even in view 9pon
an e?tensive plain( skirte5 b> the =orest-lan5 she ha5 to traverse.
BF. ,OO$ "EIL"#.C
Mrs. "eilb> corroborates as =ollows:A
BI per=ectl> recollect the voice being hear5( as narrate5 above b> m> h9sban5. I vo9ch =or
the acc9rac> o= the narration.
B-)*.E'I%E ,. "EIL"#.C
In another acco9nt( written on Fan9ar> U7th( 2778( an5 signe5 b> Mr. an5 Mrs. "eilb>( it
is more clearl> bro9ght o9t that the >o9ng la5>( Miss /nell( act9all> calle5 o9t the name(
BFohnnie( Fohnnie.C *he onl> point o= 5i==erence between the two acco9nts is that the
secon5( instea5 o= sa>ing that all =o9r persons r9she5 o9t sim9ltaneo9sl>( states that Mr.
an5 Mrs. "eilb> went o9t an5 calle5 to the servants that Miss /nell ha5 ret9rne5( an5 that
Bthe> said the, heard her call( an5 imme5iatel> went to the gate o= entrance to the
homestea5(C b9t =o9n5 no one there.
Mr. "eilb> =9rther a55s:A
B*he homestea5 is isolate5 =rom an> other resi5ence( some : miles@ an5 no one was abo9t
at the time( e?cept the servants an5 the emplo>ers in separate b9t closel> a5Dacent
b9il5ings.C .e implies that he has ha5 no other a95itor> hall9cination.
*he ne?t acco9nt( which was =irst receive5 b> the 'ev. ,. /tainton Moses =rom an
intimate =rien5 o= the agent4s( was revise5 ii-UUW! b> his parents( the percipients( who
have since again rea5 it over an5 prono9nce5 it correct.
B2772.
P:3;Q B)bo9t two >ears ago ,. L. le=t Englan5 =or )merica. %ine months since( he
marrie5( an5 hope5 to bring his wi=e home to see his mother( to whom he was ten5erl>
attache5. On +ebr9ar> 3th( however( he was taken with s955en illness( which terminate5
=atall> on the 2Uth( abo9t 7 p.m. On that night( abo9t three-E9arters o= an ho9r a=ter the
parents o= ,. L. ha5 retire5 to rest in Englan5( the mother hear5 the clear voice o= her son
speaking. .er h9sban5 -ho also heard it( aske5 his wi=e i= it was she who was speaking.
%either o= them ha5 been asleep( an5 she replie5( u%os 0eep E9iets4 *he voice contin9e5(
u)s I cannot come to Englan5( mother( I have come now to see >o9.4 )t this time both
parents believe5 their son to be in per=ect health in )merica( an5 were 5ail> e?pecting a
letter to anno9nce his ret9rn home. ) note was ma5e o= this ver> startling occ9rrence@ an5
when a =ortnight since news o= the son4s 5eath arrive5( it was =o9n5 to correspon5 with
the 5ate on which the spirit-voice
2
ha5 anno9nce5 his presence in Englan5. *he wi5ow
sai5 that the preparations =or 5epart9re ha5 nearl> been complete5( an5 that her husband
sho-ed (uch an.iet, to get to >ngland and see his (other.C
YUn=ort9natel> the percipients in this case 5islike the s9bDect( an5 it has been tho9ght
better not to press them with =9rther inE9iries. Otherwise we sho9l5 o= co9rse have
ascertaine5 whether or not the> ha5 ever ha5 other hall9cinations.Z
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom -omman5er *. ,. )>lesb9r> Plate o= the In5ian %av>Q( o=
/9tton( /9rre>. *he case( at =irst sight( ma> seem as i= it belonge5 to the reciprocal class@
b9t -omman5er )>lesb9r>4s vision 5i5 not incl95e eno9gh 5etail to D9sti=> 9s in
regar5ing it as other than s9bDective( the scene being apparentl> s9ch as he might
nat9rall> have conD9re5 9p.
B$ecember( 277U.
P:32Q B*he writer( when 2: >ears o= age( was capsi]e5 in a boat( when lan5ing on the
Islan5 o= "all>( east o= Fava( an5 was nearl> 5rowne5. On coming to the s9r=ace( a=ter
being repeate5l> s9bmerge5( the bo> calle5 his mother. *his am9se5 the boat4s crew( who
spoke o= it a=terwar5s( an5 Deere5 him a goo5 5eal abo9t it. Months a=ter( on arrival in
Englan5( the bo> went to his home( an5 while telling his mother o= his narrow escape( he
sai5( u,hile I was 9n5er water( I saw >o9 all sitting in this room@ >o9 were working
something white. I saw >o9 allAmother( Emil>( Eli]a( an5 Ellen.4 .is mother at once
sai5( u,h> >es( an5 I hear5 >o9 cr> o9t =or me( an5 I sent Emil> to look o9t o= the
win5ow( =or I remarke5 that something ha5 happene5 to that poor bo>.4 *he time( owing
to the 5i==erence o= E. longit95e( correspon5e5 with the time when the voice was hear5.C
-omman5er )>lesb9r> a55s in another letter:A
BI saw their =eat9res Pm> mother4s an5 sisters4Q( the room an5 the ii-UU7! =9rnit9re(
partic9larl> the ol5-=ashione5 Venetian blin5s. M> el5est sister was seate5 ne?t to m>
mother.C
)ske5 as to the time o= the acci5ent( -omman5er )>lesb9r> sa>s:A
BI think the time m9st have been ver> earl> in the morning. I remember a boat capsi]e5
the 5a> be=ore( an5 washe5 9p. *he mate sai5 we wo9l5 go an5 bring her o== in the
morning( b9t the e?act time I cannot remember. It was a terrible position( an5 the s9r=
was aw=9l. ,e were knocke5 en5 over en5( an5 it was the most narrow escape I ever ha5
Aan5 I have ha5 man>@ b9t this one was so impresse5 on m> min5 with the
circ9mstancesAthe remarks an5 Deers o= the men(Au"o>( what was >o9 calling =or >o9r
mother =orr $o >o9 think she co9l5 p9ll >o9 o9t o= $ave> Fones4 locker(4 [c.( with other
lang9age I cannot 9se.C
*he =ollowing is an e?tract =rom a letter written to -omman5er )>lesb9r> b> one o= his
sisters( an5 =orwar5e5 to 9s( in 277::A
BI 5istinctl> remember the inci5ent >o9 mention in >o9r letter Pthe voice calling
uMother4Q@ it ma5e s9ch an impression on m> min5( I shall never =orget it. ,e were
sitting E9ietl> at work one evening@ it was abo9t X o4clock. I think it m9st have been late
in the s9mmer as we ha5 le=t the street 5oor open. ,e =irst hear5 a =aint cr> o= uMother4@
we all looke5 9p( an5 sai5 to one another( u$i5 >o9 hear thatr /omeone crie5 o9t
BMother.C4 ,e ha5 scarcel> =inishe5 speaking( when the voice again calle5( uMother4
twice in E9ick s9ccession( the last cr> a =rightene5( agonising cr>. ,e all starte5 9p( an5
mother sai5 to me( u&o to the 5oor an5 see what is the matter.4 I ran 5irectl> into the street
an5 stoo5 some =ew min9tes( b9t all was silent an5 not a person to be seen@ it was a
lovel> evening( not a breath o= air. Mother was sa5l> 9pset abo9t it. I remember she
pace5 the room( an5 =eare5 that something ha5 happene5 to >o9. /he wrote 5own the 5ate
the ne?t 5a>( an5 when >o9 came home an5 tol5 9s how near >o9 ha5 been 5rowne5( an5
the time o= 5a>( =ather sai5 it wo9l5 be abo9t the time X o4clock wo9l5 be with 9s. I know
the 5ate an5 the time correspon5e5.C
Y*he 5i==erence o= time at the two places is a little more than W ho9rs@ conseE9entl> X in
the evening in Englan5 wo9l5 correspon5 with Bver> earl> in the morningC o= the ne?t
5a> at the scene o= the acci5ent. "9t the inci5ent happene5 too long ago =or memor> to be
tr9ste5 as to the e?actit95e o= the coinci5ence.Z
In the ne?t case( tho9gh the so9n5 hear5 was apparentl> vocal( it was not artic9late@ an5 it
can scarcel> be prono9nce5 impossible that s9ch an e==ect might be pro59ce5 b> b9bbling
air( or some other local ca9se. *he coinci5ence( however( appears to have been ver>
close( tho9gh perhaps not so absol9tel> precise as is allege5@ an5 the =orm o= impression
is not witho9t analog> Psee e.g.( case U77 aboveQ. *he acco9nt is signe5 b> one o= the
percipients( b9t is in the wor5s o= her son( Mr. ,. '. ,e>er( o= W( ,illis /treet( /t. 1a9l4s(
%orwich.
BF9ne( 277:.
P:3UQ B)t the time that this occ9rrence took place( m> mother4s brother ii-UUX! was
l>ing in a 5angero9s con5ition( s9==ering =rom a complication o= 5isor5ers( together with
an ol5 wo9n5 receive5 in the -rimea some time previo9s@ conseE9entl> at that time m>
parents4 min5s were in a great state o= an?iet>. It was on the night o= F9l> 8th( 278V@ m>
parents were retiring to rest at a somewhat late ho9r( when the> were both s955enl>
startle5 b> a so9n5 o= three 5istinct sobs as Paccor5ing to m> mother4s e?perienceQ o= a
person 5>ing. M> =ather imme5iatel> arose( proc9re5 a light( an5 a thoro9gh search was
ma5e( b9t with no s9ccess. On again retiring( the sobs were again repeate5( this time in a
per=ectl> clear an5 5istinct manner.
2
M> mother then note5 the time( which was then
2;.V; p.m.( remarking at the same time that we sho9l5 hear ba5 news. )=ter making
another search the> again retire5 to rest( the sobs being hear5 no more.
BOn the ne?t 5a> m> mother receive5 a letter bearing the -hatham post-mark( stating that
her brother( $avi5 Macken]ie )nnison( ha5 5ie5 at -hatham .ospital on the night o= F9l>
the Vth( at 2;.V;( being the e?act time that the sobs were hear5 b> m> parents.
B,ILLI)M 'O"*. ,E#E'.C
Y/igne5 as correct b> Mrs. ,e>er( the s9rviving witnessZ
BM)'I) E. ,E#E'.C
Mr. ,e>er( the =ather( 5ie5 a >ear a=ter the occ9rrence. In answer to inE9iries( Mr. ,. '.
,e>er a55s:A
BM> parents in=orme5 m> co9sin an5 a9nt Pwho is now 5ecease5Q o= the circ9mstance(
be=ore she receive5 the letter@ an5 m> a9nt( who is D9st 5ea5( remembere5 the
circ9mstance E9ite well. M> gran5mother o=ten 9se5 to mention it. I have appeale5 to m>
co9sin to write her recollection o= the inci5ent( b9t I cannot at present pers9a5e her to 5o
so.C
In conversation Mrs. ,e>er state5 that there were no water-pipes near the room( an5 that
the so9n5 seeme5 startlingl> nearAclose to the hea5 o= the be5. /he is not at all
pre5ispose5 to alarms or =ancies( an5 has never ha5 an> other hall9cinationA9nless we
are to reckon as s9ch a startling so9n5 o= knocks which others also hear5( an5 =or which
no e?ternal ca9se co9l5 be 5iscovere5. *he i5ea which she e?presse5 that the so9n5s in
the present case were premonitor> o= ba5 news( since it was not =o9n5e5 on an> s9==icient
knowle5ge o= the evi5ence =or telepathic occ9rrences as =acts in %at9re( in5icates( no
5o9bt( an 9ncritical acceptance o= marvels. "9t the onl> E9estion =or 9s is how =ar s9ch a
habit o= min5 ma> have a==ecte5 the evi5ence to the =acts@ an5 m> strong impression is
that it has not appreciabl> a==ecte5 it. ,e ma> regar5 it as probable( however( that the
sobs were not 5escribe5 as like those Bo= a person 5>ingC 9ntil a=ter the =act o= the 5eath
was realise5.
*he =ollowing is the res9lt o= an in5epen5ent inE9ir> as to the time o= 5eath.
ii-U:;!
BMelville .ospital( -hatham.
BF9l> 27th( 277V.
BIn repl> to >o9r letter asking to be in=orme5 o= the e?act ho9r o= the 5eath o= $avi5
'ac1enAie )nnison( I beg to state that there was a David )nnison( chie= stoker( age5 :7(
a5mitte5 into this hospital U8th F9ne( 278V( =rom ..M./. u-9mberlan5.4 .e was s9==ering
=rom chronic liver 5isease an5 Da9n5ice. .e 5ie5 at 22.:V p.m.( on the Vth F9l>( 278V( an5
his =rien5s took his bo5> awa> to /heerness.
BIn case o= a 5eath in this establishment( the bo5> is seen b> the me5ical o==icer on 59t>(
who hi(self noti=ies on the man4s ticket the ho9r an5 min9te o= his 5ecease. It was =rom
this 5oc9ment I gathere5 the in=ormation >o9 reE9ire5.
B"EL&')VE %I%%I/( M.$.
BP$ep9t> Inspector-&eneral.QC
,ith respect to this point( Mr. ,e>er writes( on )9g9st Wth( 277V:A
BIn re=erence to the mistake regar5ing the time( I have cons9lte5 m> mother 9pon that
point( an5 she asserts that she might possibl> be mistaken( b9t o= this =act she is (ost
positive( vi].( that the ti(e she noted on that night e.actl, corresponded -ith the ti(e
given in the (essage -hich arrived ne.t da,@ this( she sa>s( there is no mistake abo9t. M>
mother =elt almost certain that the time was 2;.V;( b9t as it occ9rre5 so long ago she is
not likel> to have it on recor5@ there=ore she thinks that the me5ical o==icial report wo9l5
be the most reliable.C
*he percipients here are 5escribe5 as having been in great an?iet>. ,e have seen gro9n5s
=or reDecting =rom the telepathic evi5ence instances where this con5ition has e?iste5 on
the part o= a single percipient PVol. I.( pp. V;7TXQ@ b9t where two are a==ecte5 the case is
5i==erent. +or( even i= the e?perience o= one was p9rel> s9bDective in origin( it wo9l5 be
e?travagant to s9ppose that o= the other to have taken place b> acci5ent at the same
moment@ so that there wo9l5 at least have been a Bps>chicalC phenomenonAa trans=erre5
hall9cination. "9t in the present instance there is some reason =or going be>on5 this( an5
s9pposing a telepathic origin to the e?perience. +or the sort o= so9n5 hear5 is scarcel> a
likel> one =or an?iet> to s9ggest@ an5( moreover( in no case co9l5 the h>pothesis o= a Doint
rapport o= the agent with two percipients seem more in place than where the two are his
near relatives( whose min5s are alrea5> similarl> an5 =9ll> occ9pie5 with him.
I will a55 a co9ple o= specimens o= the non-vocal t>pe. In the =irst( the hall9cination
presents a c9rio9sl> close connection with the probable i5ea o= the agent at the moment.
*he acco9nt is =rom Mrs. 1aget( o= +arnham( /9rre>.
BF9ne Vth( 2773.
P:3:Q B) man-servant( who ha5 live5 with 9s =rom a chil5( an5 who was a real =rien5( =ell
into a cons9mption( an5 thinking that the climate ii-U:2! o= Ventnor might prolong his
li=e =or some months( we sent him to /t. -atharine4s .ome in /eptember( 277;. On the
7th o= October( I receive5 a letter =rom the /ister-in-charge( sa>ing that )rth9r $9nn was
5eci5e5l> worse( b9t that the 5octor tho9ght there was no imme5iate 5anger( an5
there=ore she 5i5 not think I nee5 go to Ventnor at once. I there=ore wrote to sa> I wo9l5
be there on the =ollowing Mon5a>( when I hope5 to be able to sta> with him to the last.
*hat morning I sai5 to m> girls( uI reall> m9st remember to speak to the new servant
abo9t p9tting o9t the gas 9pstairs at hal=-past 2;( =or since poor )rth9r le=t 9s( it has not
been p9t o9t punctuall, an5 even some nights the b9rner close to m> be5room an5 m>
el5est girl4s 5ressing-room has been alight all night.4
B*hat same evening was ver> warm( an5 m> 5a9ghter an5 m>sel= both le=t o9r 5oors
open( in or5er to be able to talk a=ter we went 9pstairs Pthe gas-b9rner being close to o9r
roomsQ. ,hilst we were both sa>ing o9r pra>ers( the clock str9ck hal=-past 2;( an5 at that
moment we hear5 a man4s heav> step along the passage( which stoppe5 at the gas-b9rner(
an5 then we hear5 the =ootsteps retiring. )lmost at the same moment m> 5a9ghter an5
m>sel= came to o9r respective 5oors an5 e?claime5( u,h>( the man 5i5 not p9t o9t the
gas a=ter all. .ow like his step so9n5e5 to poor )rth9r4s heav> trea5.4
B*he ne?t morning I receive5 a telegram =rom the /ister-in-charge at /t. -atharine4s
.ome( sa>ing( u)ll was over last night.4 I went 5own to Ventnor at once to make
arrangements( an5 in telling /ister Mar> Martha how I grieve5 that I ha5 not starte5 =or
Ventnor be=ore( she remarke5( u,e 5i5 not think there was imme5iate 5anger( an5 his
min5 was wan5ering so m9ch that 5a> that he was har5l> conscio9s. It was c9rio9s to see
what =orm his wan5ering took( =or( a=ter he ha5 been ver> silent =or some ho9rs( the clock
str9ck hal=-past 2;( when he raise5 himsel= in be5 an5 sai5 5istinctl>( u*he clock has
str9ck( I (ust go an5 p9t o9t the gas(4 an5 =ell back an5 5ie5 imme5iatel>.
BI o9ght to mention that p9nct9alit> ha5 been a per=ect mania with him. .e was never( as
=ar as I can remember( three min9tes late =or an> thing he was or5ere5 to 5o( an5 he was
most 5evote5l> attache5 to 9s an5 o9r home.
B+')%-E/ 1)&E*.C
Miss 1aget Pnow Mrs. 1. .anhamQ wrote as =ollows( on F9ne 22( 2773:A
BI can onl> most emphaticall> con=irm m> mother4s statement. I 5istinctl> hear5 the
u=ootsteps4 as 5escribe5 b> her( an5 it happene5 at hal=-past 2; at night( the e.act time( as
we hear5 a=terwar5s( that o9r poor man-servant 5ie5. I ma> mention that I E9estione5 o9r
new manservant in the morning as to whether he ha5 not been 9pstairs on the previo9s
night@ b9t it t9rne5 o9t that he ha5 =orgotten the or5ers given him to t9rn o9t the gas( an5
ha5 not been 9pstairs. *he =ootsteps( as I remarke5 at the time( were e?actl> similar to
those o= poor )rth9r $9nn( an5 >o9 ma> D95ge o= m> s9rprise when( on m> mother4s
ret9rn =rom the =9neral( she tol5 9s abo9t her conversation with the /ister( who was with
him at the last( an5 his last wor5s having been( u*he clock has str9ck( I m9st go an5 p9t
o9t the gas.4
BIn answer to >o9r E9estions:A
P2Q B*he occ9rrence happene5 here( an5 it was on October 7th( 277;( as I have since
=o9n5 on re=erring to a 5iar>.
ii-U:U!
PUQ B%either m> mother nor m>sel= ever remember to have ha5 an> hall9cinations o= an>
sort( be=ore or since.
B&E'*'U$E +. 1)&E*.C
Y*he 5iar>( which I have seen( gives the 5ate o= the 5eath onl>. Miss 1aget4s meaning was
that this was =i?e5 on their min5s ne?t 5a> as having happene5 on October 7th( on which
5a>Aas the> co9l5 not then be mistaken in recollectingAthe so9n5s ha5 been hear5.Z
*o a s9ggestion that the steps might have been those o= a heav>-=oote5 ho9semai5( Mrs.
1aget replie5:A
BI can positivel> a==irm that the ho9semai5 5i5 not come 9pstairs on the night o= m>
servant4s 5eath@ =or that point was inE9ire5 into at the time.C
*he /ister-in-charge at /t. -atharine4s .ome( Ventnor( writes as =ollows( on March 8(
277V:A
B)rth9r $9nn 5ie5 at 2;.:; p.m. on the 7th o= October( 277;. I was with him when he
5ie5@ he was onl> with 9s eight 5a>s.
BM)*IL$) /. /. /. M.C
Mrs. 1aget4s acco9nt having been sent to /ister Matil5a( she replie5 as =ollows( on March
X( 277V:A
B)rth9r Fohn $9nn was onl> here eight 5a>s be=ore his 5eath. I n9rse5 him( an5 was with
him when he 5ie5 on October 7th. I 5o not recollect what Mrs. 1aget sa>s at all@ all I can
remember was that he was in be5 three 5a>s@ his breathing was ver> labo9re5@ he ha5 a
weak heart@ he was not 9nconscio9s at all@ he was a ver> silent man( an5 sel5om spoke(
e?cept to answer an> E9estion aske5. F9st be=ore he 5ie5 he aske5 me the time@ it was
hal=-past 2;@ his wor5s were: u"hat is the ti(eJ4 I 5o not think he spoke a=ter. *here was
nothing abo9t the gas. .e co9l5 not hear an> clock strike( =or there is not one in the war5
or near it. /ister Mar> Martha was in charge o= the ho9se at the time( an5 I ha5 the
n9rsing o= the men.C
/ister Mar> Martha writes =rom /t. Margaret4s( East &rinstea5( on March 2W( 277V:A
BI regret that I am E9ite 9nable to recall an> partic9lars o= )rth9r $9nn4s 5eath. I
remember the >o9ng man per=ectl> well@ he was at the .ome onl> abo9t eight 5a>s( an5
5ie5 al(ost suddenl,. .e s9==ere5 =rom heart 5isease as well as cons9mption. .e was a
ver> nice =ellow( an5 we all like5 him m9ch. Mrs. 1aget( I remember( spoke in the highest
terms o= him. M> i(pression is that his en5 was ver> s955enAtoo m9ch so =or an> last
wor5s.
B/I/*E' M)'# M)'*.).C
YIt will be observe5 that there are two 5iscrepancies between Mrs. 1aget4s an5 the /isters4
acco9nt. *he point as to the wa> in which the man ascertaine5 the timeAwhether b>
hearing the clock strike or b> in E9ir> YsicZo= the /isterAis not in itsel= important: the
point abo9t his mention o= the gas( tho9gh not vital( has more importance. I have
thoro9ghl> talke5 over the matter with Mrs. 1aget an5 her 5a9ghter. Mrs. 1aget is E9ite
clear in her recollection o= /ister Mar> Martha4s statement@ b9t she 5oes not recollect
having hear5 or realise5 -ho it was to whom the man ma5e the remark. *he 5a9ghter is
eE9all> clear abo9t her mother4s mention o= this 5etail at the time. .a5 there been a
consi5erable ii-U::! interval between Mrs. 1aget4s conversation with the /ister an5 her
narration o= it to someone else( it wo9l5 not be har5 to s9ppose that the inci5ent o= the
man4s asking the ho9r( combine5 with her own an5 her 5a9ghter4s e?perience at that
e?act time( ha5 gra59all> le5 to her imagining the crowning 5etail o= his mentioning the
gas@ b9t that this 5etail( i= it was not reporte5 to her( sho9l5 have got i((ediatel,
impresse5 9pon her min5 as tho9gh it ha5 been reporte5( seems 5eci5e5l> less likel> than
that it has slippe5 =rom the memor> o= the /isters( =or whom it wo9l5 have no special
interest( since Mrs. 1aget 5i5 not tell them what ha5 occ9rre5 at home. )n5 there is a
=9rther point which tells( I think( 5eci5e5l> in =avo9r o= this view. On the s9pposition that
the man ma5e the remark abo9t the gas( it is ver> eas> to see how Mrs. 1aget ma> have
ma5e the mistake abo9t his hearing the clock strike@ =or the remark wo9l5 become the
=act o= interest( an5 the manner in which the man ascertaine5 the time wo9l5 retain no
signi=icance. I=( on the other han5( the onl> thing reporte5 to Mrs. 1aget ha5 been that the
man aske5 an5 was tol5 what the time was( that wo9l5 have serve5 completel> to stamp
the coinci5ence( an5 to s9ggest the 5irection o= the man4s tho9ghts( an5 wo9l5 th9s have
given a E9ite s9==icient impressiveness an5 completeness to the stor>. "rie=l>( the
intro59ction o= the clock( on the =irst h>pothesis( seems more easil> comprehensible than
the intro59ction o= the gas( on the secon5.
Mrs. 1aget showe5 me the scene o= the inci5ent. *he gas b9rner is at the en5 o= a long
passage( D9st o9tsi5e her an5 her 5a9ghter4s rooms. *he ho9se is a ver> E9iet one(
stan5ing in gro9n5s =ar back =rom the roa5@ an5 it is 5i==ic9lt to imagine an> sort o= real
so9n5 that co9l5 possibl> have been mistaken =or heav> steps twice traversing the length
o= the passage( the 5oors o= both hearers Pit will be remembere5Q being open. Mrs. 1aget
sa>s( moreover( that )rth9r $9nn4s trea5 was 5eci5e5l> pec9liar. *hat the steps were not
those o= the man-servant =or the time being was practicall> prove5 Papart =rom his own
assertion ne?t 5a>Q b> the =act that the gas was not t9rne5 o==@ =or he co9l5 have no
possible 59t> in that corner o= the ho9se at night( e?cept to t9rn it o==@ an5 there was no
other man in the ho9se. Mrs. 1aget an5 her 5a9ghter both con=irme5 the statement that
the> have ha5 no other hall9cinations. *he> are =ar =rom being cre59lo9s or s9perstitio9s
witnesses@ b9t the strangeness o= this inci5ent ma5e an e?tremel> strong impression 9pon
them.Z
In the ne?t case the coinci5ence seems again to have been close to within a ver> =ew
min9tes@ b9t the =orm which the hall9cination Pi= it was oneQ took ha5 no special
connection with an>thing that we can conceive to have been present to the agent4s min5.
"ells are( however( a not 9ncommon =orm o= p9rel> s9bDective impression.
2
)n5 i= the
principle o= telepathic hall9cinations be grante5( one wo9l5 nat9rall> e?pect that the
r95imentar> specimens o= that classAspecimens which 5o not s9ggest an> conscio9s
i5ea o= the agent( b9t ii-U:3! are proDecte5( as it were( blin5l> 9n5er the telepathic
imp9lseAsho9l5 =ollow the or5inar> lines o= hall9cinations in general. *he acco9nt is
=rom the Misses La=one( o= .anworth 1ark( +eltham.
BFan9ar>( 2773.
P:33Q BM> sister an5 I were both m9ch astonishe5 at hearing o9r ch9rch bell ring in a
lo95 an5 h9rrie5 manner( at a =ew min9tes be=ore W.:;( one evening( when we knew no
service was to take place. O9r ch9rch is within V min9tes4 walk across =iel5s( an5 all the
neighbo9ring ch9rches a mile or more o==. ,e talke5 together o= the occ9rrence( an5
mentione5 it at 5inner( b9t 5i5 not connect it with an>one in partic9lar. *he ne?t 5a> we
hear5 an a9nt ha5 5ie5 at W.U; the evening be=ore( b9t 5i5 not connect the two =acts 9ntil
a =ew 5a>s a=terwar5s( when we ma5e inE9iries( an5 =o9n5 no one ha5 been in the ch9rch
at the time we imagine5 the bell to be ringing. *his took place 2Xth /eptember( 277:. %o
one else in the ho9se hear5 the bell.C
*he Ti(es obit9ar> con=irms /ept. 2X( 277:( as the 5ate o= 5eath.
In answer to inE9iries( Miss La=one a55s:A
B*here was no partic9lar bon5 o= s>mpath> between m> a9nt an5 m> sister an5 m>sel=(
altho9gh we knew her ver> well. ,e were aware she was serio9sl> ill( b9t being ver>
m9ch occ9pie5 with another s9bDect the evening she 5ie5( ha5 har5l> tho9ght o= her at
all. ,e are not conscio9s o= ever be=ore e?periencing ua95itor> hall9cinations.4
BM)'# E. L)+O%E.C
BMarch 27th( 2773.
BM> sister4s acco9nt o= the bells we hear5 is per=ectl> correct. ,e were 5ressing =or
5inner at W.:;( in 5i==erent rooms( when I was attracte5 b> the so9n5 o= the bells( as I
s9ppose5 =rom o9r ch9rch( ringing in a most eccentric wa>( an5 having calle5 to m> sister
=o9n5 that she hear5 them too. ,e 5isc9sse5 the possibilit> o= someone being sh9t in( as
there was no service( an5 the so9n5s were too irreg9lar an5 too E9ick to be tolling =or a
5eath. ,e mentione5 the s9bDect 5ownstairs( an5 then =orgot it( 9ntil having hear5 the
=ollowing 5a> that o9r a9nt ha5 5ie5 at W.U;( D9st at the time we were listening to the
bells. ,e ma5e inE9iries as to whether an>one ha5 been in the ch9rch at the time( b9t
co9l5 not =in5 that an>one ha5( or that the bells were hear5 b> an>one besi5es o9rselves.
BFE%%# L)+O%E.C
YI have been to .anworth( an5 realise5 the relation o= the bo9se to the village ch9rch( an5
also to +eltham -h9rch. *here seems to be no possibilit> whatever that the so9n5 hear5
co9l5 have procee5e5 =rom the latter( or an> more 5istant e5i=ice. +eltham -h9rch lies
more than a mile to the back o= the ho9se@ the intervening space is thickl> clothe5 with
trees@ an5 the Misses La=one4s win5ows look o9t in the 5irectl> opposite 5irection. Miss
La=one 5oes not recall that she has ever so m9ch as hear5 the +eltham bell( even =aintl>@
whereas the so9n5s on this occasion appeare5 lo95er even than those which the
neighbo9ring ch9rch-bell 9s9all> pro59ce5. It is e?tremel> 9nlikel> that this
neighbo9ring bell sho9l5 have been r9ng at this time Pon a week-5a> evening when there
is never an> serviceQ( an5 in this eccentric wa>@ an5 it is even more ii-U:V! 9nlikel> that(
i= so r9ng( it sho9l5 have been 9nobserve5 b> others. *he res9lt o= m> visit is that I =in5 it
all b9t impossible to 5o9bt that the case was one o= collective hall9cinationAwhether
connecte5 with the 5eath o= the a9nt or not is o= co9rse a 5i==erent E9estion.Z
I now come to cases where the sense o= sight was involve5. )n5 I ma> begin with a =ew
specimens where the e?periences o= the several percipients were either not e?actl>
sim9ltaneo9s or not e?actl> similar( an5 where( there=ore( the theor> that the> were
severall> 5erive5 =rom the agent receives some slight s9pport. P-ompare in this respect
the a95itor> case( %o. :8.Q
In the =ollowing e?ample the e?perience o= the secon5 percipient incl95e5 an a95itor> as
well as a vis9al impression( an5 was( moreover( separate5 b> an interval o= : ho9rs =rom
that o= the =irst. *he narrator is Mrs. -o?( who wrote =rom /9mmer .ill( }9eenstown(
Irelan5.
B$ecember U8th( 277:.
P:3VQ BOn the night o= the U2st )9g9st( 278X( between the ho9rs o= 7 an5 X o4clock( I was
sitting in m> be5room in m> mother4s ho9se at $evonport( m> nephew( a bo> age5 seven
>ears( being in be5 in the ne?t room( when I was startle5 b> his s955enl> r9nning into m>
room( an5 e?claiming in a =rightene5 tone( uOh( a9ntie( I have D9st seen m> =ather
walking aro9n5 m> be5.4 I replie5( u%onsense( >o9 m9st have been 5reaming.4 .e sai5(
u%o( I have not(4 an5 re=9se5 to ret9rn to the room. +in5ing that I was 9nable to pers9a5e
him to go back( I p9t him in m> own be5. "etween 2; an5 22 I m>sel= retire5 to rest. I
think abo9t an ho9r a=terwar5s( on looking towar5s the =ireplace( I 5istinctl> saw( to m>
astonishment( the =orm o= m> brother seate5 in a chair( an5 what partic9larl> str9ck me
was the 5eathl> pallor o= his =ace. PM> nephew was at this time =ast asleep.Q I was so
=rightene5( knowing that at this time m> brother was in .ong 0ong( -hina( that I p9t m>
hea5 9n5er the be5 clothes. /oon a=ter this I plainl> hear5 his voice calling me b> name@
m> name was repeate5 three times. *he ne?t time I looke5( he was gone. *he =ollowing
morning I tol5 m> mother an5 sister what ha5 occ9rre5( an5 sai5 I sho9l5 make a note o=
it( which I 5i5. *he ne?t mail =rom -hina bro9ght 9s the sa5 intelligence o= m> brother4s
5eath( which took place on the U2st )9g9st( 278X( in the .arbo9r o= .ong 0ong(
s955enl>( Yo= heat-apople?>Z.
BMI%%IE -O\.C
,e have receive5 =rom the )5miralt> an o==icial con=irmation o= the 5ate o= the 5eath.
In answer to =9rther inE9iries( Mr. -o? Pat present /ecretar> to the %aval -omman5er-in-
-hie= at $evonportQ wrote:A
B+ebr9ar> U2st( 2773.
B)s m> wi=e is too 9nwell to repl> to >o9r letter she has aske5 me to state with re=erence
to >o9r E9estion on the s9bDect o= the appearance o= her brother to her( that:A
B)s she has no note now in her possession( an5 as her mother is ii-U:8! 5ea5( she
cannot be positive as to the ho9r at which her brother 5ie5. *he circ9mstance happene5
abo9t 2V >ears agoAboth the persons she mentione5 it to are 5ea5. )ll that she can now
state positivel> is that she now believes it m9st have been a=ter mi5night when she saw
the appearance( b9t at the same time she is E9ite certain that her little nephew came into
her room before mi5night. /he is s9re that a=terwar5s( when the news came =rom -hina(
the time correspon5e5( b9t has nothing to prove it. I =ear that she has not s9==icient
evi5ence( or in =act an> evi5ence now@ b9t it is an ol5 stor> she has o=ten tol5 me( an5 I
have not the slightest 5o9bt that she 5i5 see the appearance.
BF)ME/ -O\.C
In conversation Mrs. -o? tol5 me that she was E9ite certain o= having p9t 5own the 5ate(
an5 compare5 it with the 5ate in the letter. /he has never ha5 the slightest hall9cination
on an> other occasion. *he chil5 was not in the least given to =rights( an5 ha5 no 5rea5 o=
the 5ark.
YI= the time either o= Mrs. -o?4s or o= her nephew4s impression coinci5e5 with that o= the
5eath( the =irst 5ate in the acco9nt is o= co9rse given wrongl>( as X p.m. in Englan5 wo9l5
correspon5 with abo9t V a.m. o= the ne?t 5a> at .ong 0ong. I= the =irst 5ate is right( then
the percipients4 e?periences m9st have =ollowe5 the 5eath b> some ho9rs. It might be
s9ggeste5 that Mrs( -o?4s e?perience was 59e to s9ggestion =rom her nephew. "9t it is
scarcel> probable that a person who has no ten5enc> to hall9cinations sho9l5 evolve one
=rom what she took to be the 5ream o= a =rightene5 chil5.Z
In the ne?t case( the 5i==erence between the several impressions was perhaps rather one o=
5egree than o= kin5. *he acco9nt is =rom Mr. *. %. $eane( o= Universit> -l9b( :( Upper
Merrion /treet( $9blin( an5 was proc9re5 thro9gh the kin5ness o= the 'ev. F. %. .oare(
now vicar o= 0eswick.
B277U.
P:38Q BIn the >ear 27V2( on the 3th o= F9ne( I was in a large be5room o= a co9ntr> ho9se
in the -o9nt> -ork. *he win5ows o= the room =ace5 the 'iver Lee@ both were open. *he
air was s9ltr> an5 still@ all the inmates o= the ho9se were o9t( with the e?ception o= m>
wi=e an5 an intimate =rien5 Pnow 5ea5Q( who were with me in the room. ,e sat on three
chairs near one o= the open win5ows( an5 talke5 on or5inar> s9bDects. *he ol5-=ashione5
=o9r-post be5 occ9pie5 the si5e o= the room to m> right( an5 the onl> 5oor Pwhich was
openQ was on m> le=t. ,e sat into the twilight( b9t there was still s9==icient light to
recognise each other( an5 see obDects prett> clearl>. ) =ig9re approache5 me =rom the si5e
o= the room occ9pie5 b> the large be5( an5 apparentl> =rom the si5e o= it( move5 5irectl>
towar5s me( an5 place5 its han5 on m> sho9l5er. It was a =emale =ig9re( b9t I co9l5 not
recognise the =eat9res. I =ollowe5 it to the lobb>( b9t 5i5 not see it again. I ret9rne5 to m>
companions( an5 aske5 them ha5 the> seen it. *he> replie5 in the a==irmative. I sai5( uI=
ever there was a ghost( that was one.4 *hat evening m> mother was sei]e5 with =atal
illness. %e?t morning I got a telegram stating that she was in e.tre(is( an5 =or ho9rs
be=ore was asking =or me to be sent =or. On receipt o= the telegram I starte5 =or $9blin(
an5 was D9st in time to see m> mother be=ore her ii-U:W! 5eath. *he =irst person I met
was Mr. .oare4s =ather Y5ecease5Z( to whom I sai5( uM> mother will 5ies I saw her last
night.4
B*.O/. %. $E)%E.C
,e =in5 =rom the obit9ar> in the <ree(ans Journal that La5> $eane 5ie5 on F9ne V(
27V2( at $9blin.
Mrs. $eane writes on March W( 277::A
BI m9st sa> I =elt the presence more than saw it( an5 it certainl> came 9p to where we
Pthree =rien5sQ were sitting( )ll saw it or =elt it@ in =act( it was both( =or I co9l5 5escribe it
as a mist> sha5ow passing thro9gh the chamber( an5 went o9t silentl>. O= co9rse we 5i5
not t9rn ro9n5 9ntil we all three sai5( u,as not there some one near the chair who is gone
=rom the roomr4 *hen one o= o9r n9mber got 9p an5 inE9ire5 ha5 an> one been in( an5 all
were absent =rom where we wereAsome 5ownstairs in other sitting-rooms rea5ing(
others in the gar5en( an5 the servants at tea in their kitchen@ then it appeare5 5o9bl> o55(
an5 it sei]e5 hol5 o= one4s min5 there ha5 been an apparition or vision. ,e ha5 been
talking o= the la5> at the time she appeare5 to 9s.
B.E%'IE**) $E)%E.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. $eane sa>s( B%either m> wi=e nor I ever saw an>thing o= the
kin5 be=ore or since.C
.ere the vag9er =orm o= Mrs. $eane4s impression( as compare5 to that o= her h9sban5(
seems a goo5 e?ample o= r95imentar> or arreste5 5evelopment Psee p. W:( noteQ.
*he =ollowing case is one that wo9l5 not have been incl95e5 here( b9t =or the =avo9rable
opinion which o9r colleag9e( Mr. 'ichar5 .o5gson(Y~Z =orme5 o= the principal witness.
*he acco9nt was written 5own b> Miss )tkinson( o= 1ark .ea5( Fesmon5 $ene(
%ewcastle-on-*>ne( an5 is signe5 b> Mrs. 'ee5( o= W( Miller4s Lane( ">ker .ill(
%ewcastle-on-*>ne( the >o9nger o= the two percipients@ the other is 5ea5.
BF9l>( 2773.
P:3WQ BIt was at -hristmas time. Mr. an5 Mrs. )5ams an5 their 5a9ghter )nnie ha5 been
spen5ing the evening with some =rien5s( not =ar =rom home. )nnie Pa girl o= 2U at the
timeQ( along with another girl( was sent home to =etch something that ha5 been =orgotten.
On entering the kitchen( )nnie sai5 to the other girl( u/ee( there4s a man sitting b> the
=iresi5e.4 *he other girl sai5 there was nobo5> there. *he two went 9pstairs to get what
the> ha5 been sent =or( when )nnie sai5 u*here4s the man again.4
2
*he other girl persiste5
that there was nobo5> there. .aving got what was wante5( the> ret9rne5 to the =rien5us
ho9se. On coming home late at night( Mrs. )5ams sai5 to her h9sban5Au*here4s m>
brother stan5ing besi5e that ho9se@ 5on4t >o9 see him( all in whiter4 Mr. )5ams 5i5 not
see him. ) 5a> or two a=terwar5s she receive5 a letter to sa> that her brother was kille5
5own the pit( the night an5 the ho9r correspon5ing with the time that )nnie saw the man
Pas she sai5Q ii-U:7! sitting b> her mother4s hearth. )nnie ha5 never seen her 9ncle( as
she ha5 alwa>s travelle5 =rom place to place with the regiment( an5 ha5 never been taken
to the collier> village where her mother4s =amil> live5.
*his is a correct statement.
B)%%IE 'EE$.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that Mrs. 'ee54s 9ncle was cr9she5 b> a =all o= stone
in the ,ashington coal mine on $ecember UX( 278U@ which con=irms the =irst wor5s o=
the acco9nt.
Miss )tkinson tells 9s that Mrs. )5ams( 9nlike her h9sban5( was o= a s9perstitio9s t9rn o=
min5. /he a55s on F9l> :2( 2773@A
BI have been to see Mrs. 'ee5( b9t cannot sa> I have gaine5 m9ch in=ormation. /he sa>s
that the =ig9re she saw 9pstairs was the same as she ha5 seen sitting b> the =iresi5e
5ownstairs. /he cannot give an> 5e=inite in=ormation abo9t the girl who was with her(
e?cept that her name -as /ophie )rn9p( an5 that she belonge5 to %orwich( where the
inci5ent occ9rre5. Mrs. 'ee5 5oes not know whether she is living or 5ea5( or whether
marrie5. Mrs. 'ee5 cannot remember that there were an> 5i==erences note5 when she an5
her mother talke5 abo9t what the> ha5 seen. /he mentione5 abo9t the man in white
sitting b> the =iresi5e( as soon as she reache5 the =rien54s ho9se where her mother was(
an5 before her mother ret9rne5. /he cannot remember an> 5etails abo9t =ace or 5ress(
e?cept that the 5ress was white@ she was too =rightene5 to observe care=9ll>( an5 I am
gla5 to =in5 she is too tr9th=9l to set her imagination to work( an5 =anc> she remembers
what she 5oes not. *his is the onl, hall9cination that she ever ha5.
BE. E. )*0I%/O%.C
Mr. .o5gson writes in /eptember( 2773:A
BI have talke5 with Mr. )5ams Ynow resi5ent at 233( .igh /treet( Farrow-on-*>neZ( who
tol5 me the stor> as given above. *he pit where the brother was kille5 was in the $9rham
5istrict@ the =ig9re was seen at %orwich. I have also seen Mrs. 'ee5( who =irst saw the
=ig9re( an5 who also tol5 the stor> as given above. /he impresse5 me as being
e?ceptionall> tr9th=9l.C
Y,e might conceive that Mrs. )5ams4 hall9cination was 59e to apprehensions ca9se5 b>
her 5a9ghter4s acco9nt. "9t it will be observe5 that there ha5 been nothing in the
5a9ghter4s acco9nt to s9ggest Mrs. )5ams4 brother@ the point there=ore that Mrs. )5ams
mentione5 her brother Pwhich there is no reason to 5o9btQ is important. )n5 even i= we
s9ppose that she was given to apprehensions abo9t this relative( which ma> have taken a
s9perstitio9s colo9r( this wo9l5 not e?plain the other hall9cination( 9niE9e in her
5a9ghter4s e?perience( occ9rring on the same evening. *hat the impressions were
hall9cinations an5 not ill9sions( is strongl> in5icate5 b> the =act that neither o= them was
share5 b> a secon5 person whose attention was 5rawn to the appearance Pp. 2;V( secon5
note.Q.Z
In the remaining vis9al cases( the impression seems to have been 5istinct an5 i5entical to
all the percipients. I will begin with a case where it is a E9estion whether a 5istant agent
was or was not the so9rce o= the phenomenon@ b9t where the =lashing o= the hall9cination
=rom one o= the percipients to the other seems speciall> well ii-U:X! ill9strate5( since the
=ig9re which appeare5 was one which the secon5 percipient ha5 never seen in the =lesh.
*he acco9nt is =irsthan5( tho9gh written in the thir5 person. It is =rom Mrs. Elgee( o= 27(
,ob9rn 'oa5( "e5=or5.
BMarch 2st( 277V.
P:37Q BIn the month o= %ovember( 2783( being 5etaine5 in -airo( on m> wa> o9t to In5ia(
the =ollowing c9rio9s circ9mstance occ9rre5 to me:A
BOwing to an 9n9s9al in=l9? o= travellers( I( with the >o9ng la5> 9n5er m> charge Pwhom
we will call $.Q an5 some other passengers o= the o9twar5-bo9n5 mail to In5ia( ha5 to
take 9p o9r abo5e in a somewhat 9n=reE9ente5 hotel. *he room share5 b> Miss $. an5
m>sel= was large( lo=t>( an5 gloom>@ the =9rnit9re o= the scantiest( consisting o= two small
be5s( place5 nearl> in the mi55le o= the room an5 not to9ching the walls at all( two or
three r9sh-bottome5 chairs( a ver> small washing-stan5( an5 a large ol5-=ashione5 so=a o=
the settee-sort( which was place5 against one-hal= o= the large =ol5ing-5oors which gave
entrance to the room. *his settee was =ar too heav> to be remove5( 9nless b> two or three
people. *he other hal= o= the 5oor was 9se5 =or entrance( an5 =ace5 the two be5s. +eeling
rather 5esolate an5 strange( an5 Miss $. being a nervo9s person( I locke5 the 5oor( an5(
taking o9t the ke>( p9t it 9n5er m> pillow@ b9t on Miss $. remarking that there might be a
59plicate which co9l5 open the 5oor =rom o9tsi5e( I p9t a chair against the 5oor( with m>
travelling-bag on it( so arrange5 that( on an> press9re o9tsi5e( one or both m9st =all on
the bare =loor( an5 make noise eno9gh to ro9se me. ,e then procee5e5 to retire to be5(
the one I ha5 chosen being near the onl> win5ow in the room( which opene5 with two
gla]e5 5oors( almost to the =loor. *hese 5oors( on acco9nt o= the heat( I le=t open( =irst
ass9ring m>sel= that no comm9nication =rom the o9tsi5e co9l5 be obtaine5. *he win5ow
le5 on to a small balcon>( which was isolate5( an5 was three stories above the gro9n5.
BI s955enl> woke =rom a so9n5 sleep with the impression that somebo5> ha5 calle5 me(
an5( sitting 9p in be5( to m> 9nbo9n5e5 astonishment( b> the clear light o= earl> 5awn
coming in thro9gh the large win5ow be=ore-mentione5( I behel5 the =ig9re o= an ol5 an5
ver> val9e5 =rien5 whom I knew to be in Englan5. .e appeare5 as i= most eager to speak
to me( an5 I a55resse5 him with( u&oo5 gracio9ss how 5i5 >o9 come herer4 /o clear was
the =ig9re( that I note5 ever> 5etail o= his 5ress( even to three on>? shirt st95s which he
alwa>s wore. .e seeme5 to come a step nearer to me( when he s955enl> pointe5 across
the room( an5 on m> looking ro9n5( I saw Miss $. sitting 9p in her be5( ga]ing at the
=ig9re with ever> e?pression o= terror. On looking back( m> =rien5 seeme5 to shake his
hea5( an5 retreate5 step b> step( slowl>( till he seeme5 to sink thro9gh that portion o= the
5oor where the settee stoo5. I never knew what happene5 to me a=ter this@ b9t m> ne?t
remembrance is o= bright s9nshine po9ring thro9gh the win5ow. &ra59all> the
remembrance o= what ha5 happene5 came back to me( an5 the E9estion arose in m>
min5( ha5 I been 5reaming( or ha5 I seen a visitant =rom another worl5rAthe bo5il>
presence o= m> =rien5 being 9tterl> impossible.
ii-U3;!
'emembering that Miss $. ha5 seeme5 aware o= the =ig9re as well as m>sel=( I
5etermine5 to allow the test o= m> 5ream or vision to be whatever she sai5 to me 9pon
the s9bDect( I inten5ing to sa> nothing to her 9nless she spoke to me. )s she seeme5 still
asleep( I got o9t o= be5( e?amine5 the 5oor care=9ll>( an5 =o9n5 the chair an5 m> bag
9nto9che5( an5 the ke> 9n5er m> pillow@ the settee ha5 not been to9che5( nor ha5 that
portion o= the 5oor against which it was place5 an> appearance o= being opene5 =or >ears.
B1resentl>( on Miss $. waking 9p( she looke5 abo9t the room( an5( noticing the chair an5
bag( ma5e some remark as to their not having been m9ch 9se. I sai5( u,hat 5o >o9
meanr4 an5 then she sai5( u,h>( that man who was in the room this morning m9st have
got in somehow.4 /he then procee5e5 to 5escribe to me e?actl> what I m>sel= ha5 seen.
,itho9t giving an> satis=actor> answer as to what I ha5 seen( I ma5e her rather angr> b>
a==ecting to treat the matter as a =anc> on her part( an5 showe5 her the ke> still 9n5er m>
pillow( an5 the chair an5 bag 9nto9che5. I then aske5 her( i= she was so s9re that she ha5
seen somebo5> in the room( 5i5 not she know who it wasr u%o(4 sai5 she( uI have never
seen him be=ore( nor an>one like him.4 I sai5 u.ave >o9 ever seen a photograph o= himr4
/he sai5( u%o.4 *his la5> never was tol5 what I saw( an5 >et 5escribe5 e?actl> to a thir5
person what we both ha5 seen.
BO= co9rse( I was 9n5er the impression m> =rien5 was 5ea5. /9ch( however( was not the
case@ an5 I met him some =o9r >ears later( when( witho9t telling him an>thing o= m>
e?perience in -airo( I aske5 him( in a Doking wa>( co9l5 he remember what he was 5oing
on a certain night in %ovember( 2783. u,ell(4 he sai5( u>o9 reE9ire me to have a goo5
memor>@4 b9t a=ter a little re=lection he replie5( u,h> that was the time I was so harasse5
with tr>ing to 5eci5e =or or against the appointment which was o==ere5 me( an5 I so m9ch
wishe5 >o9 co9l5 have been with me to talk the matter over. I sat over the =ire E9ite late(
tr>ing to think what >o9 wo9l5 have a5vise5 me to 5o.4 ) little cross-E9estioning an5
comparing o= 5ates bro9ght o9t the c9rio9s =act that( allowing =or the 5i==erence o= time
between Englan5 an5 -airo( his me5itations over the =ire an5 m> e?perience were
sim9ltaneo9s. .aving tol5 him the circ9mstances above narrate5( I aske5 him ha5 he
been aware o= an> pec9liar or 9n9s9al sensation. .e sai5 none( onl> that he ha5 wante5 to
see me ver> m9ch.
BE. .. EL&EE.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. Elgee sa>s:A
BI =ear it is E9ite impossible to get an> in=ormation =rom Miss $. /he marrie5 soon a=ter
we reache5 In5ia( an5 I never met her since( nor 5o I know where she is( i= alive. I E9ite
9n5erstan5 the val9e o= her corroboration@ an5 at the time she tol5 the whole
circ9mstance to a =ellow-traveller( who repeate5 it to me( an5 her stor> an5 mine agree5
in ever> partic9lar( save that to her the visitant was a complete stranger@ an5 her tale was
E9ite 9nbiasse5 b> mine( as I alwa>s treate5 hers as a =anc>( an5 never acknowle5ge5 I
ha5 been aware o= an>thing 9n9s9al having taken place in o9r room at -airo. I never
have seen( or =ancie5 I saw( an> one be=ore or since.
ii-U32!
BM> visitant( also( is 5ea5( or he wo9l5( I know( have a55e5 his testimon>( small as it
was( to mine. .e was a ver> calm( E9iet( clever( scienti=ic man( not given to vain =ancies
on an> s9bDect( an5 certainl> was not aware o= an> 5esire o= appearing to me.C
Y*his seems at an> rate an interesting e?ample o= collective hall9cination@ tho9gh as
regar5s its s9ppose5 origination in the tho9ghts o= Mrs. Elgee4s =rien5 in Englan5( one
ma> 5o9bt whether( a=ter a lapse o= 3 >ears( complete certaint> as to the i5entit> o= 5ates
was attainable. I= there has been an error on this point( the case wo9l5 properl> belong to
the prece5ing section.Z
*he ne?t acco9nt Pwhich has been ver> slightl> con5ense5Q was written 5own =or 9s( in
277:( b> the late Miss 0atherine M. ,el5( one o= the two percipients( at the reE9est o=
Mr. Fames "ritten( o= Isleworth. It proves to be i5entical with a =ormer acco9nt( as to
which Miss ,el5 wrote to Mr. ,il=ri5 ,ar5( o= /herborne .o9se( "asingstoke( on Ma>
2X( 277:( as =ollows:A
B*he acco9nt was written abo9t 2V >ears ago@ it was an acco9nt which appeare5 in a book
an5 in the newspapers at that time( an5 which I( at the reE9est o= =rien5s( revise5 an5
correcte5. I believe ever> wor5 o= the acco9nt to be per=ectl> tr9e( as s9ch things become
impresse5 on one4s min5@ b9t at the same time it m9st be remembere5 that the acco9nt
was not written at the time( b9t man> >ears a=terwar5s. *here=ore I can onl> sa> that as
=ar as I remember ever> 5etail is e?act.C
B*he Lo5ge( L>mington.
P:3XQ B1hilip ,el5 was the >o9ngest son o= Mr. Fames ,el5( o= )rchers Lo5ge( near
/o9thampton( an5 a nephew o= the late -ar5inal ,el5. .e was sent b> his =ather( in 273U(
to /t. E5m9n54s -ollege( near ,are( in .ert=or5shire( =or his e59cation. .e was a well
con59cte5( amiable bo>( an5 m9ch belove5 b> his masters an5 =ellow-st95ents. In the
a=ternoon o= )pril 28th( 273V( 1hilip( accompanie5 b> one o= the masters an5 some o= his
companions( went to boat on the river( which was a sport he enDo>e5 m9ch. ,hen one o=
the masters remarke5 that it was time to ret9rn to the college( 1hilip begge5 to have one
row more@ the master consente5 an5 the> rowe5 to the acc9stome5 t9rning point. On
arriving there( in t9rning the boat( 1hilip acci5entall> =ell o9t into a ver> 5eep part o= the
river( an5( notwithstan5ing ever> e==ort that was ma5e to save him( was 5rowne5.
B.is corpse was bro9ght back to the college( an5 the Ver> 'ev. $r. -o? Pthe presi5entQ
was immensel> shocke5 an5 grieve5. .e ma5e 9p his min5 to go himsel= to Mr. ,el5( at
/o9thampton. .e set o== the same a=ternoon( an5 passing thro9gh Lon5on( reache5
/o9thampton the ne?t 5a>( an5 5rove =rom thence to )rchers Lo5ge( the resi5ence o= Mr.
,el5@ b9t be=ore entering the gro9n5s he saw Mr. ,el5 at a short 5istance =rom his gate(
walking towar5s the town. $r. -o? imme5iatel> stoppe5 the carriage( alighte5( an5 was
abo9t to a55ress Mr. ,el5( when he prevente5 him b> sa>ing:A
Bu#o9 nee5 not sa> one wor5( =or I know that 1hilip is 5ea5. ii-U3U! #ester5a> a=ternoon
I was walking with m> 5a9ghter( 0atherine( an5 we s955enl> saw him. .e was stan5ing
on the path( on the opposite si5e o= the t9rnpike roa5( between two persons( one o= whom
was a >o9th 5resse5 in a black robe. M> 5a9ghter was the =irst to perceive them an5
e?claime5( BOh( papas 5i5 >o9 ever see an>thing so like 1hilip as that isrC BLike him(C I
answere5( Bwh> it is he.C /trange to sa>( m> 5a9ghter tho9ght nothing o= the
circ9mstance( be>on5 that we ha5 seen an e?traor5inar> likeness o= her brother. ,e
walke5 on towar5s these three =ig9res. 1hilip was looking( with a smiling( happ>
e?pression o= co9ntenance( at the >o9ng man in a black robe( who was shorter than
himsel=. /955enl> the> all seeme5 to me to have vanishe5@ I saw nothing b9t a
co9ntr>man( whom I ha5 be=ore seen through the three =ig9res( which gave me the
impression that the> were spirits. I( however( sai5 nothing to an>one( as I was =ear=9l o=
alarming m> wi=e. I looke5 o9t an?io9sl> =or the post the =ollowing morning. *o m>
5elight( no letter came. I =orgot that letters =rom ,are came in the a=ternoon( an5 m>
=ears were E9iete5( an5 I tho9ght no more o= the e?traor5inar> circ9mstance 9ntil I saw
>o9 in the carriage o9tsi5e m> gate. *hen ever>thing ret9rne5 to m> min5( an5 I co9l5
not =eel a 5o9bt that >o9 came to tell me o= the 5eath o= m> 5ear bo>.4
B*he rea5er ma> imagine how ine?pressibl> astonishe5 $r. -o? was at these wor5s. .e
aske5 Mr. ,el5 i= he ha5 ever be=ore seen the >o9ng man in the black robe( at whom
1hilip was looking with s9ch a happ> smile. Mr. ,el5 answere5 that he ha5 never be=ore
seen him( b9t that his co9ntenance was so in5elibl> impresse5 on his min5 that he was
certain he sho9l5 know him at once an>where. $r. -o? then relate5 to the a==licte5 =ather
all the circ9mstances o= his son4s 5eath( which ha5 taken place at the ver> ho9r in which
he appeare5 to his =ather an5 sister. Mr. ,el5 went to the =9neral o= his son( an5 as he le=t
the ch9rch( a=ter the sa5 ceremon>( looke5 ro9n5 to see i= an> o= the religio9s at all
resemble5 the >o9ng man he ha5 seen with 1hilip( b9t he co9l5 not trace the slightest
likeness in an> o= them. )bo9t =o9r months a=ter( he an5 his =amil> pai5 a visit to his
brother( Mr. &eorge ,el5( at /eagram .all( in Lancashire. One 5a> he walke5 with his
5a9ghter 0atherine to the neighbo9ring village o= -hipping( an5 a=ter atten5ing a service
at the ch9rch calle5 on the priest. It was a little time be=ore the rev. =ather was at leis9re
to come to them( an5 the> am9se5 themselves meantime b> e?amining the prints hanging
on the walls o= the room. /955enl> Mr. ,el5 stoppe5 be=ore a pict9re which ha5 no
name( that >o9 co9l5 see( written 9n5er it Pas the =rame covere5 the bottomQ( an5
e?claime5 uThat is the person whom I saw with 1hilip@ I 5o not know whose likeness this
print is( b9t I am certain that it was that person whom I saw with 1hilip.4 *he priest
entere5 the room a =ew moments a=terwar5s( an5 was imme5iatel> E9estione5 b> Mr.
,el5 concerning the print. .e answere5 that it was a print o= /t. /tanisla9s 0ostka( an5
s9ppose5 to be a ver> goo5 likeness o= the >o9ng saint.
BMr. ,el5 was m9ch move5 at hearing this@ =or /t. /tanisla9s was a Fes9it( who 5ie5
when E9ite >o9ng( an5 Mr. ,el54s =ather having been a great bene=actor to that Or5er( his
=amil> were s9ppose5 to be 9n5er the partic9lar protection o= the Fes9it saints@ also(
1hilip ha5 been le5 o= late( b> vario9s circ9mstances( to partic9lar 5evotion to /t.
/tanisla9s. ii-U3:! Moreover( /t. /tanisla9s is s9ppose5 to be the special a5vocate o=
5rowne5 men( as is mentione5 in his li=e. *he rev. =ather instantl> presente5 the pict9re to
Mr. ,el5( who( o= co9rse( receive5 it with the greatest veneration( an5 kept it 9ntil his
5eath. .is wi=e val9e5 it eE9all>( an5 at her 5eath it passe5 into the possession o= the
5a9ghter Ythe narratorZ( who saw the apparition at the same time he 5i5( an5 it is now in
her possession.C
In answer to some E9estions p9t b> Mr. ,ar5( Miss ,el5 wrote on F9ne U;th( 277::A
BI will repeat the E9estions >o9 ask( to make the answers more clear.
Bu$i5 >o9 as well as >o9r =ather( think the 5isappearance stranger4A%o@ I tho9ght no
more abo9t it.
Bu$i5 >o9r =ather( before Dr. Co. spo1e to hi(( look 9pon the apparition as signi=icant o=
some mishap to his sonr4A#es@ he tho9ght m9ch abo9t it( an5 was ver> an?io9s =or the
arrival o= the letters the ne?t morning@ b9t he 5i5 not speak o= the matter 9ntil a=terwar5s.
.e ha5 =rightene5 m> mother so m9ch on a =ormer occasion that he ha5 promise5 never
to speak o= s9ch things again.C
Miss ,el5 a55s in another letter:A
B,hen I saw 1hilip( I tho9ght no more o= it than one 5oes in seeing a great an5
9ne?pecte5 likeness in a stranger to some absent =rien5. *he matter passe5 o9t o= m>
min5 so completel> that I never =elt a sensation o= 9neasiness. I 5i5 not remember the
circ9mstance 9ntil the arrival o= $r. -o?( an5 the anno9ncement o= m> brother4s 5eath. I
saw that two persons were walking with the >o9ng la5 who so closel> resemble5 m>
brother. .e looke5 happ> an5 smiling@ b9t I neither remarke5 their co9ntenance nor
5ress@ conseE9entl> I 5i5 not recognise the print in the parlo9r o= the priest.C
In answer to an inE9ir> as to whether this was her onl> e?perience o= a sensor>
hall9cination( Miss ,el5 a55s: BI never be=ore or since the event have seen an>thing
=rom the other worl5.C
2

*he apparition o= /t. /tanisla9s is E9ite consistent with the telepathic h>pothesis( since
we can conceive that the i5ea o= his =avo9rite saint ma> have been act9all> present to the
min5 o= the 5rowning bo>@ b9t we have no e?planation o= the third phantasmal =ig9re.
*his( =rom its irrelevance( is an 9nlikel> =eat9re to have crept into ii-U33! the memor>( i=
not reall> observe5@ b9t it also makes the h>pothesis o= mistaken i5entit> less improbable
than it wo9l5 otherwise be. )s against that h>pothesis we have the =act that the =ig9res
were seen in 5a>light( onl> a =ew >ar5s o==@ that their 5isappearance seems to have been
strangel> s955en@ an5 that( i= the narrator4s memor> ma> be tr9ste5 as to Mr. ,el54s
spontaneo9s recognition o= the pict9re( the mistake on his part wo9l5 have been a double
one. Moreover it m9st be observe5 that even i= the case was one o= mistaken i5entit>Ao=
ill9sion an5 not hall9cinationAthe coincidence remains to be acco9nte5 =or. I= we
s9pposeAas accor5ing to the acco9nt I think we ma>Athat the e>es o= the two
percipients were in5epen5entl> 5el95e5( an5 that Mr. ,el54s 5el9sion was not merel>
conD9re5 9p b> his 5a9ghter4s remark( we cannot ignore the improbabilit> o= two persons
making a mistake o= the sort on the ver> a=ternoon that the relative whom the> seem to
see is 5rowne5. .ow pro5igio9s this improbabilit> is ma> be realise5 =rom a simple
comp9tation. Let 9s s9pposeAs9rel> a liberal estimateAthat it is a common thing( which
one ma> s9ppose to have happene5 to each o= the percipients( to make in the co9rse o=
li=e V; eE9all> remarkable mistakes o= i5entit>( in an eE9all> goo5 light an5 when eE9all>
near to the =ig9re observe5@ an5 also that the probabilit> that one partic9lar relative o=
most =amiliar aspect will be the s9bDect o= the mistake on an> one o= these occasions
amo9nts to 2 v U;Awhich is again an e?travagant allowance. Let 9s =9rther s9ppose that
the a59lt li=e o= each percipient amo9nte5 to :V >ears( or 2U(WWV 5a>s. *hen( =or each
percipient( the probabilit> o= making one o= the mistakes o= i5entit> on the partic9lar 5a>
that the s9bDect o= the mistake 5ies is V; v U; y 2UWWV@ an5 the probabilit> o= the s9ppose5
combination o= coinci5ent mistakes is 2 v V22;
U
. In other wor5s( the o55s against the
occ9rrence b> acci5ent o= the inci5ent above relate5 are more than U8 millions to 2. I=(
there=ore( the e?periences were illusions( the> ma> =airl> be s9ppose5 to have been
telepathic ill9sions Psee pp. 8UT:.Q
,e owe the ne?t acco9nt in the =irst instance to Mrs. ,illink( o= Lin5ale 1arsonage(
&range-over-/an5s. *he three =irst-han5 witnesses all appear to be persons o= goo5 sense
an5 o= some e59cation. Mrs. ,illink writes( on /ept. X( 2773:A
P:V;Q BOne night P+ri5a>Q m> n9rse( Fane( came to tell me that the> ha5 been startle5 b>
seeing a ghastl> =ace at the kitchen win5ow. *he servants ha5 been anno>e5 =or some
time previo9sl> b> some >o9ng men ii-U3V! coming to the kitchen win5ow( an5 making
a noise on the glass( an5 tr>ing to look in. *he =lower be5 9n5er the win5ow ha5 been
=reshl> 59g 9p an5 ti5ie5( an5 the> were hoping the visits ha5 cease5. *he 5og( whose
kennel was close to the win5ow( an5 who ha5 been p9t on a long chain to keep awa>
these visitors( began to howZ( an5 .elen Pnow Mrs. 'obinsonQ( who was sitting so as to
see thro9gh the e5ge o= the blin5( looke5 9p( an5 seeing a ghastl> =ace( which she
recognise5 as Mrs. 'obinson4s( tol5 the others( who got 9p an5 5rew the blin5 on one
si5e( an5 so saw the =ace 5istinctl>. *heir acco9nt was that it gra59all> =a5e5 awa> below
the bottom o= the win5ow. Fane an5 )ggie then went to the 5oor( b9t tho9gh the 5og
contin9e5 howling Pas he alwa>s 5oes when a 5eath in the village takes placeQ( the> co9l5
see nothing.
BI 5o9bt the acc9rac> o= the statement that the apparition looke5 at .elen rather than at
the others@ she sat where she co9l5 see thro9gh the space between the blin5 an5 the e5ge
o= the win5ow( so nat9rall> saw it =irst. Fane ha5 never seen Mrs. 'obinson( b9t some
time a=ter( on looking thro9gh a photograph-book in the village( she recognise5 the =ace(
an5 was then tol5 to whom it belonge5. ,hen she tol5 me on the +ri5a> evening o= what
the> ha5 seen( I rather pooh-poohe5 the stor>( as I =o9n5 that the 5og4s howling was
beginning to make them alwa>s nervo9s@ an5 it was not 9ntil a=ter service on /9n5a> that
I was tol5 how Mrs. 'obinson ha5 been pers9a5e5 to go to Lee5s to the hospital there(
an5 to 9n5ergo an operation( 9n5er which she 5ie5 on +ri5a> a=ternoon( I think( between
U an5 :. *he appearance wo9l5 be between 7 an5 X. Mrs. 'obinson ha5 been servant to
the clerg>man here be=ore she marrie5@ she ha5 been awa> =rom the village some time
be=ore her 5eath@ was alwa>s an invali5( b9t none o= 9s knew o= her being more ill than
9s9al.
BM)'&)'E* ,ILLI%0.C
,e learn =rom the clerk at +insthwaite( where Mrs. 'obinson was b9rie5( that she 5ie5 at
the Lee5s In=irmar> on March UVth( 277U( an5 a neighbo9r thinks that the ho9r was
between 7 an5 X in the morning. +ri5a> was the U3th( not the UVth@ an5 the coinci5ence
was th9s not so close as Mrs. ,illink s9pposes@ b9t the interval probabl> 5i5 not e?cee5
2U ho9rs.
Mar> Fane +arran5 sa>s:A
BIt was a +ri5a> evening( o= the e?act time I am not s9re( b9t it was between hal=-past 7
an5 X o4clock. *he other two mai5s( with m>sel=( were sitting at s9pper in the kitchen(
close to the win5ow( when we all became conscio9s o= being watche5 b> a woman =rom
the o9tsi5e( whom the other two imme5iatel> recognise5 as a person whom the> both
knew as Mrs. 'obinson. "e=ore her marriage( she live5 at the parsonage =or some time as
ho9semai5. /he looke5 intentl> 9pon each one( an5 then t9rne5 her =ace E9ite to the cook(
looking slightl> reproach=9l( then plea5ingl>. *he> aske5 one o= the other where she
co9l5 be sta>ing( an5 the> sai5 it was strange =or her to be o9t Pas it raine5 heavil>Q
witho9t her bonnet. One was D9st abo9t to go an5 ask her in( when we saw a great change
come over the =ace( an5 it looke5 like that o= a corpse( then 5isappeare5 altogether. I
never saw the person previo9sl>( or remember ever hearing o= her( however in5irectl>.
*he =ollowing /9n5a> morning I hear5 that she was 5ea5 =rom Mrs. ,illink. *he cook(
whom we calle5 ii-U38! %ell( was marrie5 to Fohn 'obinson abo9t two >ears
a=terwar5s. )s we sat at the table I ha5 s9ch an impression o= the =ace( e>es( an5 =ront o=
the hair as to be able to recognise the photograph a =ew months a=terwar5s( witho9t the
least tro9ble( or being tol5.
BM)'# F)%E +)'')%$.C
). %icholson Pnow Mrs. -apstick( o= /ilver5ale( -arn=orth(Q writes to Mar> Fane +arran5(
on /eptember 3th( 2773:A
B,oo5well.
BIn answer to >o9r letter abo9t the =ace at the win5ow( I cannot remember m9ch abo9t it(
e?cept that we were sitting at s9pper( an5 %ell happene5 to look 9p at the win5ow( an5
sai5 some one was looking in( then tol5 9s to come an5 look. It was like the =ace o= a
skeleton( an5 we looke5( an5 it was a ver> thin =ace( with large staring e>es. ,e still
tho9ght it was some one till >o9 an5 I went to the 5oor( b9t co9l5 see nothing. %ell was in
the kitchen( an5 it never move5( b9t was still there when we got back. It seeme5 to
gra59all> =a5e o9t o= sight. I 5on4t remember who passe5 the remark that it was like Mrs.
'obinson.
B). %I-.OL/O%.C
In conversation( Mrs. -apstick state5 that she has never ha5 an> other e?perience o= a
hall9cination.
Mrs. ,illink writes( on /eptember 27th( 2773:A
BIn answer to >o9r E9estion as to when the servants tol5 me it was Mrs. 'obinson4s =ace
the> saw( as =ar as I recollect it was that same evening. .elen knew Pas we all 5i5Q that
Mrs. 'obinson was ill( an5 ha5 been so =or >ears with an internal complaint( =rom which
she never co9l5 recover@ b9t she 5i5 not know that she was an> worse than she ha5 been
be=ore she le=t the village some months be=ore.
B*he> went o9t ne?t morning to look =or =ootmarks on the =lower be5( which wo9l5 have
been 5ist9rbe5 b> an> one stan5ing at the win5ow( b9t there were no traces o= an>.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mar> Fane +arran5 writes( on /eptember U3th( 2773:A
B,hen I recognise5 Mrs. 'obinson4s photograph I was sta>ing at )rnsi5e with Mrs.
,illink4s chil5ren( an5 went to visit a person who ha5 live5 near Lin5ale an5 ha5 not
long been marrie5( an5 she it was who when showing me the 5i==erent things in her
ho9se( E9ite b> chance took 9p her alb9m( an5 showe5 me the photos o= her =rien5s(
amongst them Mrs. 'obinson. I cannot E9ite remember whether or not I tol5 her that I
recognise5 the =ace@ =or it seems so long ago to remember each =act( an5 I sho9l5 not like
to assert what I 5i5 not =eel con=i5ent abo9t( b9t >o9 certainl> ma> write to her to ask her.
B%ever be=ore ha5 I seen an>thing o= the kin5( altho9gh I ha5 hear5 o= similar events( b9t
was greatl> wanting in =aith with regar5 to s9ch things happening( an5 tho9ght it b9t a
=anc> in others( 9ntil I saw Mrs. 'obinson Yi.e.( the photographZ.C
/he mentions( however( that she has ha5 two s9bDective hall9cinations( which =ell within
a =ew 5a>s o= one anotherAone representing Mrs. ,illink( an5 the other a =ellow-servant.
Mrs. Fackson *hompson( o= )shmea5ow Lo5ge( )rnsi5e( &range-over-/an5s( writes( in
+ebr9ar>( 2778:A
ii-U3W!
B*he onl> remark I remember Mar> Fane +arran5 making on the late Mrs. Fohn
'obinson4s photograph was that it resemble5 the =ace which appeare5 at the Lin5ale
1arsonage kitchen win5ow.
B-.)'LO**E *.OM1/O%.C
Y*he evi5ence o= B%ellC Pnow Mrs. 'obinsonQ( the thir5 witness( will be =o9n5 in the
B)55itions an5 -orrectionsC at the beginning o= this vol9me.Y~ZZ
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom Mrs. "ennett( o= E5war5 /treet( /tone.
BMarch( 277U.
P:V2Q BM> 5a9ghter( )nnie( an5 I ha5 been 5rinking tea with the late Mrs. /mith an5
Miss Moore( an5 talking abo9t their brother 1reston being ver> ill an5 not e?pecte5 to
recover( an5 were ret9rning home in the evening( when between the little wicket which
opens o9t o= the Vicarage =iel5 an5 Mrs. %ewbol54s ho9se we met the i5entical man in
=ace( =orm( an5 =ig9re( 5resse5 as he was alwa>s wont@ slo9che5 hat( ol5 =rock coat( open
in =ront( knee-breeches an5 gaiters( with a long stick. .e passe5 so near 9s that we shrank
asi5e to make wa> =or him. )s soon as we got to Mrs. %ewbol54s she e?claime5( u/o
1reston Moore is 5ea5s4 when we both answere5 in a breath( uOh( no( we have D9st seen
hims4
B,e =o9n5( in =act( that he ha5 5ie5 abo9t hal= an ho9r be=ore he appeare5 to 9s.
BF. "E%%E**.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. "ennett a55s( on $ec. 2X( 277::A
B,e cannot call to min5 an>one at all resembling the in5ivi59al in E9estion@ his
appearance( 5ress an5 gait were 9tterl> 9nlike an>one else resi5ing in or abo9t the
neighbo9rhoo5.C
,e learn =rom the 'ev. ). F. ,right( Vicar o= /tone( that the 5eath occ9rre5 on )pril
2:th( 278;.
*he 'ev. /am9el 1lant writes to 9s =rom ,eston Vicarage( /ta==or5:A
BF9l> 7th( 277V.
BI know ver> well the la5> who( with her 5a9ghter( saw the apparition o= Moore on the
5a> o= his 5eath( an5 I have ever> reason to believe that she wo9l5 not 5eviate =rom the
tr9th in an> respect. I have several times hear5 her acco9nt o= it.C
Mrs. /i5gwick writes( on $ecember 2W( 277::A
B*his a=ternoon 1ro=essor /i5gwick an5 I calle5 on Mrs. "ennett. /he tol5 9s the stor> as
in her letter( an5 her 5a9ghter( a=terwar5s calle5 in( con=irme5 it. *he> 5o not remember
when it happene5( probabl> 2U or more >ears ago. /he remembers 5istinctl>( an5 so 5oes
her 5a9ghter( that it was in the s9mmer( an5 that it was light eno9gh to see things E9ite
5istinctl>Atho9gh the> are not s9re o= the ho9r.
2
*he> ha5 been having tea with Mrs.
/mith P1reston Moore4s sister( a =armer4s wi5ow( retire5 an5 with meansQ( an5 were on
their wa> to call on Mrs. %ewbol5( now 5ea5. )bo9t : >ar5s =rom Mrs. %ewbol54s gate
the> saw 1reston Moore coming towar5s them@ the> came ro9n5 a slight ben5 in the roa5(
an5 saw him =irst PMrs. "ennett sai5Q( abo9t the 5istance across E5war5 /treet =rom
them. .e an5 the> were both walking on the roa5 close to the ii-U37! ca9sewa>( an5
the> got on to the ca9sewa> an5 let him pass. .e 5i5 not greet them in an> wa>( b9t
tho9gh he 5i5 generall> to9ch his hat( an5 sa> u&oo5-5a>(4 he 5i5 not then. .is not 5oing
so 5i5 not seem to them o55@ the onl> thing that 5i5 was that a man who the> ha5 D9st
hear5 was not e?pecte5 to recover sho9l5 be o9t at all. Mrs. "ennett has o=ten won5ere5
since that she 5i5 not t9rn her hea5 to look a=ter him( b9t she 5i5 not@ an5 the> 5o not
remember sa>ing an>thing to each other abo9t him( 59ring the =ew secon5s that elapse5
be=ore the> got to Mrs. %ewbol54s 5oor. It was a nat9ral eno9gh place to meet him. *here
is no 5o9bt that the> both saw him( an5 that neither 5o9bte5 at the time that what the>
saw was 1reston Moore in the =lesh. *he> sa> he was a pec9liar-looking manAver>
plain( an5 with an e>e chronicall> in=lame5@ wore habit9all> a white hat on one si5e o=
his hea5( a loose shabb> long coat( open 5own the =ront( an5 carrie5 a long( hooke5(
heav> stick@ an5 all these marks the> seem to recognise him b>. *he> took no partic9lar
interest in him( D9st knew him. *here was something =orbi55ing abo9t him( an5 he was
ver> o55@ in =act I s9ppose ma5 at times. *he people calle5 him umoonstr9ck@4 his sister(
Miss Moore( was o55 too. .e seems to have ha5 a sort o= interest in Mrs. "ennett( =or
once he bro9ght her pansies( stolen =rom a neighbo9ring gentleman4s gar5en( an5 another
time ca9li=lowersAeE9all> illegitimatel> acE9ire5. "9t he 9se5 to take stolen gi=ts to
others in the same wa>. "oth Mrs. an5 Miss "ennett 5isclaim being s9perstitio9s or
nervo9s( an5 neither has ha5 an> other vis9al hall9cination. Mrs. "ennett has ha5 an
a95itor> hall9cination o= m9sic( an5 also what ma> have been a hall9cination o= raps an5
noises.C
YIn this case( we certainl> cannot s9ppose that a p9rel> s9bDective hall9cination was
in5epen5entl> an5 sim9ltaneo9sl> ca9se5 in both percipients b> their previo9s talk abo9t
the man( in whom the> were not speciall> intereste5. *he alternative is( there=ore(
between telepath> an5 mistaken i5entit>. It was remarke5 in a =ormer case that
recollections as to 5etails o= appearance are o=ten 9ntr9stworth>( as it is eas> to imagine
that one has 5istinctl> seen some =amiliar =ig9re( when in realit> one has ass9me5 its
presence on the strength o= the slightest an5 most general glance. "9t this criticism
scarcel> applies here. 1reston Moore was the last person whom the percipients wo9l5 at
that moment have e?pecte5 to meet o9t o= 5oors@ an5 the> were( there=ore( ver> 9nlikel>
to ass9me that the =ig9re was he( witho9t looking at him attentivel>.Z
*he =ollowing case is =rom Mr. /. /. +alkinb9rg( o= Uniontown( 0>.( U./.).( 5ecorator
an5 ho9se painter.
B/ept. 2Uth( 2773.
P:VUQ B*he =ollowing circ9mstance is impresse5 9pon m> min5 in a manner which will
precl95e its ever being =orgotten b> me or the members o= m> =amil> intereste5. M> little
son( )rth9r( who was then =ive >ears ol5( an5 the pet o= his gran5papa( was pla>ing on the
=loor( when I entere5 the ho9se a E9arter to W o4clock( +ri5a> evening( F9l> 22th( 27WX. I
was ver> tire5( having been receiving an5 pa>ing =or staves all 5a>( an5 it being an
e?cee5ingl> s9ltr> evening( I la> 5own b> )rtie on the carpet( an5 entere5 into
conversation with m> wi=eAnot( however( in regar5 to m> parents. )rtie( as 9s9all> was
the case( came an5 la> 5own with his little hea5 9pon m> le=t arm( when all at once he
e?claime5( u1apas ii-U3X! papas &ran5pas4 I cast m> e>es towar5s the ceiling( or opene5
m> e>es( I am not s9re which( when( between me an5 the Doists Pit was an ol5-=ashione5
log-cabinQ( I saw the =ace o= m> =ather as plainl> as ever I saw him in m> li=e.
2
.e
appeare5 to me to be ver> pale( an5 looke5 sad( as I ha5 seen him 9pon m> last visit to
him three months previo9s. I imme5iatel> spoke to m> wi=e( who was sitting within a =ew
=eet o= me( an5 sai5( u-lara( there is something wrong at home@ =ather is either 5ea5 or
ver> sick.4 /he trie5 to pers9a5e me that it was m> imagination( b9t I co9l5 not help
=eeling that something was wrong. "eing ver> tire5( we soon a=ter retire5( an5 abo9t 2;
o4clock )rtie woke me 9p repeating( u1apa( gran5pa is here.4 I looke5( an5 believe( i= I
remember right( got 9p( at an> rate to get the chil5 warm( as he complaine5 o= col5ness(
U

an5 it was ver> s9ltr> weather. %e?t morning I e?presse5 m> 5etermination to go at once
to In5ianapolis. M> wi=e ma5e light o= it an5 over-pers9a5e5 me( an5 I 5i5 not go 9ntil
Mon5a> morning( an5 9pon arriving at home Pm> =ather4sQ( I =o9n5 that he ha5 been
b9rie5 the 5a> be=ore( /9n5a>( F9l> 2:th.
B%ow comes the m>sterio9s part to me. )=ter I ha5 tol5 m> mother an5 brother o= m>
vision( or whatever it ma> have been( the> tol5 me the =ollowing:A
BOn the morning o= the 22th F9l>( the 5a> o= his 5eath( he arose earl> an5 e?presse5
himsel= as =eeling 9n9s9all> well( an5 ate a heart> break=ast. .e took the "ible Phe was a
Metho5ist ministerQ( an5 went an5 remaine5 9ntil near noon. .e ate a heart> 5inner( an5
went to the =ront gate( an5( looking 9p an5 5own the street( remarke5 that he co9l5 not( or
at least wo9l5 not be 5isappointe5( some one was s9rel> coming. $9ring the a=ternoon
an5 evening he seeme5 restless( an5 went to the gate( looking 5own street( =reE9entl>. )t
last( abo9t time =or s9pper( he mentione5 m> name( an5 e?presse5 his conviction that
&o5( in .is own goo5 time( wo9l5 answer his pra>ers in m> behal=( I being at that time
ver> wil5. Mother going into the kitchen to prepare s9pper( he =ollowe5 her an5
contin9e5 talking to her abo9t m>sel= an5 =amil>( an5 especiall> )rth9r( m> son. /9pper
being over( he move5 his chair near the 5oor( an5 was conversing abo9t me at the time he
5ie5. *he last wor5s were abo9t me( an5 were spoken( b> mother4s clock( 23 min9tes o=
W. .e 5i5 not =all( b9t D9st E9it talking an5 was 5ea5.
BIn answer to m> inE9iries( m> son )rth9r sa>s he remembers the circ9mstances( an5 the
impression he receive5 9pon that occasion is ine==aceable.
B/)MUEL /. +)L0I%"U'&.C
,e have proc9re5 a certi=icate o= 5eath =rom the In5ianapolis "oar5 o= .ealth( which
con=irms the 5ate given.
Mrs. +alkinb9rg writes to 9s( on /ept. 2U( 2773:A
BIn answer to >o9r reE9est( I will sa> that I cheer=9ll> give m> recollection o= the
circ9mstance to which >o9 re=er.
B,e were living in "rown -o9nt>( In5iana( V; miles so9th o= In5ianapolis( in the s9mmer
o= 27WX. M> h9sban5 PMr. /. /. +alkinb9rgQ was in the emplo> o= one Fohn )>ers( b9>ing
staves.
ii-UV;!
uOn the evening o= F9l> 22th( abo9t 8.:; o4clock( he came into the room where I was
sitting( an5 la> 5own on the carpet with m> little bo> )rth9r( complaining o= being ver>
tire5 an5 warm. Entering into conversation on some 9nimportant matter( )rth9r went to
him an5 la> 5own b> his si5e. In a =ew moments m> notice was attracte5 b> hearing
)rth9r e?claim: uOh( papa( gran5pa( gran5pa( papa(4 at the same time pointing with his
little han5 towar5 the ceiling. I looke5 in the 5irection he was pointing( b9t saw nothing.
M> h9sban5( however( sai5: u-lara( there is something wrong at home@ =ather is either
5ea5 or ver> sick.4 I trie5 to la9gh him o9t o= what I tho9ght an i5le =anc>@ b9t he insiste5
that he saw the =ace o= his =ather looking at him =rom near the ceiling( an5 )rth9r sai5(
u&ran5pa was come( =or he saw him.4 *hat night we were awakene5 b> )rtie again
calling his papa to see ugran5pa.4
B) short time a=ter m> h9sban5 starte5 PMon5a>Q to go to In5ianapolis( I receive5 a letter
calling him to the b9rial o= his =ather@ an5 some time a=ter( in conversation with his
mother( it transpire5 that the time he an5 )rtie saw the vision was within two or three
min9tes o= the time his =ather 5ie5.
B-L)') *. +)L0I%"U'&.C
)ske5 whether this was his sole e?perience o= a vis9al hall9cination( Mr. +alkinb9rg
replie5 that it was. Occasionall>( however( since that time( he has ha5 a95itor>
impressions s9ggestive o= his =ather4s presence.
.ere it ma> perhaps be s9ggeste5 that Mr. +alkinb9rg4s hall9cination was 59e to the
chil54s remark. "9t I know o= no evi5ence to s9pport s9ch a h>pothesis. ,here sensor>
hall9cinations have been traceable to verbal s9ggestion( as I have alrea5> mentione5( Pp.
277Q( there has either been a previo9s abnormal 5ominance o= one person b> another( or
the e==ect has been worke5 9p among a consi5erable n9mber o= people( in an atmosphere
o= emotion an5 e?citement. *ill evi5ence is bro9ght( we m9st( I think( 5ecline to cre5it
the wor5s o= a chil5 o= =ive with s9ch magic swa> over its =ather4s min5 as is e?ercise5
b> a practise5 mesmerist over the Bs9bDectC whose will he has ann9lle5( or as ca9ses the
visions o= a h>sterical =anatic to sprea5 to her like-min5e5 companions.
*he ne?t case is =rom Mrs. +airman( o= 3:( -li=ton .ill( %.,. /he has given 9s in
con=i5ence the names o= the persons concerne5( who are all 5ea5. *he =irst acco9nt sent
to 9s was written on $ecember UX( 2773@ b9t I E9ote the =ollowing slightl> =9ller one(
which was sent a=ter a search ha5 been ma5e =or the letter therein mentione5. *he
sentence between brackets is taken =rom the =ormer acco9nt.
B$ecember 3th( 277V.
P:V:Q BI m9ch regret that the search I have ma5e thro9gh m> sister4s letters has prove5
9seless. #o9 see( the letter relating to the circ9mstance was a55resse5 to m> mother( an5
has been 5estro>e5 long ago. In that letter( m> sister relate5 the circ9mstance o= both
hersel= an5 her h9sban5 ii-UV2! seeing what he imagine5 to be his brotherAthe e?act
likeness to him being apparentApassing the break=ast-room win5ow@ so m9ch so that he
spontaneo9sl> D9mpe5 9p to go to the hall to meet him( b9t on arriving 5i5 not see him.
P*he> were at the timeAas nearl> as I can remember( in 2733Aliving in the .ighlan5s(
an5 he ha5 parte5 =rom his brother( who was living in %ottinghamshire( on ver>
9n=rien5l> terms.Q )=ter a =r9itless search in the gro9n5s( he awaite5 the arrival o= the
post-bag( which containe5 a letter reE9esting him to start at once: his brother( whom he
ha5 not seen =or 2V >ears( being in a 5>ing state. .e 5i5 so@ an5 =o9n5 on arrival that he
5ie5 at the e.act time he ha5 seen him pass the win5ow. It was on his imme5iate
5epart9re that Mrs. AA wrote home to 9s( an5 be=ore she ha5 receive5 ti5ings =rom her
h9sban5 o= his brother4s 5eath. .e repeate5 this statement to me some =ew >ears a=ter(
an5 sai5 how convince5 he was at the time that his brother ha5 arrive5( an5 how kin5 he
consi5ere5 it that he sho9l5 make the =irst a5vances towar5s a reconciliation.
B-)*.E'I%E ). +)I'M)%.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the 5eath took place on Ma> U( 2732( the ca9se
being Be==9sion on the brain.C
In answer to an inE9ir> whether she is certain that her sister saw the =ig9re( Mrs. +airman
replies:A
BI =eel s9re that m> sister saw a =ig9re pass the win5ow at the same time as her h9sban5
5i5@ bnt YsicZ as she ha5 never seen her brother-in-law( she co9l5 not sa>( u*here4s
E5war5.4 I remember per=ectl> her letter at the time mentioning that she saw a so(eone
go b>.C
YIn conversation( Mrs. +airman tol5 me that she saw( imme5iatel> on its arrival( the
acco9nt written to her mother b> her sister on the 5a> o= the occ9rrence@ an5 i= this was
so( her evi5ence is that o= a person who was ma5e aware o= the percipient4s e?perience
be=ore the event with which it correspon5e5 was known PVol. I.( p. 237Q. "9t a=ter an
interval o= more than 3; >ears( no memor> can be tr9ste5 as to 5etails o= this sort. %or(
taking the evi5ence as it stan5s( can the h>pothesis o= mistaken i5entit> be absol9tel>
e?cl95e5. /till a mistake o= the kin5 is =ar more 9nlikel> in a co9ntr> placeAwhere the
aspect o= persons who come to the ho9se is 9s9all> =amiliar( an5 where the s955en
5isappearance o= an approaching visitor wo9l5 be ver> 9nlikel>Athan in a crow5e5
street. /ee also above( pp. 8UT:.Z
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom the late /9rgeon-MaDor )rman5 Leslie( an5 was =irst p9blishe5
in the Dail, Telegraph. *hat newspaper( 59ring the a9t9mn o= 2772( containe5 a goo5
5eal o= correspon5ence o= this sort@ an5 $r. Leslie was one o= the =ew contrib9tors who
ha5 the goo5 sense an5 co9rage to sign his name( an5 th9s to make his recor5 available as
evi5ence. ,e have ascertaine5 =rom =o9r 5i==erent so9rces that he 9se5 to live at V(
*avistock 1lace( ,.-. .e a=terwar5s serve5 thro9gh the '9sso-*9rkish war with the
*9rkish arm>@ was one o= the twelve 5octors sent o9t to Eg>pt at the time o= the cholera@
was chie= o= the me5ical 5epartment o= "aker4s sta==@ ii-UVU! an5 was kille5 at the battle
o= *eb. Un=ort9natel>( we =aile5 to i5enti=> him till too late( an5 I can onl> E9ote the
acco9nt as originall> given. -on=irmation might perhaps be obtaine5 =rom his =amil>( b9t
o9r e==orts to trace them have been( so =ar( 9navailing. %ot having comm9nicate5 with the
narrator( we cannot vo9ch =or the bona fides o= the acco9nt( the ver> startling inci5ents o=
which( an5 especiall> the 5etail o= the goloshes( are s9ggestive o= a hoa?@ an5 I there=ore
5o not give the case an evi5ential n9mber. On the other han5( it seems 9nlikel> that a
me5ical man o= rep9te( even i= he took the tro9ble to invent s9ch a stor>( wo9l5 allow his
name to appear as the a9thorit> =or it in a prominent newspaper. I= the stor> was invente5(
its =inal sentence( which intro59ces the writer4s tr9e place o= resi5ence( is a clever to9ch
o= realism( an5 the point ma5e at the en5 o= the secon5 paragraph is a master-stroke.
BOctober( 2772.
BIn the latter part o= the s9mmer o= 4W7( between hal=-past : an5 3 in the morning( I was
leis9rel> walking home =rom the ho9se o= a sick =rien5. ) mi55le-age5 woman(
apparentl> a n9rse( was slowl> =ollowing( going in the same 5irection. ,e crosse5
*avistock /E9are together( an5 emerge5 sim9ltaneo9sl> into *avistock 1lace. *he streets
an5 sE9are were 5eserte5( the morning bright an5 calm( m> health e?cellent( nor 5i5 I
s9==er =rom an?iet> or =atig9e.
B*he =ollowing scene was now enacte5: ) man s955enl> appeare5( stri5ing 9p *avistock
1lace( coming towar5s me( an5 going in a 5irection opposite to mine. ,hen =irst seen( he
was stan5ing e?actl> in =ront o= m> own 5oor. #o9ng( an5 ghastl> pale( he was 5resse5 in
evening clothes( evi5entl> ma5e b> a =oreign tailor. *all an5 slim( he walke5 with long
meas9re5 stri5es( noiselessl>( witho9t a so9n5
2
A a tall white hat( covere5 thickl> with
black crape( an5 an e>e-glass( complete5 the cost9me o= this strange =orm. *he
moonbeams(
U
=alling on the corpse-like =eat9res( reveale5 a =ace well known to meAthat
o= a =rien5 an5 relative. *he sole an5 onl> other person in the street( be>on5 m>sel= an5
this being( was the woman alrea5> all95e5 to. /he stoppe5 abr9ptl>( as i= spellbo9n5( then
r9shing towar5s the man( she ga]e5 intentl> an5 with horror 9nmistakeable on his =ace(
which was now 9pt9rne5 towar5s the heavens( an5 smiling ghastl>. /he in59lge5 in her
strange contemplation b9t 59ring ver> =ew secon5s( an5 with e?traor5inar> an5
9ne?pecte5 spee5 =or her age an5 weight( she ran awa> with a terri=ic shriek an5 >ells.
*his woman never have I seen or hear5 o= since( an5 b9t =or her presence I co9l5 have
e?plaine5 the inci5entAcalle5 it( sa>( s9bDection o= the mental powers to the 5omination
o= ph>sical re=le? actionAan5 the man4s presence wo9l5 have been terme5 a =alse
impression on the retina.
B) week a=ter the above event( news o= this ver> =rien54s 5eath ii-UV:! reache5 me. It
ha5 occ9rre5 on the morning in E9estion. +rom the =amil> I ascertaine5 that( accor5ing to
the rites o= the &reek -h9rch( an5 to the c9stom o= the co9ntr> he ha5 resi5e5 in( he was
b9rie5 in his evening clothes( ma5e abroa5 b> a =oreign tailor( an5( strange to sa>( he
wore goloshes or in5iar9bber shoes over his boots( accor5ing also to the c9stom o= the
co9ntr> he 5ie5 in@ these 5ea5en completel> the so9n5 o= the heaviest =ootstep. I never
ha5 seen m> =rien5 wear an e>e-glass. .e 5i5 so( however( whilst abroa5( an5 began the
practice some months be=ore his 5eath. ,hen in Englan5 he live5 in *avistock 1lace( an5
occ9pie5 m> rooms 59ring m> absence.
B)'M)%$ LE/LIE.C
Y/9pposing this to be a gen9ine case( it is still highl> probable that some o= the 5etail o=
the apparition was rea5 back into it( a=ter the real =acts were known.Z
*he la5> who sen5s 9s the =ollowing narrative occ9pies a position o= great responsibilit>(
an5 5esires that her name ma> not be p9blishe5@ b9t it ma> be given to inE9irers.
B277:.
P:V3Q B,hen I was eight months ol5( m> mother4s >o9nger sister( Merc> -o?( came to
resi5e with 9s( an5 to take charge o= me. M> =ather4s position at the "elgian -o9rt( as
portrait painter( oblige5 him to be m9ch abroa5( an5 I was le=t almost wholl> to the care
o= m> ver> bea9ti=9l a9nt. *he a==ection that s9bsiste5 between 9s amo9nte5 almost to
i5olatr>( an5 m> poor mother wept man> bitter tears when she came home( to see how
little I care5 =or an>one else. M> a9nt took col5( an5 =or three >ears lingere5 in 5ecline. I
was a E9ick chil5( an5 co9l5 rea5 well an5 even pla> prettil>( so that I was her constant
companion 5a> an5 night. O9r 5octor( Mr. +iel5( o= the -harter .o9se( greatl>
5isapprove5 o= this close contact( an5 9rge5 m> parents to sen5 me E9ite awa>. *his was
a 5i==ic9lt =eat to accomplish( the bare mention o= the thing throwing m> a9nt into
=aintings. )t last Mr. -9mberlan5 Pthe theatrical p9blisherQ s9ggeste5 that I sho9l5 Doin
his two 5a9ghters( -aroline( age5 28( an5 Lavinia( >o9nger( at Mrs. .ewetson4s( the
wi5ow o= a clerg>man resi5ent at /to9rpaine( in $orsetshire( who onl> took =o9r >o9ng
la5ies. *his was represente5 to m> a9nt as something so won5er=9ll> nice an5
a5vantageo9s to me( that she consente5 to part with me. M> portrait was painte5( an5
place5 b> her be5( an5 I remember how constantl> she talke5 to me abo9t o9r separation.
/he knew she sho9l5 be 5ea5 be=ore the >ear o= m> absence wo9l5 be en5e5. /he talke5
to me o= this( an5 o= how soon I sho9l5 =orget her@ b9t she vehementl> proteste5 that she
wo9l5 come to me there. /ometimes it was to be as an applewoman =or me to b9> =r9it
o=( sometimes as a mai5 wanting a place( alwa>s she wo9l5 know me( b9t I sho9l5 not
know her( till I crie5 an5 implore5 to know her.
BI was b9t nine when the> sent me awa>( an5 coach travelling was ver> slow in those
5a>s. Letters( too( were 5ear( an5 I ver> rarel> ha5 one. M> parents ha5 sickness an5
tro9bles( an5 the> believe5 the reports that I was well an5 happ>( b9t I was a ver>
miserable( illtreate5 little girl. One morning( at break o= 5a>Ait was %ew #ear4s $a>AI
was sleeping besi5e Lavinia. ,e two share5 one little white tester be5( with c9rtains(
while -arolineA9pon whom I looke5 with awe( she being 28( slept in ii-UV3! another
similar be5 at the other en5 o= a long narrow room( the be5s being place5 so that the =eet
=ace5 each other( an5 two white c9rtains h9ng 5own at the si5es o= the hea5. *his %ew
#ear4s morning( I was ro9ghl> wake5 b> Lavinia shaking me an5 e?claiming( uOh look
theres there4s >o9r a9nt in be5 with -aroline.4 /eeing two persons asleep in the be5( I
D9mpe5 o9t( an5 ran to the right si5e o= it. *here la> m> a9nt( a little on her right si5e( =ast
asleep( with her mo9th a little open. I recognise5 her worke5 night-gown an5 cap. I stoo5
bewil5ere5( with a chil5ish sort o= won5er as to when she co9l5 have come@ it m9st have
been a=ter I went to be5 at night. Lavinia4s cries awakene5 -aroline( who as soon as she
co9l5 9n5erstan5( ca9ght the c9rtains on each si5e an5 p9lle5 them together over her. I
tore them open( b9t onl> -aroline la> there( almost =ainting =rom =right. *his la5>( Miss
-9mberlan5( a=terwar5s became Mrs. 1art( wi=e o= a celebrate5 5octor at -am5en
*errace( Yan5 now 5ecease5.Z
BI never talke5 o= what ha5 occ9rre5( b9t one 5a>( a=ter I ha5 long ret9rne5 home( I sai5
to m> mother( u$o >o9 know( mamma( I saw a9ntie when I was at schoolr4 *his le5 to an
e?planation( b9t m> mother( instea5 o= commenting 9pon it( went an5 =etche5 her mother(
sa>ing to her( uListen to what this chil5 sa>s.4 #o9ng as I was( I saw the> were greatl>
shocke5( b9t the> wo9l5 tell me nothing e?cept that when I was ol5er I sho9l5 know all.
*he 5a> came when I learne5 that m> 5ear a9nt s9==ere5 5rea5=9ll> =rom the noise o= /t.
"ri5e4s bells( ringing in the %ew #ear. M> =ather trie5 to get them stoppe5( b9t co9l5 not.
*owar5s morning she became insensible@ m> mother an5 gran5mother seate5 on either
si5e o= her( an5 hol5ing her han5s( she awoke an5 sai5 to m> mother( u%ow I shall 5ie
happ>( )nna( I have seen m> 5ear chil5.4
*he> were her last wor5s.
B$. E. ,.C
%o general register o= 5eaths was kept at the time o= the inci5ent here relate5@ an5 we
have e?ha9ste5 ever> means to 5iscover a notice o= the 5eath( witho9t s9ccess. "9t we
have proc9re5 a certi=icate o= Merc> -o?4s b9rial( which took place on Fan9ar> 22( 27UX.
*his is E9ite compatible with the statement that the 5eath was on Fan9ar> 2 Ptho9gh s9ch
an interval( even in winter( is no 5o9bt 9n9s9alQ( as the la5> was b9rie5 in a =amil> va9lt(
an5 probabl> a lea5 co==in ha5 to be ma5e. Fan9ar> 2 wo9l5 be( at the ver> least( a 5a> o=
ver> critical illness. )s to the 5ate o= the apparition( the marke5 character o= %ew #ear4s
$a> 5eci5e5l> =avo9rs the probabilit> that Miss ,.4s memor> is correct.
In answer to inE9iries( Miss ,. sa>s:A
BI was born in 272X. *he 5eath o= m> a9nt took place in 27UX. *ho9gh to m> most
intimate =rien5sAas /ir 1hilip -rampton( the late Earl an5 -o9ntesses PUQ o= $9nraven(
2

I have o=ten mentione5 the event( Pan5 to F95ge .allib9rton(Q I think I never wrote it =9ll>
e?cept =or Lor5 $9nraven an5 his mother( in 27V;( who were ver> 5esiro9s to p9blish it(
b9t I 5ecline5. I think that a great reason I have alwa>s ha5 =or not talking o= it was the
awe with which it inspire5 m> mother( an5 her strict comman5s that uI sho9l5 not
mention it to an>bo5>.4 *hen( too( I went to school an5 lost sight o= Lavinia -9mberlan5(
an5 I shrank =rom the comments o= strangers.C
ii-UVV!
In conversation Miss ,. a55e5 that she ha5 never e?perience5 an> other hall9cination@
also that the -9mberlan5 girls ha5 visite5 her home( an5 seen her a9ntAwhich acco9nts
=or Lavinia4s recognition o= the =ig9re.
Y,e learn( thro9gh a relative o= Miss Lavinia -9mberlan5 Pnow Mrs. Monarch( o= 28(
'egent4s 1ark 'oa5( %.,.Q( that she hersel= 5oes not recall the inci5ent@ b9t that she
remembers several times hearing her sister( Mrs. 1art( speak o= a Bghost caseC in which
the> ha5 both been somehow concerne5.Z
*his case( 5epen5ing on the narrator4s memor> at :2 o= what occ9rre5 when she was
9n5er 2;( is not( o= co9rse( a strong one evi5entiall>. "9t the ver> =act that the e?perience
recor5e5 is o= so striking a kin5 makes it more probable that it was remembere5 than that
it was 9nconscio9sl> invente5. *he ver> o55 5etail o= Lavinia4s being the =irst to see the
=ig9re seems pec9liarl> 9nlikel> to have been wrongl> imagine5 a=terwar5s@ =or it is a
=eat9re that wo9l5 have ha5 no nat9ral part in an> sentimental i5ea o= the chil54s abo9t
her a9nt4s visiting her( an5 co9l5 onl> ten5 to 5etract in her min5 =rom the emotional
signi=icance o= the visit. ,e have( moreover( the tolerabl> complete ass9rance that the
inci5ent 5eepl> impresse5 o9r in=ormant4s mother at the time@ =or this attit95e o= a thir5
person( an5 the inD9nction o= silence to which it le5( are even more 9nlikel> than the
original e?perience to have been the pro59ct o= the chil54s =anc>. It m9st( however( be
observe5 that the secon5 hall9cination ma> have been 59e to Lavinia4s verbal s9ggestion@
an5 that the min9te 5etails o= the appearance Pwhich co9l5 har5l> have been so
s9ggeste5Q ma> have been s9bseE9entl> imagine5. It is possible( there=ore( that the case(
tho9gh telepathic( ma> not have been tr9l> collective. It cannot with an> certaint> be
reckone5 as reciprocal( as there is no evi5ence that the a9nt4s Bseeing o= her 5ear chil5C
was more than a 5ream or a s9bDective impression Psee p. 2V8Q.
In $r. Leslie4s case Ps9pposing the acco9nt to be s9bstantiall> tr9eQ one o= the percipients
was pres9mabl> a total stranger to the agent. In %o. :V3( the one o= the two persons
present who was least intimatel> connecte5 with the agent was the first to see the
phantasm@ b9t eE9all> in this as in the =ormer case( I sho9l5 regar5 her e?perience as
5epen5ent on the presence o= the more nearl> connecte5 person Psee S W belowQ. In the
ne?t e?ample there is a >et =9rther step@ an5 o= the two persons present( one o= whom was
son( an5 the other a stranger( to the agent( the stranger alone saw the ii-UV8! phantasm(
tho9gh both seem to have share5 in a sing9lar a95itor> e?perience which the> connecte5
with it. *he inci5ent th9s closel> resembles that 5escribe5 in case U3U( where the
phantasm appeare5 not to the 5>ing man4s sister( b9t to a servant who was with her. *he
narrative was copie5 b> the present writer =rom a note-book o= the 'ev. F. ). Mac5onal5(
=ormerl> o= Manchester( an5 now o= 'h>l.
P:VVQ BOn )9g9st 2:th( 27WX( I saile5 to .amb9rg with -aptain )>re( o= the ss. u"erlin(4
o= &oole( who relate5 to me that( abo9t UV >ears be=ore( he was sta>ing with a =rien5
name5 .9nt( at a small =armho9se at )rming &range( abo9t U miles =rom &oole. On a
s9mmer evening( abo9t X o4clock. -aptain )>re an5 his companion went to their
be5room( when the> both hear5 a noise at the si5e o= the ho9se( an5 both went to the
win5ow to see what was the matter. *he captain 5istinctl> saw a man walking o9tsi5e( b9t
.9nt co9l5 see nothing there( tho9gh he ha5 hear5 the tramp o= =eet as well as the
captain. "eing astonishe5 that .9nt co9l5 not see the man( -aptain )>re procee5e5 to
5escribe him. .e was a man o= short stat9re( with a stoop( an5 wore knee breeches( a re5-
=ronte5 waistcoat with sleeves( an5 a little black hat. .9nt instantl> i5enti=ie5 the
5escription as answering e?actl> to his own =ather. -aptain )>re ass9re5 me he ha5 never
seen .9nt4s =ather. )=ter this the men went to be5( an5 both now hear5 a noise as i= the
en5 o= the be5stea5 ha5 been wrenche5( which contin9e5 9ntil abo9t mi5night( when
.9nt4s brother arrive5 on horseback =rom &ilber5>ke with the news o= their =ather4s
5eath( which occ9rre5 abo9t three ho9rs earlier that evening. *he noises then cease5.C
Mr. Mac5onal5 a55s:A
B*his was taken 5own b> me in pencil =rom -aptain )>re4s own lips( an5 transcribe5
when I ret9rne5 =rom the vo>age. *he pencil acco9nt was rea5 over to -aptain )>re( an5
prono9nce5 b> him to be per=ectl> correct. I cross-e?amine5 him care=9ll> on ever>
point. .e speciall> 5escribe5 the lonel> position o= the ho9se( an5 the 9nlikelihoo5 o= an>
stranger moving abo9t in the vicinit> or creating a 5ist9rbance in the be5room.
BF)ME/ )LE\. M)-$O%)L$.C
*his acco9nt was sent to -aptain )>re( who replie5:A
B//. u$res5en(4 &oole.
B%ovember 3th( 2773.
BI have care=9ll> rea5 over the narrative( as given b> the 'ev. Mr. Mac5onal5@ b9t it is so
acc9rate in ever> 5etail that I =ail to be able to a55 an>thing thereto.
B-.)/. )#'E.C
YO9r e==orts to trace Mr. .9nt have been 9ns9ccess=9l. -aptain )>re has not hear5 o= him
=or some time.Z
In the ne?t case the agent was not 5>ing( b9t was in a somewhat alarming =ainting-=it. ,e
have ha5 several other similar cases Pe.g.( %os. U; an5 22;Q@ the> recall what was sai5
above Pp. U8Q as to the n9mber o= the 5eath-cases where the mo5e o= 5eath has been
5rowning. *he narrator is Mr. .. &. "arwell( o= ::( /9rre> /treet( %orwich.
ii-UVW!
B277:.
P:V8Q B$9ring the last week o= F9l>( 277U( Mr. an5 Mrs. ,. an5 =amil> ha5 settle5
themselves com=ortabl> in a ho9se the> ha5 hire5 at the Li]ar5( -ornwall@ an5 a =ew 5a>s
later Mr. -o?( an amate9r artist =rom Liverpool( Doine5 them. Mr. "arwell arrange5 to
meet Mr. Earle( an artist resi5ing in Lon5on Pboth o= whose names are appen5e5Q( on
Mon5a>( Wth )9g9st( 277U( 5ine with him an5 together take the night mail at 1a55ington(
booking =or 1enr>n( -ornwall( the station =rom whence conve>ances take passengers to
.elston( an5 thence to the Li]ar5( whither the> were going to Doin Mr. ,. an5 =amil>( as
on man> =ormer occasions.
B"arwell an5 Earle there=ore starte5 accor5ing to arrangement b> the 7.2; p.m. mail train
=rom 1a55ington( on the evening o= "ank .oli5a>( Mon5a>( Wth )9g9st( 277U. *he>
travelle5 all night@ the train on arrival at 1enr>n was a little more than 2V min9tes late(
reaching there on *9es5a> morning( 7th )9g9st( 277U( at W.U: a.m. %o other passengers
alighte5 there =rom that train. *he> ha5 some 5i==ic9lt> in getting a porter to conve> their
l9ggage to the omnib9s stan5ing at the station( the 5river o= which anno9nce5 that i= the>
co9l5 not come at once( he m9st start witho9t them. 1assengers were nothing to him( he
ha5 to take charge o= an5 5eliver the mail bags at vario9s villages on his ro9te. *he>
ro9se5 9p the porter an5 insiste5 on his attention@ in the meantime their train ha5 5eparte5
an5 another train( =rom +almo9th to Lon5on( ran into the station P59e W.U3 a.m.Q *heir
l9ggage was being place5 on the omnib9s@ Earle ha5 alrea5> climbe5 to his seat ne?t the
5river( an5 "arwell( having now seen all their l9ggage sa=el> 5eposite5 on the vehicle(
was climbing 9p ne?t him( when Earle e?claime5: u,h>( look theres4 )n5 on "arwell
looking 9p( he saw in the train( D9st leaving the station =or Lon5on( their =rien5 ,. =rom
the Li]ar5( waving his han5 to them while eagerl> stretching his hea5 o9t o= the win5ow
to ascertain( apparentl>( i= the> ha5 arrive5. *he> both cor5iall> ret9rne5 the sal9te an5
the train 5isappeare5 ro9n5 a c9rve( ,. still looking o9t o= the win5ow waving his han5.
B*he two =rien5s now ma5e vario9s conDect9res as to the wh> an5 where=ore o= ,.4s
5epart9re on the ver> morning o= their arrival@ the> consi5ere5 it ver> 5isappointing that
he sho9l5 th9s be oblige5 to leave( on the 5a> o9r =rien5l> part> was abo9t to be re9nite5.
Earle was greatl> 5epresse5 abo9t it( an5 wishe5 to leave all =9rther 5isc9ssion on the
s9bDect 9ntil the> sho9l5 ascertain =rom Mrs. ,. the ca9se =or his leaving the Li]ar5 D9st
be=ore their arrival. )mongst the s9rmises which the> ma5e =or ,. being in the train
which came =rom +almo9th( an5 not =rom the Li]ar5 where he was sta>ing( was this@ that
he ha5 probabl> receive5 at the Li]ar5( on Mon5a>( the Wth )9g9st( a telegram reE9iring
his imme5iate atten5ance in Lon5on or elsewhere( an5 that to prevent a ver> earl> start
b> trap on *9es5a> morning =rom the Li]ar5 to catch the W.:; a.m. train to Lon5on at
1enr>n( he ha5 ma5e 9se o= a ret9rn "ank .oli5a> e?c9rsion steamer =rom +almo9th to
the Li]ar5@ sleeping at +almo9th( an5 starting b> train =rom there at W.2V a.m. =or Lon5on(
namel>( the train the> saw him in.
B*he> arrive5 in 59e co9rse at .elston( ha5 break=ast( an5 sa9ntere5 abo9t the ol5 town
til the ne?t coach starte5 =or the Li]ar5 at 22 o4clock a.m. On nearing the Li]ar5( the>
were an?io9sl> on the look-o9t =or the ii-UV7! chil5ren o= Mrs. ,.( to receive their 9s9al
heart> an5 sincere welcome on arrival o= the coach( an5 to learn =rom them where their
respective 5omiciles in the village ha5 been chosen. *he coach arrive5( b9t none o= the
,. =amil> were to be seen.
B*he l9ggage was taken o== the coach an5 le=t on the village green in =ront o= the hotel(
till in=ormation co9l5 be obtaine5 as to where rooms ha5 been engage5. *he two =rien5s
strolle5 awa>( b9t soon met ,.4s two bo>s( who on being aske5 wh> their =ather ha5 gone
awa>( seeme5 somewhat s9rprise5 at the E9estion( an5 replie5 that their =ather was l>ing
ill at his lo5gings( an5 that their mother was also at home an5 ver> an?io9s abo9t him.
*he bo>s accompanie5 Earle an5 "arwell to their =ather4s ho9se in the village( when Mrs.
,. came o9t an5 greete5 them cor5iall>( telling them brie=l> that Mr. ,. ha5 ha5 a serio9s
=ainting =it that morning( an5 that she was watching him with consi5erable an?iet>.
BMr. -o? now came in =rom his morning4s work( an5 a=ter the e?change o= sal9tations
with Earle an5 "arwell( relate5 to them the =ollowing 5etails o= Mr. ,.4s =ainting =it: *hat
he( Mr. ,.( an5 his two bo>s starte5 =rom the Li]ar5 village to .o9sel -ove to bathe( at W
o4clock that morning( a 5istance a little over hal= a mile. ,hen ,. came o9t o= the sea(
an5 was leaning against a rock( in a sitting post9re( he =ainte5 E9ite awa>. -o? was
5rea5=9ll> shocke5 an5 alarme5( =or at one time he co9l5 5iscover no action o= the heart(
an5 he =eare5 he might be 5ea5 or 5>ing. .e 9se5 all the means he co9l5 think o=( an5
place5 ,. in a more rec9mbent position( which seeme5 a more =avo9rable one( =or
p9lsation was then 5iscernible( an5 ,. partiall> recovere5( b9t was too weak to move =or
a long time. Mrs. , was =etche5( an5 then break=ast was taken 5own to the -ove( an5
when vitalit> an5 strength ha5 s9==icientl> ret9rne5 to enable ,. to climb the steep ascent
with assistance( the> starte5 home.
B*he =ainting o= ,. occ9rre5 at W.:; a.m. at .o9sel -ove( the Li]ar5( at the precise time
when Earle an5 "arwell saw ,. waving his han5 to them =rom the train at 1enr>n.
B*he E9estion has been p9t to Mr. ,. whether he tho9ght o= or saw Earle or "arwell(
either D9st be=ore or 59ring his sei]9re( b9t he remembers nothing o= the kin5.
BP/igne5Q
B-.)'LE/ E)'LE( X( $9ke street( 1ortlan5 1lace(
Lon5on.
B.. &. ")',ELL( /9rre> /treet( %orwich.
B-.)'LE/ .. -O\( /hrewsb9r> 'oa5( %.( "irkenhea5.C
In repl> to inE9iries( Mr. "arwell sa>s( B"oth Earle an5 I have ver> goo5 sight. M>
impression is that the person I saw looking =rom the train win5ow wore a so=t( =le?ible(
ro9n5 hat.C .e can recall no other e?perience o= hall9cination( e?cept one which occ9rre5
man> >ears ago( at a time when he was not >et =9ll> recovere5 =rom a severe =ever.
Mr. -o? writes( on Fan9ar> Un5( 277V:A
BI was at the Li]ar5( in -ornwall( when m> =rien5s( Earle an5 "arwell( saw Pas the>
believe5Q the u5o9ble4 o= m> =rien5 ,.( whom( at the time( I was instr9mental in bringing
ro9n5 a=ter his attack o= illness. M> part in the a==air was simpl> res9scitating Mr. ,.
=rom a ver> serio9s con5ition.
B-. .. -O\.C
ii-UVX!
Y.ere( again( mistaken i5entit> m9st be recognise5 as a possibilit>@ b9t there are several
points which combine to make it improbable. *he =act which the appearance =orce5 on
the min5s o= the two =rien5sAnamel>( ,.4s 5epart9reAwas so little in accor5ance with
their e?pectations that it 5istinctl> s9rprise5 them@ the> were th9s in a wholl> 5i==erent
attit95e =rom that Psa>Q o= awaiting a =rien54s arrival( when the senses are on the alert =or
an>thing at all resembling him. )gain( the =ig9re seen seems to have given 9nmistakeable
signs o= =rien5l> recognition@ so that we sho9l5 not onl> have to s9ppose that the
percipients mistook so(eone =or their =rien5( b9t that the> mistook =or him someone who
was known to them( or at an> rate to one o= themAclearl> a m9ch more 9nlikel>
occ9rrence. It will be observe5( moreover( that the 5i==ic9lties o= ass9ming a mistake as to
i5entit> are immensel> increase5 where two persons with goo5 sight wo9l5 have ha5 to
share in it Psee p. U33Q. /till( it is conceivableAtho9gh scarcel> compatible with the
acco9ntAthat the =irst sign o= recognition was given b> Mr. Earle@ an5 that a stranger(
seeing this sign( ret9rne5 it( either in Doke( or imagining that the giver o= it m9st be some
one that he ha5 known an5 o9ght to recognise.Z
I will concl95e with a case which is probabl> the best-known specimen o= the sort on
recor5( an5 on that ver> acco9nt ma> nat9rall> be mistr9ste5( as having Bwon its wa> to
the m>thical.C *he =ollowing presentation o= it is( however( ver> m9ch more complete
than an> that has >et been p9blishe5( an5 is o= a better E9alit> than is o=ten proc9rable =or
so remote an inci5ent. It is tr9e that( o= the two percipients( we have the evi5ence o= one
onl> at secon5-han5( an5 o= the other at thir5-han5@ b9t we have the =irsthan5 evi5ence o=
a person who was in=orme5 o= their e?perience imme5iatel> on its occ9rrence( an5 long
be=ore the news o= the agent4s 5eath arrive5.
P:VWQ *he =ollowing memoran59m ma5e b> &eneral "irch 'e>nar5son( o= the acco9nt
given him b> one o= the percipients( was sent to 9s b> Mr. ,m. ,>n>ar5( o= %orthen5
.o9se( .9rsle>( ,inchester. .e believe5 the original 5oc9ment to be in the librar> o= Mr.
-has. 'e>nar5son( o= .ol>well .all( /tam=or5( who( however( has looke5 =or it witho9t
s9ccess. ) cop>
2
was ma5e on F9ne U;( 2783( b> Mr. ,>n>ar54s =ather. &eneral E. ".
,>n>ar5 Pa brother o= &eorge ,>n>ar5( the co-percipient(Q who sa>s that the writer o=
the memoran59m p9t it on paper as soon as he ha5 an opport9nit> a=ter the conversation
recor5e5 therein. &eneral E. ". ,>n>ar5 has hea5e5 the paper:A
BMemoran59m o= a conversation between the late &eneral "irch 'e>nar5son( an5
-olonel( a=terwar5s /ir Fohn( /herbrooke.C
BIn the month o= %ovember( /ir Fohn /herbrooke an5 &eneral ,>n>ar5
2
ii-U8;! were
sitting be=ore 5inner Pbetween V an5 8 o4clockQ in their barrack-room at />5ne> -ove( in
)merica. It was 59skish( an5 a can5le place5 on the table at a little 5istance. ) =ig9re(
5resse5 in plain clothes an5 a goo5 ro9n5 hat
U
on( passe5 gentl> between the above
people an5 the =ire. ,hile passing( /ir F. /herbrooke e?claime5( u&o5 bless m> so9l(
who4s thatr4 )lmost at the same moment -olonel ,. sai5( u*hat4s m> brother( Fohn
,>n>ar5(
:
an5 I am E9ite certain he is 5ea5.4 -olonel ,. was m9ch agitate5( an5 crie5
an5 sobbe5 a great 5eal. /ir Fohn sai5( u*he =ellow has got a 5evilish goo5 hat( I wish I
ha5 it.4
3
*he> imme5iatel> got 9p P/ir Fohn was on cr9tches( having broken his legQ( took
a can5le( an5 went into the be5room( into which the =ig9re ha5 entere5: the> searche5 the
be5 an5 ever> corner o= the room to no e==ect@ the win5ows were =astene5 9p with mortar.
Mr. /t9art( the pa>master o= the regiment( note5 the circ9mstance at the time. /ir Fohn
tol5 me that -olonel ,. =or two or three 5a>s was a goo5 5eal 5istresse5 an5 9neas>( b9t
remaine5 most per=ectl> convince5 o= the 5eath o= his brother.
B*he> receive5 no comm9nication =rom Englan5 =or abo9t =ive months( when a letter
=rom Mr. '9sh(
V
the s9rgeon( anno9nce5 the 5eath o= Fohn ,>n>ar5 at the moment( as
near as co9l5 be ascertaine5( when the =ig9re appeare5. In a55ition to this e?traor5inar>
circ9mstance( /ir Fohn tol5 me that two an5 a-hal= >ears a=terwar5s he was walking with
Lill> ,>n>ar5
8
in Lon5on( an5 seeing somebo5> on the other si5e o= the wa>( he
recognise5( he tho9ght( the person who ha5 appeare5 to him an5 -olonel ,>n>ar5 in
)merica. Lill> ,>n>ar5 sai5 that the person he pointe5 o9t was a Mr. E>re@
W
that he ha5
alwa>s been consi5ere5 so like Fohn ,>n>ar5 that the> were =reE9entl> mistaken =or
each other@ an5 that mone> ha5 act9all> been pai5 to this Mr. E>re in mistake.C
*he =ollowing acco9nt appeare5 in Notes and Hueries =or F9l> Un5( 27VX( in a letter
signe5 BEric.C
BOn the U:r5 o= October( 27U:( a part> o= 5isting9ishe5 big6-igs were 5ining with the
late -hie= F9stice /ewell( at his ho9se on the esplana5e in }9ebec( when the stor> in
E9estion became a s9bDect o= conversation. )mong the g9ests was /ir Fohn .arve>(
)5D9tant-&eneral o= the =orces in -ana5a( who state5 that there was then in the garrison
an o==icer who knew all the circ9mstances( an5 who( probabl>( wo9l5 not obDect to
answer a =ew E9eries abo9t them. /ir Fohn imme5iatel> wrote =ive E9eries( leaving a
space opposite to each one =or an answer( an5 sent them to -olonel &ore( who( i= m>
memor> serves me rightl>( was at the hea5 o= ii-U82! either the Or5nance or the 'o>al
Engineer 5epartment. *he =ollowing is a cop> o= both the E9eries an5 the answers( which
were ret9rne5 to /ir Fohn be=ore he an5 the other g9ests ha5 le=t the -hie= F9stice4s
ho9se:A
BuM> 5ear &ore(
Bu$o me the =avo9r to answer the =ollowing:A
uHueries.
Bu2. ,as >o9 with the ::r5 'egiment when -aptains ,>n>ar5 an5 /herbrooke believe5
that the> saw the apparition o= the brother o= the =ormer o==icer pass thro9gh the room in
which the> were sittingr
BuU. ,as >o9 not one o= the =irst persons who entere5 the room( an5 assiste5 in the search
=or the ghostr
Bu:. ,as >o9 not the person who ma5e a memoran59m in writing o= the circ9mstances(
b> which the sing9lar =act o= the 5eath o= ,>n>ar5us brother( at or abo9t the time when
the apparition was seen( was establishe5r
Bu3. ,ith the e?ception o= /ir F. /herbrooke( 5o >o9 not consi5er >o9rsel= almost the onl>
s9rviving evi5ence o= this e?traor5inar> occ9rrencer
BuV. ,hen( where( an5 in what kin5 o= b9il5ing 5i5 it take placer
uP/igne5Q F. .)'VE#.
Bu*h9rs5a> morning(
BuU:r5 October( 27U:.4
u)ns-ers.
Bu2. #es( I was. It occ9rre5 at />5ne>( in the Islan5 o= -ape "reton( in the latter en5 o=
2W7V or 8( between 7 an5 X in the evening. ,e were then blocke5 9p b> the ice( an5 ha5
no comm9nication with an> other part o= the worl5.
u'.&.
BuU. #es. *he ghost passe5 them as the> were sitting be=ore the =ire at co==ee( an5 went
into &. ,>n>ar54s be5-closet( the win5ow o= which was p9tte5 %sic& 5own.
2

u'.&.
Bu:. I 5i5 not make the memoran59m in writing m>sel=( b9t I s9ggeste5 it the ne?t 5a> to
/herbrooke( an5 he ma5e the memoran59m. I remembere5 the 5ate( an5 on the 8th F9ne
o9r =irst letters =rom Englan5 bro9ght the acco9nt o= Fohn ,>n>ar54s 5eath on the ver>
night the> saw his apparition.
u'.&.
Bu3. I believe all are 5ea5( e?cept -olonel #orke( who then comman5e5 the regiment( an5
is $ep9t>-Lie9tenant o= the *ower(Aan5 I believe Fones 1anton( then an ensign in the
regiment.
u'.&.
BuV. It was in the new barracks at />5ne>( b9ilt the prece5ing s9mmer( one o= the =irst
erections in the settlement.
uP/igne5Q')L1. &O'E.
Bu/herbrooke ha5 never seen Fohn ,>n>ar5 alive@ b9t soon a=ter ret9rning to Englan5(
the =ollowing >ear( when walking in "on5 /treet with ,m. ,>n>ar5( late $. ). &eneral(
an5 D9st a=ter telling him the stor> o= the ghost( YheZ e?claime5 B', 7odTF an5 pointe5
o9t a personAa gentlemanAas YbeingZ e?actl> like the apparition in person an5 5ress.
*his gentleman was so like F. ,>n>ar5 as o=ten to be spoken to =or him( an5 a==ecte5 to
5ress like him. I think his name was .a>man.
BuI have hear5 ,m. ,>n>ar5 mention the above circ9mstance( an5 5eclare that he then
believed the stor> o= the ghost.
uP/igne5Q'.&.4
B*he above is taken =rom a cop> ma5e =rom the original E9eries an5 ii-U8U! answers(
an5 given to me( onl> a =ew weeks a=ter the 5ate a==i?e5 to the E9eries@ an5 to it is a55e5(
in the han5writing o= the cop>ist( the =ollowing:A
Bu) tr9e cop> =rom the original. *he E9eries are written in black ink in the han5writing o=
/ir Fohn .arve>( $ep9t> )5D9tant-&eneral o= "ritish )merica( an5 signe5 b> him@ the
answers are in re5 ink( written an5 signe5 b> -olonel &ore. *he original paper belongs to
-hie= F9stice /ewell. /ir F. /herbrooke was latel> &overnor-&eneral o= Lower -ana5a.
2

It is sai5 that /ir Fohn /herbrooke co9l5 not bear to hear the s9bDect spoken o=.4
B*he cop>ist was a near relative o= the -hie= F9stice( an5 5ie5 in 27:U. .e was one o= m>
most intimate =rien5s.C
Y*here is a 5iscrepanc> between -olonel &ore4s an5 /ir F. /herbrooke4s acco9nts( as to
which o= the ,>n>ar5 brothers accompanie5 /ir F. /herbrooke in "on5 /treet. *he 5etail
as to the "on5 /treet inci5ent =ollowing imme5iatel> on a narration o= the stor> looks like
an 9n=ort9nate a55ition( the onl> e==ect o= which is to inspire 5istr9st( probabl> E9ite
9n5eserve5( o= the rest o= the statement.Z
It is m9ch to be regrette5 that the gentleman who sent this acco9nt to Notes and Hueries
5i5 not sign his name. It is( however( highl> improbable that -olonel &ore4s statements
are =orgeries@ an5 we are D9sti=ie5( I think( in regar5ing them as gen9ine b> the =ollowing
acco9nt( receive5 =rom a niece o= his( Miss Langmea5( o= "elmont( *orre( *orE9a>.
B/eptember :r5( 277:.
B-olonel &ore( o= the ::r5( marrie5 m> mother4s sister( an5 he narrate5 the stor> to m>
mother an5 to m> el5er sister himsel=( most emphaticall>. I have hear5 it =rom them both(
over an5 over again( an5 m> sister wrote the acco9nt some >ears ago. /he hear5 -olonel
&ore tell it more than once( an5 alwa>s with strong =eeling( which impresse5 ever> wor5
on her memor>. I have not got her paper now( b9t I knew it per=ectl> b> heart. I have
o=ten hear5 m> sister sa> that no one who hear5 -olonel &ore tell the stor> co9l5 5o9bt
the power=9l impression ma5e on him at an> rate.
B*here were other little partic9lars( s9ch as the impossibilit> o= hi5ing in the barrack
rooms( which were two above an5 two below( an5 so slightl> b9ilt that ever> so9n5 was
hear5( b9t I have not enlarge5 more than I co9l5 help. *he stor> has been printe5 with
variations in man> books o= collecte5 ghost-stories( b9t not alwa>s correctl>. It is 9s9all>
sai5 that it was a twin brother who was met in "on5 /treet( b9t that was not the case.
BIt was in the time o= the )merican war( an5 some o= o9r troops were in winter E9arters at
-ape "reton. *he weather was ver> severe an5 the harbo9r =ro]en over. *he ships
e?pecte5 =rom Englan5 ha5 not arrive5( an5 the s9pplies ha5 r9n short( especiall> the
allowance o= wine. +o9r o==icers( a=terwar5s entitle5 &eneral Ymistake =or -olonelZ
,>n>ar5( /ir Fohn /herbrooke( /ir .il5ebran5 Oakes( an5 -olonel &ore( o= the U:r5 Yr
::r5Z 'egiment( were in barracks at the top o= a steep ascent( g9ar5e5 b> a sentr> below.
*he> ha5 5ine5 together an5 then separate5( two o= them being engage5 9pstairs in
looking over maps an5 plans o= the seat ii-U8:! o= war. *he other two( &eneral ,>n>ar5
an5 /ir F. /herbrooke( remaine5 in the inner room.
B/955enl> an e?clamation =rom &eneral ,>n>ar5 startle5 the two above( who ran
5ownstairs( e?pecting that the ice ha5 broken an5 the looke5-=or ships arrive5. *he>
=o9n5 /ir F. /herbrooke alone( stan5ing ama]e5( an5 in answer to their eager inE9ir> as to
what ha5 happene5( he sai5 that a gentleman( a stranger to him( ha5 come in at the 5oor(
looke5 =i?e5l> at &eneral ,.( an5 passe5 into the inner room. &eneral ,. e?claim5 YsicZ
alo95( u&oo5 &o5( m> brother Facks4 an5 =ollowe5 him into the be5room( =rom which
there was no o9tlet. .e presentl> ret9rne5( m9ch agitate5( having =o9n5 no one. -olonel
&ore took o9t his watch an5 marke5 the time( while another o= the part> ran 5own to the
sentinel( who 5eclare5 no person ha5 passe5. /ir F. /herbrooke 5escribe5 the =ig9re as
5resse5 in a h9nting cost9me( s9ch as he ha5 never seen( with a h9nting-whip in his han5.
$a>s went on( the ice broke 9p( news came =rom Englan5 to &eneral ,. o= his brother4s
5eath( who was kille5 in the h9nting-=iel5 at the ver> time in which the =ig9re appeare5 in
the barrack-room. 1apers also came o9t( containing the =ashions( one being the h9nting
s9it with a partic9larl> shape5 boot( s9ch as the =ig9re ha5 worn. )=ter the peace( an5 the
troops ha5 ret9rne5 to Englan5( /ir Fohn /herbrooke was walking thro9gh "on5 /treet
with -olonel &ore( when he stoppe5 an5 sai5( pointing to a man who was coming
towar5s him( uThere is the =ig9re I saw at -ape "reton.4 -olonel &ore replie5( u*hat man
was calle5 Fack ,>n>ar54s 5o9ble( he was so ver> like him.4
B"e=ore /ir F. /herbrooke4s 5eath( long a=terwar5s( he was aske5 b> a =rien5 what he then
tho9ght o= the apparition at -ape "reton. .e replie5 that he co9l5 not e?plain it( b9t that
ever> 5etail was tr9e.
BM. +. L.C
Y.ere the h9nting-5ress( an5 the correspon5ing 5etail abo9t the h9nting-=iel5( ma> almost
certainl> be re=erre5 to a trans=ormative process in -olonel &ore4s min5. *he pec9liar
boot ma> probabl> be a 5egenerate representative o= the spr9ce hat in /ir F. /herbrooke4s
acco9nt. It wo9l5 =9rther be a ver> nat9ral mistake on the part o= -olonel &ore4s niece to
imagine that he was /herbrooke4s companion in the walk in "on5 /treet.Z
%e?t come two items o= evi5ence( =or which &eorge ,>n>ar5( the co-percipient( was the
original a9thorit>.
&eneral E5war5 ,>n>ar5( o= V( 1ortman /treet( ,.( writing to 9s on )pril W( 277V( tells
9s that the inci5ent was narrate5 to him b> his a9nt( Mrs. ,right( who Bha5 o=ten hear5
the stor>C =rom her brother( &eorge ,>n>ar5. .e observes that her narrative
correspon5e5 in nearl> ever> partic9lar with the acco9nt given in Cha(bers Boo1 of
Da,s( Vol. II.( p. 337. *he sai5 acco9nt Pthe a9thorit> =or which is not given( save in so
=ar that a relative o= &eorge ,>n>ar5 ha5 prono9nce5 it s9bstantiall> tr9e(Q agrees in the
essential points with -olonel &ore4s@
2
b9t 5i==ers in stating that the s9bseE9ent
recognition took place when /herbrooke was ii-U83! walking with t-o gentlemen( in
*iccadill,( an5 that he act9all> accosted the gentleman( who tol5 him that he was
,>n>ar54s t-in6brother. *hese are precisel> the sort o= inacc9racies most likel> to creep
into a stor> in its passage =rom mo9th to mo9th.
*he 'ev. .. -ar>( o= *resham Vicarage( -h95leigh( wrote to o9r =rien5( the 'ev. ). *.
+r>er( on )pril :( 277U:A
B*he stor>( as m> mother( who hear5 it =rom ,>n>ar5 himsel=( 9se5 to tell it( was as
=ollows:A&eneral /herbrooke an5 Mr. Por &eneralQ ,>n>ar5 were sitting together in a
h9t in -ana5a Por %ova /cotia or elsewhere in %orth )mericaQ when a =ig9re entere5 the
tent an5 passe5 thro9gh into an inner apartment( whence there was no means o= e?it
e?cept where the> were sitting. ,>n>ar5 recognise5 the =ig9re as that o= his brother( b9t
tho9ght someone was pla>ing practical Dokes( as he knew his brother to be in Englan5 at
the time. On searching the inner room the =ig9re was =o9n5 to have 5isappeare5.
B*he> ha5 both seen the =ig9re. *he brother 5ie5 at that time. /ome >ears a=terwar5s( the
same two o==icers were walking together in Lon5on( when /herbrooke saw a man on the
opposite si5e o= the street( an5 sai5( uLook( there is the man that we saw in the tent.4
,>n>ar5 replie5( u%o( that is not m> brother( b9t he is so like him that m> brother was
once arreste5 =or 5ebt in mistake =or him.4C
Y.ere again we have characteristic ill9strations o= the wa> in which narratives become
mo5i=ie5 in transmission. B*he same two o==icersC is o= co9rse neater an5 easier to
remember than Bone o= the same o==icers an5 a brother o= the otherC@ an5 the Barrest =or
5ebtC seems to be an o55l> inverte5 reminiscence o= the 5etail mentione5 b> /ir F.
/herbrooke( that Bmone> ha5 been pai5 to one in mistakeC =or the other.Z
In concl9sion( the =ollowing letter appeare5 in the Dail, Telegraph o= October U;( 2772:
A
B/I'(AIn re=erence to the circ9mstances relate5 as occ9rring in /ir Fohn /herbrooke4s
tent( in %orth )merica( permit me to a55 that I hear5 an e?actl> similar acco9nt o= it in
$9blin abo9t the >ear 27:W( b> &eneral $4)g9ilar( then on the sta==( an5 who( I think(
ha5 been one o= the occ9pants o= the tent.
2
-olonel u,>n>ar54s4 name( who was on the
$9blin sta== at the time( was also mentione5.A#o9rs tr9l>(
B&. -'I-.*O%( M.$.C
S W. *he cases o= the prece5ing section( an5 o= S U( tho9gh not evi5entiall> among the
strongest in o9r collection( are s9==icient( I think( to establish a strong pres9mption =or the
gen9ineness o= this collective t>pe o= telepathic hall9cination. "9t the establishment o=
=acts( in Bps>chicalC as in other 5epartments o= %at9re( ma> =ar o9tstrip o9r power o=
satis=actoril> acco9nting =or them@ an5 s9ch acco9nt as I can ren5er o= these phenomena
is here p9t =orwar5 rather as a s9ggestion or a59mbration than as a =inal view.
ii-U8V!
*o begin with( it wo9l5( I think( be irrational not to recognise a special signi=icance in the
=act that in all the cases o= S 8( an5 most o= those o= S V( the several percipients were
together: to that e?tent( at all events( con5itions o= place seem to enter vitall> into the
phenomena. "9t there is nothing in this that nee5 5rive 9s =or a moment o== i5ealistic or
Bps>chicalC gro9n5. I have spoken o=ten( thro9gho9t the book( o= a rapport between the
parties concerne5 in a ps>chical trans=erenceAmeaning b> the wor5 simpl> some pre-
e?isting ps>chical appro?imation which con5itions the trans=erence. *he rapport has
9s9all> been that o= kinship or a==ection. "9t I regar5 these collective cases as strongl>
in5icative o= a rapport o= a 5i==erent sortAconsisting not in ol5-establishe5 s>mpath>( b9t
in similarit> o= imme5iate mental occ9pation. I s9spect that s9ch a rapport might be
in59ce5 b> a common environmentAb> partnership in that partic9lar piece o= the Bli=e o=
relationC within which the hall9cination happens to =all. *hat is to sa>( I sho9l5 regar5 the
=act that "4s hall9cination sprea5s to -( when " an5 - are in the same place( as possibl>
largel> 59e to the =act that a ver> important part o= the contents o= "4s an5 -4s min5s isA
an5 has been =or some ho9rs( min9tes( or moments prece5ingAi5entical. *he local
con5ition wo9l5 be( not an> ph>sical presence or centre o= in=l9ence in the circle o= space
o9tsi5e them( b9t the comm9nit> o= scene( an5 o= other obDective impressions( in the two
parallel c9rrents o= i5eas which are their real two e?istences.
2
It m9st be remembere5 that
we have no 3 priori means o= knowing what the mental con5itions that =avo9r telepath>
are likel> to be. )n5 I vent9re to think that i=( b> some process o= ps>chical chemistr>( the
elements an5 a==inities o= 5i==erent min5s at partic9lar moments co9l5 be anal>se5 an5
estimate5( mere comm9nit> o= scene an5 o= imme5iate sensor> impression might co9nt
=or moreAmight prove( that is( to involve a larger amo9nt o= real correspon5ence or
i5entit>Athan the e?ternal an5 acci5ental character o= s9ch passing e?perience might
have le5 9s to e?pect.
"9t this i5ea( i= tenable( seems capable o= being e?ten5e5. I= comm9nit> o= environment
opens a channel o= s9persens9o9s comm9nication between " an5 -( we come to conceive
a greater =l9i5it> Pso to speakQ in the 5irections o= telepathic trans=erence than the ii-
U88! more 9s9al cases o= a 5istant agent an5 a single percipient co9l5 reveal. )n5 this
brings me to what I s9spect to be a more correct acco9nt o= the collective telepathic cases
that have been passe5 in review.
In the earlier part o= this chapter( I cons9lte5 clearness b> keeping separate the h>pothesis
P2Q o= Doint an5 in5epen5ent a==ection o= " an5 - b> )( an5 the h>pothesis PUQ o= -4s
a==ection b>( " who alone is 5irectl> a==ecte5 b> ). %ow looking back at these h>potheses
in the light o= the evi5ence( the obDections Psee S UQ to the ass9mption o= in5epen5ent
ps>chical a==ection o= " an5 - b> ) come back on 9s with onl> increase5 =orce. )s long
as telepathic hall9cinations are rare( an5 lea5 b> their rarit> to the concl9sion that the>
generall> reE9ire not onl> an abnormal con5ition o= the agent( b9t speci=ic s9sceptibilit>
in the percipient( nothing can make it seem otherwise than astonishing that two closel>
similar specimens o= them( in connection with the same agent( sho9l5 in5epen5entl>
concern two percipients at the same moment. One might a5mit s9ch an astonishing
coinci5ence once or twiceAI have s9ggeste5 its application to a =ew cases in S U above@
2

b9t it seems impossible to la> it 5own as a principle o= e?planation( b> which an> n9mber
o= collective hall9cinations ma> be acco9nte5 =or. %o view which shrinks =rom ass9ming
a local an5 ph>sical presence o= )( an5 at the same time reDects ever> sort o= 5irect
trans=erence between " an5 -( can avoi5 this 5i==ic9lt>@ an5 the consi5eration seems to
me o= s9ch weight as to e?cl95e h>pothesis P2Q in the =orm state5. I =eel absol9tel> 5riven
to s9ppose that where -4s e?perience resembles "4s( it is in so(e direct -a, connecte5
with "4s@ this is the onl> alternative that I can see to a5mitting a ph>sical basis to the
percept. "9t this 5oes not necessaril> impl> the a5option o= h>pothesis PUQ in its cr95est
an5 most obvio9s =orm@ the B5irect wa>C nee5 not( I conceive( be a trans=er between "
an5 - wholl> 9nconnecte5 with )Aa trans=er( that is to sa>( which m9st have eE9all>
taken place ha5 "4s hall9cination been p9rel> s9bDective. *ho9gh the evi5ence in S V
above inclines me strongl> to the opinion that sensor> hall9cinations( as s9ch( are
trans=erable things( I 5o not believe this to be the complete e?planation o= the later
telepathic cases. )n5 I now vent9re to s9ggest that with slight mo5i=ication the two
h>pothesesAo= Doint a==ection b> )( an5 o= 5irect trans=erence between " an5 - ii-U8W!
Ama> be amalgamate5@ an5 that the amalgamation is reall> more probable than either
h>pothesis in its isolate5 =orm.
,here )( the 5istant agent( is in rapport both with " an5 -( it is possible to s9ppose that
" an5 - are Dointl> an5 in5epen5entl> impresse5 b> )( tho9gh the partic9lar =ormAthe
hall9cinationAin which the> sim9ltaneo9sl> embo5> their impression is still an e==ect o=
"4s min5 on -4s( or o= -4s on "4. *he Doint impression =rom ) ma> be conceive5 as
having in itsel= a ten5enc> to =acilitate this =9rther e==ectAthat is to sa>( ps>chical
comm9nication between " an5 - ma> =in5 a rea5ier an5 wi5er channel at the e?ceptional
moments when the> are att9ne5 b> a common telepathic in=l9ence than( e.g.( when one o=
them is staring at a car5 an5 the other is en5eavo9ring to g9ess it. "9t even =or these
cases( I think it so 5angero9s( in view o= the apparent rarit> o= Bps>chicalC a==ections( to
ass9me an> sort o= independent ps>chical a==ection o= 5i==erent min5s at the same
moment( that I sho9l5 pre=er to regar5 )4s in=l9ence on - as 5erive5 thro9gh ". )n5 this
certainl> commen5s itsel= as the process where - is a stranger to )( or not a person whom
it wo9l5 have seeme5 nat9ral that )4s vicissit95es sho9l5 in an> wa> a==ect.
2
In s9ch cases
I conceive that( while -4s e?perience 5epen5s on "4s presence or e?istence( an5 even
probabl> on the =orm o= "4s e?perience when the two are similar( >et )4s in=l9ence ma>
reall> an5 tr9l> e?ten5 to -@ that in =act there is a rapport between ) an5 -( establishe5
ad hoc b> the rapport o= both o= them with ". " wo9l5 be th9s not the instigator( or not
solel> the instigator( b9t the channel( o= -4s percipienceAthe ass9mption being that a
min5 in which " hol5s a prominent place( s9ch as -4s( ma> be abnormall> s9sceptible to
an in=l9ence which abnormall> impresses ". Especiall> wo9l5 this conception relieve the
5i==ic9lt> o= s9ch e?treme cases as %os. U3U an5 :VV( above@ where "4s part in the
occ9rrence was to all appearance s9ppresse5( an5 -( a stranger to )( was the sole
percipient.
U
,e can scarcel> 5o9bt that the presence o= "( the near relative o= the
s9ppose5 agent( was a con5ition o= -4s percipience@ while at the same time it seems
abs9r5 to s9ppose that " in=ects - with a sensor> hall9cination which he himsel= 5oes not
e?perience. ,e seem 5riven( then( to regar5 " as a mere channel o= in=l9ence@ an5 that is
a part which there is no abs9r5it> in s9pposing to be pla>e5 9nconscio9sl>. +or ii-U87!
the better establishe5 =acts o= telepath> have =amiliarise5 9s with both 9nconscio9s
reception an5 9nconscio9s propagation o= telepathic imp9lses@ an5 however 9ne?pecte5(
it is at least E9ite conceivable that the two events sho9l5 take place as part o= a single
processAwhich is all that the transmission o= an imp9lse =rom ) to - thro9gh the
9nwitting " implies.
*he above view( o= rapport thro9gh comm9nit> o= mental occ9pation( ma> likewise
a==or5 some e?planation o= the otherwise p9]]ling cases where the telepathic in=l9ence
e?ercise5 b> ) seems itsel= to have 5epen5e5 rather on local than on personal reasons@ as
in case UX in -hap. V.( where the agent4s =orm was seen b> a person onl> slightl>
connecte5 with her( in a spot in which she was known to have been consi5erabl>
intereste5@
2
or in cases where the act9al percipient ha5 little or no connection with the
agent( b9t was sit9ate5 in a place where the agent might nat9rall> conceive some other
an5 nearl>-connecte5 person to be@
U
or in cases where a 5>ing person4s =orm is allege5 to
have been seen b> strangers in that person4s ol5 home@
:
or in a converse case in -hap. III.
o= the /9pplement( S:AMiss &.4s veri5ical 5ream o= the 5eath o= a comparative stranger
in her own ol5 home. It is not necessar> that two persons sho9l5 know one another( =or
certain 5ail> scenes an5 local impressions to be 5eepl> stampe5 in common on their two
min5s@ an5 in this wa> localit> might constit9te an i5eal bon5 between ) an5 " who are
apart( as we conceive5 that it might 5o between " an5 - who are together.
)n even =9rther e?tension co9l5 be given to this i5ea( i= we a5mit the s9pposition that )4s
own s9sceptibilit> ma> be E9ickene5( in the wa> that was so strongl> s9ggeste5 b> some
o= the reciprocal cases in the prece5ing chapter. I there pointe5 o9t Ppp. 282TU an5 283Q
the in5ications a==or5e5 o= a special sort o= clairvo>ance@ telepathic( in the sense that it
5epen5s on "4s living presence in the scene which ) perceives@ b9t independent in the
sense that " an5 his s9rro9n5ings are perceive5 while "4s own state is not critical b9t
normalAthe abnormalit> o= state being con=ine5 to )( whose e?tension o= =ac9lt> in
trance or at 5eath makes him percipient o= "( as well as the agent o= "4s percipience. )
view akin to this has been 5evelope5 b> Mr. M>ers( in the %ote that =ollows a =ew pages
=9rther on@ an5 the ii-U8X! temptation to appl> it to the collective cases is consi5erable(
since it enables 9s to conceive the scene( an5 the sense o= being present there( as common
to the min5s o= )( "( an5 - alike@ an5 so =ar as s9ch comm9nit> is a =avo9rable con5ition
=or telepathic a==ection( it wo9l5 e?plain )4s power to a==ect the other two.
2
*o some Doint
hall9cinations( however( Pe.g.( cases :UW( :U7( :UX( an5 perhaps :37( where )( the
original o= the phantasm( has been in a normal waking state at the time( s9ch an
e?planation seems E9ite irrelevant@ an5 its a5missibilit> elsewhere m9st( I think( 5epen5
on o9r obtaining more proo= than we >et have o= )4s reciprocal percipience( in collective
cases which are clearl> 59e to his agenc>. *he reciprocal t>pe having seeme5( on the
evi5ence( to be a rare i= not a 5o9bt=9l one( we o9ght to be 5o9bl> ca9tio9s o= making it
the gro9n5 o= e?planation =or =9rther an5 more perple?ing phenomena.
ii-UW;!
)n5 in5ee5 an> conDect9ral e?planations o= these more o9tl>ing telepathic phenomena
have( I am well aware( an air o= rashness an5 9nso9n5ness. *his ma> ver> likel> be 59e
to their being reall> rash an5 9nso9n5@ b9t it ma> also possibl> be 59e to the =act that o9r
view o= the =iel5 be=ore 9s is still ver> partial an5 5im. *he 59t> o= ca9tion in all
evi5ential matters 5oes not e?cl95e the 59t> o= keeping the min5 open to new
conceptions on this threshol5 o= new knowle5ge( an5 not allowing an> h>pothesis that
has provisionall> commen5e5 itsel= to become a rigi5 barrier( within which =9rther =acts
m9st be =orce5 or else 5isallowe5. )n5 i= o9r central thesis stan5sAi= Bps>chicalC
trans=erences =rom min5 to min5 be a5mitte5 as in reru( natur0Athe rashness( I think(
wo9l5 be in attempting to set a limit to the possible implications o= this a5mission. Its
ten5enc>( at an> rate( is to give a tangible meaning to that soli5arit> o= li=e which
I5ealism proclaims@ to lea5 9s to regar5 in5ivi59al min5s( not as isolate5 9nits( b9t as all
in potential 9nit>Aas entering into a scheme whose relation to the telergic in=l9ence
somewhat resembles that o= the ph>sical worl5 to electricit>. )n5 in s9ch a scheme we
nee5 not be s9rprise5 i= the mani=estations o= action an5 a==init> between the parts are as
s955en an5 shi=ting( an5 to the s9per=icial view as isolate5( as in the ph>sical worl5 those
o= electrical relations between 5i==erent pieces o= matter. "9t a =ar larger basis o= well-
atteste5 cases is( no 5o9bt( nee5e5 be=ore re=lections o= this sort can be pro=itabl>
p9rs9e5@ an5 I will not =9rther r9n the risk o= inverting the relation o= spec9lation to
evi5ence which it has been thro9gho9t m> en5eavo9r to maintain.
ii-UW2!
+%"+'.$(%".
S 2. I% bringing to a close the principal 5ivision o= this workAthe presentation o= the
case =or spontaneo9s telepath> as s9pporte5 b> a consi5erable bo5> o= =irst-han5 recor5s
Ait will scarcel>( I think( be necessar> to attempt an>thing like a s9mmar> o= the
=oregoing chapters. It is in5ee5 impossible e==ectivel> to s9mmarise =acts the whole =orce
o= which lies in their c9m9lation. One point onl> I wo9l5 once again emphasiseAthe one
with which I starte5Ato wit( that ra5ical connection between e.peri(ental an5
spontaneous telepath>( the importance o= which in m> own view I ma> best e?press b>
sa>ing that I am 9nable even to g9ess what e==ect the bo5> o= testimon> to the latter class
o= cases wo9l5 have on me( were I not convince5 o= the realit> o= the =ormer. *his being
9n5erstoo5( so =ar as the evi5ential position o= the s9bDect a5mits o= a brie= connecte5
statement( I have en5eavo9re5 to state it in the closing pages o= the =o9rth chapter.
%either there nor s9bseE9entl> have I e?ten9ate5 the evi5ential shortcomings o= man> o=
the spontaneo9s cases@ b9t =or the evi5ence taken as a whole( it ma> be claime5 that it
resembles not so m9ch a shi=ting sha5ow( which ma> be le=t to in5ivi59al taste or
temperament to interpret( as a soli5 mass seen in twilight( which it ma> be eas> in5ee5 to
avoi5 st9mbling over( b9t onl> b> resol9tel> walking awa> =rom it. *he temptation to
walk awa> =rom itAto 5ismiss it with a hast> glanceAwill be ver> strong. *he matter
presente5 is =rom a literar> point o= view monotono9sl> 59ll( =rom a scienti=ic point o=
view con=9singl> ine?act: the st95> o= it in 5etail is har5 work( while at the same time it
is work which a==or5s none o= the stim9l9s o= high intellect9al activit>. #et it is onl> b>
5etaile5 st95> that m> colleag9es an5 I have arrive5 at o9r own view@ an5 so =ar are we
=rom p9tting o9rselves into antagonism to the sceptical attit95e o= /cience( that we sho9l5
regar5 an> concl9sion =orme5 witho9t s9ch st95> as premat9re. On this still 59bio9s
territor>( a ii-UWU! n9mber o= 5irect an5 in5epen5ent attestations( which wo9l5 be 9tterl>
s9per=l9o9s elsewhere( will beAor o9ght to beA5eman5e5@ an5 others will nee5( as we
have 5one( to have the tr9e nat9re an5 amo9nt o= the evi5ence =ar more 5istinctl> bro9ght
home to them than is necessar> in realms alrea5> mastere5 b> specialists to whose dicta
the> ma> 5e=er.
"9t in point o= =act( the 59lness YsicZ o= the work in 5etail scarcel> nee5s apolog>@ =or it
wo9l5 never be speciall> remarke5 e?cept in connection with that totall> 9nscienti=ic
view on which I commente5 at the ver> opening o= the treatise. *he whole s9bDect o=
ps>chical in=l9ences has been mi?e5 9p in the p9blic min5 with i5eas o= the s9pernat9ral
or 9ncann>Awith nervo9s thrills an5 sp9rio9s e?citements. ,hen s9ch associations are
care=9ll> e?cl95e5( the 5etails o= the inE9ir> cannot be e?pecte5 to have (ore( an5 ma>
perhaps have not m9ch less( attraction than those o= the recognise5 ph>sical sciences.
)n5 so =ar as the 9ne?citing character o= the present collectionApoor in thrills( b9t
tolerabl> rich in veri=ie5 5atesAten5s to make this sober view prevail( it will be a 5irect
a5vantage. +or( e?actl> like the ph>sical sciences( the research has to go on( metho5icall>(
not sensationall>@ an5 it has onl> D9st beg9n to be metho5ise5. *he present instalment o=
=acts( tho9gh probabl> soli5 eno9gh to s9r=eit those who are not tro9ble5 b> 3 priori
5i==ic9lties( an5 to repel the mere seeker a=ter marvels( cannot be e?pecte5 to convince
ever> reasonable searcher a=ter tr9th@ an5 no one Pas I have remarke5 be=oreQ can =i? the
precise amo9nt o= testimon> which a can5i5 min5 is bo9n5 to regar5 as a5eE9ate. )n5 we
accept this view o= the position rather as an incentive than as a 5isco9ragement. +or we
are =orti=ie5 b> the belie= that it is not so m9ch the necessar> material( as the combine5
e==ort to ren5er it available( that has hitherto been lacking. Even the recor5 now
presente5( as I have pointe5 o9t( is 5rawn =rom the comparativel> small n9mber o=
persons who have hear5 o= o9r e?istence( an5 m9ch o= it =rom the limite5 circle o= o9r
own acE9aintance. ,e are D9sti=ie5( there=ore( in regar5ing the area hitherto e?plore5 as
b9t a corner o= a ver> m9ch larger =iel5( which ma> be gra59all> swept@ an5 the ver>
=laws in the present collection will have ha5 their 9se( i= the> 5irect attention to the tr9e
stan5ar5 o= evi5ential reE9irements( an5 i= thro9gh them =9t9re telepathic inci5ents stan5
a better chance o= being ca9ght at the critical moment( while the opport9nities =or
investigation are complete.
ii-UW:!
S U. *he commoner 5i==ic9lties which hamper progress ma>( moreover( be e?pecte5
largel> to 5isappear( as time goes on. )s the i5ea o= *elepath> becomes 9n5erstoo5( the
5i==erence will be more an5 more realise5 between =acts which make =or it an5 =acts
which 5o not@ ai5 towar5s the establishment o= some strong item o= proo= will not so
o=ten be re=9se5 on the gro9n5 that no proo= is nee5e5Athat ever>bo5> has ha5
presentiments =9l=ille5( or has occasionall> g9esse5 what his =rien5 was thinking o=@ an5
e==orts will be more pro=itabl> 5irecte5 thro9gh the mere e?istence o= a scheme into
which the res9lts ma> =all. )n5 =9rther( a rational p9blic spirit in the matter ma> be
tr9ste5 to 5evelop. *he rel9ctance to give an> prominence to what are o=ten legitimatel>
regar5e5 as ver> private e?periences will gra59all> give wa>( when it is recognise5 that
the signi=icance o= each item o= evi5ence( even as matter =or private contemplation(
5epen5s on the combination o= man> items@ an5 among those who take this wi5er view(
=ewer will shrink =rom the 5irect attestation which alone can ens9re the res9lt that the>
pro=ess to 5esire( an5 which the> wo9l5 rea5il> give to an> other sort o= =act in heaven or
earth that the> tr9l> believe5 in. )s =or the merel> negative 5i==ic9ltiesAthe general
gro9n5s o= obDection to o9r workAwe see them alrea5> 5iminishing =rom the mere spirit
o= the age. *he set o= that spirit is ver> observabl> towar5s a wi5er toleranceAa 5istr9st
o= =inalities an5 restrictions( b> whatever part> impose5( an5 a =aith in =ree inE9ir>(
wherever it ma> lea5. Men are alrea5> ceasing to arg9e that the allege5 =acts did not
happen beca9se the> could not happen@ or that telepath> is perhaps not tr9e( an5(
there=ore( i= tr9e( is not important@ or that the recognise5 paths o= labo9r( along which
stea5> progress is being ma5e an5 ma> still be ma5e to an 9npre5ictable e?tent( are so
vario9s an5 ab9n5ant that it is mere tri=ling to 5esert them =or a 59bio9s track( where
progress( even co9l5 it be s9ppose5 possible( wo9l5 still be a 9seless anachronism.
S :. "9t tho9gh Bps>chical researchC is certain in time to s9rmo9nt ri5ic9le an5 preD95ice(
an5 to clear =or itsel= a =irm path between eas> cre59lit> on the one si5e an5 eas>
incre59lit> on the other( the rate o= its a5vance m9st 5epen5 on the amo9nt o= s>mpath>
an5 s9pport that it can comman5 =rom the general mass o= e59cate5 men an5 women. In
no 5epartment sho9l5 the 5emocratic spirit o= mo5ern science =in5 so =ree a scope: it is
=or the p9blic here to be( notAas in anthropological researchesAthe passive material o=
investigation( b9t the active participators ii-UW3! in it. ,e acknowle5ge with warm
gratit95e the amo9nt o= patient assistance that we have receive5Ahow patient an5
=orbearing in man> instances( none can D95ge who have not trie5( as private in5ivi59als(
to con59ct a s>stem o= strict cross-e?amination on a wi5e scale. "9t 9nless this assistance
is largel> s9pplemente5( o9r 9n5ertaking can scarcel> hol5 its gro9n5. Its interest m9st
not =or a moment be s9ppose5 to be o= the merel> c9rio9s sort( s9==icientl> ill9strate5 in a
loose batch o= more or less s9rprising =acts@ in5ee5( so =ar as the =acts e?cite s9rprise( it is
a proo= that the work is onl> beginning. I= the nat9ral s>stem incl95es telepath>( %at9re
has certainl> not e?ha9ste5 hersel= in o9r =ew h9n5re5s o= instances: that these =acts
sho9l5 be gen9ine wo9l5 be almost inconceivable i= she ha5 not plent> more like them in
reserve. )n5 here is the practicall> interesting point@ =or( till the general =act is 9niversall>
a5mitte5( the several items o= proo= m9st ever ten5 to lose their e==ect as the> rece5e
=9rther into the past. *his pec9liarit> o= the s9bDect cannot be gainsai5( an5 m9st be
bol5l> =ace5. +or a9ght I can tell( the h9n5re5s o= instances ma> have to be ma5e
tho9san5s. I= the phenomena cannot be comman5e5 at will( the stricter m9st be the search
=or them: i= the> are e?ceptionall> transient an5 el9sive( all the greater is the importance
o= strong contemporar> evi5ence. *he e?perimental work nee5s to be( an5 easil> might
be( enormo9sl> e?ten5e5: =or man> a >ear to come the spontaneo9s phenomena m9st be
as 5iligentl> watche5 =or an5 recor5e5 as i= each case stoo5 alone in its generation. )n5
whatever the 5e=ects o= the present attempt( so =ar as it s9pplies an imp9lse or len5s an
ai5 in either o= these 5irections( it will not have =aile5 in its obDect.
ii-UWV!
<<< I sho9l5 be gla5 to e?ten5 m> statistics o= sensor> hall9cinations in general( b>
canvassing another known n9mber o= persons taken at ran5om. P/ee -hap. \III.Q 'ea5ers
who ma> =eel 5ispose5 to help me in this matter( an5 who will write to 23( $ean4s #ar5(
/.,.( will receive the necessar> =orms an5 instr9ctions. "9t apart =rom a special cens9s( I
sho9l5 be grate=9l =or acco9nts o= s9ch phenomena =rom an> persons who have
themselves ha5 e?perience o= them. *he ass9rance that the> are not things to be tro9ble5
abo9t( an5 are compatible with per=ect bo5il> an5 mental health( ma> perhaps remove
an> 5isinclination that might be =elt to recor5ing instances. *he names o= in=ormants will(
o= co9rse( be hel5 private.
ii-UW8! ii-UWW!
"%#&< 1- MR. M-&R$< %" ! $.**&$#&/ M%/&
%F P$-+(+!' ("#&R!+#(%".
S 2. I* is with some hesitation that I la> be=ore the p9blic the spec9lations containe5 in
the =ollowing essa>. *he> ma> seem( I =ear( both over-bol5 an5 over-comple?@ an5 even
the rea5er who =ollows them with a provisional a5hesion will =in5 that i= he gains in
wi5th( he will lose in clearness o= vision@ while the conception o= telepath> as a
relativel>-simple mo5e o= colligating certain obsc9re phenomena will give place to a
view in which the ol5 problems loom larger than ever( tho9gh( perhaps( with some inter-
relations ma5e mani=est which have not hitherto been observe5.
"9t in repl> to the obDection o= rashness I m9st ask m> rea5ers to 5isting9ish between
res9lts 9nanimo9sl> arrive5 at( on the strength o= 5e=inite e?periment an5 e?plicit
testimon>( b> a gro9p o= painstaking persons( an5 the spec9lations o= one o= their n9mber(
to which the rest stan5 9ncommitte5( an5 which he o==ers tentativel>( as the mere
preliminaries o= what ma> in time become a s9rer view. )n5 to the obDection o=
comple?it> I answer that m> h>pothesis is =ree at least =rom the one 9npar5onable sin o=
h>potheses: it is not certainl> 9nveri=iable(Aat least it ma> prompt e?periment an5 5irect
observation.
I shall ass9me in the =ollowing pages that the rea5er has alrea5> mastere5 the general
5ri=t an5 p9rport o= these vol9mes. )n5( perhaps( I can best intro59ce m> own view b>
5welling =irst on a 5i==ic9lt> in o9r recor5e5 evi5ence which 5rove m> own min5 to seek
=or some wi5er sol9tion.
S U. *he rea5er( then( is aware that veri5ical phantasmsAso9n5s or sights( that is to sa>(
coinci5ent with some 5eath or crisisAhave been treate5 in this work on the analog> o=
e?perimental tho9ght-trans=erence( as probabl> being in e==ect the e?ternalisation o= a
telepathic impression(Athe hall9cinator> =orms in which a =eeling or i5ea trans=erre5
=rom the min5 o= a 5istant person embo5ies itsel= to the percipient4s senses. In 5ealing
with the simpler =orms o= phantasmal sight( so9n5( or other impression( this analog>
seeme5 to hol5 goo5@ an5 we =o9n5( moreover( eno9gh o= ii-UW7! parallelism between
telepathic hall9cinations an5 the apparentl> cas9al an5 meaningless hall9cinations o= sane
persons to s9ggest that telepathic phantasms were at least shape5 b> the percipient4s
min5( in the same manner as those 5el9sive phantasms which the min5 not onl> shapes(
b9t pres9mabl> originates altogether.
)ll this( however( re=erre5 to phantasms perceive5 b> one person onl>. On s9ch a theor>
one wo9l5 har5l> e?pect that a phantasm wo9l5 ever be perceptible to several persons at
once@ b9t rather that strangers in the compan> o= the percipient wo9l5 neither hear nor see
an>thing(Awo9l5 not be involve5( at an> rate( b> mere local pro?imit> in that message
between accor5ing min5s.
It was plain( however( that this E9estion co9l5 not be answere5 3 priori. It nee5e5 what
ha5 not hitherto been =orthcoming( namel>( a collection o= observe5 instances large
eno9gh to allow o= a tolerabl> wi5e in59ction. )n5 the collection o==ere5 in these
vol9mesAtho9gh it might with a5vantage be ten=ol5 largerA5oes in =act o==er some
interesting statistical res9lts which bear on this problem.
In the =irst place( it is noticeable that the great maDorit> o= phantasms occ9r to a percipient
who is alone. )n5 this =act accor5s well with o9r view that the s9bsi5ence o= or5inar>
stim9li =acilitates the 5evelopment o= the telepathic impression.
"9t when we come to the small resi59e o= cases where several persons have been
together when the phantasm occ9rre5( we =in5 a res9lt eE9all> 9ne?pecte5 an5
perple?ing. +or it will be =o9n5 that in nearl> two cases o9t o= three the phantasm is
perceive5 b> all or most o= the persons so sit9ate5 that the> wo9l5 have perceive5 it ha5
it been an obDective realit>. In abo9t one case o9t o= three it is perceive5 b> one onl> o=
the persons present. )n5( as a =9rther complication( when perceive5 b> more persons than
one( it is sometimes perceive5 more =9ll> b> some than b> others@Aboth hear5 an5 seen(
perhaps( b> one( an5 onl> heard b> another.
S :. %ow this res9lt seems at =irst sight eE9all> inconsistent with the theor> o= the
telepathic imp9lse as generating these hall9cinations( an5 with the cr95e pop9lar
cre5ence which attrib9tes to BghostsC some sort o= ten9o9s materialit>. +or in the one
case we might e?pect that the phantasm wo9l5 rarel> be perceptible to more than one
person@ in the other case that it wo9l5 alwa>s be perceptible to all the persons present.
*he pop9lar viewAto take that =irstAlies so =ar o9tsi5e the pale o= an> recognise5
scienti=ic conceptions that strong evi5ence in5ee5 wo9l5 be nee5e5 to reconcile 9s to it.
,e are sometimes aske5 to believe that this bo5> o= o9rsAwith its 5igestive s>stem( [c.(
an5 all its traces o= ph>sical evol9tionAis interpenetrate5 with a Bmeta-organismC ii-
UWX! o= i5entical shape an5 str9ct9re( an5 capable sometimes o= 5etaching itsel= =rom the
soli5 =lesh an5 pro59cing meas9rable e==ects on the material worl5. %ow that material
e==ects sho9l5 be pro59ce5 b> something which Plike o9r own willQ( is onl> cognisable b>
9s on its ps>chical si5e is not in itsel= an abs9r5 s9pposition( tho9gh we have little
evi5ence which goes to s9pport it. "9t this h>pothesis o= a connate molec9lar Bmeta-
organismC is at once grotesE9e an5 entirel> ins9==icient. +or it is precisel> against this
=orm o= the ghost-h>pothesis that the 5i==ic9lt> as to the ghosts of clothes has
overwhelming weight. *he apparition that stan5s be=ore 9s( on this theor>( is an obDective
thing@ it has grown with o9r =rien54s growth( it is organic with his 5eathless vitalit>. )re(
then( his 5ea5 habiliments alive also in the spiritr or how has the meta-organism accrete5
to itsel= a meta-coat an5 meta-tro9sersr
S 3. "9t i= we th9s r9le o9t o= co9rt the cr95est e?planation o= a collectivel>-witnesse5
apparition( o9r ne?t attempt m9st plainl> be to e?plain it on the lines o= telepath>( b>
e?ten5ing in some wa> o9r h>pothesis o= a phantasmogenetic imp9lse conve>e5 5irectl>
=rom min5 to min5. %ow i= )4s phantom is witnesse5 b> " an5 - togetherAan5
witnesse5( as we are ass9ming thro9gho9t( witho9t intimation thereo= =rom one to the
other b> look or wor5Athen it might seem simplest to ass9me that a separate telepathic
impression passe5 =rom ) to "( an5 =rom ) to -( an5 was e?ternalise5 b> each o= the
percipients as a phantom o= his own shaping. It has been shown( however( in -hap.
\VIII.( that the recor5e5 cases will not alwa>s a5mit o= this h>pothesis. - is sometimes a
stranger to )( an5 it is almost impossible to s9ppose that( ha5 it not been =or "4s presence(
he wo9l5 have witnesse5 the phantom at all. In this 5i==ic9lt>( Mr. &9rne> inclines to the
view that in s9ch a case the telepathic impression is primaril> comm9nicate5 =rom ) to "(
an5 gives rise to a hall9cination in "4s min5@ an5 that this hall9cination is then
telepathicall> comm9nicate5 =rom " to the other person or persons present. )n5 this
e?planation( i= we can accept it( seems to have the a5vantage o= intro59cing as little as
possible o= =resh h>pothesis into the ps>chic =iel5.
S V. I 5o not( however( think that the evi5ence warrants 9s in p9shing o9r theor> E9ite so
=ar in this 5irection. I 5o not =eel D9sti=ie5 in ass9ming that a mere hall9cinationA
telepathicall> originate5 in the min5 o= "( the primar> percipientAwill be th9s rea5il>
comm9nicable( b> a =resh telepathic trans=er( to the min5s o= other persons in local
pro?imit>. .all9cinations( however ca9se5( are in themselves a tolerabl> 5istinct class o=
phenomena@ an5( since we know o= several kin5s that are not telepathic ii-U7;! in
origin( we shall 5o well to inE9ire whether these have shown themselves comm9nicable
=rom the hallucin4 to his neighbo9rs( witho9t speech or s9ggestion o= an> kin5. )n5 it so
happens that a goo5 5eal o= competent observation has alrea5> been 5irecte5 to this point.
<olie 3 deu.Athe comm9nicabilit> o= insane 5el9sionsAhas been =or the last E9arter o=
a cent9r> a =avo9rite topic o= me5ical 5isc9ssion.
2
%ow in or5er that folie 3 deu. sho9l5
present a tr9e parallel to the s9ggeste5 in=ectio9sness o= telepathic hall9cinations( which
we are here 5isc9ssing( it wo9l5 be necessar> to =in5 cases where some vision or voice
ha5 been propagate5 =rom one min5 to another witho9t an> verbal s9ggestion whatever.
%o s9ch case( so =ar as I can =in5( is an>where recor5e5@ an5 no s9ch case is reporte5 to
me b> me5ical =rien5s.
U
*he nearest case is that o= the Lochin =amil> Psee the =irst note
belowQ( b9t there the attack o= hall9cinations was plainl> o= to.ic origin( an5 tho9gh it ran
m9ch the same co9rse with each o= the poisone5 persons( there is even here no proo= that
an> one o= them caught a 5e=inite hall9cination =rom his neighbo9r4s min5.
S 8. It ma>( however( be s9ggeste5 that me5ical writers( not being alive to the possibilit>
o= an 9ns9ggeste5( or telepathic( in=ection( ma> have neglecte5 to observe it( an5 that
there=ore some part o= the in=ection =or which the> ass9me speech as o= co9rse the
me5i9m ma> in realit> have taken place -ithout speech( b> telepathic trans=er. *o meet
this point( let 9s consi5er what are the habit9al con5itions o= the contagion du d4lire(
:
as
the +rench somewhat loosel> term it.
)ccor5ing to LasHg9e an5 +alret Pwith whom the other a9thorities virt9all> conc9rQ( the
person th9s in=ecte5 Pi= not alrea5> a l9naticQ m9st be in=erior in intelligence to the
original l9natic( m9st generall> be a woman or a chil5( an5 m9st live long with the
l9natic( apart =rom e?ternal in=l9ences. Moreover( the character o= the 5el9sion m9st itsel=
be more or ii-U72! less reasonable@ it m9st rest on real =acts in the past( or intelligible
=ears or hopes =or the =9t9re. *he i5ea that a legac> has accr9e5( the i5ea that neighbo9rs
are malignant( is gra59all> instille5 into a sane min5 b> the constant repetition o= an
9ntr9e( b9t not conspic9o9sl>-abs9r5 assertion. "9t even where this 5el9sion incl95es
some sensor> elements( I can =in5( as I have alrea5> sai5( no evi5ence that an>
hall9cinator> sight or so9n5 has ever been 5escribe5 in5epen5entl> b> two persons as
occ9rring at the same moment. I=( then( with all the pre5isposition that close relationship
can give( with all the 5ominance o= the hall9cination in the a==ecte5 min5( not even one
other person seems ever to be telepathicall> impresse5 thereb>( we ma> hesitate to
ass9me that a veri5ical hall9cination sho9l5 be capable o= telepathic trans=erence to
several b>stan5ers.
%either in duration nor in apparent intensit, can the veri5ical hall9cination claim to eE9al
some o= the morbi5 varieties. *here are instances where the same ill9sor> =ig9re has
persiste5 =or months or >ears. *ake( =or instance( BMr. &abbageCAthe persistent
visionar> t>rant o= an 9nhapp> )merican gentleman( who was( at an> rate at =irst( in a
state o= 9n5o9bte5 sanit>.
2
-onstantl> tho9gh he appeare5( 5istinctl> tho9gh he spoke(
BMr. &abbageC was never seen or hear5 b> an>one save the original s9==erer.
)gain( it is probable that no other hall9cinations can rival in sheer intensit> those which
sometimes accompan> the onset o= an epilepti=orm attack. ,hen the patient r9shes
=9rio9s thro9gh the room( which he sees =9ll o= =lames( striking at the imaginar> 5emons
who bar his passage( then s9rel>( i= ever( the phantasies o= the t9m9lt9o9s brain might be
e?pecte5 to imprint themselves on the b>stan5er. "9t altho9gh the shock o= witnessing an
epileptic =it will sometimes bring on a similar =it in patients thereto 5ispose5( there is( I
believe( no evi5ence whatever that the speci=ic hall9cination o= the =irst s9==erer ever
comm9nicates itsel= either to stable or to 9nstable brains.
Once more@ there is a species o= hall9cination somewhat akin to telepathic hall9cinations
Ana>( which is itsel= sometimes in59ce5 telepathicall>. I mean the hall9cinations
generate5 b> the mesmeriser in the min5 o= his s9bDect. 1op9lar cre5ence( as Mr. &9rne>
an5 I have elsewhere shown(
U
has m9ch e?aggerate5 the mesmerist4s power o=
in=l9encing his s9bDect witho9t verbal s9ggestion. "9t in a =ew casesAMr. .. /.
*hompson4s an5 $r. 1ierre Fanet4s(
:
=or instanceAan e==ect seems to have ii-U7U! been
pro59ce5 on a s9bDect at a 5istance witho9t previo9s s9ggestion@ an action prompte5 or a
hall9cination provoke5. %ow( in no one instance 5oes it appear that the e==ect th9s
telepathicall> pro59ce5 has e?ten5e5 itsel= =rom the imme5iate s9bDect to an> other
person.
S W. *he analogies o= morbi5 an5 o= mesmeric hall9cination are( then( as it seems(
5eci5e5l> against its comm9nicabilit>. "9t these analogies are not in themselves
concl9sive. )part =rom the 5istinctivel> morbi5 hall9cinations o= ma5ness or epileps>A
on which ph>sicians have almost e?cl9sivel> 5weltAthere are occasional cases o=
isolate5 hall9cinations occ9rring in the e?perience o= sane an5 health> persons. It ma> be
sai5 that these a==or5 a closer parallel to o9r telepathic hall9cinations. I= it can be shown
that these are comm9nicable( there will be some pres9mption that o9r veri5ical phantoms
ma> be propagate5 b> ps>chical in=ection too.
%ow( Mr. &9rne> has ma5e a collection( =ar larger than ha5 been previo9sl> attempte5( o=
these cas9al hall9cinations o= the sane. .is collection o= nearl> 8;; cases o= this kin5
Pe?cl9sive( o= co9rse( o= the telepathic evi5ence in this bookQ( when anal>se5 with care(
a==or5s a basis o= in59ction on which a =ew broa5 concl9sions( at least( ma> sa=el> be
=o9n5e5. )ll( however( that I mean to 5o here is to take one obvio9s empirical 5ivision.
/ome o= these cas9al hall9cinations resemble veri5ical hall9cinations an5 some 5o not. In
this latter class are incl95e5 a n9mber o= p9rel> =antastic or tr9ncate5 visions o= h9man or
animal =orms or =aces( an5 visions o= inanimate obDects( patterns( [c. In the =ormer class
come visions o= persons known or 9nknown( voices( lights( [c.
%ow it appears that the great maDorit> o= these cas9al hall9cinations are witnesse5 b> one
person onl>( other persons( i= present( perceiving nothing. "9t there are cases in which
several persons have share5 the impression( an5 some o= these cases Mr. &9rne> has set
=orth in -hap. \VIII. ,hat lessons 5o the> teachr
*he most important characteristic that I see in them is this. *he> all o= them belong to
that class o= cas9al hall9cinations which at an> rate rese(ble the telepathic cases. *here
are no collective hall9cinations o= tr9ncate5 =orms( o= 5e=inite inanimate obDects( or o=
patterns. *he> all represent persons known or 9nknown( lights( or voices.
I will 5e=er =or the moment the consi5eration o= some o= these =ig9res or voices which are
re=erre5 to 5ea5 persons. *aking those onl> which are conceivabl>( tho9gh not provabl>(
re=erable to persons living or in the act o= 5eath( it seems to me that we have here D9st that
kin5 o= =ringe o= ambig9o9s cases which we sho9l5 e?pect to =in5 s9rro9n5ing the cases
where some 5istant agenc> is more clearl> prove5.
+or i= s9ch a phenomenon as telepath>( s9ch a ca9se or agenc> as ii-U7:! telerg>( e?ists
at all( we ma> s9rel> s9ppose that it e?ists in man> =orms( an5 mani=ests itsel= in man>
operations( o= which we have not at present an> inkling whatever. ,hile we ma> be able
to reach a s9bstantial agreement as to what phenomena ma> be regar5e5 as almost
certainl> 59e to telepath>( we have no means at present o= 5eci5ing positivel> what
phenomena are not so 59e.
*his( there=ore( is a case where the evi5ential an5 the theoretical treatment o= o9r s9bDect
cannot be ma5e precisel> to coinci5e. Mr. &9rne>4s primar> obDect has been( an5 rightl>(
to treat the evi5ential case =or telepath> with scr9p9lo9s =airness( to allow to chance-
coinci5ence or to mere s9bDective hall9cination ever> inci5ent which cannot establish a
strong claim to a s9pernormal character. /o long as we are arg9ing the E9estion whether
telepath> e?ists or no( this rigi5 metho5 is plainl> nee5=9l. ,e m9st rest o9r arg9ment on
instances =or which( taken c9m9lativel>( an> e?planation e?cept telepath> is
conspic9o9sl> improbable.
"9t s9pposing the evi5ential point establishe5( an5 that it is now not the mere e?istence(
b9t the nat9re an5 limits( o= telepath> which we are seeking to 5etermine( we shall nee5
to scr9tini]e o9r narratives in a somewhat 5i==erent wa>. ,e shall have to consi5er not
onl> whether there is over-hel(ing probabilit> that an> given case is telepathic( b9t also
whether there is sufficient probabilit> to oblige 9s to keep that e?planation in view( an5 to
re=rain =rom 9sing the case in s9pport o= other theories. *h9s Pto make m> meaning
clearer b> an analog>Q i= it were o9r b9siness to prove the e?istence o= volcanic islets( we
sho9l5 not be entitle5 to base that proo= on s9ch 5o9bt=9l instances as the m9ch-5ebate5
islets o= /t. 1a9l. "9t( the e?istence o= volcanic islets once establishe5( we m9st not
hastil> e?cl95e this 59bio9s case =rom o9r categor>( or we ma> =in5 that we are
committing o9rselves to a =ar more E9estionable theor>Athat o= a lost )tlantis. %ow the
cases cite5 b> Mr. &9rne> as probabl> mere s9bDective hall9cinations share5 b> several
persons are ass9re5l> not cases =rom which an> arg9ment =or the operation o= 5istant
agenc> co9l5 be 5rawn. "9t i= s9ch agenc> be once a5mitte5 as a vera causa( it seems to
me to be sa=er to ascribe these cases to its 9ntrace5 an5( so to sa>( cas9al operation( than
to s9pport b> them a theor> o= collective hall9cination which ma> easil> beAan5 in other
han5s has beenAp9she5 to a point at which it comes into real collision with or5inar>
e?perience( an5 nee5lessl> con=9ses the canons o= testimon>.
,e m9st remember that these phantasms 5o not occ9r to please 9s( or to satis=> o9r
e?pectations( b9t rather Pso =ar as we can tellQ in accor5ance with some law a==ecting the
ps>chical energies o= the 5>ing person. ,e nee5 not( there=ore( ass9me that o9r
phantasmal visitors will alwa>s be ii-U73! =amiliar or interesting =ig9res. It is E9ite
conceivable that persons ma> appear to 9s whom we have wholl> =orgotten@ an5 in =act in
some o= the cases in this book the i5enti=ication o= the =ig9re has onl> =ollowe5 9pon
s9bseE9ent in=ormation an5 re=lection. )gain( i=( as certain cases seem to in5icate(
localit, goes =or a great 5eal in attracting or mani=esting the phantasm( then =ig9res ma>
appear to 9s which we have never seen( b9t which represent some 5>ing person who is
attache5 to the ho9se in which we live. )n5 s9ggestions s9ch as these( tho9gh at present
merel> spec9lative( seem to me to =orm an e?planation o= Mr. &9rne>4s cases less violent
than that which calls on 9s to s9ppose that a mere cas9al s9bDective hall9cination has a
sel=-propagating power which hall9cinations o= an intenser an5 more lasting or5er 5o not
appear to possess.
S 7. )nother class o= cases which Mr. &9rne> has a5vance5 as ill9strating the
trans=erabilit> o= hall9cinations consists o= the occ9rrence to two or more persons o=
phantasms ostensibl> connecting themselves with some person who is act9all> 5ea5. I 5o
not wish here to give an> positive opinion as to the origin o= s9ch appearances. *he
E9estion o= phantasms o= the dead intro59ces a whole series o= evi5ential an5
metaph>sical 5i==ic9lties with which I am not here prepare5 to 5eal. "9t since we have
e?pressl> e?cl95e5 s9ch problems =rom the scope o= this work( have e?pressl> state5 that
o9r evi5ence is at present ins9==icient to g9i5e 9s to a 5istinct opinion thereon( I cannot
a5mit that an> selection =rom these narratives can at present a55 =orce to the contention
that purel, illusor, hall9cinations( correspon5ing in no wa> to an> realit> o9tsi5e the
primar> percipient( are rea5il> comm9nicable to the other persons present.
/ince( then( an inE9ir> so wi5el>-reaching as Mr. &9rne>4s collection o= hall9cinations
has =aile5( in m> view( to pro59ce an> clear cases o= the comm9nicabilit> o= ill9sor> Por
falsidicalQ hall9cinations with which to s9ppl> the absence o= an> evi5ence thereo= in
previo9s recor5s( I am 5riven to 5o9bt whether s9ch comm9nicabilit> can be sa=el>
ass9me5 as a probable e?planation o= o9r cases where a veri5ical phantasm has been seen
or hear5 b> several persons at the same time.
S X. )n5 having th9s criticise5 m> colleag9e4s s9ggestions( I =eel bo9n5 to pro59ce a
theor> o= m> own( which( tho9gh con=esse5l> 9nproven( ma> have the a5vantage o=
5irecting attention towar5s what seems to me the nodus o= o9r present inE9ir>( an5 o=
s9ggesting e?periments which ma> help 9s to a tr9er sol9tion. I begin b> =ollowing a cl9e
which s9ggests itsel= at a ver> earl> stage o= the e?perimental investigation.
*ake the simplest possible case o= tho9ght-trans=erence. ) thinks o= the wor5 BcatC an5 "
5ivines it. %ow( here o9r habit is to call ) the ii-U7V! agent an5 " the percipient@ terms
which are practicall> the simplest( b9t which ma> have seeme5 to impl> that all the
activit, involve5 in the phenomenon la> in )4s tension o= tho9ght in keeping BcatC be=ore
his min5( an5 that "4s rGle was a mere passive waiting =or the telepathic imp9lse which
carries the wor5 or i5ea =rom )4s min5 into his own. )n5 as we e?ten5 o9r series =rom the
trivial e?perimental instances to the massive spontaneo9s instances o= telepath>( we =in5
the e?hibition o= energ> on the agent4s partAthe receptive tranE9illit> on the percipient4s
partAbecoming more an5 more conspic9o9s. ,hen )( =or e?ample( is 5>ing in battle(
an5 " is asleep an5 5reams that he sees ) 5>ing( the ps>chical activit> o= the one( the
ps>chical passivit> o= the other( seem to reach their ma?im9m.
Let 9s tr>( however( to look a little 5eeper beneath the s9r=ace. ,hen ) thinks o= cat an5
" g9esses the wor5 Bo9t o= )4s min5(C witho9t the help o= speech or gest9re( then "(
whether passive or not( is at an> rate pla>ing the part which reE9ires the rarer
E9ali=ications. In a sense( no 5o9bt( he is merel> perceiving( b9t I nee5 not sa> that
perception itsel= is a =orm o= activit>. I= we perceive more things than an o>ster perceives(
it is not beca9se we are more passive than the o>ster( b9t more active@ beca9se activities
o= o9r ancestors4 an5 o9r own have 5evelope5 in 9s e>es which now 5iscern 5istant
obDects with an e==ort so slight that we are scarcel> aware o= it. /imilarl> with the
telepathic e?periment. ,hen " 5iscerns the wor5 cat( which most o= 9s( with onl> his
opport9nities( co9l5 not 5iscern b> an> amo9nt o= waiting an5 passivit>( we m9st s9rel>
concl95e that " is e?ercising some kin5 o= capacit> which we cannot e?ercise. *his
power( plainl>( is not o= what we term a voluntar, kin5@ it is not g9i5e5 b> "4s normal or
primar> stream o= conscio9sness. "9t Pas I have trie5 elsewhere to showQ there is reason
to s9ppose that o9r normal conscio9sness represents no more than a slice o= o9r whole
being. ,e all know that there e?ist sub-conscio9s an5 9nconscio9s operations o= man>
kin5s@ both organic( as secretion( circ9lation( [c.( which are in a sense below the
operations to which o9r min5s atten5@ an5 also mental( as the recall o= names( the
5evelopment o= i5eas( [c.( which are on m9ch the same level as the operations to which
o9r min5s atten5( b9t which =or vario9s reasons remain in the backgro9n5 o= o9r mental
prospect. ,ell( besi5es these s9b-conscio9s an5 9nconscio9s operations( I believe that
super6conscious operations also are going on within 9s@ operations( that is to sa>( which
transcen5 the limitations o= or5inar> =ac9lties o= cognition( an5 which >et remainAnot
belo- the thresholdAb9t rather above the upper horiAon o= conscio9sness( an5 ill9mine
o9r normal e?perience onl> in transient an5 clo95e5 gleams.
*his is not the place to marshal the arg9ments which s9pport this ii-U78! thesis. "9t the
thesis itsel= seems almost implie5 in the ver> conception o= tho9ght-trans=erence. +or in
tho9ght-trans=erence we have two ps>chical phenomena( connecte5 b> an 9nknown chain
o= ca9sation( which is certainl> s9pernormal in character( an5 which contains at least
some 9nconscio9s links.
S 2;. Let 9s( then( p9rs9e this notion o= some s9pernormal activit> on the percipient4s
part. Let 9s treat it in the same wa> as we have treate5 the notion o= the s9pernormal
activit> o= the agent. ,e have cre5ite5 the agent( )( in the BcatC e?periment( with a
certain power o= impressing his tho9ght on other min5s. )n5 we have procee5e5 to
inE9ire how =arAin vol9ntar> e?periment or in spontaneo9s emergenceAthis power can
be =o9n5 to go(Ahow comple? the transmitte5 image ma> be. /o =ar as vol9ntar>
e?periment went( the answer has been somewhat 5o9bt=9l( =or sel=-transmissive
proDections o= a hall9cinator> image o= onesel=As9ch as those recor5e5 in Vol. I.( -hap.
III.Ahave alwa>s( as it wo9l5 seem( taken place 59ring the agent4s trance or sl9mber.
*he spontaneo9s cases( on the other han5( have been ver> n9mero9s@ cases( that is to sa>(
where )( 9n5ergoing some shock or crisis( acts ps>chicall> in s9ch a manner as to
impress his presence on the min5s o= 5istant men.
Let 9s( then( ask similar E9estions with regar5 to the s9pernormal activit> o= the
percipient. ,e have seen him th9s =ar 5ivining a wor5 on which the agent4s tho9ght was
concentrate5( g9essing a car5 on which the agent4s e>es were =i?e5. )re there cases(
e?perimental or spontaneo9s( where we =in5 him 5oing more than thisr sharing not a
single i5ea onl> b9t a whole comple? o= i5eas an5 perceptions in another man4s min5r or
s9pernormall> recognising an obDect on which no Bagent4sC e>es are lookingr *he answer
to these E9estions wo9l5 involve the whole evi5ence =or in59ce5 or spontaneo9s
clairvo,ance. +or the wor5 clairvo,ance ma> be 9se5 to in5icate man> =orms o=
s9persensor> perception@ o= which one is what we ma> call telepathic clairvo>ance(
where the clairvo>ant seems to be seeing with the e>es( perceiving with the senses(
recalling with the memor>( o= another person@ an5 another is what we ma> call
independent clairvo>ance( where the clairvo>ant seems to visit scenes( or to 5iscern
obDects( witho9t nee5ing that those scenes or obDects sho9l5 =orm part o= the perception or
memor> o= an> known min5.
*he topic o= clairvo,ance( tho9gh 9navoi5able in the present 5isc9ssion( is open to
serio9s obDections =rom which telepath,( in o9r view( is =ree. +or we have not o9rselves
s9ccee5e5 in making an> e?periments which corroborate that in59ction o= clairvo>ance
in sensitive s9bDects which man> writers have allege5. )n5 the light which o9r new
knowle5ge ii-U7W! o= telepath> throws on that testimon> m9st 5o9btless mo5i=> it
greatl>Am9st re59ce the scattere5 testimon> which e?ists =or independent clairvo>ance
to a b9lk m9ch smaller than its a5vocates have claime5. "9t( nevertheless( speaking not
=or m> colleag9es b9t =or m>sel=( I 5o consi5er the evi5ence =or clairvo>ance( both
telepathic an5 in5epen5ent( both in59ce5 an5 spontaneo9s( to be a5eE9ate to D9sti=>
belie=@
2
an5( hol5ing this view( I =eel bo9n5 to take clairvo>ance into acco9nt in an>
theoretic 5isc9ssion o= s9pernormal phenomena.
S 22. )n5 i= we th9s take into acco9nt the evi5ence =or clairvo>ance( we =in5 a stream o=
new light let in on o9r conception o= the (odus operandi o= telepathic perception. +or it
is a characteristic o= the clairvo>ant power that it is generall> e?ercise5 when the normal
powers o= sensor> percipience are in abe>ance( 59ring nat9ral somnamb9lism( 59ring
morbi5 con5itions o= trance( or 59ring the sleep-waking state in59ce5 b> mesmeric
passes. It seems as tho9gh this s9persensor> =ac9lt> ass9me5 activit> in an inverse ratio
to the activities o= common li=e.
%or is this the onl> instr9ctive analog> which the recor5s o= clairvo>ance s9ggest. *he
mesmeric process( which appears to be the most e==ective wa> o= in59cing the clairvo>ant
state( 5oes not consist o= a mere inhibition o= or5inar> ps>chical activities. ,hatever ma>
be its tr9e nat9re( it involves( at an> rate( a rapport between the operator an5 the s9bDect(
a specialise5 relation between two min5s( which sometimes seems to serve as the
starting-point =or a s9pernormal percipience on the part o= the mesmerise5 s9bDect which
presentl> transcen5s the scope or content o= the interrogator4s min5 altogether.
Let 9s ret9rn( then( to the consi5eration o= o9r veri5ical hall9cinations( bearing in min5
these two pec9liarities o= clairvo>ant perception@ its e?ercise in apparentl> inverse ratio to
the activit> o= normal =ac9lties( an5 its capacit> =or being stim9late5 or evoke5 b> some
kin5 o= ps>chical in=l9ence 5irecte5 towar5s the clairvo>ant s9bDect =rom another min5.
S 2U. )n5 we shall( perhaps( =irst observe how m9ch o= ill9mination is th9s cast 9pon a
large an5 perple?ing class o= telepathic 5reams( those( namel>( in which " is ma5e aware
o= )4s state( not as i= b> an entr> o= )4s phantom into his be5chamber( b9t as i= b> an
e?c9rsion o= his own into the room where ) is act9all> 5>ing.
$reams( as Mr. &9rne> has ampl> e?plaine5( =orm onl> a ver> s9bsi5iar> part o= the
evi5ential case which we p9t =orwar5. *aken alone( ii-U77! the> co9l5 har5l> prove
telepath>@ rather the> are themselves shown to be telepathic b> the analogies o= the more
cogent evi5ence 5rawn =rom waking ho9rs. "9t tho9gh evi5entiall> a minor branch o= o9r
s9bDect( the> are( nevertheless( among the most instructive o= ps>chical phenomena. *he>
show 9s phantasms in the making@ the> initiate 9s into s9b-conscio9s processes o= which
waking hall9cinations are( as it were( the =inal o9tp9t or man9=act9re5 res9lt.
"9t when we come to scr9tini]e the 5etails o= veri5ical 5reams we =in5 that amongst
man> where =antastic elements are commingle5 with the tr9e( as tho9gh a central
conception were embo5>ing itsel= in the imager> which it =o9n5 rea5iest to han5( there
are some 5reams where the scene seems to be 5escribe5 witho9t s9ch a5mi?t9re( an5
m9ch as it might have appeare5 to a real spectator.
$r. ). 0. #o9ng4s 5ream Pcase 23UQ is closel> analogo9s to a case o= so-calle5 Btravelling
clairvo>ance.C Localit>( personages( an5 actions seem to have been completel> realise5(
an5 the violent blows 5elivere5 b> $r. #o9ng as he la> asleep in be5 are the precise
parallel o= the shivering( sweating( [c.( =reE9entl> recor5e5 o= clairvo>ants who are
witnessing 5istant scenes o= heat or col5. %oteworth> in the same sense is Mrs. &reen4s
5ream Pcase 2:7Q( where it seems as tho9gh the link o= kinship( tho9gh witho9t personal
acE9aintance( ha5 5irecte5 the sleeper4s clairvo>ant vision to the scene o= s955en 5eath.
In these cases it seems to me that to talk o= the 5rowning women as the agents who
a==ecte5 Mrs. &reen( the wo9n5e5 tenant as the agent who a==ecte5 $r. ). 0. #o9ng(
ten5s to obsc9re the real nat9re o= the occ9rrence@ the 5eeper view being that the so-
calle5 percipient was in =act the agent or active personage( too@ an5 that the conc9rrent
crisis o= 5anger or 5eath 5i5 b9t 5etermine the 5irection( or the remembrance( o= activities
which the sleeper4s 9nconscio9s sel= was e?ercising in the abe>ance o= waking =9nction.
)n5 i= we =ollow 9p this hint( we shall note that in most cases where even a waking
percipient is conscio9s o= a 5istant scene( the sensation is accompanie5 b> something like
a momentar> abstracte5ness( or even act9al somnolence.
2
In -anon ,arb9rton4s case
P%o. 2;7Q the s955en perception o= a 5istant crisis( apparentl> occ9rring at that moment(
wakes the sleeper =rom his 5o]e )n5 i= the vario9s e?pressions 9se5 b> the percipients o=
these clairvo>antl> witnesse5 scenes( whether we have classe5 them as awake or asleep at
the time( be compare5 together( we shall =in5 that the> agree in 5escribing the e?perience
as something 9nlike either 5ream-presence or waking presence in the s955enl>-reveale5
localit>( as giving a ii-U7X! sense o= a translation o= the centre o= conscio9sness( o= a
ps>chical e?c9rsion into a 5e=inite region o= space.
/9ch e?pressions nee5 impl> nothing more than the manner in which this s955en
e?tension o= the ps>chical p9rview represents itsel= in the =orms o= or5inar> tho9ght. "9t
the> ma> ai5 in p9tting 9s on the track o= a E9estion which is( in m> view( o= pro=o9n5
importance. Is there evi5ence o= an> percipience on the part o= others which correspon5s
to the clairvo>ant4s own sense o= presence an5 action in the scene which is common to
his min5 an5 theirsr 'ea5ers o= -hap. \VII. will have perceive5 that there is s9ch
evi5ence@ an5 altho9gh the cases there given are not n9mero9s( there are reasons Pas I
hope presentl> to showQ wh> b9t a ver> small =raction o= s9ch e?periences is ever likel>
to come to o9r knowle5ge.
Meantime( we m9st observe that in these reciprocal cases the con5ition an5 sensations o=
the percipient( who th9s becomes an agent alsoAthe clairvo>ant who is himsel=
5iscerne5 as a phantom in the scene where he conceives himsel= to beAare precisel>
similar to the con5ition an5 sensations o= the clairvo>ant whose vision a==ects no secon5
person. O9r agent( too( is in a =it o= abstraction( or 5reaming( or pl9nge5 in st9por as
5eath 5raws nigh( when he pro59ces on others the impression correlative to the
impression which is being pro59ce5 on himsel=.
S 2:. Correspondentl, -ith clairvo,ant perception there (a, be phantas(ogenetic
efficac,:Athis( as it seems to me( is a so9n5 in59ction =rom o9r recor5e5 cases( an5 an
in59ction which( i= thoro9ghl> graspe5( will mo5i=> pro=o9n5l> o9r comprehension an5
classi=ication o= the evi5ence be=ore 9s. +or( speaking broa5l>( o9r Bphantasms o= the
livingC will conseE9entl> ten5 to arrange themselves into two main classes( classes which
are themselves linke5 in more wa>s than one@ namel>( the class in which the phantasm
ma> be consi5ere5 as the emergence or e?ternalisation( in an5 b> the percipient4s min5(
o= an impression transmitte5 =rom a 5istant agent( an5 the class in which the phantasm
ma> be consi5ere5 as correspon5ing to the conception in the min5 o= a clairvo>ant
percipient(Awho is th9s also an agent(Ao= his own presence an5 action in a scene which
he shares with the persons who are corporeall> present therein.
S 23. )n5 th9s we have reache5 a point at which what seeme5 the 9niE9e 5i==ic9lt>
involve5 in collective hall9cinations is not in5ee5 e.plained( b9t is seen as merel> a
special case which we can s9bs9me 9n5er a higher generalisation. ,hat I mean is this@
that i= the appearance( sa>( o= Mr. %ewnham to Mrs. %ewnham Pcase :VQ or o= Mrs.
/mith to her =rien5 Pcase :;8Q is hel5 pro?imatel> to 5epen5 on their own perception o=
their ii-UX;! own presence in the scene where their phantasm is observe5( it becomes
then a s9bsi5iar> E9estion whether onl> one( or some( or the whole gro9p o= the persons
o= whose conscio9sness that scene =orms a part( perceive s9ch phantasm or no. )n5 this
s9bsi5iar> E9estion( again( resolves itsel= into a special case o= the larger E9estion which
meets 9s thro9gho9t the whole inE9ir>(Athe E9estion as to the ca9ses o= var>ing
i5ios>ncratic receptiveness o= phantasmal impressions. *here will be no nee5 to ass9me(
as Mr. &9rne> is incline5 to 5o( a 5irect in=ection o= hall9cination =rom one primar>
percipient to neighbo9ring min5s. /till less shall we nee5 to e?plain s9ch cases as %os.
U3U an5 :VV b> the strange h>pothesis that an i5ea( partl> or altogether latent an5
9n5evelope5 in the min5 o= the primar> percipient( 5i5 nevertheless propagate itsel= =rom
thence an5 emerge into =9ll e?ternalisation =or a person to whom the 5istant agent was
wholl> 9nknown. +or we shall be able to conceive it as possible that all the persons in the
room ma> be eE9all> =avo9rabl> sit9ate5 =or the 5iscernment o= that phantasmal correlate
which represents or accompanies( in some wa> 9nknown to 9s( the clairvo>ant
percipience o= the 5istant an5 5>ing man.
S 2V. )t the cost o= some c9mbro9sness o= lang9age( I have been care=9l to e?press m>
h>pothesis in e?cl9sivel> ps>chicalAas oppose5 to ph>sicalAterms. I 5esire that the
rea5er sho9l5 clearl> 5isting9ish it =rom an> view which implies a material or obDective
presence( o= however ten9o9s a kin5. I shall not( in5ee5( commit m>sel= to the assertion
that an> s9ch presence is impossible@ or that there ma> not be some interme5iate view
between what seems to me the gross conception o= a molec9lar (etaorganis(( alrea5>
all95e5 to( an5 the p9rel> ps>chical agenc> which is all that I post9late here. *he line
between the BmaterialC an5 the Bimmaterial(C as these wor5s are commonl> 9se5( means
little more than the line between the phenomena which o9r senses or o9r instr9ments can
5etect or register( an5 the phenomena which the> can not. )n5 the whole problem o= the
relation o= the ps>chical to the ph>sicalAo= tho9ght an5 will to space an5 matterAis
=orce5 9pon o9r attention with startling vivi5ness =rom the ver> beginning o= this inE9ir>.
)t ever> step we =in5 that =amiliar spec9lative 5i==ic9lties ass9me a new realit>@ an5 that
5ilemmas which the metaph>sician can eva5e( an5 the ph>sicist ignore( present to the
ps>chical researcher an imperative choice o= one or the other horn.
In the present 5isc9ssion( however( s9ch 5i==ic9lties can still be postpone5. I shall con=ine
m>sel= to pointing o9t that since some even o= the phantasms which are perceive5 b>
more than one person escape the perception o= one or more o= the b>stan5ers( the> cannot
be obDective in ii-UX2! an> or5inar> sense. )n5 while the> are regar5e5 as entirel>
ps>chical inci5ents( the 5i==erentia o= the view here a5vance5 is still( I think( s9==icientl>
plain. I treat the respective hall9cinations o= each member o= the a==ecte5 gro9p as each
an5 all 5irectl> generate5 b> a conception in 5istant min5Aa conception which presents
itsel= to that min5 as tho9gh its centre o= activit> were translate5 to the scene where the
gro9p are sitting( an5 which presents itsel= to each member o= that gro9p as tho9gh their
hall9cinations 5i5 not come to them incoherentl> or in5epen5entl>( b9t were 5i==9se5
=rom a Bra5iant point(C or phantasmogenetic =oc9s( correspon5ing with that region o=
space where the 5istant agent conceives himsel= to be e?ercising his s9pernormal
perception.
S 28. *his view is at an> rate 5e=inite eno9gh to s9ggest certain e?periments which might
test its probabilit> in comparison with the view which ass9mes one primar> percipient
an5 a trans=erence o= hall9cination( as tho9gh b> a secon5 telepathic process( =rom that
primar> percipient to his neighbo9rs in space.
*he most important e?periment wo9l5 be one which there is perhaps small chance o=
making@ =or it 5epen5s on the coolness an5 prepare5ness o= several persons collectivel>
witnessing a veri5ical hall9cination. It might( =or instance( have been carrie5 o9t b> Mrs.
Elgee an5 Miss $. in the case P%o. :37Q which Mr. &9rne> cites as one where Bthe
=lashing o= the hall9cination =rom one o= the percipients to the other seems speciall> well
ill9strate5( since the =ig9re which appeare5 was one which the secon5 percipient ha5
never seen in the =lesh.C In that case we have no in5epen5ent acco9nt =rom Miss $.( an5
the 5etails are ins9==icient to show the relation between the hall9cinations o= the two
persons. "9t let 9s ass9me( =or the sake o= arg9ment( that a similar inci5ent occ9rs to
persons prepare5 to anal>se it@ that )4s phantom appears to "( who knows him( an5 also
to -( who is in the room with "( b9t never saw ).
I will arrange an acco9nt o= the imaginar> scene in two wa>s@ =irst( so as to ill9strate Mr.
&9rne>4s B=lashing o= the hall9cination =rom one o= the percipients to the otherC@ an5(
secon5l>( so as to ill9strate m> own view o= the 5i==9sion o= the hall9cination to both
min5s similarl>( in a manner con5itione5 b> the agent4s conception o= himsel= as present
in a scene in which the two percipients are sitting.
P2Q " sees the =ig9re first( an5 th9s 5evelops the hall9cinator> =ig9re o= )( clothing it with
the 5ress in which he has most =reE9entl> seen ). - 5iscerns the =ig9re a=ter " has 5one
so( an5 either more vag9el> or in the same garb in which " 5iscerns it( or with
pec9liarities which ma> be trace5 to ii-UXU! -4s own min5@ at an> rate( not intro59cing
tr9e points o= resemblance to )( which have not been observe5 b> ". Moreover( i= "4s
hall9cination represents ) as =acing him( -4s hall9cination takes a similar attit95e(
altho9gh - ma> be so place5 with re=erence to the =ig9re that( ha5 it been ) in propri0
person0( - wo9l5 have seen( not )4s =9ll =ace( b9t his pro=ile or back. *here is no 5istinct
agreement between " an5 - as to the point o= space which the phantom seeme5 to
occ9p>( or as to its s9ccessive movements( or the time an5 mo5e o= its 5isappearance.
/9ch 5etails as these( i= occ9rring in the manner here s9ggeste5( wo9l5 =avo9r the
s9pposition that -4s hall9cination was not the res9lt o= an> 5irect trans=er =rom )( b9t
rather o= a trans=er =rom " o= the hall9cination to which "4s min5 ha5 given shape.
PUQ %ow let 9s s9ppose that these little inci5ents occ9r in D9st the opposite manner. -
perceives the phantom be=ore " 5oes( an5 perceives it with characteristic 5etails o= garb
an5 appearance( some o= which " =ails to note. Moreover( when " an5 - are so place5
that - wo9l5 see the phantom4s back( an5 " the phantom4s =ace( were the phantom a real
person in the place where " sees it( then the> 5o see 5i==erent aspects o= the phantom
accor5ingl>. )n5 the> agree as to ever> 5etail o= its garb( so =ar as observe5( an5 as to its
apparent position in space( its movements( an5 the mo5e o= its 5isappearance. I= the
5etails o= the hall9cination were =o9n5 to =ollow this t>pe( there wo9l5 seem to be strong
reason =or s9pposing that the impression on -4s min5 was not Pso to sa>Q re=lecte5 =rom
"4s( b9t that both alike correspon5e5 to a more or less 5etaile5( 5e=inite( an5 persistent
conception on )4s own part o= his presence an5 action in the scene where his =rien5 an5
the stranger were sitting. In that case the manner or 5istinctness with which the phantom
was 5iscerne5 b> " an5 - respectivel> wo9l5 5epen5 on their relative power o=
s9pernormal percipience(Atheir ps>chical permeabilit>(Atho9gh it will still be
pres9mable that "4s previo9s rapport with )( which has probabl> 5etermine5 the
5irection which )4s clairvo>ant perception has taken( ma> also pre5ispose or enable " to
5iscern the phantom on some occasions when - cannot 5o so. On the other han5( i= -4s
power o= s9pernormal percipience greatl> e?cee5 "4s( - ma> 5iscern the phantom(
tho9gh o= a stranger( when " =ails to 5iscern it( tho9gh o= a =rien5( as in cases U3U an5
:VV( above mentione5.
S 2W. *he occasions on which s9ch observations as these are possible are likel> to be
almost as rare as eclipses. "9t( in the meantime( we ma>( at an> rate( practise Pso to sa>Q
with smoke5 glass. ,e have now the means o= act9all> pro59cing hall9cinations at will
in certain s9bDects b> h>pnotic s9ggestion( an5 a care=9l arrangement o= con5itions ma>
throw ii-UX:! light on the mo5es o= comm9nicabilit> o= hall9cination =rom one min5 to
another.
I will take =irst the simplest case( an5 will s9ppose that I am comm9nicating a
hall9cination to several h>pnotise5 s9bDects b> 5irect s9ggestion. I sa> to the =irst: B*here
is a pla>bill on the wall@ write 5own the name o= the pla> a5vertise5( b9t 5o not show it to
an>one.C .e sees the imaginar> pla>bill at m> s9ggestion( an5 his own min5 s9pplies the
title o= the pla>Asa> 9a(let. I sim9ltaneo9sl>( or D9st a=terwar5s( make the same
s9ggestion to other s9bDects. %ow i= all o= them see 9a(let a5vertise5( the special =orm
in which the =irst s9bDect shape5 his hall9cination has probabl> in=l9ence5 the rest. Even
i= the> see 8thello, 'acbeth( [c.( there has perhaps been a comm9nication o= the i5ea o=
/hakespeare. "9t i= the> see 8ur Bo,s, The *rivate !ecretar,( [c.( then the speci=ic =orm
which the =irst s9bDect4s hall9cination ass9me5 has not e?ercise5 a shaping power over
the imp9lses to hall9cination which I have comm9nicate5 to the other s9bDects.
)gain( take a case o= deferred hall9cination( as when 1ro=essor "ea9nis o= %anc> tol5
M5lle. ).( in the h>pnotic trance( that she wo9l5 see him call on her on Fan9ar> 2st at 2;
a.m. Let a similar anticipator> i5ea be again impresse5 on M5lle. )( an5 let it be provi5e5
that other persons( known to be s9sceptible( shall be in M5lle. )4s compan> when the
hall9cination =alls 59e. It can then be seen whether the> Bcatch it =rom her(C so to sa>( b>
telepathic in=ection. Or i= the> =ail to 5o so( the trans=erence might be =acilitate5 as
=ollows. M5lle. ) might be le5 to e?pect 1ro=essor "ea9nis4 visit in a special 5ress(
care=9ll> impresse5 on her. *he others might simpl> be tol5 that the 1ro=essor wo9l5 call
at the ho9r 5etermine5. It might then be seen whether the hall9cination which ha5 been
s9ggeste5 to them in a comparativel> vag9e =orm were ren5ere5 5e=inite b> in=ection
=rom M5lle. )4s clearer perception o= the phantasmal visitant( so that all alike saw him in
the 5ress anno9nce5 to M5lle. ).
*he s9bDects on whom s9ch e?periments as these can be attempte5 with s9ccess are at
present =ew in n9mber( an5 almost e?cl9sivel> +rench. "9t the metho5ical ]eal with
which a gro9p o= +rench ph>sicians are now p9rs9ing this =orm o= research ren5ers it
likel> that =resh light will soon be she5 on the genesis an5 5evelopment o= hall9cinator>
percepts. /9ch theorising( there=ore( as I am here attempting nee5 not be premat9re( i= it
serves to s9ggest e?periment( an5 to g9i5e observation.
S 27. "9t those who have =ollowe5 me th9s =ar will =in5 that a =9rther re=lection is here
nat9rall> s9ggeste5. I= in cases o= collective hall9cination we have seen reason to
conDect9re that there has been( not a mere series o= ii-UX3! telepathic trans=erences o=
impression( b9t a presentation as a E9asipercept to several min5s o= a 5istant agent4s
conception o= himsel= as present among them b> a kin5 o= ps>chical translation( then we
can har5l> s9ppose that this e?planation is applicable to collective cases alone. *he
acci5ent that some in5i==erent person share5 with the primar> =rien5 the perception o= the
phantasm ma> enlighten 9s as to the mo5e in which that phantasm was generate5( b9t
cannot have itsel= 5etermine5 that mo5e. -an we 5eci5e( then( =or which o= the
apparitions seen b> one person onl> o9r newl>-s9ggeste5 metho5 o= origination ma>
most pla9sibl> be invoke5r
M9ch( I think( might be learnt =rom reviewing the whole series o= o9r phantasms( while
keeping in view the analog> o= the allege5 cases o= e?perimental clairvo>ance in the
same wa> as the analog> o= e?perimental telepath> has been kept in view in the
prece5ing chapters. "9t s9ch a task m9st be postpone5 till the evi5ence =or clairvo>ance
itsel= shall have been s9bDecte5 to a searching anal>sis. )ll that I can attempt here is to
5raw attention to two problems( alrea5> repeate5l> to9che5 on b> Mr. &9rne>( b9t
capable o= being 5isc9sse5 with pro=it =rom several points o= view. I speak o= the apparent
garb an5 s>mbolism o= phantasms( an5 o= their attraction to special localities.
S 2X. *he E9estion o= the clothes o= ghostsAor the ghosts o= clothesAis one which
presents the relation between the material an5 the immaterial 9n5er a speciall> grotesE9e
aspect. *heories which attrib9te an> kin5 o= materialit> to the B,hite La5>C or B&re>
La5>C hersel=( are apt to get ine?tricabl> entangle5 in her sha5ow> m9slin. )n5 apart
=rom an> 5e=inite theorising( the =rock-coat or the =lowere5 5ressing-gown o= the
Bspirit9al visitant(C has seeme5 to man> min5s to 5estro> his 5ignit> an5 interestAto be
pain=9ll> incongr9o9s with p9re e?istences an5 a no9menal worl5. On the other han5( I
nee5 har5l>( at this point( e?plain that on the h>pothesis a5vance5 in this book( this ver>
m9n5aneness o= the apparition is precisel> what was to be e?pecte5. +or veri5ical
hall9cinationsAlike morbi5 hall9cinations( tho9gh in a 5i==erent senseAare the o9tcome
o= h9man min5s@ the =orm in which m> =rien54s phantasm presents itsel= to me has been
stampe5 thereon either b> m> =rien54s min5 or m> own. )n5 it there=ore wo9l5 be strange
i= I phantasmall> saw the 5>ing man 9nclothe5(Aas I have never seen him in li=e@ i= he(
in his last moments( pict9re5 himsel= as he has never hitherto pict9re5 himsel= in
colloE9> with his =rien5s.
"9t granting the almost 9navoi5able s9pposition that the phantom will appear clothe5A
an5 clothe5 in some s9ch wa> as either agent4s or percipient4s min5 can s9ggestA
E9estions remain which are among the most ii-UXV! important an5 the most 5i==ic9lt
with which we have to 5eal. *he clothes o= apparitions are like the carto9ches o=
Eg>ptian kingsAthe> are hierogl>phs( in part seemingl> arbitrar>( in part obvio9sl>
s>mbolical( which we m9st compare an5 5ecipher be=ore we can arrange o9r processional
=ig9res b> 5ate an5 5>nast>. +or the most part these phantoms remain b9t =or a moment(
an5 are gone witho9t speech or action be=ore their astonishe5 spectator has recovere5
=rom the shock o= their approach. /ometimes their =aces present some change or
partic9larit>( as o= hair or bear5( o= pallor or inD9r>( which in some 5egree i5enti=ies the
moment o= time( past or present( which that phantasmal visage ten5s to repro59ce. "9t
o=ten s9ch traces =ail 9s. *he witness ga]es( not on some scarre5 an5 mangle5 =ormA
*ria(iden laniatu( corpore totoAb9t on the 9nchange5 aspect o= a =amiliar =rien5. +or
most observers s9ch recognition is eno9gh( as it is eno9gh =or the 5evo9t worshipper to
recognise in a pict9re the Ma5onna4s =ace. *oo soon the vision 5isappearsAiteru(
crudelia retro <ata vocantAan5 what is le=t is the shock o= loss( the memor> o=
consolation. It is =rom no want o= s>mpath> with those primar> emotions that we m9st
9rge on the rea5ers o= this book the imperative nee5( sho9l5 occasion be o==ere5 to them(
o= a min9ter an5 calmer observation. Ever> 5etail o= the phantasmal appearance has some
meaning@ an5 the points which the spectator accepts as s9bor5inate an5 9nimpressive
ma> contain cl9es so9ght elsewhere in vain. *h9sAto come at once to m> present
p9rposeAit is 9s9al =or a witness to sa> Bhe appeare5 to me in the 5ress he habit9all>
wore( an5 in which I knew him.C In one sense these two cla9ses mean the same thing. "9t
which o= them is the reall> e==ective oner I= )4s phantom wears a black coat( is that
beca9se ) wore a black coat( or beca9se " was acc9stome5 to see him in oner I= ) ha5
taken to wearing a brown coat since " saw him in the =lesh( wo9l5 )4s phantom wear to
"4s e>es a black coat or a brownr Or wo9l5 the 5ress which ) act9all> wore at the
moment o= 5eath 5ominate( as it were( an5 s9pplant phantasmall> the cost9mes o= his
or5inar> 5a>sr
*hose who have =ollowe5 the cases cite5 in this book( an5 Mr. &9rne>4s comments
thereon( will know that the answer to these E9estions is neither 9ni=orm nor clear. It is
sel5om that we can tr9st the percipient4s memor> o= the 5etails o= his vision( an5 even
when these 5etails have been care=9ll> note5 their lesson is not eas> to 5ecipher.
,e have( o= co9rse( as a starting point( the known =act that a man ma> have a p9rel>
s9bDective hall9cination( an5 ma> clothe it in almost an> =ashion(Aintro59cing items o=
5ress which have never been conscio9sl> =amiliar to his min5. ,e ma> nat9rall> begin(
then( b> ass9ming that( 9nless evi5ence to the contrar> be =orthcoming( it is =rom the
percipient4s min5 that the 5ress or other imager> o= the phantom is ii-UX8! 5rawn. Let 9s
see whether there are an> cases where this seems clearl> in5icate5 b> the partic9lars o=
the 5ress itsel=.
/9ppose that the 5>ing ) appears to "( habite5 in hat an5 coat( tho9gh in point o= =act he
is in be5 at the time. M9st we not here sa> that "4s min5 has =9rnishe5 the setting o= the
=ig9re( an5 that nothing be>on5 the mere impression o= a personalit> comes =rom )
himsel=r
%o@ this 5e59ction wo9l5 be insec9re. +or it ass9mes that i= the agent proDects a
5evelope5 phantom o= himsel=(Aa conception o= himsel=( that is to sa>( which "4s min5
e?ternalises as a phantom(Ahe will necessaril> proDect it as tho9gh cla5 in the garments
which he is wearing at the time. "9t we have no gro9n5s =or ass9ming this. F9st as " ma>
imagine ) as wearing a =amiliar greatcoat( so ma> ) imagine himsel= as wearing that
coat( whatever be his act9al 5ress at the time.
/9ppose that we 5ream o= calling on a =rien5. In most cases we 5ream o= o9rselves as in
or5inar> walking attire. It is onl> rarel> that we 5ream o= entering a 5rawing-room in
tiefe( n4glig4( as the &ermans p9t it(Aan obsc9re sense o= one4s act9al con5ition
entering( with 5isastro9s incoherence( into the =eebl> co-or5inate5 stor> o= one4s 5ream.
%ow( i= we are comparing these veri5ical hall9cinations to obDecti=ie5 5reams( we m9st at
least allow =or the chance o= the 5ream being the agent4s own@ we m9st not ass9me that it
is alwa>sAso to sa>Adrea(t for hi( b> the person to whom he appears. ,hatever the
agent4s act9al 5ress at the time( all the cases where he appears merel> in his 9s9al
cost9me m9st be set asi5e as ne9tral. ,e cannot press them to prove the origin o= the
=ig9re in either the one or the other min5.
Is there( then( an> =eat9re to which we can point as 9n5o9bte5l> 59e to the workings o=
the percipients min5r an>thing in the associations o= the 5ressr or in the special
s>mbolism o= the apparitionr It is plain that associations attaching to )4s 5ress m9st be
common to ) as well as to ". /9ppose that " saw the 5>ing ) habite5 in a coat which )
wore at "4s we55ing( or at some other epochal moment in "4s li=e. It m9st still be
remembere5 that that same moment was epochal to ) also( in so =ar as his relation to "
was concerne5( an5 that its conscio9s or 9nconscio9s memor> ma> in=l9ence )4s
conception o= himsel= as bi55ing " a last =arewell. /imilarl>( a man who recalls his acts
o= homage to 'o>alt> vag9el> =eels himsel= in -o9rt 5ress@ a man who imagines himsel=
talking to a h9nting acE9aintance has a slight senseAwhat is calle5 a BphantomC senseA
o= being on horseback.
)n5 this ambig9it>( I think( attaches to the =ew cases in which( as Mr. &9rne> 9rges( the
Bghosts o= old clothes(C in which the phantom appears( in5icate the percipient4s memor>
as the so9rce o= that investit9re. ii-UXW! In -olonel an5 Mrs. "ollan54s case PU;2Q( a
scr9tin> o= the 5ates an5 =acts given will show that we have no reason to regar5 'amsa>4s
clothes as old(Aas otherwise than still the s9it in which he wo9l5 he likel> to imagine
himsel= as calling on a =ormer mistress. In case U;;( a brother 5elirio9s in )9stralia( an5
=anc>ing himsel= at home( appears to his sister on the lawn( B5resse5 as he 9s9all> was
when he came home =rom Lon5on( not as he was when he le=t home( nor as he co9l5 be
in )9stralia( nor as I ha5 ever seen him when walking in the gar5en.C /9rel> all that this
5ress implie5 was the i5ea o= a traveller4s ho(e6co(ing( which was at an> rate the
5ominant one in the brother4s ravings. .a5 it been his wonte5 gar5en cost9me( then to
m> min5 the 5ress( tho9gh still ambig9o9s( wo9l5 have looke5 more probabl> re=erable
to the sister4s shaping imagination.
In a thir5 an5 =o9rth case( P%o. U;U( an5 p. V38( secon5 note(QY~Z there is an a5mi?t9re o=
9ne?plaine5 grotesE9eness( Pthe la5> in a carriage( the bo> Benclose5( as it were( in a 5ark
cellarCQ( which seems to remove these cases into the categor> ne?t to be consi5ere5(
namel>( where the phantasmal =ig9re is accompanie5 b> s,(bolis(( whose origin we
have to ascribe to one or the other min5. /9ch s>mbolism( as Mr. &9rne> has pointe5 o9t(
is 9s9all> re=erable to some Bmental habit or tra5ition(C which is probabl> common to
both the min5s concerne5. One can( o= co9rse( imagine a case where the s>mbolism
sho9l5 be s9ch as the percipients min5 alone wo9l5 be likel> to think o=@ as i=( =or
instance( the Btho9san5s o= angels as tight as the> co9l5 be packe5(C which Pin case U;WQ
are seen s9rro9n5ing a 5eparte5 -hristian =rien5( ha5 =orme5 the s>mbolic escort o= a
prono9nce5 )gnostic.
S U;. "9t in 5e=a9lt o= s9ch narratives as this( the cases where the in=l9ence o= the
percipient4s i5ios>ncras> seems most marke5 are those where the same percipient has a
rec9rrent s>mbolical 5ream( coinci5ent on each occasion with a 5eath or other marke5
occ9rrence. ,e have a =ew s9ch cases( b9t in the most remarkable o= them P%o. 2:2Q the
=orm o= the 5ream is not e?actl> i5ios>ncratic( b9t rather takes on a =orm with which
st95ents o= =olk-lore are alrea5> =amiliar. *he tra5itions o= =olk-lore( it ma> be remarke5(
=orm a kin5 o= ende(ic s,(bolis(( in which both morbi5 an5 veri5ical hall9cinations
ten5 to clothe themselves. In some cases we have =o9n5 a comm9nit> o= -eltic
=ishermen( or the like( so 5eepl> impregnate5 with tra5itions o= this kin5 that we cannot
accept their acco9nts o= corpse-can5les( [c.( tho9gh s9pporte5 b> apparent coinci5ences
o= =act( as o= real evi5ential val9e. ,e are oblige5( that is to sa>( to treat s9ch a
comm9nit> as s9bDect to cas9al hall9cinations( which 5etract =rom the importance o= s9ch
coinci5ences with obDective =act as 5o =rom time to time occ9r. It is ii-UX7! onl> in some
o= the remoter regions o= ,ales an5 /cotlan5 that we have =o9n5 s9perstitions o= this sort
active an5 5e=inite. "9t the ten5enc> to the rec9rrence o= some special s>mbolismA
s>mbolism o= which the percipient ma> never remember to have hear5Aamong the
5reams o= e59cate5 persons( remin5s 9s sometimes o= the spora5ic en5emicit> o= certain
tra5itions o= =olk-lore( o= which this ver> ten5enc> ma> be itsel= the pro?imate ca9se.
In o9r present collection( however( we have incl95e5 ver> little o= s9ch s>mbolism( an5
to what there is we can assign no certain origin in agent4s or percipient4s min5.
S U2. On the whole( then( it seems that we have =ew in5ications in the 5ress or other
s9rro9n5ings o= =9ll>-5evelope5 veri5ical phantoms which point concl9sivel> to an origin
in the percipients min5. )re there instances( on the other han5( which >iel5 the reverse
in5icationr that is( where the 5ress or imager> seems mani=estl> traceable to the min5 o=
the agent himsel=r
/9ch in5ication ma> conceivabl> be given in two main wa>s. *he agent4s 5ress or aspect
at the moment ma> be phantasmall> repro59ce5@ or there ma> be s>mbolism( not vag9e
or tra5itional in character( b9t plainl> a5apte5 to comm9nicate some in=ormation known
to the agent alone.
O= the =irst o= these classes the rea5er will have observe5 a goo5 man> e?amples. *here
are( =irst o= all( the phantoms in night-5ress. In one or two cases Pe.g.( %o. V8:(Q these are
apparitions o= persons whom the percipient knows to be 5>ing( an5 the white 5ress might(
there=ore( be s9ggeste5 b> the percipient4s min5. "9t in other cases Psee especiall> %o.
U23Q there is no e?pectation o= the agent4s 5eath( an5 the 5ress astonishes the percipient
b> its incongr9it>.
/till more remarkable are the cases where the 5>ing man appears in a 5ress which he is
act9all> wearing at the moment( altho9gh it is not s9ch as is 9s9all> associate5 with
5eath-be5s. *he case o= $r. "owstea5 P%o. U2UQ( commente5 on b> Mr. &9rne>( ma>
serve as a t>pe o= this class. In s9ch a case as that Pto an>one who believes that more than
mere chance is involve5Q( it m9st s9rel> seem more probable that the 5ress o= the
phantom was the creation o= the 5>ing man4s min5 rather than o= the min5 o= the bo> to
whom that phantom appeare5. )n5 it is observable that while s9ch evi5ence as points to
the percipient4s part in shaping these =ig9res is in5irect an5 in=erential( the evi5ence
which points to their =9ll-blown proDection =rom the agent4s min5 is o=ten as 5irect an5
9nmistakeable as an> evi5ence on s9ch a point can be e?pecte5 to be. ii-UXX!
S UU. %e?t as regar5s the s>mbolism which accompanies the =ig9re. *he commonest case
o= s>mbolismAi= s9ch it is to be calle5Aconsists in the wet clothes o= the apparition o= a
5rowne5 man. *here is possibl> something in 5eath b> asph>?iation which Pas it seems to
revive past memories with 9n9s9al vivi5nessQ pre5isposes also to telepathic action. )t
an> rate( we have a goo5 man> o= s9ch cases( an5 there seems almost alwa>s to be some
speci=ic in5ication o= the manner o= 5eath. B$ripping with water(C Bhis hair wet(C Bpale(
sa5( an5 wet(C Blooking hal=-5rowne5(C s9ch are the phrases which rec9r. *he 5istinctive
mark here is ver> simpleAit ma> be sai5 to be nothing more than a translation into
visibilit> o= the i5ea B.e is 5rowning.C ,e might( there=ore( s9ppose that it ha5 perhaps
originate5 in the percipient4s min5. "9t this view is ren5ere5 less pla9sible b> the cases
where the apparition presents more 5etaile5 marks o= acci5ent( change( or 5isease( as the
wo9n5 on the chest in case U2;( the trembling an5 pallor in case VUW( the gre> hair in case
2X3( an5 the comple? an5 partl> s>mbolical aspect o= the phantom in case UV. It is worth
remarking that B%. F. /.C Pcase U7Q( who looke5 care=9ll> at the 5etails o= his apparition(
is o= opinion that the walking-stick which his =rien5 hel5 Pb9t which B%. F. /.C never
remembere5 to have seen him 9singQ was s>mbolical( an5 meant to impl> 5epart9re an5 a
=arewell. *he case P%o. V23Q o= the la5> seen with a lock o= hair c9t o== an5 a Bpec9liar
light 9pon her(C presents a somewhat similar mi?t9re o= tr9e repro59ction an5
s>mbolism@ an5 the e?traor5inar> narrative o= /engiree= P%o. 33XQ( which thro9gho9t
resembles an e?travagant 5ream( shows that the phantom presente5 some 5etails Po=
bear5( [c.Q which were tr9e an5 9nknown to the percipient. M> view in that instance is
that the 5ream in realit> was not Ma5ame )ksako==4s( b9t /engiree=4s@ that its insane
strangeness was the re=lection o= the con=9se5 clairvo>ance o= a 5elirio9s monomaniac.
,ith this last case I sho9l5 compare %o. :3X: the 5i==erence being that here( instea5 o=
the sombre wil5ness o= the =anatic( we have the 5evo9t aspiration o= the -atholic bo>. I
sho9l5 e?plain( that is to sa>( the =ig9re o= /t. /tanisla9s as the re=lecte5 embo5iment o= a
5>ing 5ream.
I have sai5 eno9gh( perhaps( to enable the rea5er to =orm his own D95gment on this point
=rom the cases recor5e5 in these vol9mes. On the one han5( i= he accepts o9r general
arg9ment as to the connection o= p9rel> s9bDective an5 veri5ical hall9cinations( he will
recognise that there is a certain 3 priori likelihoo5 that the 5etails o= the hall9cination will
be =o9n5 to emanate =rom the percipients min5. )n5 he ma> be 5ispose5 to =ollow Mr.
&9rne> in classing 59bio9s cases b> this pres9mption@ in ranking as e?ceptional the
narratives where the 5etails seem plainl> 5erive5 =rom the min5 o= the agent. I=( on the
other han5( he views the cases which I have mentione5 Pan5 man> others which resemble
themQ in ii-:;;! the light in which I have trie5 to place them( he ma> recognise that
when the apparition 5oes present an> 5istinct 5etails( these are almost alwa>s s9ch as the
agent4s min5 might most nat9rall> have s9pplie5@ an5 that this =act s9ggests a 5o9bt as to
whether there ma> not be something more than a simple telepathic imp9lse involve5@A
whether the obsc9rer agenc> o= clairvo>ance m9st not here be invoke5@Aan analog>
s9ggesting that certain mo5es o= s9pernormal percipience an5 sel=-realisation in a 5istant
scene ma> pro59ce 9pon the persons place5 in that scene an impression as o= the act9al
presence o= the clairvo>ant among them( in a manner correspon5ing to his own
momentar> conception o= himsel=.
S U:. -onnecte5( in a certain wa>( with the s>mbolism o= which we have been speaking(
is another point o= interest in these phantasmal appearances. I mean the 5i==ic9lt> which
is sometimes =elt in recognising them.
*o begin with( it is no 5o9bt possible to s9ppose that the percipient4s min5 b9il5s 9p the
hall9cination( so to sa>( =rom some 9nconscio9s strat9m( so that the conscio9s sel= 5oes
not at the =irst moment 9n5erstan5 the =ig9re presente5. *his wo9l5 be a =orm o= gra59al
5evelopment o= the E9asi-percept which co9l5 be parallele5 both =rom or5inar> 5reams
an5 =rom a9tomatic writing. I cannot( in5ee5( =in5 that p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations
ever 5evelop themselves in this wa>. #et I sho9l5 m>sel= see no real 5i==ic9lt> in appl>ing
this e?planation even to cases where the recognition wholl> =ails at the time( an5 is onl>
e==ecte5 a=terwar5s b> conscio9s re=lection. /9ch a case wo9l5 resemble the anagrams
which an a9tomatic writer will sometimes commit to paper(
2
witho9t 9n5erstan5ing at the
time what are the wor5s which his 9nconscio9s sel= has th9s conceale5 in a meaningless
gro9p o= letters.
"9t( nevertheless( some o= the recor5e5 partic9lars seem to point to the simpler
e?planationAnamel>( that the phantom4s 5etails were 5evelope5 in5epen5entl> o= the
percipient4s min5( an5 that the =ig9re merel> =aile5 in making itsel= known to him.
/ometimes( =or e?ample( the percipient looks attentivel> at the =ig9re( b9t mistakes it =or
some one who resembles the person whom the =ig9re is a=terwar5s =o9n5 to represent.
U

/ometimes the phantom which the percipient =ails to recognise represents a person whom
he might eE9all> have =aile5 to recognise in the =lesh.
:
/ometimes a call is repeated( as i=
in insistant appeal.
3
)n5 there are a =ew cases(Awe co9l5 not e?pect man>(Awhere a
percipient has seen a =ig9re wholl> 9nknown to him( b9t which he has a=terwar5s been
able to i5enti=> b> circ9mstantial evi5ence. /9ch are cases V33 an5 U2V. Un5er ii-:;2!
this categor>( too( comes the sing9lar apparition 5etaile5 in case :;( whatever e?planation
we ma> pre=er to give to it.
-ases like these incline me to think that we are still in 5anger o= an ol5 error in a
mo5i=ie5 =orm(Athe error o= attrib9ting too m9ch importance to the person who sees the
phantom( beca9se his acco9nt o= the matter is the onl> one which we can get. ,e are(
in5ee5( no longer a==ecte5 b> the cr95e emotional =orm o= this mistake(Aas when the
percipient consi5ers the apparition to be a breach o= nat9ral laws permitte5 e?pressl> in
=avo9r o= himsel=. "9t o9r own conception o= the apparition as the res9lt o= a telepathic
trans=erence o= impression =rom the one to the other min5 is apt( I think( to obsc9re the
possibilit> o= generative ca9ses E9ite apart =rom an> pre-e?isting rapport between the
two persons.
S U3. *h9s( to procee5 to the ne?t point which I ha5 selecte5 =or notice( it seems to me
that the attraction which 5etermines the phantasmal presence is sometimes local rather
than personal. *his apparent in=l9ence o= a certain localit> ma> be observe5 in several
5i==erent stages. In some cases the phantasmal visitor appears to an acE9aintance with
whom he has some slight link( an5 who is also in a spot to which the 5>ing man is
attache5. .ere the telepathic imp9lse ma> have been =acilitate5 b> the =amiliar localit>.
"9t in a =ew cases( as alrea5> mentione5( the 5>ing man appears to persons with whom
he is in no wa> acE9ainte5. )n5 I believe that in ever> clear instance o= this kin5 there
has been a local attraction( a reason which 5raws the 5>ing person to that ho9se or =iel5(
irrespective o= the living persons who ma> be there at the moment.
-ase 888 is a goo5 e?ample o= what I mean.
2
"9t at the same time it warns me to press
m> arg9ment no =9rther. +or D9st as in certain 5reams( alrea5> mentione5( we 5iscerne5
the point o= contact between tho9ght-trans=erence an5 clairvo>ance( so in this
appearance( Pas it ma> seem to have been(Q o= a 5>ing person to the cas9al inhabitants o=
her =ormer home we have the point o= contact between the topic o= this work an5 the
evi5ence which bears on the haunting o= partic9lar spots. *o the clairvo>ance( when th9s
con=ronte5 with it( I =elt able to e?press a 5istinct a5hesion. "9t as to the ha9nting I have
no eE9all> clear opinion.
%ow it is probable that what appears to 9s as local attraction ma> sometimes be a mere
phase o= ps>chical rapport. *o e?plain m> meaning( ii-:;U! let 9s ass9me that all min5s
whatsoever are telepathicall> connecte5( in s9ch a manner that the e?istence o= an> given
conception in an> min5 throws that min5 into connection with ever> other min5 in which
that conception e?ists at the moment. Let 9s =9rther s9ppose that at the ho9r o= 5eath this
=aint potential rapport is E9ickene5 in the same wa> as the more permanent an5
in5ivi59al =orms o= rapport with which we have mainl> ha5 to 5eal. *hen when a man
5ies et dulcis (oriens re(iniscitur )rgos, this remembrance o= his earl> home ma> bring
him into telepathic relation with the stranger now living there( an5 that stranger ma>
5iscern the 5>ing man4s phantom merel> beca9se the two min5s are sim9ltaneo9sl>
occ9pie5 with an i5entical conception.
*his view( which is practicall> hel5 b> Mr. &9rne>( seems to me to e?press what is
probabl> some part o= the tr9th. I conceive that( i= telepath> be a =act( something o=
5i==9se5 telepathic percolation is probabl> alwa>s taking place. *his at least is what the
analog> o= the limitless an5 contin9o9s action o= ph>sical =orces wo9l5 s9ggest. I= I li=t
m> little =inger I a==ect( like Jeno4s sage( the whole 9niverse b> m> act. I appl> a vis a
tergo to atoms which( =or a9ght I know( ma> sen5 m> p9sh rolling on to the 1leia5es. Or
again( the heat( part o= which I can b> an e==ort concentrate on an apple in m> han5( is in
=act ra5iating contin9o9sl> =rom all m> organism( an5 =astest in the 5irection o= rea5iest
con59ction. )n5 similarl> it is not 9nreasonable to s9ppose that the same telerg> which is
5irecte5 in a moment o= crisis towar5s a man4s 5earest =rien5( ma> be ra5iating =rom him
alwa>s towar5s all other min5s( an5 chie=l> towar5s the min5s which have most in
common with his own.
#et it seems to me that this is not eno9gh wholl> to e?plain o9r cases o= local attraction.
"e=ore we can ass9me that an> perceptible telepathic impact can =ollow the lines o= so
transitor> an5 contingent a rapport as that implie5( =or instance( b> Mr. "ar54s presence
in .in?ton -h9rch>ar5( in case UX( we o9ght( I think( to have some case where a phantom
has appeare5 to " witho9t previo9s acE9aintance( on the gro9n5 o= some comm9nit> o=
i5eas an5 interest between the two( 9nconnecte5 with an> special localit>. %ow( so =ar as
I know( there is not( among o9r cases recognise5 as telepathic( a single inci5ent o= this
kin5.
S UV. .ere( then( we are again met b> this perple?ing problem o= the relation o= ps>chical
operations to space@ an5 altho9gh( as alrea5> sai5( I shall avoi5 an> attempt at its
5isc9ssion in this work( the rea5er will probabl> recognise that some s9ch h>pothesis as
that o= an in5epen5ent clairvo>ant perception o= the 5>ing man4s( re=lecte5 in a
correspon5ingl>-localise5 hall9cination =or other min5s( is strongl> s9ggeste5 b> s9ch
narratives as these.
ii-:;:!
*here is( however( an obvio9s 5i==ic9lt> in this view which m9st be 5isc9sse5 be=ore we
go =9rther. I have spoken repeate5l> o= acts o= clairvo>ant percipience on the 5>ing man4s
part( correspon5ing to the location an5 movement o= the apparition which the 5istant
=rien5 5iscerns. "9t where is the evi5ence o= this clairvo>ant percipiencer O9ght we not
to have the 5>ing man4s testimon> that he saw his =rien5 as well as the =rien54s testimon>
that he saw the 5>ing manr O9ght not the mass o= o9r cases( in this view( to be
reciprocalJ an5 is not that t>pe( in =act( o= ver> rare occ9rrence in o9r collectionr
*he 5i==ic9lt> seems =ormi5able@ b9t there is( I think( a s9==icient an5 an instr9ctive repl>.
*o p9t it in a sentence( the recollection o= an act o= clairvo>ance is itsel= an occ9rrence as
rare as is the perception o= an apparition@ it involves the same 5i==ic9lt translation o= a
E9asi-percept =rom the s9pernormal to the normal conscio9sness. *he ver> act o=
clairvo>ance pres9pposes a ps>chical con5ition as =ar remove5 as ma> be =rom the
stream o= ever>-5a> sensation. *he clairvo>ance allege5 to have been in59ce5 b> 5irect
e?periment( as b> mesmeric passes an5 the like( seems har5l> ever to have been
remembere5 b> the s9bDect on waking. /o also the clairvo>ance( on a smaller scale an5
more resembling h>perOsthesia( which has shown itsel= in certain cases o= spontaneo9s
somnamb9lism( seems rarel> to persist into the normal memor>. )n5( speaking generall>(
all s9pernormal operation Pso =ar as we can at present tellQ ten5s to =orm a secon5ar>
memor> o= its own( alternating with( or apart =rom( the memor> o= common li=e.
In or5er( then( that a BreciprocalC case ma> occ9rAa case in which ) remembers to have
ha5 a clairvo>ant perception o= " an5 "4s environment( while " also has perceive5 )4s
phantasm at appro?imatel> the same timeAtwo chances have to conc9r( two 5i==ic9lties
to be s9rmo9nte5(Athe 5i==ic9lt> on )4s part o= recollecting his clairvo>ant percipience(
an5 the 5i==ic9lt> on "4s part o= e?ternalising into memorable 5istinctness the
correspon5ing impression conve>e5 to him. )n5 we ma> e?pect that it will be har5 to get
a complete or stable acco9nt o= so ha]ar5o9s a transmission as this(Aa kin5 o= signalling
between boats one o= which e?pects no signal( an5 which come in sight o= each other
onl> when the> both chance to be ri5ing =or a moment on the crest o= a wave.
S U8. %a>( more@ in most cases the signalling boat can onl> pro59ce a momentar> =lash(
an5 sinks to the bottom 5irectl> a=ter. In other wor5s the agent dies@ an5 i= in5ee5 he has
enDo>e5 a clairvo>ant percipience o= " Pwho saw his phantomQ( he at an> rate cannot
ret9rn an5 tell 9s. *he great b9lk o= what might have been evi5ence to the reciprocalit> o=
s9pernormal percipience is th9s 5estro>e5 at a blow.
ii-:;3!
%ot even here( however( nee5 we aban5on all hope o= getting at some =ragments o=
evi5ence. *he last wor5s( the last gest9res o= 5>ing men( which have been note5 so
eagerl> b> man> a religio9s( an5 man> a sel=-seeking b>stan5er( ma> have =or 9s an
interest 9nconnecte5 either with their =orm o= cree5 or with their testamentar>
5ispositions. %othing@ perhaps( has been so little looke5 =or at 5eath-be5s as the special
in5ications which we 5esire(Ain5ications not o= a =irst perception o= another worl5( b9t
o= a last o= this. #et there are scattere5 tokens o= some s9ch s9pernormal percipience on
the part o= 5>ing men( which carr> 9s =rom mere vag9e e?pressions to 5istinct statements
as to the 5istant person who has been clairvo>antl> seen. *h9s in case :;X the 5>ing
woman4s statement is merel> to be note5 in connection with others o= more weight. -ase
UX8 m9st either be 5ismisse5 as a mere coinci5ence( o= a ver> e?traor5inar> kin5( or
accepte5 as an almost t>pical instance o= what might( on m> h>pothesis( be e?pecte5 to
occ9r. -ase :;: points in the same 5irection. -ase 87:( tho9gh well atteste5( is one
whose biAarrerie ma> 5isincline the rea5er to attach to it the weight which I think that it
o9ght to carr>. On looking closer the rea5er will see that there are other =eat9res in that
acco9nt besi5es mere grotesE9eness@ =eat9res which are ver> 9nlikel> to 5epen5 9pon an>
=ail9re( or an> embellishment( o= memor>. )n5 i=( as I am 5ispose5 to believe( what is
there implie5 5i5 act9all> occ9r( =ew wor5s o= men momentaril> recalle5 =rom 5eath have
ha5 a stranger signi=icance.
*hen we come to cases where there is a 5istinct statement o= the 5>ing person4s. In this
connection( case :V3 seems to me important. It is remote( no 5o9bt@ b9t Miss ,. has
hersel= tol5 me( with an earnestness that I cannot 5o9bt( that it was( in a sense( the t9rning
inci5ent o= her li=e( having e?cite5 a ver> marke5 in=l9ence on her character. *hen there
is case 82U( an5 the parallel e?ample given in the note on that case. %ow I 5o not sa> that
it is impossible that an> one o= these cases ma> have been merel> s9bDective on the one
part( tho9gh veri5ical on the other@ so that Miss ,4s. 5>ing a9nt( =or instance( onl>
=ancie5 that she saw her niece( while the niece 5i5 act9all> behol5 a phantom o= her a9nt
at a correspon5ing time. "9t I 5o9bt whether man> min5s will rest at this point precisel>.
*hose who believe in the realit> o= the one e?perience will probabl> believe in the realit>
o= the other@ remembering that a 5>ing person4s obDect is not to collect evi5ence( an5 that
it m9st be a mere chance whether he mentions an> inci5ent which can vo9ch to others =or
the gen9ineness o= his clairvo>ant perception.
I will concl95e this section with a narrative whose acc9rac> there is no reason to 5o9bt(
tho9gh( on the other han5( it contains no complete proo= o= an>thing be>on5 a mere
s9bDective hall9cination. It =in5s there=ore( no ii-:;V! place in o9r arra> o= evi5ence@ b9t
it will have an interest to those who have =ollowe5 the present arg9ment( as ill9strating an
occ9rrence which( in m> view( m9st probabl> o=ten take place( tho9gh it can sel5om
leave an> recor5 behin5 it. +or here we have an acco9nt o= that si5e onl> o= the reciprocal
inci5ent which is 9s9all> lost to h9man knowle5ge altogether@AI mean o= the
s9pernormal percipience o= a man in the ver> article o= 5eath@ while there is no recor5 o=
an> correspon5ing so9n5 or vision as e?perience5 b> those to whom he seeme5 to pa> his
visit o= =arewell.
$r. Ormsb> writes as =ollows =rom M9rph>sboro9gh( Illinois.
B)pril UUn5( 2773.
BI receive5 m> 5egree =rom '9sh Me5ical -ollege( -hicago( Ill.( at the close o= the
session 27VWT7( an5 having sai5 so m9ch will procee5 to give >o9 as clear an5 complete
a statement o= the occ9rrence to which >o9 all95e as I can. Earl> in +ebr9ar>( 278U( the
27th 'egiment Illinois Vol9nteer In=antr>( o= which I was )ssistant-/9rgeon( was or5ere5
=rom -airo to Doin in the attack on +ort .enr>. *he s9rgeon went with the regiment( an5
le=t me with the sick in the 'egimental .ospitalAabo9t :;Aamong whom was )lbert
)5ams( sergeant-maDor o= the regiment. .e was an intelligent an5 estimable >o9ng man(
who ha5 recentl> been in atten5ance( an5 I think gra59ate5 at a Literar> -ollege. I ha5
remove5 >o9ng )5ams =rom the hospital proper to a room in a private ho9seAone that
ha5 been E9ite largeAb9t a smaller room ha5 been partitione5 o== at one en5 with a
boar5 partition( which was( I think( canvasse5 an5 papere5@ an5 in the smaller room so
partitione5 o== was m> wi=e( who is now( besi5es m>sel=( the onl> person who hear5 the
speaking whose whereabo9ts I know. /eeing the >o9ng man wo9l5 5ie( I ha5 telegraphe5(
an5 his =ather came at 3 or V p.m. $9ring all the a=ternoon he co9l5 onl> speak in
whispers( an5 at 22 p.m. he to all appearance 5ie5. I was stan5ing besi5e his =ather b> the
be5( an5 when we tho9ght him 5ea5 the ol5 man p9t =orth his han5 an5 close5 the mo9th
o= the corpse PrQ( an5 I( thinking he might =aint in the keenness o= his grie=( sai5 u$on4t 5o
thats perhaps he will breathe again(4 an5 imme5iatel> le5 him to a chair in the back part
o= the room( an5 ret9rne5( inten5ing to bin5 9p the =allen Daw an5 close the e>es m>sel=.
)s I reache5 the be5si5e the s9ppose5 5ea5 man looke5 s955enl> 9p in m> =ace an5 sai5(
u$octor( what 5a> o= the month is itr4 I tol5 him the 5a> o= the month( an5 he answere5(
u*hat is the 5a> I 5ie5.4 .is =ather ha5 spr9ng to the be5si5e( an5 t9rning his e>es on him(
he sai5( u+ather( o9r bo>s have taken +ort .enr>( an5 -harlie4 Phis brotherQ uisn4t h9rt.
I4ve seen mother an5 the chil5ren( an5 the> are well.4 .e then gave E9ite ii-:;8!
comprehensive 5irections regar5ing his =9neral( speaking o= the corpse as um> bo5>(4 an5
occ9p>ing( I sho9l5 think( as m9ch as =ive min9tes. .e then t9rne5 towar5s me( an5
again sai5( B$octor( what 5a> o= the month is itr4 an5 when I answere5 him as be=ore( he
again repeate5( u*hat4s the 5a> I 5ie5(4 an5 instantl> was 5ea5. .is tones were E9ite =9ll
an5 5istinct( an5 so lo95 as to be rea5il> hear5 in the a5Doining room( an5 were so hear5
b> Mrs. Ormsb>. %ow( this is ver> remarkable( b9t perhaps little more so than the =act
Pwhich is tr9eQ that I have =orgotten the 5a> o= the month on which it occ9rre5.
BP/igne5Q BO. ". O'M/"#( M.$.C
In repl> to some E9estions re=erring to a brie=er acco9nt =irst given( $r. Ormsb> writes on
$ecember U7th( 277::A
B*he =ort was taken an5 the brother 9ninD9re5( as I learne5 when a =ew 5a>s a=terwar5 I
went =orwar5 to the regiment. I never learne5 whether or not that which was sai5 o= the
=amil> was correct. *he name o= the sol5ier was )lbert )5ams( a >o9ng man o=
9ne?ceptionable moral character an5 goo5 e59cation. .e was then sergeant-maDor o= his
regiment. I 9n5erstan5 that his =ather has been 5ea5 several >ears. I 5o not now recollect
what other parties were present in the room besi5es m>sel= an5 the >o9ng man4s =ather(
tho9gh there were several( b9t as we were almost strangers to each other( an5 soon
separate5( I co9l5 not e?pect to be able to trace them. *he >o9ng man occ9pie5 a room(
not in the hospital proper( which was crow5e5( b9t in a private 5welling where he co9l5
have the entire room. *he ne?t room( comm9nicating with this b> a 5oor( I occ9pie5 as a
sleeping room( an5 m> wi=e( who was then on a visit( was in that room( with the 5oor
close5. I have D9st aske5 her whether she hear5 the wor5s o= the 5>ing sol5ier( an5 she
answers that she 5i5( in=orming me that the partition between the rooms was o= boar5s(
papere5( an5 that >o9ng )5ams( instea5 o= sa>ing uO9r =orces(4 [c.( sai5 uO9r bo>s.4 I
learne5 nothing o= an> wraith or appearance to an>one.
BP/igne5Q BO. ". O'M/"#( M.$.C
S UW. "9t apart =rom these cases where the evi5ence is barre5 b> 5eath( there are man>
others( as I have alrea5> implie5( where the agent-percipientAthe man whose clairvo>ant
perception has given rise to a correspon5ing hall9cination in other min5sAseems to be
9nable to reco9nt his si5e o= the e?perience simpl> beca9se in his normal state he has
=orgotten it. In o9r rare narratives o= a voluntar, sel=-proDection( this seems to have been
the case on each occasion. *he =rien5 o= the 'ev. ,. /. Moses( who appeare5 to him(
Pcase 2:(Q ha5 no recollection o= the =act( b9t an 9nacc9stome5 hea5ache ma> have been a
trace o= some =orgotten ps>chical e==ort. In Mr. /. .. ".4s cases P%os. 23( 2V( an5 28(Q the
ii-:;W! proDection o= the phantom was 9nremembere5( an5 co9l5 onl> be e==ecte5 59ring
sl9mber( or i= it was attempte5 59ring waking ho9rs( the concentration o= min5 which
was nee5e5 seeme5 to in59ce sl9mber.
2

S U7. 1assing =rom these vol9ntar> cases to the spontaneo9s cases( I wo9l5 ask the
rea5er4s attention( =or instance( to case 2;;. +rom an evi5ential point o= view( I agree with
Mr. &9rne> that( while regar5ing the case as a well-marke5 5ream o= telepathic origin(
we cannot press the 5etailsAthe memor> o= the hotel-passages an5 o= Lie9tenant O.4s
be5-chamber. ,hat entitles the narrative to a place in this book is the striking time-
coinci5enceAnot the 5etails( which might have been Brea5 backC into the hal=-recollecte5
vision. "9t( on the other han5( i= the inci5ent were telepathic at all( there m9st have been
some (odus operandi@ Mr. )llbree4s 5ream m9st have ha5 some sort o= content@
Lie9tenant O.4s ps>chical appeal m9st have taken e==ect in some partic9lar wa>. )n5 i=
an> h>pothesis at all is to be =orme5 on the matter( are not the recor5e5 =acts best met b>
the h>pothesis that Lie9tenant O.4s crisis evoke5 a clairvo>ant percipience in Mr. )llbree
D9st as the mesmeriser is sai5 to evoke it in the sleep-waking s9bDectr an5 that Mr.
)llbree seeme5 to himsel= to pass thro9gh the s9rro9n5ings an5 into the presence o= his
=rien5r an5 that on waking the memor> o= all this was gone =rom him( tho9gh it was
a=terwar5s revive5 b> the bo5il> sight o= the scene which he ha5 alrea5> s9pernormall>
5iscerne5r
Let 9s see( however( what kin5 o= probabilit> is given to this view b> the recor5s o= cases
where something o= the invaded scene has remaine5 in the recollection o= the invader. I
am =orce5( =or clearness4 sake( to 9se this new metaphorical term( since the wor5s agent
an5 percipient are no longer s9==icientl> 5istinctive( the agent in these cases being( in m>
view( the primar> percipient also. *he metaphor o= invasion ma> be D9sti=ie5 b> the =act
that in these reciprocal cases ) an5 " alwa>s agree as to the scene where the apparition
occ9rre5. It is never Pwith one or two 59bio9s e?ceptionsQ the case that ) thinks that he
5iscerne5 " in "4s ho9se( while " thinks that he( on his part( was transporte5 to )4s ho9se
an5 saw ) there. On the contrar>( i= ) =i?es the scene as in "4s ho9se( there 5oes " =i? it
too( a =act which is D9st what the present h>pothesis wo9l5 lea5 9s to e?pect. *his
apparent localisation in one or the other entourage is all that m> metaphor o= invasion is
here inten5e5 to s9ggest.
Let 9s brie=l> consi5er the amo9nt o= s9bseE9ent memor> shown in a =ew instances b> a
-a1ing( a sleeping( an5 an entranced inva5er.
SUX. +irst( as regar5s the cases o= invasion b> a -a1ing agent. *hese( ii-:;7! in m>
view( are likel> to be scant> an5 incomplete. I conceive that it is sel5om that the sense o=
trans=erence to a 5istant localit> can be strong eno9gh in waking li=e to give rise to the
correspon5ent impression in other min5s. )n5 in this gro9p it seems to me nat9ral to =in5
the con=9se5 or inchoate reciprocit>Ai= s9ch in5ee5 it wereAo= case :;3. "9t we have
also case :;W( where Mr. L. seems to have =allen into a 5eep reverie resembling Mr. /. ..
".4s P%os. 23( 2V( an5 28Q( tho9gh in Mr. /. .. ".4s case the reverie passe5 on into sleep.
-ase 82W( again( perhaps s9pplies a kin5 o= =aint or transitional instance( which ma>
in5icate the wa> in which the occ9pation o= two persons with the i5ea o= each other ma>
pass into something like a reciprocal hall9cination.
.ere too( i= an>where( m9st be place5 the anomalo9s case %o. 83UArecalling( on the one
han5( the most recent e?periments o= the comm9nication o= hall9cinations to h>pnotise5
s9bDects@ on the other han5( the ol5 acco9nts o= so-calle5 Bobsession.C
S :;. More n9mero9s are the cases where a sleeping person4s clairvo>ant vision o= a
5istant scene has evoke5 a correspon5ing impression o= his own presence in the min5s o=
persons sit9ate5 in that scene( an5 has also persiste5 into his own waking memor>. *wo
striking cases have been E9ote5( %os. :V an5 :;8. In these cases not onl> is the 5ream Pso
to sa>Q acted out( b9t the clairvo>ant retains a memor> o= act9al circ9mstances( o= the
tr9e positions an5 actions o= the persons clairvo>antl> 5iscerne5. In some other cases(A
%os. X3 an5 :;2(Athe inci5ents( as recollecte5 on both si5es( are 5reamlike( b9t the
localit> o= the visionar> inci5ent is agree5 on b> both persons concerne5. ,e seem(
there=ore( to have here another transitional case( a transition between mere sim9ltaneo9s
5reams an5 the kin5 o= clairvo,ant invasion with which I am now concerne5. )gain( case
UW2( which to9ches the ver> na5ir o= trivialit>( seems to me on that acco9nt all the more
instr9ctive. I cannot think that a mere 5ream on Mr. 1ike4s part that he was calling =or hot
water(Aa con5ition as =ar remove5 =rom B5eath or crisisC as can well be conceive5(A
wo9l5 so strongl> have a==ecte5 the servant in his 5istant home. I conceive that the
e==icac> o= the 5ream 5epen5e5 on his conception o= himsel= as act9all> stan5ing at his
be5room 5oor@ so that this( too( was a case o= clairvo>ant invasion( tho9gh the scene
inva5e5 was so commonplace that it le=t with the 5reamer no memor> o= an>thing
otherwise 9nknown. )n5 this e?ample( in its t9rn( ma> throw light on some less-
5evelope5 clairvo>ant 5reams(Aas =or instance case 32U(Awhere the 5reamer4s invasion
was not mani=este5 b> an> phantasmal sight or so9n5( tho9gh the trivial scene was
recollecte5 on awakening
ii-:;X!
S :2. /till more propitio9s( in m> view( to this mo5e o= ps>chical interaction is a state o=
trance( or even o= 5eliri9m( on the part o= the percipient-agent( tho9gh here the
pro=o9n5l> abnormal state m9st 9s9all> precl95e all recollection. /peciall> instr9ctive in
this connection is case :;7( where the bo> whose call was hear5 in the place where he
=everishl> conceive5 himsel= to be(Aor at least in the field of his clairvo,ant perception(
Awas a=terwar5s entirel> oblivio9s o= that momentar> rapport with his 5istant sister an5
=rien5. It is observable that the evi5ential val9e o= this case 5epen5s on the acci5ent that a
watcher was present with the bo>( an5 note5 the almost a9tomatic e?clamation which his
s955en vision evoke5. .a5 there been no one th9s present with him( the call o= B-onnies
MargaretsC wo9l5 have ranke5 as a well-marke5 collective hall9cination o= a p9rel>
s9bDective kin5. *o this class also belong Mr. -romwell Varle>4s sing9lar narratives P%os.
73 an5 :;VQ( which again( bring 9s ro9n5 to the cases where the clairvo>ant invasion is
apparentl> =acilitate5 b> the ho9r o= 5issol9tion itsel=.
Lastl>( while these pages are passing thro9gh the press( we have receive5 a striking case
where memor> o= what was perceive5 in the h>pnotic trance persiste5 into normal
conscio9sness@Anamel>( Mr. -leaver4s narrative Pcase 87V( in the )55itional -hapterQ o=
his attempts =irst to see( an5 then to be seen b> a 5istant =rien5. *he seE9ence o= inci5ents
is c9rio9sl> concor5ant with the theor> which has been e?presse5 above. +irst( the stea5>
ga]e o= the =rien5 who operate5 threw Mr. -leave into 9nconscio9sness. *hen a new
conscio9sness showe5 him the =ace o= the 5istant la5>( Bwhich gra59all> became plainer
an5 plainer 9ntil I seeme5 to be in another room altogether( an5 co9l5 5etail min9tel> all
the s9rro9n5ings.C
*his process was several times repeate5: an5 he at last s9ccee5e5( Pas he( at least(
conceives the occ9rrence(Q Bin making himsel= seen b>C the la5> in E9estion. *wice she
saw him@ an5 on the secon5 occasion( at least( he perceive5 that she saw him( an5 note5
where she was( an5 in what compan>.
2
%ow there will probabl> be some rea5ers who(
even a=ter all the evi5ence which these vol9mes contain( will set asi5e Mr. -leave4s
narrative as merel> incre5ible. "9t among those who are b> this time prepare5 to accept it
as an honest an5 care=9l recor5 o= =act an5 impression( =ew( I think( will arg9e that Mr.
-leave4s own impressions were p9rel> s9bDective( tho9gh the la5>4s were veri5ical@Athat
she gen9inel> saw his phantasm in the place =rom which he imagine5 himsel= to be
looking at her( while >et this imagination o= his was merel> =anci=9l( an5 his s9ppose5
perception o= her ami5 her act9al s9rro9n5ings o= the moment( a ii-:2;! mere chance
coinci5ence. 'ather the> will hol5 that he saw her be=ore she saw hi(@ that it was
beca9se his centre o= observation was in some sense trans=erre5 to the ,an5sworth
5ining-room that she saw his phantasm stan5ing in that 5ining-room@Athat( in short( as I
have alrea5> e?presse5 it( Bcorrespon5entl> with clairvo>ant perception there was
phantasmogenetic e==icac>.C
S :U. I 5o not propose to enter here into a 5etaile5 criticism o= the mass o= narratives
which this book contains. Man> o= them( I think( nee5( =or the p9rpose o= an> instr9ctive
anal>sis( an e?perience o= these phenomena =ar wi5er than we as >et possess. "9t I have
sai5( perhaps( eno9gh to enable the rea5er to 5etect =or himsel=( in man> other cases(
in5ications o= some s9ch clairvo>ant invasion as I have en5eavo9re5 to 5escribe. *he
cases which I have selecte5 =or notice have some o= them been o= strange an5 aberrant
t>pes@ b9t I wishe5 to show that the scheme o= ps>chical interaction here s9ggeste5 5oes
at an> rate o==er an appropriate niche to nearl> ever> well-atteste5 phenomenon which
o9r collection incl95es. It ma> at least be 9se=9l to have( as it were( a ;inn+an s>stem
9n5er which all o9r cases can be convenientl> 5ockete5( even tho9gh we ma> as >et be
=ar eno9gh =rom 5iscerning their Bnat9ral or5erC or tr9est a==init>.
+or clearness4 sake( I will brie=l> trace the steps b> which( as I conceive the matter( o9r
veri5ical phantasms gra59all> approach that reciprocal character which =orms their
complete or 9ltimate =orm.
+irst come the n9mero9s cases which are too =aintl> 5e=ine5 =or speci=icationAcases
where the impression trans=erre5 retains a =rankl> ps>chical character( where neither is a
5istant scene s9pernormall> 5iscerne5( nor 5oes an>one ami5 his or5inar> s9rro9n5ings
5iscern a phantasmal visitant. *here is here no ill9sion o= space-relations(Amerel> an
emotional or i5eational a==ection o= the percipient4s conscio9sness. In most o= these cases
all that we can sa> is that some telepathic action has taken place. )n5 the terms agent an5
percipient serve to e?press all that we know o= the process@ namel>( that on one si5e there
is either 5eath( or some crisis( or at least some concentration o= tho9ght@ while on the
other si5e something is =elt or perceive5 which correspon5s in some wa> with the agent4s
9n9s9al agitation.
"9t now let 9s go on to cases which have reache5 a =9rther stage o= 5evelopment. )=ter
passing thro9gh certain interme5iate stages(Avisions in the min54s e>e( [c.(Awe arrive
at cases where a spatial element is apparentl> intro59ce5@ that is to sa>( the phenomenon(
whatever it is( bears re=erence to a special scene@ an5 when this scene is well-5e=ine5( an5
the two or more persons concerne5 retain a memor> o= the inci5ent( it ii-:22! is =o9n5
that the> all agree as to what the scene was. It is rarel>( however( that a reciprocit> o=
impression can be satis=actoril> atteste5@ one or the other si5e o= that phenomenon is
9s9all> aborte5 or absent. )n5 accor5ing as the one or the other si5e emerges into normal
conscio9sness( we regar5 the inci5ent as belonging to one o= two main classes@ it ma> be
a perception o= the scene b> a 5istant person( or it ma> be the perception o= a 5istant
person as =orming a part o= that scene.
)n5 as the terms agent an5 percipient now become ina5eE9ate( I am =orce5 to 9se an
avowe5 metaphor( an5 to speak o= the person who 5iscerns the 5istant scene as the
clairvo,ant invader( whose =ig9re is sometimes 5iscerne5 in the invaded scene. %ow the
clairvo>ant inva5er m9st be regar5e5 as primaril> a percipient@ =or his =irst =9nction( so to
sa>( is to 5iscern the 5istant scene. "9t this 5iscernment o= his ma> =ail to s9bsist into his
waking or normal memor>( or instant 5eath ma> intercept his recital thereo=( so that there
ma> be no evi5ence to show that he was clairvo>ant at all. )n5( on the other han5( since
his clairvo>ant perception is sometimes accompanie5 with a correspon5ing
phantasmogenetic e==icac>(Asince his s9pernormal invasion o= the scene ma> generate in
the 5eni]ens o= that scene a hall9cinator> perception o= a s9pernormal inva5er(Awe have
cases in which this inva5er( Ptho9gh on m> theor> primaril> a percipient(Q appears in o9r
evi5ence p9rel> as an agent: so that ) 5ies an5 )4s phantom appears to "( an5 ) is set
5own simpl> as an agent( an5 " is set 5own as the onl> percipient concerne5. "9t in s9ch
cases I hol5 that ) is E9ite as tr9l> a percipient as " is@ b9t that the shi=ting o= the
threshol5 o= conscio9sness which accompanie5 his perception(Awhether that shi=t were
=rom waking to sleep-waking or =rom li=e to 5eath(Aprevents him( even i= his
conscio9sness is shi=te5 back again( =rom recalling or recor5ing that perception as a link
in his chain o= normal memories.
S ::. %ow let 9s t9rn o9r attention =or a moment to the other person concerne5 in the
phenomenon@ to the 5eni]en( that is to sa>( o= the inva5e5 scene. .e is Pit is plainQ
=reE9entl> a percipient@ 9nless he perceive5 the phantasmal inva5er we sho9l5 o=ten be
ignorant that an> invasion ha5 taken place. "9t is he ever to be consi5ere5 as an agent
toor #es( I hol5 that in certain cases he is an agent in somewhat the same sense as a
mesmerist is an agent when he in59ces clairvo>ance in a s9bDect. In that case I hol5 that a
certain in=l9ence PI know not whatQ =rom the mesmerist evokes or 5isengages in the
s9bDect a pre-e?istent b9t non-mani=est capacit> o= s9pernormal percipience( which =irst
places that s9bDect in rapport with the i5eas or sensations o= the mesmerist himsel= Pas in
e?periments o= o9r own( an5 other cases( to be =o9n5 especiall> in /9pplement( -hap. I.Q(
b9t ii-:2U! which 9ltimatel>( in some =ew well-atteste5 cases( 5oes act9all> e?ten5 the
s9bDect4s percipience be>on5 the range either o= his own or o= his mesmeriser4s normal
powers o= sense. )n5 somewhat similarl>( I hol5 that i= a man is 5>ing or 5eepl> agitate5(
an5 his =rien5( gi=te5 with m9ch latent capacit> o= s9pernormal percipience( is asleep at a
5istance( then some in=l9ence =rom the 5>ing man ma> evoke or 5irect that percipience in
the =rien5( so that he becomes cognisant =irst( perhaps( o= the 5eathbe5 scene as realise5
b> the 5>ing man himsel=( b9t 9ltimatel> o= that scene as it might be realise5 b> an
in5epen5ent entrant( incl95ing cas9al 5eni]ens 9nnotice5 b> the 5>ing man( b9t who ma>
perhaps( on their part( 5iscern the =rien54s phantasmal invasion( an5 th9s be percipients
witho9t being agents Pas in case :;Q@ while perhaps the 5>ing man( who is in realit> the
5etermining ca9se o= that phantasmal invasion( ma> attain to no perception o= it
whatever.
S :3. B"9t(C someone will sa>( Bare >o9 not here intro59cing a cross-5ivisionr #o9 have
spoken hitherto o= ) as enable5 b> his o-n 5eath to make a clairvo>ant invasion o= the
scene where " sits in a normal con5ition. #o9 now speak o= ) as enable5 b> "4s 5eath to
make a similar invasion o= the scene where " lies 5>ing. #o9 are th9s classing the 5>ing
man alternatel> as the invader an5 as the invaded@ an5 >et s9rel> he who is 9n5ergoing
this pro=o9n5est o= all crises o9ght alwa>s to be range5 on the same si5e in whatsoever
ps>chical interaction >o9 are ass9ming@ there cannot be other ps>chical con5itions more
marke5 an5 5eterminant than his.C I have le5 9p to a statement o= this 5i==ic9lt> beca9se I
believe that the answer( i= we ever attain to more than a glimpse o= it( will involve that
tr9e principle o= classi=ication which we are still seeking. )n5 as a hint towar5s s9ch
repl> I will repeat what has been alrea5> s9ggeste5( namel>( that the right wa> o=
regar5ing these startling inci5ents is not as isolate5 ps>chical operations( b9t rather as
emergent mani=estations o= ps>chical operations which are contin9o9s( tho9gh latent@ an5
which belong( not so m9ch to the sel= o= which we are habit9all> conscio9s( as to a
hi55en chain o= mentation( which( =or a9ght we know( ma> comprise a contin9it> o=
s9pernormal percipience or activit>. ,hen there=ore( " is 5>ing an5 ) has a clairvo>ant
5ream( as o= presence at the 5eathbe5( the relation between " an5 ) with which we have
to 5eal is not the mere e?ternal relation between agon> on the one si5e an5 repose on the
other. It is a relation between that speci=ic s9pernormal activit> which accompanies 5eath
an5 that speci=ic s9pernormal activit> which accompanies sl9mber. )n5 tho9gh the death
is still the prime =actor in the res9ltant interactions( we cannot sa> 3 priori what the scene
of interaction in an> given case will be@Awhether ii-:2:! there will be an invasion b>
the 5>ing man o= the sleeper4s chamber( or b> the sleeper o= the 5>ing man4s.
I will ill9strate m> meaning b> a mo5i=ication o= an analog> which I have elsewhere
emplo>e5. I compare o9r conscio9s e?istence to a barge =loating 5own the )rve( where it
=lows si5e b> si5e( b9t as >et 9nmingle5 with the 'hone@ the water ro9n5 o9r keel is
habit9all> t9rbi5 an5 opaE9e( b9t occasionall> an ineE9alit> o= river-be5( a clash o=
c9rrents( swings 9s =or a moment into the more pell9ci5 'hone. *he 'honeAo9r
9nconscio9s sel=A=lows on as contin9o9sl> as the )rve( b9t the barge enters it onl> b>
moments( an5 those moments ma> be 5etermine5 b> changes in the 'hone4s be5 as well
as in the )rve4s. +or the most part( the ree= which raises breakers in the one stream will
raise them in the other also@ an5 imminent death( =or instance( ma> Derk 9s into
clairvo>ance b> a shock comm9nicate5 at once to o9r conscio9s an5 to o9r 9nconscio9s
being. "9t there ma> also be crises which involve not so m9ch a con=9sion o= the normal
li=e as an e?pansion or liberation o= the s9pernormal@ an5 when we become clairvo>ant in
5eep sleep or the mesmeric trance this is beca9se the t9rbi5 waters are r9nning in a
narrower channel( an5 the barge swa>s into the broa5ening c9rrent o= the pell9ci5 stream.
)gain( there ma> be crises which are merel> 5issociative or 5isintegrant@ where the barge
poises on the ver> bo9n5ar> line between the two c9rrents( an5 both streams o=
personalit> are mani=este5 at once. It is th9s that I e?plain Mrs. %ewnham4s case PVol. I.(
p. 8:TXQ( where the intelligence which wrote the replies to 9nseen E9estions wo9l5 seem
to have consiste5 o= an 9nconscio9s c9rrent o= Mrs. %ewnham4s own e?istence(
e?ercising s9pernormal percipience( b9t 5reamlike an5 incomplete in co-or5inating
power. )n5 with Mrs. %ewnham4s case I sho9l5 compare certain cases which bear(
in5ee5( no plain resemblance thereto( an5 which Mr. &9rne> has treate5 as almost
obvio9sl> morbi5 an5 5el9sive(Acases where the B5o9bleF o= a living person has been
seen together with that person himsel=. *ake the most bi]arre o= these cases( that o= Mrs.
.all( P%o. :::(Q where( as a la5> sits at table with three =rien5s( her phantom semblance
is seen b> hersel= an5 b> all present( stan5ing at the en5 o= the si5eboar5. %ow the
analog> between Mrs. %ewnham an5 Mrs. .all seems to me to be this@ that in the
compo9n5 personalit> o= each o= them the Bcritical pointC o= 5issociation was reache5 Pso
to sa>Q at a ver> low temperat9re.
2
In Mrs. %ewnham4s case( her 9nconscio9s sel=
e?ercise5 s9pernormal percipience( an5 mani=este5 itsel= b> controlling her motor
s>stem( while her conscio9s sel= maintaine5 its or5inar> wa>. In Mrs. .all4s case( her
9nconscio9s sel=( ass9ming a too =acile in5epen5ence( an5 possibl> e?ercising a ii-:23!
s9pernormal percipience( mani=este5 itsel= b> its phantasmogenetic e==icac> while her
conscio9s sel= was 9naware o= an> inwar5 e?citement or Bshearing stress.C I vent9re(
however( to s9rmise that ha5 Mrs. .all been thrown into a mesmeric trance 5irectl> a=ter
her B5o9bleC ha5 shown itsel=( she might have remembere5 contemplating the room as
tho9gh =rom the position which the B5o9bleC appeare5 to occ9p>.
S :V. *here is th9s a point o= view =rom which these Bapparitions o= the 5o9bleC represent
the most 5evelope5 t>pe to which o9r veri5ical phantasms can attain. "9t in the process
o= 5evelopment their veri5icalit>( so to sa>( has become a E9ite s9bsi5iar> thing. Mrs.
/tone4s 5o9ble
2
was( I believe( veridical( in the sense that it anno9nce5 the =act o= an
e?ceptionall> eas> 5issociation between the c9rrents o= her being. "9t this was not a =act
o= evi5ential val9eAit was not s9pporte5( as o9r cases in general are( b> an> coinci5ence
with an e?ternal an5 obDective inci5ent.
O9r pre=erable t>pe( there=ore( o= a =9ll>-5evelope5 veri5ical hall9cination(Athe Bper=ect
=lowerC to which we ma>( =or clearness4 sake( s9ppose that so man> r95imentar> or
partiall>-aborte5 ps>chical e==lorescences are ten5ing to con=orm themselves(Awill be a
complete case o= reciprocal percipience( where the 5>ing ) clairvo>antl> perceives " in
"4s entourage( an5 narrates that e?perience( while at the same time " 5iscerns )4s
phantasmal =ig9re in a place correspon5ing to that =rom which ) conceives himsel= to be
e?ercising his s9pernormal vision. In s9ch a t>pe as this( I conceive( the phenomena
which we investigate separatel> 9n5er the titles o= tho9ght-trans=erence( clairvo>ance(
apparitions( mi? an5 meet@ an5 tho9gh their ver> D9?taposition s9ggests =resh 5i==ic9lties(
these( as I claim( are not importe5 b> an> theorising o= mine( b9t are inherent in all
attempts to correlate things ps>chical with ph>sical things. )s regar5s the relation o= this
clairvo>ant perception( this phantasmogenetic energ>( to space an5 matter( the theor> here
a5vance5 leaves 9s entirel> 9ncommitte5. *his book( in5ee5( contains no evi5ence o= an>
real or registrable action o= ps>chical energ> on molec9lar matter@ an5 m9ch evi5ence
that an apparent action on matter ma> t9rn o9t to be o= a E9ite hall9cinator> kin5. )n5 as
regar5s space we are le=t eE9all> at libert> to s9ppose that the ps>chical energ> here
attrib9te5 to o9r own being( or to a part o= o9r own being( operates in or5inar> three-
5imensional space( or in =o9r-5imensional space Pi= that e?istsQ( or that it 5oes not reall>
operate in space at all( tho9gh its e==ects be necessaril> apprehen5e5 as in space b> the
normal conscio9sness.
S :8. /9ch emphatic e?pressions o= ignorance as these m9st go han5 in ii-:2V! han5
with an> attempt at positive theorising. O9r en5eavo9r m9st be to give to o9r strange an5
scattere5 phenomena eno9gh o= coherence an5 co-or5ination to enable the rea5er4s min5
to grasp them an5 work 9pon them( while we e?pressl> avoi5 an> s9ch sel=-committal to
an> one h>pothesis as ma> constrain rather than guide inE9ir>. In so new a s9bDect( i= the
nee5 o= this resol9te open-min5e5ness be recognise5 =rom the =irst( there sho9l5 be little
5i==ic9lt> in maintaining it. *he mere pop9lar prepossessions which enc9mber the o9tset
o= o9r inE9ir> ma> rea5il> be swept asi5e@ an5 we m9st then watch that no 5ogmatic
statement( 9nprovable b> the evi5ence( be raise5 into a9thorit> in their room. *h9s the
writers who speak o= a B=orce ne9riE9e ra>onnante(C o= Bbrain-waves(C o=
Bon59lationnisme(C o= a Bmenti=ero9s ether(C as i= these were more than p9rel>
metaphorical e?pressions( seem to me to be =alling into the same error which has
enc9mbere5 h>pnotic e?periment with the E9estion-begging terms o= Banimal
magnetismC an5 Belectro-biolog>.C Let 9s 9se ever> analog> which helps 9s( b9t let 9s
recognise that nothing has been 5iscovere5 which shows that tho9ght-trans=erence has
an>thing to 5o with ether or with vibrations. Ever>thing in the 9niverse ma> be re59cible
to vibrations( =or a9ght we know@ b9t 9ntil some 5e=inite e?periment( as o= re=lection(
inter=erence( or the like( can be bro9ght =orwar5 to connect telepath> with ether-waves( it
is s9rel> sa=er to avoi5 9sing that analog> in a wa> which s9ggests that it has a prior right
over man> others which might be propose5.
+or o9r own part( tho9gh oblige5 b> the ver> str9ct9re o= lang9age to make =reE9ent 9se
o= terms which are primaril> o= ph,sical import( we have kept as m9ch as possible to the
simplest( an5 have spoken o= the telepathic i(pulse or i(pact =or sheer lack o=
e?pressions more abstract still. ,e have varie5 the metaphor b> s9ggesting that the brie=
energ> o= the ps>chical element in man which seems to accompan> ph>sical 5issol9tion
recalle5 the momentar> energ> o= combination possesse5( sa>( b> Bnascent h>5rogen(C
h>5rogen D9st release5 =rom 9nion with some other element. Electrical action( tooAitsel=
so 9ne?plaine5Ahas =9rnishe5 9s with several parallels( an5 Mr. &9rne> Pp. UW;Q has
especiall> pointe5 to its latent pervasiveness( its seemingl> acci5ental mani=estations.
)n5 >et again( the views s9ggeste5 in this paper lea5 9s on to a novel range o= analog>.
*he conception o= a percipient reciprocit>( the hints which have seeme5 to come to 9s o=
the perpet9al b9t 9nmani=este5 operation o= an 9nconscio9s element in o9r own being@A
these notions li=t 9s above the conception o= mere mechanical inter=orces( an5 s9ggest a
more vital comm9nication. In the relation o= the cell to the comple? organism(Ain the
relation o= the 5i==9se5 an5 m9ltiple? Bcolonial conscio9snessC o= the sponge or the
h>5ro]oon to the concentrate5 conscio9sness ii-:28! o= man@Ahere( it ma> be( are
analogies which have a ps>chical co9nterpart behin5 the scenes o= sense. ,hen =rom
these 5im an5 incoor5inate5 beginnings the in5ivi59ation o= the h9man animal has risen
complete@ when the hierarch> o= his nervo9s centres has le5 9p to highest centres which
represent an5 govern his entire organism at once@Athen we are acc9stome5 to start( as it
were( a=resh( an5 to conceive his har5l>-won 9nit> as an elemental 9nit in a larger
integration. ,e speak o= him as a da gdoe`e^a( as a Bmember o= the bo5> politic(C as
a component item in that ;eviathan whose monstro9s semblance( in .obbes4 =rontispiece(
is packe5 together =rom a m>ria5 visages o= men. "9t the growth o= the social organism is
rather a ps>chical than a ph>sical thing. It ma> take o9twar5 =orm in railwa> or telegraph(
b9t its vitalit> lies in the inter-connection o= cognate min5s( in the 5i==erentiations an5
integrations o= the tho9ght an5 emotion o= speaking men. ) common interest( a common
passion( is the vein or nerve which interlinks an5 mo5i=ies the monotono9s isolation o=
in5ivi59al lives. Is it not( then( conceivable that in these 5irect telepathic trans=erences
between min5 an5 min5Athese associations which seem to e==ect themselves be>on5 o9r
threshol5 o= conscio9sness( an5 onl> to startle 9s b> their occasional intr9sion into the
=iel5 o= senseAwe ma> be gaining a =irst glimpse o= a process o= ps>chical evol9tion( as
tr9e an5 act9al as an> in the ph>sical worl5r o= some incipient organic soli5arit> between
the ps>chical 9nits which we call man an5 manr 1erhaps beneath the bo5> politic a soul
politic is integrating itsel= 9nseen@A totamE9e in=9sa per art9s
Mens agitat molem( et magno se corpore miscet.
YTranslationZ Let this analog> take its place with the rest. It is too soon( in5ee5( to 5etect
the law o= these operations( b9t not too soon to a==irm con=i5entl> that these operations
obe> their certain law@ it is too soon to 5iscern in this ine.tricabilis error the path b>
which Evol9tion seeks its goal( b9t not too soon to be ass9re5 that it is the principle o=
Evol9tion itsel= which( like $O5al9s( cZca regens filo vestigia( will in its own time
9nlock the lab>rinth which its own magic =orce has ma5e@ will con59ct 9s =rom ph>sical
to ps>chical( perhaps =rom terrene to transcen5ent things.
+. ,. .. M.
ii-:2W! ii-:27! ii-:2X!
$.PP'&M&"#.
<<< *he /9pplement 5oes not incl95e the )55itional -hapter at the en5 o= the vol9me(
which is to be regar5e5 as belonging to the main bo5> o= the work.
ii-:U;! ii-:U2!
$.PP'&M&"#.
("#R%/.+#(%".
S 2. *.E s9pplementar> evi5ence now to be presente5( like the larger bo5> o= the work(
consists o= two parts( pertaining respectivel> to e?perimental an5 to spontaneo9s
telepath>.
*he e?perimental cases( which will be given in the =irst chapter( are all connecte5 with a
more or less abnormal state o= the percipient@ an5 the> belong =or the most part to the
transitional class(
2
where the min5 o= the agent is =i?e5 on the sensation or i5ea which he
5esires to trans=er( b9t the percipient is not aware that an> e?periment is being trie5.
/ome o= the cases are even spontaneous( in so =ar as the agent himsel= was not at the
moment concentrating his attention on the e==ect to be pro59ce5@ b9t the> are
e.peri(ental in the sense that the> have belonge5 to a co9rse o= h>pnotic treatment(
5eliberatel> p9rs9e5 59ring a consi5erable perio5.
*he s9bseE9ent chapters will be 5evote5 to spontaneo9s phenomena( belonging to the
vario9s gro9ps which have been alrea5> passe5 in review. )n5 in relation to this branch
o= the s9bDect( I m9st ask the rea5er thro9gho9t to bear in min5 what the /9pplement
pro=esses( or rather what it 5oes not pro=ess( to be.
S U. It 5oes not constit9te a case on which we sho9l5 have =elt that the realit> o= telepath>
co9l5 be sa=el> base5.
It incl95es( in the =irst place( a large n9mber o= =irst-han5 narratives where( =or vario9s
reasons( the chance o= error in some vital point seems less improbable than in those
hitherto E9ote5. ) 5etaile5 preliminar> s9rve> o= these vario9s reasons is scarcel>
necessar>@ the rea5er o= the 3th chapter o= the prece5ing vol9me will rea5il> pict9re
them( an5 the> will be ab9n5antl> note5 in connection with the testimon> to which the>
appl>. *he chie= points are ii-:UU! nat9rall> those which intro59ce a 5o9bt as to the
closeness o= the allege5 coinci5ence( or as to the 9niE9e or highl> e?ceptional character
o= the percipient4s impression.
In the secon5 place( a large n9mber o= the incl95e5 narratives are secon5-han5. *he> are
o= a goo5 t>pe( no 5o9bt@ being receive5 not =rom persons who have onl> cas9all> hear5
the =irst-han5 acco9nt witho9t an> opport9nities o= D95ging o= its correctness( b9t =rom
persons =or the most part intimatel> connecte5 with the original witness( an5 well ass9re5
at an> rate o= his conviction as to the tr9th o= what he tol5( an5 o= the impression which
the e?perience ha5 ma5e on him.
2
O= the maDorit> o= these narratives( we think that the
=air concl9sion wo9l5 be that( tho9gh possibl> or probabl> inacc9rate in minor points(
the> =aith=9ll> present the essential point which bears on the telepathic theor>. "9t I
cannot make the D9stice o= this view evi5ent@ no s9ch 5e=ence o= it can be given as was
attempte5 in -hapter IV. o= the =irst vol9me( in respect o= the =irst-han5 testimon>. It is an
instinct( rather than a logicall>-gro9n5e5 opinionAan5 is( in =act( the slowl>-=orme5
res9lt o= a ver> large amo9nt o= labo9r in the si=ting an5 comparing o= recor5s( an5 in the
e?amination o= witnesses. "9t tho9gh the view cannot be prove5 correct( I ma> remin5
the rea5er that we who hol5 it have ha5 e?ceptional opport9nities o= appreciating to the
=9ll the 5angers which tr9th r9ns in passing =rom mo9th to mo9th@ that we believe we 5o
appreciate those 5angers to the =9ll@ an5 that signs o= this have not been lacking in the
co9rse o= the work. )n5 it ma>( I think( be taken as a =9rther sign o= s9ch appreciation
that we =eel o9rselves 9nable to regar5 the immense n9mber o= bon0 fide recor5s that
remain to be presente5( as amo9nting to an> sort o= in5epen5ent proo= o= o9r case.
S :. "9t in sa>ing that o9r case co9l5 not be properl> regar5e5 as proved b> the
/9pplement alone( I am =ar =rom sa>ing that it is not supported. I= the e?istence o=
spontaneo9s telepath> were a certaint>( man> o= the e?periences which =ollow might
almost certainl> be re=erre5 to it@ an5 in proportion as the e?istence o= spontaneo9s
telepath> is probable( ma> the> with probabilit> be re=erre5 to it. *he bon0 fide evi5ence
=or them e?ists( an5 has to be acco9nte5 =or@ an5 to 9s it seems D9st o= the sort that we
sho9l5 e?pect to =in5( an5 e?hibits D9st the sort o= shortcomings that we sho9l5 e?pect to
=in5( on the h>pothesis that telepath> is reall> a =act in %at9re. *his statement ii-:U:!
will o= co9rse not have an> weight with those who 5i==er =rom 9s( on 3 priori gro9n5s(
=rom the ver> o9tset. /9ch persons ma>( an5 in5ee5 almost m9st( a==irm that the =ar
stronger bo5> o= evi5ence which has been alrea5> passe5 in review is D9st what the,
wo9l5 e?pect to =in5( on the h>pothesis that telepath> is not a =act in %at9re. *heir
position here wo9l5 perhaps be stronger i= the> ha5 act9all> ma5e this a==irmation be=ore
the bo5> o= evi5ence was there. It at an> rate 5oes not seem certain that those who have
5ogmaticall> asserte5 that there are no sober =irst-han5 acco9nts o=( e.g.( apparitions at
5eath =rom e59cate5 an5 9nh>sterical witnessesAor that there are not more than the ver>
=ew which the 5octrine o= chances will at once acco9nt =orAwo9l5 have been rea5>(
when o9r inE9ir> was taken 9p( to contra5ict themselves b> pre5icting that man> scores
o= s9ch acco9nts co9l5 be ha5 =or the asking. "9t however that ma> be( m> remarks are
a55resse5 onl> to those who wo9l5 a5mit that the evi5ence alrea5> presente5 constit9tes
at least a soli5 arg9ment =or the realit> o= spontaneo9s telepath>. )n5 these persons will
probabl> agree( i= a consi5erable n9mber o= cases are so atteste5 that the reDection o= the
telepathic e?planation o= them wo9l5 involve great improbabilities( that then P2Q it is
nat9ral that a consi5erable n9mber o= cases sho9l5 also be so atteste5 that the reDection o=
the telepathic e?planation o= them wo9l5 involve less( b9t still consi5erable(
improbabilities@ PUQ the more completel> evi5ence5 cases establish a pres9mption that
some( at an> rate( o= the less completel> evi5ence5 cases are gen9ine@ an5 P:Q the general
obDection to the realit> o= the class o= phenomena( as o9t o= relation to the general
e?perience o= mankin5( is legitimatel> 5iminishe5 b> taking into acco9nt all the cases
which( i= the ca9se that we s9ggest be a realit>( wo9l5 more reasonabl> be re=erre5 to it
than to an> other ca9se. *hese last wor5s o= co9rse involve the whole D95gment o= what
=ollows@ an5 I hope that( on the whole( the> will seem 5e=ensible. In this( that( or the other
case( a mistake ma> be easil> imaginable. "9t here( as be=ore( it ma> be represente5 that
the arg9ment is c9m9lative@ that the bo5> o= narratives( as it stan5s( is harmonio9s an5
sober in character@ that the> intro59ce none o= the obvio9s marvels which pop9lar
s9perstition is so rea5> to s9ppl> PVol. I.( p. 28VQ@ that the> never pass the line 9p to
which the more completel> evi5ence5 cases have carrie5 9s@Aan5 that s9ch are not the
nat9ral res9lts o= 9nconscio9s invention or e?aggeration( pla>ing at ran5om over
h9n5re5s o= 5isconnecte5 instances.
ii-:U3!
+!P#&R (.
F.R#&R &0!MP'&$ %F #%.*#-#R!"$F&R&"+&<
PR("+(P!''- (" -P"%#(+ +!$&$.
S 2. *.I/ chapter will contain some specimens o= the ol5er observations in Btho9ght-
trans=erenceC re=erre5 to in Vol. I.( p. 2U@ an5 also a =ew more recent instances.
I will take =irst the most r95imentar> trans=erencesAthose o= tastes an5 pains.
Mr. Es5aile( =or man> >ears 1resi5enc> /9rgeon in -alc9tta( whose observations on
h>pnotic phenomena now =orm an accepte5 part o= ph>siological science( gives the
=ollowing case o= trans=erence o= taste between himsel= an5 a patient whom he ha5
mesmerise5 P*ractical 'es(eris(( p. 2UVQ. *he s9bDect was a >o9ng .in5oo( "aboo
Moh9n Mittre( who ha5 been operate5 9pon painlessl> whilst in the mesmeric trance.
BOne 5a> that the "aboo came to the hospital to pa> his respects( a=ter getting well( I took
him into a si5e room( an5 mesmerising him till he co9l5 not open his e>es( I went o9t an5
5esire5 m> assistant s9rgeon to proc9re me some salt( a slice o= lime( a piece o= gentian(
an5 some bran5>( an5 to give them to me in an> or5er he please5( when I opene5 m>
mo9th. ,e ret9rne5( an5 blin5=ol5ing Lallee Moh9n( I took hol5 o= both his han5s: an5(
opening m> mo9th( ha5 a slice o= hal=-rotten lime p9t into it b> m> assistant. .aving
chewe5 it( I aske5( u$o >o9 taste an>thingr4 u#es( I taste a nast> ol5 lime4: an5 he ma5e
wr> =aces in correspon5ence. .e was eE9all> correct with all the other s9bstances( calling
the gentian b> its native name( cheretta@ an5 when I taste5 the bran5>( he sai5 it was !hr0
Pthe general name =or wine an5 spiritsQ. "eing aske5 what kin5( he sai5( u,hat I 9se5 to
5rinkAbran5>.4 +or I am happ> to sa> he is c9re5 o= his 5r9nken habits P=ormerl>
5rinking two bottles o= bran5> a 5a>Q as well as o= his 5isease.C
*he 'ev. -. .. *ownshen5( in his <acts in 'es(eris(( gives several e?amples. P/ee
especiall> pp. 87( WU( W8( 2UU( 2V;( 2V2( 273.Q *he =ollowing e?periments were ma5e on a
servant o= his own( in ii-:UV! whom he ha5 pro59ce5 the trance-con5ition@ b9t it cannot
be hel5 impossible( =rom his 5escription( that the res9lts sho9l5 have been 59e to an ac9te
sense o= smell( combine5 with a certain amo9nt o= l9ck.
B,ine( water( an5 co==ee were han5e5 to me s9ccessivel>( in s9ch a wa> as to prevent the
patient =rom perceiving( b> an> 9s9al means( what the liE9ors were. .e( however(
correctl> name5 them in or5er. *he or5er was then change5( an5 the res9lts o= the
e?periments were the same. +lowers were given me to smell. I was hol5ing the patient b>
one han5 at the time( b9t t9rning altogether awa> =rom him to a table( over which I bent(
so as to interpose m>sel= between him an5 an>thing that might be han5e5 to me. .e(
however( when I smelt o= the =lowers( imitate5 the action( an5 on m> asking him what he
perceive5( replie5 witho9t hesitation( u+lowers.4 Upon this( one o= the part> silentl>
change5 the =lowers =or a bottle o= eau de Cologne( when he observe5( u*hat is not the
same smell@ it is eau de Cologne.4 ,ith the manner o= con59cting this e?periment an5 its
res9lts( all who were present 5eclare5 themselves per=ectl> satis=ie5.C
B*hree o= m> sleep-wakers(C Mr. *ownshen5 sa>s in another place( Bco9l5 in no wa>
5isting9ish s9bstances when place5 in their own mo9ths( nor 5iscriminate between a
piece o= apple an5 a piece o= cheese@ b9t the moment that I was eating( the>( seeming to
eat also( co9l5 tell me what I ha5 in m> mo9th.C
*he ne?t case is also one o= Mr. *ownshen54s.
P:V7Q B$i5 an> one strike or h9rt me in an> part o= the bo5> when )nna M. was in sleep-
waking( she imme5iatel> carrie5 her han5 to a corresponding part o= her own person.
*hen she wo9l5 r9b her own sho9l5er when mine was smarting with a blow( mani=esting
that the act9al nerves o= that part were( pro te(pore( restore5 to their =9nctions. Once an
incre59lo9s person came near me 9nawares( an5 tro5 9pon m> =oot( which was E9ite
hi55en 9n5er a chair. *he sleep-waker instantl> 5arte5 5own her han5 an5 r9bbe5 her
own =oot with an e?pression o= pain. )gain( i= m> hair was p9lle5 =rom behin5( )nna
5irectl> raise5 her han5 to the back o= her hea5. ) pin thr9st into m> han5 elicite5 an
eE9al 5emonstration o= s>mpath>.C
/tim9late5 b> Mr. *ownshen54s e?periments( the 'ev. ). &ilmo9r( o= &reenock( ma5e
some e?periments on one o= his servants. .e 5escribe5 the res9lts in a letter to 1ro=essor
&regor> PE9ote5 in )ni(al 'agnetis(( p. U22Q( in which the =ollowing passage occ9rs:A
BI co9l5 throw her into the mesmeric sleep in 3; secon5s. /he is able to tell what I taste(
s9ch as so5a( salt( s9gar( milk( water( [c.( tho9gh not in the same room with me. ,hen
m> =oot is pricke5( or m> hair p9lle5( or an> part o= m> person pinche5( she =eels it( an5
5escribes it 9nerringl>.C
1ro=essor &regor> himsel= sa>s P)ni(al 'agnetis(( p. U:Q:A
BI have seen an5 teste5 the =act o= comm9nit> o= sensation in so man> cases that I regar5
it as =irml> establishe5. No one who has ha5 ii-:U8! opport9nities o= observing this
bea9ti=9l phenomenon can long hesitate as to its entire tr9thAs9ch is the e?pression o=
gen9ine sensation in the =ace an5 gest9re( besi5es the 5istinct statements ma5e b> the
sleeper.C
I nee5 har5l> sa> that a single care=9ll> recor5e5 e?periment wo9l5 be worth more than
an> n9mber o= s9ch general assertions as this.
*he =ollowing acco9nt is given b> $r. Elliotson in the Poist( Vol. V.( pp. U3UTV.
P:VXQ BI reE9este5 m> b9tler to enclose( in =ive 5i==erent packets o= blotting-paper( salt(
s9gar( cinnamon( ginger( an5 pepper. *hese were wrappe5 in one common cover when
given to me( an5 I han5e5 them over to Mr. /carlett( the el5est son o= Lor5 )binger( who
gave me one packet a=ter another( an> that he chose( as each was 5one with b> me. *he
)rchbishop o= $9blin an5 several clerg>men an5 other =rien5s were present.
B,hen I p9t each into m> mo9th( I was ignorant o= its contents( an5 learnt its nat9re as
the paper became moistene5 an5 gave wa>. *he =irst was salt( an5 I stoo5 with it in m>
mo9th at Mrs. /newing4s si5e( an5 rather behin5 her( sa>ing nothing. "e=ore a min9te ha5
elapse5 she move5 her lips( ma5e a =ace( an5 sai5( uOh( that4s nast> eno9gh.4 u,hat 5o
>o9 meanr4 u,h> >o94ve p9t salt into m> mo9th( >o9 nee5n4t have 5one that.4 I remove5
the packet o= salt( an5 took another( which prove5 to be cinnamon. 1resentl> she sai5(
u,ell that is o55@ I never hear5 o= s9ch a thing@ to p9t s9ch things together into oneus
mo9ths4 u,h> what 5o >o9 meanr4 u,h> now >o94ve given me something nice an5
warm( ver> pleasant( b9t >o9uve mi?e5 salt with it.4 *he impression o= the salt th9s still
remaine5. u,hat is itr4 uI 5on4t know the name o= it( b9t it4s ver> nice@ it4s what we p9t
into p955ings@ brown( an5 in sticks.4 /he p9]]le5 a long while an5 then on m> asking i= it
was cinnamon( u#es( that4s it(4 she replie5( u.ow o55 that I sho9l5n4t recollect the name.4
I then remove5 it( an5 took into m> mo9th another packet( which prove5 to be s9gar( an5
I observe5 that Mr. /carlett ver> properl> peepe5 into it( be=ore he gave it to me. )=ter a
min9te or two she began( uOh( that4s ver> sweet@ I like that@ it4s s9gar.4 I remove5 it =rom
m> mo9th an5 took another packet( which prove5 to be ginger. )=ter a min9te or two she
e?claime5( u,ell( this is the =9nniest thing I ever hear5 o=( to mi? salt( an5 cinnamon( an5
s9gar( an5 now to give me something else hot.4 u,hat is itr4 uI 5on4t know@ b9t this is
ver> hot too. It sets all m> mo9th on =ire.4 In =act I =elt m> mo9th b9rning hot. )=ter some
5i==ic9lt>( =or she was p9]]le5 between these con=licting impressions( she sai5 it m9st be
ginger( an5 went on complaining o= the heat o= the mo9th( I took a glass o= col5 water(
an5 she instantl> sai5( smiling( u*hat isn4t hot( that4s nice an5 cool( it makes m> mo9th
E9ite com=ortable.4 u,hat is itr4 u,h> it4s water@ what else can it ber4 *he last packet was
now p9t into m> mo9th( an5 prove5 to be pepper. /he crie5 o9t( u,h> >o94re p9tting hot
things again into m> mo9th. It gets 5own m> throat( an5 9p m> nose@ it4s b9rning me(4
an5 she soon 5eclare5 it was pepper. I co9l5 scarcel> en59re it( an5 took a 5ra9ght o=
water. /he was instantl> relieve5( an5 sai5( u.ow cool an5 nice that is.4 /he co9l5 not
have seen what I was 5oing ha5 her e>es been open.
ii-:UW!
B) gentleman now came besi5e me an5 pricke5 one o= m> =ingers with a pin. /he took no
notice o= it at =irst( b9t( a=ter a =ew min9tes( slowl> began to r9b the =ingers o= her
correspon5ing han5( an5 at last r9bbe5 one onl>( that correspon5ing with m> =inger
which ha5 been pricke5( an5 complaine5 that someone ha5 pricke5 it. *he back o= one o=
m> han5s was now pricke5. /he ma5e no remark b9t remaine5 in E9iet sleep. *he
pricking was at length repeate5 at the same spot( an5 prett> sharpl>( in silence. /till she
ma5e no remark. ,e gave it 9p( an5 m> other han5 was pricke5 in silence. )=ter a little
time she began to r9b her han5( corresponding -ith that of (ine -hich -as the first
pric1ed( an5 complaine5 o= its having been pricke5 at the ver> same spot as mine.
&ra59all> she cease5 to complain( an5 was still again. )=ter the lapse o= another min9te
or two( all the part> observing silence( she complaine5 that the other han5( correspon5ing
with that o= mine last pricke5( was pricke5( an5 won5ere5 that an> person sho9l5 5o so.
*his is a most remarkable circ9mstance@ per=ectl> correspon5ing to the phenomena o=
s>mpathetic movement in the Oke>s( which o=ten came o9t so long a=ter the movement
o= the operator ha5 been ma5e. In5ee5( a=ter he( in 5espair o= an> e==ect( ha5 ma5e
another motion =or them to imitate( an5 when he was e?pecting the latter( the =irst wo9l5
take place.
2
It shows how easil> persons ignorant o= the s9bDect an5 9nE9ali=ie5 to make
e?periments ma> come to =alse concl9sions( an5 set themselves 9p as the 5iscoverers o=
=ail9res an5 imposition. In m> patients the movement given =or s>mpath> an5 not
pro59ctive o= apparent e==ect has o=ten come o9t again in a subse2uent sleep6-a1ing( the
impression remaining 9nconscio9sl> in the brain. *he heat an5 taste o= the pepper still
remaine5 in Mrs. /newing4s mo9th( an5 she went on goo5-nat9re5l>( as alwa>s(
complaining o= it. ,hile she was complaining( I s955enl> awoke her( an5 aske5 what she
taste5 an5 whether her mo9th was hot. /he looke5 s9rprise5( an5 sai5 she utaste5 nothing4
an5 her umo9th was not hot4@ an5 she smile5 at the E9estion.
B) =ew weeks a=terwar5s( I repeate5 these e?periments with all the same preca9tions( in
the presence o= Mr. .. /. *hompson an5 Mr. -han5ler( who are ver> acc9rate observers(
Mrs. *hompson an5 a =ew other =rien5s. I stoo5 E9ite behin5 her large high-backe5
leather chair. Mr. -han5ler gave me the packets at his own pleas9re( an5( on tasting each(
I wrote on a slip o= paper what I taste5( an5 hel5 9p the slip at a 5istance behin5 her( that
all might D95ge o= her acc9rac> an5 m> tr9th. *hese were the same articles as in the
=ormer e?periments@ b9t( as the> were on both occasions taken at ran5om( the or5er( o=
co9rse( t9rne5 o9t to be 5i==erent. In a55ition( Mr. -han5ler gave me a piece o= 5rie5
orange-peel =rom his pocket@ an5 I taste5 water an5 wine. /he name5 each article with
per=ect acc9rac>( an5 rea5il>@ remarking that it was ver> strange she once co9l5 not
recollect the name o= cinnamon. In5ee5( on the =irst occasion( she 5escribe5 the taste an5
the e?ternal character an5 9ses o= the vario9s articles with per=ect acc9rac>( b9t hesitate5
in giving the names o= the cinnamon an5 ginger an5 pepper@ a =act showing that the
sleepiness e?ten5e5 a little more over the mental powers than one might ii-:U7!
imagine. In a note sent me latel> b> Mr. *hompson are the =ollowing remarks:A
Bu*he patient4s lips move5( an5 in a ver> short time a=ter >o9 ha5 5etecte5 its nat9re( she
appeare5 to taste it as well as >o9rsel=@ an5 when it was an>thing 5isagreeable( begge5
>o9 wo9l5 not p9t the nast> st9== into her mo9th in this wa>. /he tol5( witho9t the
slightest mistake( ever>thing >o9 taste5: salt( s9gar( cinnamon( pepper( ginger( orange-
peel( wine( an5 some others. %ot a wor5 was spoken b> an> o= the part> to each other(
an5 the onl> E9estion that was aske5 the patient was( what she ha5 in her mo9th that she
complaine5 o=. )=ter the spices( when >o9 5rank water( she seeme5 to enDo> it m9ch(
sa>ing it coole5 her mo9th@ b9t at other times as >o9 5rank it ver> =reel>( she reE9este5
that >o9 wo9l5 not give her an> more water =or that so m9ch water was 5isagreeable to
her. *here were present( Mr. -han5ler( Lor5 )5are( "aron Osten( a =rien5 o= his( whose
name I 5o not know( m>sel=( an5 m> wi=e. ,e were all per=ectl> satis=ie5 with the entire
s9ccess o= the e?periments.4
BI then smelt ea9 5e -ologne( witho9t an> noise. /he presentl> sai5( u.ow nice@ what a
nice thing >o94ve given me to smell.4 "9t she co9l5 not tell what it was@ when I
mentione5 its name( she recognise5 it. I 5i5 the same with water. /he ma5e no remark. I
aske5 her i= she smelt an>thing. /he replie5( u%o( I 5on4t smell an>thing@ what sho9l5 I
smellr4
BI p9t sn9== to m> nostrils@ she almost imme5iatel> complaine5 o= sn9== being given to
her.
*he ne?t acco9nt was sent to 9s b> the late 1ro=essor F. /mith( o= the Universit> o=
/>5ne>.
B/eptember :r5( 2773.
P:8;Q B*he e?periments Yin the *roceedings o= the /. 1. '.Z on trans=erence o= tastes
bro9ght to m> min5 a ver> interesting case which occ9rre5 to me more than 3; >ears ago(
when I was a me5ical st95ent. I have never seen a similar case in print( an5 there=ore I am
tempte5 to relate it( altho9gh possibl> it ma> be E9ite =amiliar to >o9. ,hen m> attention
was =irst 5rawn to mesmerism( I got hol5 o= an erran5 bo>( 2U or 2: >ears ol5( who t9rne5
o9t a most sensitive us9bDect.4 )mong man> other things that I trie5 9pon him( while in
the mesmeric sleep( was the trans=erence o= taste. *he bo> co9l5 5escribe the taste o=
an>thing I p9t into m> mo9th( altho9gh no so9n5 was 9ttere5 to g9i5e him( an5 I m>sel=
5i5 not know what the s9bstances were 9ntil I p9t them into m> mo9th. I stoo5 behin5 the
bo>4s chair( hol5ing one o= his han5s in mine( an5 p9t m> other han5 behin5 me =or the
5i==erent articles( which were s9pplie5 to me s9ccessivel> b> a 5r9ggist( in the back room
o= whose shop we happene5 to be.
BOne o= the things he gave me was a glass o= whisk>( an5 a mo9th=9l o= this strong spirit
taken 9ne?pecte5l> gave me a choking sensation. *he bo> writhe5 on his chair( an5
gaspe5 =or breath. "ecoming alarme5 I aske5 m> =rien5 to r9n =or a glass o= water(
inten5ing to give it to the bo>. On receiving it( it occ9rre5 to me that the best wa> o=
relieving the bo> wo9l5 be to 5rink the water m>sel=. I 5i5 so( at the same time watching
his throat. "eing a me5ical st95ent( I knew something o= the mechanism o= 5egl9tition(
an5 was aware that the act o= swallowing( shown e?ternall> b> the rise an5 =all o= the
upom9m )5ami(4 cannot be ii-:UX! per=orme5 witho9t something to swallow( an5 that a
person cannot repeat the act vol9ntaril> more than once( or at the most twice
consec9tivel>( 9nless something is p9t into the mo9th. I there=ore watche5 the bo>4s
throat while I 5rank the water. .is upom9m )5ami4 move5 9p an5 5own reg9larl> with
mine( an5 he was imme5iatel> relieve5.
2

BF. /MI*..C
*he ne?t e?tract is =rom )ni(al 'agnetis(( P2788(Q b> E5win Lee( M.$.( p. 2UW.
P:82Q BOn one occasion I teste5 the comm9nit> o= =eeling 9pon the celebrate5
somnamb9list )le?is( who ha5 not been previo9sl> s9bDecte5 to a trial o= this kin5. .is
magnetiser( M. Marcillet( being behin5( an5 E9ite o9t o= sight o= )le?is( whose e>es(
moreover( were ban5age5( I s955enl> pricke5 his le=t elbow( 9pon which )le?is p9t his
han5 to his le=t elbow complaining o= pain there. I then pinche5 the magnetiser4s right
little =inger( an5 )le?is =elt his right little =inger pinche5. *here co9l5 be no coll9sion or
mistake here( as neither o= them knew o= m> intention( which in5ee5 was 9npreme5itate5
on m> part( the tho9ght arising in m> min5 at the time.C
*he =ollowing case is o= a 5i==erent character( b9t ma> be inserte5 in connection with the
last( as it concerns the same percipient( an5 was also observe5 b> $r. E. Lee. It serves to
show how m9ch which has been represente5 as independent clairvo,ance ma> reall> be
e?plaine5 b> thought6transference.
Miss -9rtis writes =rom 2V( 1ara5e Villas( .eme "a>( 0ent:A
B%ovember 2Uth( 277V.
B)bo9t the >ear 273W or 2737( the $r. Lee who wrote a book on the &erman "aths( ma5e
an arrangement with )le?is $i5ier( a clairvo>ant at 1aris( an5 M. Marcillet( his
mesmeriser( to come to "righton. *here was to be no p9blic e?hibition( b9t onl> sHances
at private ho9ses( an5 abo9t 2U persons to be present( an5 each to have an opport9nit> o=
tr>ing )le?is in the manner he or she wishe5.
BI was at "righton at the time( an5 be=ore going to see )le?is( wrote his name on a piece
o= paper( an5 5o9ble5 it three or =o9r times( an5 then p9t it in a bo? that ha5 hel5 steel
pens( an5 tie5 it 9p. ,hen m> t9rn came( I gave the bo? to )le?is( an5 he began rea5ing
the letters on the o9tsi5e. I tol5 him there was a paper insi5e I wante5 him to rea5( an5
$r. Lee aske5 me to give m> han5 to )le?is( an5 think o= the wor5s. )le?is then sai5(
u*he =irst letter is ). the secon5( L.4 I answere5 u#es4@ an5 he t9rne5 the bo?( an5 wrote
)le?is $i5ier on the back. "e=ore I saw him the secon5 time( I took a small smelling
bottle o9t o= its leather case( p9t two seals insi5eAone seal was in the =orm o= a basket. I
gave the case to )le?is( an5 aske5 him how man> things were insi5e( an5 he sai5 two(
an5 the> were seals@ he took a pencil an5 paper an5 5rew them@ the> were then taken o9t(
an5 the 5rawings e?actl> resemble5 them. /ome one aske5 i= )le?is co9l5 rea5 what was
on one o= the seals@ he sai5 he co9l5 not( beca9se it was written backwar5s. $r. Lee aske5
me ii-::;! to give m> han5@ I tho9ght o= the wor5( an5 )le?is 5irectl> sai5( u-ro>e](4
which was correct. Y*his( however( is no test@ as we =in5 on inE9ir>( that )le?is ha5 taken
the seals into his han5( an5 ha5 ha5 an opport9nit> o= rea5ing the wor5.Z I then aske5 him
two or three E9estions abo9t the persons who ha5 given me the seals( an5 he ma5e a
mistake( an5 sai5 the la5> who ha5 given me one was in Englan5( whereas she was in
)=rica. )le?is was 9neE9al( some 5a>s telling almost ever>thing( an5 other 5a>s =ailing in
several things. *he notes $r. Lee ma5e were printe5( an5 I ha5 a cop>( b9t gave it awa>.
B/ELI%) -U'*I/.C
Y*he =irst o= these res9lts is ren5ere5 inconcl9sive b> the =act o= the contact. /till it is
9nlikel> that Miss -9rtis 9nconscio9sl> 5rew on )le?is4 han5 =orms s9==icientl>
5istinctive to be recognise5 as ) L. *he rest o= the name ma>( o= co9rse( have been a
g9ess on his partAtho9gh Pas Miss -9rtis remin5s meQ he was not o=ten calle5 b> the
5o9ble name which she wrote. $r. Lee mentions this =irst e?periment( witho9t 5etails( in
his book( b9t not the secon5.Z
-orrespon5ing to the cases where the h>pnotic Bs9bDectC has shown sensibilit> to the
h>pnotiser4s pain( instances are recor5e5 where the h>pnotiser has become sensitive to
the Bs9bDect4sC pain. In La9sanne4s book( Des *rincipes et des *roc4d4s du 'agn4tis(e
)ni(al P1aris( 272XQ( the =ollowing paragraphs occ9r:A
BLes personnes sensibles et bien en rapport ressentent-elles( comme De l4ai 5it( 9ne gran5e
partie 5es e==ets E9e pro59it le travail 5e la nat9re ren=orcHe 5e son action. -4est ainsi E9e
De ressens intHrie9rement 5es pesante9rs 5e tMte( 5es tiraillemens( 5es 5o9le9rs G
l4estomac( a9 =oie( G la rate( a9? reins( G la tMte( et 5ans to9tes les parties 5e mon corps
correspondantes a9? parties E9i travaillent 5ans le corps 5e la personne E9e De magnHtise.
Mes sensations ne sont Damais a9ssi vives E9e celles 59 mala5e( mais E9elE9e=ois elles le
sont asse] po9r m4Mtre incommo5es. Il > a 5es Do9rs o ma sensibilitH est telle( E9e 5es
mo9vemens =9giti=s et lHgers 5ans la personne mala5e me 5eviennent 5istincts. Il se
prHsente 5ans ces sensations E9elE9es phHnomNnes s9r lesE9els De vais e?poser mes
conDect9res. YTranslationZ
BLorsE9e De s9is prNs et vis-G-vis le mala5e( De sens la rHaction 5e son travail 5ans la
partie opposHe@ 5e sorte E949ne 5o9le9r a9 =oie se =ait sentir G ma rate o9 5ans les parties
a5Dacentes( et celle 5e la rate se =ait sentir G mon =oie. Une 5o9le9r o9 9n tiraillement G
l4Hpa9le o9 G la Dambe 5roite m4est sensible G l4Hpa9le o9 G la Dambe ga9che. Les reins
=ont le mMme e==et. Observe] E9e De ne parle E9e 5e parties opposHes les 9nes a9? a9tres(
comme les tempes( les >e9?( les oreilles( [c. LorsE9e to9te la tMte est a==ectHe( la mienne
s4en ressent( et l4estomac rHpon5 G mon estomac. Les mMmes e==ets ont lie9 lorsE9e De
s9is proche 59 mala5e( et assis G son cLtH. F4ai Hte E9elE9e=ois obligH 5e changer 5e place
G l4orchestre 5e nos spectacles( parce E9e De me tro9vais incommo5H 549n mal 5e tMte( 5e
=oie( o9 5e rate 549n 5e mes voisins. -es sensations 5HsagrHables se 5issipaient par
l4Hloignement et par la 5istraction. YTranslationZ
BF4ai remarE9H E9e De ne recevais 5e ces impressions 5istinctes E9e 5e la part 5es
personnes 5ont De m4occ9pais( soit par la conversation( soit par 54a9tres rapports. Il ne
=a9t pas croire E9e 5ans 5e pareilles circonstances ii-::2! 9n mal lHger o9 9ne 5o9le9r
passagNre p9isse porter 5es impressions sensibles@ elles ne le 5eviennent E9e lorsE9e le
mal est consi5Hrable. Fe ne me s9is aper9 5e ces e==ets E9e 5ep9is E9e De magnHtise(
apparemment parceE9e De s9is habit9H G porter mon attention s9r mes sensations internes.
YTranslationZ
BII m4est arrivH trNs-so9vent 5e m4occ9per =ortement 5e E9elE9es personnes avec
lesE9elles D4avais 5e gran5s rapports. Ma pensHe se 5irigeant vers les principales parties
5e le9r corps( le9r rHaction me =aisait sentir trNs-5istinctement 5ans les parties
correspon5antes 59 mien( les 5i==erentes sensations E9e ces personnes Hpro9veraient 5ans
ce moment. +aits trNs-certains po9r moi( et po9r les personnes G E9i De l4Hcrivais( en le9r
5Htaillant les sensations E94elles avaient Hpro9vHes( les places et l4he9re prHcise. -e E9e
De viens 5e rapporter m4a pro9vH E9e la pensHe pro59isait 9ne action trNs-vive( 5ont la
rHaction portait s9r nos sens 5es impressions trNs-5istinctes. YTranslationZ
BFe ne parle point ici 5e pl9sie9rs personnes E9e D4ai mises en somnamb9lisme( o9 E9e
D4ai tirHes 5e cet Htat G 9n Hloignement asse] gran5.C YTranslationZ
/9ch general 5escriptions are ver> =ar =rom convincing@
2
an5 La9sanne gives the 5etails
o= onl> one s9ccess( which( tho9gh certainl> striking( ma> have been acci5ental. I ma>
a55( =or comparison( a statement ma5e to me b> an amate9r h>pnotist( Mr. F. .. +ash( in
whose goo5 =aith I have ever> con=i5ence( b9t who has again =aile5 to make the 5etaile5
notes witho9t which s9ch observations( in whatever E9antit> acc9m9late5( will never
make a chapter o= science. It is possible that the mention o= the t>pe here ma> serve to
elicit =9rther instances.
BX( -ommerce /treet( &lasgow.
BF9l> U7th( 277V.
BInstea5 o= impressing m> us9bDects4 the> seem to impress me@ an5 sho9l5 the> chance to
have an> soreness or pain in an> part o= the bo5>( I =eel it in a correspon5ing part o= mine
as soon as I have commence5 mesmerising them@ an5 it sometimes remains with me =or a
consi5erable time a=ter. In this wa> I am o=ten able to 5iscern aches or pains in vario9s
persons( who have a=terwar5s state5 that the> =elt relieve5. F9st this moment as I write( I
am s9==ering =rom a severe soreness in the region o= the spleen( an5 a =eeling as o=
5>spepsia or in5igestion at the stomach( an5 on making remarks to the sensitive a =ew
min9tes since that I =elt this( he replie5( uI =elt that wa> be=ore >o9 mesmerise5 me b9t I
am all right now.4C
S U. *he =ollowing e?amples o= the silent power o= the will in pro59cing the h>pnotic
con5ition( or in evoking partic9lar actions on ii-::U! the part o= h>pnotise5 persons( are
analogo9s to those recor5e5 in Vol. I.( p. 77TX3. *he =irst acco9nt is taken =rom the Trait4
du !o(na(bulis(e( P1aris( 27U:( pp. U38TWQ o= $r. )le?an5re "ertran5( a ph>sician o=
rep9te( whose works give the impression o= having been written in a spirit o= rational
scepticism.
BF4avais co9t9me 5e =aire sortir 9ne mala5e 59 somnamb9lisme en l9i =aisant 5e lHgNres
=rictions s9r les bras@ et cette man9vre( E9i ne l4Hveillait pas 5ans le co9rant 5e la
sHance( ne manE9ait Damais 5e pro59ire cet e==et G la =in( E9an5 D4avais l4intention cle la
=aire sortir 59 sommeil. Un Do9r De =is( G la =in 5e la sHance( mes =rictions acco9t9mHes( en
l9i 5isant( u)llons( allons( Hveille]-vo9s4Aet pen5ant ce temps D4avais la =erme volontH
5e ne pas l4eveiller. La mala5e par9t 54abor5 visiblement tro9blHe( p9is to9t-G-co9p son
visage ro9git bea9co9p( ses traits s4altHrNrent( et elle e9t E9elE9es mo9vements
conv9lsi=s( sans sortir po9rtant 5e l4Htat 5e somnamb9lisme. F4emplo>ai alors to9te ma
volontH G la calmer@ et E9an5 De la vis en=in re5e ven9e tranE9ille( u}94ave] vo9s 5one(4
l9i 5is-De( uE9i vo9s a =ait avoir 5es conv9lsionsr4 u-omment(4 me rHpon5it-elle( uvous (e
dites de (4veiller, et vous ne vouleA pas 2ue 5e (4veille.4C YTranslationZ
"ertran5( whose treatment o= the s9bDect is thoro9ghl> ca9tio9s an5 sensible( recor5s Pp.
U7;Q( a more or5inar> case o= tho9ght-trans=erence( in which the Bs9bDectC an5 the agent
were both known to him( on the a9thorit> o= the latter( who ha5 his complete con=i5ence@
b9t he 5eclines to commit himsel= to res9lts which he ha5 witnesse5 witho9t having an
intimate acE9aintance with the persons concerne5.
*he ne?t case was reporte5 b> Mr. -harles 'ichet to the /ociHtH 5e 1s>chologie
1h>siologiE9e( an5 appeare5 in the =evue *hilosophi2ue =or +ebr9ar>( 2778( p. 2XX.
P:8UQ M. 'ichet begins b> sa>ing that( in spite o= repeate5 trials( he has onl> on one
occasion obtaine5 satis=actor> evi5ence o= the in59ction o= h>pnotic trance at a 5istance.
*his was in 27W:( when he was BinterneC at the "ea9Don .ospital. *he Bs9bDectC was a
woman whom he ha5 =reE9entl> h>pnotise5.
B$4abor5 De l4en5ormais par 5es passes@ p9is( pl9s tar5( en l9i to9chant la main@ p9is
en=in( simplement( en entrant 5ans la salle. YTranslationZ
BLe matin( E9an5 D4entrais 5ans la salle avec mon che= 5e service( M. le pro=esse9r Le
+ort( De la vo>ais a9ssitLt( 5ans le =on5 5e la salle o elle Htait( s4en5ormir. Mais( comme
De ne vo9lais pas E94elle =tt 5ans cet Htat a9 moment o M. Le +ort serait G cLtH 54elle De
=aisais to9t mes e==orts po9r la rHveiller mentalement@ et( 5e =ait( elle se rHveillait to9Do9rs
E9elE9es instants avant E9e M. Le +ort arrivt a9 lit %o. 22. YTranslationZ
B/4agissait-il rHellement 549n acte 5e volontH 5e ma part( soit po9r la rHveiller( soit po9r
l4en5ormir@ o9 bien s4en5ormait-elle et se rHveillaitelle spontanHmentr -4est lG 9n point
E9eDe n4ai Damais p9 bien Htablir. Et si( comme De vais le raconter( 24e?pHrience n4avait
pas HtH =ait 549ne a9tre maniNre( ce sommeil et ce rHveil ne pro9veraient absol9ment rien.
YTranslationZ
ii-:::!
BUn Do9r( Htant avec mes collNg9es( G la salle 5e gar5e( G 5HDetnerAnotre con=rNre M.
Lan5o9]>( alors interne comme moi G l4hLpital "ea9Don( Htait prHsentAD4ass9rai E9e De
po9vais en5ormir cette mala5e G 5istance( et E9e De la =erais venir( G la salle 5e gar5e o
no9s Htions( rien E9e par 9n acte 5e ma volontH. Mais a9 bo9t 5e 5i? min9tes personne
n4Htant ven9( l4e?pHrience =9t consi5HrHe comme a>ant Hcho9H. YTranslationZ
BEn rHalitH l4e?pHrience n4avait pas Hcho9H@ car E9elE9e temps aprNs( on vint me prHvenir
E9e la mala5e se promenait 5ans les co9loirs( endor(ie( cherchant G me parler et ne me
tro9vant pas@ et( en e==et( il en Htait ainsi( sans E9e De p9isse 5e sa part obtenir 54a9tre
rHponse po9r e?pliE9er son sommeil et cette promena5e vagabon5e( sinon E94elle 5Hsirait
me parler. YTranslationZ
BUne a9tre =ois( D4ai rHpHtH cette e?pHrience en la variant 5e la maniNre s9ivante. Fe priai
5e9? 5e mes collNg9es 5e se ren5re 5ans la salle( so9s le prHte?te 54e?aminer 9ne mala5e
E9elconE9e@ en rHalitH a=in 54observer comment se comporterait le %o. 22( E9e D4a9rais( G
ce moment( l4intention 54en5ormir. }9elE9e temps aprNs ils vinrent me 5ire E9e
l4e?pHrience avait Hcho9H. -epen5ant( cette =ois encore( elle avait rH9ssi. -ar on s4Htait
trompH en 5Hsignant a la place 59 %o. 22 la mala5e voisine( E9i nat9rellement Htait restHe
par=aitement HveillHe( tan5is E9e le %o. 22 s4Htait e==ectivement en5ormie. YTranslationZ
BF4a9rais 5t sans 5o9te rHpHter et varier avec pl9s 5e prHcision cette e?pHrience
intHressante@ mais en pareille matiNre on ne =ait pas to9t ce E94on 5Hsire =aire( et ce9?-lG
se9ls E9i ont e?pHrimentH pe9vent savoir E9elles 5i==ic9ltHs 5e to9te sortes( morales et
a9tres( empMchent la po9rs9ite mHtho5iE9e 5e l4e?pHrimentation. YTranslationZ
B}9elE9es semaines aprNs( la mala5e reto9rna 5ans son pa>s( G "H]iers( De crois( et De n4ai
pl9s enten59 parler 54elle. YTranslationZ
B-.. 'I-.E*.
*he ne?t e?ample( =rom 1ro=esser "ea9nis( o= %anc>( is p9blishe5 in the same n9mber o=
the =evue *hilosophi2ue( p. U;3. *he concl95ing sentences o= his acco9nt( as the
a5mission o= a ph>siologist o= high rep9te( are o= goo5 omen =or the =9t9re o= o9r s9bDect
in +rance. *he e?periment was ma5e in conD9nction with o9r =rien5( $r. LiHbea9lt.
P:8:Q BLe s9Det est 9n De9ne homme( trNs bon somnamb9le( bien portant( 9n pe9 timi5e. Il
accompagnait che] M. LiHbea9lt sa co9sine( trNs bonne somnamb9le a9ssi( et E9i est
traitHe par l4h>pnotisme po9r 5es acci5ents nerve9?. YTranslationZ
BM. LiHbea9lt en5ort le s9Det et l9i 5it pen5ant son sommeil: u) votre rHveil vo9s
e?Hc9tere] +acte E9i vo9s sera or5onnH (entale(ent par les personnes prHsentes.4 F4Hcris
alors a9 cra>on s9r 9n papier ces mots: uEmbrasser sa co9sine.4 -es mots Hcrits( De montre
le papier a9 $r. LiHbea9lt et a9? E9elE9es personnes prHsentes( en le9r recomman5ant 5e
le lire 5es >e9? se9lement( et sans prononcer mMme 5es lNvres 9ne se9le 5es paroles E9i
s4> tro9ve( et D4aDo9te: u) son rHveil( vo9s pensere] =ortement G l4acte E94il 5oit e?Hc9ter(
sans rien 5ire et sans =aire a9c9n signe E9i p9isse le mettre s9r la voie.4 On rHveille alors
le s9Det et no9s atten5ons to9s le rHs9ltat 5e l4e?pHrience. 1e9 aprNs son rHveil( no9s le
vo>ons rire et se cacher la =ig9re 5ans ses mains( et ce manNge contin9e E9elE9e temps
ii-::3! sans a9tre rHs9ltat. Fe l9i 5eman5e alors: u}94ave]-vo9sr4 u'ien.4 u) E9oi pense]
vo9sr4 1as 5e rHponse. uVo9s save](4 l9i 5is-De( uE9e vo9s 5eve] =aire E9elE9e chose G
E9oi no9s pensions. /i vo9s ne vo9le] pas le =aire( 5ites-no9s a9 moins G E9oi vo9s
pense].4 u%on.4 )lors De l9i 5is: u/i vo9s ne vo9le] pas le 5ire to9t ha9t( 5ites-le-moi bas G
l4oreille(4 et De m4approche 5e l9i. u) embrasser ma co9sine(4 me 5it-il. Une =ois le
premier pas =ait( le reste 5e la s9ggestion mentale s4accomplit 5e bonne grce.
YTranslationZ
B# a-t-il e9 simple conci5encer -e serait bien Htonnant. )-t-il p9( pen5ant son sommeil(
reconnatre le sens 5es paroles E9e D4Hcrivais G la =aon 5ont De les Hcrivais s9r le papier(
o9 a-t-il p9 les voirr -4est bien pe9 s9pposable. En=in De s9is str E94a9c9ne 5es
personnes prHsentes n4a p9 le mettre 549ne =aon E9elconE9e s9r la voie 5e l4acte E94il
5evait accomplir. Il > a lG Hvi5emment E9elE9e chose E9i bo9leverse to9tes les i5Hes
re9es s9r les =onctions 59 cervea9( et po9r ma part( D9sE94 G ces 5erniers temps( D4Htais
par=aitement incrH59le s9r les =aits 5e ce genre. )9Do9r54h9i D4arrive G cette conviction
E94il ne =a9t pas les repo9sser( les cas 5e rH9ssite( E9oiE9e rares( Htant trop nombre9?
po9r Mtre 9n simple e==et 5e hasar5. YTranslationZ
B.. "E)U%I/.C
S :. *o pass now to trans=erences o= i5eas 9nconnecte5 with movement PVol. I.( pp. X3T
8Q( the ne?t two inci5ents are again reporte5 b> a +rench ph>sician o= high stan5ingAnot(
however( as personal observations( b9t apparentl> as atteste5 b> another me5ical man.
*he> occ9r in $r. Macario4s work( Du !o((eil, des =[ves, et du !o(na(bulis(e PL>ons(
27VWQ( pp. 27VT8.
P:83 an5 :8VQ BUn soir le 5octe9r &romier( aprNs avoir en5ormi par la magnHtisation 9ne
=emme h>stHriE9e( 5eman5a a9 mari 5e cette =emme la permission 5e =aire 9ne
e?pHrience( et voici ce E9i se passa. /ans mot 5ire( il la con59isit en pleine mer(
mentalement( bien enten59@ la mala5e =9t tranE9ille tant E9e le calme 59ra s9r les ea9?@
mais bientLt le magnHtise9r so9leva 5ans sa pensHe 9ne e==ro>able tempMte( et la mala5e
se mit a9ssitLt G po9sser 5es cris perants( et G se cramponner a9? obDets environnants@ sa
voi?( ses larmes( l4e?pression 5e sa ph>sionomie in5iE9aient 9ne =ra>e9r terrible. )lors il
ramena s9ccessivement( et to9Do9rs par la pensHe( les vag9es 5ans les limites
raisonnables. Elles cessNrent 54agiter le navire( et s9ivant le progres 5e le9r abaissement(
le calme rentra 5ans l4esprit 5e la somnamb9le( E9oiE94 elle conservt encore 9ne
respiration haletante et 9n tremblement nerve9? 5ans to9s ses membres. u%e me ramene]
Damais en mer(4 s4Hcria-t-elle 9n instant aprNs( avec transport@ uD4ai trop pe9r( et ce
misHrable 5e capitaine E9i ne vo9lait pas no9s laisser monter s9r le ponts4 u-ette
e?clamation no9s bo9leversa 54a9tant pl9s(4 5it M. &romier( uE9e De navais pas prononce4
9ne se9le parole E9i ptt l9i in5iE9er la nat9re 5e l4e?pHrience E9e D4avais l4intention 5e
=aire.4 YTranslationZ
BUne a9tre =ois( cette mMme mala5e Htait en proie G 9n pro=on5 5Hsespoir. Voici ce E9e
son mH5ecin( le 5octe9r &romier( imagina po9r ranimer son co9rage. Elle 5ormait 549n
sommeil magnHtiE9e. 1o9rE9oi( l9i 5it-il mentalement( per5re ainsi l4espHrancer Vo9s
Mtes pie9se( la sainte Vierge vien5ra G votre seco9rs( et vo9s g9Hrire]( so>e]-en-stre. 19is
il 5Hco9vrit( par sa pensHe( le toit 5e la maison@ 5ans les angles il gro9pa 5es images ii-
::V! portant 5es chHr9bins( et a9 milie9 il =it 5escenclre 5ans 9n globe 5e l9miNre la
sainte Vierge( 5ans to9te la splen5e9r 5e sa magni=icence. La somnamb9le tomba a9ssitLt
5ans le ravissement( 5ans l4e?tase( se prosterna G terre( et s4Hcria 5ans le pl9s gran5
transport( u)hs mon $ie9( 5ep9is si longtemps E9e De prie la Vierge Marie( voilG la
premiNre =ois E94elle vient G mon seco9rs.4C YTranslationZ
YI= correctl> reporte5( these res9lts seem to go be>on5 what can reasonabl> be attrib9te5
to 9nconscio9s ph>sical in5ications on the e?perimenter4s part.Z
}9ite parallel to s9ch cases as these is the =orm o= e?perimental telepath> =or which there
is perhaps most evi5ence in the ol5er recor5sAtho9gh it is one which we have never
personall> enco9ntere5Athat where some place or scene( =amiliar to someone present(
has been acc9ratel> 5escribe5 b> a h>pnotise5 Bs9bDectC who ha5 no previo9s knowle5ge
o= it. *he phenomenon has been almost alwa>s set 5own to in5epen5ent clairvo>anceA
an e?planation =or which there has( in most cases( been little or no warrant. ) single
instance m9st s9==ice( an5 I select one =rom the late /ergeant -o?4s 'echanis( of 'an
PVol. II.( p. UU;Q.
BOne instance( within m> personal e?perience( will s9==ice to give the rea5er a clear
conception o= the character o= this ver> c9rio9s ps>chological phenomenon. *he
somnamb9le was a little girl( age5 onl> 2; >ears. /he was invite5 to go Pmentall>Q with
me to /omersetshire. /he 5escribe5 acc9ratel> m> =ather4s ho9se thereAthe veran5ah
an5 the glass 5oors opening to the gar5en. )ske5 i= she co9l5 see an>thing in the roomr
uOh( >ess4 she sai5( us9ch a =9nn> chair( it rolls abo9t.4 PIt was an )merican rocking-
chair.Q u)n>thing morer4 u#esApict9res.4 u*ell me what the> are abo9t.4 uOne is a ho9se
p9lle5 to pieces.4 P*here was a 5rawing on the wall o= the r9ins o= an abbe>.Q u)n>
morer4 u#es@ the sk> is on =ire@ horses are D9mping abo9t.4 PIt was a large painting o= a
storm( an5 horses str9ck b> lightning.Q u)n>thing morer4 u) river r9ns b> the si5e o= the
ho9se.4 P'ight.Q I sho9l5 state that the chil5 ha5 never been o9t o= Lon5on.
B) =rien5 who was present acci5entall>( then aske5 to be allowe5 to E9estion her. .e was
place5 en rapport with her simpl> b> m> removing m> han5 an5 giving her han5 to him.
'e-establishment o= this relationship was essential to the pro59ction o= the phenomena.
2

)s I ha5 never seen m> =rien54s ho9se( I cannot vo9ch =or her acc9rac> with him as with
m>sel=@ b9t I ha5 his ass9rance that it was eE9all> correct. I sho9l5 state that neither o= 9s
gave the chil5 the slightest intimation b> wor5 or look@ in5ee5( we 5i5 nothing b9t p9t
E9estions. M> =rien54s ho9se was at $over. /he 5escribe5 some o= the wa> 5ownAs9ch
as the t9nnel an5 the cli==s. u%ow(4 she sai5( uI see a row o= ho9ses( an5 s9ch a lot o= steps
to get to them.4 u&o with ii-::8! me 9p the steps o= the thir5 ho9se.4 u#es.4 u%ow we go
in@ what 5o >o9 see therer4 u/omething like a monke> an5 some horns.4 P'ight.Q u%ow go
into the room on the le=t.4 u#es@ s9ch a lot o= books abo9t@ there is a horri5 thing on the
chimne>-piece.4 PIt was a sk9ll.Q u*here4s a portrait o= a gentleman4s hea5 over it.4 PIt was
a portrait.Q u%ow we will go 9pstairs.4 ,hat a bea9ti=9l room( an5 ohs what a bea9ti=9l
la5>.4 u,hat is she 5oingr4 uOh( no@ it4s a pict9re( I mean( with s9ch a bea9ti=9l 5ress( an5
she has a hat on@ how =9nn>.4 PIt was the =9ll length portrait o= a la5> in a ri5ing-habit.Q
/he state5 m9ch besi5es( which m> =rien5 state5 to be correct. *hen she a55e5( u*here4s a
>o9ng la5> with long >ellow c9rls looking o9t o= win5ow.4 .e whispere5 to me( u/he is
wrong there. I have a niece with s9ch hair( b9t she is =rom home. /he rea5s the pict9re in
m> min5.4 M> =rien5 ret9rne5 to $over the ne?t 5a>( an5 the =ollowing post bro9ght me a
letter stating that he was s9rprise5 to =in5 that his niece ha5 ret9rne5 9ne?pecte5l>( an5
was in the 5rawing-room as 5escribe5( b9t she believes she was not at the win5ow.C
I will now give a caseArather remote in time( b9t resting on the =irst-han5 testimon> o=
living witnessesAwhich is remarkable =or the long contin9ance o= the telepathic
s9sceptibilit>. *he narrator is Mrs. 1inhe>( o= 27( "assett 'oa5( La5broke &rove 'oa5(
,.@ her recor5( written o9t =or 9s in 277:( is at an> rate given 9n5er a strong sense o=
responsibilit>.
P:88QY~Z BI have been aske5 to write 5own what I can remember o= a ver> c9rio9s
e?perience in mesmeric or animal magnetism( which I 9n5ertook an5 carrie5 on =or man>
months( more than :; >ears ago.
B*he 5i==ic9lt> o= 5oing this acc9ratel> a=ter so great a lapse o= time is( I am aware( ver>
great@ an5 9n=ort9natel>( the 5iar> which I kept =or the greater part o= the time is o= the
most meagre 5escription( an5 can scarcel> be sai5 to 5o more than recor5 the =act o= the
sHances having been carrie5 on 5ail> with little intermission =rom the beginning o=
March( 27V;( all thro9gh the s9mmer o= that >ear( 9ntil the en5 o= October( when I le=t
home =or several weeks. On m> ret9rn the> were recommence5( an5 it was 59ring that
winter that the most remarkable tho9ght-rea5ing phenomena occ9rre5@ b9t I seem(
meanwhile( to have 5iscontin9e5 m> 5iar> altogether( so that( tho9gh the main =acts are
so impresse5 on m> memor> that I cannot =orget them( I =eel the necessit> =or e?treme
ca9tion in relating them( having nothing b9t m> memor> on which to 5epen5Anot even
the occasional hints which( in the 5iar> o= the previo9s s9mmer( have helpe5 to bring
back some circ9mstances to m> min5( to =i? the 5ates o= others( an5 to show the general
rate o= progress in the e?periments( which I ha5 imagine5 to be m9ch less gra59al than it
reall> was.
Y*he writer then 5escribes how( having in 273X hear5 a lect9re on mesmerism as applie5
to 5isease( she resolve5 to tr> to in=l9ence a relative o= her own( who was s9==ering =rom
epileps>. /he =aile5 an5 was consi5erabl> 5isco9rage5@ b9t 5etermine5 to make one more
attempt with another Bs9bDect.CZ
BMiss M. %. was a parishioner o= m> =ather4s. /he an5 her sister live5 ii-::W! together
on ver> small means( their circ9mstances having been m9ch re59ce5 at the time o= the
5eath o= their parents( an5 M. was 5rea5=9ll> a==licte5 with a chronic kin5 o= /t. Vit9s4
5ance( besi5es other ailments. I visite5 her =reE9entl>( an5 as I looke5 on at her never-
ceasing movement( her mo9th an5 e>es twitching an5 her whole bo5> Derking 9p an5
5own =rom morning till night( to s9ch an e?tent that she co9l5 not even =ee5 hersel=( it
occ9rre5 to me that hers was a =itting s9bDect =or mesmerism. ,hat a boon wo9l5 an ho9r
or two o= per=ect rest be to s9ch a persons )t an> rate( I wo9l5 talk to her abo9t it( an5
make m> ne?t attempt on her( i= she wo9l5 consent to m> 5oing so.
B/he ha5 become ver> =on5 o= me 59ring o9r interco9rse( an5 I ha5 no 5i==ic9lt> in
pers9a5ing her to allow me to 5o an>thing I like5 to her@ b9t some o= her =rien5s obDecte5
at =irst( having a sort o= i5ea that mesmerism was a ublack art(4 an5 not to be me55le5
with. M> =ather4s opinion( however( as clerg>man o= the parish( an5 m> own rep9tation
as the clerg>man4s 5a9ghter( prevaile5 so =ar that I was allowe5 to procee5 witho9t active
opposition.
B)t this time I ha5 no e?pectation o= an> marvello9s res9lts. I 5i5 hope that I might
s9ccee5 in E9ieting her nerves an5 m9scles( an5 giving rest( i= not sleep( =or a =ew ho9rs
ever> 5a>( an5 that this rest might have a bene=icial e==ect 9pon m> patient4s health. "9t
tho9gh I e?pecte5 nothing( I was prepare5 =or an>thing( i.e.( I was =9ll> impresse5 with
the necessit> o= keeping m> own nerves E9iet an5 9nmove5 9n5er an> circ9mstances. I
rather 5rea5e5 than hope5 that things might happen to uastonish me4@ b9t( i= the> 5i5( I
was prepare5 to look at them with as m9ch calmness an5 philosoph> as I co9l5
comman5.
BI think it was on the secon5 occasion( that( vi].( o= March Vth( note5 in m> Do9rnal( that I
s9ccee5e5 in in59cing the mesmeric sleep( a state at that time o= per=ect repose( not
9nlike nat9ral sleepAe?cept that the m9scles remaine5 rigi5 eno9gh to keep m> patient
sitting 9pright leaning back in the chair. /he showe5 no 5isposition to lie 5own. In this
con5ition I le=t her( at =irst with 5irections to her sister not to to9ch or 5ist9rb her 9ntil she
awoke o= hersel=( which she 5i5 in abo9t an ho9r. )s time went on( however( an5 the
mesmeric in=l9ence gaine5 greater power over her( I =o9n5 it better to sta> with her =or an
ho9r or two( an5 wake her be=ore I le=t. Otherwise she seeme5 never to awake E9ite
per=ectl>( b9t remaine5 =or some ho9rs in a 5ream> state a=ter the act9al sleep ha5 le=t
her.
BI cannot recollect( however( e?actl> the time when this change was ma5e( b9t it m9st
have been ver> earl> in the co9rse o= the sHances( beca9se on the 2:th( a=ter a week in
which I ha5 visite5 her ever> 5a>( I =in5( in a55ition to the 9s9al entr>( uMesmerise5 M.
%.(4 the wor5 u$iscoveries(4 an5 that m> mother was present( so that I m9st then have
remaine5 with her 59ring the sleep.
B*he u$iscoveries4 an5 u%ew $iscoveries4 entere5 on the 23th( re=erre5 to phenomena
which( happening to m>sel= in this wa>( with ever> possible g9arantee =or their per=ect
tr9th an5 realit>( necessaril> ma5e a great impression on all o9r min5s. *he> were( it is
tr9e( onl> the intro59ction to a series o= m9ch greater won5ers( b9t( being the =irst( the>
s9rprise5 an5 startle5 9s almost more than those which came a=ter.
B*he =irst 9n9s9al appearance that presente5 itsel= was a sort o= ii-::7! magnetic
attraction towar5s m>sel=. I notice5 that whenever I move5 abo9t the room to =etch a
book or m> knitting( or perhaps to eat some bisc9its or san5wiches P=or I o=ten took m>
l9ncheon with me to save timeQ( her =ace t9rne5 towar5s me. I trie5( b> wa> o=
e?periment( to get E9ite behin5 the chair on which she sat( with her e>es close5 an5 E9ite
still 9p to this time@ b9t she sh9==le5 abo9t in her seat an5 ma5e ever> e==ort to t9rn ro9n5
so as to =ace me. 1resentl> her arm stretche5 itsel= o9t with a mechanical kin5 o= motion
an5 pointe5 at me wherever I move5. )bo9t this time( too( she began to talk.
B.er voice an5 manner o= speaking when asleep were m9ch more animate5 an5 5eci5e5
than when awake. Instea5 o= a poor( weak( invali5 kin5 o= creat9re( she became E9ite a
clever( animate5 talker. Instea5 o= the h9milit> an5 sel=-5epreciation o= her waking ho9rs(
she appeare5 E9ite please5 with hersel= an5 con=i5ent in her own opinions. It was ver>
c9rio9s to watch her( with her e>es alwa>s sh9t( an5 her =orehea5 rather presse5 =orwar5(
as i= that were the seat an5 me5i9m o= both sight an5 9n5erstan5ing. /ometimes she
nippe5 her brows an5 a p9]]le5 look came over her =ace( an5 then a bright smile seeme5
to show that all was clear again. "9t this is rather anticipating( =or at =irst she spoke little
an5 rather hesitatingl>( e?cept in answer to E9estions which I soon began to p9t to her.
Bu,h> 5o >o9 point at me( Mar>r4
BMar>: uO( I 5on4t know( b9t I =eel as i= I wante5Awante5 to get near >o9. It is ver>
=9nn>( s9ch a =9nn> =eeling. I can4t help it. %ow( >o9 are not angr>( are >o9r4
B*he last sentence she ver> o=ten 9se5 with a 5eprecating air an5 voice.
BMeanwhile the attraction became stronger ever> 5a> till it ca9se5 her to stan5 9pright
an5 walk a=ter me@ a thing she co9l5 not 5o when awake( an5 ha5 not 5one =or man>
months or even >ears.
B)ll this( o= co9rse( intereste5 me e?tremel>( an5 m> mother an5 =ather occasionall> went
with me to see the marvels I reporte5( an5 satis=> themselves o= their realit>. I tho9ght(
however( that all this walking abo9t an5 general e?citement might not be so goo5 =or m>
patient as a E9ieter rest wo9l5 be. "esi5es( the clinging to me was rather tro9blesome an5
5i==ic9lt to arrange =or@ so when her attentions in this wa> became too pressing( I tol5 her
rather peremptoril> to go back to her chair an5 sit 5own( which( with some 5i==ic9lt> an5
e?ertion( she at last manage5 to 5oAsighing a little an5 begging me not to be angr> with
her( as she wo9l5 5o alwa>s what I wishe5 i= she possibl> co9l5( b9t it was ver> har5( [c.
B)=ter that I =o9n5 that she wo9l5 alwa>s obe> an> comman5 I gave her@ an5 tho9gh I
never trie5 her to that e?tent( I believe she wo9l5 have hoppe5 on one leg i= I ha5 or5ere5
her to 5o so.
B"> 5egrees( as time went on( I notice5 that the attraction became =ainter. I cannot now
remember how m9ch time elapse5 be=ore a new phase o= the mesmeric state began to
show itsel=. I notice that on the :;th March m> =ather went with me uto see the won5ers I
reporte5(4 an5 on the Wth )pril the sHance is marke5 as uver> s9ccess=9l(4 b9t I think that
both these entries m9st re=er to the =irst phase( vi].( the attraction alrea5> 5escribe5.
ii-::X!
BIt was( however( abo9t this time or a little later that( a=ter a =ew E9iet 9nevent=9l 5a>s( as
I was sitting at work or rea5ing in the same room with her( I observe5 that an> little
movement o= m> han5s or =eet was being repeate5 in a mechanical kin5 o= wa> b> m>
patient. )s I worke5( her right han5 went 9p an5 5own as i= 9sing her nee5le. I= I move5
m> =inger or th9mb( hers move5 too. I= I li=te5 m> han5 to m> =ace hers attempte5
imme5iatel> to =ollow the motion@ an5 she then began also to associate hersel= with me in
her speechAu*his work tires 9s ver> m9ch( 5oesn4t it( 5earr4Aor i= I wagge5 m> =inger
e?perimentall> and -ell out of her sight Ps9pposing she co9l5 seeQ( she wo9l5 sa>( u,ells
I 5on4t know wh> we sho9l5 make this poor =inger work so har5( wag( wag( it is E9ite
la9ghable.4
B*his sort o= thing( which I shall call us>mpath>(4 went on =or some time( increasing in
intensit> as the uattraction4 ha5 5one( an5 then slowl> 5>ing o9t as be=ore( till it gave
place to new an5 still more won5er=9l phenomena. *hat is to sa>( the mere o9twar5
mechanical e?pression o= s>mpath> wore o9t@ b9t all the s9ccee5ing phenomena ma> be
classe5 9n5er the same hea5. *he in=l9ence onl> went 5eeper an5 a==ecte5 b> 5egrees
more important organs( the senses( an5 =inall> the brain itsel=.
BIt was some time in that s9mmer that I was sitting or stan5ing near the win5ow o= her
room( eating the cake or san5wich or whatever m> l9nch consiste5 o= that 5a>. uM.4 was
in the mesmeric sleep( b9t ha5 been less interesting than 9s9al =or some 5a>s. I was not
watching her partic9larl>( when rather a c9rio9s so9n5 attracte5 m> attention. I looke5 at
her( an5 saw that she was apparentl> eating something ver> nice( m9nching awa> an5
enDo>ing the taste e?tremel>.
Bu,hat have >o9 got there( Mar>r4 I sai5.
BuOhs ,h> o= co9rse >o9 know. ,eAwe are eating o9r l9nch( an5 it is ver> nice. ,e
have got some cake to-5a>( an5 it is ver> goo5.4
Bu*hat is right@ then we will have some more.4 /o sa>ing( I went to the little corner
c9pboar5 where I alwa>s 5eposite5 m> l9ncheon an5 took( not cake this time( b9t a piece
o= 5r> brea5.
Bu,ell( >es( brea5 is ver> goo5( b9t it is not so nice as the cake. ,e m9st not be
5iscontente5@ b9t there is plent> more cakeAwh> 5on4t we eat itr )h( I know(4 with a
la9gh o= tri9mph( u>o9 think I can4t taste it( b9t that is nonsense. O= co9rse we eat
together(4 an5 so on. I trie5 her in all kin5s o= wa>s( taste5 salt an5 then s9gar( then
pepper( an5 5i5 m> best to p9]]le her( b9t she never hesitate5 or ma5e a mistake.
BI =in5 in m> Do9rnal vario9s entries 59ring the s9mmer( showing the names o= several
persons who witnesse5 the =acts I am relating. )mongst them( on Ma> U2st( is that o= $r.
..( a local celebrit>( who live5 ne?t 5oor to 9s( an5 was an intimate =rien5 o= m> =ather4s.
.e ha5 =ormerl>( at the reE9est o= the latter( seen uM. %.4 more than once( an5 now( on the
U;th( he ha5 been bro9ght b> m> =ather to visit her again( an5 ha5 con=esse5( tho9gh
m9ch preD95ice5 against mesmerism( that her health was certainl> improve5.
B*he ne?t 5a>( however( when he came on p9rpose to see the won5ers m> =ather ha5
5escribe5 to him( the sHance was a =ail9re. *he sleep took place as 9s9al( b9t the patient
remaine5 apparentl> 59mb. ,hether the =act o= his incre59lit> ha5( or co9l5 have an>
5irect e==ect 9pon the patient( I cannot( with m> limite5 e?perience( 5eci5e@ b9t I am
incline5 ii-:3;! to s9spect that the =ail9re was 59e to m> nerves being 9pset b> the
knowle5ge that the 5octor ha5 come on p9rpose to criticise. I know that I was e?tremel>
an?io9s that he sho9l5 see the things which I saw 5a> a=ter 5a>( an5 be convince5 that at
an> rate I an5 m> whole =amil> were not the cre59lo9s =ools he secretl> s9specte5 9s o=
being( b9t that appearances( at an> rate( D9sti=ie5 o9r belie=. *his an?iet>( an5 the
nervo9sness pro59ce5 b> it( were( I believe( the sole ca9se o= =ail9re.
B%o one Pe?cept perhaps m> mother( who went ver> o=tenQ ever saw m> patient at her
best@ the same ca9se operating( onl> in a less 5egree( whenever the sHance was in an>
wa> ma5e a me5i9m o= sight-seeing. )n5 this lea5s me to remark that when these res9lts
are pro59ce5 b> tricker>( or mechanism( the> can be repeate5 an> n9mber o= times with
per=ect precision an5 reg9larit>@ b9t when the> come to 9s as the e==ect o= e?periments
having to 5o with 9nknown or 9ne?plaine5 =orces( we m9st e?pect to be o=ten ba==le5( not
knowing =9ll> the con5itions 9n5er which those =orces act.
B,ith occasional interr9ptions( var>ing =rom a 5a> or two to a week or two( the sHances
were contin9e5 5ail> all thro9gh the s9mmer( an5 were witnesse5 b> several persons at
5i==erent times( besi5es the members o= m> own =amil>. I =in5 the names o= seven people(
man> o= whom are still living( who were presentAsome o= them more than onceAeither
in that s9mmer or the winter =ollowing.
BI cannot now remember whether an> real utho9ght-rea5ing4 ha5 beg9n be=ore I le=t home
=or several weeks on October U3th. *hat it 5i5 so ver> shortl> a=ter m> ret9rn is certain(
=rom the =ollowing circ9mstances( which( tho9gh o= a private nat9re( m9st be mentione5
in or5er to make the rest o= m> stor> intelligible.
BIt was 59ring this absence that I became engage5 to be marrie5 to a gentleman
belonging to the In5ian -ivil /ervice. -irc9mstances ma5e it e?pe5ient at the time to
keep the matter E9iet( an5 it was known onl> to m> parents an5 imme5iate relations. *he
gentleman ha5 gone to In5ia imme5iatel> a=ter o9r engagement( an5 I ret9rne5 home to
m> 9s9al occ9pations as i= nothing ha5 happene5. %o one in the town knew an>thing
abo9t it then( or till some weeks a=terwar5s( >et I ha5 no sooner magnetise5 m> patient
than she began talking as i= all the =acts were per=ectl> =amiliar to her. uIn5ia is a long
wa> o==( isn4t it( 5earr I wish we co9l5 be nearer home( b9t( o= co9rse( i= he is there we
m9st go too.4 In =act =or months she co9l5 talk o= little else when mesmerise5( an5 knew
m> h9sban54s name( age( an5 appearance( b9t was as ignorant as the rest o= the worl5
when in her nat9ral state.
B&ra59all> this knowle5ge o= all that I knew became more an5 more complete( an5(
acc9stome5 as I was b> this time to s9ch marvels( she sometimes =airl> astonishe5 me.
One 5a> she s955enl> b9rst o9t la9ghing. uOh( what a h9rr> we were in( how we 5i5 =l>
5own the stairss4 I looke5 9p( u,hat are >o9 talking abo9tr ,hen 5o >o9 meanr4 u,h>(
>o9 know( this morning( an5 5ear papa was waiting@ he 5oesn4t like 9s to be late =or
pra>ers. "9t we onl> D9st wante5 to =inish that sentence.4 M> c9riosit> was thoro9ghl>
aro9se5 now( an5 I inE9ire5( u,hat sentencer4 u,h>( the &erman bookA/chiller( wasn4t
itr4 It was per=ectl> tr9e( tho9gh the =act ha5 ma5e b9t a slight impression 9pon me( an5 I
ha5 certainl> not tho9ght o= it again 9ntil th9s remin5e5 o= it( ii-:32! that I ha5 been
rea5ing &erman 9pstairs that morning 9ntil the pra>er bell rang( an5 then( lingering =or a
moment to =inish a sentence( I ha5 r9she5 hastil> 5ownstairs to avoi5 being late.
B*his an5 other phenomena o= the same kin5 p9]]le5 me a great 5eal@ not the =act o= her
knowing what I knew( =or with that i5ea I was b> this time =amiliar@ b9t the thing which I
co9l5 not 9n5erstan5 was her brain being acte5 9pon b> s9ch apparentl> tri=ling
occ9rrences. I co9l5 perceive that things which ha5 greatl> impresse5 m> brain might be
repeate5 in hers( as the 5e=lections o= one nee5le are repeate5 b> another at the opposite
pole o= the electric c9rrent. ,hen I aske5 her a E9estion( m> brain probabl> gave the
answer which hers repeate5( b9t wh> 5i5 she spontaneo9sl> 5rag 9p little things which I
ha5 =orgottenr /ometimes she even intro59ce5 little conversations between m> =ather an5
mother which ha5 taken place in m> presence. u$ear mamma was ve?e5(4 she began one
5a>( an5 then came partic9lars o= some little arg9ment between m> =ather an5 mother(
which I ha5 hear5 at the time b9t ha5 never tho9ght o= again( an5 certainl> never
repeate5.
2
I have o=ten tho9ght over this 5i==ic9lt> since( b9t cannot in the least e?plain it
e?cept 9pon the s9pposition that certain things 5o impress o9r brains more strongl> than
others( altho9gh we ma> be 9nconscio9s o= the =act. It is a line o= inE9ir> which I sho9l5
think might be worth p9rs9ing in the interests o= ph>sical science( i= an> ph>sician o=
note co9l5 so =ar shake o== all preD95ice as to make e?periments =or himsel=.
BI have onl> a =ew more won5ers to relate( an5 the> are all o= the same kin5. One 5a>(
59ring the winter( I was sitting b> the =ire opposite to m> patient( an5( to pass the time(
instea5 o= working on this occasion( I ha5 a book. I have =orgotten what it was e?cept that
it was a novel( one o= $ickens4 I think. /955enl> she began to la9gh. I looke5 9p( an5
saw her with her e>es sh9t as 9s9al( b9t her hea5 moving as i= rea5ing with her =orehea5(
an5 her mo9th smiling. u,hat are >o9 la9ghing atr4 u,h> at the stor>( o= co9rse.4 u,hat
stor>r4 )n5 she tol5 me what I was rea5ing abo9t( making her comments on the
characters( an5 e?pressing her am9sement at some passages( an5 her sorrow at an>thing
pathetic which I came to in the co9rse o= m> rea5ing.
U
I aske5 her the page an5 she tol5
me. I aske5 her whereabo9ts in the page certain passages were( an5 she tol5 me that also.
I trie5 her with written letters an5 =ig9res( an5 p9t her power to all kin5s o= tests( an5 the
res9lt alwa>s was that she knew what I knew b9t nothing be>on5. /he was never what is
pop9larl> known as uclairvo>ante.4
BI mention this partic9larl>( beca9se it was a point which I took great pains to ascertain@
an5 several times when I aske5 her E9estions abo9t people an5 things at a 5istance( her
answers were so 5eci5e5( an5 her knowle5ge apparentl> so min9te an5 circ9mstantial
that I was ver> nearl> 5eceive5 into believing it to be tr9e. "9t on ever> occasion o= the
sort( I =o9n5( on inE9ir>( that tr9th an5 =iction were mi?e5 9p together. Ever>thing which
I knew m>sel= was tr9e. "9t the partic9lar =acts ii-:3U! which were happening at the
moment( an5 which she 5escribe5 as i= she saw them( were p9rel> imaginar>.
BOne remarkable instance in ill9stration o= this I will relate. It happene5 59ring the
s9mmer( or earl> spring( o= 27V2. M> marrie5 sister( with her h9sban5 an5 chil5ren( were
e?pecte5 at a vicarage X or 2; miles o==( to pa> a visit to his =ather. I knew this( an5 was(
there=ore( not s9rprise5 when she began to talk abo9t it. .ere( I tho9ght( is a goo5
opport9nit> to test her clairvo>ance( so I sai5( uOh( >es( we knew the> were to come to-
5a>( b9t have the> arrive5r Look an5 tell mer4 )=ter a short pa9se she began in rather an
e?cite5 wa>( u#es( >es( I see them all D9st getting o9t o= the carriage.4 u,hom 5o >o9
seer4 I aske5. uI see Mr. AA an5 Mrs. AA an5 the n9rse( an5 so man> chil5ren. *he>
are going into the ho9se( into the 5rawing-room on the le=t o= the hall.4 /he then
5escribe5 the vicarage( the 5rive 9p to it( an5 man> other partic9lars with what I knew to
be per=ect acc9rac>( an5 her whole stor> was so likel>( so m9ch what I e?pecte5 to
happen( that I was E9ite prepare5 to have the whole con=irme5 on inE9ir>. "9t it was not
so. In the =irst place( the train ha5 been late( an5 the part> 5i5 not arrive 9ntil an ho9r or
two later@ an5( in the secon5 place( m> brother-in-law was 5etaine5 at his own vicarage(
man> miles awa>( an5 never arrive5 at all at that time.
BOn another occasion( some in=ormation she gave me abo9t Mr. AA( in In5ia( tho9gh
ver> likel> an5 pla9sible( t9rne5 o9t to be incorrect.
B.er tho9ght-rea5ing was alwa>s per=ect( b9t the clairvo>ance alwa>s =aile5 when
acc9ratel> teste5@ an5 tho9gh I know how =allacio9s an opinion base5 on one e?periment
m9st o=ten be( an5 also that there is plent> o= goo5 evi5ence =or the tr9th o= clairvo>ance(
I have sometimes spec9late5 whether( i= an> apparent case o= clairvo>ance were
acc9ratel> inE9ire5 into( it wo9l5 not o=ten be =o9n5 to have its origin in utho9ght-
rea5ing.4 Y/ee above( pp. :UX an5 ::V.Z
B*owar5s the en5 o= the s9mmer o= 27V2( I gave 9p magnetising uM.4 as a reg9lar thing.
.er health was m9ch improve5( an5 she live5 =or man> >ears a=terwar5s( onl>
occasionall> tro9ble5 with the /t. Vit9s4 5ance( at which times m> mother or one o= m>
sisters took m> place( an5 generall> s9ccee5e5 in E9ieting her.
BIt was rather a tro9ble to me that a=ter the =irst =ew weeks I scarcel> saw uM.4 in her
nat9ral state. /he was so sensitive to m> presence that be=ore I entere5 her room she was
alrea5> hal= gone( an5 it was onl> at the en5 o= each sHance( when( with m9ch 5i==ic9lt>(
b> means o= 9pwar5 passes( =anning( an5 other e?pe5ients I ha5 s9ccee5e5 in waking her(
that I co9l5 comm9nicate with her real sel=. I hope5 that m> long absence in In5ia( eight
>ears( wo9l5 have worn o9t this in=l9ence@ b9t when at last I ret9rne5 home an5 went to
see her( I =o9n5 her alrea5> lapsing into the trance( an5 ha5 great 5i==ic9lt> in keeping her
o9t o= it 59ring m> visit. I believe that a more e?perience5 an5 skil=9l operator co9l5
have prevente5 this in the beginning( an5 thro9gho9t the co9rse it was alwa>s a s9bDect o=
regret to me.
BM. ). 1 .C
*wo other witnesses o= this percipient4s powers have s9pplie5 the =ollowing testimon>.
Mrs. $4O>l> writes on %ov. U3( 277V:A
BU3( ,estbo9rne *errace( ,.
B$E)' /I'(AM> sister( Mrs. 1inhe>( has to-5a> =orwar5e5 me a ii-:3:! letter o= >o9rs
o= F9l> :;th. I ha5 not seen her article Yi.e.( the acco9nt D9st E9ote5Z( nor 5i5 I know till
to-5a> that she ha5 written one. It is 5i==ic9lt to know what corroborative evi5ence is
reE9ire5( b9t m> own personal e?perience with Mar> %a>lor( m> sister4s patient( is
c9rio9s an5 interesting( an5 I =anc> almost i5enticall> the same as m> sister4s. On Mrs.
1inhe> leaving Englan5( I took 9p the case D9st where she le=t it. In ever> respect the
same phenomena occ9rre5 with me as a mesmeriser as when m> sister operate5. M>
patient knew the contents o= m> letters( ever> tho9ght o= m> min5@ she wo9l5 5isc9ss the
theatre( or the ball( or part>( or ch9rch I might have been at since I ha5 last visite5 her(
an5 talke5 it all over as i= she ha5 been present@ b9t sometimes( i= a thir5 person happene5
to be present( I wo9l5 be a little nervo9s lest something sho9l5 come o9t which I 5i5 not
wish mentione5( b9t m> inwar5 =ear wo9l5 imme5iatel> make her ca9tio9s( an5 she
wo9l5 sa>( uOh( we m9st not talk abo9t s9ch-an5-s9ch things to6da,( m9st wer4
/ometimes 59ring the seance she wo9l5 complain o= h9nger. I wo9l5 go to the c9pboar5(
t9rn m> back to prevent her seeing( an5 taste 5i==erent things@ she co9l5 alwa>s tell -hat
partic9lar thing I was eating( like5 an5 5islike5 what : like5 an5 5islike5( an5 when I ha5
ha5 eno9gh her appetite was satis=ie5. Mrs. 1inhe> was totall> 9nprepare5 =or ever>thing
that happene5( an5 each new phenomenon astonishe5 her E9ite as m9ch as it 5i5
o9tsi5ers.
B.er uclairvo>ance4 was limite5 to this: that she knew an> an5 ever> thing her
mesmeriser knew( b9t no more. +or instance( we wo9l5 ask her =or partic9lars o= an
absent sailor brother@ her answer wo9l5 be vag9e an5 ug9essing(4 an5 alwa>s t9rne5 o9t to
be merel> the re=lections o= o9r own min5s.
B)s Mrs. 1inhe> an5 I have ha5 no comm9nication on this topic( I hope m> observations
ma> be consi5ere5 ucorroborative evi5ence.4A"elieve me( >o9rs =aith=9ll>(
BEMM) /. $4O#L#.C
Mrs. Ogle writes on the same 5ate:A
B/e5ge=or5 Vicarage( 0ing4s L>nn.
B/ir(AI have been aske5 b> m> co9sin( Mrs. 1inhe>( i= I remember seeing a girl( Mar>
%a>lor Pat "9r> /t. E5m9n5sQ( who was ver> ill o= /t. Vit9s4 $ance( an5 whom she
mesmerise5 5ail>. )s this was more than :; >ears ago( I cannot recollect all I saw an5
hear5@ b9t one =act was 5eepl> impresse5 on m> min5( an5 I have o=ten mentione5 it
since. Mrs. 1inhe> ha5 that morning receive5 a letter =rom In5ia( an5 a=ter she ha5 sent
M. %a>lor o== to sleep( she hel5 it 9p( witho9t 9n=ol5ing it( an5 ma5e the girl tell her who
an5 where it came =rom an5 certain partic9lars mentione5 in the letter( known onl> to
hersel=. *his M. %a>lor 5i5 with great rel9ctance( as she was overpowere5 with sleep(
an5 begge5 to be let alone( an5 it reE9ire5 great =irmness on Mrs. 1inhe>4s part to make
the girl answer her E9estions. Mrs. 1inhe> knew that I 5i5 not believe in mesmerism( an5
she was an?io9s that I sho9l5 see the power she ha5 over M. %a>lor.
BI am( /ir( =aith=9ll> >o9rs(
B.E%'IE**) ). O&LE.C
*he =ollowing passages( bearing on telepath>( are e?tracte5 =rom some B%otes on
Mesmerism(C kept at intervals 59ring the last =ew >ears( conc9rrentl> with the
e?periments which the> recor5( b> ii-:33! -aptain "attersb>( '.).( +.'.)./.( o=
Or5nance .o9se( Enniskillen. "oth he an5 his mother-in-law( the percipient( Mrs. Fohn
Evens( o= Ol5 "ank( Enniskillen( have been mentione5 be=ore Pcase :22Q. *he imme5iate
obDect o= the h>pnotic treatment was simpl> the relie= o= pain. *he e?tracts comprise
phenomena o= vario9s sorts. *o some o= them the initials o= in5epen5ent observers were
appen5e5Ato paragraphs )( "( an5 -( those o= Miss F. ). Evens( Miss M. L. Evens( an5
Mrs. "attersb>( an5 to paragraph $ those o= Mrs. "attersb>Awith the remark: B,e
certi=> that we were e>e-witnesses o= the occ9rrences to which o9r initials are appen5e5(
an5 that the> are correctl> 5escribe5.C
P:8WQ B*o a E9estion aske5 in a =oreign lang9age( the patient 9s9all> replie5 in the same(
provi5e5 that I co9l5 m>sel= have 5one so. )sking her( however( a E9estion in &erman(
the answer to which I co9l5 not m>sel= have translate5 into that lang9age( she Ptho9gh
hersel= a goo5 &erman scholarQ answere5 onl>Au#o9r mo9th is sh9t.4 )ske5 the same
E9estion when awake( she co9l5 answer in the lang9age at once.
P)Q B)s a r9le she wo9l5( when asleep( translate short sentences o= &reek( Latin( or Irish(
all E9ite 9nknown tong9es to her( provi5e5 I knew the translation( b9t not otherwise. %ow
an5 then( however( this e?periment =aile5.
B/he co9l5 generall> tell the time b> a watch place5 in her han5( the name o= a book( the
original o= a photograph( [c.( provi5e5 all these were known to me.C
Y)=ter 5escribing an 9n9s9al trance which he observe5 in Mrs. Evens at the time o= a
5istant th9n5er-storm( the narrator goes on:AZ
B*he electrical =l9i5 in the air seeme5 to have e?cite5 Mrs. E. to a ver> high state o=
tho9ght-rea5ing( as she now began( =or the =irst an5 onl> time I observe5 s9ch a
phenomenon( to speak o= her own accor5( 9nE9estione5( an5 to =ollow the co9rse o= m>
tho9ghts alo95 now an5 then.
P"Q B$9ring the trance there was apparentl> trans=erence o= sensation( as a hair tickling
m> =orehea5( a han5kerchie= 5ippe5 in ea9-5e--ologne an5 applie5 to m> =ace( [c.( [c.(
all pro59ce5 in her the correspon5ing sensations. /he co9l5 also taste what I was eating
or 5rinking. On one occasion strong smelling-salts applie5 to her nose pro59ce5 no e==ect(
b9t when applie5 to mine she starte5 at once.
BOn one or two occasions I mesmerise5 her =rom a 5istance( when in m> E9arters( hal=-a-
mile o==. On s9ch occasions she was able to tell what I ha5 been 5oing( an5 wo9l5
generall> go to sleep. *he sensation she 5escribe5 was that o= a han5 presse5 on her
=orehea5. *ho9gh able th9s to sen5 her to sleep( I was 9nable to keep her so( as she wo9l5
waken again the moment m> attention wavere5. *he means 9se5 were stretching o9t m>
han5 towar5s her ho9se( an5 bringing m> will sharpl> to bear( D9st as 5escribe5 in 'obert
"rowning4s =ine poem on uMesmerism.4
P-Q B)=ter an absence o= abo9t X weeks I was c9rio9s to see whether ii-:3V! the =orce
still e?iste5 9naltere5( an5 accor5ingl> trie5 the e?periment( when Mrs. E. was pla>ing a
59et on the piano( with her back towar5s me( o= willing her strongl> to sleep. )lmost at
once she began to pla> =alse notes( an5 soon gave 9p pla>ing( sa>ing she =elt tire5 an5 the
piece was a sleep> one. I then cease5 m> in=l9ence( as I 5i5 not wish her to =all asleep.
P$Q BI establishe5 the =act that Mrs. E. co9l5 be mesmerise5 b> me witho9t her
knowle5ge( an5 awoke again so that she wo9l5 have no i5ea that she ha5 been in the
mesmeric sleep( b9t wo9l5 merel> think that she ha5 5o]e5 =or awhile. *he incapabilit>
o= rising b> hersel=( however( which was alwa>s present a=ter the sleep( wo9l5 soon
in=orm her o= the tr9th.
B,hen partiall> awakene5 b> the above means Yreverse passesZ( however( the operation
co9l5 be complete5 b> a mere e==ort o= will on m> part( an5 this whether I was in the
same room or no( Mrs. E. being at once conscio9s o= this e?ertion o= will.C
In answer to inE9iries( -aptain "attersb> sa>s:A
BFan9ar> U;th( 2778.
BOn vario9s occasions( separate5 sometimes b> months =rom each other( I trie5 to
mesmerise Mrs. E. =rom a 5istance@ an5 in a large percentage o= the cases she inE9ire5 o=
me( when she ne?t saw or wrote to me( whether I ha5 not 5one so at s9ch an5 s9ch a 5a>
or ho9r. )t an> time when in the trance( the act o= looking at Mrs. E.( or willing her to
open her e>es( will ca9se her to 5o so.C
In a later letter he a55s:A
BI am sorr> that I can give >o9 no corroborative evi5ence o= the mesmerism =rom a
5istance( as it was not o=ten trie5 b> me P=or =ear o= ca9sing Mrs. E. anno>anceQ@ an5 I 5o
not think an>one was present with her on the occasions. /he certainl> was able to tell
when I ha5 been attempting to mesmerise her@ b9t be>on5 that I cannot personall>
speak.C
*o these h>pnotic cases( I will a55 a co9ple o= instances o= tho9ght-trans=erence where
5isease seems to have pro59ce5 an eE9all> abnormal con5ition in the percipient. *he
=ollowing acco9nt is e?tracte5 =rom a ver> remarkable recor5 in 1HtHtin4s >lectricit4
)ni(ale P1aris( 27;7Q. $r. 1HtHtin ha5 been =or some time atten5ing a la5> who s9==ere5
Pamong other thingsQ =rom attacks o= cataleps>. .e sa>s Ppp. VVTWQ:A
BFe m4annonai( comme D4avais co9t9me 5e le =aire( en l9i parlant s9r le bo9t 5es 5oigts.
Elle me rHpon5it( uVo9s Mtes paresse9? ce matin( M. le $octe9r.4 u-ela est vrai( ma5ame@
si vo9s en savie] la ca9se( vo9s ne me =erie] pas ce reproche.4 uEhs De la vois@ vo9s ave]
la migraine 5ep9is E9atre he9res( elle ne cessera E94G si?( et vo9s ave] raison 5e ne rien
=aire po9r cette mala5ie( E9e to9tes les. p9issances h9maines ne pe9vent empMcher
54avoir son co9rs.4 u$ep9is E9an5 Mtes-vo9s 5even9 mH5ecinr4 u$ep9is E9e D4ai les >e9?
54)rg9s.4 u1o9rrie]-vo9s me 5ire 5e E9el cLtH ii-:38! est ma 5o9le9rr4 u/9r l4il 5roit(
la tempe et les 5ents@ De vo9s prHviens E94elle passera G l4il ga9che( E9e vo9s so9==rire]
bea9co9p entre trois et E9atre he9res( et E94G si? vo9s a9re] la tMte par=aitement libre.4 u/i
vo9s vo9le] E9e De vo9s croie( il =a9t E9e vo9s me 5isie] ce E9e De tiens 5ans la main.4 Fe
l4app9>ai a9ssitLt s9r son estomac( et la mala5ie( sans hHsiter( me rHpon5it( uFe vois G
travers votre main 9ne mH5aille antiE9e.4 F4o9vre la main to9t inter5it@ la belle-sce9r Deta
les >e9? s9r la mH5aille( plit et se tro9va mal. 'even9e G elle-mMme( elle ren=erma 5ans
9ne bonbonniNre br9ne et G 5emi transparente 9n chi==on 5e papier( me 5onna la bote
5erriNre le =a9te9il 5e sa s9r@ De l4enveloppai 5e ma main( et la prHsentai G l4estomac 5e
la cataleptiE9e( sans l9i parler. uFe vois 5ans votre main 9ne bote( et 5ans cette bote 9ne
lettre G mon a5resse.4 La belle-s9r( Hpo9vantHe( tremblait s9r ses Dambes@ De me htai
54o9vrir la bote@ D4en tirai 9ne lettre pliHe en E9atre( G l4a5resse 5e la mala5e( et timbrHe
5e &enNve. YTranslationZ
BL4Htonnement o me Deta cette 5Hco9verte s9spen5it E9elE9es instans ma 5o9le9r( et
m4Lta to9te rH=le?ion. Fe tro9vai le tremblement 5e la belle-s9r trNs-nat9rel@ elle a9rait
p9 se tro9ver pl9s mal( E9e De n4 a9rais pas songH G l9i 5onner le moin5re seco9rs( et De
restai st9pH=ait pl9s 549n E9art 54he9re. En revenant G moi( De 5eman5ai G la belle-s9r(
comment elle s4Htait proc9rH la lettre E94elle avait ren=ermHe 5ans la bonbonniNrer Elle
me rHpon5it E9e cette lettre s4Htait tro9vHe 5ans la livre E94elle lisait( en atten5ant ma
visite@ E94elle l4avait pris 5ans la bibliothNE9e 5e la mala5e( et E94en l4o9vrant elle Htait
tombHe G ses pie5s@ E94elle l4avait relevHe et mise 5ans sa poche po9r la l9i ren5re(
a9ssitLt E94elle serait HveillHe. Fe pris le livre et l4e?aminai( comme si D4e9sse 5t >
tro9ver l4empreinte 5e la lettre( tant ce no9vea9 pro5ige me paraissait incro>able@ mais
me convenait-il bien 54en 5o9ter( 54aprNs ma propre e?pHriencer Etait-ce 9n a9tre E9i
avait mis 5ans ma main la mH5aille antiE9e 5ont D4Htais m9ni( avec le 5essein 5e pro=iter
5e la premiNre occasion po9r la placer s9r l4estomac 5e la mala5e( et voir si elle la
signalerait( comme 54a9tres obDets E9e De l9i avais presentHsrC YTranslationZ
In the evening( $r. 1HtHtin revisite5 his patient. .e contin9es Ppp. 8UTVQ:-
P:87Q B)vant 5e sortir( De plaai( G to9t HvHnement( 9ne( petite lettre s9r le ha9t 5e ma
poitrine@ De m4enveloppai 5e mon mantea9( et n4arrivai E94 G si? he9res et 5emie.
YTranslationZ
B)9 co9p 5e sept he9res( la mala5e( trNs-attentive( animHe par sa gaietH nat9relle( Hpro9va
5e9? seco9sses 5ans les bras@ et 5ans ce co9rt espace 5e temps( ses >e9? se =ermNrent( sa
ph>sionomie e?prima l4Htonnement( ses co9le9rs 5ispar9rent( et la catalepsie la
trans=orma en stat9e E9i Hco9te. YTranslationZ
BF4avanai mon =a9te9il po9r Mtre pl9s prNs 5e la mala5e. /a tMte( to9Do9rs to9rnHe 59
mMme cLte( ne m4o==rait E9e son pro=il@ De 5Hveloppai mon mantea9( po9r mettre le ha9t
5e mon corps G 5Hco9vert. uEhs 5ep9is E9an5( M. le $octe9r( la mo5e est-elle ven9e 5e
porter ses lettres s9r la poitriner4 F4alongeai le bras po9r attein5re 59 bo9t 59 5oigt le
cre9? 5e l4estomac 5e ma cataleptiE9e@ et en rH9nissant les 5oigts 5e mon a9tre main( De
l9i rHpon5is G voi? or5inaire( uMa5ame( vo9s po9rrie] vo9s tromper.4 u%on( De s9is stre
5e ce E9e De vois. Vo9s ave] s9r la poitrine ii-:3W! 9ne lettre E9i n4est pas pl9s gran5e
E9e celaAE94on l4appliE9e G la mes9re.4 En pro=Hant ces paroles( elle 5onna 9ne a9tre
position G sa tMte( E94elle 5irigea 5e mon cLtH@ elle avana les 5e9? bras( alongea l4in5e?
5e la main ga9che( et avec cel9i 5e la 5roite E94elle posa 5ess9s( 5etermina 5ans la pl9s
gran5e prHcision la place E94elle 5evait occ9per. *o9s les regar5s tombNrent s9r moi.
F4Hcartai me veste( on vit la lettre@ l4ami s4en empara po9r l4appliE9er s9r le 5oigt E9i
l4atten5ait@ elle ne l4e9t pas pl9tLt to9chH( E9e la mala5e aDo9ta( u!i 5e n4tais pas
discrWte, 5e pourrais en dire le contenu/ (etis pour prouver 2ue 5e ?ai bien lue, il n, a
2ue deu. lignes et de(ie, trWs6(inut4es.4 )prNs avoir obten9 la permission 5e l4o9vrir(
chac9n vit E9e le billet ne ren=ermait E9e 5e9? lignes et 5emie( 5ont les caractNres Htaient
men9s. L4ami passant to9t-G-co9p 59 pl9s ha9t 5egrH 54Htonnement G cel9i 5e la pl9s
gran5e 5H=iance( tira 5e sa poche 9ne bo9rse( la mit s9r ma poitrine( croisa ma veste( et
me po9ssa 59 cLtN 5e la mala5e. u'. le Docteur, ne vous g[neA pas/ vous aveA, dans ce
(o(ent, sur la poitrine, la filoche de '. B./ il , a tant de louis dun cGt4 et dargent
blanc de lautre/ (ais 2ue personne ne se d4range, 5e vais dire ce 2ue chacun a de plus
re(ar2uable dans ses poches.4C /he =9l=ille5 this promise. YTranslationZ
Man> other inci5ents are recor5e5 in this case. 1HtHtin himsel= regar5s them all as
clairvo,ant in character@ b9t the h>pothesis o= tho9ght-trans=erence was never e?cl95e5
b> the con5itions Psee pp. :UX( ::V( :3UQ.
*he =inal instance is another e?tract =rom the 'echanis( of 'an PVol. II.( pp. 2WVTWQ.
*his case( like the two last E9ote5( was observe5 59ring a consi5erable perio5. /erDeant
-o? sa>s:A
P:8XQ B*he patient was m> sister( a girl o= 2V( o= h>sterical temperament an5 somewhat
5e=icient in intelligence. I was 8 >ears her senior. I ha5 then no knowle5ge o= the
phenomena o= somnamb9lism( be>on5 the 9ses ma5e o= it b> the novelist an5 the
5ramatist. I ha5 never even hear5 o= mesmerism. I was( there=ore( a per=ectl>
9npreD95ice5 witness.
Y*he writer then 5escribes cataleptic =its( =rom which his sister s9==ere5( an5 which 9se5
to pass o==( leaving her in a semi-conscio9s( trancelike state.Z
BI=( as she la> 9pon the so=a( her e>es =irml> close5( I opene5 a book having pict9res in it(
an5 sat behind her in a position where it was ph>sicall> impossible that she co9l5 see
what I was 5oing( an5 I looke5 at one o= the pict9res( she =orthwith e?hibite5( in
pantomimic action( the post9re o= each person there 5epicte5. It was per=ectl> mani=est
that she ha5 the image o= the engraving impresse5 9pon her min5( as 5istinctl> as i= it ha5
been conve>e5 to it b> the sense o= sight. %or is it to be e?plaine5 b> the s9ggestion that
the engravings were =amiliar to her( an5 that she g9esse5 9pon which o= them I was
looking@ =or it was the same with books an5 pict9res p9rposel> trie5 which she ha5 never
seen. "9t whether that impression was obtaine5 thro9gh (, min5( in which the image
also was( or that her min5 perceive5 the pict9re itsel= 5irectl>( altho9gh o9t o= the range
o= vision( is the problem to be solve5. I= the servant who atten5e5 her( obe5ient to her
signalle5 5esire( went to her ii-:37! be5room on the floor above the room in which she
was l>ing entrance5( she e?presse5 the most obvio9s signs o= anno>ance i= the servant
above to9che5 the wrong thing( an5 o= satis=action when she to9che5 the right one(
precisel> as i= the search ha5 been ma5e in the same room an5 she saw what was going
on. *he e?periment was p9rposel> trie5 man> times( with vario9s tests( so as to leave no
5o9bt o= the =act 9pon an> member o= the =amil> who witnesse5 it.
BIt sho9l5 be state5 that when a part o= the pict9re was covere5( so that I co9l5 see b9t a
part( her perceptions were limite5 to the part seen b> me. I was( in5ee5( 9nable to trace
an> power o= perception o= an>thing not seen b> the person with whom her min5 was at
the time associate5. /he perceive5 behin5 her so m9ch o= the pict9re as was seen b> me
an5 impresse5 on m> min5. /he perceive5 the obDects seen an5 to9che5 b> her servant
9pstairs an5 so impresse5 9pon her min5.
B*hese phenomena contin9e5 =or nearl> U >ears( so that there was ample opport9nit> =or
observing them. Impost9re was o9t o= the E9estion. $el9sion was impossible. *he
occ9rrence was in a private =amil>( an5 witnesse5 b> none b9t themselves an5 the
atten5ant ph>sician( whose sagacio9s e?planation o= it I have narrate5.C Y*he e?planation
re=erre5 to was that it was a case o= h>steria Ban5 in h>steria people can 5o an>thing.CZ
ii-:3X!
+!P#&R ((.
(/&!'< &M%#(%"!'< !"/ M%#%R +!$&$.
S 2. *he present chapter will contain instances parallel to those given in -hapters VI. an5
VII. o= Vol. I.( arrange5 as =ar as possible in the same or5er. *hese acco9nts( an5 the
5ream-cases o= the s9ccee5ing chapter( belong Pas pointe5 o9t in Vol. I.( p. U:3Q to the
weakest evi5ential classes@ an5 I sho9l5 have been gla5 to present them in a more
con5ense5 shape. "9t I =o9n5 on making the attempt( that s9ch =orce as the> possess( an5
Awhat it is eE9all> a 59t> to bring o9tAtheir evi5ential 5e=ects( were apt to 5isappear
when their =orm was altere5.
I will begin with cases where the trans=erence o= an i5ea seems to have been o= a
tolerabl> 5e=inite an5 literal kin5.
*he =irst =ive cases Ptaken in connection with othersQ
2
=orm a gro9p which strongl>
s9ggests that a =9gitive =ac9lt> o= percipience ma> be 5evelope5 b> an abnormal
con5ition o= min5 an5 bo5>.
P:W;Q +rom Mrs. Mainwaring( 0nowles( )r5ingl>( .a>war54s .eath.
BMarch 23th( 277V.
B$9ring the M9tin>( I was sta>ing with a =rien5( 5rea5=9ll> illAtoo ill to be tol5 what
was going on. ) bab> was born( an5 a 5a> or two a=ter( m> =rien54s wi=e( sitting on m>
be5( receive5 a letter. I sai5( u#o9 nee5 not rea5 it( I know ever> wor5(4 an5 I tol5 her. It
was to sa> she m9st not 5rive that a=ternoon to the +ort as 9s9al( =or some men were
going to be hange5 on the roa5. I ha5 not hear5 a wor5 o= the 5iscover> o= the plot( or o=
the plot( or o= what was to be@ b9t I sai5 ever> wor5 in the letter( an5 I remember m>
=rien54s =ace o= astonishment( as she sai5( u,h>( how 5i5 >o9 know itr4 It 5i5n4t seem at
all o55 to me.
BE. L. M)I%,)'I%&.C
/9bseE9entl> Mrs. Mainwaring wrote:A
BF9ne 27th( 277V.
BIn compliance with >o9r reE9est( I wrote to m> ol5 =rien5( b9t I have not ha5 a line in
repl>. I 5o not know what can have become o= her( as it wo9l5 have been ver> little
tro9ble to sa> i= she recollecte5 the ii-:V;! =acts I tol5 >o9 o=. I 5o not like to write
again( an5 I am sorr>( there=ore( I cannot a55 her testimon>.C
YIn cases belonging to a weak classAi.e.( a class where the e?perience o= the percipient is
not o= a s9==icientl> strongl>-marke5 t>pe to make it violentl> improbable that it wo9l5
be a=terwar5s imagine5 or mo5i=ie5 in memor>Aabsence o= corroboration is o= co9rse a
5o9bl> important 5e=ect. *his remark applies to a goo5 man> o= the e?amples that
=ollow.Z
In the =ollowing case( again( the percipient was in a state o= serio9s illness.
P:W2Q +rom Mr. E. -hapman( Pwoo5-carverQ ,in5sor .all( "righton.
B2773.
BM> =ather( when a >o9ng man( entere5 the service o= /ir -harles $>moke@ estate(
/crivelsb> .all( Lincolnshire. .e rose rapi5l> to become almost constant companion.C
Mr. -hapman then 5escribes how his =ather on one occasion save5 the coachman o= /ir
-. $>moke =rom ver> serio9s 5anger an5 5isgrace( =or which the coachman sai5 that Bhe
wo9l5 thank him with his 5>ing breath.C
BMan> >ears a=ter this happene5( m> =ather was l>ing ver> ill@ so m9ch so he co9l5 not
help himsel= in an> wa>. M> mother ha5 D9st ma5e him as com=ortable as possible( Phe
was per=ectl> helpless(Q an5 she ha5 gone 5ownstairs to atten5 to her ho9sehol5 a==airs(
when she hear5 a lo95 knocking( an5 going 9pstairs( =o9n5 m> =ather sitting bolt 9pright
in be5. On asking him how he came in that position( he e?claime5( uO mother(4 Pthe>
alwa>s calle5 each other mother an5 =atherQ( uwhat is the timer4 Pbeing tol5Q( u,hat is it
to-5a>r4 P*h9rs5a>Q( u)n5 the 5a> o= the monthr %ow write it all 5own at once.4
B"eing aske5 wh> he wishe5 it to be written( he answere5 u/o-an5-so(4 naming the
a=oresai5 coachman( uis 5ea5.4 u.ow 5o >o9 know that( =atherr4 u$on4t ask me. #o9 will
have a letter in two or three 5a>s.4 On the thir5 5a> =rom that time the letter came
anno9ncing the 5eath o= the sai5 coachman( somewhere in %or=olkAso that he an5 m>
=ather m9st have been V; miles apart at the time. M> =ather( on sinking 5own to his
=ormer helpless con5ition( e?claime5( uO how col5 it was.4 ,e never co9l5 get a =9rther
e?planation =rom him( b9t =or a long time a=ter( when an>one o==ere5 to shake han5s with
him in their shirt-sleeves( or ha5 a light coat on( he wo9l5 sh955er an5 sometimes sa>(
u.ow col5.4
BE$,)'$ -.)1M)%.C
Y*he last wor5s s9ggest some sort o= sensor, impression ma5e on the percipient@ b9t the
evi5ence =or this is ins9==icient.Z
In the ne?t e?ample the percipient was not onl> ill( b9t closel> approaching 5eath.
P:WUQ +rom the 'e(oirs of the =ev. Joseph Buc1(inster, D.D., and of his son, the =ev. J.
!. Buc1(inster( b> Eli]a "9ckminster Lee( $r. "9ckminster4s 5a9ghter( P"oston( U./.).(
27V2Q( pp. 383 an5 3W8TW. "oth =ather an5 son were note5 preachers. *he BMrs.
"9ckminsterC mentione5 was the =ather4s thir5 wi=e.
BOn *9es5a> evening( F9ne Xth( he Pthe sonQ e?pire5. w ,hen his Y$r. "9ckminster4sZ
wi=e entere5 his Y$r. "9ckminster4sZ ii-:V2! chamber the ne?t morning he sai5 to her(
with per=ect compos9re( uM> son Foseph is 5ea5.4 Mrs. "9ckminster( s9pposing that he
ha5 slept an5 5reame5 that his son was 5ea5( altho9gh no news o= his illness ha5 reache5
him( ass9re5 him that it was a 5ream. u%o(4 he replie5( uI have not slept nor 5reame5@ he
is 5ea5s4 *his inci5ent is relate5 as receive5 =rom the lips o= her to whom the wor5s were
spoken( an5 there can be no sha5ow o= 5o9bt o= their tr9th.C
*he partic9lars o= 5ates( [c.( are as =ollows:A
$r. Foseph "9ckminster was living at 1ortsmo9th( %ew .ampshire( where he ha5 been
=or man> >ears pastor o= a ch9rch. On the 2st or Un5 o= F9ne( 272U( he le=t 1ortsmo9th
inten5ing to travel =or his health. .e reache5 1ee5sboro9gh( a little village( on the Xth o=
F9ne( an5 5ie5 there the =ollowing morning( YsicZ *he 'ev. F. /. "9ckminster Pthe sonQ
was living at "oston in 5elicate health. .e was taken s955enl> ill on F9ne :( an5 5ie5 on
F9ne Xth( U3 ho9rs be=ore the 5eath o= his =ather. $r. "9ckminster m9st have been aware
o= his son4s 5elicate state o= health( b9t no one seems to have e?pecte5 his 5eath to occ9r
when it 5i5. *here is no mention o= letters being sent to warn $r. "9ckminster( nor 5o the
=amil> seem to have been aware o= the son4s illness 9ntil a=ter the =ather4s 5eath. In5ee5
$r. "9ckminster ha5 inten5e5 to visit his son an5 5a9ghter at "oston( on his ret9rn =rom
the e?pe5ition which was c9t short b> his own 5eath.
*he ne?t e?ample e?hibits the =ac9lt> in a less =9gitive =orm( an5 in connection with
more chronic 5isease.
P:W:Q +rom the Poist( Vol. V.( p. :22.
$r. Elliotson writes:AB*he =ollowing partic9lars were sent to me b> a me5ical
gentleman( who has alrea5> contrib9te5 with his name to the Poist( b9t begs his name not
to be 5isclose5 on the present occasion( tho9gh I am at libert> to mention it to an> person
privatel>.
BFO.% ELLIO*/O%.C
B$E)' /I'(AI have some personal analogo9s e?perience. It is nearl> nine >ears since I
took the imme5iate charge o= a gentleman o= 5erange5 intellect( with whom I resi5e in
intimate association as =rien5. I have o=ten( partic9larl> in the earlier >ears o= m> charge(
been thoro9ghl> p9]]le5 to acco9nt =or his knowle5ge o= circ9mstances( perhaps mere
tri=les( with which we 5i5 not wish him to become acE9ainte5. I 5i5 not 5eem them
worth> o= note at the time( that is( I 5i5 not make an> memoran59m o= them( an5 wo9l5
not now like to tr9st to m> memor> as to the partic9lars( nor wo9l5 the> be clearl>
apprehen5e5 witho9t entering into te5io9s pros> 5etails. /9==ice it that long be=ore I rea5
the Poist( I ha5 e?presse5 to the able me5ical gentleman who reg9larl> visits 9s an
opinion that uo9r =rien5 seeme5 to know things as i= a spirit9al intelligence was at his
elbow an5 whispere5 in his ear4@ u=ormerl> the> wo9l5 have sai5 he ha5 a =amiliar spirit4@
uknow( he certainl> 5oes( b9t how I canut make o9t4@ an5 s9ch like remarks( showing m>
impression at the time.
BO9r patient4s mental con5ition has greatl> improve5( an5 I 5o not now o=ten observe
these c9rio9s perceptions( or the> are not so sing9lar or ii-:VU! strongl> marke5 as to
precl95e the possibilit> o= their being matters o= acci5ental coinci5ence.
B)bo9t three >ears since( =or a =ew evenings( this perceptive power was won5er=9ll>
ac9te@ he was in an arg9mentative an5 E9arrelsome h9mo9r at the time. ,e sat together
b> the =iresi5e( while o9r tea was in=9sing( seemingl> both engage5 in tho9ght( when m>
=rien5 e?claime5( uI 5on4t think that( sir@ I 5on4t think that. I 5on4t believe it. I sa> I 5on4t
believe it.4 I replie5 E9ietl>( u$on4t believe what( Mr. AAr I have not spoken@ what 5o
>o9 all95e tor4 .e imme5iatel>( witho9t noticing m> remark that I ha5 not spoken(
re=erre5 to the precise s9bDect o= which I ha5 D9st been thinking( an5 began to contra5ict
me respecting it. .a5 this occ9rre5 b9t once( it might be sai5 I was u9nconscio9sl>
thinking alo95(4 b9t several similar mani=estations o= perceptive power took place abo9t
this time@ an5( as I was on m> g9ar5( I can certainl> state( with as =irm a conviction o= the
tr9th o= m> averment as an> one who con=i5es in his senses an5 memor> can =eel( that I
did not spea1 m> tho9ghts( b9t that there was a clairvo>ant perception o= them( or
perception in some 9nacco9ntable manner.
B)nother instance is well-marke5( an5 ca9se5 9s m9ch interest an5 won5er at the time.
+o9r-an5-a-hal= >ears since( it became necessar> that MAA( o9r ho9se-stewar5 an5
b9tler( sho9l5 be 5ischarge5. )s he was an ol5 =amil> servant( an5 his 5ismissal might
irritate o9r patient( it was 5eeme5 a5visable that we sho9l5 pa> a visit to the seasi5e =or a
month( an5 his removal be e==ecte5 59ring o9r absence. ,itho9t te5io9s e?planation I
cannot conve> the gro9n5s o= m> conviction( b9t s9rel> convince5 am I that o9r poor
=rien5 neither 5i5 nor co9l5 know an>thing o= the contemplate5 change( 9ntil the 5a>
prece5ing that o= o9r ret9rn home. .e was then in=orme5 b> letter that MAA ha5( =or
certain reasons( been sent awa>( an5 a ver> com=ortable( respectable el5erl> person( Mrs.
*AA( installe5 in his place. w %e?t morning we starte5 =or home( a 5istance o= 8;
miles. ,hilst the horses were being change5 =or the last stage( w I e?plaine5 that Mrs. *
AA wo9l5 take care to make 9s com=ortable@ that she was a ver> respectable person@
that we wo9l5 not consi5er her a common servant( b9t call her o9r la5> ho9sekeeper( [c.(
[c.( in the same strain( tr>ing to impress that she was a ver> s9perior person to the one
she ha5 s9ccee5e5. )s I =inishe5( we starte5. M> =rien5 threw himsel= back in the
carriage( an5 5i5 not speak =or 7 or 2; min9tes( an5 then sai5( uI 5on4t see that( Mr. AA4
Pa55ressing meQ( uI 5on4t see that@ I 5on4t believe it. MAA kept a grocerus shop4 PMrs. *
AA kept a grocer4s shop be=ore she cameQ ube=ore he came@ one grocer is as goo5 as
another@ both shopkeepers@ no 5i==erence in respectabilit>( I think.4 *his was strictl> tr9e@
an5 the inE9iries which I ma5e to 5iscover how o9r =rien5 knew it onl> ten5e5 to p9]]le
me( as the atten5ants( whose cas9al remarks might have been overhear5( 5eclare5 that
the> 5i5 not know Mrs. *AA was a grocer 9ntil I name5 it@ an5 other so9rces o=
in=ormation there were not.C
2

ii-:V:!
I= the =ollowing case is acc9ratel> reporte5( the percipient m9st again have been in a ver>
abnormal con5ition@ as people 5o not 9s9all> commit s9ici5e beca9se their =athers 5ie. It
is probable that( tho9gh both 5eaths occ9rre5( the e?actit95e o= the coinci5ence ma> have
been e?aggerate5@ an5 the scene on ship-boar5 has ver> likel> become( in recollection
an5 transmission( more pict9resE9e an5 5ramatic than it reall> was.
P:W3Q +rom Mr. %icholas .eal5( "ow5on-b>-)ltrincham( -heshire.
BF9l> Wth( 2773.
B*he late Fohn &isborne Ythe narrator4s brother-in-lawZ( who was an o==icer in the naval
service o= the ol5 East In5ia -ompan>( o=ten 59ring his li=e tol5 the =ollowing inci5ent:A
BOne /at9r5a> evening( when it was the sailors4 c9stom( among other toasts( alwa>s to
give u/weethearts an5 ,ives(4 =ollowe5 b> others( an5 when the ship was tho9san5s o=
miles 5istant =rom Englan5( one o= his brother o==icers who was silent( gloom>( an5
5epresse5( was 9rge5 to give his toast( b9t ma5e no repl>. )t length( a=ter constant
press9re( he stoo5 9p an5 sai5( looking sternl> aro9n5 on his merr> companions( u,ell(
=ill >o9r glasses(4 an5 =ollowe5 this 9p b> sa>ing( uI give >o9 the memor> o= m> dead
=ather.4 /hocke5 at this( his brother o==icers hesitate5( when he again sternl> repeate5( uI
give >o9 the memor> o= m> 5ea5 =ather.4 .e then le=t the table( went 9pon 5eck an5 was
seen no more( having( it is s9ppose5( thrown himsel= overboar5.
BOn the ship4s arrival in the *hames( &isborne( a=ter reporting himsel= at the In5ia .o9se(
went to the ho9se o= the >o9ng man4s =ather( some short 5istance in the s9b9rbs( to
comm9nicate to the =amil> his 5eath. .e aske5 to see the =ather( an5 on the servant
sa>ing he was 5ea5( =o9n5( in answer to his inE9iries( that he 5ie5 the ver> sa(e da, that
his son 5rowne5 himsel=.
B%I-.OL)/ .E)L$.C
Mr. &isborne4s 5a9ghter PLoventor .o9se( "err> 1omero>( *otnesQ ,rites:A
BI recollect ver> well( an5 have o=ten repeate5 it to others( what 5ear papa relate5( which
was that at the mess table the o==icer s955enl> 5rank to his D9st 5ecease5 =ather4s memor>(
an5 imme5iatel> le=t an5 threw himsel= overboar5( an5 on arrival in Englan5( papa =o9n5
the 5ate an5 ho9r e.actl, correspon5e5 with the =ather4s 5eath. I 5on4t know the ship or
o==icer4s name.C
ii-:V3!
Mr. &isborne4s wi5ow sa>s that she thinks the >o9ng o==icer4s name was .9nter.
Y/9ch an inci5ent as the s9ici5e wo9l5 probabl> be recor5e5 in the log( an5 a laborio9s
search has there=ore been ma5e at the In5ia O==ice( in or5er to ascertain the name o= the
ship@ b9t witho9t s9ccess.Z
P:WVQ +rom Miss "9tler( 1riestown( -o. Meath.
B$ecember 27th( 277V.
Miss "9tler begins b> 5escribing her 9n9s9all> strong =rien5ship with a Ma5ame ..(
hea5 o= a =inishing establishment =or >o9ng la5ies at +.( in &erman>( with whom she live5
=or some time. Mrs. .. having gone to 1aris =or a =ew weeks( to engage a +rench
governess( Miss "9tler spent this perio5 at her own home( an5 the greater part o= it in
be5( as she was still s9==ering =rom the e==ects o= an illness. .ere she ha5 a vivi5 sense o=
accompan>ing Ma5ame .. on her search thro9gh the 5i==erent convents o= 1aris. /he
=inall> insiste5 on ret9rning to +.( being s9re that Ma5ame .. wo9l5 be back be=ore the
appointe5 time( which prove5 to be the case.
BI tol5 her how I ha5 =ollowe5 all her movements@ I 5escribe5 the 5i==erent convents@
5escribe5 the room in the /acrH -9r( I think it was( in which she saw the >o9ng woman
she act9all> engage5@ 5escribe5 the Mother /9perior@ tol5 her the >o9ng la5>4s name(
M5lle. +.( which o= co9rse I ha5 never hear5( an5 tol5 her the terms on which she ha5
engage5 her. /he was astonishe5. *here was a kin5 o= s9perior ho9sekeeper( a +ra9 M.(
who was m9ch in Ma5ame4s con=i5ence@ she was present while I tol5 m> tale an5
Ma5ame sai5 it was all tr9e. I tol5 her I remembere5 man> other things( the partic9lars o=
which have escape5 m> memor>( as the> ha5 no interest =or me save as the> concerne5
m> Ma5ame. )mongst others( I 5escribe5 her meeting with a +rench gentleman who 9se5
to visit her at +.( an5 mentione5 the s9bDect o= conversation. Ma5emoiselle came over
with her@ she ma5e me 5escribe to her the room at the convent( the conversation( [c.( an5
the poor girl sai5 she was =rightene5 o= me( she was s9re I was not all right( an5 I 5on4t
think she ever got over the =eeling o= constraint( shall I call it( to the en5 o= o9r
connection.
BI/)"ELL) "U*LE'.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss "9tler writes:A
BIt m9st have been in the >ear 273X or 27V;. I have never ha5 an> =9rther e?perienceAat
least nothing o= the same kin5 that I co9l5 5etail in as circ9mstantial a manner.C /he has
long lost sight o= Ma5ame ..@ an5 M5lle. +. an5 +ra9 M. are 5ea5.
In the ne?t =ew cases the percipient was apparentl> in a per=ectl> normal state.
P:W8Q *he =ollowing inci5ent is recor5e5 in )ll the ear =ound =or Ma> 8( 27VX( b> a
ph>sician who 5oes not give his name( b9t who sa>s that it was 5escribe5 to him as a
personal e?perience b> 1ro=. ,ilson( o= E5inb9rgh. *he ph>sician himsel= writes
sensibl>( an5 m9ch o= his paper is 5evote5 to e?plaining the p9rel> s9bDective nat9re o=
man> o= the hall9cinations which have been marvelle5 at as Bapparitions.C
1ro=. ,ilson Pas reporte5Q begins b> 5escribing a picnic part>( to which he went with
some =rien5s in Irelan5:A
ii-:VV!
B*he thick o= the 5inner being over( we strolle5 o9t( or lolle5( in that pleasant
prolongation o= a repast( which is the best part o= a thing o= that sort@ b9t as we knew that(
accor5ing to the programme( o9r time was limite5( on acco9nt o= some other spots which
we ha5 >et to visit( I was 5ep9te5 to see( b> a re=erence to m> watch( that we 5i5 not
oversta> the ho9r. )ccor5ingl>( I ha5 place5 m> watchAa =ine ol5 silver warming-pan(
the paternal gi=tAon a low =ragment o= r9in that was D9st opposite to me( an5 in the
intervals o= conversation I looke5 at it( tho9gh in5ee5 not E9ite so o=ten as at the =ace o=
Mar> M. /955enl>AI per=ectl> remember the han5s were pointing to twent> min9tes
past two in the s9nshineAthe watch arreste5 m> ga]e( while a remarkable =eeling passe5
over me. I sai5 to m>sel=( b9t to this ho9r I know not wh>( u)t this e?act time m> brother
'. is 5>ing in In5ia.4 *he sensation came an5 went with the rapi5it> o= those
9nacco9ntable impressions
u,hich make the present( while the =lash 5oth last(
/eem b9t the semblance o= an 9nknown past.4
#et( so m9ch was I str9ck with the inci5ent( that taking o9t m> pocketbook( sa>ing
nothing( however( to an>bo5> as to wh> I 5i5 so( I note5 5own the 5a> an5 ho9r o= this
strange visitation o= tho9ght. I 5i5 not e?actl> place con=i5ence in the prevision( >et I
co9l5 not shake o== an 9npleasant =eeling abo9t it. )t length the inci5ent became merge5
in the =reE9ent repetition to m>sel= that it was uall =95ge(4 an5 I might call it =orgotten
Pthere was plent> o= time =or this( =or it was not in the 5a>s o= steamQ( when a letter =rom
In5ia bro9ght o9r =amil> the startling intelligence that m> brother ha5 act9all> 5ie5 there
on the ver> 5a> when I ha5 ma5e the entr> in m> pocket-book( an5 at an ho9r which( b>
allowance =or latit95e Yno 5o9bt a slip o= the writer4s ownZ( correspon5e5 e?actl> with
that marke5 b> m> watch when I ha5 m> e>es on it. O9r correspon5ent also in=orme5 9s
that m> brother ha5( in his last moments( mentione5 me.C
2

ii-:V8!
P:WWQ +rom Mrs. &ierke( -li=ton Lo5ge( +arE9har 'oa5( Upper %orwoo5( /.E.( the
narrator o= case U3U.
B%ovember 27th 277V.
BM> two bo>s ret9rne5 to school on the 27th /eptember. *he> inten5e5 to tr> the ro9te
vi0 /win5on an5 )n5over( on acco9nt o= the trains being more convenient( instea5 o=
going b> 1a55ington.
B*he> le=t home abo9t : o4clock( an5 I hear5 no more abo9t them 9ntil the Mon5a>
=ollowing( b9t I was ver> 9neas> all the evening( an5 abo9t X.:; I remarke5 to m>
5a9ghter( uI am per=ectl> convince5 that those bo>s have never got to Marlboro9gh@ I am
E9ite s9re the> are -al1ing about the roads this min9te.4 /he sai5( u,hat nonsenses o=
co9rse the> are all right. &9s4 Pthe >o9ngestQ( uis so sensible( he never wo9l5 make a
mistake.4 I sai5( uI 5on4t know( b9t I =eel E9ite s9re the> have misse5 one train a=ter
another( an5 have never got there.4 On the Mon5a> =ollowing I hear5 =rom them. *he>
had misse5 the train at ,aterloo( ha5 then gone to 1a55ington( misse5 the special there(
an5 ha5 gone b> a later( which( b> a c9rio9s combination o= circ9mstances( ha5 lan5e5
them at "oodborough. *he> got o9t( mistaking it in the 5ark =or Marlboro9gh( an5 onl>
=o9n5 o9t their mistake too late( an5 ha5 walke5 22 miles on a roa5 9nknown to them(
an5 got to their school at 2 o4clock in the morning. *he> manage5 to scale the walls( an5
=o9n5 a class-room open( where the> got what sleep the> co9l5Aver> little.
BM. -LE'0EC
Miss -lerke corroborates as =ollows:A
B%ovember :;th 277V.
BI remember 5istinctl>( when m> brothers ret9rne5 to school( that m> mother remarke5
several times to me that she =elt E9ite s9re that the> were walking abo9t the roa5s
somewhere. ,e =o9n5 o9t a=terwar5s that it was D9st as m> mother sai5( an5( at the time
she spoke( the> act9all> were walking to Marlboro9gh.
B.. +. ". -LE'0EC
YIn 5escribing the inci5ent to me( Mrs. -lerke( who is the reverse o= a nervo9s or =anci=9l
person( especiall> 5welt on her impression that her sons were -andering on roads. *his
partic9lar i5ea seems a =ar less likel> one to have been p9rel> s9bDectivel> ca9se5(
thro9gh maternal apprehension( than that o= some calamit>( s9ch as a railwa> acci5ent. It
was also a ver> 9nlikel> thing to occ9r in realit>. )t the same time( it ma> be conceive5
that the mention o= the proDecte5 novel ro9te ha5 le5 to some passing remarkAs9ch as(
B$on4t bl9n5er abo9t >o9r trains( or >o94ll have to walk(C an5 that the o55 impression
ha5 its origin in this =orgotten s9ggestion.Z
P:W7Q Mr. F. ,. /tillman( the well-known )merican writer( gives the ii-:VW! =ollowing
acco9nt o= his e?periences in connection with two =rien5s. O= the =irst he sa>s:A
B/he ha5 never been s9bDect to visions or hall9cinations( ha5 no ten5enc> to h>steria( an5
was gi=te5 with great common-sense in practical matters. /he was the wi=e o= a ph>sician(
an5 mother o= several chil5ren. "9t she ha5 a ps>chological power which is in m>
e?perience 9niE9e( an5 between hersel= an5 an> ver> intimate =rien5 there was a mental
s>mpath> almost amo9nting on her part to clairvo>ance. "etween her an5 m>sel= there
was especiall> a s>mpath> so 5istinct that I co9l5 generall>( b> e?cl95ing ph>sical
obDects o= attention( perceive her mental( sometimes ph>sical( con5ition( an5 she on her
part ha5 generall> a presentiment o= m> visits.
B/he passe5 a great 5eal o= her time at the ho9se o= a marrie5 5a9ghter in "rookl>n( m>
resi5ence being in %ew #ork. On one occasion( while sta>ing at her 5a9ghter4s( she was
visite5 b> what the &ermans call the Doppel6g\nger o= m>sel=. Entering the room where
she sat sewing at a win5ow( looking o9t on the street( at an ho9r in the a=ternoon when
she ha5 no reason to e?pect a visit( she remarke5 at once( uI knew >o9 were coming =or I
saw >o9 pass the win5ow 2; min9tes ago. #o9 were looking D9st as >o9 now look( an5
5resse5 in precisel> the same manner. I waite5 =or >o9 to ring the bell( an5 when a=ter
some time no ring came( I sai5 to m>sel= B/tillman is coming.C I ha5 not previo9sl>
passe5 the ho9se( b9t came straight =rom the =err>( an5 when I came in sight( came =rom
the same 5irection as the Doppel6g\nger( between which an5 m>sel=( she sai5( there was
no visible 5i==erence. Y*his( however( ma> have been a case o= mistaken i5entit>.Z
BI= she ever 5esire5 to see me 9rgentl>( I =elt the impression o= her min5 so strongl> that I
invariabl>( when not 9rgentl> occ9pie5( went to her at once. /ome >ears a=ter I knew her(
she went to -ali=ornia( in the hope o= throwing o== the p9lmonar> 5isease o= which she
5ie5( an5 59ring her absence we correspon5e5 reg9larl>. One 5a>( 59ring the vo>age( I
ha5 a s955en an5 vivi5 impression that she was 5>ing( an5 note5 it in m> 5iar>. *he
impression passe5 awa>( however( an5 was not renewe5. On getting the letter which
anno9nce5 her sa=e arrival I =o9n5 recor5e5 that( on the 5a> I ha5 note5 in m> 5iar>( she
ha5 been completel> overcome b> the intense heat( an5 ha5 it not been =or the steamer4s
=ort9nate arrival the same 5a> at )cap9lco( where ice an5 lemon were instantl> proc9re5
=rom the shore( in her own opinion an5 that o= the s9rgeon she wo9l5 probabl> have 5ie5
that 5a>.
BOne 5a>( while working E9ietl> in m> st95io at %ew #ork( not knowing where she was(
nor having ha5 an> recent comm9nication =rom her( I ha5 s955enl> a vivi5 perception
that she wante5 the help o= /ara Yher 5a9ghterZ. I crosse5 the =err> at once to "rookl>n(
took a carriage an5 5rove to her 5a9ghter4s ho9se( sa>ing to her that her mother wante5
her( saw her in the carriage( an5 on her wa>( an5 then went back to m> st95io. *he ne?t
5a> I learne5 that YMrs. M. ha5 been s955enl> =orce5 to participate in a most 5istressing
an5 agitatingZ scene( 59ring which her 5a9ghter arrive5( =in5ing her mother completel>
prostrate5 an5 =ainting( an5 carrie5 her o== to her own ho9se.
BOne o= the most intimate m9t9al =rien5s o= Mrs. M. an5 m>sel= was a Mrs. ".( wi=e o= a
well-known )merican sc9lptor. "etween Mrs. ". an5 ii-:V7! m>sel= there was a (ental
s>mpath>( even stronger than that with Mrs. M.( tho9gh 5i==erent in kin5. Like Mrs. M.(
she was m9ch m> senior( an5 like her( too( was a victim to an over-5evelope5 nervo9s
s>stem( tho9gh rarel> illAo= 9ncommon intellect9al gi=ts( an5 the =rien5 o= man> o= the
best min5s o= that 5a> in )merica. "9t( like /ocrates( she hear5 a voice which warne5(
co9nselle5( an5 answere5 her at all times( an5 whose a5monitions neither she nor her
h9sban5 ever hesitate5 to obe>. /he ha5 Jschokke4s gi=t
2
o= seeing events in the past li=e
o= people with whom she was en rapport( an5 I remember ,. -. "r>ant sa>ing one 5a>
that she ha5 tol5 him o= events o= the gravest importance in his li=e( known to no one then
living b9t himsel=. In her normal con5ition she rea5 the tho9ghts o= an> one with whom
she was intimate( an5 answere5 mental E9estions( or 5escribe5 mental con5itions with no
hesitation( an5 the greatest =9lness an5 clearness. .er gi=ts were care=9ll> limite5 in their
mani=estation( or as s9bDects o= conversation( to her circle o= intimate =rien5s( with
occasional a5mission o= one o= their =rien5s with a gen9ine interest in this class o= mental
phenomena@ nor sho9l5 I now make them the s9bDect o= an> relation( b9t that she is 5ea5.
*here are still man> o= her circle living who can attest the tr9th o= what I sa>@ b9t she
wo9l5 never s9bmit to an> e?amination b> sceptical inE9irers( an5 never ma5e an>
attempt to in59ce belie= in her powers( o= which( no more( 5i5 she attempt e?planation.
.er uocc9lt4 powers varie5 greatl>( an5 sometimes seeme5 entirel> s9spen5e5( as well as
a==ecte5 b> the in=l9ence o= people aro9n5 her. "etween her an5 m>sel= there was alwa>s
a complete con=i5ence( an5 I =o9n5 it E9ite impossible to think in her presence an5 keep
m> tho9ghts =rom her@ an5 her =eeling =or me was that o= an el5er sister( so that I
willingl> s9bmitte5 m> min5 to her scr9tin>@ nor 5i5 I ever =in5 her perceptions
9n=o9n5e5( altho9gh( in some cases( it was several >ears be=ore I =o9n5 o9t the basis o=
her impressions.
B,. F. /*ILLM)%.C
P:WXQ +rom a la5> who 5esires that names ma> not be mentione5( owing to the pain=9l
nat9re o= one o= the =acts recor5e5.
B/ept. 2st( 2778.
BIn the spring o= this >ear( while m> mother was s9==ering =rom a serio9s illness( a
gentleman in the neighbo9rhoo5 committe5 s9ici5e b> shooting himsel= in the mo9th(
between 3 an5 V in the morning( 5>ing abo9t three-E9arters o= an ho9r a=terwar5s. Earl>
in the morning o= the occ9rrence( Ywhile the narrator was n9rsing her(Z she mentione5
him several times( sa>ing he ukept =litting abo9t her room an5 5i5 so bother her( she
wishe5 he wo9l5 go.4 )=ter this she a55resse5 the s9ppose5 intr95er( sa>ing( u&os I wish
>o9 wo9l5 go. ,h> 5o >o9 come herer I 5on4t want >o9.4 .e was a man with whom she
was on terms o= civilit>( b9t ha5 never cor5iall> like5( as she consi5ere5 he ha5 5one her
an inD9r>. *his le5 her to a55( uI =orgive >o9( I hope &o5 will. &os4 Y*his inci5ent alone
co9l5 have no weight( as in her illness Mrs. AA ha5 seeme5 to see other absent persons
in her room.Z /he 5i5 not all95e to him again( an5 was not E9ite so restless. *he 5octor
calle5 at hal=past 2;@ an5 when I went back to her room a=ter he ha5 gone( I =o9n5 her in
a ver> e?cite5 con5ition. /he sai5( u$r. /. has ma5e me =eel so ii-:VX! strangeAI never
ha5 s9ch pec9liar sensations be=ore@ I wish he ha5 never come.
2
M> hea5 is so ba5( I
5on4t know how it is( perhaps I shall be able to e?plain it all to >o9 when I am well.4
B/he was ver> restless all the morning. )t 2 o4clock m> sister came to relieve me( an5
trie5 to =an her to sleep. .er e==orts were 9navailing( an5 at last m> mother sei]e5 her
han5s( sa>ing( uIt is o= no 9se( >o9 cannot sen5 me to sleep while m> hea5 is so E9eer.4
u.ow E9eerr4 uI 5on4t know( b9t ever since $r. /. came an5 sat b> me( I have =elt so
strange. ,hen he took m> han5( there was a shot( a pistol went o==( an5 then all was
con=9sion.
U
"9t I 5o not see the bloo5@ was there an> bloo5r4 )=ter which she a55e5( uI
5are sa> I shall be able to tell >o9 more abo9t it when m> hea5 is better@ I cannot e?plain
how I =eel now( I have never been like this be=oreAit is m> brain.4 Later on in the
a=ternoon( she mentione5 a =rien5( sa>ing( u1oor *. has to be shot in the back so o=ten
be=ore I can be well. I am ver> sorr>@ it is a shame to shoot a nice =ellow like him( b9t
the> sa> B/hoot him( shoot him.C4 )n5 again( complaining o= her hea5( she sai5( u,hat is
all this m9r5eringr I have never been amongst shooting an5 m9r5ering( have Ir *here is a
pistolAit went o== =irst when $r. / came( an5 it has been going on thro9gh m> hea5 ever
since( an5 the be5 is covere5 with them.4 /he contin9e5 in this e?cite5 state all the
a=ternoon( an5 co9l5 not be pers9a5e5 to sleep. M> sister went to the 5octor( an5 he sent
something which soothe5 her a little@ b9t she 5i5 not seem to be reall> hersel= again 9ntil
the ne?t morning.
B,e hear5 =rom the 5octor that he ha5 been to the ho9se where the s9ici5e ha5 been
committe5( be=ore calling to see m> mother( an5 that he ha5 hel5 the pistol in the same
han5 with which he to9che5 her. /he was not tol5 o= the gentleman4s 5eath 9ntil : weeks
a=terwar5s@ b9t she =reE9entl> all95e5 to Mr. AA Ythe 5ecease5Z an5 his =amil>Awhich
appeare5 strange( as the> were persons with whom she hel5 ver> little interco9rse. /he
once remarke5 that the> ha5 E9ite ha9nte5 her ever since that 5a> she was so ill an5
hear5 the pistols. .er =rien5 *.( whom she ha5 imagine5 to be shot( ha5 hear5 earl> o= the
s9ici5e( an5 been engage5 in comm9nicating the =act to relatives o= the 5ecease5
gentleman.C
$r. /. con=irme5 these =acts to me( as =ar as he was concerne5. Mrs. AA ha5 never ha5
an> connection with pistols or shooting. *he s9ici5e was known o= in the ho9se be=ore
the 5octor4s visit@ b9t it was clear to me =rom Miss AA4s viva voce 5escription that no
remarks on the s9bDect co9l5 have penetrate5 to Mrs. AA4s ears@ an5( moreover( she was
E9ite eno9gh hersel= to 9n5erstan5 the news( an5 comment on it( ha5 it come to her
knowle5ge in a normal wa>.
P:7;Q +rom the 'ev. Mr. "r>ce( *he Manse( Mo==at. *o m> great 5isappointment( I am
oblige5 to give a secon5-han5 version o= this case. ii-:8;! On Oct. 2( 2778( Mr. "r>ce
gave me viv0 voce a 5etaile5 acco9nt( which I omitte5 to commit at once to paper( rel>ing
on his promise to write it o9t an5 sen5 it to me imme5iatel>. %ot having receive5 it POct.
2UQ( I am re59ce5 to giving m> present recollections( the acc9rac> o= which( however( so
=ar as the> go( I think I can g9arantee.
/ome >ears ago( when Mr. "r>ce was a st95ent at E5inb9rgh Universit>( he was calle5
awa> =or a time to atten5 an el5er brother who was m9ch attache5 to him( an5 who was
serio9sl> ill. .is brother4s health seeme5 to be improving@ an5 there being no imme5iate
an?iet>( Mr. "r>ce le=t him PI think at LockerbieQ in or5er to take part in an evening
5ebate at E5inb9rgh. .e was 5elivering the speech which he ha5 prepare5( an5 was
completel> intent on the matter in han5( when he was s955enl> arreste5 b> what( =rom his
5escription( I sho9l5 D95ge to have been an e?tremel> vivi5 Bmin54s e>eC vision(
bor5ering on hall9cination( an5 representing his brother. *he room an5 ever>thing in it
seeme5 blotte5 o9t( an5 the single image o= his brother seeme5 to absorb his whole
conscio9sness. .e sa>s that he has never ha5 s9ch an e?perience( or an>thing in the least
resembling it( on an> other occasion. I 5o not recollect how =ar his pec9liar con5ition
e?cite5 the attention o= his companions@ b9t he himsel= =elt at once convince5 that his
brother ha5 5ie5( note5 the time( an5( when he ret9rne5 to his lo5gings( mentione5 his
conviction to the ho9sekeeper( Mrs. +enton. P.e promise5 to trace o9t Mrs. +enton( who(
he is certain( wo9l5 corroborate him on this point.Q .is brother 5ie5( as he learnt ne?t 5a>(
at the e?act timeAhe believes to the ver> min9teAo= his own e?perience.
YMr. "r>ce is s9re that he was not appreciabl> an?io9s abo9t his brother4s con5ition( an5
he was certainl> not thinking o= him at the moment. /till( as he ha5 D9st le=t him( a=ter
being constantl> with him =or some time( an5 with a min5 in=l9ence5 perhaps more than
he himsel= knew b> his recent cares an5 59ties( it wo9l5 be 5i==ic9lt to arg9e that his
e?perience was telepathic( rather than p9rel> s9bDective( b9t =or the allege5 e?actit95e o=
the coinci5ence. )n5 we ma> =airl> s9ppose( I think( that the coinci5ence was at an> rate
a ver> close one@ since Mr. "r>ce was not le5 to consi5er the time o= his e?perience b>
learning the =act o= the 5eath( b9t note5 the time o= his e?perience 9n5er a conviction that
the 5eath ha5 at that moment taken place( an5 was speciall> intereste5 in =in5ing o9t( ne?t
5a>( whether his conviction ha5 been D9sti=ie5.Z
P:72Q +rom Miss -a9l=iel5( 2( .>5e 1ark Mansions( %.,.
B$ecember 7th( 277:.
BMan> >ears ago( when sta>ing with m> =ather at "eck=or5 .o9se( "ath( I awoke one
morning pain=9ll> impresse5 b> the i5ea that something was amiss at m> sister4s Pin
Irelan5Q@ co9l5 not g9ess what it wasAwhether illness( 5anger( or acci5ent. /o being
e?cee5ingl> 9neas>( an5 convince5 that something ha5 happene5( I wrote at once to
inE9ire whether all were well. ) letter =rom her crosse5 mine( telling me that she ha5 ha5
a great alarm( an5 ha5 been in 5anger on that night@ =or that a beam o= woo5Aconnecte5
with the n9rser> =ireplace an5 the =loorAha5 become ignite5( an5 9nknown to an>one
ha5 been smo9l5ering =or some ho9rs@ an5 ha5 it procee5e5 an> =9rther 9nseen( the>
might not have been able to save the ho9se( nor perhaps even themselves. *he ho9se
being in the ii-:82! co9ntr>( at a consi5erable 5istance =rom an> other 5welling( a =ire(
at night more especiall>( wo9l5 have prove5 calamito9s in the e?treme.
B/O1.I) +. ). -)UL+IEL$.C
)=ter writing to her sister on the s9bDect( Miss -a9l=iel5 a55s:A
BM> sister remembers the inci5ent( b9t has onl> a =aint recollection o= m> letter having
crosse5 hers.C
Y)ske5 i= this was a uni2ue e?perience( or whether she ha5 ha5 similar impressions
which ha5 not correspon5e5 with realit>( Miss -. replie5 that she ha5 ha5 onl> one
similar e?perience( an5 that there her impression was correct. P*his other e?perience was
a presentiment( an5 has no relation to the above.Q )n5 tho9gh impressions o= the sort
which are not stampe5 b> a coinci5ence ma> easil> =a5e =rom the memor>( it ma> be
ass9me5 that a person who remembers none has not e?perience5 (an, so strong as to
have prompte5 her to write a letter.Z
*he =ollowing are instances where the impression seems to have been o= a 5eci5e5l>
pictorial kin5( as in the scene-cases at the close o= -hap. VI. in the prece5ing vol9me.
*he acco9nt is 9n=ort9natel> anon>mo9s( b9t there seems to be no reason to 5o9bt its
bona fides. *he mental con5ition o= the percipient recalls case :W:.
P:7U an5 :7:Q +rom the Poist( Vol. V.( p. :;( sent b> Mr. -lark( /9rgeon( o= #ork 1lace(
0ingslan5 'oa5( E.( who ha5 receive5 it =rom a la5> o= his acE9aintance.
BF9l> 22th( 2738.
BIn the >ears 2732TU( m> 5ear respecte5 =ather was =reE9entl> attacke5 with mental
5erangement( originating greatl>( I believe( =rom the knowle5ge o= the 9n=ort9nate
circ9mstances in which I( his belove5 5a9ghter( was place5( owing to the s955en 5eath o=
m> h9sban5.
B*he vario9s scenes o= mental 5el9sion I was calle5 to witness are not 9ncommon to
gentlemen o= >o9r pro=ession@ I there=ore pass them over simpl> to relate his strange
knowle5ge o= events.
BM> attention was =irst e?cite5 b> the =ollowing inci5ent. /o soon as the meat =or 5inner
was bro9ght =rom the b9tcher4s( o= which he co9l5 have no possible knowle5ge( being
con=ine5 to his be5( an5 o9t o= reach o= either seeing or hearing( he e?claime5 Ppointing
to the =loor 9n5erneath( which was the room it was inQ( u,hat a nice r9mp-steak@ I will
have some.4 /tr9ck with his manner( an5 also knowing that it was not o9r inten5e5
5inner( I replie5( u%o( =ather( there is no r9mpsteak@ we are going to have m9tton-chops4@
he went into a great passion( 5eclare5 that there was r9mp-steak( that he co9l5 see it( an5
5escribe5 the 5ish. I went 5ownstairs( an5 to m> 9tter astonishment behel5 it as he
relate5.
BIn the morning( witho9t making known m> intention( I took a basket an5 went into the
gar5en( to c9t some cabbages an5 gather strawberries. *he gar5en being at the si5e o= the
ho9se( where there was no win5ow to look into it( it was impossible =or him to see me b>
or5inar> vision. .owever( he t9rne5 to m> sister( sa>ing( u*hat basket into which "etse>
is p9tting the cabbages an5 strawberries ha5 better be move5 o9t o= the s9n( or the =r9it
will be spoile5@ tell her she is not gathering strawberries =rom the best be5( she ha5 better
go to the other.4 ,hen I was tol5 o= it( I was completel> p9]]le5. $9ring the time o= m>
visit( wherever I went( whatever I 5i5 or tho9ght o=( was open to his view.
ii-:8U!
BM> sister a=terwar5s in=orme5 me that his me5ical atten5ant lent her some books =or her
per9sal. One morning m> =ather sai5 to her( u*he 5octor sen5s his respects( an5 will be
oblige5 =or the books.4 /9pposing some message ha5 been sent( m> sister replie5( uVer>
well.4 In the co9rse o= a short time a=ter( the 5octor4s bo> arrive5 with his master4s
respects an5 reE9est =or the books. On inE9ir>( she =o9n5 no previo9s message ha5 been
sent( nor inE9ir> ma5e =or them. ,e have both come to the concl9sion that he m9st
mentall> have travelle5 to the 5octor4s an5 hear5 the message@ I sho9l5 think the 5istance
three-E9arters o= a mile.
B)nother time he sai5 to m> sister( u*here is a han5some >o9ng man an5 an ol5 woman(
coming b> the coach this a=ternoon to see me.4 /9re eno9gh( to her s9rprise( when the
coach arrive5( it bro9ght m> brother an5 a n9rse =or m> =ather. %o one ha5 an>
knowle5ge o= m> brother4s coming( or o= his bringing a n9rse with him. *he 5istance
=rom whence the> came was 22 miles. I wish to call >o9r attention to the circ9mstance
that here he 5i5 not recognise the parties( tho9gh both were wellknown to him@ calling m>
brother a >o9ng man an5 the n9rse an ol5 woman( instea5 o= mentioning their names.
B,hen in his senses( he knew nothing o= what ha5 transpire5( an5 ha5 no recollection o=
m> coming to see him. .e waste5 awa> to a skeleton an5 5ie5( mi5s9mmer( 273U( in the
83th >ear o= his age. .e never( 9ntil the time state5( ha5 an> mental 5erangement( tho9gh
he certainl> was =or >ears ver> nervo9s. )t the time( I knew nothing o= phrenolog>( so
cannot give his 5evelopment. I know he was a talente5 an5 ver> active man( a kin5 an5
a==ectionate =ather.
BM> secon5 case( that o= m> el5est sister( tho9gh in priorit> o= time be=ore m> =ather( is
>et not so interesting. /he was in a ba5 state o= health some >earsAI s9ppose what might
be calle5 nervo9s. *he circ9mstances I am abo9t to relate occ9rre5 59ring a severe
illness( in which mental 5erangement took place. )t one time she wo9l5 take no =oo5( at
another eat most voracio9sl>. One 5a> we ha5 ribs o= bee= =or 5inner. .ow it came to her
knowle5ge( I co9l5 never ascertain( b9t so it 5i5( an5 she insiste5 on having some =or her
5inner. I gave her some@ she wante5 more. +earing to make her worse I wo9l5 not give it
her@ she 5eclare5 she sho9l5 have it( b9t soon a=ter went to sleep. I went E9ietl>
5ownstairs( took the meat o9t o= the kitchen( carrie5 it 5own thro9gh the beer-cellar into
the wine-cellar( covere5 it over with a t9b( p9t a weight on it( went 9p an5 =o9n5 her D9st
as I le=t her. $9ring the night( thro9gh =atig9e( I =ell asleep( an5 was awaken5 b> her
calling to me. ,hat was m> astonishment when I behel5 her sitting in be5 with a slice o=
this bee= c9t the whole length o= the ribs( 5evo9ring it like a savage. I aske5 her how she
obtaine5 it( an5 she positivel> 5eclare5 that she =etche5 it hersel= while I slept@ that while
l>ing in be5 she saw me go 5own( take the meat( an5 she 5escribe5 ever> partic9lar. I
believe she never le=t her be5 when I hi5 it@ an5 ha5 she( there were three 5oors which I
close5 a=ter me( an5 I m9st have seen her. ,hen she recovere5 she knew nothing abo9t it(
b9t on a relapse tol5 me all the circ9mstances again( la9ghing heartil> at the trick she ha5
pla>e5 on me.C
.ere( again( it will be seen( the clairvo>ance recor5e5 5oes not pass be>on5 the telepathic
t>pe where what is perceive5 is within ii-:8:! the view or knowle5ge o= persons
connecte5 with the percipient.
2
PVol. I( pp. U88( :W7TX.Q
S U. *he ne?t two e?amples are parallel to the arrival cases in -hap. VI. PVol. I.( pp. UVUT
3Q.
P:73Q +rom Mrs. &ibbes( )lverton .o9se( -ro>5on 'oa5( /.E.
B/eptember( 2773.
BM> son was in Me?ico an5 I ha5 no reason to e?pect his ret9rn. .e ha5 been absent =or
=o9r >ears.
BIn $ecember( 277:( an impression came 9pon me that he wo9l5 be soon home( an5 I
co9l5 not get ri5 o= it. M> 5a9ghters la9ghe5 at me( b9t m> =eeling o= it grew so strong
that I 5etermine5 to prepare a room =or him. I began E9ietl> one evening( an5 got 9p earl>
ne?t morning to clean o9t a st95> =or him m>sel=( not letting the others know that I was
5oing it. ,hilst I was on the step( 59sting the bir5cases( a telegram arrive5 to sa> he
wo9l5 be home in the evening.
B.e ha5 ha5 an attack o= >ellow =ever( an5 ha5 come b> sea to %ew #ork. .is 9ncle
pers9a5e5 him not to telegraph =rom there( b9t to come as a s9rprise.
BI have ha5 impressions o= mis=ort9nes( an5 have note5 5own the 5ates( b9t nothing has
happene5.
BC0)*E &I""E/.C
Mr. &ibbes writes:A
BI =in5 the statements correct as =ar as m> memor> is concerne5.
B,. '. &I""E/ PM.'.-./.E.( [c.QC
In conversation( Mrs. &ibbes state5 that her son4s letters ha5 containe5 no hint o= his
ret9rn( which wo9l5 not have occ9rre5 b9t =or his attack o= >ellow =ever. .er 5a9ghters
bore witness to her state o= e?cite5 e?pectation.
Y.ere the impression at an> rate pro59ce5 a 5e=inite act o= a ver> 9nlikel> kin5. *he =inal
sentence in Mrs. &ibbes4s acco9nt o= co9rse 5etracts somewhat =rom the =orce o= the
coinci5ence@ b9t( tho9gh I am bo9n5 to print that sentence( she hersel= Pin )9g9st( 2778Q
5o9bts its correctness( an5 cannot recall to what it re=erre5.Z
ii-:83!
*he ne?t narrative( tho9gh worth E9oting( can har5l> receive an evi5ential n9mber@ =or its
inci5ents co9l5 onl> be attrib9te5 to tho9ght-trans=erence b> ass9mingAwhat is not
prove5Athat the visits were alrea5> inten5e5( at the time that the impressions were =elt@
an5( moreover( in the absence o= an acc9rate written recor5( ever> allowance m9st be
ma5e =or the liabilit> in s9ch matters to note s9ccesses an5 not =ail9res.
+rom Mr. 'obert &ibson( M9lgrave -ottage( Limerick.
BFan9ar> 27th( 2773.
B/cores o= times( when I wo9l5 be going 5own to m> o==ice( a=ter break=ast( m> wi=e
Ywho was in 5elicate health( an5 is since 5ecease5Z wo9l5 sa> to me( uMiss /o-an5-so or
Mrs. /o-an5-so will be here to-5a>@ 5on4t let them come 9p to the ho9se@ sa> I am not
able to see them4@ or u/o-an5-so will be here to-5a>( let them come in.4
BI 9se5 to la9gh( an5 sa>( u.9mb9g( how 5o >o9 know the> are comings4 an5 she wo9l5
repl>( uI =eel that the> are( an5 be s9re >o9 leave wor5 with some o= the men i= >o9 are
going o9t.4
B,ith onl> one e?ception was she ever wrong( to m> memor>@ that was one +ri5a>. /he
sai5( u*he Miss Mercers are coming to-5a>.4 I happene5 to be in m> o==ice the whole 5a>@
an5 the> 5i5 not come@ so at length I la9ghe5( an5 sai5( u,ell( m> love( >o9 were wrong(
the Miss Mercers 5i5 not come.4 /he aske5 me( u)re >o9 s9rer4 u}9ite(4 I replie5( uI never
le=t the place all 5a>.4 u,ell(4 she sai5( uI am positive the> were coming.4 O= co9rse I
la9ghe5 at her( an5 tol5 her it was st9pi5 to be positive abo9t what was not so.
B#o9 ma> g9ess m> s9rprise i= >o9 can( when on the ne?t /9n5a>( coming o9t o= ch9rch(
Miss Mercer came 9p to me( an5 sai5( u1lease tell Mrs. &ibson that %an4 Pher sisterQ uan5
I were coming to see her on +ri5a>( when %an remembere5 a book she ha5 promise5 to
take Mrs. &ibson an5 ran back =or it( leaving me walking 9p an5 5own the street. I waite5
=9ll> U; min9tes( an5 then went in an5 =o9n5 Miss %an sitting b> the =ire( cloakless an5
hatless( with a book in her han5. /he co9l5 not =in5 the book she was looking =or( an5
a=ter looking =or it =or ever so long( tho9ght I ha5 gone on( an5 that there wo9l5 be no
chance o= overtaking me( so took o== her hat an5 cloak( an5 sat 5own to rea5.4C
*o these I ma> a55 two more cases in which the chie= =eat9re is a sense o= someone4s
pro?imit>( b9t in which the =act o= that pro?imit> was alrea5> known to a thir5 person(
who ma> have been the agent.
P:7VQ +rom a la5>( Mrs. ,.( who pre=ers that her name sho9l5 not be p9blishe5.
B2773
BIn the a9t9mn o= 278;( I was sta>ing in Lon5on with m> h9sban5 Ysince 5ecease5Z =or a
short time( an5 one /at9r5a> evening was alone in m> be5room 5ressing to go to the
opera( when s955enl> something seeme5 to sa> to me( u/h9t an5 lock >o9r 5oor( there is
a ma5man in the ho9se.4 /o strong was this impression that I searche5 all over the room
an5 ii-:8V! locke5 the 5oor. I 5resse5 h9rrie5l>( r9she5 5ownstairs( an5 tol5 m>
h9sban5( who was ver> m9ch am9se5( an5 la9ghe5 at mes *he ne?t evening P/9n5a>Q we
sent the servant on a little erran5 =or 9s@ she was abo9t an ho9r awa>. ,hen she came in(
she sai5 she was ver> sorr> she ha5 been so long( b9t she ha5 to wait =or the mistress4s
ret9rn( who ha5 been taking her h9sban5 back to the l9natic as>l9m( =or when he was not
violent she ha5 him home =rom /at9r5a> 9ntil /9n5a> night.
BM> h9sban5 was ver> m9ch startle5( an5 we le=t the ne?t 5a>.C
Mr. 1o5more sa>s:A
BIn conversation( Mrs. ,. e?plaine5 that she ha5 imagine5 her lan5la5> to be a wi5ow(
an5 ha5 not ha5 the least s9spicion o= the tr9e state o= the case. /he tol5 me that she has
on one or two other occasions ha5 strong impressions o= this kin5( b9t never so marke5 as
in this instance. /he ha5 no recollection o= an> impression o= the kin5 which ha5 not
ucome tr9e.4C
P:78Q +rom Mr. Fames -owle>( who wrote =rom :U( Langton /treet( -atha>( "ristol.
BFan9ar> 7th( 2773.
B/ome two >ears ago( in the .ere=or5 -athe5ral( at an evening service( I became
oppresse5 with the feeling that a certain person PI m9st withhol5 the nameQ( whose
contact wo9l5 have been most pain=9l to me( m9st necessaril> have been near me. I ha5
not seen that person =or V >ears. More than once I t9rne5 m> hea5 to take a look ro9n5.
"9t there was no sign o= him. %e?t morning I learne5 that he ha5 been in .ere=or5 on the
5a> be=ore P/at9r5a>Q( an5 that a person sitting ne.t to (e( in the cathe5ral( on m> le=t-
han5( ha5 been =or some ho9rs in his compan>.C
)ske5 i= he mentione5 the inci5ent at the time( an5 i= he co9l5 re=er me to the person who
was sitting near him( Mr. -owle> replies that:
B*he .ere=or5 -athe5ral a==air 5i5 not P=rom the nat9re o= the circ9mstances ren5ering
the sensation so 5istressingQ a5mit o= m> re=erring to it. It was onl> when aske5 b> a
tra5esman( brother-in-law o= the person whose =ancie5 pro?imit> 5istresse5 me( u$i5 >o9
see /o-an5-so on /at9r5a>r4 that to him alone I mentione5 the occ9rrence.C
S :. I will insert ne?t a c9rio9s little gro9p o= cases in which it is 5i==ic9lt or impossible to
assign the impression to the Bagenc>C o= an> partic9lar person( an5 which recall the
&reek notion o= jiAthe r9mo9r which sprea5s =rom some 9nknown so9rce( an5 =ar
o9tstrips all known means o= transport.
2
*he t>pe is one where the ii-:88! scope o=
acci5ent is so har5 to estimate( an5 which is so 5istinct =rom that o= the remain5er o= o9r
telepathic evi5ence( that I E9ote most o= the acco9nts witho9t evi5ential n9mbers. *he>
ma> possibl> serve to elicit =9rther instances.
Mr. '. /t9art 1oole writes =rom the "ritish M9se9m on )9g. 2( 2773:A
BM> recollection o= the stor> o= m> brother4s impression o= the $9ke o= -ambri5ge4s
5eath was this. .e was sitting with one or more o= his relations one evening( an5
s955enl> took o9t his watch( an5 sai5( u%ote the time( the $9ke o= -ambri5ge is 5ea5.4
*he time prove5 to be correct. M> brother ha5 no acE9aintance with the $9ke( an5 no
reason =or an> interest in him. .e was a ver> clear-hea5e5 o==icial man( witho9t what is
calle5 s9perstition.
B'E&I%)L$ /*U)'* 1OOLE.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. 1oole writes:A
BI 5o not recollect being present when m> brother ha5 the monition( b9t m> recollection
is that he tol5 me himsel=( or that it was tol5 me b> someone present. It ma5e a strong
impression on me at the time.C
,e =in5 =rom the Ti(es that the late $9ke o= -ambri5ge 5ie5( somewhat s955enl>( at
X.3; p.m.( on F9l> Xth( 27V;@ b9t b9lletins as to his health ha5 been p9blishe5 in the last
week o= F9ne( an5 on the 5a> be=ore his 5eath.
*ho9gh the case is 9n5o9bte5l> weakene5 b> the =act that the person who 5ie5 was ol5(
an5 in =ailing health( s9ch a coinci5enceAwhen backe5 b> others o= the same t>peA
seems to claim attention@ at an> rate till one hears o= a goo5 man> cases where similarl>
positive statements have been ma5e b> clear-hea5e5 practical men( as to similar matters
o= which the> co9l5 know nothing b> normal means( an5 have prove5 incorrect. #et to
s9ppose a 5irect telepathic trans=er =rom the 5>ing man to a total stranger wo9l5 seem
e?travagant@ an5 har5l> less e?travagant ma> seem the onl> alternative that it is eas> to
imagineAnamel>( that the Bagenc>C was o= a collective kin5( an5 consiste5 in a certain
shock o= interest in the min5s o= a consi5erable n9mber o= persons who ha5 alrea5> hear5
the news.
I give three more e?amplesAo= which two are properl> Bbor5erlan5C cases( b9t are best
presente5 in this connection. It is a rather E9aint acci5ent that the hono9r o= occasioning
s9ch ps>chical storms sho9l5 Pso =ar as these instances goQ seem reserve5 =or persons o=
59cal or imperial rank.
Mr. &ervase Marson( o= "irk -rag( .igher "ro9ghton( Manchester( writes( on $ec. 8(
277::A
BOn the morning o= $ecember 8th( 27WX( I s955enl> awoke( an5 sat 9p in the be5( as i=
startle5. *o m> great s9rprise I =o9n5 m>sel= 9ttering the wor5s( u1ortlan5( 1ortlan5.4 *he
ne?t 5a> I rea5 in the papers ii-:8W! o= the 5eath o= the $9ke o= 1ortlan5( which I
believe took place abo9t the time when I was invol9ntaril> 9ttering his name.
BI cannot acco9nt =or this e?perience at all. %o conversation respecting the $9ke o=
1ortlan5 ha5 taken place the evening previo9sl>@ I 5i5 not know he was ill@ never saw
him in m> li=e@ ha5 never been at an> o= his resi5ences@ an5( in =act( neither knew nor
care5 an>thing abo9t him. I was not 5reaming D9st be=ore I awoke( b9t believe I was
sleeping( as is m> wont( E9ite so9n5l>.
B&. M)'/O%.C
Y*he Dail, Telegraph o= $ec. 7( 27WX( states that the late $9ke o= 1ortlan5 5ie5 at V a.m.
on /at9r5a>( $ec. 8.Z
Mr. &. ,( ,a55ington( o= U8( "ag5ale( ,hitb>( #orkshire( writes( on )9g. V( 2773:A
B,hen a passenger on boar5 the u/atellite4 in the 1aci=ic( on a vo>age =rom /an
+rancisco to -allao( 1er9( I was awoke abo9t 3 a.m. o= the 23th o= /eptember( 27VU( b>
the noise o= one who D9mpe5 on 5eck an5 calle5 o9t at the cabin 5oor( u*he $9ke o=
,ellington is 5ea5.4 *he occ9rrence was the s9bDect o= conversation at break=ast( an5
being note5( it was inE9ire5 i= s9ch an event ha5 taken place =rom the captain o= the port(
be=ore an> comm9nication took place with an> other person coming on boar5. I ha5 seen
the $9ke b9t once( an5 that on the occasion o= an inspection o= troops be=ore the .orse
&9ar5s( on the }9een4s anniversar> coronation 5a> o= F9ne U7th( 273U.
B&. ,. ,)$$I%&*O%.C
Mr. ,a55ington a5mits that the noise o= the D9mping ma> have been a real so9n5( b9t
sa>s( as regar5s the voice( BI 5o not think an>one on boar5 co9l5 have invente5 an> s9ch
means o= tr>ing one4s cre59lit>.C
Y*he $9ke o= ,ellington 5ie5 on /eptember 23th( 27VU( at :.2V p.m. -onseE9entl>( i= the
ho9r o= the e?perience is correctl> remembere5( it prece5e5 the 5eath b> at least : ho9rs(
an5 probabl> b> more.Z
Ma5ame %oviko== writes( on )9g. W( 2773:A
B) =rien5 o= mine( whose acc9rac> seems to me 9n5eniable( gave me the =ollowing
acco9nt:A
BOn the night when the late Empress Maria )le?an5rovna 5ie5( m> =rien5 awoke her
h9sban5( e?claiming( u*he Empress is 5ea5.4 It was not a 5ream( b9t a spontaneo9s
impression. /he a55e5 that she ha5 ha5 several e?periences o= a similar kin5. .er
h9sban5 5isliking this s9bDect I 5o not wish to appl> to her on the matter.
BO. 0.C
Y,e =in5 =rom the Ti(es that the Empress 5ie5 at 7 a.m.( on F9ne :( 277;. /he ha5 been
known =or some months to be in a critical state.Z
-omparable with these cases
2
are the two =ollowing( which( i= more ii-:87! than
acci5ental coinci5ences( can onl> be acco9nte5 =or b> the =act that the i5ea was Bin the
air.C *he h>pothesis is here( perhaps( a little less 5i==ic9lt( as the original impression was
o= a sort which a==ecte5 n9mbers vivi5l> an5 sim9ltaneo9sl>.
P:7WQ +rom Mr. F. ). E5mon5s( 28( ,aterloo 'oa5 /o9th( ,olverhampton.
B277:.
B)t a perio5 59ring the =ormation o= the *hames *9nnel( the 5ate o= which I cannot recall
witho9t re=erence to the 5ail> papers( m> brother( ->r9s 'ea5 E5mon5s( was hea5-master
o= the Leicestershire 1roprietar> &rammar /chool( at Leicester( an5 live5 almost close to
the school b9il5ings.
BOn one occasion( when he was in be5( his wi=e was awoke PI think( at somewhere abo9t
V or 8
2
in the morningQ b> a lo95 e?clamation o= terror =rom m> brother. /he inE9ire5 the
ca9se( an5 he( in a state o= horror( sai5 that he ha5 seen the *hames *9nnel break thro9gh(
that the workmen r9she5 to the staircases or la55ers( the means o= e?it( b9t one poor
=ellow Pless active than the others who escape5Q was overtaken b> the r9sh o= water an5
perishe5. M> brother was in a state o= tremor an5 5istress( s9ch as a h9mane man might
be s9ppose5 to s9==er as a witness o= s9ch a scene. .e begge5 his wi=e not to sleep( b9t to
converse 9ntil it sho9l5 be time to rise. /he 9rge5 that it was b9t a 5ream( an5 that the
e==ect wo9l5 pass o== i= he co9l5 get a little sleep. u) 5ream(4 he sai5( uit is no 5ream. I
5istinctl> saw all that I have 5escribe5.4
BOn the 5a> in the earl> morning o= which this vision occ9rre5( m> ii-:8X! brother an5
his wi=e were engage5 to a 5inner-part> at the ho9se o= a gentleman( whose name( I
believe( was ,hetstone. "e=ore the> le=t the 5rawing-room =or the 5ining-room( his host
sai5 to m> brother( u.ave >o9 hear5 the sa5 news =rom Lon5onr4 .e sai5( u%o( what is
itr4 .e replie5( u*he *hames *9nnel has broken in. )ll the people in the works escape5(
e?cept one poor =ellow who was overwhelme5.4
2
M> brother tho9ght that his wi=e might
have tol5 their host( an5 that the> wo9l5 rall> him o9t o= his 5epression. "9t on looking
at her( the look o= astonishment E9ite precl95e5 this notion. .e aske5 his host i= he were
Doking( at which he was m9ch s9rprise5( an5 aske5 how a Doke co9l5 possibl> be elicite5
=rom s9ch an occ9rrence.
BM> brother then sai5( uI saw it happen( D9st as >o9 have relate5 it( so m> wi=e will ass9re
>o9( an5 I am >et s9==ering =rom the e?ha9stion an5 5epression pro59ce5.4 .e then tol5
the compan> what I have relate5 above.
BI hear5 the whole relation both =rom him Yb> letter at the time( an5 viv0 voce some
weeks a=terwar5sZ an5 his wi=e Yboth now 5ea5Z( an5 man> o= o9r =rien5s were
acE9ainte5 with the histor>.
BF. )U&U/*U/ E$MO%$/.C
*he constr9ction o= the *hames *9nnel laste5 =rom 27UV to 273:. $9ring this perio5
there were =ive irr9ptions o= the water o= more or less importance. *he =o9rth was the
onl> occasion on which one man was 5rowne5. *he Ti(es o= %ov. 3th( 27:W( recor5s that
at a =ew min9tes be=ore 3 o4clock on that morning( a s955en irr9ption o= the river took
place an5 =ille5 the t9nnel. F. +rancis( engineer on 59t> at the time o= the acci5ent( state5
that( on 5iscovering the water was beginning to over=low he Bimme5iatel> gave the alarm
=or all han5s to r9n( an5 =rom that time the =illing o= the t9nnel occ9pie5 less than =ive
min9tes. ,e then ran with all spee5 to the sha=t.C *he water l9lle5 slightl>( an5 he in
compan> with two other men Bwent 5own the archwa> abo9t U;; =eet( an5 saw the water
rolling 9p the roa5wa> with a terri=ic appearance. ,e then ran to the staircase( an5 =inall>
ascen5e5 to the top o= the sha=t. *he water arrive5 a =ew secon5s a=ter 9s. I then ha5 all
the names calle5 over( an5 =o9n5 onl> one missing( &arlan5( an ol5 man( a miner.C
P:77Q +rom a book calle5 *ith P*rRbner an5 -o.( 2772Q( b> %ewton -roslan5( pp. 8:T3.
BIn October( 27VW( abo9t 2 o4clock in the 5a>( I was going =rom m> o==ice to sign an
e?port bon5 at the -9stom .o9se( Lower *hames /treet( a 5istance o= abo9t a E9arter o=
a mile. I was in m> 9s9al satis=actor> state o= health@ m> min5 was occ9pie5 with merel>
common-place i5eas@ the tra==ic in the streets was going on with or5inar> monotono9s
activit>( an5 nothing was apparent there to wake in me the slightest trepi5ation( when(
D9st as I was crossing &reat *ower /treet( I was sei]e5 with an 9nacco9ntable panic. I
conceive5 a 5rea5 that I might be attacke5 b> a tiger( an5 the i5ea o= this horrible =ate so
ha9nte5 me that I absol9tel> began r9nning in hot haste( an5 I 5i5 not stop 9ntil I =o9n5
m>sel= sa=e insi5e the walls o= the -9stom .o9se. )n>thing more contemptibl> abs9r5
than this apparentl> ca9seless =ear co9l5 scarcel> be imagine5Aa ii-:W;! merchant in
the streets o= Lon5on in 5anger o= a wil5 beasts *he possibilit> o= s9ch a 5isaster seeme5
to me to be so ri5ic9lo9s( the moment I tho9ght abo9t it( that I la9ghe5 at m>sel= =or
allowing so =oolish an5 morbi5 a =anc> to take possession o= m> min5( an5 I reall>
consi5ere5 that I m9st be =ast becoming st9pi5l> nervo9s. *he =eeling o= apprehension
soon( however( passe5 awa>( an5 won5er at m> own weakness became pre5ominant. *he
ne?t morning I took 9p the Ti(es newspaper( when to m> 9tter astonishment( I rea5 that
at precisel> the same time when I =elt the cra]> =ear( a tiger ha5 act9all> escape5 =rom its
cage while it was being conve>e5 =rom the Lon5on $ocks( serio9sl> inD9re5 two
chil5ren( an5 ha5( to the terror o= ever> observer( =erocio9sl> miscon59cte5 himsel= in the
p9blic street o= ,appingAabo9t a mile( as the crow =lies( =rom the spot where I was
passing.C
*he =ollowing passage occ9rs in the Ti(es on Oct. UW( 27VW:A
B<rightful 8ccurrence.A#ester5a> a=ternoon( abo9t 2 o4clock( as a cattle van was
conve>ing =rom Lon5on $ocks a "engal tiger( the 5oor gave wa> an5 the animal
bo9n5e5 into the roa5( enco9ntere5 a little bo>( sprang 9pon him( lacerating him in a
=right=9l manner(C [c.
) s9bseE9ent report( October :;th( states that t-o bo>s were inD9re5.
Mr. -roslan5 writes to 9s( on F9ne W( 2773:A
B3U( -r9tche5 +riars( Lon5on.
BI am a=rai5 I cannot help >o9 m9ch in >o9r attempt to strengthen m> evi5ence
respecting uthe tiger stor>.4 ,hen on m> wa> to the -9stom .o9se I =elt the 5rea5 o= a
tiger in the streets( which impelle5 me to r9n to a re=9ge. I was not so m9ch 5ist9rbe5 as
to e?hibit an> signs o= alarm. )=ter I reache5 the -9stom .o9se( I soon recovere5 m>
compos9re( an5 tho9ght m> =ear was so ca9seless an5 sill> that I 5i5 not mention the
circ9mstance to an>one. I consi5ere5 that to 5o so wo9l5 be to make m>sel= appear
ri5ic9lo9s.
B%E,*O% -'O/L)%$.C
In another letter he sa>s( BI am E9ite certain that m> sensations were =elt at the precise
ti(e when the inci5ent occ9rre5 at ,apping.C
S 3. ,e come now to a gro9p where the impression( tho9gh in5e=inite in character(
recalling the p9rel> emotional cases o= Vol. I.( -hap. VII.( ha5 re=erence to a partic9lar
in5ivi59al known to the percipient( as in case 78.
P:7XQ +rom a clerg>man( who 5esires that his name ma> not be p9blishe5. .e writes as
=ollows to his 5a9ghter:A
B277U.
B,hen >o9r brother E. was at ,inchester -ollege Pabo9t 27V8 or 27VWQ( on going to be5
one /at9r5a> night( I co9l5 not sleep. ,hen >o9r mother came into the room( she =o9n5
me restless an5 9neas>. I tol5 her that a strong impression ha5 sei]e5 me that something
ha5 happene5 to >o9r brother. *he ne?t 5a>( >o9r mother( on writing to E.( aske5 me i= I
ha5 an> message =or him( when I replie5: u*ell him I partic9larl> want to know i=
an>thing happene5 to him >ester5a>.4 #o9r mother la9ghe5( an5 ma5e the remark that I
sho9l5 be =rightene5 i= a letter in $r. Moberl>4s han5writing reache5 9s on Mon5a>. I
replie5( uI sho9l5 be a=rai5 to open it.4 On the Mon5a> morning a letter 5i5 come =rom $r.
ii-:W2! Moberl>( to tell me that E. ha5 met with an acci5ent( that one o= his
school=ellows ha5 thrown a piece o= cheese at him which ha5 str9ck one o= his e>es@ an5
that the me5ical man( Mr. ,ickham( tho9ght I ha5 better come 5own imme5iatel> an5
take >o9r brother to a Lon5on oc9list.C
In answer to inE9iries( the narrator writes to 9s( on March 2:( 277V:A
B*he impression( with regar5 to m> son( was on a /at9r5a>. *he acci5ent ha5 occ9rre5 on
the *h9rs5a> previo9sl>( b9t $r. Moberl> 5i5 not write to in=orm me o= it till /at9r5a>(
when the ,inchester me5ical man ha5 or5ere5 that a Lon5on oc9list sho9l5 be cons9lte5.
BI cannot call to min5 an> occasion on which I receive5 a like impression which was not
veri=ie5. *here is one which occ9rre5 in =ormer >ears( which I call to min5. ,hen at
school an5 sa>ing m> pra>ers one evening( I was impresse5 with the i5ea that m> el5est
brother was 5>ing( an5 this was the case( as I was in=orme5 the 5a> =ollowing. I 5i5 not
know at the time that he was ill.C
Y*he =irst o= these cases co9l5 har5l> have been presente5 alone( owing to the lack o=
precision in the coinci5ence. "9t its interest is increase5 b> the occ9rrence o= the other
more precise e?perience to the same person.Z
P:X;Q +rom Mrs. "ran5on( resi5ent in -ana5a( who wrote =rom +armhill( $onegal(
Irelan5.
BFan9ar> Un5( 277V.
B*he steamship u-ana5ian(4 in which Mr. "ran5on was sailing to Englan5( was
shipwrecke5 in the )tlantic( east o= the straits o= "elleisle( on the 3th o= F9ne( 2782. /he
=o9n5ere5 in the ice( an5 :7 lives were lost. In the evening o= the same 5a>( Mr. Fames
1atton( a merchant in Montreal Pwhere we were then livingQ( was teaching Mr. "ran5on4s
*9es5a> evening class in &reat /t. Fames4 /treet Metho5ist -h9rch( I being present at the
time. Mr. 1atton sai5( u*his 5a> m> min5 was 9rgentl> impresse5 with the necessit> to
pra> =or Mr. "ran5onAso m9ch so( partic9larl> at the ho9r o= noon( that I had to leave
o== writing abo9t m> b9siness in m> o==ice( an5 retire to a private place( an5 po9r o9t m>
so9l in pra>er to &o5 =or Mr. "ran5on.4 ,e co9l5 not 9n5erstan5 at the time the meaning
o= the m>sterio9s circ9mstance@ b9t 2; 5a>s a=terwar5s we 9n5erstoo5 it all. )t the ver,
hour when Mr. 1atton was engage5 in pra>er =or Mr. "ran5on( he PMr. ".Q was stan5ing
on the wreck o= a sinking ship( an5 was mirac9lo9sl> save5 =rom a water> grave.C
YMr. "ran5on has sent 9s an acco9nt o= the =o9n5ering o= the ship( an5 the loss o= :7
men. Mr. 1atton is 5ecease5.Z
P:X2Q +rom a letter entitle5 B"rain ,avesAa *heor>(C written b> Mr. Fames 0nowles(
which appeare5 in the !pectator( :;th Fan9ar>( 278X.
BMr. ,oolner( the sc9lptor( tells me the =ollowing stor> o= two >o9ng menAone o= them
a personal =rien5 o= his own now living. *hese two men live5 =or ver> long as great
=rien5s( b9t 9ltimatel> E9arrelle5( shortl> be=ore the 5epart9re o= one o= them =or %ew
Jealan5. *he emigrant ha5 been absent =or man> >ears( an5 his =rien5 at home PMr.
,oolner4s in=ormantQ never having kept 9p correspon5ence with him( nat9rall> almost
lost the habit o= thinking o= him or his a==airs. One 5a>( however( as he sat in his rooms in
a street near O?=or5 /treet( the tho9ght o= his =rien5 came s955enl> 9pon him(
accompanie5 b> a most restless an5 9n5e=inable 5iscom=ort. .e co9l5 b> no means
acco9nt =or it( b9t( =in5ing the =eeling ii-:WU! grew more an5 more oppressive( trie5 to
throw it o== b> change o= occ9pation. /till the 5iscom=ort grew( 9ntil it amo9nte5 to a sort
o= strange horror. .e tho9ght he m9st be sickening =or a ba5 illness( an5 at length( being
9nable to 5o an>thing else( went o9t o= 5oors an5 walke5 9p an5 5own the b9siest streets(
hoping b> the sight an5 so9n5 o= m9ltit95es o= men an5 or5inar> things to 5issipate his
strange miser>. %ot( however( 9ntil he ha5 wan5ere5 to an5 =ro in the most wretche5 state
o= =eeling =or more than two ho9rs( 9tterl> 9nable to shake o== a sort o= vag9e
conscio9sness o= his =rien5( 5i5 the impression leave him( an5 his 9s9al =rame o= min5
ret9rn. /o greatl> was he str9ck an5 p9]]le5 b> all this( that he wrote 5own the precise
5ate o= the 5a> an5 ho9r o= the occ9rrence( =9ll> e?pecting to have news shortl> o= or
=rom his =rien5. )n5( s9rel>( when the ne?t mail or the ne?t b9t one arrive5( there came
the horrible news that at that ver> 5a> an5 ho9r Pallowance being ma5e =or latit95e an5
longit95eQ his =rien5 ha5 been ma5e a prisoner b> the natives o= %ew Jealan5( an5 p9t to
a slow 5eath with the most =right=9l tort9res.C
Mr. ,oolner( in writing to 9s in )9g9st( 277:( a=ter making some tri=ling corrections(
sa>s:A
BMr. 0nowles has tol5 the stor> acc9ratel>@ an5 having tol5 him onl> once( I am
s9rprise5 that he sho9l5 have been so =aith=9l in his narrative. I have not seen or hear5 o=
the person =or man> >ears( an5 know not the least where to =in5 him. I am ver> sorr> I
cannot help >o9 an> =9rther.C
*he name o= the man who was kille5 was -ooke( or -ook. Mr. ,oolner has given 9s the
name o= his in=ormant( b9t 5esires that it ma> not be p9blishe5. ,e have trie5 to trace
him witho9t s9ccess. Mr. ,oolner sa>s: BI believe he was per=ectl> sincere when he tol5
me the stor> in or abo9t 27V;C@ an5 a55s that the inci5ent occ9rre5 some time between
273U an5 2738.
O= the three impressions in the =ollowing acco9nt two were connecte5 at the moment
with a partic9lar in5ivi59al. *he three( tho9gh each alone might easil> have been
acci5ental( are worth presenting as having occ9rre5 in the e?perience o= a single person@
an5 the> =in5 their most convenient place here( tho9gh two o= them seem to have been o=
the Bbor5erlan5C class. In the secon5 case( the narrator4s e?perience =ollowe5 the 5eath
Pshe thinksQ b> perhaps a 5a> or two@ nor can she be certain that the coinci5ence in the
=irst case was closer than this( tho9gh it ma> have been closer.
P:XUQ Miss Love5a>( o= )rlescote( "anb9r>( enclose5 to 9s( on +ebr9ar> 23( 2773( the
=ollowing letter =rom her sister( who 5esires that her own name sho9l5 not be p9blishe5.
In conversation she 5escribe5 hersel= as a matter-o=-=act person@ an5 she is certain that
she has never on other occasions ha5 impressions at all resembling those 5escribe5.
BI have ha5 three 5i==erent intimations o= 5eathAon Uncle ,illiam4s 5eath( on .enr>
..4s Ya brother-in-law4sZ 5eath( an5 on ".4s. *he two =irst were more sensations than
an>thing else. It is a thing har5l> to be 5escribe5. It is like nothing else. Not alarming@
rather like one4s i5ea o= the severance o= nerves@ o= something c9t o==( that is( an5 lost to
>o9rsel=( ii-:W:! o= a want( a something gone =rom >o9. On the occasion o= .enr>4s
5eath( I 5i5 not know who was gone. I was awa> in &erman>@ b9t I awoke with the
sensation( an5 I tol5 m> chil5ren( uI have ha5 that =eeling that I have ha5 be=ore on the
loss o= a relation. I 5o not know who is gone@ b9t someone seems gone@ perhaps( it is
)9nt E5war5.4 *hen in a 5a> or so came the news o= .enr>us 5eath. Y*he narrator was
warml> attache5 to both her 9ncle an5 her brother-in-law.Z
B*he last occasion Pi.e.( o= ".4s 5eathQ it was the most 5istinct o= all. YMiss Love5a> sa>s(
B". was an ol5 servant o= o9r =amil>( who was ver> 5ear to 9s all.CZ It was in 277;( in the
a9t9mn. I was in &erman>. I ha5 gone to lie 5own a=ter the earl> 5inner on /9n5a>( to
rest be=ore the long walk to ch9rch@ an5 I =ell asleep. I ha5 the most calm an5 5elight=9l
awakingAno act9al wor5s( b9t a happ> =eeling that ". was passing awa> to .eaven
peace=9ll>( an5 that I was inten5e5 to know it. I= I p9t into wor5s what m> impression
was( it was thisAu)s i= some spirit ha5 gentl> to9che5 me an5 sai5( B". is passing awa>(
rise 9p an5 pra>.C4 I at once rose 9p an5 went into the ne?t room( an5 tol5 m> bo>s uI
have ha5 an intimation that ". is 5>ing@ remember it. I shall hear.4 I then went back to m>
be5si5e to kneel in pra>er. *he happiness an5 peace o= the =ew min9tes was intense. I ha5
longe5 to see him once again be=ore he 5ie5( an5 ha5 =eare5 I sho9l5 not be in Englan5 in
time( tho9gh I was going in a =ew 5a>s( as I knew his en5 was near@ b9t being le5 to know
the 5a> an5 ho9r was to me like a leave-taking an5 a goo5-b>e =rom himsel=( an5 I =elt it
was permitte5 to ass9re an5 com=ort me. *wo or three 5a>s later I hear5 it -as that ver,
5a> he 5ie5@ an5 when I got to Englan5 an5 saw his wi=e( Oath( I =o9n5 it was the same
ti(e( allowing =or m> being nearl> 3; min9tes to the eastwar5 on the globe. *he two =irst
intimations( tho9gh not alarming( were not o= the com=orting( reass9ring( an5 happ>
=eeling o= the last.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that ". 5ie5 on October 2;( 277;. *he two previo9s
5eaths took place on )pril U( 27WV( an5 Fan9ar> U2( 27W7( respectivel>.
One o= the narrator4s sons writes on Fan. U7( 2778:A
BI 5istinctl> remember that one a=ternoon PI think ,e5nes5a>Q( abo9t two weeks be=ore
we came awa> =rom &erman>( mother was l>ing 5own( an5 s955enl> she sai5 to me that
she =elt as i= a =rien5( someone whom she ha5 known =or a ver> long time( was at that
moment 5>ing. /he 5i5 not think it was a relation( beca9se the =eeling was not the same
as when Uncle .enr> 5ie5. /he tho9ght it was ver> probabl> ".( b9t 5i5 not sa> that she
=elt as i= it was o= necessit> ". who was 5>ing. I 5i5 not =eel s9rprise5( beca9se almost
e?actl> the same ha5 happene5 when Uncle .enr> 5ie5( an5 >et I =elt eE9all> s9re that it
was correct.
B)bo9t three 5a>s a=terwar5s we got a letter to sa> that ". ha5 5ie5 on the ver> a=ternoon
in E9estion( at abo9t the same time as events above recor5e5( i.e.( at abo9t :.:; p.m.( as
nearl> as I can recollect.C
*he other son writes =rom -ambri5ge( on Fan. U8( 2778:A
BI shall be happ> to testi=> to the =act o= m> mother having mentione5 to me that she ha5
a presentiment that u".4 was passing awa> an5 that this was anterior to an>
comm9nication even o= an illness.C
Y*he =orce o= the last coinci5ence is o= co9rse greatl> 5iminishe5 b> the =act o= the
percipient4s having known that ".4s Ben5 was near.C *he ii-:W3! narrator thinks that she
was aware o= her 9ncle4s being rather serio9sl> ill@ b9t she ha5 no similar knowle5ge in
the case o= her brother-in-law( whose 5eath was E9ite 9ne?pecte5.Z
P:X:Q E. M. )rn5t( a well-known writer on political an5 social E9estions( in his !chriften
fQr and an seine ;iehen Deutschen PLeip]ig( 273VQ( Vol. III.( pp. VU:T3( recor5s two
telepathic e?periences o= the emotional sort which be=ell the same person.
*he =irst occ9rre5 when )rn5t was 9n5er the t9ition Papparentl>Q o= $r. Masi9s( at "arth.
One o= his =ellow-p9pils( while at pla>( ha5 broken an arm. F9st as a messenger was
starting to conve> the news to the bo>4s mother( who live5 at some miles4 5istance( she
hersel= r9she5 in( e?claiming( BM> son( m> sons ,hat acci5ent has be=allen himrC +rom
)rn5t4s 5escription( it seems certain that he was himsel= present on the occasion.
*he same la5>( )rn5t contin9es Pb9t witho9t naming his a9thorit>Q( was one 5a> calling
at a neighbo9r4s ho9se( when s955enl> she starte5 9p an5 calle5 =or her carriage( 9n5er an
imp9lse o= 9ncontrollable apprehension( an5 =o9n5( on arriving at her home( that an
acci5ent ha5 occ9rre5 b> which her >o9ngest chil5 ha5 been scal5e5 to 5eath.
S V. *his last inci5ent lea5s 9s on to the ne?t gro9p( where the emotional impression was
not connecte5( when =elt( with the person to whom Pi= telepathicQ it was 59e. *he
=ollowing case e?hibits the element o= act9al ph>sical 5iscom=ort on the percipient4s part(
as in %os. UU( W;( an5 W8( an5 notabl> in :X2 above.
P:X3Q +rom Mr. +re5erick .. 1oole( /ne>5 1ark( $9r5ham $own( "ristol.
BF9ne 2;th( 2773.
BUpwar5s o= 3; >ears ago( when I was abo9t 2U >ears o= age( I was visiting at m> 9ncle4s
vicarage in &lo9cestershire. I ha5 been there =or a month previo9sl>( an5 was one
a=ternoon sketching in the neighbo9rhoo5( in goo5 health an5 spirits( when s955enl> I
became ver> 5epresse5 an5 ill( which in59ce5 me to ret9rn to the ho9se. I tol5 m> 9ncle
m> s>mptoms( an5 e?presse5 m> belie= that I sho9l5 5ie(
2
an5 aske5 his permission =or
me to ret9rn home that a=ternoon( =or I sho9l5 like to bi5 =arewell to all at home(
especiall> to m> mother( to whom I was ver> 5evote5l> attache5. %othing he sai5 in repl>
wo9l5 paci=> me( 9ntil he promise5 I might ret9rn on the morrow i= I =elt no better. )=ter
a restless night( I =elt worn an5 wear>Aas one wo9l5 nat9rall> =eel a=ter 9n9s9al
e?citementAb9t m> intense longing to ret9rn home ha5 s9bsi5e5( an5 I consente5 to
remain. "> that a=ternoon4s post a letter reache5 m> 9ncle =rom m> home( anno9ncing the
5eath o= m> mother on the previo9s a=ternoon.
B.aving given above the 9nvarnishe5 =act( I am 5ispose5 to leave the s9bDect witho9t
comment.
BI will onl> a55 that I ha5 no knowle5ge o= m> mother4s illness at the 5ate o= a=oresai5
uinci5ent.4 ,e hear5 a =ew 5a>s previo9sl> that she was progressing =avo9rabl> a=ter her
recent con=inement.
B+'E$E'I-0 .. 1OOLE.C
In answer to an inE9ir>( Mr. 1oole sa>s:A
ii-:WV!
BI never ha5( e?cepting on the occasion name5 in m> last letter( the 9nacco9ntable sort o=
5epression mentione5 therein.C
P:XVQ +rom Mrs. .erbert $av>( o= "9r5on 1lace( %ewcastle-on-*>ne( the narrator o= the
more 5e=inite case %o. 3V.
B$ecember 277:.
BIt was in )9g9st( a =ew >ears agoAm> h9sban5 was at the moors. I 5rove to a n9rser>
gar5en to proc9re some =lowers. I waite5 o9tsi5e the gate 9n5er the shelter o= some trees(
sen5ing the groom in =or the =lowers.
BIt was one o= the hottest a=ternoons I ever e?perience5. M> ponies( 9s9all> restive( stoo5
per=ectl> still. "e=ore I ha5 waite5 there man> min9tes( an 9nacco9ntable =eeling took
possession o= me as tho9gh I =oresaw an5 recognise5 the sha5ow o= a coming sorrow. I
imme5iatel> associate5 it with m> h9sban5Athat some acci5ent ha5 be=allen him. ,ith
this miserable apprehension 9pon me( I got thro9gh the rest o= the 5a> an5 evening as
best I co9l5( b9t weighe5 5own b> the sha5ow( tho9gh I spoke o= it that night to no one.
B%othing ha5 happene5 to m> h9sban5. "9t a little chil5Aa relation( who ha5 live5 with
9s an5 been almost as o9r ownAha5 5ie5 that 5a> rather s955enl> in 0ent( where she
was then visiting her parents. I ha5 tho9ght a goo5 5eal o= little )5a( as I sat waiting in
the phaeton that s9mmer a=ternoonAha5 pict9re5 her reaching o9t her han5s to me@ b9t
the great apprehension I =elt was =or m> h9sban5( not =or the chil5.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the chil5 5ie5 on )9g. 23(27WV.
) =rien5 who was with Mrs. $av> writes:A
B%ewcastle( Fan9ar> Vth( 2773.
BI was 5riving with Mrs. $av> on the 5a> she ha5 the strange presentiment( while waiting
o9tsi5e the n9rser> gar5ens. /he spoke o= it at the time( an5 was E9ite 5epresse5 an5
9nlike hersel=. Mr. $av> being =rom home( she =eare5 something ha5 happene5 to him.
B)M# &')-E.C
)=ter an interview with Mrs. $av> on )pril 2Vth( 2773( 1ro=essor /i5gwick writes:A
B/he a==irme5 9nhesitatingl> that the =eeling was a s955en 9niE9e shock o= sa5ness( E9ite
9nlike an> 5epression o= spirits which she ha5 ever =elt at an> other timeAshe ha5 ha5
e?periences o= s9ch 5epressions. *he girl( )5a( was likel> to be thinking o= her.C
P:X8Q +rom Mr. /. %. ,ilkinson( F.1.( )psle> -ottage( /tockport.
B2773.
BI was at "lackpool in the March o= 2772( an5 abo9t tea time I =elt a strong conviction o=
some 9nknown evil which ma5e me per=ectl> restless. %e?t morning( a letter came =rom
the manager o= m> works in /tockport( reporting that the 5a> be=ore he ha5 to stop the
mill in conseE9ence o= the breaking 5own o= the main 5riving wheel. M> niece remarke5
that this was an e?planation o= m> restlessness( b9t I was not satis=ie5 with the
e?planation( an5 sai5 to her( u*hat is not it( it is something worse.4 On arriving at home(
the 5a> =ollowing( I =o9n5 two telegrams( one anno9ncing the 5eath o= one o= m> most
intimate =rien5s( the other inviting me to the =9neral. .e 5ie5 at )ber5een. )t the time o=
m> 9neasiness I was not aware o= his illness. I atten5e5 his =9neral there. *his was not the
onl> case in which I ha5 presentiments( b9t it is the most remarkable that I have
e?perience5.
B/. %. ,IL0I%/O%.C
ii-:W8!
,e aske5 Mr. ,ilkinson i= he wo9l5 proc9re =or 9s his niece4s corroboration@ b9t he sai5
that he 5i5 not =eel 5ispose5 to take an> =9rther tro9ble in the matter. In conversation he
5escribe5 the impression as E9ite 9niE9e in its strength( preventing him =rom settling to
an>thing@ an5 he entirel> 5isclaime5 an> ten5enc> to nervo9sness or 9nacco9ntable
=ancies.
S 8. I t9rn now to the pro59ction o= motor e==ectsAsometimes o= a blin5 sort( sometimes
9n5er a sense o= being wante5Awhich m9st be 9n5erstoo5 in the sense e?plaine5 in Vol.
I.( p. UXU.
P:XWQ +rom Mr. +. Morgan( o= %9gent .ill( "ristol.
BF9l> 22th( 277:.
BOn Mon5a>( +ebr9ar> 23th( 27V:( I was listening to a lect9re b> the late &eo. $awson(
o= "irmingham( in the "roa5mea5 'ooms in "ristol. I =reE9entl> spent m> evenings at
lect9res( concerts( [c.( an5 o=ten took a little walk a=terwar5s on m> wa> home. I ha5
live5 nearl> all m> li=e PUW >earsQ at home with m> mother( whom I strongl> resemble in
=ace an5 in man> characteristics. ,e were m9ch attache5 to each other(
BI was thoro9ghl> intereste5 in the lect9re( an5 ha5 so little intention o= leaving be=ore its
concl9sion( that I remember noticing a =rien5 among the a95ience( an5 making 9p m>
min5 =or a walk with him on m> wa> home.
B*he lect9re m9st have been more than hal= thro9ghAI was not tire5( an5 ha5 no reason
to moveAwhen I notice5( at the si5e o= the plat=orm =arthest =rom the back entrance to
the hall( a 5oor which I ha5 never seen be=ore( =l9sh with the panels( an5 it s955enl>
became the most nat9ral thing that I sho9l5 walk hal= the length o= the room( an5 awa>
=rom the main entrance( in or5er to see i= this 5oor wo9l5 open. I t9rne5 the han5le(
passe5 thro9gh( close5 the 5oor gentl> behin5 me( an5 =o9n5 m>sel= in the 5ark among
the woo5en s9pports o= the plat=orm.
BI clambere5 along towar5s a glimmer o= light at the other en5( passe5 ro9n5 a si5e
passage( crosse5 the en5 o= the hall to the main entrance( witho9t an> tho9ght o= the
lect9re which was still going on( an5 walke5 home E9ietl>( witho9t e?citement or
uimpression4 o= an> kin5( an5 E9ite 9nconscio9s( till long a=ter( that I ha5 5one an>thing
9n9s9al.
BOn opening m> 5oor with a latch-ke>( I smelt =ire( an5 =o9n5 m> mother in great alarm.
/he ha5 also notice5 the strong b9rning smell( ha5 been over the ho9se with her servant(
an5 was longing =or m> ret9rn. On going 9pstairs( I saw =lames iss9ing =rom a back
win5ow o= the ne?t ho9se( imme5iatel> gave the alarm( remove5 m> mother to a sa=e
5istance( an5 then ha5 two or three ho9rs4 str9ggle with the =lames. *he a5Doining ho9se
was 5estro>e5( b9t mine onl> slightl> 5amage5.
B*he point which has seeme5 to me most striking( whenever I have recalle5 this
occ9rrence( is the entire absence o= an> presentiment or impression on m> min5. I sho9l5
probabl> have shaken o== an>thing o= the kin5 ha5 I been aware o= it( an5 re=9se5
obe5ience. %either was there on m> mother4s part an> intentional e?ertion o= her will
9pon me( onl> a strong wish =or m> presence( which m9st have beg9n abo9t the time I
le=t m> seat.
B+'E$0. MO'&)%.C
Mr. Morgan a55s( in repl> to o9r reg9lar inE9ir>( that he has never 5one an>thing similar
to what is here 5escribe5 on an> other occasion. ii-:WW! .e also sen5s a plan o= the
lect9re-room( which shows that he walke5 in a 5ark passage ro9n5 nearl> three si5es o=
the hall. B"9t going ho(eC he a55s( Bwas not in m> tho9ghts when I move5.C .e tol5 his
mother o= his e?perience ne?t 5a>.
,e have con=irme5 the 5ate o= the =ire in the Bristol Ti(es. *he acco9nt there given
states that Mr. Morgan4s ho9se( tho9gh onl> slightl> 5amage5( was Bin great 5anger( an5
onl> escape5 5estr9ction b> the intervention o= strong part>-walls.C
P:X7Q *he =ollowing passage( in the original( is a contin9ation o= that E9ote5 in Vol. I.( p.
UW3( =rom Der !ogenannte ;ebens6'agnetis(us oder 9,pnotis(us( b> $r. E. L. +ischer(
o= ,Rr]b9rg( a book the reverse o= cre59lo9s in its general tone.
BI ha5 accepte5 an invitation to a D9bilee( an5 went to the place in the a=ternoon. I ha5 not
been at table more than an ho9r( when I was sei]e5 with a pec9liar =eeling that I m9st
leaveAthat someone was waiting =or me. I ha5 no more peace@ I was e?pecting ever>
moment to be s9mmone5 awa>. I remaine5 hal=-an-ho9r 9n5er the contin9o9s press9re o=
the =eeling that someone was most strongl> 5esiring m> presence. *hen I got 9p an5 went
home to be5( in the con=i5ent e?pectation o= being calle5 o== to someone at a 5istance in
the co9rse o= the night. It was E9ite impossible to go to sleep( =or ever> two min9tes I was
raising m> hea5( to listen whether there was not a p9ll at the ho9se-bell. In a E9arter o= an
ho9r there was reall> a ring. I sprang o9t o= be5 with one bo9n5( an5 was tol5 that I m9st
come to a sick woman at a village abo9t a co9ple o= miles o==. On m> arrival I =o9n5 the
patient in a piteo9s con5ition. /he co9l5 neither speak nor move her limbs( tho9gh still
able to see( hear( an5 =eel. I 5i5 all I co9l5( an5 5eparte5( with the promise to come again
later. On the secon5 occasion( I =o9n5 her m9ch better( an5 she now tol5 me how
earnestl> she ha5 been longing =or me to come on the previo9s a=ternoon an5 evening.
.er h9sban5 ha5 not ret9rne5 home till late in the evening( an5 ha5 then lost no time in
sen5ing =or me. /o the matter was e?plaine5.
B*hese two inci5ents Yi. e.( this an5 the one alrea5> E9ote5Z prove to m> satis=action that
there are s9ch things as s>mpathetic 5ivinations P)hnungenQ@ an5 I co9l5 s9ppl> other
instances( tho9gh o= a less striking character( =rom m> own e?perience( besi5es similar
e?periences which have been reporte5 to me b> m> =rien5s.C
YI have s9==icientl> e?presse5 5issent =rom $r. +ischer4s view that telepath> can be
5emonstrate5 =rom a =ew instances.Z
P:XXQ +rom Mr. ,illiam "lakewa> Pa brickla>erQ( o= %ew 'oss( 'owle> 'egis( near
$95le>.
B277V.
BI was in m> 9s9al place at chapel on the /9n5a> a=ternoon( in Ma>( 27W8( when all at
once I tho9ght I m9st go home. /eemingl> against m> wish( I took m> hat. ,hen
reaching the chapel gates( I =elt an imp9lse that I m9st hasten home as E9ick as possible(
an5 I ran with all m> might witho9t stopping to take breath. Meeting a =rien5( who aske5
wh> I h9rrie5 so( I passe5 him almost witho9t notice. ,hen I reache5 home I =o9n5 the
ho9se =9ll o= smoke( an5 m> little bo>( : >ears ol5( all on =ire( alone in the ho9se. I at
once tore the b9rning clothes =rom o== him( an5 was D9st in time to save his li=e. It has
alwa>s been a m>ster> to me( as ii-:W7! no person whispere5 a wor5 to me( an5 no one
knew an>thing abo9t the =ire till a=ter I ma5e the alarm at home( which was more than a
E9arter o= a mile =rom the chapel. *his is a tr9e statement.
B,ILLI)M "L)0E,)#.C
Mr. -. /mith( o= 2U( /hort /treet( "lack .eath( near $95le>( writes:A
I beg to sa> I hear5 o= the inci5ent =rom Mr. "lakewa> himsel= in a =ew 5a>s a=ter the
occ9rrence( an5 never =orgot it( as I tho9ght it ver> remarkable.
B-. /MI*..C
Mr. "lakewa> went thro9gh the acco9nt to me viv0 voce in s9ch a wa> that I co9l5 not
5o9bt the vivi5ness o= the e?perience@ he has never ha5 an> other at all resembling it. *he
=rien5 whom he h9rrie5 b> was one to whom he invariabl> talke5 =or some min9tes when
he met him. .e thinks that he probabl> took abo9t a min9te an5 a hal= in getting home(
an5 that his =irst impression ma> E9ite have coinci5e5 with the acci5ent to the chil5( who
was alone in the ho9se an5 ca9ght =ire in reaching =or something.
P3;;Q +rom .err .einrich von /tr9ve( proc9re5 thro9gh the kin5ness o= Mr. F. ".
Fohnston( M.).( o= 2W( 1ilrig /treet( E5inb9rgh. *he original was in &erman.
BUV( 1ilrig /treet( E5inb9rgh.
BF9l> 2;th( 277V.
BIt was in the night between the Xth an5 2;th o= %ovember( 27:V( that I =elt a s955en an5
pec9liar >earning( which lai5 hol5 o= me with great intensit>( =or m> 5ear mother( who
live5 in -arlsr9he( in the &ran5 $9ch> o= "a5en. I m>sel= was living with m> el5er
brother in 1olan5( an5 inten5e5 to pass the winter with him. *his >earning a==ecte5 me so
strongl> that I resolve5 to move to -arlsr9he witho9t 5ela>( which I e?plaine5 to m>
brother at break=ast( a=ter I ha5 in=orme5 him o= m> s955en =eeling. It was no small an5
insigni=icant Do9rne> in those 5a>s an5 at that a5vance5 season o= the >ear. -arlsr9he was
over 2:; &erman miles =rom where I was living. I passe5 Yon horsebackZ thro9gh the
province o= 1osen( thro9gh /ilesia( /a?on>( an5( a=ter crossing the Er] Mo9ntains an5
*h9ringia in 5eep snow( thro9gh "avaria. )t Fena( where an a9nt live5 who ha5 alwa>s
been in the most intimate relations with m> mother( I inten5e5 to rest =or a =ew 5a>s. "9t
as she tol5 me that she ha5 receive5 ver> sa5 news =rom -arlsr9he( accor5ing to which
her 5ear =rien5 ha5 been attacke5 b> nervo9s =ever an5 given 9p b> the 5octors( I co9l5
not rest( an5 in the greatest consternation an5 an?iet> recommence5 m> Do9rne>( an5
reache5 -arlsr9he on the 3th o= $ecember.
B,ith sinking heart I betook m>sel= =irst to m> brother( who was attache5 to the '9ssian
Embass> at the -o9rt o= "a5en( an5 r9she5 9p the steps( where m> brother receive5 me
with great astonishment. On m> eager inE9ir> a=ter m> mother4s health( he tol5 me that
the 5anger ha5 passe5 o==( an5 that she was recovering. *hen I h9rrie5 swi=tl> to m>
mother4s ho9se( where m> sisters live5 with her( an5 the> con=irme5 the happ> news. )s I
then learnt =rom m> el5est sister( the chie= crisis o= the illness occ9rre5 on the night
between the Xth an5 2;th o= %ovember( when m> belove5 mother( in her 5eliri9m(
contin9all> spoke with intense love an5 care =or her >o9ngest son( calle5 me an5 longe5
=or me.
B.. VO% /*'UVE.C
In answer to inE9iries( .err von /tr9ve sa>s( BI have never on an> ii-:WX! other
occasion e?perience5 an a==ection o= the same sort( an5 nat9rall> there=ore have never
ha5 occasion to take action on one.C
Y*his case is ver> remote@ b9t the narrator is not likel> to be wrong in remembering that
he 9n5ertook a long an5 ar59o9s Do9rne> in conseE9ence o= his impression.Z
I will concl95e with the onl> pen5ant that we have to M. LiHbea9lt4s remarkable case at
the en5 o= -hap. VII. in the prece5ing vol9me. "9t a secon5-han5 acco9nt o= so
e?ceptional an occ9rrence( receive5 =rom a person who himsel= onl> hear5 o= it some
>ears a=ter it took place( cannot o= co9rse carr> m9ch weight( at an> rate as =ar as 5etails
are concerne5.
P3;2Q +rom Mr. /. Fennings( o= ,estb9r> .o9se( $enmark .ill( /.E.
BMarch U3th( 277V.
BIn repl> to >o9r note( the occ9rrence Ywhich is narrate5 belowZ was relate5 to me b> Mr.
%elson himsel=( since 5ea5. .e tol5 me( as nearl> as I can remember( in the >ear 2787(
b9t the event itsel= m9st have taken place =o9r or =ive >ears be=ore.
B)t the time he tol5 me he was =reE9entl> in the habit o= th9s writing 9n5er some
e?ternal in=l9ences( some o= which he 5escribes as agreeable( an5 others ver> m9ch the
reverse. .e showe5 me a book in which these writings were ma5e( an5 I was m9ch
s9rprise5 at the sing9lar 5i==erences in the apparentl> vario9s han5writings.
BI never ha5 an> reason to 5o otherwise than believe what he sai5( partic9larl> as he was
alwa>s ver> reticent on the s9bDect( which he sai5 concerne5 nobo5> b9t himsel=.
B/)MUEL FE%%I%&/.C
*he =ollowing is =rom a letter written b> Mr. Fennings to 1ro=essor "arrett( on /eptember
U8th( 277U. )=ter 5escribing Mr. %elson4s a9tomatic writing( an5 his inabilit> to get ri5 o=
the conscio9sness o= some e?ternal presence or in=l9ence Bwitho9t provi5ing writing
materials(C the acco9nt contin9es:A
BOn one occasion this =eeling sei]e5 him in the train when travelling =rom 'aneeg9nge to
-alc9tta( an5 he tore a lea= o9t o= a book( an5 lai5 it on the seat o= the carriage( his han5
grasping a pencil resting 9pon it. Or5inaril>( to write 9n5er s9ch con5itions wo9l5 be
impossible in a train r9shing along@ the motion wo9l5 e==ect9all> prevent it. %evertheless(
a long comm9nication was ma5e p9rporting to be =rom his 5a9ghter( who was at school
in Englan5. It containe5 a simple acco9nt o= her illness an5 5eath( 5escribe5 the
circ9mstances 9n5er which it occ9rre5( an5 the persons who were present( a55ing that
she wishe5 to sa> goo5-b>e to her =ather be=ore leaving. *his threw Mr. %. into a state o=
great e?citement( =or he 5i5 not even know o= his 5a9ghter4s illness. .e went home an5
sai5 he was ver> 9neas> abo9t "essie in Englan5. +inall>( he gave this note to his marrie5
5a9ghter( Mrs. '.( to keep till the> co9l5 hear b> the or5inar> post. *he chil5 ha5 in
realit> 5ie5 that ver> 5a>( an5 9n5er the ver> circ9mstances th9s m>sterio9sl>
comm9nicate5 to Mr. %. I have s9bseE9entl> receive5 some corroborative evi5ence
regar5ing this >o9ng la5>4s 5eath =rom an entire stranger to the =amil>.C
ii-:7;!
+!P#&R (((.
/R&!M$.
S 2. *.E cases to be now presente5 are s9pplementar> to those o= Vol. I.( -hap. VIII.@ an5
will be arrange5( as =ar as possible( in similar gro9ps.
*he =irst gro9p is that o= sim9ltaneo9s 5reams which correspon5 in content.
P3;UQ +rom Mr. ). ). ,atts( 2X( -he>ne ,alk( -helsea( /.,.
B277:.
B,hen I was a >o9ng chil5( abo9t the >ear 27:;( m> =ather ha5 been calle5 o9t o= town
b> b9siness@ an5 m> mother took me into her room to sleep. /he awoke in the mi55le o=
the night( or earl> morning( o9t o= a 5ream in which it ha5 appeare5 to her that the
servant was attempting to m9r5er her with a kni=e. I ha5 awakene5 at the same time( an5
was sobbing in m> crib b> her be5si5e. Upon her inE9iring what was amiss with me( I
replie5 that I ha5 5reamt that Fohn was m9r5ering her with a kni=e. /he alwa>s a==irme5
that( to the best o= her knowle5ge( I ha5 at that time never hear5 the wor5 m9r5er. /he
rang 9p the servants@ an5 wrote imme5iatel> to her h9sban5( who ret9rne5 to town at
once( an5 5ischarge5 the man witho9t more a5o. M> mother ha5 ha5 no previo9s
antipath> to the man( rather the contrar>( =or he was a ver> clever an5 han5> servant( an5
ha5 been a sailor. ,e ha5 never hear5 then nor 5i5 we hear s9bseE9entl> an>thing to his
5isa5vantage.C
Y*his evi5ence cannot rank as better than secon5-han5.Z
P3;:Q *he =ollowing letter appeare5 in the Nation =or %ovember U8th( 277V:A
B/I'(AI have been m9ch intereste5 in the cases o= telepath> reporte5 in the Nation, an5
give the =ollowing( which happene5 here last week. Mrs. +. 5reame5 her watch was
broken( an5 was greatl> a==licte5 to see it all in pieces( an5 in her 5istress awoke. +eeling
ver> ill( she awakene5 her h9sban5 to go =or a ph>sician. .is =irst wor5s on awaking
were( u,ho broke >o9r watchr4
BM. E. ,.
B$over( %. ..( %ovember 28th( 277V.C
ii-:72!
*he writer o= this letter( $r. Mar> E. ,ebb( was applie5 to =or 5etails( an5 wrote to 9s as
=ollows:A
:W( *rowbri5ge /treet( -ambri5ge( Mass.( U./.).
B+ebr9ar> :r5( 2778.
B%ear mi5night( Mrs. +l>nn 5reame5 her watch was broken. /he saw the cr>stal an5 all
the works cr9she5 to =ragments. /he awoke in some pain( an5 aro9se5 her h9sban5 =rom
a so9n5 sleep( an5 his =irst wor5s( accor5ing to her report( were( u,ho broke >o9r watchr
.ow 5i5 >o9r watch get brokenr4 [c. *hen she tol5 me she la9ghe5 in spite o= the pain(
an5 tol5 him that was D9st what she ha5 5reame5 be=ore the pain ha5 awakene5 her@ then
the> =o9n5 their 5reams coinci5e5 e?actl> as to the manner in which the watch was
broken@ an5 that the watch was got an5 e?amine5( to make s9re it was not as the> ha5
5reame5.
B*his the> relate5 to me the same night( as something worth the telling. *he> tho9ght it
sing9lar an5 interesting. I aske5 them what the> ha5 sai5 abo9t the watch be=ore going to
be5( an5 the> sai5 u%othing4@ that the> ha5 not tho9ght o= it at all.
BM)'# E. ,E"".C
In the ne?t three cases( the telepathic in=l9ence o= a 5istant agent seems to be involve5(
an5 ma> have acte5 in5epen5entl> on the 5reamers Pcf. case 2UW( an5 see -hap. \II.( S
UQ@ or one 5reamer( so in=l9ence5( ma> have in=ecte5 the others.
P3;3Q +rom the 'ev. 1. *. $ra>ton( Un5ercli==( 1ortishea5(
BFan9ar>( 2773.
B,hen a chil5 in the ,est In5ies( there was an ol5 )=rican woman who ha5 great
attractions =or me. /he was =9ll o= ghost stories( an5( tho9gh a -hristian( ha5 not( I =ear(
5iscar5e5 obeah i5eas altogether. /ometimes she wo9l5 come in to show 9s how she
wo9l5 look 5resse5 in her grave clothes( which she kept b> her( an5 we wo9l5 make
merr> over it. ,ells several >ears a=terwar5s I saw in m> 5reams her =ig9re b> m>
be5si5e in =9ll grave-cost9me@ it was ver> vivi5( an5 I awoke with a 5etermination that I
wo9l5 eat no more late s9ppers.
B)t break=ast( ne?t morning( m> sister tol5 9s that she ha5 ha5 m9ch the same 5ream( b9t
as she ha5 never seen the ol5 woman masE9era5ing in her shro95( as I ha5( it ma5e more
impression. /ome time a=terwar5s we ha5 a letter =rom ,. I. mentioning the ol5 woman4s
5eath on the 5a> on which these 5reams occ9rre5.
B*his occ9rre5 some 3V >ears ago( an5 I cannot be responsible =or its strict acc9rac>.
B1. *. $')#*O%.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. $ra>ton sa>s:A
B*aking >o9r E9eries seriati( I wo9l5 repl>( =irst( that m> sister has been 5ea5 over :;
>ears. /econ5( that m> sister an5 sel= ha5 the 5ream on the same night( witho9t having
been either talking or thinking o= the ol5 woman. *hir5( that to the best of (, recollection
the ti5ings o= the ol5 woman4s 5eath arrive5 shortl> a=ter.C
ii-:7U!
) la5>( a connection o= Mr. $ra>ton4s( thro9gh whom we proc9re5 this narrative( sa>s(
B)ll the =amil> knew o= these 5reams.C
P3;VQ +rom +>nes Mor>son4s :tinerar, PLon5on( 282WQ( 1art I.( -hap. II.( p. 2X.
BI ma> law=9ll> swear that which m> kinsmen have hear5 witnesse5 b> m> brother .enr>
whilst he live5( that in m> >o9th at -ambri5ge I ha5 the like 5reame o= m> mother4s
5eath( where( m> brother .enr> l>ing with me( earl> in the morning I 5reame5 that m>
mother passe5 b> with sa5 co9ntenance( an5 tol5 me that she co9l5 not come to m>
commencement@ I being within =ive months to procee5 Master o= )rts( an5 she having
promise5 at that time to come to -ambri5ge: an5 when I relate5 this 5reame to m>
brother( both o= 9s awaking together in a sweat( he proteste5 to me that he ha5 5reame5
the ver> same( an5 when he ha5 not the least knowle5ge o= o9r mother4s sicknesse(
neither in o9r >o9th=9ll a==ections were in an> a==ecte5 b> the strangeness o= this 5reame(
>et the ne?t carrier bro9ght 9s wor5 o= o9r mother4s 5eath.C
P3;8Q +rom Mr. /withinbank( Ormleigh( Mowbra> 'oa5( Upper %orwoo5( /.E.
BMa> U8th( 277:.
B$9ring the 1enins9lar ,ar( m> =ather an5 his two brothers( ,illiam an5 Fohn( were
E9artere5 at $over. *he> were natives o= "ra5=or5( an5 ha5 there living their =ather(
mother( an5 the rest o= their =amil>. On one special night m> =ather ha5 a 5ream that his
mother was 5ea5@ the 5ream was most vivi5( an5 in his waking moments the 5ream kept
contin9all> rec9rring to him( an5 he co9l5 not shake o== the impression o= sa5ness it
bro9ght 9pon him. *he other brothers each slept at 5i==erent parts o= the garrison( an5
the> onl> met each other on para5e. *he morning =ollowing the 5ream( an5 a=ter the
para5e was over( m> =ather ran h9rrie5l> on to meet his brothers( an5 as he approache5
them the> each appeare5 as an?io9s to meet him as he was to meet them@ in a tone o=
breathless an?iet> m> =ather sai5( uOh( ,illiam( I have ha5 a E9eer 5ream.4 u/o have I(4
replie5 his brother( when( to the astonishment o= both( the other brother( Fohn( sai5( uI
have ha5 a E9eer 5ream( as well. I 5reamt that m> mother was 5ea5.4 u/o 5i5 I(4 sai5 each
o= the other brothers. It was tr9e that each brother 5reamt 59ring the same night that their
mother was 5ea5@ an5 it is eE9all> tr9e that in the co9rse o= a =ew 5a>s P=or the posts then
were sel5om =or s9ch long 5istancesQ the> hear5 =rom home that 59ring the night o= their
5ream their mother( who ha5 ha5 no previo9s illness o= which her sons knew an>thing(
ha5 E9ietl> passe5 awa>.
B&EO'&E E$,I% /,I*.I%")%0.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. /withinbank a55s:A
BI hear5 it over an5 over again =rom m> =ather an5 the two brothers concerne5.C
) sister o= Mr. /withinbank4s corroborates as =ollows:A
B+arnle>( near Lee5s.
BOctober U;th( 277:.
BI =9ll> con=irm this statement( as the onl> s9rviving 5a9ghter o= the ii-:7:! >o9nger o=
the three brothers. *he last time I saw m> 9ncle ,illiam shortl> be=ore m> =ather4s 5eath(
he speciall> name5 the circ9mstance to me( an5 I ha5 hear5 it =rom m> earl> in=anc>
repeate5l> =rom the lips o= m> =ather an5 his other brothers.
B'. M. .U$/O%( Pn4e /withinbankQ.C
S U. %e?t comes a gro9p in which some tho9ght on the part o= a -a1ing agent seems to
have been represente5 in the 5ream.
*he =ollowing case strongl> recalls %o. 23X( where the percipient seeme5 to catch the
i5ea o= a scene abo9t which the agent was silentl> rea5ing.
P3;WQ +rom Miss F9lia ,e5gwoo5( :2( }9een )nne /treet( ,.
BMarch( 2778.
BM> 5ream was that I was h9rr>ing along the street somehow in compan> with a little
girl o= abo9t 2;( who was telling me o= her li=e in +lorence( where she ha5 been bro9ght
9p. I was listening to her with great interest( an5 I remember in m> 5ream being s9rprise5
that I co9l5 =eel interest in the conversation o= a chil5 o= that age. One o55 thing was that
she was telling me abo9t b9il5ing( an5 that we wan5ere5 into some gran5 new str9ct9re(
where I ha5 never been be=ore.
BIn the morning I took 9p the novel Marian ha5 been rea5ing be=ore she went to be5(
sitting close to me. I will cop> the passages which ma5e me =eel that her interest in the
book m9st somehow have been trans=erre5 to m> min5. M> b9il5ing was not a cathe5ral(
an5 what the chil5 sai5 abo9t b9il5ing ha5 the abs9r5it> o= a 5ream( so m> 5ream was not
e?act. *he little girl in the novel has been bro9ght 9p in +lorence.
BFULI) ,E$&,OO$.C
*he e?tracts( =rom a novel calle5 Clarissas Tangled "eb( are as =ollows:A
B*h9s wan5ering( she passe5 to the east en5 o= the north aisle( m9ch secl95e5 =rom view
b> the back o= the great organ an5 the p9lpit( an5 so alone ha5 she =elt that she starte5
when she saw a little girl seate5 on a stone step( the =irst o= three lea5ing 9p to an ol5
oaken 5oor =illing a low narrow 5oorwa> in the wall. w /he notice5 too that the little girl
looke5 towar5s her( an5 close5 her book( an5 now appeare5 rather to invite than to
5eprecate conversation. /o she 5rew nearer( an5 sai5 in the pec9liarl> pleasant voice
which generall> prepossesse5 strangers( an5 not sel5om 5rew =orth 9ne?pecte5
con=i5ences( u#o9 enDo>( m> 5ear( being in this cathe5ralr4 Irene rose. u#es( ma4am(4 she
sai5( uI 5o. I have seen man> m9ch =iner cathe5rals an5 ch9rches Yhaving been bro9ght 9p
in +lorenceZ( b9t this is a goo5 b9il5ing in man> respects( an5 I do like being here ver>
m9ch.4
BMrs. ,eatherill =elt rather am9se5 b> the air o= e?perience5 D95gment an5 critical
5iscernment ass9me5 b> this ver> >o9ng connoisse9r@ b9t she sai5 pleasantl>( u#o9 know
the b9il5ing m9ch more =amiliarl> than I 5o( I have no 5o9bt.4 uI have rea5 abo9t it(
ma4am( an5 have observe5 =or m>sel=(4 Irene sai5( E9ite willing to impart in=ormation an5
give her own impressions. u#o9 see the va9lting o= the roo=( how it is =ille5 in ii-:73!
an5 hel5 9p b> those arches( so man> intersections an5 changing linesAthat is E9ite a
9niE9e arrangement( b9t : think it is bea9ti=9ls )n5 then( ma4am( w >o9 see that the
height o= the va9lting in the two si5e aisles an5 the mi55le aisle is e?actl> the same(C [c.
In repl> to inE9iries( Miss ,e5gwoo5 sa>s:A
BI am E9ite s9re that Marian .9ghes rea5 not a wor5 alo95( an5 5i5 not mention to me
an> o= the circ9mstances which repro59ce5 themselves with the grotesE9e trivialit> o=
s9ch things in m> 5ream( an5 that I 5i5 not know an>thing o= the contents o= the book.
BIt was one o= a n9mber sent me to review PI leave it with >o9( with the relevant passages
marke5Q( an5 Marian being ver> 9nwell( I a5vise5 her to look thro9gh the heap instea5 o=
5oing an>thing else. /he sat b> me all the evening rea5ing this novel. I was b9s> with
something else( an5 we har5l> e?change5 a wor5. ,e went to be5 at the same time( an5 I
ha5 a vivi5 5ream o= meeting two chil5ren in the street Pthere is onl> one in the bookQ(
an5 getting into a conversation with the girl abo9t b9il5ing. *he onl> sentence which
remains with me is the abs9r5 one( u,hats 5on4t >o9 know that all the heart o= oak 9se5
in Englan5 comes =rom +lorencer4 where she tol5 me she ha5 live5 all her li=e. I ha5 a
vivi5 sense in m> 5ream o= the intelligence an5 rare knowle5ge o= the little girl( an5
when I opene5 the book at p. :7 it came to me with an almost startling sense o=
=amiliarit>. I think I mentione5 that I was wan5ering with m> little girl in a c9rio9s new
b9il5ing( an5 notice5 the ceiling( b9t it was not a cathe5ral( so that again was onl> partl>
like( b9t it was( I remember( a c9rio9sl> low roo=. *here was a sense o= rather 5ramatic
interest in the little girl which the stor> repro59ces( an5 which is ver> rare in 5reams( b9t
I can remember no wor5s to help it o9t. I think the chil5 was 2;( b9t the sense o=
premat9re cleverness an5 o= s9rprise at m>sel= in being intereste5 in a chil54s talk abo9t
b9il5ings is what remains with me.C
Miss ,e5gwoo5 a55s:A
B*he 5ream correspon5e5 with her YMarian4sZ inacc9rate recollection o= the =iction (ore
than with the =iction itsel=. /he =ancie5 that the inci5ent was s9ppose5 to occ9r as in m>
5reamAa grown person walking with a little girl in the street. It is one o= several =aint
coinci5ences o= the same kin5( b9t most are so 9ninteresting that we =orget them.
B)nother little case o= tho9ght-rea5ing between 9s ma> have interest =or >o9. I sho9l5
premise that M. .. is m> most intimate =rien5 as well as m> mai5Acopies all m>
writings =or me( an5 shares all m> interests.
BIn the >ear 277;( I was tro9ble5 b> some circ9mstances which I care=9ll> conceale5
=rom her. I tho9ght that some actions o= mine might have ca9se5 anno>ance to a =rien5
long 5ea5( i= he ha5 been still among 9s( an5 the 5o9bt stirre5 9p m9ch spec9lation in m>
min5 as to the possible =eeling in those who are gone. On the morning a=ter I ha5 been
5welling on this Pwhich I 5i5 with a sense o= vivi5 an?iet>Q( M. .. sai5 to me( uOh( I ha5
s9ch a strange 5ream last night. I tho9ght I saw Mr. ). come alive in his pict9re in the
wall( an5 stan5 o9t o= the pict9re( an5 look 5own with sorrow an5 grie=( as i= he were
m9ch h9rts4 I =elt she ha5 e?actl> rea5 m> an?io9s =eelings( all sign o= which ha5 been
ii-:7V! care=9ll> conceale5 =rom her. /he ha5 never seen the pict9re which was ver>
=amiliar to me.C
P3;7Q +rom Mrs. .9nter( U( Victoria -rescent( /t. .elier4s( Ferse>.
BFan9ar> 7th( 2773.
B*he =ollowing happene5 in In5ia some 2: >ears ago. M> secon5 5a9ghter ha5 been with
me( while I was preparing =or be5 one night. O9r talk was merr>( an5 onl> gossip. )t last
she le=t me =or her own room. In the mi55le o= the night I awoke in an agon> o= grie=( an5
sat 9p in be5( sobbing an5 trembling. In vain I reasone5 an5 trie5 to believe uit was onl> a
5ream.4 +or a time I co9l5 not@ it was so real. M> 5ream was that a cobra 5i capello ha5
bitten m> 5a9ghter( an5 she raise5 a blanche5( pinche5 =ace to mine( an5 sai5( uM9st I
5ie( mammar4 an5 I ha5 replie5( in agon>( u#o9 (ust( 5arling.4
B%e?t morning( m> 5ream har5l> remembere5( I was 5ressing( when she( as 9s9al( came
to me. .er =irst wor5s were( uOh( mamma( I ha5 s9ch a horri5 =eeling last night while I
was 9n5ressing. I =elt sure there was a snake in m> room( an5 ha5 s9ch a h9nt be=ore I
got into be5@ in5ee5( I =eel s9re the wretch is there still( an5 I have or5ere5 the hammal
Pmale ho9semai5Q to t9rn m> bathroom 9psi5e 5own. It was a horri5 =eeling.4
B%o snake was ever seen in her room.
BEven in those 5a>s( be=ore one ha5 hear5 o= tho9ght-trans=erence( I e?plaine5 it to
m>sel= in some s9ch wa>( vi].( that her -a1ing terror ha5 comm9nicate5 itsel= to me in
sleep( an5 ca9se5 m> 5ream.
B.. E. .U%*E'.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. .9nter a55s:A
B%o( we never ha5 5reams nor apprehensions( nor talks abo9t snakes. )t hill stations(
where the> (a, be seen( we have( o= co9rse( talke5 o= them Pgla5 to have an> s9bDect =or
talksQ( b9t at the time o= m> 5ream we were living in a large ho9se close to the sea( an5
where snakes were almost 9nknown. )s to the seeming 5iscrepanc> in ti(e( it can be
remove5 in this wa>. : got into be5 5irectl> she le=t me( an5 in In5ia( when in health( I
generall> went to sleep at once. !he was given to sit 9p rea5ing( an5 it was while
9n5ressing the panic began@ then =ollowe5 the hunt( an5 we ma> =eel s9re that even a=ter
she got into be5 sleep might not come all at once. M> feeling when I awoke was as if it
were the mi55le o= the night( b9t it might reall> have been onl> an ho9r or two. I never
looke5 at the time.C
Y,e o= co9rse cannot ass9me that the coinci5ence was e?act.Z
P3;XQ +rom Mrs. /ible>( 8( 'a5ipole 'oa5( +9lham( /.,.
BFan9ar> U8th( 2773.
B*he =ollowing occ9rre5 abo9t Ma>( 27VX. I believe5 m> son to be awa> in the
Me5iterranean( an5 I ha5 no reason to believe he wo9l5 come home =or a >ear or two(
when one night I 5reamt that I ha5 a letter( an5 all that was written on it an5 insi5e it was
u,oolwich(4 u,oolwich(4 u,oolwich.4 I awoke with the belie= that I m9st be going to hear
=rom him@ it was then abo9t 8.:;. I co9l5 not sleep an> more( an5 when I hear5 the
postman4s knock at the 5oor( I sent imme5iatel> =or the letters. Onl> one was bro9ght to
me( an5 that ha5 =or its postmark u,oolwich ii-:78! $ock>ar5(4 an5 it was =rom m>
son( telling me o= the sa=e arrival( the night be=ore( o= the ship he was on. M> son was in
the nav>( an5 I am per=ectl> certain that the i5ea o= his spee5> ret9rn ha5 never crosse5
m> min5@ =or a9ght I knew he might be several >ears awa>. *his 5ream is 9niE9e in m>
e?perience( in the strength o= the conviction it pro59ce5 that it (ust correspon5 with
realit>.
BI mentione5 this 5ream imme5iatel> on waking to a 5a9ghter Psince 5ecease5Q( who was
sleeping with me.
B0)*.E'I%E /I"LE#.C
*he =ollowing corroboration is =rom the wi=e o= the present writer( a >o9nger 5a9ghter o=
Mrs. /ible>4s:A
BU8( Montpelier /E9are( /.,.
BFan. U8( 2773.
BI remember the news o= this inci5ent sprea5ing thro9gh the ho9se be=ore break=ast( an5
o9r r9shing to m> mother4s roomAwhen we were shown the letter( an5 tol5 the 5ream.
B0)*E /. &U'%E#.C
P32;Q +rom Mr. E. -. *revilian( :( 1etersham *errace( /.,.
B+ebr9ar> Un5( 2773.
B*he =ollowing occ9rrence took place some 2U or 23 >ears ago. I was 9nmarrie5( an5 m>
ho9se in /omerset ha5 no establishment in itAmerel> an ol5 ho9sekeeper an5 a mai5-
servant. I live5 more than hal= the >ear in chambers in Lon5on( an5 when I went alone
5own to the co9ntr>( I never gave notice o= m> coming.
BOn the 5a> in E9estion I walke5 9p =rom the station( leaving m> l9ggage to =ollow( an5
rangAas 9s9alAat the si5e 5oor. *he mai5servant 9nlocke5 an5 opene5 it( pa9se5 a
moment while a look o= terror came over her =ace( an5 =le5 in m9ch con=9sion. I walke5
in slowl>( an5 instea5 o= t9rning towar5s m> st95>( marche5 straight to the servants4 hall.
*he ol5 ho9sekeeper was b> the =ire( an5 as I approache5 her( walking 9p one si5e o= the
long table( she r9she5 5own the other( an5 o9t o= the room. I retreate5 to m> st95>( an5 in
abo9t hal= an ho9r rang the bell. *he ol5 woman was still a little shak>( b9t was able to
e?plain that the two ha5 so entirel> ma5e 9p their min5s that I was 5ea5( that on m>
appearance D9st now the> ha5 taken me =or m> ghost. *he mai5servant ha5 5reame5(
some 2; 5a>s be=ore( that I was o9t shooting( that m> g9n ha5 b9rst( an5 that I ha5 been
kille5 on the spot. *he> ha5 mentione5 this to several peopleAamong them to the
clerg>man an5 to m> agentAb9t witho9t pro59cing m9ch e==ect. *he girl ha5 been so
positive( that she( the ol5 woman( ha5 come to =eel eE9all> s9re o= m> 5eath.
B%ow on the 5a> o= the 5ream it is a =act that m> g9n ha5 burstAthat is( it ha5 gone in
two at the breach( an5 no harm ha5 been 5one. It was at a co9ntr> ho9se in O?=or5shire(
an5 I was 9sing saw59st pow5er( then a new invention( an5 several acci5ents ha5
occ9rre5 with it abo9t that time( an5 some ha5 been mentione5 in the newspapers. *his(
however( I well recollect. M> host an5 I( then an5 there( stan5ing among the beaters(
5eci5e5 that the acci5ent sho9l5 not be mentione5( an5 we looke5 reg9larl> an5 =o9n5 no
notice o= it in the local or Lon5on papers@ nor ii-:7W! co9l5 I =in5 o9t that an> mention
o= it ha5 been seen in an> o= the !o(erset local papers( tho9gh it was chie=l> b> inE9ir>
an5 not b> m>sel= e?amining the =iles that I went to work.
BI have E9ite lost sight o= the servant-mai5Athe ol5 woman was still in e?istence in the
neighbo9rhoo5 some months ago.
BE. -. *'EVILI)%.C
P322Q +rom Miss )9g9sta &o9l5 Pnow Mrs. *emple( an5 resi5ent in In5iaQ.
B/9nn>bank( Ealing $ean( ,.
B$ecember 2Xth( 277:.
B,hen m> brother was in &lasgow( I tol5 his son I ha5 ha5 a c9rio9s 5ream o= an
9nwiel5> chair coming to me as a present =rom his =ather. )s I was onl> resi5ing in his
ho9se( I ha5 no i5ea or nee5 o= receiving a chair.
B*he ne?t post bro9ght me a letter =rom him( sa>ing he ha5 bo9ght me s9ch a c9rio9s
)merican revolving chair( which was 9nwiel5> when it came( the heav> pe5estal an5 legs
giving 9s 5i==ic9lt> in moving it =rom one place to another.
BI have ha5 other c9rio9s 9ne?pecte5 events occ9r a=ter 5reams =oresha5owing them( b9t
will not b9r5en >o9 with more partic9lars. /9rel> the a==air o= the chair was a c9rio9s
case o= rapport between m> brother4s spirit an5 mine. )s he never retire5 to rest till ver>
late( an5 then was sleepless( he might have been thinking o= his present to me when I was
5reaming o= it.
B)U&U/*) &OUL$.C
In answer to inE9iries. Miss &o9l5 a55e5:A
BI sen5 m> nephew4s corroboration o= the 5ream as to the chair. I ma> mention that m>
nephew is U8 >ears ol5 an5 clear in memor> 9s9all>( b9t he =orgets that m> brother was in
&lasgow at the time. )s to one o= >o9r E9estions( I 5ream alwa>s in sleep( either b> 5a>
or night. ,henever I wake a 5ream is broken into@ so I o=ten 5ream things which 5o not
come to pass( tho9gh o=ten a =oresha5owing o= events 5oes come to be realise5.C
*he =ollowing is =rom a postcar5 written to Miss &o9l5 b> her nephew( =rom 8( Ellison
1lace( %ewcastle-on-*>ne( an5 =orwar5e5 to 9s:A
BFan9ar> U( 2773.
BI remember per=ectl> abo9t the chair@ it was one time when m> =ather was so9th that >o9
ha5 the 5ream( an5 when he came back he bro9ght the chair with him. I have tol5 several
people abo9t the circ9mstance.A)LE\. &.C
,here the s9bDect o= the 5ream is as o55 an5 9nlikel> as in this case an5 the ne?t( its
trivialit> can scarcel> be hel5 to 5iminish the =orce o= the coinci5ence.
P32UQ +rom a letter written on F9ne UW( 27WV( b> Mr. F. L. O4/9llivan( then Unite5 /tates
Minister at Lisbon( to the late /erDeant -o?( as 1resi5ent o= the 1s>chological /ociet>(
an5 han5e5 to 9s b> Mr. +. 0. M9nton( who was /ecretar> o= that /ociet>.
Mr. O4/9llivan was engage5 to 5ine( one evening in 27V7( with his ii-:77! "ritish
colleag9e( Mr. Pnow /ir .enr>Q .owar5. "> an acci5ent( he was oblige5 to present
himsel= in a pair o= wet( m955>( an5 broken boots( which he se59lo9sl> kept conceale5
59ring the evening( taking care to arrive a=ter the 5inner ha5 beg9n( an5 to pla> car5s
a=terwar5s( instea5 o= resorting to the 5rawing-room.
B*he ne?t morning I went as 9s9al to the be5si5e o= m> invali5 mother( who =or >ears
ha5 not been able even to t9rn over in be5. )=ter a little while she sai5( uM> son( I ha5
s9ch a E9eer 5ream abo9t >o9 last night. I saw >o9 at Mrs. .owar54s part>( an5 >o9 were
in s9ch a comical b9t anno>ing pre5icament. I tho9ght ,ou had on a pair of -et and
(udd, and bro1en hoots, and ,ou -ere 1eeping ,our feet hidden under the table.4 )n5
she la9ghe5 over the recollection o= s9ch an abs9r5 5ream.
BI ascertaine5 that m> servant ha5 not become a=terwar5s conscio9s o= his omission( an5
that no h9man being 9n5er m> roo= knew that night o= what ha5 in5ee5 been m> E9eer
pre5icament.C
P32:Q +rom Mrs. "arr( )psle> *own( East &rinstea5.
B$ec. 22( 277:.
B,hen in Englan5 some >ears ago( I ha5 a ver> ba5 co9gh( =or which a blister was
or5ere5 b> m> me5ical man( b9t being improperl> applie5 it le=t a ver> 9gl> mark( like
the print o= a horse4s shoe. I was then preparing to reDoin m> h9sban5 Ythe late &eneral
"arrZ in In5ia( an5 care=9ll> avoi5e5 mentioning the circ9mstance to him.
BOn m> wa> o9t to "omba> I was taken serio9sl> ill( an5 was so weak on m> arrival that
I ha5 to be carrie5 on shore. )s o9r own ho9se was some miles =rom the place o= lan5ing
we reste5 hal= wa> at m> =ather-in-law4s ho9se. ,hilst there m> h9sban54s mother sai5 to
him( u$oes Li]]ie look at all as >o9 saw her in >o9r 5reamr4 Upon which m> h9sban5
t9rne5 to me an5 sai5( uI ha5 s9ch a horri5 5ream abo9t >o9 the other night. I saw >o9
looking pale an5 ill( as >o9 5o now( b9t >o9 ha5 a 5rea5=9l mark like a horse shoe 9pon
>o9r chest.4 "eing ill( I ha5 lan5e5 in a white m9slin 5ressing-gown( an5 I slightl> parte5
it in =ront an5 showe5 him the mark. .e was m9ch astonishe5 an5 sai5( u.ow 5i5 >o9 get
thatr It is e.actl, the mark I saw in m> 5ream.4
BELIJ)"E*. .. ). ")''.C
P323Q +rom a narrator( Mr. ".( whose name an5 a55ress Ptho9gh he ma5e no stip9lation
on the s9bDectQ it seems right to s9ppress.
BFan9ar> 28th( 277V.
BIn March( 277;( o9r servant ). ha5 been with 9s a =ew months( was well recommen5e5
b> people we knew( an5 =or the time she ha5 been with 9s prove5 tr9stworth>( an5 as
goo5 as we co9l5 e?pect a servant to be. *he 5ream Mrs. ". ha5 respecting her happene5
in the earl> morning. /he 5reamt that the mai5 came into the 5ining-room( sat 5own b>
her Pa strange procee5ingQ( an5 sai5 she ha5 something on her min5 to tell her mistress. It
was that she ha5 a bo> o= three >ears ol5( whose name was "ertie. ,hen Mrs. ". got 9p(
which she 5i5 a=ter break=asting in be5 as 9s9al( she went o9t into the orchar5 where ).
was hanging the clothes. Mrs. ". tol5 her her 5ream( an5 ). ma5e no repl>( b9t looke5
ver> pale an5 pec9liar. Mrs. ". le=t her 9n5er the impression that she ha5 o==en5e5 her.
/ome time a=ter( Mrs. ". =o9n5 ii-:7X! ). in the kitchen( cr>ing bitterl>. On inE9iring
what was the matter( whether she was o==en5e5( she replie5( uOh( nos ma4am( >o9r 5ream
is E9ite tr9e in all respects( even the name.4
BIt seems that ). ha5 ha5 it on her min5 to tell Mrs. ". abo9t this chil5 =rom the =irst( an5
her mother ha5 presse5 her to tell Mrs. ". abo9t it. Mrs. ". sa>s she ha5 not the least
s9spicion o= this matter( not even a=ter the 5ream.
B*he servant ). an5 her mistress ha5 a great liking =or each other( more than is 9s9al with
servant an5 mistress( an5 ). ha5 never been so happ> in a sit9ation be=ore.
B).4s age at the time was U: >ears.
BY) >ear s9bseE9entl>(Z when in Lon5on( visiting her relatives( Mrs. ". 5reame5 that her
servant( ).( whom she ha5 le=t at home( was in 5rea5=9l tro9bleAco9l5 see her in tears@
all night Mrs. ". was contin9all> 5reaming o= her. %e?t morning Mrs. ". 5etermine5
9pon ret9rning home( altho9gh it was arrange5 =or a longer sta>. On her arrival( ).
opene5 the 5oor( an5 at once b9rst into a paro?>sm o= grie=( sa>ing that u"ertie was
5>ing(4 that she ha5 been pra>ing =or him an5 =or Mrs. ".4s ret9rn( an5 cr>ing all the
previo9s night( an5 wishe5 to go to him at once. PIt sho9l5 have been mentione5 that the
chil5( "ertie( was living with ).4s mother.Q
BMrs. ". is not remarkable =or man> 5reams.C
Mrs. ". writes:A
BI certi=> that the =oregoing statement is E9ite correct.
BELLE% ".C
In answer to inE9iries as to the =irst 5ream( Mr. ". sa>s that his wi=e 5i5 not mention it to
him till some time a=terwar5s( b9t then co9l5 re=rain no longer. In conversation Mrs. ".
tol5 me that she was E9ite con=i5ent that the 5etail o= the na(e occ9rre5 in the 5ream(
an5 was not s9bseE9entl> rea5 back into it@ an5 also that she ha5 ha5 no i5ea whatever o=
).us histor>. *he 5reams were e?ceptionall> vivi5 in 5etail.
P32VQ +rom Miss ). F. Mi55leton( U;( /tanle> &ar5ens( 0ensington 1ark 'oa5( ,.
B2773.
B/ome >ears ago( I was sta>ing with =rien5s( an5 came 5own one 5a>( sa>ing I ha5 ha5
s9ch a 5rea5=9l 5ream( that m> >o9ngest brother was 5rowne5@ the impression was so
vivi5 I co9l5 not =orget it. ,hen the secon5 post letters came( at abo9t U.:;( I hear5 that a
man who was boating with this brother ha5 slippe5 getting into the boat( an5 was
5rowne5( an5 m> brother was in great 5istress abo9t it@ the man I never saw( an5 5i5 not
know his name. ,hen I rea5 the letter( m> =rien5s sai5( u.ow o55 that >o9 sho9l5 have
5reame5 >o9r brother was 5rowne5@ we sho9l5 have sai5 >o9 ha5 ma5e it 9p ha5 >o9 not
tol5 9s =irst.4
B). F. MI$$LE*O%.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss Mi55leton a55s:A
BI sen5 >o9 the car5 to-5a> I receive5 =rom m> =rien5 con=irming m> =irst 5ream. I =anc>
I sta>e5 with them abo9t a week. *his is the onl> occasion on which I have ha5 a ver>
5istressing 5ream o= 5eath which le=t a vivi5 an5 lasting impression.C
*he car5 is as =ollows:A
ii-:X;!
B0irkbright Vicarage.
BMarch( 2773.
B#es( I E9ite well remember >o9r telling 9s abo9t >o9r 5ream( an5 >o9r hearing the news
the ne?t morning. *hanks to o9r visitors4 list I can tell >o9 the 5ate o= >o9r coming to 9s(
Fan9ar> U2st( 2772.
BM. -O1E.C
2

*he 5ream in this case( i= telepathic( was probabl> 59e to the i5ea in the brother4s min5.
*he ne?t case might be e?plaine5 in a similar wa>( b> re=erence to what was =illing the
min5s o= those who s9rro9n5e5 the percipient@ b9t it might also be regar5e5 as a case o=
5irect impression =rom the 5rowning man@ an5 the mis-recognition wo9l5 then be ver>
similar to what has been observe5 in other e?amples P%os. 2W;( 2W2( U3X( an5 cf. 3VV
belowQ. *he case ma> =9rther ill9strate that 5evelopment o= the percipient =ac9lt> in
illness( which was notice5 in the prece5ing chapter Pp. :3XQ.
P328Q +rom Miss -opeman( /t. /tephen4s .o9se( %orwich.
BMarch Un5( 2773.
BM> mother n9rse5 m> gran5mother all thro9gh her last illness( an5 a =ew 5a>s be=ore
she 5ie5 the> receive5 the intelligence o= the s955en 5eath b> 5rowning o= the el5est son
o= the =amil>. It was not re=erre5 to in the presence o= m> gran5mother( b9t that 5a> or the
ne?t( awaking =rom a sleep( she sai5( uI have D9st seen Fohn in the water@ has an>thing
happene5 to himr4 Joseph was the name o= the one 5rowne5( an5 the> were able to sa>
that John( another son( was E9ite well( an5 she was E9iete5. It was tho9ght she meant
Foseph at the time( b9t in her =eebleness 5i5 not remember the right name. /he 5ie5 a 5a>
or two a=ter.
BI have o=ten hear5 m> mother repeat this( as a remarkable coinci5ence not to be
e?plaine5.C
In answer to inE9iries. Miss -opeman writes:A
BMa> 2:th( 2773.
BI =ear I cannot give all the partic9lars >o9 wish to have@ the coinci5ence is one not eas>
to relate clearl>( =or no one is living now who remembers an>thing 5e=inite abo9t it. I
onl> know o= it as I hear5 it =rom m> own mother4s lips( an5 it is : >ears since her 5eath.
I have ascertaine5 =rom another member o= m> =amil> that the two 5eaths occ9rre5 in the
>ear 2733( with an interval o= abo9t a week between them. M> gran5mother4s name was
Mrs. Eli]abeth "9ck( o= East $ereham( %or=olk.
BM> =ather an5 sister con=irm m> statement( as the>( too( have more than once hear5 m>
mother speak o= it.
BLU-# ). -O1EM)%.C
ii-:X2!
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that Mr. Foseph "9ck was 5rowne5 at /pro9ghton on
the Xth o= )9g9st( 2733( an5 that his mother 5ie5 on the 2Wth.
YIn cases like this it is impossible to be absol9tel> certain that the news 5i5 not become
known to the sick person thro9gh a whisper( or a re=erence ma5e to it when she was
s9ppose5 to be asleep( which ma> have acte5 as the n9cle9s o= a 5ream.Z
It occasionall> happens that a scene seems to have been telepathicall> represente5 at a
time when it was not occ9p>ing the agent4s senses( tho9gh it ma> have been conscio9sl>
occ9p>ing his min5 Pcf. Miss ,ilkinson4s case below( -hap. IV.( S UQ.
P32WQ +rom the 'ev. ,. -hampne>s( .asling5en Vicarage( Manchester.
2

B/eptember :r5( 2773.
B*he inci5ent to which I imagine >o9 all95e happene5 to m> =ather( the late $ean o=
Lich=iel5. I have o=ten hear5 him tell the stor>.
BOne o= his brothers was secretar> o= the -h9rch 1astoral )i5 /ociet>( an5 in that
capacit> was o=ten travelling abo9t the co9ntr>( preaching sermons an5 atten5ing
meetings. .e was in precario9s health( having once ha5 rhe9matic =ever( which ha5 le=t
behin5 it heart-complaint. One night m> =ather 5reame5 that he was walking thro9gh the
street o= a village where he ha5 never been be=ore. *he whole scene was entirel> new(
an5 impresse5 itsel= strongl> on his memor>. -oming to the village inn( he walke5 9p to
the 5oor to inE9ire a=ter his brother( who ha5 starte5 o== on one o= his Do9rne>s a =ew 5a>s
be=ore( in his 9s9al health. *he lan5la5>( o= whom he ma5e the inE9ir>( ret9rne5 an
evasive answer( an5 then he aske5 i= his brother4s wi=e was there: to which she replie5(
u%ot his -ife( sir( b9t his -ido-:4 an5 with the shock o= these wor5s he awoke.
B)s soon as a message co9l5 reach him the ne?t 5a> Pit was be=ore the 5a>s o=
telegraphsQ( he hear5 that his brother ha5 been taken ill on his Do9rne> the 5a> be=ore@ that
tr>ing to reach the town( where he was e?pecte5( the> ha5 been oblige5 to p9t 9p at a
village inn on the wa>( an5 that there( a=ter a ver> short illness( he ha5 5ie5@ an5 when m>
=ather went to the place that 5a>( which was one he ha5 never been to be=ore( or even
hear5 o=( the whole scene was e?actl> the same that ha5 been be=ore him in his 5reamA
street( ho9ses( co9ntr>( ever>thing was the same( an5 at the ver> inn where he 5reame5 he
ha5 inE9ire5 =or his brother( he =o9n5 his brother4s bo5> l>ing.
B,EL$O% -.)M1%E#/.C
*hro9gh the kin5ness o= the /ecretar> o= the -h9rch 1astoral )i5 /ociet>( we have been
able to ascertain that the 5eath o= the 'ev. E. *. -hampne>s occ9rre5 on F9ne 28( 273V( at
-a?ton.
Y*he essential point o= s9ch a narrative as this is o= co9rse in5epen5ent o= the allege5
correspon5ence o= 5etail( which is likel> to seem in memor> more e?act than it reall>
was.Z
ii-:XU!
*he ne?t case ma> possibl> be o= the same kin5@ b9t we have no proo= that the scene was
more than an imaginar> setting s9pplie5 b> the 5reamer Pas in several o= the cases in S 3
belowQ. *he percipient 5i5 not himsel= believe that he ha5 been asleep@ b9t witho9t
e?ternal evi5ence that he was awake( we can har5l> regar5 otherwise than as a 5ream an
e?perience in which he appears to himsel= to be acting a part( 59ring a time m9ch longer
than the act9al 59ration o= the impression.
P327Q +rom Mr. )5rian /tokes( M.'.-./.( 28( .owell 'oa5( /t. $avi5s( E?eter. *he
acco9nt was originall> p9blishe5 in the !piritual 'agaAine( in $ecember( 278W.
BM> 9ncle( the late )5rian /tokes( EsE.( o= *hornb9r>( near "ristol( was living at his villa
in that little town( in the >ear 273U( an5 on the evening o= a certain 5a> in %ovember ha5
retire5 to be5( in his 9s9al health( at his c9stomar> ho9r. -ontrar> to his habit( however(
he co9l5 not sleep( b9t la> awake co9nting the ho9rs 9ntil : o4clock in the morning( when
s955enl> he =o9n5 himsel= in a co9ntr> whose =eat9res were E9ite strange to him. .e
became aware that he was in the %eilgherrie hill co9ntr> o= In5ia( where his brother /am
was on invali5 =9rlo9gh. It appeare5 to him that he remaine5 three months there with
/am( that he atten5e5 him 59ring his illness( an5 that =inall> /am 5ie5( when the vision
=a5e5( an5 he =o9n5 himsel= again in his be5.
2
.e was now satis=ie5 that this vision ha5
reveale5 a certaint> to him( t9rne5 ro9n5 an5 =ell asleep( an5 in the morning he tol5 m>
a9nt all abo9t it. .e has mentione5 this matter to me several times( an5 alwa>s e?presse5
his belie= that he was broa5 awake while he saw the vision( which he tho9ght m9st have
passe5 with the rapi5it> o= utho9ght(4 an5 was E9ite s9re it was no 5ream.
BIn 59e co9rse m> 9ncle receive5 =rom his brother4s agents at Ma5ras a letter containing
in=ormation o= /am4s 5eath at s9ch an5 s9ch a place in the %eilgherrie .ills( at the
precise 5a> an5 ho9r that m> 9ncle saw the vision in his be5 at *hornb9r>. uIt was no
news to me(4 sai5 m> 9ncle to me when telling me o= the circ9mstance@ uI knew poor /am
was gone several months be=ore.4
B)$'I)% /*O0E/.C
,e =in5 =rom the In5ian /ervice 'egister that the 5eath took place on %ovember 2Uth(
273: Pnot 273UQ( at Ootacam9n5.
In answer to a E9estion( Mr. /tokes tells 9s that he was not tol5 o= this vision till several
>ears a=ter its occ9rrence.
*he =ollowing e?ample might be re=erre5 to the same t>pe( i= we ii-:X:! co9l5 be E9ite
s9re that the 5etails =ollowing the acci5ent reall> =ig9re5 in the 5ream@ b9t the> ma>
easil> have been Brea5 backC into it@ an5 the case is again secon5-han5 an5 remote.
P32XQ +rom Mr. ). ,. Orr( 0ingston 'oa5( $i5sb9r>( near Manchester.
BFan9ar> Un5( 277V.
B/ome 3; >ears ago( m> =ather was ho9se-s9rgeon at the -it> o= $9blin .ospital( an5
one 5a> a >o9ng man( a sailor( was bro9ght in who ha5 =allen =rom one o= the >ar5s o= the
vessel on which he serve5. .e was ba5l> inD9re5( an5 in abo9t three 5a>s he 5ie5. Late in
the a=ternoon o= the 5a> on which the man 5ie5( an ol5 woman( ver> poor an5 =agge5(
came 9p to the hospital an5 aske5 to see the s9rgeon. M> =ather saw her( an5 inE9ire5
what he co9l5 5o =or her@ when she inE9ire5 whether a >o9ng sailor ha5 been bro9ght to
that instit9tion( an5 i= so( co9l5 she see himr M> =ather tol5 her o= the man above
mentione5( an5 that he ha5 5ie5 that morning.
BIt t9rne5 o9t that the ol5 woman was the >o9ng man4s mother( that she live5 in the -o.
-arlow( an5 that three nights previo9sl> she ha5 5reamt that her son ha5 =allen =rom the
rigging o= the vessel( an5 ha5 been taken to an hospital. /o vivi5 was the 5ream that she
co9l5 not rest till she got to $9blin Pwhere she ha5 never been be=oreQ( an5 the moment
she saw the hospital( she recognise5 it as the b9il5ing she ha5 seen in her 5ream. .er
5ream was onl> too tr9e( =or she =o9n5 that her son ha5 5ie5 =rom the e==ects o= inD9ries
occasione5 b> a =all D9st as appeare5 in her 5ream.
B*he ol5 woman ha5 walke5 a 5istance o= over 8; miles( an5 entere5 the cit> b> the roa5
which passe5 the =ront o= the hospital.
B). ,. O''.C
In a secon5 letter Mr. Orr sa>s:A
B#o9 ma> rel> 9pon the =acts being as I have state5 them( as I have =reE9entl> spoken to
m> =ather on the s9bDect( the case being o= s9ch a ver> remarkable character.C
S :. *hese last cases =orm a transition to the ne?t class( which is 5isting9ishe5 b> the
5irect correspon5ence o= the 5ream with a real event that be=ell the agent@ b9t man> o=
the 5reams ma> still( as be=ore( be regar5e5 as literal representations o= the agent4s
tho9ght. *he prominent event( as 9s9al( is 5eath.
P3U;Q *he 'ev. ,. ". ". having comm9nicate5 to me the =act that some time ago( he ha5
ha5 an e?ceptionall> vivi5 5reamAwhich ha9nte5 him =or a portion o= two 5a>sAo= the
5eath o= an acE9aintance( an5 that the 5eath ha5 happene5 coinci5entl> with the 5ream(
the 9s9al E9estions were aske5. .e replie5 as =ollows:A
B*he Vicarage( AA.
B$ecember Xth( 2773.
BIn re=erence to the s9bDect o= >o9r note( I am able to sa> that I ha5 ii-:X3! no means o=
knowing that the la5> in E9estion was ailing or even in 5elicate health. /he was the wi=e
o= a co9sin =rom whom or o= whom I 5o not think I ha5 hear5 =or some months. I have so
m9ch to 5o in m> parish that I have little time =or correspon5ence( b9t in conseE9ence o=
what I 5reame5 I at once wrote to the son o= the la5> re=erre5 to( having previo9sl>( on
awaking( mentione5 the matter to m> own wi=e. M> remark to her was( u,e shall hear
some ba5 news( I =ear( =rom 'AA4 Pthe resi5ence o= m> co9sinQ( an5 I then repeate5 the
5ream. ,ithin another post I hear5 that Mrs. ". ha5 5ie5 on that night.C Y*he narrator
goes on to sa> that a ver> near relative o= his ha5 three times ha5 e?actl> similar
intimations. /ee p. 2:U( note.Z
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the 5eath occ9rre5 on /ept. U( 2788.
*he =ollowing is the corroboration o= the narrator4s wi=e:A
B$ecember 22th( 2773.
BMrs. ". has m9ch pleas9re in con=irming the statement ma5e b> her h9sban5 as to his
having comm9nicate5 to her the s9bstance o= his 5ream bo5ing something ver> serio9s to
his co9sin4s =amil>. ,e ha5 ha5 no intimation o= the illness. *he =amil> lives in Irelan5(
an5 the news o= the 5eath 5i5 not reach 9s 9ntil two 5a>s a=ter.C
Y*he slight 5iscrepanc> as to when the news arrive5 5oes not seem important. It will be
seen that the 5ream was impressive eno9gh to ca9se a b9s> man to write a letter.Z
P3U2Q +rom Miss -. $. &arnett( +9r]e .ill Lo5ge( "righton.
B$ecember 27th( 277:.
BOn the 2:th o= +ebr9ar>( 277:( when at "iarrit]( I 5reamt that a relative( whom we ha5
le=t in per=ect health in Englan5( an5 between whom an5 m>sel= there was a strong
a==init>( was 5>ing( an5 that we ha5 to leave "iarrit] sooner than we inten5e5. *he 5ream
ha9nte5 me thro9gho9t the =ollowing morning( an5 in the evening we receive5 a telegram
s9mmoning 9s home at once. /he 5ie5 as we reache5 Englan5. I ma> mention that this
event was entirel> 9nlooke5 =or.
B-. $. &)'%E**.C
,e =in5 =rom the ;iverpool Dail, *ost that the 5eath occ9rre5 on +eb. 2V( 277:.
Miss &arnett a55s:A
BMarch :r5( 277V.
BIn repl> to >o9r E9estions respecting the 5ream I ha5 at "iarrit]: 2. ,hat was the state o=
the 5>ing person at the time o= the 5reamtA/he was unconscious.
2
U. ,hat was the
character o= the 5reamrAI 5reamt that we were s9mmone5 home s955enl> Pwe ha5 then
been a week in "iarrit]( an5 inten5e5 remaining two monthsQ( that we receive5 a telegram
anno9ncing the sa5 state o= m> relative@ an5 the 5ream was all concerning herAan5 a
ver> tro9blesome one. It wasn4t an or5inar> 5ream. I =elt greatl> 5ist9rbe5 thro9gho9t the
5a> =ollowing( an5 in the evening( abo9t 5inner time( the telegram came.C
ii-:XV!
Miss M. &arnett writes( on $ecember :;( 277::A
BI 9n5erstan5 =rom m> sister that >o9 5esire a corroboration o= her remarkable 5ream at
"iarrit]. /he mentione5 it to me the =ollowing morning. /he was m9ch attache5 to the
relative 5reamt o=.
BMILLI-E%* &)'%E**.C
P3UUQ +rom -olonel V.( who sa>s that the case Bwas written =rom memor>( an5 5ates in
m> 5iar>.C
BMarch 22th( 2778.
BOn /9n5a> night( UVth Ma>( 2773( I ha5 a most e?traor5inar> 5ream. I 5reamt that m>
son ).( a >o9ng o==icer in a regiment at &ibraltar( was l>ing ver> ill there with =ever( an5
was calling o9t to me( u+ather( =ather( come over an5 let me see >o9 or m> mother.4 *he
ne?t morning I went to see the 'ev. &.( the well-known coach( living near me. On
entering his room( he e?claime5( u$o >o9 believe in B5ream-wavesCr4 I replie5( %o( I 5i5
not. .e remarke5 that D9st as I was entering the room( he was on the point o= sitting 5own
be=ore his 5esk an5 commencing a letter to me( asking me to come over an5 see him. I
then sai5( uI ha5 a c9rio9s 5ream last night. I saw be=ore me m> son ). 5own with =ever
at &ibraltar( imploring me to come over an5 see him.4 )s I ha5 that morning a letter =rom
him( written in goo5 spirits( I tho9ght it c9rio9s( an5 gave the 5ream no =9rther tho9ght.
BOn *9es5a>( the UWth Ma>( I went to 'amsgate with m> secon5 son( =or change. On the
UXth Ma>( one o= m> =amil> here wire5 to me to ret9rn home( as news ha5 arrive5 =rom
&ibraltar that m> son ). was ver> ill with 'ock =ever. I ret9rne5 in a =ew ho9rs. I rea5
over m> letters =rom &ibraltar. It appears that on the 2Wth Ma> m> son =ell ill( an5 was
place5 on the sick list. *he attack t9rne5 o9t to be 'ock =ever. .e gra59all> got worse@ on
the U3th he was 5elirio9s( an5 on the UVth his brother o==icers ha5 to get a n9rse( Mrs. /.(
to take charge o= the patient. On the U:r5 a secon5 5octor was calle5 in cons9ltation. /o
ba5 was the news that I receive5 =rom &ibraltar b> letter an5 telegrams( that I le=t Lon5on
on the 3th F9ne( an5 reache5 it on the Xth. I =o9n5 the patient 5oing well( b9t ver> weak. I
ha5 to remain there till the :r5 F9l>( the attack o= =ever contin9ing( an5 we both ret9rne5
home on the 7th F9l>.
BI mentione5 to the n9rse m> c9rio9s 5ream o= the UVth Ma>. /he sai5 she was place5 in
charge o= the patient on the a=ternoon o= that 5a>. .e was ver> 5elirio9s all that night( an5
was constantl> calling o9t( uOh( mother( mother( 5o come over to see me4@ an5 as he
probabl> remembere5 how 5elicate she was( an5 that she co9l5 not take a sea vo>age
across the "a> o= "isca>( he also calle5 o9t( u+ather( =ather( come an5 com=ort me( an5 let
me see >o9 again.4
BIt was months a=ter o9r ret9rn home be=ore the =ever le=t him( an5 he 5i5 not E9ite get
ri5 o= it till %ovember( 2773.C
In conversation( -olonel V. in=orme5 me that he 5reams ver> little( an5 scarcel> ever has
5istressing 5reams@ an5 that( E9ite apart =rom the con=irmation( this 5ream wo9l5 have
been ver> e?ceptional in its character. Mrs. /.( who was an e?cellent n9rse( an5 whom he
regar5s as entirel> tr9stworth>( has le=t &ibraltar( an5 gone( he thinks( to Morocco.
ii-:X8!
*he 'ev. .. 1. &9rne>( to whom -olonel V. 5escribe5 his 5ream ne?t morning( writes
=rom U( 1owis /E9are( ,.( on March UU( 2778:A
BI 5o not remember an> partic9lars o= -olonel V.4s 5ream. It occ9rre5 nearl> two >ears
ago( an5 at a time when I am partic9larl> b9s>. I onl> recollect that he tol5 me that he ha5
ha5 a c9rio9s 5ream abo9t his son at &ibraltar( who is one o= o9r =ormer p9pils. I cannot
recall an> partic9lars( b9t I think that his son calle5 to him to come an5 visit him. I know
that he a=terwar5s =o9n5 o9t that he was serio9sl> ill with =ever( an5 ha5 to go o9t to
bring him home.
B.. 1. &U'%E#.C
Mrs. *hr9pp( o= 8W( 0ensington &ar5ens /E9are( ,.( writing to 9s on )pril Un5( 2778(
sa>s that she calle5 at -olonel V.4s ho9se when he was on the point o= starting =or
&ibraltar to see his son( an5 that he then tol5 her Ball abo9t his 5ream.C
P3U:Q +rom Mrs. /. Pthe narrator o= case W3Q( who is willing that her name sho9l5 be
given to an> one gen9inel> intereste5 in this case.
BOctober UWth( 277V.
BIn 27W2( I was sta>ing at $Rssel5or= with m> 5a9ghter( who ha5 D9st been to an eminent
5octor in "onn to have an operation per=orme5 on the throat. M> mother-in-law was also
in "onn( an5( a=ter the operation( ha5 r9n a=ter the cab containing m> 5a9ghter an5
m>sel=( an5 ha5 given the =ormer Pwho was a chil5 at the timeQ a ten-thaler note( as a
rewar5 =or the brave manner in which she ha5 s9bmitte5 to the operation. /he was in
e?cellent spirits( an5 la9ghe5 an5 Doke5 with 9s be=ore parting. ) 5a> or two a=terwar5s I
awoke( an5 sai5 to m> 5a9ghter( who slept in the same room( uO MAA( I have ha5 s9ch
a 5rea5=9l 5ream. I 5reamt >o9r gran5mother -as dead.4 *he terror ca9se5 b> the 5ream
was so great that I =elt compelle5 to wake m> 5a9ghter( tho9gh I knew that in her
con5ition this was most 9nwise( as she was still s9==ering =rom the e==ects o= the
operation. I =elt I (ust tell someone. M> 5a9ghter sai5 it was uonl> a 5ream(4 an5 tol5 me
to go to sleep. I aske5 how her throat was( an5 she sai5 it was better. I p9lle5 o9t m>
watch =rom 9n5er the pillow( an5 =o9n5 it was between : an5 3 a.m.
B*he =ollowing morning( at 2; o4clock( I receive5 a telegram( telling me to meet m>
mother-in-law4s sister at -ologne /tation. I 5i5 so( an5 the> broke to me the news o= m>
mother-in-law4s 5eath( which ha5 taken place the previo9s night. I ha5 been in no sort o=
an?iet> abo9t her( an5 I was onl> tol5 a=terwar5s that she ha5 been s9==ering =or man>
>ears =rom some internal complaint( =or which she ha5 been operate5 on on the 5a>
=ollowing that on which I last saw her. I was totall> ignorant that this was going to be
5one.
B*his was the onl> occasion on which I remember having ha5 a vivi5 an5 5istressing
5ream o= 5eath.
BM. /.C
YMrs. /.4s 5a9ghter Bthinks her testimon> wo9l5 be o= little 9se( as she was E9ite >o9ng at
the time( an5 her memor> is not E9ite clear on several points.CZ
P3U3Q ) la5> who pre=ers that her name sho9l5 not be p9blishe5( having been aske5 Pb>
Miss "r>ce( o= :V( "r>anston /E9are( ,.Q whether ii-:XW! since Fan9ar> 2st( 27W3( she
ha5 ha5 an e?ceptionall> vivi5 5ream o= the 5eath o= some person known to her(
answere5:A
B2773
B#es( on )9g9st 2:th( 27WW. I was UW( an5 in e?cellent health( as I was on m> wa> home
=rom a month4s sta> in /wit]erlan5. *he impression laste5 =or some ho9rs a=ter I rose. In
the night it was so 5istressing as to wake me. *he person o= whose 5eath I 5reamt was m>
ol5est an5 5earl>-belove5 brother( a >o9ng man o= U8. .e 5ie5 at "lackheath D9st at the
same time( i.e.( between 2U an5 : in the earl> morning. I ha5 hear5 the 5a> be=ore that he
was 9nwell( b9t no =atal conseE9ences were tho9ght o=.C
In answer to =9rther inE9iries( o9r in=ormant writes on Ma> 2W( 2773:A
BM> brother was a >o9ng man o= =ine ph>sical =rame( in vigoro9s health( going 5ail> to
the -it> =rom his home with m> parents at "lackheath. .e ha5( however( a constit9tional
weakness in the uhOmorrhagic 5iathesis(4 which was not appreciate5 b> me as in the least
likel> to shorten his li=e.
B)t the time in E9estion he ha5 taken a =ortnight4s holi5a> at Mai5enhea5( chie=l> spent
in rowing( at which he was an a5ept. )=ter his ret9rn he =ainte5( one morning( an5 a
br9ise was =o9n5 on his le=t sho9l5er. *he letter that I receive5 tol5 me o= this( a55ing
that the 5octor ha5 seen him( that some an?iet> ha5 been e?cite5( b9t that he -as better.
B.a5 there been an> apprehension o= =atal conseE9ences( or even o= a serio9s illness( I
sho9l5 have le=t "o9logne on the 5a> I receive5 the news P/9n5a>Q. "9t I remaine5 there
with m> h9sban5( an5( as I sai5( in the night between /9n5a> an5 Mon5a>( I ha5 the
terrible impressionAthe chill horror o= which I cannot =orget.
BOn reaching Lon5on in the a=ternoon o= the ne?t 5a> PMon5a>Q( I learnt that he ha5 5ie5
s955enl> at the time o= m> 5istress@ the ca9se being internal hOmorrhage =rom the
lacerate5 m9scle. .e ha5 never ha5 internal hOmorrhage be=ore. .e ha5 onl> been
9nwell three or =o9r 5a>s.C
,e have veri=ie5 the 5ate o= the 5eath in the Ti(es obit9ar>.
YMrs. ,.4s h9sban5 pre=ers not to state positivel> whether it was after or before the news
o= the 5eath that he =irst hear5 o= the 5ream. On the s9pposition that latent an?iet> ma>
possibl> have been the so9rce o= the 5ream( the case is e?cl95e5 =rom the gro9p 9se5 in
the calc9lation in Vol. I.( -hap. VIII.( S 3.Z
P3UVQ +rom Mr. *. F. %orris( $alke>( Irelan5. *he acco9nt was written man> >ears ago.
BIn the >ear 27:X( Mrs. %orris( o= Mohill( -o. Leitrim( accompanie5 b> her two
5a9ghters Pnow Mrs. ,est( the )s>l9m( Omagh( an5 Mrs. -ro=ton( 1ortnashangan
'ector>( M9llingarQ an5 b> Mrs. $raper Pnow Mrs. /imonet( /t. .elier4s( Ferse>Q(
2
went
to La9sanne =or the bene=it o= the health o= one o= her girls( an5 remaine5 there =or a
co9ple o= >ears. Mr. %orris being an e?tensive lan5 agent( co9l5 not remain with them(
b9t pai5 them a visit each s9mmer. ,hile there in 273;( an5 D9st be=ore the 5a> =i?e5 =or
his ret9rn home( Mrs. $raper( at break=ast( in=orme5 ii-:X7! all present that a Mrs.
,ilson( o= /t. .elier4s( a =rien5 o= them all( ha5 5ie5 the evening be=ore( at s9ch an ho9r
an5 9n5er s9ch-an5-s9ch circ9mstances( an5 aske5 Mr. %orris to write to Ferse> abo9t it.
.e =irst entere5 all the circ9mstances min9tel> in his pocket-book( an5 then wrote over as
reE9este5( 5esiring the answer to be 5irecte5 to him in Mohill( to which he was abo9t to
ret9rn. I( his onl> son( was with him one 5a>( when the post came in( bringing him a letter
=rom Ferse>. .e opene5 an5 rea5 it( an5 then gave me his ke>s an5 5esire5 me to bring
him 5own his pocket-book( to open it at a certain 5ate( an5 see how =ar his memoran59m
agree5 with the in=ormation containe5 in the letter. In s9bstance the> were i5entical(
e?cept that it appeared that Mrs. ,ilson 5i5 not 5ie 9ntil more than hal=-an-ho9r a=ter her
appearance to Mrs. $raper. I s9ggeste5 that this co9l5 be acco9nte5 =or b> the 5i=ierence
o= longit95e( an5 on calc9lating this it D9st ma5e 9p =or the seeming 5iscrepanc>.
B*.OM)/ F. %O''I/.C
Mrs. ,est( o= /ion -ottage( /ion Mills( -o. *>rone( writes:A
B$ecember Wth( 277U.
BI am not s9re whether it was a drea( or that Mrs. $raper tho9ght she saw Mrs. ,ilson@
b9t i= the =ormer( Mrs. $raper m9st have awoke at once( as I know she looke5 at her
watch an5 remarke5 the ho9r( an5 a=terwar5s( when she hear5 o= Mrs. ,ilson4s 5eath( she
inE9ire5 partic9larl> at what ho9r she 5ie5. ,e at first tho9ght the time was 5i==erent( till
we calc9late5 the 5i==erence o= La9sanne an5 Ferse> time.
B). M. ,E/*.C
Mr. %orris has given 9s his reasons =or =i?ing the >ear as 273;@ b9t we cannot =in5 the
5eath in the Ferse> 'egister =or that >ear. 'egistration ha5 been then onl> recentl>
intro59ce5( an5 ha5 perhaps not become 9niversal.
Y*his case is ver> remote@ b9t the inci5ent which Mr. %orris relates was s9ch as wo9l5 be
likel> to impress the =acts on his memor>( at an> rate to a greater e?tent than i= he ha5
merel> been tol5 the stor>.Z
P3U8Q +rom Miss -h9rchill( X( Eversle> 1ark( -hester.
B)9g9st 2:th( 2773.
Y) =ew wor5s are a55e5 =rom a secon5 acco9nt written on %ovember 27th( 277V.Z
B)bo9t the month o= )9g9st( 27WW( I 5reamt most vivi5l> o= the 5eath o= a gentleman( a
=rien5 o= the =amil>( whom I ha5 not seen =or some >ears. I =anc> I saw him in the 5ream(
b9t cannot 5istinctl> remember. I ha5 not hear5 o= his illness( or an>thing o= him at the
time o= m> 5ream. "9t the ne?t 5a> I hear5 o= his 5eath having taken place@ I 5o not
remember the ho9r( b9t as =ar as I can sa> I believe he m9st have been 5ea5 at the time o=
m> 5ream( or 5>ing.
BI cannot positivel> sa> whether I mentione5 m> 5ream be=ore hearing o= his 5eath@ I
think I 5i5.
BEMIL# -.U'-.ILL.C
In answer to an inE9ir>( Miss -h9rchill replies:A
BI 5o not remember Pwith this e?ceptionQ 5reaming vivi5l> o= a 5eath( an5 believe the one
re=erre5 to to be the onl> one.
One o= Miss -h9rchill4s sisters sa>s:A
BI can per=ectl> well remember hearing the 5ream be=ore we hear5 o= ii-:XX! the 5eath.
)s he was a strong man( an5 as =ar as we knew in e?cellent health( we 5i5 not =or a
moment s9ppose it was tr9e. I= I remember rightl>( he was onl> ill three or =o9r ho9rs.C
)nother sister writes:A
B)9g9st( 2773.
BIt is so long ago that we have rather =orgotten. M> own impression was that Emil> tol5
9s her 5ream at break=ast( an5 that we hear5 o= the 5eath in the evening(Athat the
gentleman concerne5 ha5 5ie5 the 5a> be=ore. I know I was m9ch impresse5 at the time(
b9t I co9l5n4t 5eclare that she tol5 9s in the morning. I know 5irectl> Li]]ie tol5 9s o= the
5eath Pshe ha5 not been at home in the morningQ Emil> e?claime5 to her( uI 5reamt last
night that he was 5ea5.4C
,e =in5 =rom the Ti(es obit9ar> that the 5eath took place on F9l> 2Xth( 27WW.
In conversation( Miss -h9rchill mentione5Aas showing how s955en the 5eath wasAthat
the 5a9ghters o= the gentleman who 5ie5 ha5 D9st gone on a visit( an5 ha5 to be
telegraphe5 =or. *he two =amilies live5 in the same town@ b9t the interest o= the Misses
-h9rchill was in the 5a9ghters@ the> rarel> saw the =ather( an5 ha5 not seen him =or a
consi5erable time be=ore his 5eath.
*he =ollowing is a similar case( where the 5eath o= a person not closel> connecte5 with
the 5reamer was 5reamt o= vivi5l>( b9t not in a speciall> pictorial wa>.
P3UWQ +rom Miss &.( whose mother sent 9s the main =acts o= the case in 277:( an5 who
hersel= wrote a =9ller acco9nt on Fan9ar> 2U( 2778.
In %ovember( 277;( Miss &.( the 5a9ghter o= a co9ntr> rector( was sta>ing in her =ather4s
=ormer parish in Lon5on. *he vicar o= this parish ha5 e?change5 livings with her =ather(
an5 was th9s associate5 in her min5 with both her homes( tho9gh she onl> knew him
slightl>. One /at9r5a> night she 5reamt that he was 5ea5. *here was an o55 con=9sion in
the 5ream( as her =ather4s 5eath was also s9ggeste5. /he =elt it was something to 5o with
both parishes. On entering the break=ast-room( she learnt =rom the =rien5 with whom she
was sta>ing that the vicar ha5 5ie5 in the night. /he ha5 hear5 some 5a>s be=ore that he
ha5 a col5@ b9t( as she remarks( Bcol5s in %ovember are an>thing b9t 9ncommon(C an5
she ha5 tho9ght no more abo9t it. B.e ha5 sai5( the *h9rs5a> be=ore( that he was =eeling
so m9ch better that he hope5 to be able to take his /9n5a> 59t>@ b9t on the /at9r5a> he
ha5 grown s955enl> worse( an5 5ie5 that evening.C Miss &. 5oes not remember to have
5reamt o= 5eath on an> other occasion.
,e =in5 =rom the Ti(es obit9ar> that the 5eath took place on %ovember 2:( 277;.
*he =rien5 with whom Miss &. was sta>ing writes to her Pin +ebr9ar>( 2778Q( BI am a=rai5
I 5o not remember abo9t >o9r 5ream at the time it happene5@ b9t I E9ite well remember
>o9r telling me some time a=terwar5s >o9 ha5 5reame5 a 5ream which I o9ght to have
remembere5.C Miss &. is con=i5ent that she mentione5 the 5ream be=ore sitting 5own to
break=ast.
ii-3;;!
P3U7Q +rom a most tr9ste5 an5 val9e5 servant o= the present writer4sAnow Mrs.
.9mphr>( resi5ing at .ile> Lo5ge( 0ensal &reenAwho wrote( in the week =ollowing the
5ream:A
BOn *9es5a> night YMarch U3th( 277VZ( or rather ,e5nes5a> morning( I 5reamt that
+enning( a milkman in the emplo> o= Mr. Fohn Farvis Yo= $ale .ill +arm( *iceh9rstZ(
=ormerl> in the emplo> o= Mr. *hos. Farvis( m> late master( sai5 to me( u.e4s gone at
last.4 I sai5( u,hor4 .e sai5( u,h>( Mr. Fohn Farvis is 5ea5.4 On ,e5nes5a> morning(
when I saw m> =ellow-servant( 'ose( I tol5 her m> 5ream.C Y*his was con=irme5 in
writing( at the same time as the acco9nt was written( b> 'ose ,a5e.Z
On March :;th( the news o= the 5eath arrive5( an5 Mrs. .9mphr> at once mentione5 the
coinci5ence to her mistress. /he was tol5 to ask the 5a> an5 ho9r o= his 5eath( an5 the
=ollowing is a cop> o= her brother4s repl>:A
B1latt -ottage( *iceh9rst.
BMarch :2st( 277V.
BF9st a line to let >o9 know that Mr. Farvis passe5 awa> on the UVthAthat was last
,e5nes5a> morning as near as I can tell >o9 at U o4clock.
B,ILLI)M VI$LE'.C
,e have con=irme5 the 5ate b> the 'egister o= $eaths.
Mrs. .9mphr> tol5 the present writer that the 5ream was E9ite 9niE9e in her e?perience(
=or its vivi5ness an5 the 5istress that it ca9se5 her.
P3UXQ +rom +>nes Mor>son4s :tinerar,. P/ee above( p. :7U.Q
B,hilst I live5 at 1rage( an5 one night ha5 sat 9p ver> late 5rinking at a =east( earl> in the
morning( the s9nne beams glancing on m> =ace as I la> in be5( I 5reame5 that a sha5ow
passing b> tol5 me that m> =ather was 5ea5@ at which awaking all in a sweat( an5 a==ecte5
with this 5reame( I rose an5 wrote the 5a>( the ho9re( an5 all things connecte5 therewith
in a paper booke( which "ooke with man> other things I p9t into a po9ch( an5 sent it
=rom 1rage to /to5e( thence to be convo>e5 into Englan5. )n5 now being at %9rnberg( a
merchant o= a noble =amil>( well acE9ainte5 with me an5 m> =rien5s( arrive5 there( who
tol5 me that m> =ather 5ie5 some two months past. I list not write an> lies( b9t that which
I write is as tr9e as strange. ,hen I ret9rne5 into Englan5 some =o9r >ears a=ter( I wo9l5
not open the po9ch I sent =rom 1rage( nor looke in the paper booke in which I ha5 written
this 5reame( till I ha5 calle5 m> sisters an5 some =rien5s to be witnesses( when m> sel=e
an5 the> were astonishe5 to see m> written 5reame answer the ver> 5a> o= m> =ather4s
5eath.C
P3:;Q +rom the 'ev. +. '. .arba9gh P1astor o= 1resb>terian -h9rchQ( 'e5 "ank(
Monmo9th -o9nt>( %ew Ferse>( U./.).
B+ebr9ar> Wth( 2773.
BIn the a=ternoon o= Fan9ar> UXth( 2772( between the ho9rs o= U an5 3 o4clock( while
asleep Pin or5inar> goo5 healthQ( an5 with no conscio9s or imme5iate proc9ring ca9se =or
the same( I ha5 a u5ream4 charge5 with ever> element o= the horrible an5 5istressing. I
awoke greatl> con=9se5 in min5( b9t with these ver> 5istinct impressions:A=irst( that
some trage5> ii-3;2! ha5 occ9rre5@ an5 secon5( that some relative was implicate5 in it.
*he 5ream( =or the while( ver> greatl> a==ecte5 me( so m9ch so as to serio9sl> 5isE9ali=>
me =or m> /abbath services the 5a> =ollowing.
B,ithin a =ew 5a>s a=ter this 5ream I receive5 a letter =rom m> =ather( which began
something like this:A
Bu#o9 will be shocke5 to hear that >o9r co9sin AA( on last AA( Pthe same 5a> on
which I ha5 m> 5reamQ( utook the li=e o= his wi=e an5 babe( an5 then kille5 himsel=.4
BIt is not necessar> to give the 5etails o= the crime. M> repl> to m> =ather4s letter
containe5 the =ollowing:A
Bu/hocke5 I certainl> was b> the intelligence in >o9r last letter( b9t har5l> s9rprise5@ =or
ever since last AA a=ternoon I have been oppresse5( beca9se o= a 5ream( with an
impression that something o= the kin5 ha5 occ9rre5.4
B+rom his letter in repl>( I =o9n5 that m> 5ream was coinci5ent Phow e?actl> I 5o not
rememberQ with the trage5>. ,ith regar5 to the person who committe5 the crime( I ha5
neither seen him nor ha5 an> comm9nication with him( nor( in5ee5( an> in=ormation
abo9t him( since we separate5( in o9r earl> bo>hoo5. %o acE9aintance o= mine o= so long
a time co9l5 have been more absent =rom m> min5 than he. %othing pro?imate to the
trage5> ha5 transpire5 to recall or s9ggest him. I have never been able to 5etect what it
was( or might be( that bro9ght him to m> knowle5ge. *he absence o= an?iet>( or an>thing
like it( ma> be seen in m> almost 9tter =orget=9lness o= him. In5ee5( =or U; >ears I 5i5 not
know whether he was living or 5ea5.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. .arba9gh sa>s:A
B.orri=>ing 5reams are e?cee5ingl> rare with me. *he 5o9bt on m> min5 as to the
coinci5ence o= time Pas I now recall the occ9rrenceQ is as to the ho9r. *he 5a> o= the
trage5> an5 o= m> 5ream were the same.C .e a55s:A
B) clerg>man resi5ing in the place where the crime was committe5 writes( uI am going to
see the man who was the =irst in the ho9se a=ter the 5ee5 was 5one( an5 ask him =or the
e?act ho9r.4 Later he writes( uI =in5 it was on /at9r5a> evening( Fan9ar> UXth( at D9st
abo9t W.:; p.m. *he town marshal =i?es the time at the same ho9r.4 M> recollection o= the
5a> o= the week an5 the time o= the 5a> on which I ha5 the 5ream is ver> 5istinctAas
well as the recollection o= the letter I receive5 =rom m> =ather( telling me o= it( an5 o= m>
repl>.C
YI= this case was telepathic( the i5ea o= the 5ee5 m9st have been present to the
perpetrator4s min5 3 ho9rs be=ore it was acte5 onAwhich seems a reasonable
s9pposition. *he telepathic e?planation is o= co9rse ren5ere5 less probable b> the absence
o= intimac> or a==ection between the parties@ b9t we have ha5 in5ications that mere
kinship ma> s9ppl> the a5eE9ate con5ition Psee( e.g.( case U33Q.Z
S 3. -oming now to the class o= more 5istinctl> pictorial 5reams( correspon5ing with
some critical sit9ation o= the agent( b9t not a mere re=lection o= his conscio9s tho9ght( I
will begin with cases where what is seen is a tolerabl> simple embo5iment o= the i5ea ii-
3;U! s9ppose5 to have been trans=erre5( an5 then pass on to cases where the 5reamer
invests the i5ea with =resh elements an5 imager> o= his own.
*he =ollowing =o9r cases are o= the simplest possible t>pe. *he =irst o= them resembles
the last E9ote5( in the =act that there was no bon5 o= =rien5ship between agent an5
percipient@ b9t the pro?imit> to the latter o= a thir5 personAher =atherAwho was
connecte5 both with her an5 with the agent( s9ggests that tho9gh the impression 5i5 not
a==ect his conscio9sness( it still reache5 her in some sense thro9gh him Pp. U8WQ.
P3:2Q +rom Mr. &. F. $avis( /t. -hloe En5owe5 /chool( )mberle>( near /tro95. P*he
acco9nt is slightl> con5ense5.Q
)=ter mentioning that abo9t 2737( he ha5 serve5 9n5er a certain clerg>man( Mr. /.( Mr.
$avis contin9es:A
B)bo9t 278;( I marrie5 m> present wi=e( an5 she 5i5 not( nor m> chil5ren( know
an>thing o= Mr. /.( an5( conseE9entl>( took little interest in hearing abo9t him. ,e sel5om
or never spoke abo9t him( e?cept perhaps when a letter came =rom him( an5 I might
mention the =act.
BOne /at9r5a> morning( as I was rea5ing the !tandard a=ter break=ast( m> 5a9ghter( age5
abo9t 2X( s955enl> broke the silence th9s:A
Bu1apa( have >o9 hear5 =rom Mr. /. latel>r4
Bu%o( I have not(4 I replie5@ uin =act( it is m> t9rn to write. .e wrote abo9t three months
ago@ b9t I have not written since. ,h> 5o >o9 askr4
Bu"eca9se I 5reamt abo9t him last night. I 5reamt he ha5 lost the 9se o= his si5e4 Phere she
ma5e a motion with her han5 5own her si5eQ@ uparal>se5( 5on4t >o9 call itr4
B/he spoke ver> earnestl>( I notice5@ b9t I merel> replie5( u.ow strange(4 an5 went on
rea5ing m> !tandard. *his was on /at9r5a> morning( >o9 will observe.
B,ell( the ne?t 5a> was /9n5a>( an5 we alwa>s ma5e it a point to call at the post-o==ice
=or o9r letters on /9n5a>s. ,e 5i5 so on this /9n5a>. )mong them was a -AA
newspaper( I notice5 the a55ress was not in Mr. /.4s han5writing@ this move5 m>
c9riosit>( an5 there being no =olk abo9t( I opene5 the paper( an5 what was m> s9rprise to
=in5 a paragraph marke5( anno9ncing( u*hat their respecte5 neighbo9r( the 'ev. E. .. /.(
ha5 been sei]e5 with paral>sis.4 -ertain persons were with himA5octors( [c.(Aan5 the>
hope5 he wo9l5 get better( [c.( [c. O= co9rse( I was ver> m9ch s9rprise5( an5 when we
got home( I sai5( u/iss>( 5o >o9 remember an>thing more abo9t >o9r 5reamr4 Pa=ter
rea5ing the paragraph( an5 sa>ing how strange it was( [c.Q
Bu%o(4 she sai5( ub9t the 5ream ma5e s9ch an impression 9pon m> min5 that I la> awake
thinking abo9t it( an5 won5ering how I knew he was paral>se5( =or he 5i5n4t tell me( an5
I saw no one else b9t himsel= l>ing ill in be5.4
B*his is all literall> tr9e.
B&EO'&E FE//O% $)VI/.C
In repl> to an inE9ir>( Mr. $avis wrote that the 5ate o= Mr. /.4s sei]9re was %ov. 7( 27W7.
,e have veri=ie5 the occ9rrence an5 the 5ate in the local newspaper o= %ov. 28. It wo9l5
appear( there=ore( that the 5ream m9st have been on the night o= %ov. 2VAi.e.( a week
a=ter ii-3;:! the act9al sei]9reAtho9gh while its e==ects were contin9ing. *his
e?tension o= time o= co9rse e?ten5s the scope =or acci5ental coinci5ence( an5 so =ar
weakens the case@ on the other han5 there is the strong point o= a double correspon5ence(
the right person being associate5 with the right complaint( tho9gh neither one nor the
other ha5 been in the least 5egree occ9p>ing the 5reamer4s waking tho9ghts. Mr. /. never
recovere5 =rom the attack( an5 5ie5 some months a=terwar5s.
In conversation Mr. $avis state5 that his 5a9ghter was not in the habit o= having vivi5
5reams( an5 that her mention o= this one was e?ceptional@ an5 that b> temperament she is
the ver> reverse o= g9shing or visionar>.
P3:UQ +rom Mrs. Fennings "raml>( /trathmore( 0illine>.
B+ebr9ar> :r5( 2778.
BI am happ> to give >o9 an e?act acco9nt o= the 5ream which I ha5 abo9t m> brother(
1ro=essor o= &reek in *rinit> -ollege( $9blin. I cannot =i? the e?act time@ it was probabl>
two an5 a-hal= or three an5 a-hal= >ears ago. It was simpl> a vivid 5ream@ I b> no means
saw an e?act enactment o= what was going on. I 5reame5 Pbeing at home in m> own
ho9se in 0illine>( m> brother being in his( in $9blinQ that I saw m> brother covere5 with
bloo5( an5 that I threw m> arms ro9n5 him an5 implore5 him not to 5ie( an5 that I felt the
bloo5 to9ch me( an5 saw it 5rip on me. I awoke in great 5istress( an5 remaine5 awake lest
I sho9l5 5ream it again. In the morning I tol5 m> h9sban5 I ha5 ha5 a =ear=9l 5ream. I 5i5
not in the least think it was tr9e( b9t it was ver> real( an5 it =rightene5 me. In spite o=
5a>light( an5 companions aro9n5 me( I still =elt a vag9e 9neasiness( an5 in or5er to 5ispel
the =eeling b> seeing m> brother in per=ect health Pas I E9ite e?pecte5 I sho9l5Q( I went
into $9blin b> train( an5 to his rooms in -ollege to see him. I =o9n5 him sitting b> the
=ire( an5 I aske5 him i= he wo9l5 come to 9s ne?t 5a> an5 pla> tennis. .e replie5( uthat he
sho9l5 not be able to pla> tennis =or man> a 5a>(4 an5 then tol5 me uhe ha5 ha5 an
acci5ent the evening be=ore@ he was in the gar5en with his chil5ren( an5 one o= them ha5
got 9p on the roo= o= a small tool-ho9se( which ha5 a glass win5ow in the roo=@ the chil5
was =rightene5( an5 m> brother went 9p the la55er to li=t him 5own@ he p9t one =oot on
the win5ow an5 reache5 =orwar5 =or the chil5( when the glass broke an5 m> brother4s leg
went thro9gh( c9tting a vein in the leg@ it ble5 profusel, =or a co9ple o= ho9rs be=ore a
5octor co9l5 be =o9n5 to ban5age it 9p. *his acci5ent took place earl> in the evening@ I(
probabl>( was not in be5 9ntil a=ter the blee5ing ha5 been stoppe5.
BM> brother notice5 how white I ha5 become while he was telling me o= his acci5ent. I
tol5 him m> 5ream( an5 he agree5 with me in thinking it a ver> remarkable coinci5ence.
.e evi5entl> ha5 not tho9ght o= me the previo9s night( or he wo9l5 have sai5 so. M>
attachment =or him is( I believe( 9n9s9all> strong( an5 m> s>mpath> in all his p9rs9its
e?treme. It is right to mention that in 27WX he ha5 ha5 a m9ch more serio9s acci5ent(
abo9t which I ha5 no 5ream.
BM. &E')L$I%E F. "')ML#.C
Mr. "raml> writes on +eb. :( 2778:A
BI recollect m> wi=e telling me her 5ream( as above narrate5( on the =ollowing morning.
/he has a ver> acc9rate memor>.
B,. F. "')ML#.C
1ro=essor *>rrell writes( on +eb. V( 2778:A
ii-3;3!
BI remember the inci5ent comm9nicate5 to >o9 b> m> sister( Mrs. "raml>. *he 5etails are
acc9rate. /he tol5 me o= her 5ream when she calle5 on me in -ollege the =ollowing
morning.C Later he a55s:A
BI sho9l5 wish it to be 9n5erstoo5 that I look on the 5ream an5 the acci5ent as mere
coinci5ence.
2
*he acci5ent was slight( b9t there was consi5erable e==9sion o= bloo5.
B'. #. *#''ELL.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. "raml> sa>s:
BI am a ver, restless( 9neas> sleeper( an5 ever> night 5ream the wil5est 5reams possible. I
have never( however( e?cept in this instance( 5reame5 o= an> acci5ent to an>one( or o= the
5eath o= an>one.C
P3::Q +rom Mr. $9rell( ,renthorpe( *he *hicket( /o9thsea.
B)pril 2( 2778.
BOn the night o= the 3th Ma>( 278:( when I was in )9stralia( I 5reame5 that a postman
han5e5 me a letter with a 5eep black bor5er. *he p9rport o= the letter was to anno9nce the
5eath o= an 9ncle in Englan5( an5 that he ha5 le=t me some propert> which wo9l5
necessitate m> imme5iate ret9rn to Englan5.
B,hen I awoke( the 5ream still ha9nte5 me( an5 I ma5e a note o= it( an5 mentione5 it to
several o= m> =rien5s( =eeling s9re I sho9l5 hear o= m> 9ncle4s 5eath.
BI co9l5 not 5o so b> the ne?t mail( b9t the one a=ter that bro9ght me the intelligence o=
his 5eath on the 3th o= Ma>( the 5a> o= m> 5ream( an5 he ha5 le=t me propert> which
reE9ire5 m> ret9rn to Englan5.
BI ha5 no i5ea o= m> 9ncle4s illness( an5 still less that he was going to leave me an>
propert>.
B+. *. $. $U'ELL.C
*he Ti(es obit9ar> con=irms Ma> 3( 278:( as the 5ate o= 5eath.
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. $9rell writes:
P2Q BI 5o not recollect ever having ha5 a 5ream abo9t 5eath( certainl> none that ever
impresse5 me as this 5i5@ an5 I am not in the habit o= having 5istressing 5reams.
PUQ BI did make a note at the time o= m> 5ream@ 9n=ort9natel> the 5iar> I ha5 o= that >ear(
278:( I lost.
P:Q B*he two =rien5s who were with me at the time o= the 5ream( an5 to whom I
mentione5 it( are both 5ea5.C
In conversation( Mr. $9rell 5istinctl> con=irme5 the =act that the 5ate in the letter was
compare5 with that in his 5iar>( an5 =o9n5 to be the same@ he 5oes not know what was the
ho9r o= 5eath. .e is not( an5 was not( at all in the habit o= having vivi5 5reams: this one
ma5e an e?traor5inaril> strong impression on him before the receipt o= the news. Mrs.
$9rell well remembers hearing the acco9nt ver> soon a=ter Mr. $9rell4s ret9rn to
Englan5.
P3:3Q +rom a gentleman( resi5ent at ,i5nes( who pre=ers that his =9ll name sho9l5 not be
p9blishe5. *he acco9nt is 5ate5 $ec. 2U( 277U.
BI was abo9t 23 >ears ol5( an5 at school at /o9thport( a town abo9t :; miles =rom m>
ho9se. One night I 5reame5 in a most vivi5 manner that I saw m> mother 5ea5. %e?t
morning I was oppresse5 with the =irm ii-3;V! conviction that m> mother ha5 5ie5( an5
tho9gh we happene5 to have a hal= holi5a> that morning( I co9l5 not throw o== the
=eeling. ,hile we were pla>ing some game in o9r cricket =iel5( a messenger came to sa>
that m> master wante5 to see me at once. I =elt that I knew what he ha5 to sa>( an5 I
s9ppose that m> =ace m9st have shown some signs o= m> tro9ble( as( be=ore telling me
that m> mother ha5 5ie5 59ring the previo9s night( he aske5 me some kin5l> E9estions as
to whether I =elt ill. I have never ha5 an> similar kin5 o= 5ream since Pin5ee5( I ver,
rarel> 5reamQ( b9t I can never =orget the impression ma5e on me b> this 5ream.
B.. ,. $.C
Y*he memor> o= the s9bseE9ent inci5ents in this case to some e?tent con=irms the
coinci5ence. In conversation( I =o9n5 the narrator ver> =ar =rom 5ispose5 to attach
signi=icance to an isolate5 case o= the sort( tho9gh the impression ma5e 9pon him was
ver> strong.Z
In the =ollowing case( tho9gh remote in 5ate( there is no reason to 5o9bt that the =acts are
correctl> recor5e5. It is at an> rate a point in =avo9r o= that viewAan5 one rarel> met
with in secon5-han5 narratives o= the sortAthat the 5egree o= closeness in the
coinci5ence is le=t 9ncertain.
P3:VQ +rom Mrs. ). L. U5n>( 82( ,estbo9rne 1ark Villas( ,.
BM> =ather-in-law( &eorge U5n>( o= the "engal -ivil /ervice( at one time Member o=
-o9ncil there( an5 a great =rien5 o= Lor5 ,ellesle> when he was &overnor-&reneral( was
a man o= 5eep religio9s =eeling an5 high hono9r( b9t I imagine not the least 5ispose5 to
believe in an> s9perstitions or marvels@ so I think his narrative ma> be 5epen5e5 on( an5
this was his acco9nt.
B.e was resi5ing at Mal5ah( in In5ia( in 2WX3(
2
an5 his onl> brother( 'obert( to whom he
was m9ch attache5( was living in -alc9tta( with his wi=e )nne. Mr. U5n> 5reame5 one
night that he saw his brother an5 his wi=e str9ggling in the water( which 5istressing 5ream
awoke him. .e was abo9t U;; miles =rom -alc9tta( an5 ver> shortl> receive5 b> 5k-post
a letter in=orming him that his brother an5 his wi=e ha5 been 5rowne5 in the .ooghl>
shortl> be=ore( I 5o not know e?actl> how long. 'obert an5 )nne U5n> ha5 been to pa> a
visit at .owrah on the other si5e o= the .ooghl>( an5 not ret9rning at night to their own
ho9se( the servants ha5 s9ppose5 that the> ha5 been in59ce5 to sta> all night( an5 it was
onl> the ne?t 5a> =o9n5 that the> ha5 le=t their =rien5s an5 ha5 embarke5 in a "oleah Pa
large river pleas9re boatQ( to ret9rnAwhich ha5 got =o9l o=( an5 been overt9rne5 b>( the
cable o= a vessel l>ing at anchor in the river( an5 the c9rrent ha5 carrie5 awa> their bo5ies
some 5istance 5own the stream( where the> were =o9n5 locke5 in each other4s arms.C
In a letter which accompanie5 the acco9nt( 5ate5 UVth F9l>( 277:( Mrs. U5n> writes:A
BI ha5 alwa>s hear5 that the 5ream was three times repeate5(
U
b9t the stor> as I have it(
written 5own =rom m> h9sban54s 5ictation(
:
is as ii-3;8! above@ an5 I believe he was
a=rai5 to a55 more partic9lars( as he was a most e?act man( an5 wo9l5 rather 9n5erstate
than e?aggerate( even 9n5esigne5l>( an> stor>.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. U5n> a55s that her h9sban5 was not born till 27;U( an5
there=ore cannot have hear5 o= this inci5ent till a goo5 man> >ears a=ter its occ9rrence@
Bb9t his =ather live5 till 27:;( an5 it m9st have been o=ten talke5 o= a=ter m> h9sban5 ha5
grown 9p.C
In the ne?t case( it seems possible that the 5reamer was impresse5 b> some one known to
her on boar5 the ship Pshe knew -aptain 0ing( the comman5erQ( an5 that she embo5ie5
the i5ea o= wreck in a simple manner.
P3:8Q +rom Mr. E. &ar5ner -olton( /o9thampton "9il5ings( ,.-.
BF9l> :2st( 277:.
B/ome >ears ago we were living in $erb> Lane( /tone>cro=t( Liverpool. I remember one
morning( earl>( a Mrs. *ate( a =rien5 o= m> mother4s Pan5 who live5 at IE9iE9e( 1er9( b9t
was stopping with her =ather in Englan5Q( came to o9r ho9se an5 in=orme5 9s she ha5 ha5
a ver> strange 5ream that morning earl>( in which she saw the steamer u/antiago(4 o= the
1aci=ic -ompan>( strike on a rock in the /traits o= Magellan( thro9gh which she YMrs.
*ateZ ha5 man> times passe5( an5 =o9n5er.
B%ow( the e?traor5inar> news came several weeks later that the steamer ha5 that night or
time r9n on that ver, roc1.
BI well remember Mrs. *ate4s vivi5 5escription o= it.
BE. &)'$%E' -OL*O%.C
,e have written to Mrs. *ate( at IE9iE9e( b9t have receive5 no repl>.
Mr. -olton4s mother writes( =rom 82( 1ark /treet( /o9then5-on-/ea:A
BI remember this also( an5 it is E9ite correct. )n5 Mrs. *ate was so strongl> impresse5 b>
the 5ream that she note5 the time b> her watch( an5( as =ar as I can recollect( it agree5
with the time.C
,e learn =rom the /ecretar> o= the 1aci=ic /team %avigation -ompan> that the
B/antiagoC was lost in the /traits o= Magellan on UVth Fan9ar>( 278X.
Y*he Ti(es o= March 2Xth( 278X( sa>s that the ship Bstr9ck on a s9nken ree=( not shown in
the charts.C *his shows that the acc9rac> o= the 5ream has been to some e?tent
e?aggerate5. ,e have no reason to 5o9bt its e?ceptional vivi5ness@ b9t the case is clearl>
not one that wo9l5 5eserve attention( so long as the realit> o= telepath> was 5o9bt=9l.Z
In the ne?t case( which is recent an5 corroborate5( the 5eath-scene is still D9st s9ch as the
5reamer might most nat9rall> conD9re 9p.
P3:WQ Letter to the 'ev. F. ). Mac5onal5( now o= 'h>l( =rom Mrs. .arrison( o= 1ark View(
}9een4s 1ark( Manchester.
B/eptember Un5( 277V.
BI ha5 a 5ear 9ncle( Fohn Moore( /t. Fohn4s( Isle o= Man. I knew he ha5 =aile5 in health
an5 strength 59ring the winter o= 277: an5 2773( b9t was not aware that he was reall> ill(
or worse( so ha5 not been thinking o= him more than 9s9al( nor anticipating a change@ on
the contrar>( I was rather sang9ine that( with the ret9rn o= spring( his strength ii-3;W!
wo9l5 revive( knowing that he ha5 onl> two >ears be=ore recovere5 =rom a severe illness(
his constit9tion being so e?cellent( tho9gh he was 7V >ears ol5 when he was taken awa>.
"9t on the night o= March 2st( or ver> earl> in the morning o= the Un5( 2773 PI 5i5 not
ascertain the time( b9t I ha5 retire5 to rest ver> late an5 seeme5 to have slept two or three
ho9rsQ( I awoke cr>ing( an5 with the agitating scenes o= m> 5ream clear be=ore me. It was
that I stoo5 in the be5room o= m> 9ncle( that he la> there 5>ing( his remaining =amil>
near him( I D9st a short 5istance =rom the be5( looking on. ,hen I Doine5 m> h9sban5 an5
5a9ghter at the =iresi5e( on coming 5ownstairs in the morning( I tol5 them m> 5ream( an5
then tho9ght no more abo9t it till two 5a>s later( 3th March( when a letter arrive5( sa>ing
that m> 9ncle ha5 passe5 awa> at U o4clock on the morning o= the Un5.
B'. F. .)''I/O%.C
Mrs( .arrison can recall no other 5ream o= 5eath.
,e =in5 =rom the Isle o= Man 'egister that the 5ate o= the 5eath was March U( 2773.
Mr. .arrison corroborates as =ollows:A
B/eptember Un5 277V.
BI 5istinctl> remember m> wi=e telling me the above 5ream on the /9n5a> morning( Un5
March( 2773( an5 it has o=ten been spoken o= in the =amil> since. *he letter acE9ainting
9s o= Mr. Moore4s 5eath arrive5 at Manchester( =rom the Isle o= Man( two 5a>s a=ter( viA.(
*9es5a>( 3th March( 2773.
BF. 1. .)''I/O%.C
YIn conversation I learnt that Mr. Moore4s son an5 5a9ghter( who appeare5 in the 5ream(
were the relatives likel> to be present@ so that point goes =or nothing. "9t there is no
5o9bt as to the e?ceptional character o= the 5ream. On acco9nt o= the age an5 in=irmit> o=
the person who 5ie5( this instance has not been incl95e5 in the special gro9p( 9se5 in the
calc9lation in Vol. I.( -hap VIII.( S 3.Z
In the ne?t two cases( again( the 5eath is represente5 in a completel> nat9ral wa>.
P3:7Q +rom the late Mrs. $enroche( o= 2( "erkele> Villas( 1ittville( -heltenham( who sai5
that she ha5 Bnever ha5 an> 5istressing or remarkable 5ream save this one.C
B+ebr9ar> U:r5( 277V.
BOn the Easter morning Y273:Z( abo9t 8 o4clock( I 5reamt that I was looking o9t o= m>
be5room win5ow( an5 that I saw Mr. '. walking 9p the aven9e( an5 that( knowing him to
be in )9stralia( I =elt so s9rprise5 an5 please5 that I ran 5own to meet him at the glass
portico. ,hen I p9t o9t m> han5( I sai5( uOh( how gla5 I am to see >o9 again.4 .e looke5
so sa5 an5 sai5( u#o9 will not be gla5( as I bring >o9 sa5 news. #o9r brother /tephen is
5ea5.4 I awoke at the moment( an5 it seeme5 as tho9gh the wor5s were so9n5ing in m>
ears. ,hen the servant came to assist me to 5ress( I tol5 her m> 5ream( an5 to com=ort me
she sai5 that 5reams alwa>s went b> contraries( uan5 that he was most likel> being
marrie5(4 b9t sai5 I m9st not tell this 5ream to m> mother or to an> one who might 5o so(
as m> brother writing so sel5om alwa>s ma5e her so an?io9s an5 9nhapp>@ an5 so acting
9pon her a5vice( I 5i5 not speak o= it( b9t the tho9ght o= it constantl> rec9rre5 59ring the
=o9r months that intervene5 between the Easter an5 a visit to "angor( in ,ales( where a
letter =rom Mr. '.( 5ate5 Easter /9n5a>( was =orwar5e5 to me. .e wrote ii-3;7! to me
=or the reason that he tho9ght I co9l5 more gentl> break the sa5 news to m> 5ear mother(
an5 his letter commence5 almost with the same wor5s that I ha5 hear5 in the 5ream. .e
tol5 how that( a =ortnight be=ore his 5eath( m> brother ha5 reache5 his ho9se sa5l> o9t o=
health( an5 worn with the toilsome Do9rne>. )t once he became too ill to write( an5
contin9e5 so till he 5ie5 on Easter /9n5a> morning.
BOLIVI) ). $E%'O-.E.C
Y*he 5eath m9st have prece5e5 the 5ream b> a goo5 man> ho9rs. *he case is remote@ b9t
the =act that Easter /9n5a> is so marke5 a 5a> makes it =airl> probable that the
coinci5ence was rightl> remembere5. )9stralian newspapers have been searche5( as well
as the most likel> English obit9aries( =or a notice o= the 5eath( b9t witho9t s9ccess(Z
P3:X an5 33;Q +rom ;a Chance et la Destin4e P27W8Q( b> +oissac( p. VXX. 'Hcit 5e M.
Longet( membre 5e l4Instit9t( pro=esse9r 5e ph>siologie G la +ac9ltH 5e MH5ecine 5e
1aris. YTranslationZ
B%otre savant con=rNre PM. F9les -loE9et( membre 5e l4Instit9t( pro=esse9r 5e -liniE9e
-hir9rgicaleQ no9s a racontH E9e sortant =ort avant 5ans la n9it 549ne soirHe che] M.
-homel( et s4Htant en5ormi( il vit en songe 9n =antLme E9i l9i reprHsentait son =rNre
.ippol>te. Il portait s9r son 5os 9ne gran5e liane 5e papiers E94il Deta a9 milie9 5e la
chambre( en l9i 5isant( u'aintenant 5e nai plus besoin de rien(4 et il 5ispar9t. ) son rHveil
M. -loE9et raconta ce songe a9? personnes 5e son ento9rage sans en Mtre a9trement
impressionnH. Il se ren5it G l4hLpital( =it sa leon 5e cliniE9e comme G l4or5inaire( p9is M.
&iron 5e "9sarainE9e l9i 5it( en l9i prenant le bras: u*on =rNre .ippol>te est mala5e.4
u)llons le voir(4 repon5it M. -loE9et. -hemin =aisant( M. &iron 5e "9sarainE9e l9i apprit
E94.ippol>te -loE9et Htait mort 5ans la n9it 549ne attaE9e 54apople?ie. YTranslationZ
BLe songe E9i me concerne est pl9s e?plicite encore. LorsE9e D4Htais Ht95iant en
mH5ecine( et interne 5e $9p9>tren( De rMvai E9e De vo>ais mon pNre atteint 549ne mala5ie
E9i le con59isait a9 tombea9. Fe m4Hveillai 5ans 9n gran5 tro9ble E9e De cherchais G
5ominer en me 5isant E9e D4avais E9ittH mon pNre le 5imanche 54a9paravant en par=aite
santH@ no9s Htions a9 mercre5i. Fe me reprHsentai E9e c4Htait 9ne gran5e =aiblesse 5e
m4inE9iHter 549n songe( et De rHsol9s 5e n4en tenir a9c9n compte. Mais l4image 5e mon
pNre mo9rant Htait sans cesse prHsente G ma pensHe( et po9r Hchapper G cette obsession(
E9oiE9e honte9? 5e ma =aiblesse( De partis po9r /t. &ermain( o De tro9vai mon pNre
atteint 549ne =l9?ion 5e poitrine E9i l4enleva en cinE Do9rs.C YTranslationZ
Y*his secon5 case wo9l5 more properl> belong to the prece5ing section.Z
/imilarl> in the ne?t case( the agent4s act9al tho9ght ma> have been the n9cle9s o= a
5ream to which the 5reamer s9pplie5 a setting.
P332Q +rom Mr. )le?an5er &. /parrow( $erwent /E9are( Liverpool.
B277U.
B)bo9t U: >ears ago( m> >o9ngest sister was visiting m> then bachelor E9arters@ there
was then resi5ing in Liverpool an ol5 =rien5 o= mine( $. L.( a bachelor past 3;( an5 who
was consi5ere5 b> his =rien5s most 9nlikel> to marr>. One morning at break=ast I relate5
to m> sister a ver> vivi5 5ream. I was in the Ol5 E?change room@ not being the ii-3;X!
4-hange time( it was nearl> empt>. I was leaning against a sort o= co9nter 9n5er the
clock. $. L. was sa9ntering 9p the mi55le o= the long narrow room@ an5 when he ca9ght
sight o= me he E9ickene5 his step( an5 smiling p9t o9t his han5( sa>ing( u/parrow(
congrat9late me@ I am engage5 to be marrie5( an5 am as spoone> as I was at one-an5-
twent>.4 I 5i5 o==er him m> congrat9lations( an5 aske5 who the la5> was( to which he
replie5( u/he is an Irish girl@ I met her at 0ingstown 'egatta.4
BM> el5est sister was( at that time( living with her h9sban5 in Irelan5. ,hen I ret9rne5
=rom b9siness that evening( m> sister sai5( u#o9r 5ream has come tr9e( even the ver>
wor5s.4 /he p9t a letter =rom m> el5est sister into m> han5( an5 I rea5( u*ell )lick his
=rien5 $. L. is engage5 to one o= the 5a9ghters o= o9r rector. 9e (et her at Iingsto-n
=egatta.4
B)LE\. &. /1)''O,.C
*he sister to whom the 5ream was tol5 vag9el> remembers the main =act o= the
occ9rrence.
YIn conversation( Mr. /parrow tol5 Mr. M>ers that he 5i5 not know his =rien5 to be in
Irelan5( tho9gh he ma> have notice5 that he was not on 4-hange as 9s9al@ that there was
nothing to connect his =rien5 with 0ingstown 'egatta@ that he ha5 tho9ght him a Breg9lar
ol5 bachelorC@ an5 that the wor5s 9se5 in the letter were the e?act wor5s 9se5 in his
5ream. "9t a=ter so long an interval o= time( memor> cannot be implicitl> tr9ste5 =or s9ch
5etails.Z
*he ne?t 5ream presents an interesting mi?t9re o= right an5 wrong 5etail. I= telepathic(
an5 not acci5ental( it probabl> =ell on the night =ollowing the event( an5 wo9l5 then seem
more nat9rall> re=erable to the agent4s s9bseE9ent pict9ring o= the scene than to an
imme5iate Bclairvo>antC impression whose 5evelopment ha5 been 5e=erre5. *he 5ream(
as so o=ten in these coinci5ent cases( pro59ce5 a E9ite e?ceptional impression o= realit>.
P33UQ +rom Mrs. /a?b>( Mo9nt Elton( -leve5on.
BFan9ar> :2st( 277:.
Mrs. /a?b> begins b> sa>ing that her h9sban5 was on the -ontinent at the o9tbreak o= the
+ranco-&erman war( an5 that in one o= her letters to him she copie5 o9t the =amo9s B5ra=t
treat>.C
BOne night( not long a=ter this( I saw in a 1ind o= 5ream that m> h9sban5 was walking on
a high roa5( 9n5er the sha5e o= broa5 sprea5ing trees. I was charme5 with the brillianc>
o= the green o= their transl9cent leaves( thro9gh which the s9nlight streame5 overhea5.
BI notice5 that a co9ntr> cart with three men in it passe5 him( an5 that one o= the men ha5
remarkabl> b9sh> black whiskers. *he> were all 5resse5 in blo9ses( an5 ha5 a ver>
pec9liar kin5 o= cap on their hea5s. *hese caps ha5 peaks to them. 1resentl> the cart
halte5( an5 the men ha5 some comm9nication with m> h9sban5( in which the man with
the black whiskers took a prominent part. I notice5 that the men got o9t an5 in o= the cart(
an5 stoo5 9p an5 spoke =or some time. *here was evi5entl> something going on( an5 it
en5e5 in one o= the men going one wa>( on =oot( while the other men Dogge5 awa> in the
cart in the contrar> 5irection( an5 all( incl95ing m> h9sban5( passe5 awa>.
ii-32;!
BI cannot state wh> I knew that this was one o= m> m>sterio9s kin5 o= 5reams( b9t I did(
an5 I =elt s9re that something ha5 happene5 to m> h9sban5@ so I sat 5own an5 wrote to
him 5irectl>( telling him m> 5ream( an5 5escribing the scene an5 the circ9mstances that
occ9rre5 in it( 5escribing also the men an5 the cart as e?actl> as I co9l5. I even etche5
with m> pen a pict9re o= the man with the black whiskers( an5 I aske5 m> h9sban5 what
kin5 o= trees the> were with the ver> bright transl9cent leaves( an5 what ha5 happene5 to
him 9n5er them. On )9g9st Un5( 27W;( 5ating =rom L9?embo9rg( m> h9sban5 wrote to
me:A
BuM# $E)'E/* E++IE(AI write a line =rom this station( while waiting =or the train( to sa>
that all is right.
Bu*his will be poste5 somewhere on the wa> 9p the line( an5 will ver> likel> not get to
>o9 m9ch be=ore I am coming in sight o= Englan5( onl> it is better >o9 sho9l5 hear =rom
me be=ore an> chance stor> appears in the papers Psho9l5 it so appearQ o= m> having been
taken prisoner b> the 1r9ssians >ester5a> P)9g9st 2stQ.
BuI was simpl> at ,asserbillig( the prett> =rontier station o= the L9?embo9rg $9ch>( an5
instea5 o= roasting on the bri5ge over the little stream which here Doins the Moselle( an5
marks the 1r9ssian bo9n5ar>( I strolle5 leis9rel> along in the 5eep sha5e o= the waln9t-
trees b> the river-bank( inten5ing to t9rn back as soon as I sho9l5 see the 1r9ssian
sentries.
BuI ha5 not gone =ar be=ore I met a cart( with =o9r st9r5> peasants in blo9ses. )s soon as
the> ha5 passe5 me( the> stoppe5 the cart. One o= them sprang o9t to c9t o== m> retreat(
an5 the rest took me prisoner. *he> were sol5iers in 5isg9ise( all signs o= 5o9anes or
=rontier-g9ar5 having been 5one awa> in or5er to entrap spies( the patrols going abo9t in
blo9ses( with revolvers 9n5erneath( an5 short swor5s t9cke5 awa> in their tro9sers( I
think.
Bu*he> took me to I]el( near *rNves( the nearest o9tpost( =irst possessing themselves o= all
letters an5 papers o9t o= m> po9ch( an5 the having 9pon me a M/. 5ra=t o= the propose5
treat> =or the +rench acE9isition o= "elgi9m( written in +rench( while I asserte5 m>sel= to
be an Englishman( ma5e a =ine point against me.
Bu*he MaDor in comman5 o= the post was( l9ckil>( a gentleman( tho9gh ver> strict in his
e?amination( an5 the thing en5e5 in m> being release5( an5 sent back to the $9ch> 9n5er
g9ar5( b9t I was within an ace o= being sent into the interior( to hea5E9arters( =or
a5D95ication as a sp>.
Bu#o9 5i5 not imagine what >o9r 5iligence was p9tting in pickle =or me( in cop>ing the
treat>( 5i5 >o9r &oo5-b>e.AEver >o9r a==ectionate h9sban5(
Bu/. .. /4
B)=ter this m> h9sban5 tol5 me that the sergeant who took him prisoner ha5 b9sh> black
whiskers( an5 answere5 to the 5escription I ha5 given o= one o= the men whom I saw in
the cart. .e also tol5 me that the sol5iers( 5isg9ise5 as peasants( 5i5 not wear the caps
with peaks( which I ha5 5rawn@ b9t( strange to sa>( I ha5 5rawn the common =oraging cap
o= the 1r9ssian sol5ier( I not knowing what those sol5iers wore.
B.e also tol5 me that when I sent him a cop> o= the 5ra=t treat> it ha5 not appeare5 in an>
o= the "elgian papers.
ii-322!
BI= I recollect right( o9r letters crosse5 in reaching 9s.
BF. E. /)\"#.C
,riting on March UV( 2778( Mrs. /a?b> a55s:A
B*he onl> hitch abo9t it is that accor5ing to m> calc9lations I saw the whole thing happen
be=ore it 5i5 happen( b9t I cannot help guessing that( beca9se o= the 9ncertaint> o= letters
at the time o= the war( I ma5e a mistake as to 5ates. )ll I am E9ite s9re there co9l5 be no
mistake abo9t is( that m> h9sban54s letter abo9t the event an5 mine telling him what I ha5
seen( crossed on the road. I have got his letter to me( an5 he bro9ght home mine to him
with the pict9re on it@ b9t he s9bseE9entl> b9rnt it( so m> 5ate was lost.C
In the ne?t case( a =eat9re is intro59ce5 into the 5ream which happene5 to be impossible(
b9t was in no wa> =antastic or s>mbolic.
P33:Q +rom Mr. F. $. "est( W;( Mel5on /treet( %ewcastle-on-*>ne.
B$ecember U:r5( 277V.
B*he e?perience that >o9 re=er to took place D9st =o9r >ears ago. M> age was almost 2X(
an5 at the time I was in per=ect health mentall>( tho9gh ph>sicall> rather =agge5. *he
partic9lars( as =ar as I remember them( were as =ollows:A
BI ha5 spent the evening o= $ecember Vth in close st95> at &reek grammar. )bo9t 22
o4clock I stoppe5( an5 sat 5own b> the =ire to rea5 Manon Lesca9t. /ome time a=terwar5s
I =ell asleep( an5 it was then that the i5ea o= m> gran5mother4s illness or 5eath PI am
9ncertain whichQ =irst came to me. On wakening( abo9t 2U.:;( I =o9n5 m> 5ictionar>
9n5er the bars( an5 m> an?iet> =or that ma5e me( =or the moment( =orget m> 5ream.
-arelessl> leaving the gas b9rning( I went to be5@ an5 all I remember is that ever>
partic9lar o= the room which I saw was strongl> impresse5 9pon me@ that the ol5 la5> was
breathing ver> heavil>@ an5( strangest o= all( m> mother( who was an5 is in )9stralia(
seeme5 in the room. /he( as I tho9ght( t9rne5 to me( sa>ing( uI =ear( $9ncan( she is
5>ings4 .ow long it was be=ore I wakene5 I cannot sa>@ b9t ever> =act was strangel>
5istinct( =or I seem to remember even the ticking o= the clock. *he gas being E9ite bright
when I awoke( I rose to e?ting9ish it( an5 E9ite acci5entall> notice5 the time.
BOn receiving the intimation o= her 5eath( on the morning o= $ecember Wth P,e5nes5a>Q(
the time( I notice5 a=ter m> s9rprise ha5 passe5 awa>( was between 3 an5 V a.m. On
=9rther inE9ir>( m> a9nt sai5 that it was between hal=-past 3 an5 V o4clock. *he time I ha5
notice5 was V.:;. I 5i5 not know that m> relative was ill 9ntil I hear5 the news o= her
5eath. /he was no great =rien5 to me( an5 conseE9entl> I rarel> tro9ble5 her( or tho9ght
o= her. I ha5 receive5 a letter a week be=ore( sa>ing that she was not ver> well@ b9t as she
was a woman o= abo9t W8 >ears( I took b9t little notice o= this( an5 ha5 tho9ght no more
abo9t it.
B#o9 ask i= I have ever ha5 other 5reams o= 5eath( which 5i5 not correspon5 with the
realit>. I think I can honestl> answer u%o.4
BFO.% $. "E/*.C
YMr. "est has gone to )9stralia( which prevents 9s =or the time =rom obtaining =9rther
5etails.Z
ii-32U!
*he ne?t case intro59ces a 5istinctl> bi]arre elementAthe percipient4s imagination
reacting in a t>picall> 5reamlike =ashion on the telepathic impression.
P333Q +rom Miss .9tchinson( :( "ag5ale( ,hitb>.
B$ecember 8th( 277V.
BOn the morning o= the 2Vth +ebr9ar>( 2783Athe 5a> a=ter Valentine4s $a>( which
impresse5 it on m> min5Am> =ather tol5 me he ha5 ha5 that night a most pain=9l an5
vivi5 5ream( begging me not to mention it to o9r mother. *he 5ream was this. O9r 5ear E.
clinging to him wet an5 nake5( an5 begging him to save him( =or he was 5rowning@ b9t
the =orm was not that o= a man o= UU( b9t what he was as a bab>.
BEarl> in March we receive5 the sa5 intelligence that E. was 5rowne5 o== the -ape( on
the 23th +ebr9ar>( thro9gh the swamping o= a boat. .e an5 one o= his brother o==icers
were ca9ght in a sE9all when ret9rning to ..M./. u*artar(4 a=ter a =ew ho9rs leave. *hese
are the plain =acts.
BELIJ)"E*. L. .U*-.I%/O%.C
In repl> to inE9iries( Miss .9tchinson a55s:A
B"oth m> =ather an5 mother are 5ea5( an5 if m> =ather ma5e an> note o= the 5ream at the
time( it has been 5estro>e5. It was nat9ral =or him to tell me( being the el5est in the
=amil>( si? >ears ol5er than m> naval brother. It was on the (orning of the 1Lth that he
tol5 me o= his 5ream. ) =ortnight later( the -ape mail bro9ght the sa5 news. )n
apparentl> =oolish an5 trivial thing impresse5 the 5ate on m> memor> at the time that it
was tol5 me( the 5a> a=ter Valentine4s $a>.C
,e =in5 =rom the )5miralt> that Lie9t. ). E. .9tchinson4s 5eath occ9rre5 on +eb. 23(
278V@ an5 Miss .9tchinson has kin5l> sent 9s a photograph o= a tablet( erecte5 to his
memor>( which recor5s that he was 5rowne5 in /imon4s "a> on the night o= that 5a>( b>
the swamping o= a boat. *he 5i==erence o= time between Englan5 an5 the -ape is not
m9ch over an ho9r.
In the =ollowing case the brightness o= the =ig9re( an5 its gest9re( were imager>
s9==icientl> appropriate to the circ9mstances. ,e sho9l5 har5l> be D9sti=ie5 in treating the
e?perience as other than a 5ream@ b9t it m9st be remarke5 that the =orm o= the visionAa
single =ig9re appearing in the room where the percipient knows himsel= to beAis ver>
9nlike or5inar> 5reaming Psee cases VUW an5 V3VQ.
P33VQY~Z +rom the 'ev. Fohn Mathwin( Vicar o= ,est 1elton( -o. $9rham.
B$ecember 2Xth( 2773.
B+ort> >ears ago( or thereabo9ts( when I was abo9t U; >ears o= age( a la5> =rien5 o= mine(
a 5istant relative b> marriageAage between 3; an5 V;Aha5 =or some time been in a
5elicate state o= health( tho9gh not con=ine5 to the ho9se. ,e =reE9entl> ha5 E9iet
conversations together on religio9s matters. %either o= 9s was o= an e?citable t9rn o=
min5. )s well as I can now recollect( I last saw m> =rien5 alive abo9t a =ortnight be=ore
her 5eath. /he 5i5 not seem at that time to be worse than ii-32:! 9s9al( an5 apparentl>
might have live5 at an> rate =or a =ew >ears. .owever( one night when I was in be5Asa>
abo9t 3 o4clock in the morningAI ha5 what I ma> call a vision. ) =ig9re appeare5 be=ore
me neatl> 5rape5( an5 a certain brightness abo9t it seeme5 to awake me. I at once =elt
conscio9s that someone was near me who wishe5 to make a comm9nication to me. I soon
recognise5 the =ace o= m> invali5 =rien5. /he seeme5 to wish to give me time to collect
m>sel=Aevi5entl> intimating that there was no ca9se wh> I sho9l5 be a=rai5. )s a matter
o= =act I ha5 no =ear at all. M> then =eelings ma> perhaps be best 5escribe5 as partaking
both o= won5er Por e?pectationQ an5 pleas9re. ,hen( apparentl>( the =ig9re ha5 convince5
hersel= that I recognise5 her( an5 that I ha5 satis=ie5 m>sel= that I was 9n5er no 5el9sion(
she seeme5 to beckon me cheeringl> with one or two =ingers o= her right han5( an5 to sa>
to me( uIt4s all right@ come on.4 /he then vanishe5( an5 I neither saw nor hear5 an>thing
more.
B*ho9gh there was no inD9nction given to me not to tell what I ha5 seen( I >et =elt that the
comm9nication was o= too solemn a nat9re to allow me at once to talk o= it openl>. "9t I
sai5 to m> brother at break=ast( abo9t 7 o4clock that morning( that I ha5 5reamt in the
night that Mrs. /o-an5-so was 5ea5( an5 it t9rne5 o9t( as we hear5 abo9t 2; o4clock( that
o9r =rien5 ha5 5ie5 59ring the night. +or some >ears I never mentione5 this e?perience to
an>one( b9t a=terwar5s I =elt no hesitation in talking abo9t it to intimate =rien5s.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. Mathwin writes on +eb. 2Wth( 277V:A
B*o m> brother I spoke o= what I call the vision as i= it ha5 been a 5ream@ b9t this was
beca9se I 5i5 not wish to 5raw his attention ver> speciall> to it( altho9gh I =elt
constraine5 to mention it to him in some wa>.
B.e tells me now that he has no recollection o= m> having spoken to him abo9t it( as I 5i5
at break=ast( on the morning o= the 5eath( b9t be=ore we knew o= the 5eath having taken
place. I am not( however( s9rprise5 that m> brother sho9l5 not now recollect the remark I
ma5e to him at that time.
BI never ha5 an> similar e?perience be=ore( neither have I ha5 since. I ha5 no reason to
e?pect an> comm9nication o= the kin5 at an> time.
BFO.% M)*.,I%.C
YIn an 9ncorroborate5 case o= so remote a 5ate( it is o= co9rse impossible to be certain that
the coinci5ence was as e?act as in memor> it appears to have been.Z
*he ne?t case is ver> similar( tho9gh it was possibl> not the 5>ing person who was the
agent.
P338Q +rom Mrs. 1enn>( *he -ottage( -9llompton.
B%ovember :;th( 277U.
BOne 5a> I slept late( having a ba5 hea5ache( an5 5reame5 that I was in a won5er=9ll>
bea9ti=9l gar5en( an5 while I walke5 along its alle>s a =rien5 o= one o= m> sisters( +. ..(
came smiling towar5s me( 5resse5 in white( an5 looking ra5iant with Do>. /he sai5( uI am
here now(4 an5 it is ii-323! alwa>s so lovel>.4 On waking( I =o9n5 break=ast an5 letters
bro9ght 9p( an5 one open on m> pillow to m> sister =rom the sister o= +. ..( telling her
that she ha5 5ie5 a=ter a ver> short illness.
B%ow( as this poor +. ..( who sel5om ha5 a 5a>4s happiness( was to me onl> an
acE9aintance( I concl95e that the aura o= her sister conve>e5 to m> higher conscio9sness
the =act o= which she was =9ll( an5 in the momentar> 59ration o= a 5ream this =act got
translate5 into the a5Dacent i5eas o= li=e in 1ara5ise.
BVer> likel> the conscio9sness o= m> two sisters 5i5 a==ect m> 5reaming brain b> some
wave o= new an5 energetic imp9lse@ b9t I know there ha5 been no possibilit> o= tal1ing in
m> room that morning. *ho9gh it all happene5 >ears ago( I can vo9ch =or the acc9rac> o=
m> memor>. I cannot be s9re whether it was in 27VU or a >ear or two later.
B). F. 1E%%#.C
,e =in5 =rom a notice in the 7entle(ans 'agaAine that +. .. 5ie5 on F9ne 8( 27VU.
P33WQ +rom a &erman n9rse who has been =or UU >ears in the service o= Mrs. "algarnie(
o= X( +ile> 'oa5( /carboro9gh.
BF9l> Xth( 277V.
BIn +ebr9ar>( 27W2( I 5reame5 one night that I receive5 a letter( on the envelope o= which
was written in m> =ather4s han5writing( u8 Death, -here is th, stingJ4
B%e?t morning I went in great tro9ble to m> mistress( sa>ing I =elt per=ectl> s9re m>
=ather m9st be 5ea5( an5 relate5 m> 5ream. *his =act was imme5iatel> written 5own( b9t
the paper cannot now be =o9n5. *hree 5a>s a=ter the news came that m> =ather ha5 5ie5
that /9n5a> night( E9ite s955enl>. $9ring the 5a> o= the night on which he 5ie5 he ha5
evi5entl> wishe5 to tell me something( =or he twice sai5( u*ell Marie( tell Maries4 .e soon
became 9nconscio9s( an5 5ie5 in his sleep. I ha5 not seen him =or eight >ears( an5 tho9gh
I knew he was not well( I ha5 no i5ea that 5eath was e?pecte5. M> =ather live5 an5 5ie5
in &erman>( while I was( an5 am( in Englan5.
BM)'IE L)U*IE'.C
Miss "algarnie( writing on $ecember 22th( 2773( gave 9s a precisel> similar acco9nt(
sa>ing(Bthe 5ate an5 circ9mstances were p9t 5own b> 9s imme5iatel>C on the narration o=
the 5ream.
Mrs. "algarnie writes on F9l> U7( 277V:A
In answer to >o9rs( I can onl> sa> that the n9rse tol5 me her 5ream( on m> entering the
n9rser> one morning( a55ing( uI am s9re m> =ather is 5ea5.4 )n5 so it prove5@ in three
5a>s the letter anno9nce5 the =act( an5 that he 5ie5 with her name on his lips.
BI 5o not think I can give >o9 an> more partic9lars. I can4t =in5 the memoran59m o= the
inci5ent.
BM. ")L&)'%IE.C
Y*he narrator4s =ather( it appears( ha5 been ill =or : or 3 months@ an5 she states that(
tho9gh she ha5 not hear5 o= his being worse( her tho9ghts ha5 been a goo5 5eal occ9pie5
with him. Mrs. "algarnie( however( thinks that she now rather e?aggerates the e?tent to
which this was the case( =rom an obDection to having her e?perience regar5e5 as o= an>
special interest.Z
ii-32V!
In the ne?t case( the imager> is again 5istinctl> s9ggestive o= 5eath( an5 =antasticall>
represents the pop9lar conception o= BspiritC as a ten9o9s =orm o= matter( b9t has no
emotional character.
P337Q +rom Mr. ,( "rooks( "rooksb> .o9se( 7W( 1etherton 'oa5 .ighb9r> %ew 1ark( %.
BMa> UWth( 277V.
BOn the 2Vth %ovember( 27WV( at V( ,allace 'oa5( %.( at W.3V a.m.( or thereabo9ts( I saw
m> late brother as a spirit( b9t when I spoke to uhim(4 he gra59all> 5isappeare5. I then
woke 9p.
BOn arriving at .astings the =ollowing morning( I learnt =rom m> sister that the above
was the time m> brother 5ie5 there. *his was the onl> time I ever saw him in the =orm o=
a ughost.4
B,. .. "'OO0/.C
,e =in5 the 5ate an5 place o= 5eath con=irme5 in the Ti(es obit9ar>.
*he =ollowing is a more 5etaile5 acco9nt o= the 5ream:A
B*he uappearance4 was: *here was a long room or galler>( an5 several o= m> =rien5s
there( incl95ing m> brother. .e was like u1epper4s &host4 as regar5s s9bstance( or rather
want o= s9bstance. %one o= the other =rien5s ha5 a ha]> appearance. *he> were in
or5inar> attire( as I sho9l5 see them in a room. M> brother was the onl> ughostl>4 =ig9re.
.e a5vance5 gra59all> towar5s me( which ma5e me =eel a little nervo9s( an5 looke5
kin5l> at me. I a5vance5 a little an5 sai5( uFames( wh> 5o >o9 not speakr4 which
9tterance seeme5 to make him rece5e. .e retire5 a little 5own the room( an5 gra59all>
became more in5istinct( an5 5isappeare5. %one o= the =rien5s seeme5 to take an> 5eci5e5
notice( an5 5i5 not speak. I then woke. M> =orcing or insisting 9pon a repl> seeme5 to be
the ca9se o= m> waking( an5 I ha5 to look ro9n5 to gather m>sel= together an5 ascertain
that I was in be5 when I so awoke.
BI 5o not think I can a==or5 an> corroboration. On the a=ternoon o= the same 5a>( I
mentione5 the matter to m> a9nt an5 her h9sban5. /he is now 5ea5( an5 I 5o not think m>
9ncle wo9l5 recollect the acco9nt. I 5i5 not make m9ch o= it( as I was a 5isbeliever in
ghosts. I 5are5 not mention the occ9rrence to m> mother( as she wo9l5 have grieve5 all
5a> abo9t m> brother i= I ha5.
BI have never ha5 an> other similar instance. I have ha5 relations 5ie( b9t have been near
them at the time o= 5eath.
B,. .. "'OO0/.C
In later letters Mr. "rooks writes:A
BI have comm9nicate5 with m> 9ncle as I promise5( b9t he 5oes not recollect an> o= the
circ9mstances.
BIn repl> to >o9r =9rther E9eries:A
2. B*he 5ream 5i5 not make a particularl, 9npleasant impression@ it was certainl>
9npleasant an5 9n9s9al( an5 on waking I =elt nervo9s( b9t the occ9rrence =a5e5 =rom m>
memor> slowl>( so =ar as the sharp impression was concerne5( )ll 5a> /9n5a>( however(
I was won5ering how m> brother was( an5 when I saw m> sister on the Mon5a> I tho9ght
o= the strange coinci5ence.
U. BM> sister recollects when she in=orme5 me Po= the utime4 o= the 5eathQ on the Mon5a>
that I remarke5( u.ow stranges that is the time I saw Fames at m> be5si5e.4
ii-328!
:. BI ha5 no reason to e?pect m> brother4s 5eath at the time it 5i5 take place( e?cept an
e?pectation that one4s worst =ears might at an> time be realise5 in a case where
cons9mption ha5 taken hol5.C
*he =ollowing is =rom Mr. "rooks4 sister( Mrs. 1laistowe:A
B"rooksb> .o9se( )9g9st 3th( 277V.
BIn answer to >o9r letter( I have to state that m> brother ,illiam( on his arriving at
.astings in %ovember( 27WV( an5 being in=orme5 b> me o= the ho9r o= m> late brother
Fames4s 5eath Pvi].( a E9arter to 7 a.m.Q( sai5 that it e?actl> coinci5e5 with the time that
he( m> brother ,illiam( saw Fames in a spirit or vision. YIn conversation( Mrs. 1laistowe
state5 that Mr. "rooks came 5own on the Mon5a> a=ternoon( an5( on hearing the ho9r o=
his brother4s 5eath( came to the concl9sion that the 5ream was e?actl> coinci5ent.Z
BI ma> remark that the 5eath was 9ne?pecte5 b> the members o= the =amil>( as Fames was
awa> =rom home with me at .astings@ an5 altho9gh he ha5 been s9==ering =rom
cons9mption =or three or =o9r >ears( no intimation o= his becoming worse ha5 been
receive5 b> an> one in the =amil>( so that m> brother4s statement to >o9 is corroborate5
b> me.
BM. 1L)I/*O,E.C
On e?amination it t9rne5 o9t that Mr. "rooks4 strong impression is that his 5ream
occ9rre5 on a !unda, morningAin which case it prece5e5 the 5eath b> some U3 ho9rs(
tho9gh o= co9rse =alling at a time o= critical illness. *his view accor5s with his
recollection o= mentioning the 5ream to his 9ncle an5 a9nt in the a=ternoon@ b9t is
oppose5 to his recollection Pwhich Mrs. 1laistowe s9pportsQ o= noticing at the time that
the coinci5ence was e?act. *here being a 5o9bt on the matter( the case m9st not be
incl95e5 in the special gro9p o= 5eath-5reams 5ealt with in Vol. I.( p. :;W.
P33XQ *he Do9rnal *s,chische !tudien PLeip]igQ =or March( 27W3( contains a long an5
interesting acco9nt( written 5own =or the late 1ro=essor 1ert>( o= "erne( b> the wi=e o= the
'9ssian Imperial -o9ncillor( M. )le?. )ksako=( who sa>s that he has =reE9entl> hear5 all
the partic9lars.
Ma5ame )ksako= was 2X at the time o= the occ9rrence( an5 sa>s that she Bha5 no i5eas
abo9t /pirit9alism( an5 no ten5enc> to enth9siasm or m>sticism.C *he principal inci5ents
were that Ma5ame )ksako=4s brother-in-law( $r. ). +. /engiree=( =rom whom she ha5
parte5 abo9t hal= a >ear previo9sl> with some col5ness( appeare5 to her( on the night o=
Ma> 2Uth( 27VV( in what seems to have been a ver> prolonge5 an5 =everish vision( in
which she m9st have been partiall> awake( as in the co9rse o= it she hear5 the clock strike
:( an5 her chil5 an5 its n9rse move. *he =ig9re in the vision hel5 his col5 han5 on her
mo9th( an5 repeate5l> ba5e her kiss it@ an5 then( a=ter sprea5ing o9t a roll o= parchment
besi5e her( recite5 a pra>er in =ront o= a cr9ci=i?:( an5 =inall> 5isappeare5( to the so9n5 o=
sacre5 m9sic an5 in a bla]e o= light. /he notice5 his Blong black hair hanging 5own on
his sho9l5ers( an5 a large ro9n5 bear5 s9ch as I ha5 never seen him wear. *he 5a> a=ter
this terrible event(C she contin9es( Bwe receive5 the news o= the illness o= m> brother-in-
law( /engiree=( an5 abo9t a =ortnight later( ti5ings o= his 5eath( ii-32W! which took place
in that night o= the 2UthT2:th o= Ma>( abo9t V o4clock in the morning. *he =ollowing is
noteworth>. ,hen m> sister-in-law( a =ew weeks a=ter the 5eath o= her h9sban5( came to
live with 9s at 'omano==-"orissogliebsk( she mentione5 inci5entall> to a la5> in m>
presence that her late h9sban5 ha5 been b9rie5 with long hair hanging 5own to his
sho9l5ers( an5 with a large c9rio9s-looking bear5 which ha5 grown 59ring his illness.C
M. )ksako= s9ggests that the parchment in the vision ma> have represente5 a Bsin-
remission chartC which it is a '9ssian c9stom to place in co==ins.
I will now give a gro9p o= cases where 5eath is s>mbolise5 in some more m9n5ane an5
gloom> manner.
P3V;Q +rom a la5> whose name I am at libert> to mention( b9t not to print.
BMarch Vth( 277V.
B*wo =rien5s o= o9rs( Mr. \. Yname given in con=i5enceZ an5 Mr. #.( live5 together till the
marriage o= Mr. \.( an5 were( there=ore( intimatel> associate5 in o9r min5s.
BIt happene5 that tho9gh Mrs. \. an5 I ha5 e?change5 car5s we ha5 not met( an5 I
merel> knew her b> sight at the time when Mr. #. also marrie5. "9t as I ha5 =o9n5 Mrs.
#. at home( I was slightl> acE9ainte5 with her.
BIt was a =ew months a=ter Mr. #.4s marriage( on the night o= Ma> 23th( 27WX( when m>
5ream occ9rre5. I was sta>ing at "ristol at the time. It seeme5 to me that I was making
m> =irst call on Mrs. #.( an5 that she procee5e5 to show me her tro9ssea9Aa thing that
wo9l5 never have occ9rre5 to her in act9al li=e( or to an> b9t ver> intimate =rien5s. )
variet> o= 5resses were 5ispla>e5( an5 as I was looking at a black-net evening 5ress( with
crimson trimmings( thinking it was ver> like one o= m> own( a s955en trans=ormation
took place. Mrs. #. ha5 change5 into Mrs. \.( an5 the 5ress was a wi5ow4s 5ress
complete. I woke ver> strongl> impresse5 with the 5ream( an5 mentione5 it to m> =ather
the ne?t morning. It ha9nte5 me till( on Ma> 2Vth or 28th( I saw the Ti(es anno9ncement
o= Mr. \.4s 5eath.
B)=terwar5s I learnt that( on the a=ternoon prece5ing m> 5ream( Mr. \. ha5 ret9rne5
home( apparentl> in his 9s9al goo5 health( onl> rather tire5( b9t within-hal=-an-ho9r ha5
5ie5 o= E9ite 9ns9specte5 heart 5isease.
BM> =ather was ill at the time o= m> 5ream( an5 5oes not remember the circ9mstance. "9t
m> sister remembers it clearl>( an5 testi=ies to the =act Yb> her initialsZ.
B). E. '.
BF. *. '.C
,e =in5 =rom the Ti(es obit9ar> o= Ma> 28( 27WX( that the 5eath took place on Ma> 23.
In answer to inE9iries( Miss '. sa>s:A
BM> sister was not with me( so I co9l5 not speak abo9t it to her. I cannot =in5 an> o= m>
letters written a=ter Ma> 23th( so 5o not know i= I wrote ii-327! to her on the 2Vth or
not. "9t she came to me Pas m> =ather was taken serio9sl> ill abo9t that 5ateQ an5 hear5
o= the 5ream an5 o= the 5eath at the time Yi.e.( she hear5 o= the 5ream at the same time as
she hear5 o= the 5eathZ. I am 2uite certain that the 5ream was on the night o= the 5a> o=
5eath( Ma> 23th.C
+ort9natel> Miss '. has been able to obtain a cop> o= a letter Ppost mark( "ristol( Ma> 2W(
27WXQ( which she wrote to a =rien5 : 5a>s a=ter her 5ream@ in which the =ollowing wor5s
occ9r:A
B1oor Mr. \. 5ie5 on ,e5nes5a>@ I 5o not know o= what.
BOn ,e5nes5a> night YMa> 23thZ Phaving hear5 nothing o= them( Mr. an5 Mrs. \.( =or
months( since I saw them looking well an5 happ> togetherQ( I 5reame5 Mrs. \. was
showing me her tro9ssea9( an5 that she calle5 special attention to an elaboratel> ma5e
shro95. /he sai5 that /cotch people alwa>s consi5ere5 these the most necessar> part o= a
tro9ssea9. *he one I saw was her h9sban54s@ hers change5 to simpl> a black 5ress( as I
looke5 at it. It was a ver> vivi5 5ream an5 impresse5 me. Last night we saw the 5eath in
the Ti(es( Ma> 23th.C
'e=erring to the acco9nt above E9ote5( Miss '. a55s:A
BI 5o not know wh> I sho9l5 have =orgotten abo9t the shro95@ this m9st have been one o=
the man> 5resses I saw be=ore the change took place. M> =rien5 5i5 not know the #.4s(
an5 5i5 not know Mr. \.( so that I le=t o9t an> s9per=l9o9s matter.C
P3V2Q +rom a niece o= the late 'ev. &. L. +oote( 'ector o= -hrist4s -h9rch( 'o?b9r>(
Litch=iel5 -o.( -onn.( U./.).
B2773.
BIn 2737( the 'ev. &eorge L. +oote 5rove with his =amil> to ,in5ham( &reene -o.( %.#.(
to visit Mrs. +oote4s mother. )t this time( his >o9ngest brother( .enr>( a=terwar5s $r. ..
.. +oote( o= %ewtown( +air=iel5 -o.( -t.( was st95>ing me5icine in $9rham( abo9t 2;
miles =rom ,in5ham( an5 living with an a9nt who resi5e5 there. Mr. +oote( with his
=amil>( arrive5 in ,in5ham on +ri5a>( an5 it was his intention to start on his ret9rn to
'o?b9r> on Mon5a>( 5e=erring his visit to his brother an5 a9nt 9ntil his ret9rn =or his
=amil> a =ew weeks later. On +ri5a> night he 5reame5 that he was taking the bo5> o= his
brother home to %ewtown in a metallic co==in( an5 that he ha5 5ie5 o= small-po?. .e
tho9ght not eno9gh o= the 5ream the ne?t 5a> to speak o= it( b9t on /at9r5a> night he
5reame5 the same 5ream in ever> partic9lar twice(
2
an5 it so impresse5 him that he was
9nable to keep it o9t o= his min5.
B*he clerg>man o= the place 5esire5 him to preach =or him on /9n5a>( an5 he consente5@
b9t 59ring the whole o= the service an5 the sermon( the recollection o= the 5ream
contin9all> intr95e5 itsel= 9pon his tho9ghts. )=ter service he tol5 his brother-in-law( O.
/. *9ttle( now o= Minneapolis( Minn.( that it was impresse5 9pon his min5 that something
was wrong at $9rham( an5 he wishe5 he wo9l5 harness his horse an5 5rive him over
there. .e accor5ingl> 5i5 so( an5 as the> 5rove 9p in =ront o= the ho9se o= his a9nt( she
came o9t 9pon the porch( an5 hol5ing 9p her han5s( e?claime5( u&eorge +ootes ,hat has
sent >o9 herer I have D9st ii-32X! pers9a5e5 .enr> to let me write to ask >o9 to come
an5 take care o= him@ he is sick with small-po?.4 )ltho9gh she ha5 ha5 the 5isease an5
conseE9entl> was not a=rai5 o= it( she knew she co9l5 not alone take care o= him( an5 that
o= all the relatives &eorge was the onl> one who co9l5 with per=ect sa=et> atten5 him( as(
while in *rinit> -ollege( .art=or5( he ha5 varioloi5( in conseE9ence o= taking care o= a
room-mate who ha5 the same 5isease. Mr. *9ttle ret9rne5 to ,in5ham( leaving Mr. +oote
to n9rse his brother thro9gh the sickness( which was so terrible that ver> =ew have ever
been so low an5 have been raise5 again to health an5 strength.
BMr. +oote 9se5 o=ten to sa> that( i= an>one ha5 been n9rsing his brother who ha5 no
special interest in him( he ha5 no 5o9bt he wo9l5 have been b9rie5@ =or at three 5i==erent
times he himsel= tho9ght the last breath ha5 been 5rawn( b9t he persevere5 in the 9se o=
restoratives( an5 b> the most assi59o9s care helpe5 =an to a =lame the apparentl> 5>ing
spark.C
Mr. .. L. +oote( son o= the 'ev. &eorge L. +oote in the narrative( writes:A
B*he above acco9nt is given b> the niece o= the 'ev. &eorge L. +oote( an5 is
s9bstantiall> the same that I have hear5 spoken o= b> the members o= m> =amil>.C
*he 'ev. '. ,hittingham( o= 1ikesville( Mar>lan5( U./.).( a -orrespon5ing Member o=
the /.1.'.( writes on /eptember X( 2773:A
B/everal >ears ago I hear5 the 'ev. Mr. &. L. +oote all95e to this 5ream as having save5
his brother4s li=e( accor5ing to his belie=. .e was ignorant o= an> e?istence o= small-po?
Yat this placeZ as it ha5 not been prevalent@ nor 5i5 it become epi5emic( altho9gh there
were three or =o9r other cases at the time.C Y*his last point is =rom a repl> o= the 'ev. &.
L. +oote himsel= to an inE9ir> which ha5 been speciall> a55resse5 to him on the s9bDect.Z
P3VUQ +rom Miss *rac>( Mawson 'oa5( /t. "arnabas( -ambri5ge Pnow Mrs. ,illiam
*rac>Q.
B$ecember( 277V.
BM> mother 5ie5 on the 22th o= +ebr9ar>( 277U( abo9t 7.:; p.m.( on a /at9r5a>( at
"eccles( /9==olk. )t that time( m> >o9ngest brother( who is blin5( was Pan5 is stillQ at the
"lin5 -ollege( ,orcester. On the evening above mentione5( he went to be5 as 9s9al( an5(
I believe( to sleep. 'ather later in the evening( one o= the masters went into the room
where m> brother was( to see i= all was right. ,hen there( he hear5 one o= the bo>s
cr>ing( an5 =o9n5 it was m> brother( who sai5 his mother ha5 come to him to sa> goo5-
b>e( as she was going awa>( [c. It was some time be=ore he co9l5 be E9iete5. .e 5i5 not
hear o= his mother4s 5eath 9ntil the Mon5a> =ollowing. .e was at the time X >ears ol5.
B*his is as nearl> as possible what I was tol5 nearl> =o9r >ears ago. I= the master who
hear5 him was =o9n5 o9t( he wo9l5 be able to give it more correctl>.
BE. M. *')-#.C
In conversation with a =rien5 o= o9rs( who ma5e inE9iries on o9r behal=( Miss *rac> sai5
that her mother ha5 5ie5 ver> s955enl>. /he ha5 complaine5 o= a slight hea5ache abo9t V
o4clock( an5 5ie5 between 7 an5 7.:;. /he was 9nconscio9s =or some time be=ore she
5ie5@ there=ore it wo9l5 have been impossible to tell the e?act moment o= her 5eath@ ii-
3U;! an5 in the consternation o= the moment the> 5i5 not look at the time. *he bo> sai5
that he ha5 seen his mother Pit appears that he alwa>s speaks o= seeing people( tho9gh
E9ite blin5Q@ that he ha5 trie5 to hol5 her( b9t that she ha5 slippe5 awa> =rom him. .e 5i5
not re=er to the vision the ne?t morning( nor has he ever all95e5 to it since@ an5 the> 5o
not wish him to be remin5e5 o= the circ9mstance.C
*he Ti(es obit9ar> con=irms the 5ate given( an5 the =act that the 5eath was s955en.
*he =ollowing letter is =rom the 'ev. /. &. +orster( .ea5-Master o= the "lin5 -ollege(
,orcester.
B$ecember 2Wth( 277V.
B*he =acts o= the bo> *rac>4s 5ream( as elicite5 =rom himsel=( are that he 5reame5 on the
/at9r5a> night( 59ring the night Pan5 5i5 not wake 9p till W a.m. ne?t morningQ( that his
mother was 5ea5( an5 was being b9rie5 in part o= o9r ol5 place calle5 *he /wings. .is
mother( as I 9n5erstan5 Pb9t Miss *rac> co9l5 clear this 9pQ( 5ie5 at 7 p.m. on /at9r5a>
night. *rac> wo9l5 go to be5 at X or X.2V( an ho9r or so a=ter the occ9rrence. Owing to
the s9rprise an5 tro9ble at home( we 5i5 not hear o= it b> letter till the Mon5a> a=ter.
B/. &. +O'/*E'.C
In repl> to inE9iries( Mr. +orster writes on Fan9ar> V( 2778:A
BI 5o not remember who the partic9lar person was to whom he tol5 his 5ream( b9t I can
5istinctl> state we all knew o= it( an5 that the 5ream was 5escribe5 be=ore the =act was
known.C
Mr. +orster s9bseE9entl> ascertaine5 that the 5ream was =irst relate5( not to a master( b9t
to Mr. L. &. /an5=or5( one o= his p9pils( who has written to 9s as =ollows:A
BIcomb 'ector>( /tow-on-the-,ol5.
B+ebr9ar> 2Uth( 2778.
BI regret that( at this 5istance( I cannot give >o9 5ates. )s =ar as m> recollections go(
*rac> tol5 me o= his 5ream on the morning =ollowing the night on which he ha5 it. It was
simpl> that his mother ha5 5ie5. "e>on5 this( it was mi?e5 9p with all the inconsistencies
an5 abs9r5ities common to 5reams( an5 which I 5o not think it necessar> to mention(
9nless >o9 partic9larl> wish to hear them. *he news o= his mother4s 5eath reache5 him on
the 5a> a=ter he tol5 me o= his 5ream( her 5eath having happene5 on the same 5a>Athat
is( the 5a> on which he tol5 me. I believe she 5ie5 late in the a=ternoon( b9t o= this I am
not s9re.
BL. &. /)%$+O'$.C
P3V:Q +rom a la5> who pre=ers that her name sho9l5 not appear.
BM> =ather was one o= a =amil> o= U2 chil5ren( between man> o= whom nat9rall> little or
no comm9nication was kept 9p in a=ter >ears. )mong them was an 9ncle living at
"lackheath( whose wi=e I ha5 never seen( an5 all I knew o= her was that she was s9==ering
=rom a mortal 5isease( b9t o= her prospects o= a more or less prolonge5 li=e I ha5 hear5
nothing( nor ha5 m> tho9ghts been in an> wa> t9rne5 towar5s herAwhen one /9n5a>
night( while I was on a visit to an a9nt in .ampshire( I 5reamt that I ha5 a letter =rom m>
a9nt at "lackheath( 9rgentl> pressing me to come an5 see her. )ccor5ingl> in m> 5ream I
set o9t( an5 travelling all night( arrive5 at "lackheath on Mon5a> morning. I was ii-3U2!
shown 9p to m> a9nt4s room( who lamente5 to me that she ha5 been so m9ch estrange5
=rom o9r branch o= the =amil>( an5 a=ter talking =or a while( she looke5 at her watch an5
sai5( uIt is a E9arter past 7( now >o9 m9st go4@ telling me to go 5own to the others. I ha5
great 5i==ic9lt> in =in5ing m> wa> in an 9nknown ho9se( an5 was a long time abo9t it( b9t
at last( when I saw b> m> watch that it was a E9arter to X( I reache5 the 5ining-room( an5
=o9n5 there a n9mber o= m> relations in mo9rning( who e?plaine5 it b> sa>ing that m>
a9nt was 5ea5.
BIn the morning I ha5 a ver> vivi5 impression o= m> 5ream( which I tol5 to m> relations
with whom I was sta>ing@ an5 I ha5 so strong a =eeling o= the realit> o= the intimation(
that I wrote privatel> to m> 5ressmaker to co9nterman5 a pink silk 5ress that I ha5
or5ere5. *he ne?t 5a>( when a mo9rning letter arrive5( I sai5( u%ow >o9 will see that
)9nt Eli]a is 5ea5.4 )n5 so it prove5 to be the case( m> a9nt having 5ie5 at 7.:; on
Mon5a> morning( mi5wa> between the time at which she ha5 tol5 me in m> 5ream that I
m9st go( an5 the time I reache5 the 5ining-room where her relations tol5 me that she was
5ea5. It will be observe5 that m> 5ream was several ho9rs be=ore the act9al 5eath.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the 5eath occ9rre5 on +ebr9ar> U( 278X( which
was a Mon5a>.
Y*he co9nterman5ing o= the pink 5ress ma> certainl> be taken as a sign that the 5ream
pro59ce5 an e?ceptional impression. *he narrator is o9t o= Englan5( an5 we have been
9nable to obtain the corroboration o= her relatives.Z
P3V3Q +rom Mr. 'ichar5 Mo9ntDo> &ar5iner P/olicitorQ( 7( "ath *errace( "l>th( an5 2:(
&roat Market( %ewcastle-on-*>ne.
B+ebr9ar> 8th( 2773.
BIn 27WV I was in a sailing ship bo9n5 =or )9stralia. )mongst the o==icers on boar5 was
one o= m> 5earest =rien5s@ he was thir5 mate( an5 ha5 to keep watch =rom 7 to 2U on the
=orecastle. I invariabl> ma5e it a r9le to sta> with him 59ring his watch. One night( a=ter
his 59t> was over( instea5 o= sta>ing =or an ho9r an5 smoking a pipe as was his general
c9stom( he ut9rne5 in.4 I remaine5 smoking an5 talking to the sailors. )bo9t 2.2V m>
=rien5 came 9p to me in a ver> e?cite5 manner an5 sai5( uI am s9re that the MaDor4 Pwho
was his =atherQ uis 5ea5( as I 5reamt I saw him p9t in his co==in.4 I trie5 to calm him as
m9ch as I co9l5( an5 tol5 him it was nonsense. .owever( he wo9l5 not go back to his
cabin that night( so we remaine5 on 5eck 9ntil morning. ,ith the ret9rn o= 5a>light he
recovere5 his spirits( an5 =elt incline5 to la9gh at his 5ream. In the evening he kept watch
as 9s9al( b9t again t9rne5 in a =ew min9tes past 2U. I remaine5 on 5eck@ abo9t 2.2; he
came r9shing 9p an5 sai5 he knew his =ather was 5ea5 as he ha5 seen the co==in p9t into
the hearse( an5 ha5 =ollowe5 it to 0ensal &reen -emeter>( an5 ha5 seen it lowere5 into
the grave. I took him into m> cabin an5 ma5e him sleep in m> b9nk. .e was ver> E9iet
=or a =ew 5a>s a=ter( an5 co9l5 not bear to have the s9bDect mentione5. .owever( he
shortl> recovere5 his 9s9al goo5 spirits. YOn their arrival at Melbo9rne( a letter conve>ing
the news o= his =ather4s 5eath was =o9n5 there.Z )=ter a =ew weeks he was able to calml>
talk the matter over( an5 on o9r cons9lting o9r 5iaries( we =o9n5 that his =ather ha5 5ie5
on the same night as his =irst 5ream( an5 ii-3UU! was b9rie5 on the secon5. On o9r
ret9rn to Englan5( we ascertaine5 Pa=ter calc9lating the 5i==erence o= timeQ that his =ather
5ie5 an5 was b9rie5 at the e.act ti(e that he 5reame5 it. *he most c9rio9s thing was that
he 5ie5 at an hotel in .arle>Y~Z /treet( -aven5ish /E9are( Lon5on( o= 5rops>( an5 the
proprietressA=or the convenience o= her visitorsAreE9este5 that he might be b9rie5 the
5a> a=ter he 5ie5( which was 5one. *here are others besi5es m>sel= who can vo9ch that
the whole o= what I have written is tr9e.
B)nother c9rio9s =act abo9t m> =rien54s 5ream was that he 5reame5 his =ather was b9rie5
at Iensal 7reen( which was the =act( tho9gh his =amil> va9lt is at "rompton -emeter>(
b9t =or some reason there was not time to go thro9gh the necessar> =ormalities to have it
opene5.
B'I-.)'$ MOU%*FO# &)'$I%E'.C
Y,e hope in time to receive an acco9nt o= this inci5ent =rom the 5reamer himsel=( Mr. &.(
who is now on 5istant service. InE9iries have been ma5e at ever> lo5ging-ho9se an5
private hotel in .arle> /treet( b9t most o= them have change5 han5s since 27WV( an5 we
co9l5 obtain no recor5 o= the 5eath. *here is probabl> some mistake as to the 0ensal
&reen -emeter>@ =or we =in5 that no MaDor &. was b9rie5 there in 27WV. "9t apart =rom
this( it is 5i==ic9lt to see how the statement as to the secon5 5ream can possibl> be correct.
+or since the letter ha5 time to o9tstrip Mr. &ar5iner4s ship( that ship m9st have been
E9ite 8 weeks4 sail =rom )9stralia at the time o= 5eath( an5 probabl> not =ar east o= long.
;. *o have e?actl> coinci5e5( there=ore( with the secon5 5ream( the =9neral wo9l5 have
ha5 to take place at mi5night. It will be observe5 that the secon5 5ream( while 5i==ic9lt to
acco9nt =or b> telepath>( wo9l5 be a ver> nat9ral seE9el to the =irst. Cf. case 387 below.Z
P3VVQ +rom Mr. &. .. +. 1r>nne( 2;( *orrington /E9are( ,.-.( who wrote the =ollowing
letter to his mother( =rom )9stralia( in the a9t9mn o= 27W3:A
BI was e?tremel> sorr> to hear Yin a letter =rom his motherZ o= the sa5 5eath o= poor Miss
E. I remember her ver> well( an5 have her name in m> 5iar> =or 27W2 mentione5 several
times( an5 it is a most e?traor5inar> thing that on the night o= the Wth o= )pril Por 7thQ( I
am not E9ite certain which( I ha5 an e?traor5inar> 5ream.
BI 5reamt I was walking along some roa5 with 5ear *e5( an5 that I met two people(
carr>ing a bo?. ,e both aske5 to see the contents. *hese gloom> personages stoo5 still(
p9t the bo? on the roa5( an5 then ran o==. I came an5 opene5 the bo?( which I ha5 no
sooner 5one than a 5ea5 han5 o= a corpse =ell on to mine. I can well remember the =eeling
o= horror that came over me( an5 I ran back( sa>ing I wo9l5 not e?amine the bo? =9rther.
*he =ace seeme5 to me like that o= E5ith L. E55ie sai5 he -ould see who it was( an5 on
ret9rning I =o9n5 it to be the corpse o= some well-known person( which in the latter part
o= the 5ream I recognise5 to be that o= Miss E.
2

B*he 5ream seeme5 so m9ch o9t o= the or5inar> that I tol5 it =9ll> to .. an5 two other
=rien5s at break=ast( an5 also to the ,.4s two 5a>s a=terwar5s.C
ii-3U:!
-olonel ".( =ather o= the Miss E. re=erre5 to( writes that Mr. 1r>nne ha5 met his 5a9ghter
a =ew times( in 27W2( when she was abo9t 23 >ears ol5@ an5 that she 5ie5 on )pril 7th(
27W3. +rom the Ti(es obit9ar>( we =in5 that she 5ie5 in the morning o= that 5a>. *h9s
whether the 5ream in )9stralia was on the night o= the Wth or o= the 7th( it ma> ver> well
have been within 2U ho9rs o= the 5eath.
YMr. 1r>nne has trie5 to proc9re corroborative testimon> to his imme5iate mention o= the
5ream@ b9t his =rien5s have move5( an5 he has not >et s9ccee5e5. .e is certain that his
5ream was on one o= the nights mentione5( tho9gh he 5oes not now recall what enable5
him to =i? it so acc9ratel> some months a=terwar5s. It will be observe5 that the 5o9bt
which he =elt between two nights is a strong in5ication that he ha5 some in5epen5ent
means o= narrowing 5own the time to that e?tent. .e believes that he mentione5 his
5ream in a letter to his mother at the time( before hearing o= the 5eath@ b9t no s9ch letter
can now be =o9n5.Z
P3V8Q +rom Mrs. Mogri5ge( o= 2:W( -owbri5ge 'oa5( -anton( -ar5i==.
BFan9ar> :r5( 2773.
BM> little girl( age5 W( came into m> room on the morning o= the UVth o= $ecember(
277U. /he sai5( uOh( mamma( I have ha5 s9ch a 5ream: I saw bab> .arris in a little bo?
on the table 5ownstairs( an5 her han5s were crosse5@ an5 she looke5 so white.4 YMr.
Mogri5ge tells 9s that the .arrises were acE9aintances in a 5istant part o= the town.Z I am
certain she ha5 not seen the chil5( nor ha5 she hear5 9s speak o= it or the =amil>( an5 I 5o
not think she ha5 seen it more than once 59ring the =o9r months o= its li=e.
BOn the evening o= the UVth or U8th( m> 5a9ghter( age5 2W( tol5 me o= the 5eath o= the
chil5( which took place on the night o= the U3th. )n5 a 5a> or two a=ter( the mother took
m> little girl into her ho9se( an5 showe5 her the chil5 in the co==in on the table Pwhere it
ha5 been place5 =or the convenience o= the inE9estQ( e?actl> as she ha5 5escribe5 it to me
in her 5ream.
BM. ). MO&'I$&E.C
*he 5eath was ca9se5 s955enl> b> an acci5ent@ an5 the 'egister o= $eaths con=irms the
5ate given.
Y,e sho9l5 not be 5ispose5 to la> stress on the correspon5ence here( be>on5 the simple
coinci5ence o= the 5eath. *he 5etails were not written 5own( an5 ma> have crept in
a=terwar5s@ an5 in an> case the co==in( as we have =o9n5( is a ver> common 5ream-
s>mbol. *he case is one o= those where personal knowle5ge o= the witness has been a
speciall> important element in o9r D95gment.Z
P3VWQ +rom a la5> whose =rien5s wo9l5 pre=er that her name sho9l5 not appear.
B2773.
BI ha5 a 5ear =rien5 at Il=racombeAthe wi=e o= the inc9mbent( the 'ev. ,. M. ,e 5i5 not
correspon5 m9ch( an5 I ha5 not seen her =or some months. I went 5own to 1l>mo9th( an5
the =irst night( as the rooms we took were not E9ite rea5> =or 9s( m> =rien5( Miss 1.( slept
with me. I awoke =rightene5 an5 sa5( having 5reamt th9s:A
BI sat in a wi5e hall in some 9nknown ho9se. Mrs. M. entere5 an5 walke5 slowl> towar5s
me 5resse5 in white( with a long 5ark cloak over ii-3U3! her snow> robes. )s she neare5
me she 9ncovere5 her arm( an5 I saw that she was carr>ing a little 5ea5 bab>. )s I looke5
at her( I =elt that she was ma5( an5 >et 5ea5( toos Mr. M. =ollowe5 her( an5 signe5 to me
that her min5 was gone. It was her pallor that ma5e me =eel she was a spirit@ the
e?pression in her e>es tol5 me she was insane( or 5elirio9s. Mrs. M.( a=ter showing me
the 5ea5 chil5( t9rne5 silentl> awa> an5 went 9p a staircase on to the roo=( which was a
=lat roo=. Mr. M. an5 I =ollowe5 her. /he 59g with her han5s at this roo=( an5 earth
seeme5 to come 9p. /he b9rie5 the bab> in this earth( then l>ing 5own 9pon this strange
grave she sank thro9gh it( an5 5isappeare5 =rom sight. I awoke( an5 woke Miss 1.( an5
relate5 m> 5ream. /he soothe5 m> alarm( an5( being ver> tire5( I =ell asleep. *he 5ream
was repeate5( an5 be=ore morning I ha5 5reamt it three times(
2
an5 knew( instinctivel>( it
was in some wa> tr9e.
B*hro9gho9t the 5a> I was restless an5 9nhapp>. *he ne?t morning a 5eepl>-e5ge5 letter
came( an5 as I saw the black-rimme5 envelope I crie5 o9t( uOh( m> 5ream( m> 5reams
Mrs. M. is 5ea5s4 )n5 so it was. /he ha5 been premat9rel> con=ine5 o= a 5ea5 chil5@ ha5
5eliri9m an5 =ever( an5 5ie5 9nconscio9s( or rather( insane( on the night o= m> 5ream.C
,e =in5 =rom a notice in the "estern Ti(es that the 5eath occ9rre5 on %ov. 2:( 278U.
In answer to inE9iries( the narrator sa>s:A
BM> =rien5 Miss 1.( who was with me that night( I have lost sight o= =or >ears. #es( I o=ten
5ream( b9t I have not realise5 a 5eath in an ill9strate5 =orm e?cept that once.C
YOne rather 5istr9sts this amo9nt o= 5etail( remembere5 a=ter a lapse o= a goo5 man>
>ears@ b9t some kin5 o= 5eath-imager> was probabl> a =eat9re in the 5ream.Z
P3V7Q +rom Mrs. ,ilhams( 2( ,ilmington 1lace( -lerkenwell( ,.-. ) shorter acco9nt
was given in writing to o9r =rien5( the 'ev. ). *. +r>er( in +ebr9ar>( 277:( imme5iatel>
a=ter the receipt o= news o= the 5eath.
BFan9ar> 2st( 2778.
BI ha5 an 9ncle( =ather4s brother( living in "irmingham. On the night o= the U2st
$ecember( 277U( I 5reamt that I saw him stan5ing b> m> be5si5e. I saw him E9ite plainl>(
an5 he sai5( uI= >o9 wish to see me( >o9 m9st come at once.4 )=terwar5s I saw him in a
cart( lai5 in a co==in. I woke m> h9sban5 an5 tol5 him abo9t itAsai5 that I =elt s9re
something ha5 happene5. .e sai5 it was onl> =anc>( an5 tol5 me to go to sleep. In the
morning we talke5 abo9t it again. *he UUn5 $ecember was the anniversar> o= o9r
we55ing( an5 that =i?e5 the 5ate o= the 5ream in o9r min5s. ,e hear5 nothing abo9t the
5eath 9ntil +ebr9ar> Xth( 277:( when( in answer to a letter =rom m> h9sban5( the enclose5
car5 an5 letter came =rom m> a9nt in "irmingham. *he impression on m> min5 was
certainl> that something ha5 happene5 to m> 9ncle. *he 5ream m9st have been within a
=ew ho9rs( as he 5ie5 at V a.m. UUn5 $ecember( an5 it was in the night o= the U2stTUUn5
that I ha5 the 5ream an5 woke m> h9sban5.C
ii-3UV!
*he =ollowing is an e?tract( copie5 b> the present writer( =rom the letter written to Mrs.
,illiams b> her a9nt:A
B+ebr9ar> 7th( 277:.
BI have lost m> poor brother. .e went to be5 on the U;th $ecember@ on the U2st I =o9n5
him( at X o4clock in the morning( in a =it. I sent Y=orZ a 5octor. .e never spoke( an5 5ie5
the ne?t morning at V o4clockAon the UUn5. 1oor =ellows %ow I am le=t witho9t
an>one.C
*he enclose5 mo9rning-car5 contains these wor5s:ABIn a==ectionate remembrance o=
$avi5 &illan( who 5eparte5 this li=e $ecember UUn5( 277U( age5 83 >ears. Interre5 at
,itton -emeter>( $ecember U7th.C
In conversation( Mrs. ,illiams tol5 me that she 5i5 not remember having 5reamt o=
5eath( or o= her 9ncle( on an> other occasion. .er h9sban5 state5 to me that his wi=e
woke him imme5iatel> a=ter her 5ream( an5 that she tol5 him the 5etails o= it ne?t
morning( an5 that the> note5 the 5ate as being the anniversar> o= their we55ing. I aske5
to see their marriage-certi=icate( an5 =o9n5 that it was =or $ec. UU( 27WU. Mrs. ,illiams
was not aware o= an>thing being amiss with her 9ncle( nor ha5 she =or a long time
previo9sl> hear5 o= his being ill in an> wa> at all. .is 5eath was s955en.
*he ne?t case is( o= all the 5reams incl95e5 in this book( the one least eas> to harmonise
with the view o= telepath> that the great b9lk o= o9r evi5ence s9pports( owing to the
absence o= an> perceptible link between agent an5 percipient. I= we co9l5 s9ppose that
we ha5 lighte5 on the one 5eath-5ream Po= those occ9rring 59ring the last 2U >ears(
within o9r circle o= inE9ir>Q which b> the 5octrine o= chances might probabl> have
coinci5e5 with realit> b, accident PVol. I.( p. :;8Q( this wo9l5 be the one to select. "9t
tho9gh the t>pe is abnormal we sho9l5 not be D9sti=ie5 in s9ppressing e?amples o= it on
that acco9nt@ an5 the Bbor5erlan5C cases( %os. 3X; an5 V;8( o= the ne?t chapter( might be
a559ce5 as somewhat similar.
2

P3VXQ +rom Miss E. +. .ow( /tain=orth .o9se( Upper -lapton( E.
B)pril( 2773.
B$ate o= 5ream( night between F9ne U;th an5 U2st( 277:. )ge U7. .ealth per=ect. Y*he
=orm o= these sentences is 59e to the =act that the in=ormation was =ille5 in on a cens9s-
=orm PVol. I.( p. :;3Q.Z *he 5ream was so vivi5 that I 5escribe5 the 5etails to m> mother@
it was o= a chil5 being b9rie5 alive b> two men servants. I aske5 its name( an5 was tol5 it
was a +it]geral5( in=ant son o= the 0night o= 0err>. *he impression was most 5istressing(
an5 remaine5 all 5a>( an5 ret9rne5 in a less 5egree whenever an>thing recalle5 the 5ream.
)t the ii-3U8! time I knew absol9tel> nothing abo9t the 0night o= 0err>: I 5i5 not even
know whether he was a marrie5 man.
BOn F9ne UVth( I saw in the paper an anno9ncement o= the 5eath o= the onl> chil5 o= the
0night o= 0err>( on F9ne U2st. Y,e have veri=ie5 the 5ate in the Ti(es an5 in "9rke4s
*eerage.Z *his at once recalle5 the 5ream( which I ha5 entirel> =orgotten.
BI acco9nte5 =or this coinci5ence b> imagining m> e>e ha5 9nconscio9sl> =allen 9pon
some paragraph mentioning the illness o= the chil5( b9t I am tol5 there never was an>
anno9ncement o= the kin5.
B)ll the 5etails o= the 5ream were wrong.
BE. +. .O,.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss .ow a55s:A
B*he whole o= the 5ream( with man> 5etails now =a5e5 =rom m> memor>( was tol5 to m>
mother on the morning o= F9ne U2st. /he la9ghe5 at the 5ream( b9t on F9ne U8th she
greete5 me with: uI have seen in a paper that the 0night o= 0err> 5i5 lose a chil5 the
night
2
o= >o9r 5ream@ >o9 m9st have seen that it was ill.4 I ha5 then also seen the
anno9ncement in the paper.
B*his winter I met some =rien5s o= the present 0night o= 0err>( an5 =rom them hear5 that
there ha5 been no notice in the paper e?cepting o= the birth o= the chil5.C
)ske5 whether she ha5 previo9sl> known that the =amil> name o= the 0night o= 0err>
was +it]geral5( Miss .ow replies that she ha5( having once met a member o= the =amil>
abroa5.
*he =ollowing is =rom Mrs. .ow:A
B/tain=orth .o9se( Upper -lapton( Lon5on( E.
B)pril UVth( 2773.
BOn the morning o= F9ne U2st( 277:( m> 5a9ghter relate5 to me( in 5etail( a vivi5 5ream
she ha5 the night be=ore.
BI remember per=ectl> that when she came 5own in the morning she sai5 she 5reamt that
the in=ant son o= the 0night o= 0err>( a little +it]geral5( was being b9rie5 alive@ that she
str9ggle5 to save it( b9t =elt no s9rprise at the people tr>ing to b9r> it alive. ) =ew 5a>s
a=terwar5s I saw the 5eath o= a >o9ng son o= the 0night o= 0err> in the paper( the 5ate
being F9ne U2st.
B+')%-E/ ). .O,.C
Y*he acc9rac> o= Mrs. .ow4s recollection is shown b> her =9rther mention o= some
5etails o= the 5ream( which Miss .ow ha5 previo9sl> comm9nicate5 to 9s( b9t ha5 not in
an> wa> recalle5 to her mother4s memor>.Z
In connection with 5eath-imager> o= a gloom> kin5( I ma> remin5 the rea5er o= the
passage in &9er]oni4s 7aribaldi P+lorence( 277U( Vol. I.( pp. :X7TXQ( in which &aribal5i
5escribes his 5ream o= a =9neral procession( o= a corpse with his mother4s =ace lai5 5own
besi5e him( an5 o= his impression o= an ice-col5 han5( remaining even a=ter he was
awake. BOn that 5a>(C he contin9es( Ban5 in that ho9r( I lost m> parent( the best o=
mothers.C *he 5ream occ9rre5 on March 2X( ii-3UW! 27VU( when &aribal5i was on a
vo>age to -hina@ an5 there is nothing to s9ggest that he knew his mother4s 5eath to be
impen5ing.
I will concl95e the list o= s>mbolic 5reams with the e?ample mentione5 in Vol. I.( p. :87(
where a partic9lar 5ream( not in itsel= s9ggestive o= 5eath( has on a noticeable n9mber o=
occasions more or less nearl> coinci5e5 with 5eaths a==ecting the 5reamer. I nee5 not
repeat the remarks alrea5> ma5e as to the total inconcl9siveness o= most allege5
specimens o= this class( an5 the proneness o= mankin5 in general to remark an5 recor5 the
=ew hits( an5 not the tho9san5s o= misses.
P38;Q +rom Mrs. "9rton( Longner .all( /hrewsb9r>(
B+ebr9ar>( 277:.
BI am a health> woman( in a responsible position( neither 5>speptic( h>sterical( nor
morbi5( an5 m> min5 is chie=l> occ9pie5 with matters o= b9siness. I am 32 >ears o= age(
an5 a gran5mother.
BEver since I was U2( the =ollowing 5ream has occ9rre5 with certain varieties:AIn m>
sleep I see s955enl>( b> a brilliant light( a nake5 in=ant( either l>ing in or =alling into a
bath. /ometimes I see a person stan5ing b> the bath whom I recognise( which gives me a
cl9e on waking( b> which I know in what =amil> the 5eath is likel> to take place@ at other
times I onl> see the in=ant an5 the bath@ then I know I shall hear o= a 5eath within 2U
ho9rs( an5 I s9==er an?io9s s9spense 9ntil I hear the news.
BI sho9l5 wear> >o9 i= I relate5 all the strange =9l=ilments o= this 5ream( b9t am willing to
sen5 >o9 a =ew instances with 5ates( [c.( i= >o9 wish it.
P2Q BOn the night o= the UXth o= Fan9ar>( 27W:( I 5reamt that I saw a bab> in a bath. ,hen
the postbag came in the morning( I sai5 to m> h9sban5( u1lease 5on4t open it >et( I am
s9re there will be news o= a 5eath in it( b9t I can4t tell whose@ none o= o9r =rien5s are ill(
an5 the 5ream was so vag9e.4 .e la9ghe5( an5 procee5e5 to open the bag@ it containe5 a
letter =rom the 'ev. /. ).( anno9ncing the 5eath o= his onl> bo>. Y.ere the 5reamer ha5 no
knowle5ge o= the illness o= the person who 5ie5.Z
PUQ BOn the night o= )pril U3th( 27WW( I 5reamt that I saw an in=ant in a bath. On the UVth(
I hear5 that m> co9sin( ". -.( ha5 5ie5 on the U3th. Y.ere the 5reamer ha5 no knowle5ge
o= the illness o= the person who 5ie5.Z
P:Q BOn F9ne 22th( 27WW( while asleep in a chair( I 5reamt that I saw m> h9sban54s a9nt(
Mrs. ".( looking at an in=ant in a bath@ she was 5resse5 in white( with a strong light ro9n5
her. /he 5ie5 in the evening o= that 5a>. Y.ere the 5reamer knew o= the illness o= the
person who 5ie5.Z
P3Q B"e=ore m> h9sban54s 5eath on %ovember 2Wth( 277;( I ha5 m> warning 5ream. I
seeme5 to stan5 in 5eep mo9rning watching an in=ant in a bath. Y.ere the 5ream prece5e5
the 5eath b> more than a 5a>. *he h9sban5 ha5 been long ill( b9t his imme5iate 5eath was
not e?pecte5.Z
B-. /. "U'*O%.C
,e =in5 the above 5ates o= 5eath in cases 2( :( an5 3( con=irme5 b> the Ti(es obit9ar>(
an5 that in case U b> the 'egister o= $eaths.
ii-3U7!
YMrs. ". has kept a 5iar> o= her 5reams( which shows that she has ha5 several 5reams o=
acci5ents which have never taken place. /he tho9ght that she ha5 never ha5 the 5ream o=
a bab> in a bath witho9t receiving newsA9s9all> within 2U ho9rs or thereabo9ts( an5
never later than U 5a>s a=terAo= the 5eath o= a relative( =rien5( or at least acE9aintance or
servant@ b9t on more min9te inE9ir>( it prove5 that in one case there ha5 been an interval
o= as man> as 22 5a>s. /he promise5 to keep in =9t9re a more care=9ll> written recor5@
b9t writing in March( 2778( she sa>s that she now sel5om 5reams( an5 seems to be losing
her sensitiveness. /he has no i5ea wh> the telepathic impressions o= 5eath Pi= s9ch the>
co9l5 be consi5ere5Q sho9l5 associate themselves in her min5 with these partic9lar
images.Z
S V. I now come to the large class o= Bclairvo>antC 5reamsAthis wor5 being 9se5 in the
restricte5 sense e?plaine5 in Vol. I.( pp. :87TX. *he perception still varies greatl> both in
clearness an5 amo9nt( an5 o=ten =oreign elements are intro59ce5@ so that this class 5i==ers
rather in 5egree than in kin5 =rom the last. *he cases are so n9mero9s that I m9st present
some o= them in an abri5ge5 =orm@ b9t I shall s9ppress no item which co9l5 be regar5e5
as a weak point in the evi5ence.
I will =irst give a case which( tho9gh secon5-han5( rests on the a9thorit> o= two persons to
whom the 5ream was narrate5 be=ore the realit> was known. *he whole labo9r bestowe5
on the present work wo9l5 be ampl> repai5 i= b> its means hal=-a-5o]en s9ch inci5ents(
which wo9l5 otherwise have been le=t to =loat( like this one( on the 9ncertain ti5e o=
h9man memor>( obtaine5 imme5iatel> an5 =or ever the sec9rit> o= a written recor5.
P382Q +rom the "ishop o= "e5=or5( who( in Fan9ar>( 277:( correcte5 =or 9s the acco9nt
that appeare5 in the !pectator =or /ept. X( 277U( a=ter comparing it with the written
recor5. *he acco9nt was written 5own( he sa>s( Bnot less than =rom U; to UV >ears a=ter
the occ9rrence( probabl> a =ew >ears later still. I aske5 m> =ather an5 a9nt to veri=> an5
correct m> acco9nt( which the> 5i5.C
B/tain=orth .o9se( Upper -lapton( E.
BFan9ar>( 277:.
B,hen m> =ather( Mr. ,. ,>bergh .ow( was a >o9ng man( he le=t his home( which was
at Isell( near -ockermo9th( to settle in /hrewsb9r> as a solicitor. In the >ear 272X he
revisite5 -9mberlan5( sta>ing o= co9rse with his =ather( the Vicar o= Isell. .e an5 his
sister( Miss -hristian .ow( who was to ret9rn with him to /hrewsb9r>( ha5 arrange5 to
leave on a certain Mon5a>( an5 to spen5 that night with a =ormer governess( who was
marrie5 to a Mr. +orrest( an5 live5 at Everton. On the /9n5a>( a=ter ch9rch( Mr. an5 Mrs.
,>bergh( m> =ather4s 9ncle an5 a9nt( who live5 at Isell .all( tol5 them the> ha5 invite5 a
part> o= >o9ng people =or the Mon5a> night( an5 wo9l5 not hear o= their leaving that 5a>.
*he> were pers9a5e5 to sta>( an5 wrote to Mrs. +orrest( altho9gh =earing ii-3UX! there
was no post which wo9l5 reach her sooner than the> themselves wo9l5 on *9es5a> night.
*he part> was a ver> merr> one( a large n9mber o= their ol5 =rien5s being there. *he onl>
=act I nee5 name at present is that a Miss .arriet +enton( a >o9ng la5> who ha5 latel> lost
her brother an5 was in 5eep mo9rning( sat most o= the evening alone 9pon a so=a( not
Doining in the am9sements o= the rest.
BM> =ather an5 his sister reache5 Everton b> the coach on *9es5a> night@ an5 when the>
e?plaine5 the reason o= their 5ela> Mrs. +orrest tol5 them( when the coach ha5 come in
the night be=ore witho9t them( she ha5 gone to be5( an5 ha5 5reame5 it was a part> =or
which the> ha5 sta>e5( an5 that she ha5 5reamt o= being there. ) little later( while the>
were at s9pper( she sai5 she m9st tell them her 5ream( as it was so won5er=9ll> vivi5@ an5
=irst o= all( she tol5 them who were there. )s she ha5 been governess at the vicarage( an5
knew all the neighbo9rs( this e?cite5 little s9rprise. /he then( however( went on to
5escribe the most min9te circ9mstances o= the evening( sa>ing she ha5 seen some o=
them 5resse5 9p in =anc> 5resses an5 5ancing abo9t in them@ that the> ha5 got a 5irt>
ro9n5 table( which she ha5 never seen be=ore( into the 5rawing-room( an5 were eating
something o9t o= a bowl 9pon it Pthe> ha5 a s>llab9b( an5 someone sa>ing it m9st be
eaten =rom a ro9n5 table( one was sent =or =rom the kitchenQ@ that ol5 Mr. an5 Mrs.
,>bergh an5 ol5 Mr. an5 Mrs. .ow( who were pla>ing at "oston in the inner 5rawing-
room( came in an5 aske5 what the> were 5oing( =in5ing =a9lt with them =or having
bro9ght in the 5irt> kitchen table@ that the ol5 people were not allowe5 to come to the
ro9n5 table( b9t were tol5 the> might taste what was in the bowl@ with other min9te
5etails. Mrs. +orrest ha5 tol5 her h9sban5 the 5ream earl> in the morning in be5( an5 ha5
a=terwar5s tol5 her chil5ren( one o= whom correcte5 her in her narrative( sa>ing( uOh(
mamma( >o9 tol5 9s so-an5-so this morning(4 the correction being the tr9e version o=
what ha5 occ9rre5. M> =ather an5 his sister were ver> greatl> startle5 an5 asto9n5e5 as
Mrs. +orrest went on( b9t were still more so when she en5e5 b> sa>ing( u)n5 I was sitting
all the evening on the so=a( b> the si5e o= a >o9ng wi5ow la5>s4 *his was the onl>
mistake@ b9t >ears a=terwar5s I met this la5> Pthen Miss +entonQ( an5 we spoke o= this
won5er=9l 5ream@ an5 she tol5 me it was not so ver> =ar =rom being all tr9e( =or she was
at the time engage5 to be marrie5( an5 5i5 marr> ver> shortl>( an5 her h9sban5 5ie5 on
their wa> o9t to In5ia 5irectl> a=terwar5s.
BI have onl> to a55 that the letter written to Mrs. +orrest arrive5 the morning a=ter( i.e.( on
the ,e5nes5a>. *he narrative was Pwith the one sing9lar e?ception mentione5Q a
per=ectl> acc9rate acco9nt o= all that took place to the min9test 5etails( an5 the 5ream
appears to have been 5reamt at Everton at the ver> time o= the occ9rrence o= the events at
Isell. M> =ather an5 m> a9nt( be=ore their 5eath( veri=ie5 an5 vo9che5 =or the above stor>.
B,. ,)L/.)M "E$+O'$(C
B"ishop /9==ragan =or East Lon5on.C
P38UQ +rom Mr. F. 'i5le>( 2X( "elsi]e 1ark( %.,.( who tells 9s that he has ha5 no other
impressive 5ream o= 5eath.
BMarch Vth( 277V.
B,hilst sta>ing at Mrs. M.4s in F9ne( 278W( on the night either o= F9ne :r5 or 3th( I ha5 a
vivi5 5ream that I saw an ol5 =rien5 Yname ii-3:;! given in con=i5enceZ l>ing 5ea5 with
a wo9n5 in his hea5Anoting the colo9r o= his hair an5 other partic9lars. I tol5 Mrs. M. o=
this 5ream( an5 later in the 5a> we hear5 that the =rien5 I ha5 seen in m> 5ream ha5
act9all> been kille5 b> a blow on the hea5( in a =all =rom a conve>ance( on the night
be=ore the 5ream. *he wo9n5 was on the opposite side o= the hea5 =rom that seen in m>
5ream.
B*he scene o= the acci5ent was some miles =rom the ho9se where I was sta>ing.
BF. '.C
Mrs. Mawson( o= )sh=iel5( &ateshea5( with whom Mr. 'i5le> was sta>ing at the time o=
the 5ream( was aske5 b> Mr. 'i5le>4s 5a9ghter( at o9r reE9est( i= she remembere5
an>thing o= the 5ream. /he replie5 on March :r5( 277V:A
4I remember ver> 5istinctl> Mr. 'i5le> telling me his 5ream( an5 how strongl> it
impresse5 me at the time. I remember that >o9r papa ha5 the 5ream( an5 spoke o= it
be=ore the news o= F. M.4s 5eath reache5 him( b9t I cannot call to min5 e?actl> what was
the ca9se o= 5eathAin the 5ream( I mean@ b9t I think >o9r papa tho9ght he saw him
inD9re5 b> a =all =rom his horse or conve>ance. I think he tol5 me that he saw him l>ing
on the gro9n5 inD9re5( an5 his wi=e mo9rning an5 weeping over him( b9t I cannot be
certain o= the e?act partic9lars( onl> I know that the 5ream was sing9larl> like what in
realit> took place on the ver> same night.
BE. M.C
Miss -.( a resi5ent in the village where F. M. live5( was aske5 i= she co9l5 5iscover the
e?act 5ate o= F. M.4s 5eath. /he replie5:A
B,est "ol5on.
BMarch 3th( 277V.
B*o-5a> I saw E. M. Pnow Mrs. ..( the 5a9ghter o= F. M.Q. .er =ather 5ie5 on F9ne 3th(
278W. On the morning o= that 5a>( as Mrs. M. M. was on her wa> to .>lton( she =o9n5
him l>ing insensible at a t9rn o= the roa5. .e was in the habit o= 5riving =9rio9sl>. It was
s9ppose5 that in the 5ark he ha5 not manage5 the corner( an5 so was thrown o9t. .e
never recovere5 conscio9sness.
B). -.C
YI= Mr. 'i5le>4s 5ream was on the night o= the :r5( it m9st have been within a =ew ho9rs
o= the acci5ent@ i= it was on the night o= the 3th it ma> still have been within 2U ho9rs o=
the 5eath.Z
P38:Q +rom Miss )9g9sta &o9l5 Pnow Mrs. *empleQ( the narrator o= case 332( above.
B$ecember 2Xth( 277:.
B,hen a chil5( I 5reame5 o= places I was not likel> to see( an5 when b> chance I 5i5 see
them the> were e?actl> as m> 5ream =oretol5.
2

B) c9rio9s 5ream happene5 one night( I believe in the spring o= 277;. I saw the be5room
o= an ol5 la5> =rien5( with bloo5
U
all abo9t the =loor an5 the win5ow broken. I tol5 m>
brother I was a=rai5 there might be m9r5er =or the sake o= mone>. .e la9ghe5 at m> =ears(
b9t the ne?t /9n5a>( on his ret9rn =rom taking service at Lor5 ..4s private chapel( ii-
3:2! near the home o= the la5>( he in=orme5 me o= a great alarm her =rien5s ha5 ha5.
*he> =o9n5 her insensible in be5( one 5a>( covere5 with bloo5( as was the =loor o= the
room( an5 the win5ow broken. )=terwar5s( she relate5 that she ha5 awake5 in the night(
=in5ing her =ace an5 chest streame5 over with bloo5( an5 a s9==ocation oppressing her@
ha5 got o9t an5 trie5 to open the win5ow( b9t being =aint an5 9nstea5> ha5 r9n her han5
thro9gh the small panes( then t9rne5 an5 =ainte5 be=ore she co9l5 get into be5 again( an5
a=ter 5oing so knew nothing more. I ma> a55 that the 5octor sai5 this serio9s attack ha5
save5 her =rom apople?>.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss &o9l5 wrote:A
BFan9ar> :r5( 2773.
BI cannot remember i= the acci5ent to the ol5 la5> was on the same night as m> 5ream o=
it@ b9t certainl> the 5ream was two or three nights be=ore I heard o= the acci5ent.
BM> brother( to whom I mentione5 the 5ream be=orehan5 Yi.e.( be=ore the news o= the
eventZ( 5ie5 in 2772.C
P383Q +rom Miss "arr( )psle> *own( East &rinstea5( the narrator o= case 222.
B)pril( 2773.
B,hen I was in /ingh9r( in 278-( I ha5 a ver> strange 5ream. I saw( as in a small 5isc o=
light
U
Asomething like a magic-lantern pict9re( onl> in smallAthe =ollowing scene:A*he
insi5e o= a small hill tent( lighte5 P=rom above( apparentl>Athe whole scene was in vivi5
lightQ on the =loor( close besi5e a 5h9rrie Pa small In5ian carpetQ( an5( between that an5
the 5oor( a ver> large black scorpion( an5 entering b> the 5oor the =ig9re o= a man( an
intimate =rien5( now 5ea5. *he vision was apparentl> o= b9t momentar> 59ration( an5
5isappeare5 be=ore I co9l5 see more. I ma5e a note o= the =act( with the 5ate( in m> 5iar>.
On the ret9rn o= this =rien5( a =ew weeks a=terwar5s( =rom his h9nting e?pe5ition( he
vol9nteere5 the in=ormation that the> ha5 been m9ch pestere5 b> insects o= all kin5s( an5
a55e5 that one night he ha5 gone into his tent an5 =o9n5 there ua whopping big black
scorpion.4 *he blac1 scorpion is not E9ite so common as the or5inar> or pink scorpion.
BI aske5 him what that night was( an5 he tol5 me. I remember that he =i?e5 the e?act 5ate(
either =rom having ma5e a note o= it( or =rom some other inci5ent having occ9rre5 on that
same 5a>. I never tol5 him o= m> 5ream.C
YMiss "arr state5 in conversation that she an5 her sisters ha5 satis=ie5 themselves at the
time that the 5a>s correspon5e5.Z
P38VQ +rom Mr. F. ,. "eilb>( o= "eechworth( Victoria Pmentione5 above( p. UU8Q( son o=
$r. ,m. "eilb>( well known in E5inb9rgh =ort> >ears ago. *he acco9nt was =irst printe5
in the 9arbinger of ;ight( Melbo9rne( )9g9st( 27WX.
BIn 273X( I was on a certain night sleeping at an inn in the 1ortlan5 5istrict( being there
m9stering stra> cattle to 5eliver( with m> station sol5( when inten5ing to ret9rn to
/cotlan5. I 5reamt I was( with other members o= m> =amil>( at m> =ather4s 5eath-be5 in
E5inb9rgh. Ever>thing sai5 an5 5one was vivi5l> represente5( b9t I won5ere5 that m>
=ather was not in his 9s9al be5room. /everal months a=terwar5s news o= ii-3:U! m>
=ather4s 5eath( on that ver, night( reache5 me@ b9t it was not 9ntil a sister arrive5 in the
colon>( later( that ever> min9te partic9lar was corroborate5( an5 I learne5 the reason =or
his occ9p>ing the be5 I saw him 5ie in( in his 5ressing-room.
2
C
Mr. "eilb> tells 9s that he seeme5( as i= in a vision( one o= those aro9n5 his =ather4s be5@
an5 that the night was Ma> :;th. ,e =in5( however( =rom the >dinburgh Courant that $r.
"eilb> 5ie5 on F9ne W( 273X.
Y/9ch an error o= 5ate is not important( in a case where the narrator has no separate
recollection o= the 5ate o= his own e?perience. "9t at this 5istance o= time it is impossible
to be s9re that the 5egree o= coinci5ence was acc9ratel> ascertaine5( or that it has not
become more e?act in memor>. *o o9r reE9est =or corroboration( Mr. "eilb> replies:
ABM> sister is too remote to re=er to as to =acts state5 in m> last letter.C *his is not the
onl> instance in which the i5ea o= writing a letter to a 5istant co9ntr> has seeme5 to
paral>se an in=ormant4s power o= assistance.Z
P388Q +rom Mr. ". Loma?( -9rator o= the "righton +ree Librar> an5 M9se9m.
BFan9ar>( 277:.
BIn 278;( I took m> newl> marrie5 wi=e to live on the +r>er4s -reek $iggings. .er
mother( Mrs. +.( live5 in Melbo9rne( so that mother an5 5a9ghter were W: miles apart.
)=ter a =ew weeks( having to atten5 at the /9rve> $epartment( I ret9rne5 alone to
Melbo9rne( inten5ing to pass a week at m> =ather-in-law4s ho9se. On the thir5 5a>( Mrs.
+. Pwho( b> the wa>( was a co9sin o= the late Fohn O?en=or5Q came to me in tears( an5
entreate5 me to ret9rn( as she ha5 last night 5reame5 that she ha5 seen her 5a9ghter
covere5 with bloo5( an5 le5 to be5 b> two women. Move5 b> her an?iet>( I ret9rne5 that
night( an5 =o9n5 the =act as she ha5 state5. ) s955en =right( ca9se5 b> the violent entr> o=
a 5r9nken woman( ha5 bro9ght on a miscarriage( an5 she ha5 been assiste5 an5 ten5erl>
n9rse5 b> two neighbo9rs.
B"E%F)MI% LOM)\.C
,ith this 5ream ma> be compare5 the =ollowing h>pnotic vision.
P38WQ +rom Beitr\ge Au den durch )ni(alischen 'agnetis(us Aeither be-ir1ten
>rscheinungen( b> ,. )rn5t PLeip]ig( P2727Q( pp. W8TX. )rn5t hel5 a post to the name o=
which the nearest English eE9ivalent is /ecretar>ship to the 'o>al 1r9ssian /9perior
-o9nt> -o9rt. *he percipient was a Ma5ame /.( 2X >ears o= age( who ha5 been s9==ering
=rom h>sterical attacks( an5 was h>pnotise5 b> )rn5t 59ring a perio5 o= some months( in
272U.
B$9ring a magnetic sHance( the sleeping patient( who ha5 D9st be=ore been E9ite ga>( all at
once began( witho9t an> perceptible ca9se( to 9tter lamentations( to wring her han5s( an5
to weep. ,hen I aske5 her the reason( she sai5( u)h( &o5s )h( &o5s m> =ather@ m> goo5
=athers he is 5>ing.4 u.ow 5o >o9 know thatr4 u)h( &o5s 5on4t I see its he is ii-3::!
losing a terrible amo9nt o= bloo5s )h( he is 5>ing( 5>ings4 )=ter tr>ing in vain to paci=>
her an5 ri5 her o= this =anc>( I woke her. /he opene5 her e>es with the brightest smile(
an5 all gloom> tho9ghts ha5 vanishe5. *o 5ivert her still more( I converse5 with her on
vario9s s9bDects@ then( as I ha5 broken into her sleep( I h>pnotise5 her again. "e=ore long
the 5isE9ieting pict9re again appeare5 to her. *o p9t an en5 to her grie=( I again woke her.
.er Do>o9s look on waking showe5 that she was E9ite 9naware o= what she ha5 D9st been
5escribing.C
On her being p9t to sleep a thir5 time( the vision was repeate5( an5 her lamentations were
heart-ren5ing@ b9t this time she was allowe5 to sleep( an5 she gra59all> became more
compose5. /he woke at last with the e?clamation( B)lassC +or the rest o= the a=ternoon
she was ver> melanchol>( witho9t being able to sa> wh>@ an5 neither )rn5t nor her
h9sban5 Pthe onl> two persons who ha5 been presentQ reveale5 to her what ha5 passe5.
%e?t 5a> she ha5 recovere5 her spirits.
.er =ather was at the time W; &erman miles awa>. .is last letters ha5 ass9re5 her that he
was well@ nor ha5 she the slightest ca9se =or an?iet> on his acco9nt. "9t some weeks later
)rn5t =o9n5 her m9ch cast 5own@ an5 on inE9iring the ca9se( was tol5 that at abo9t :
p.m. on the 5a> o= her strange e?perience Pwhich )rn5t sa>s that he ha5 note5Q( her =ather
ha5 slippe5 while 5escen5ing into the cellar( an5 the cellar 5oor ha5 =allen on his breast(
which ca9se5 violent hOmorrhage( an5 ver> nearl> cost him his li=e. B/o the =act which
co9l5 not b> an> possibilit> have been s9specte5( act9all> happene5( at the ver> ho9r at
which the patient at a 5istance perceive5 it.C
P387Q +rom the 'ev. +. *eas5ale 'ee5 PUnitarian MinisterQ( -olehill( *amworth.
BOctober( 2773.
BI ha5 an 9ncle who( a=ter spen5ing :: >ears on boar5 ship( le=t the sea( got marrie5( an5
settle5 5own near Lon5on. .is onl> son( Fack( an5 m>sel= were constant pla>mates( an5
=or a short time school-=ellows also. YFack ran awa> to sea.Z Months passe5 b> an5 no
news came. )t lengthAperhaps it was 2U or 27 months a=terwar5sAm> tho9ghts were
again 5irecte5 to m> missing co9sin. It was in this wa>.
BOne /9n5a> morning( m> =ather invite5 me to go with him to see m> 9ncle an5 a9nt. On
the roa5 he tol5 me that 59ring the night he ha5 ha5 a most remarkable 5ream( an5 he
wishe5 to test it as =ar as he co9l5( =or he was strongl> pers9a5e5 that it wo9l5 be
=9l=ille5. )t the same time he 9rge5 me to notice the 5ate( an5 preserve in m> memor> the
5etails as =ar as possible. I ma> D9st sa>( in parenthesis( that we contin9e5 o9r Do9rne>(
pai5 the visit( b9t =o9n5 that nothing ha5 been hear5 o= m> co9sin. *he 5ream( so =ar as I
can recollect it at this 5istance o= time( was somewhat as =ollows:A*he scene is in a
=oreign port Pg9esse5 at the time to be /panishQ. On boar5 a "ritish man-o=-war that is
anchore5 there a >o9ng man Pm> co9sin FackQ is giving instr9ctions to some men at work
in the rigging. .e is apparentl> 5issatis=ie5 with what the> are 5oing( =or he h9rries 9p(
makes some slight alteration( an5 then 5escen5s. ) r9ng o= the rope la55er gives wa> as
his =oot to9ches it( he =alls backwar5( hea5 =irst( an5 5ies instantl>. *he s9rgeon h9rries to
the spot( e?amines the bo5>( b9t leaves it( as he can 5o nothing there. *hen arrangements
are ma5e =or the b9rial. *he co==in is taken on shore( some o= the o==icers an5 ii-3:3!
men accompan> it( an5 it is solemnl> lowere5 into the grave. *here the 5ream en5e5.
B/ome time a=ter( m> =ather Phe ha5 alrea5> ascertaine5 the time it wo9l5 take =or a letter
to come =rom the /panish coast to Englan5Q aske5 me one morning i= I still remembere5
his strange 5ream. .e then ma5e me repeat it to him. )=ter that he sai5: u,ell( i= there is
an>thing in it >o9r 9ncle will have hear5 something abo9t it b> this time( let 9s go an5
see him.4 ,hen we reache5 the ho9se we co9l5 see at a glance that something ha5
happene5. M> =ather at once aske5 i= there was an> news >et o= Fack. #es( that morning4s
post ha5 bro9ght a large envelope bearing the Lisbon post-mark. It was written b> one o=
the o==icers o= a man-o=-war that was then anchore5 at Lisbon( an5 its p9rpose was to
make known the 5eath o= m> co9sin. )=ter a ver> kin5 an5 =avo9rable notice o= Fack4s
general con59ct an5 abilities( it gave =9ll 5etails o= his 5eath an5 b9rial. *hose 5etails
tallie5 e?actl> with the 5etails given in m> =ather4s 5ream( an5 it occ9rre5 the ver> 5ate
o= the 5ream. I was per=ectl> ama]e5. I inspecte5 the letter an5 co9l5 not see an> point in
which there was the slightest contra5iction or even 5ivergence. O= co9rse m> 9ncle was
then in=orme5 o= the 5ream.
B+. *. '.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. 'ee5 a55s on October U7( 2773:A
BI can E9ite 9n5erstan5 >o9r 5esire to veri=>( as =ar as possible( ever> statement ma5e( b9t
9n=ort9natel> I shall not be able to =9rnish m9ch corroboration. I have D9st a little@ what
there is I will place be=ore >o9. I =o9n5 the enclose5 uinspector4s certi=icate.4 I see it
corrects m> stor> in one point( an5 con=irms it in another. I sai5 that the event happene5
abo9t :U >ears ago@ this 5oc9ment is 5ate5 273W( i.e.( :W >ears ago. )t the time o= writing
the paper I 5i5 not s9==icientl> think over the E9estion o= time. I wo9l5 a55 that the
=amil> consiste5 o= m> 9ncle( a9ntAwho are both 5ea5Am> co9sin Fohn Po= whom I
have writtenQ( an5 his sister( who is still alive in )9stralia. /he ma> be able to =9rnish
more partic9lars. Y,e have written several letters to this la5>( which have not been
answere5.Z .owever weak it ma> be in collateral evi5ence( I am positive as to the =act o=
the 5ream( an5 that I have =airl> represente5 it in its essential points.C
*he inspector4s certi=icate shows that Fohn *abner( seaman( 5ie5 at sea( on boar5 ..M./.
B-anop9s(C on the U3th o= )pril( 273W. In the Nav, ;ist =or F9ne( 273W( we =in5 the ship
reporte5 as Bo== the coast o= 1ort9gal.C
YIn the absence o= an in5epen5ent acco9nt o= the 5etails o= the 5eath( an5 o= written notes
o= the 5ream( we cannot ass9me that the coinci5ence o= 5etail was so close as seems to be
remembere5. -learl> there wo9l5 be a 5i==ic9lt> in e?plaining the closing scene o= the
5ream as telepathicall> pro59ce5( tho9gh the 5ream ma> nat9rall> eno9gh have taken that
co9rse. Mr. 'ee5 mentione5 in conversation that there ha5 been a ver> strong bon5 o=
a==ection between his =ather an5 Fack. .e was himsel= 22 >ears ol5 at the time.Z
P38XQ +rom Mr. ,. %oble( F.1.( +orest Lo5ge( Mares=iel5( Uck=iel5.
B/eptember 7th( 277U.
B*he "aroness van L>n5en Pm> mother-in-lawQ ha5 a mai5 who ii-3:V! s9bseE9entl>
live5 with Mrs. %oble an5 m>sel= as ho9sekeeper( an5 5ie5 in this ho9se a=ter :V >ears4
consec9tive service in the =amil>@ her name was Eli]abeth &owling( an5 she came o= a
most respectable stock o= the =arming class =rom )ppleb>( in ,estmorelan5. /he le=t
,estmorelan5 when she was >o9ng( an5 ha5 not been near it =or a goo5 man> >ears(
when the ver> c9rio9s event occ9rre5 which I am abo9t to relate.
BI m9st sa> here( that when living in )ppleb>( &owling ha5 known a woman( b> sight(
whose name( I regret to sa>( I have =orgotten( b9t who live5 in a s9b9rb calle5 "ongate.
*he> ha5 in no sense ever been =rien5s( nor ha5 an> comm9nication passe5 between
them( or an> mention o= the woman4s name ever been ma5e to &owling b> an> one( a=ter
she le=t her native co9nt>.
B,ell( one morning she came 5own( as 9s9al( to 5ress her mistress( an5( in obvio9sl> a
ver> nervo9s an5 e?cite5 state( tol5 her that she ha5 D9st ha5 s9ch a terrible 5ream that
she co9l5 not get it o9t o= her min5. /he ha5( she sai5( 5reame5 that this "ongate woman
ha5 gone to a 5rawer( taken o9t a piece o= rope( procee5e5 to an o9tho9se( an5 hange5
hersel=( an5 that her 5a9ghter ha5 come into the o9tho9se an5 c9t her mother 5own. M>
mother-in-law( o= co9rse( pooh-pooh45 the whole a==air( tol5 &owling not to be sill>( that
5reams were all nonsense( [c.( [c. "9t a week or two a=terwar5s &owling receive5 a
local newspaper =rom some one o= her ,estmorelan5 =rien5s( which containe5( inter alia(
an acco9nt o= an inE9est on this ver> woman@ who( on the night in which the 5ream
happene5( ha5 procee5e5 to an o9tho9se an5 hange5 hersel=( an5 ha5 been c9t 5own b>
her 5a9ghter.
B,ILLI)M %O"LE.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. %oble sa>s:A
BIt was some consi5erable time a=ter it happene5 that I =irst hear5 o= it@ b9t I have 5one
so( witho9t the smallest variation( repeate5l>( both =rom m> mother-in-law an5 =rom
&owling hersel=.C
In conversation with Mr. 1o5more( Mrs. %oble gave an acco9nt which precisel>
correspon5e5 with her h9sban54s( an5 state5 that she hersel=Athen a >o9ng girlAha5
hear5 &owling 5escribe the 5ream on the morning a=ter its occ9rrence.
+rom the -oroner o= the 5istrict( who has kin5l> ma5e inE9iries( we have learnt the name
o= the woman who committe5 s9ici5e( an5 the =act that the occ9rrence took place abo9t
3; >ears ago@ b9t his an5 o9r en5eavo9rs to trace the e?act 5ate have =aile5.
P3W;Q +rom Mr. .enr> Maitlan5( "alm9ngo( /t. )n5rews.
B$ecember U7( 277V.
BOn the 28th o= )9g9st( 27U;Ait was the anniversar> o= his we55ingAm> =ather took
m> mother an5 el5est sister to 5ine an5 spen5 the night at the co9ntr> ho9se o= an 9ncle a
=ew miles o==. I can see the trio now( thro9gh the long vista o= >ears( starting =or Lathrisk
on the Irish car( m> =ather in high spirits( an5 seemingl> in per=ect health.
B*hat night( m> two sisters( who were le=t at home( one U; an5 the other U2 >ears o= age(
slept together@ an5 earl> ne?t morning the >o9nger one awakene5 her companion( to tell
her she ha5 ha5 a strange( 9nhapp> 5ream. /he 5reame5 she was at Lathrisk with her
=ather an5 mother@ the =amil> part> were at 5inner( an5 all went well till the servants ha5
ii-3:8! cleare5 the table an5 with5rawn. M> =ather( she sai5( then s955enl> rose an5
walke5 to the win5ow( which he opene5 as i= =or air. /he( in her 5ream( went ro9n5 an5
set a chair =or him( p9tting her arm ro9n5 his sho9l5ers to s9pport him in what seeme5 a
s955en =aintness. M> 9ncle then came an5 s9pporte5 m> =ather( an5 the 5octor soon
arrive5@ b9t be=ore then m> =ather ha5 breathe5 his last. $reams( however impressive to
the 5reamer( 5o not so9n5 eE9all> so in other ears( an5 this one was no e?ception to the
r9le@ the el5er sister ma5e no acco9nt o= it( an5 no more was sai5 on the s9bDect.
B) =ew ho9rs later( a messenger =rom Lathrisk bro9ght the sa5 news o= m> =ather4s 5eath(
an5 the whole 5etails o= the closing scene were strictl> an5 literall> i5entical with those
o= the 5ream( e?cepting onl> that m> el5est sister( who went with her parents( was the
actor( in place o= the 5reamer( who remaine5 at home.
BM> =ather was in his V;th >ear( =9ll o= health =ive min9tes be=ore he 5ie5@ an5 the mental
con5ition o= the =amil> was that o= Do> an5 hope=9lness.C
,e =in5 =rom the >dinburgh Courant that Mr. Maitlan54s =ather 5ie5 on )9g9st UVth Pnot
28thQ( 27U;. Mr. Maitlan5 e?plains that he knew his =ather4s we55ing 5a> to have been
)9g9st 28( =rom an entr> in a =amil> "ible( an5 that he was either tol5 that the 5a> o= the
5eath was the same( or has himsel=( in memor>( mo5i=ie5 close pro?imit> into i5entit>.
In repl> to inE9iries( he a55s( on Fan. :( 2778:A
BI am the sole s9rvivor o= m> =amil>. I was not tol5 o= the 5ream at the time@ m> age PW
>earsQ precl95e5 this. Let me give >o9 the ass9rance that both sisters concerne5 were
women in whom( perhaps above most persons( the precio9s E9alit> o= conscientio9sness
=orme5 the basis o= character. In V; >ears4 close relationship to them( I never hear5 them
speak o= a 5ream b9t the one in E9estion@ an5 I 5on4t believe either o= them was( either
literall> or metaphoricall>( a u5reamer.4
B.E%'# M)I*L)%$.C
In conversation Mrs. Maitlan5 tol5 me that she also ha5 hear5 the inci5ent 5escribe5 b>
the 5reamer( her sister-in-law.
YIt is nee5less to observe that no amo9nt o= scr9p9lo9sness on the part o= a witness can
s9==icientl> g9arantee 9nwritten recollections o= a long-past inci5ent( involving some
amo9nt o= 5etail. "9t the E9alit> o= the evi5ence in this case is at an> rate goo5 secon5-
han5@ an5 one can har5l> 5o9bt that a coinci5ence o= a striking kin5 occ9rre5.Z
P3W2Q +rom Mrs. />kes( who at the time to which the narrative re=ers( was resi5ing with
her brother-in-law( the late $r. />mon5s( o= -li=ton .ill .o9se( -li=ton( "ristol.
B277:.
BOn the 8th o= %ovember( 27V3( I want to see a poor woman name5 /cott( living in /t.
Michael4s parish( "ristol. /he ha5 a son in the arm>( an5 his regiment was serving in the
-rimea. )s soon as she saw me( she sai5( uI know m> 5ear bo> is 5ea5.4 On m> asking
what ma5e her think so( she sai5( u#ester5a> morning I saw him E9ite plainl>. .e an5
others were =ighting an5 I saw him =all@ the men seeme5 in 5isor5er an5 were all in their
shirt-sleeves. I saw ,illie as plainl> as I see >o9 now.4 I trie5 to com=ort her( sa>ing how
improbable it was the> sho9l5 be =ighting ii-3:W! in their shirt-sleeves. uIt is tr9e(4 she
sai5. uI know he is gone( an5 I shall alwa>s know the 5a> an5 time( /9n5a> morning(
%ovember Vth( =or I awoke =rom the sight o= this battle as the 7 o4clock bells rang o9t
=rom /t. Michael4s -h9rch.4
B}9ite late that 5a> Pthe 8thQ we hear5 o= the battle o= Inkermann an5 that the sol5iers
were s9rprise5 earl> on the Vth( an5 ha5 not time to 5ress entirel>( b9t =o9ght in their
shirt-sleeves. #o9ng /cott4s regiment was there PI =orget whichQ. *his poor woman never
hear5 o= her son4s 5eath till some time a=terwar5s( when the list o= kille5 came o9t@ b9t so
convince5 was she o= the =act that she wrote his name an5 the 5ate o= his 5eath on a
tracing Pli=e si]eQ o= her sol5ier son( that she an5 her other son ha5 5rawn on the wall(
be=ore he went to the -rimea. *his r95e 5rawing I saw.C
2

BM. ). /#0E/.C
Y*he -hristian name ,illiam is probabl> incorrect@ among the noncommissione5 o==icers
an5 privates mentione5 b> the ;ondon 7aAette in the list o= Inkermann cas9alties( as
kille5 in the battle or 5>ing o= wo9n5s ver> shortl> a=terwar5s( are three /cottsAFohn(
.enr>( an5 1eter. *he 5etail o= the shirt-sleeves cannot be presse5@ b9t the sense o= realit>
m9st have been strong( to prompt the writing o= the name an5 5ate.Z
P3WUQ +rom Miss ,eale( %epa9l( -ro=t 'oa5( *orE9a>.
BFan9ar> U8th( 2773.
BM> mother was tire5( an5 went to lie 5own( an5 =ell asleep an5 5reamt that her >o9nger
hal=-brother( &o5in Ellis( ha5 5ie5 in In5ia( an5 she hear5 in her 5ream h9rrie5 remarks
abo9t it( an5 hear5 some one speak the name o= the o==icer stan5ing b>. /he awoke with
s9ch a 5eep sense o= its realit> that( when m> =ather came 9p to 5ress =or 5inner( she
procee5e5 to ask him to kneel 5own an5 sa> the pra>ers =rom the "9rial /ervice( =or that
&o5in was 5ea5. /he procee5e5 to tell him ii-3:7! the name o= the place( an5 the ho9r(
an5 the name o= an o==icer stan5ing b>. /he insiste5 on m> =ather writing 5own the
partic9lars( an5 he( to E9iet her( complie5( an5 also Doine5 her in sa>ing the pra>ers@ b9t
he wo9l5 not allow her to go into mo9rning( an5 5isbelieve5 that it wo9l5 be =o9n5
correct( beca9se &o5in ha5 not inten5e5 going into the Ma5ras 1resi5enc>.
BIn 59e co9rse o= time the news came( an5 =9ll written partic9lars =rom the o==icer whose
name she ha5 hear5@ an5 it ha5 happene5 at the ho9r an5 5a> Pallowing =or reckoningQ(
an5 in the little place( an5 as she 5escribe5 itAan acci5ent with a g9n. .e ha5 onl>
known the o==icer =or a =ew 5a>s( an5 the name was one 9nknown to m> parents. M>
mother ha5 been certain her 5ream was( as she terme5 it( a vision o= the tr9e. /he was a
ver> health>( sensible( calm-min5e5 woman.
B-. F. $O')*E) ,E)LE.C
In repl> to inE9iries( Miss ,eale wrote:A
BM> mother scarcel> ever ha5 a 5ream. *he 5ream took place as =ar back as in 27:W( I
think( b9t that ver> 5a> she tol5 9s. )ll were tol5 in the ho9se( an5 she was ve?e5
beca9se m> =ather wo9l5 not let her go into mo9rning. *he relatives who know( with me(
o= m> mother4s tr9e 5ream are =oreigners( an5 scattere5 abo9t the worl5( an5 I rarel>
write to them. "9t it was all written 5own( an5 given to the 'ev. $r. %eale at the time.C
Y.ere( again( the occ9rrence is =ar too remote =or certaint> as to the 5etails o= the 5ream.
"9t some o= the collateral inci5ents( e.g.( abo9t the mo9rning( are s9ch as wo9l5 be likel>
to impress themselves on the 5a9ghter4s min5. ,e have 5one o9r 9tmost to trace the
e?act 5ate o= the 5eath( b9t witho9t s9ccess.Z
P3W:Q +rom a la5> who scr9ples =or the present to allow the p9blication o= her name( as a
near relative has an abhorrence o= the s9bDect.
BMa> U8th( 2773.
BI cannot =i? the 5ateAit ma> have been abo9t 27 >ears a=ter m> mother4s marriageAone
morning at break=ast m> mother tol5 9s she ha5 ha5 a ver> strange 5ream. /he ha5
5reame5 o= Mrs. ,.( Ya la5> whose ho9se ha5 been a home to her in >o9th( b9t whom she
ha5 not hear5 o= =or >ears(Z an5 Mrs. ,. wante5 to kiss her. M> mother 5i5 her 9tmost to
prevent it( 9sing all her =orce to p9sh Mrs. ,. awa>( an5 the strangest thing o= all was that
she saw the insi5e o= Mrs. ,.4s throat( an5 saw it most 5istinctl>( an5 it was as black as
coal. *hat was the entire 5ream. )bo9t a week or 2; 5a>s a=ter the 5ream PI cannot be
s9re o= the intervalQ( a m9t9al =rien5 sent 9s news o= Mrs. ,.4s serio9s illness( tol5 9s that
she was con=ine5 to be5( an5 s9==ering =rom a ver> 9ncommon 5isease which ha5
attacke5 her throat. )=ter hearing this report there were man> talks o= Mrs. ,.( b9t no
wa> o= gaining =9rther in=ormation abo9t her was =o9n5.
B)=ter another short interval( m> mother tol5 9s she ha5 5reame5 again. Mrs. ,. was
5ea5( ever>thing abo9t her was white( an5 there was an immense amo9nt o= the colo9r
somehow( b9t she was not in her own room( neither 5i5 m> mother recognise the room
she was in as like an> o= the be5rooms in the ho9se. In two 5a>s the post bro9ght 9s an
ii-3:X! intimation o= Mrs. ,.4s 5eath( which ha5 happene5 59ring the night( on the
precise 5ate o= m> mother4s 5ream.
B)bo9t three months a=terwar5s( we ha5 a visit =rom a niece o= Mrs. ,.( a la5> who ha5
n9rse5 her a9nt 59ring her last illness( an5 who calle5 to 5eliver a message sent to m>
mother =rom her =rien5 be=ore her 5eath. M> mother tol5 this la5> o= her two 5reams(
when the =ollowing e?planations were given 9s:AMrs. ,.4s illness was entirel> in her
throat( an5 its most 5istressing s>mptom was an e?treme 5i==ic9lt> o= breathing(
necessitating having both win5ows an5 5oor contin9all> wi5e open( as the onl> means o=
alleviation( the weather at the time being bitterl> col5. Imme5iatel> a=ter Mrs. ,.4s 5eath(
a 5a9ghter-in-law( a somewhat eccentric person( arrange5 all 5etails hersel=. +or some
9ne?plaine5 reason she ca9se5 the bo5> to be move5 imme5iatel> to a parlo9r
5ownstairs. *he table in the room was covere5 with a white linen tablecloth( an5 the bo5>
5rape5 in white place5 on it@ a so=a in the room was covere5 with a white sheet( an5
ever> chair( an5 also ever> pict9re in the room was treate5 in a similar manner. M>
mother sai5( uI know the roomAthat was the room I saw in m> 5ream.4C
Y*his inci5ent happene5 abo9t :; >ears ago( b9t the narrator has a ver> clear recollection
o= it. /he sa>s that her mother 5reamt a goo5 5eal( an5 that man> other sing9lar
coinci5ences ha5 been notice5( b9t that most o= them were o= a more trivial nat9re. O=
co9rse the secon5 5ream can onl> be e?plaine5 telepathicall> b> s9pposing Pin
accor5ance with -hap. \VIII.( S WQ that a common interest in the 5ea5 woman
establishe5 a line o= comm9nication between persons who were strangers to one another@
an5 it is not an e?ample on which we sho9l5 be 5ispose5 to la> an> stress. *he =irst
e?perience is more striking( as the 5etail abo9t the throat Pboth in the 5ream an5 in the
realit>Q wo9l5 be likel> to be remembere5( an5 not likel> to be 9nconscio9sl> imagine5.Z
P3W3Q +rom Des 9allucinations( b> $r. "rierre 5e "oismont P1aris( 278UQ( pp. U7VT8. It is
to be pres9me5 that he receive5 the acco9nt =rom the 5reamer hersel=( as otherwise his
pre=ator> remark wo9l5 have no =orce@ an5 in an English translation o= another e5ition o=
the work( the narrative is =ollowe5 b> the wor5s( B*his statement was ma5e to 9s b> the
la5> hersel=( in whom we place the most per=ect con=i5ence.C
BLe =ait s9ivant est 9n 5e ce9? E9i no9s ont le pl9s =rappH parceE9e la 5ame 5e E9i no9s
le tenons Htait 9n 5e ces esprits sensHs et respectables 5ont les paroles mHritent to9te
con=iance. YTranslationZ
BMile. '.( 5o9He 549n e?cellent D9gement( religie9se sans bigoterie( habitait( avant 54Mtre
mariHe( la maison 5e son oncle( $Hsessants( mH5ecin cHlNbre( membre 5e l4Instit9t. Elle
Htait alors sHparHe 5e sa mNre( atteinte( en province( 549ne mala5ie asse] grave. Une n9it(
cette De9ne personne rMva E94elle l4apercevait 5evant elle( pale( 5H=ig9rHe( prMte G ren5re
le 5ernier so9pir( et tHmoignant s9rto9t 9n vi= chagrin 5e ne pas Mtre ento9rHe 5e ses
en=ants( 5ont l49n( c9rH 549ne 5es paroisses 5e 1aris( avait HmigrH en Espagne( et 5ont
l4a9tre Htait G 1aris. "ientLt elle l4enten5it l4appeler pl9sie9rs =ois par son nom 5e
baptMme@ elle vit( 5ans son rMve( les personnes E9i ento9raient sa mNre( s4imaginant
E94elle 5eman5ait sa petite-=ille( portant le mMme nom( aller la chercher 5ans la piece
voisine@ 9n signe 5e la mala5e le9r apprit E9e ce n4Htait point elle( mais sa =ille E9i ii-
33;! habitait 1aris( E94elle 5Hsirait voir. /a =ig9re e?primait la 5o9le9r E94elle Hpro9vait
5e son absence@ to9t-G-co9p ses traits se 5HcomposNrent( se co9vrirent 5e la pale9r 5e la
mort( elle retomba sans vie s9r son lit. YTranslationZ
BLe len5emain Mlle. '. par9t =ort triste 5evant $Hsessants( E9i la pria 5e l9i =aire
connatre la ca9se 5e son chagrin@ elle l9i raconta 5ans to9s ses 5Htails le songe E9i l4avait
si =ortement to9rmentHe. $Hsessants( la tro9vant 5ans cette 5isposition 54esprit( la pressa
contre son coe9r en l9i avo9ant E9e la no9velle n4Htait E9e trop vraie( E9e sa mNre venait
5e mo9rir@ il n4entra point 5ans 54a9tres e?plications. YTranslationZ
B1l9sie9rs mois aprNs( Mlle. '. pro=itant 5e l4absence 5e son oncle po9r mettre en or5re
ses papiers a9?E9els il n4aimait pas E94on to9cht( tro9va 9ne lettre E9i avait HtH DetHe
5ans 9n coin. }9elle ne =9t pas sa s9rprise en > lisant to9tes les partic9laritHs 5e son rMve
E9e $Hsessants avait passHes so9s silence( ne vo9lant pas pro59ire 9ne Hmotion trop =orte
s9r 9n esprit 5HDG si vivement impressionnH.C YTranslationZ
P3WVQ +rom Mrs. .Hbert( 28( Monmo9th 'oa5( "a>swater( ,.
B$ecember U8th( 277:.
BI shall relate to >o9 a 5ream which happene5 to me several >ears ago. I was then in
&erman> at Ma>ence( learning &erman in a school( where I was emplo>e5 as a teacher o=
the +rench lang9age.
BOne night I went to be5( ver> tire5 b9t witho9t an> partic9lar an?iet>. I =ell into a heav>
sl9mber an5 5reamt o= m> mother. /he was in be5( l>ing ill( an5 thin@ her han5s( almost
transparent( were stretche5 conv9lsivel> as i= seeking =or some obDect( whilst she moane5
most piteo9sl> in calling me b> m> name. In =act( she looke5 as i= she were 5>ing. I
recognise5 per=ectl> her be5room( the =9rnit9re( [c.@ it was 5iml> lighte5 b> a can5le(
an5 close to the hea5 o= the be5( in a green arm-chair( slept an ol5 woman. I knew her
also as a charwoman( who( as it seeme5( was acting as n9rse. M> mother in her 5esperate
motions s9ccee5e5 in to9ching the sho9l5er o= the ol5 woman( who awoke with a start(
an5 aske5 her crossl> what she wante5.
BuM> scissors(4 sai5 m> mother in a =eeble voice.
Bu,hat =orr4
Bu*o c9t some o= m> hair. #o9 shall give it to m> 5a9ghter in remembrance o= me.4
Bu/he 5oes not want it( go to sleep(4 answere5 the ol5 woman( angr> at being 5ist9rbe5.
/he p9she5 back m> mother on the pillow an5 went to sleep again( witho9t noticing her
agon>( her pra>er( to have some o= her hair c9t. I co9l5 hear 5istinctl> the voice o= m>
mother becoming weaker an5 weaker( b9t alwa>s plaintive( an5 s9pplicating the ol5
woman =or her scissors. )t last I hear5 nothing. I awoke in a =right=9l agitation@ it was U
o4clock a=ter mi5night. I tol5 m> 5ream to some people. *he> a5vise5 me not to think o=
it( as the> sai5 that 5reams generall> go b> contraries. "9t a =ew 5a>s a=ter( I receive5 the
news o= m> mother4s 5eath@ it ha5 happene5 D9st at the time o= m> 5ream.
BLOUI/E .K"E'*.C
Mrs. .Hbert ret9rne5 to +rance in a =ew weeks( an5( on seeing the n9rse( reproache5 her
with her con59ct( an5 was convince5 b> her manner that the charge was tr9e@ b9t there
was no =9rther evi5ence. In conversation( ii-332! she tol5 me that she ha5 no i5ea o= her
mother being ill@ that the 5ream was E9ite 9niE9e in her e?perience@ an5 that the e==ect on
her was so strong that the persons she was living with ha5 great 5i==ic9lt> in pers9a5ing
her not to start home at once. *he inci5ent happene5 more than U; >ears ago( an5 she has
lost connection with her native place in Lorraine.
Y*he case is =irst-han5( =rom a witness who( I am s9re( 5esires to be acc9rate@ b9t again
the remoteness o= 5ate an5 lack o= corroboration are most serio9s 5e=ects( an5 the
correctness o= the 5etails in the 5ream is mere conDect9re.Z
P3W8Q +rom Mrs. $r9mmon5 /mithers( "ri5ge .o9se( -rookham( +arnham( .ants.
B%ovember UUn5( 2773.
BM> =ather YMr. *homas 1icker5enZ was an architect an5 b9il5er( which oblige5 him to
be abo9t ver> earl> o= mornings@ an5 on Mon5a>( the 2Xth Fan9ar>( 27VW( at W a.m.( whilst
on his wa> to see some o= his men( he =ell( in a =it o= some kin5. *hat same morning I
per=ectl> well remember not =alling asleep 9ntil a=ter U a.m.( having co9nte5 the clock 9p
till that ho9r( an5 won5ering wh> I co9l5 not sleep( as I alwa>s slept well at that time. )s
we break=aste5 at 2; a.m. in those 5a>s( we were not earl> risers( so probabl> it might
have been 7 or X o4clock be=ore I woke. I cannot make a nearer statement( as I am not
positive as to the time@ b9t m> 5ream was between the ho9rs mentione5. It was that m>
=ather ha5 been taken s955enl> ill in the streets o= .astings( that he was p9t into a =l> b>
two men( an5 taken homeAwhen I woke. *he 5ream seeme5 to impress me ver> m9ch. I
trie5 not to think serio9sl> o= it@ having 5resse5 an5 break=aste5( still the 5ream ha9nte5
me. I co9l5 not shake it o==. ,hen I spoke to m> sisters-in-law( with whom I was sta>ing
Pm> then h9sban5 was their brotherQ( the> a5vise5 me to tell him( which I 5i5( an5 he at
once grante5 m> reE9est o= going on to .astings. .e le=t me at Etchingham /tation( an5
going 5irect to o9r home( .awkh9rst( he =o9n5 a telegram there to the e==ect that m>
=ather was ill( an5 that I was to go at once. I ha5 b> this time reache5 .astings an5 =o9n5
m> 5ream veri=ie5.
B*he event occ9rring so man> >ears back( not one witness is living.
B)%%IE /MI*.E'/.C
In the same letter Mrs. /mithers sa>s( B*he 5ream prece5e5 m> =ather4s s955en illness
some =ew ho9rs@C b9t the acco9nt shows that there is no reason to s9ppose this.
In answer to inE9iries( she a55s:A
BUXth $ecember( 2773.
BIn m> 5ream I 5i5 not act9all> see m> =ather =all( b9t was at the spot D9st as the =l> was
going o==( an5 saw 5istinctl> there were two persons insi5e the =l>( b9t the back o= one
man who was hol5ing m> =ather prevente5 m> recognising him@ the man on the bo? I
5istinctl> saw( an5 knew him as a =l>man o= .astings( an5 he was the man who 5rove m>
=ather on that =atal morningA=or so it prove5( as he never rallie5 =rom that illness( never
was o9t o= his be5 more than to have it ma5e a =ew times. .e 5ie5 Vth March( 27VW. I
never knew him to have an illness ii-33U! previo9s to that( nor =it o= an> kin5@ he alwa>s
appeare5 a health> strong man. I am generall> so =ree =rom 5reaming that this one ma5e a
great impression 9pon me at the time.C
*he 9astings Ne-s con=irms March V( 27VW( as the 5ate o= the 5eath.
Y*his case again is remote in 5ate an5 9ncorroborate5@ b9t the narrator is not likel> to be
wrong as to the =act o= her taking a Do9rne> on the strength o= her 5ream( an5 =in5ing it
con=irme5.Z
P3WWQ +rom Miss Morse( %orth=iel5( Vermont( U./.).( who was the percipient in case 32.
BMa>( 2773.
BO=ten impressions o= persons an5 places have come to me while asleep( or when I
see(ed to be 5reaming. +or e?ample: ,hen o9r civil war was in progress I correspon5e5
with several sol5iers. One o= m> correspon5ents was -aptain +ischer( a $ane( who ha5
=ormerl> been a sailor( an5 roame5 the worl5 over. ,hile the arm> o= the 1otomac was
l>ing i5le( I 5reame5 o= a strange place. *he moon shone brightl> on newl>-ma5e streets(
5otte5 with small white ho9ses( arrange5 to impart on the whole scene a pict9resE9e
5aintiness. One o= the little 5wellings especiall> won m> attention. I stoppe5 be=ore it(
e?claiming( u.ow bea9ti=9ls I never saw an>thing like it. I won5er what it can be.4 )
voice( which I 5i5 not recognise( replie5( uIt is a &recian temple.4 u)m I( then( in
&reecer4 u%o( this is an imitation o= s9ch temples as one sees in &reece.4 I awoke( an5 in
a moment the clock str9ck 2U. I co9l5 not ri5 m>sel= o= the =eeling that I ha5 been to a
new place( an5 seen something real.
B) =ew 5a>s a=ter( a letter came =rom -aptain +ischer( in which he min9tel> 5escribe5 the
place I saw in m> 5ream( e?plaining that the sol5iers( to pass the time( ha5 lai5 o9t streets
an5 aven9es( an5 b> man> ingenio9s 5evices ha5 contrive5 to make their tents resemble
ho9ses. .is own tent( which was m9ch a5mire5( he ha5 converte5 into E9ite a clever
mo5el o= a &reek temple( [c. %ear the close he all95e5 to the brilliant moonlight( an5
a55e5: uIt is near mi5night( an5 m> men are asleep all aro9n5 me.4 -omparing 5ates( I
=o9n5 I 5reame5 o= the scene while his pen was 5escribing it.C
In repl> to inE9iries( Miss Morse sa>s:A
B*he 5ate o= the 5ream was =irml> =i?e5 in m> min5( beca9se it came the one night that I
passe5 at the ho9se o= Mrs. 1aine4s =ather. I well remember telling Mrs. 1aine the 5ream
in the morning. ,hen I saw her again I tol5 her o= -aptain +ischer4s letter( which was
receive5 a=ter I ret9rne5 to ,. '. F9nction. .a5 the 5ream occ9rre5 at home I co9l5 not
have been so s9re o= the time.C
Mrs. 1aine( %orth=iel5( Vermont( writes as =ollows:A
BMa> U3th( 2773.
BM> testimon> in regar5 to Miss Morse4s 5ream in connection with -aptain +ischer(
whom I know well( is a mere mite. I well recollect her telling me the 5ream( which
occ9rre5 while she was on a visit at m> =ather4s( b9t whether she relate5 it to me the ne?t
morning or later( I cannot remember. /he sa>s she tol5 me the 5ream at the time( an5 its
ii-33:! sing9lar veri=ication a=terwar5s( as she 5i5 not receive the letter =rom -aptain
+ischer 9ntil a=ter she ret9rne5 to her home at ,hite 'iver F9nctionAb9t so man> >ears
have elapse5 that the> are inseparabl> connecte5 in m> min5. I onl> remember it in
connection with the letter( altho9gh I pres9me she is correct.
BLU-I) ). 1)I%E.C
P3W7Q +rom Mr. Latimer .. /a9n5ers( /t. .elens( near '>5e( who was concerne5 in case
33.
B)pril U8th( 2773.
B,hile at school( I ha5 a remarkabl> vivi5 5ream o= a =ire( in which it appeare5 m>
=ather4s o==ices were 5estro>e5( entailing 9pon him heav> loss. /o realistic 5i5 it seem to
me that I relate5 it to one o= m> school =ellows P&eorge ).Q be=ore rising. Y*his
gentleman( however( cannot recall the circ9mstance.Z .e tol5 me in his E9aint wa> that I
was ver> =oolish to repeat a 5ream be=ore getting 9p 9nless I wishe5 it to come tr9e@ at
which s9perstitio9s =anc> I la9ghe5( an5 tol5 him there was no =ear o= s9ch happening in
this case( as the =ire I ha5 seen in m> 5ream was not at m> =ather4s o==ices( 28( Mincing
Lane( to which I ha5 been in the holi5a>s( b9t at Messrs. "aile> an5 -o.4s o==ices( a large
block o= b9il5ings( %o. 2( Mincing Lane "9il5ings( sit9ate some 5istance awa>( an5 the
onl> thing connecting them with m> =ather was that in m> 5ream I saw his name-plate on
the entrance instea5 o= theirs. ) =ew 5a>s a=ter( I hear5 =rom m> mother that m> =ather4s
o==ices ha5 been b9rnt to the gro9n5( an5 that 9n=ort9natel> he was not ins9re5( having
onl> D9st remove5 into new o==ices. I a=terwar5s learnt that it was the block o= b9il5ings I
ha5 seen in m> 5ream that was b9rnt 5own on the same night@ an5 stranger still( that m>
=ather ha5 taken the ver> o==ices occ9pie5 b> the =irm I mentione5( the onl> knowle5ge o=
whom that I co9l5 have ha5 was =rom seeing their name on the b9il5ing( in passing to m>
=ather4s o==ices when I visite5 the -it>.
BL)*IME' .. /)U%$E'/.C
Mr. /a9n5ers4s =ather sa>s( B*he 5ate Yo= the =ireZ was( I think( %ovember( or earl> in
$ecember( 278U.C ,e =in5 =rom the Ti(es that the =ire took place on $ec. X( 278U(
breaking o9t shortl> a=ter mi5night( in Mincing Lane Cha(bers( an5 thence e?ten5ing to
other b9il5ings.
YMr. /a9n5ers tells me that one o= his brothers PMr. .arris /a9n5ers( o= Leacro=t .o9se(
/tainesQ was( he believes( at the =ireAwhich wo9l5 be in =avo9r o= the telepathic
e?planation@ b9t Mr. .. /a9n5ers 5eclines to tell 9s whether he act9all> was present. *he
case is too remote =or an> certaint> as to the e?act correspon5ence o= 5ate an5 5etail.Z
P3WX an5 37;Q Mr. 'owlan5 'owlan5s( o= "r>ncethin( "ri5gen5( has given 9s the
=ollowing 5ream-cases o9t o= man> impressions which he believes to have been veri5ical.
P/ee also Vol. I.( pp. UVU( UX2.Q .e was 9ntil recentl> manager o= the 1en->-graig
-ollieries.
BF9l> Un5( 2773.
B)bo9t U: >ears ago( when I was taking a little rest( abo9t 3; or V; miles 5istance =rom
1en->-graig( I saw a man name5 E5win &a> =alling 5own =rom a slope on the s9r=ace to
an ol5 pit( which was covere5 with ol5 timber an5 =9ll o= water. "9t the timber protecte5
him. I ii-333! instantl> wrote a letter to ca9tion them to take care( b9t when the letter
reache5( it was too late( beca9se the man ha5 =allen( ver> likel> at the ver> moment I saw
him going. I met Mr. &a> YwithinZ the last =ortnight( an5 went over the =acts with him.
BOn one occasion( abo9t 2787( when at the 1en->-graig -ollieries( I ha5 come =rom the
works to m> ho9se( abo9t 5inner-time( 2 p.m.( an5 having been 9p all night ha5 got into
be5Awhen( D9st as I was 5ropping o== to sleep( an5 still between sleeping an5 waking( I
saw the roo= o= the stall belonging to a man name5 ,illiam *homas moving( an5 the
timbers which s9pporte5 it ben5ing an5 breaking. I got 9p at once an5 ran o== to the
collier>( D9st in time to meet ,illiam *homas coming o9t o= the works( the roo= o= his
stall having =allen in( D9st as I ha5 seen it. M> vision m9st have taken place at the ver>
moment o= the acci5ent. ,illliam *homas is now 5ea5.
BOn another occasion( when in be5( between 2 an5 U a.m.( I 5reame5 that I saw the
colliers( who sho9l5 have sta>e5 in the works 9ntil V a.m.( p9tting awa> their tools an5
making rea5> to go. I h9rrie5 on m> clothes( tol5 m> wi=e what I ha5 5reame5( an5 ran
o== to the works. I =o9n5 that the men were D9st abo9t to leave( b9t ha5 h9rrie5 back on
seeing the approach o= m> light. *he> won5ere5 m9ch how I ha5 5iscovere5 the trick
which the> ha5 inten5e5 to pla>.C
Y*his last case ma> probabl> have been 59e to some latent i5ea in the 5reamer4s min5.Z
I appen5 some specimens o= a rather n9mero9s class in which letters are allege5 to have
been perceive5 shortl> be=ore their arrival. *he =ollowing are instances which there is no
5i==ic9lt> in acco9nting =or telepathicall>. P/ee also cases 3;X( 3::( 33W( above@ an5 cases
2:8( 2:W.Q
P372Q +rom Mr. -onE9est( Mea5 .o9se( "iggleswa5e.
B$ecember( 2773.
BIt was( I think( in October( 278X( that I 5reame5 that I receive5 a letter =rom an ol5
=rien5. 'ev. /. .. Ireson( then a c9rate o= /t. *homas4 -h9rch( Liverpool( an5 resi5ing in
"irkenhea5( =rom whom I ha5 not hear5 =or 2U months or more. .is han5writing was
ver> 5istinct( an5 it stoo5 o9t ver> clearl> be=ore me( as I rea5 that his wi=e ha5 presente5
him with another little 5a9ghter. On reaching the bottom o= the page( I trie5 to t9rn over
the lea=( b9t co9l5 not( an5 the e==ort awoke me. *he vivi5ness o= the 5ream was s9ch that
on coming 5own to break=ast in the morning( I sai5 to m> sister Pnow Mrs. $aniel( o= *he
Elms( "iggleswa5eQ( uI e?pect to hear =rom Ireson this morning( =or I 5reame5 last night
that I receive5 one anno9ncing the birth o= a 5a9ghter.4 In a =ew min9tes the postman
came( b9t there was no letter =rom Ireson. It came( however( the =ollowing 5a>( an5 the
=irst page seeme5 to be i5entical with the one I ha5 rea5 in m> 5ream. *owar5s the en5 o=
$ecember( in the same >ear( I think( I visite5 Ireson at "irkenhea5( an5( one 5a>(
happening to mention the above circ9mstance to him( he sai5( uI 5istinctl> remember
writing >o9 that letterAit was between 2 an5 U Por U an5 :Q o4clock in the morning( an5
a=ter I ha5 written the =irst page( I went to be5 an5 ii-33V! =inishe5 the letter ne?t 5a>.4
Ireson a=terwar5s became Vicar o= "arnol5swick( an5 5ie5 a =ew >ears ago.
B+'E$. ,. -O%}UE/*.C
Mrs. $aniel corroborates as =ollows:A
B*he Elms( "iggleswa5e.
B$ecember 2Wth( 2773.
BI per=ectl> recollect Mr. +. -onE9est telling me o= his 5ream( respecting the birth o= Mr.
Ireson4s 5a9ghter( previo9s to o9r receiving in=ormation o= the event( an5 have pleas9re
in a55ing m> testimon> in con=irmation o= it.
B*. +. $)%IEL.C
Mr. -onE9est has ante5ate5 his e?perience b> some months( as we =in5 =rom the 'egister
o= "irths that his =rien54s 5a9ghter was born on F9l> X( 27W;. In conversation he in=orme5
me that he ha5 ha5 no i5ea o= the impen5ing event@ an5 also that he 5oes not 5ream
m9ch. Mrs. $aniel 5escribe5 to me the place where she an5 her brother were stan5ing
when he tol5 her o= the 5ream( an5 the arrival o= the post imme5iatel> a=terwar5s.
P37UQ +rom Mrs. 1aramore( 3:( /ha=tesb9r> 'oa5( ,.
BMarch( 2773.
BOn the night o= the U2st March( 27W2( I woke =rom some 5istressing 5ream( sobbing. M>
h9sban5 Ysince 5ecease5Z inE9ire5 what was the matter. I tol5 him I ha5 ha5 s9ch a
5rea5=9l 5ream( something abo9t m> )9nt "aker( b9t I co9l5 not remember an>
partic9lars. *owar5s morning( I think abo9t V o4clock( I woke 9p again in great 5istress
=rom a similar( tho9gh more vivi5( 5reamAsomething still connecte5 with m> )9nt
"aker@ b9t I tol5 m> h9sban5 I ha5 receive5 two letters( black-bor5ere5. ,hen I got 9p( I
=elt 9n9s9all> 5epresse5( an5 kept sa>ing to m> h9sban5 I co9l5 not shake o== a 5rea5=9l
=eeling o= wretche5ness@ as I was nearl> alwa>s in e?cellent spirits( he was s9rprise5( b9t
o9r astonishment was ine?pressible when the post bro9ght me two black-e5ge5 letters(
both in the han5writing o= m> Uncle .9bert .9tchings( m> )9nt "aker4s brother. *he
envelopes were n9mbere5 2 an5 UAthe latter I have =o9n5 with the letters amongst m>
papers. %o. 2 containe5 the intelligence o= m> a9nt4s illness( o= which 9ntil then I was
9naware. *he other one( written shortl> a=ter( tol5 me o= her 5eath. M> h9sban5 an5
m>sel= were greatl> impresse5 with this e?traor5inar> circ9mstanceA=or I never attache5
the slightest importance to 5reams@ b9t this was 9n5eniabl> a m>sterio9s coinci5ence.C
Mrs. 1aramore sent the two lettersAconcerning respectivel> the illness an5 5eathA=or
o9r inspection. "oth were 5ate5 the same 5a>( U2st March( 27W2( an5 the black-e5ge5
cover in which one o= them was enclose5 bore a 5ate5 stamp-impression o= that 5a>.
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. 1aramore writes on March U:( 2773:A
BI 5o not at this 5istant 5ate act9all> remember as to whether the t-o letters were black-
bor5ere5 or not( b9t I 5istinctl> 5reamt the> ha5 re=erence to m> a9nt( whose illness an5
5eath were anno9nce5 the =ollowing morning in the two letters I sent >o9. ,hilst
5ressing( I =reE9entl> remarke5 Pbe=ore the post came inQ to m> h9sban5 how wretche5 I
=elt abo9t m> 5ream( an5 that it was something abo9t m> )9nt "aker. I 5o ii-338! not
remember an> other ver> 5istressing 5reams that have or have not come tr9e.
BLEO%O') E. 1)')MO'E.C
In conversation Mrs. 1aramore 5welt on the E9ite 9niE9e =eeling o= 5istress which
=ollowe5 the 5ream. )s to the partic9lar =eat9re o= repetition see Vol. I.( pp. :VWT7( an5
below pp. W;;T2.
P37:Q +rom Mr. E. ,. 1hibbs( 73( 1embroke 'oa5( -li=ton( "ristol.
B+ebr9ar> 2;th( 277V.
BIn 27V8( living in Manchester( where I carrie5 on the b9siness o= silk an5 cotton
man9=act9rer( I 5reame5 one night I saw a sheet o= paper with a written or5er 9pon it(
9nimportant in itsel=( =rom a ho9se which was in the 5ail> habit o= sen5ing me or5ersA
). an5 /. .enr> an5 -o. )s I saw it( it looke5 like a sheet o= wet paper witho9t an>
s9rro9n5ings( covere5 with writing. ,hen I got to m> place o= b9siness( abo9t hal=-past
X( m> partner( who was alwa>s there be=ore me( remarke5 that he ha5 a c9rio9s P=rom its
insigni=icanceQ or5er =rom ). an5 /. .enr> an5 -o. I sai5( u"e=ore showing it me( give
me a sheet o= paper(4 on which I wrote o9t a part o= the or5erAthe 9pper portionAan5
remarke5( uI can4t repeat what is below( beca9se it is smeare5 in the cop>ing-press.4 .e
looke5 at me ver> m9ch s9rprise5( an5 pro59ce5 the original( showing that it was
i5entical with m> 5escription.
B*hinking over the matter =or some weeks( a 5i==ic9lt> presente5 itsel= in the tho9ght that(
at the moment when I 5reame5 I saw it( the or5er wo9l5 be =ol5e5 in an envelope( an5 not
be an open sheet. )lso( wh> sho9l5 the sheet appear wetr )t last I E9estione5 the writer
o= the or5er( witho9t giving him an> reasons( an5 on asking him to 5escribe the 5ail>
proce59re o= the b9siness o= writing s9ch or5ers o9t( he answere5 that( when he ha5
written a n9mber o= s9ch or5ers the last thing at night( he gave them to the cop>ing clerk(
who was in the 9n9s9al practice o= leaving all these or5ers in the cop>ing-book in the
press all night. *he =irst thing the =ollowing morning( these wo9l5 be p9t in envelopes
an5 5istrib9te5 thro9gh the town. *his at once e?plains the open an5 5amp sheet o= m>
5ream.
B*he or5er began in the or5inar> =ormAuOr5er =or PV;;Q pieces(4 [c. *he wor5s written
5own Pbe=ore seeing the act9al or5erQ containe5 all that was e?traor5inar> in it. *he
smeare5 portion onl> containe5 =9rther partic9lars.
BE. ,. 1.I""/.C
Mr. 1hibbs4 partner is 5ea5. "9t Mr. 1hibbs has =orwar5e5 to 9s a letter( written to him on
+eb. 27( 2778( b> Mr. +it]geral5( o= :3( Marble /treet( Manchester( who hear5 o= the
occ9rrence at the time( completel> con=irming the above acco9nt@ an5 Mr. F. Lang writes(
=rom the Manchester >.a(iner and Ti(es o==ice( to the same e==ect.
In )9g9st( 277:( Mr. 1hibbs ha5 another c9rio9s 5ream( o= seeing his 5og( who was not
with him where he was sta>ing( 5>ing 9n5er a wall@ an5 Mrs. 1hibbs con=irms the =act
that this 5ream was narrate5 to her imme5iatel>. It t9rne5 o9t that the event ha5 taken
place( an5 that the 5og was b9rie5( b> persons who were in some 5egree responsible =or
the acci5ent that le5 to its 5eath( at Papparentl>Q the ho9r o= the 5ream. "9t the 5og was
=on5 o= climbing( an5 the case can har5l> be n9mbere5 as evi5ential.
I ma> concl95e( in this connection( with the =ollowing complicate5 ii-33W! case( the
val9e o= which it is 5i==ic9lt to estimate( b9t which at least has a 5eci5e5 s9ggestion o=
gen9ine telepath> =or an>one who believes in the realit> o= that in=l9ence.
P373Q +rom a la5> who thinks that to allow the p9blication o= her name wo9l5 involve a
breach o= con=i5ence. /he is a scr9p9lo9sl> conscientio9s witness.
B2773.
BI make the =ollowing stor> as short as possible( s9ppressing man> 5etails( an5( o= co9rse(
entirel> changing the names o= those concerne5. Miss "lack( with whom I have been
most intimate =or man> >ears( became m9ch intereste5 in a Mrs. &ra>. )ltho9gh Miss
"lack an5 I are so in s>mpath> that I ma> call o9r interests m9t9al( I( =rom the =irst( took
an 9nacco9ntable 5islike to this partic9lar =rien5ship@ so m9ch so that( altho9gh I was
alwa>s tol5 when the =rien5s met( no personal 5etails were ever tol5 me. I never hear5
Mrs. &ra> or her h9sban5 5escribe5@ I never saw her writing. I believe5 her name to be
AA( which is that o= her 5a9ghter.
B)t the en5 o= nearl> three >ears I receive5 an anon>mo9s letter( written in a han5
evi5entl> meant to be 5isg9ise5( asking me to give the writer some partic9lars o= the
5isposal o= Miss "lack4s propert>. *he repl> was to be a55resse5 to certain initials at a
1ost-o==ice. I 5i5 not repl>. ) short time a=ter( I 5reamt that I stoo5 looking over the
sho9l5er o= a la5> writing a letter( an5 that she signe5 hersel= uAA &ra>.4 *he room 5oor
opene5 an5 a tall ol5 man came in( an5 the writer hastil> p9t the letter awa>. *wo 5a>s
a=ter( I receive5 a secon5 anon>mo9s letter o= the same p9rport( which I 5i5 not answer. I
5reamt the same thing again. /oon a=ter PI =orget how man> 5a>sQ( a thir5 letter reache5
me( begging that I wo9l5 never let Miss "lack know what ha5 passe5. I then wrote(
sa>ing the letters were 5estro>e5( an5 that =rom me Miss ". wo9l5 never hear o= the
matter. ) month or two a=ter this( while sta>ing at m> home( Miss ". an5 I were at
ch9rch. )n ol5 man sat near 9s who str9ck me as e?tremel> like the =ig9re I ha5 seen in
m> 5reams. Miss ". whispere5( u*hat is so like MaDor &ra>.4 *his impresse5 me ver>
m9ch( an5 I a=terwar5s =o9n5 o9t that Mrs. &ra>4s name is AA( not AA( as I ha5
s9ppose5@ also that she has a great E9antit> o= almost white hair( which I have omitte5 to
sa> was the onl> thing I ver> 5istinctl> saw abo9t m> 5ream-la5>( as her =ace was hi55en
=rom me.
BIn the co9rse o= her visit( Miss "lack sai5( uIt seems to me >o9r 5islike to Mrs. &ra> has
taken a more 5e=inite =orm@ >o9 1no- something abo9t her.4 I 5enie5 the 1no-ledge( all
being s9rmise( an5 I being most an?io9s that Miss ". sho9l5 not be wo9n5e5 b> the
=eeling that an>one was spec9lating on what wo9l5 happen in the event o= her 5eath(
speciall> as she is in 5elicate health. *he s9bDect was then 5roppe5 between 9s@ b9t when(
on a visit to her( we ha5 been sitting alone an5 silent =or some time( her han5 being on m>
sho9l5er( she e?claime5( s955enl>( uIt is something abo9t m> will that makes >o9 5islike
Mrs. &. so m9ch.4 In point o= =act( I ha5 at the time been thinking over the whole matter. I
then tol5 her all( an5 it is now a matter o= great regret I 5i5 not at once sen5 Miss ". the
letters( as things then might have been cleare5 9p. It has been a ca9se o= 5istress to Miss
". an5 m>sel=( as it has ma5e a breach ii-337! in her =rien5ship with Mrs &ra>( who
5enies all knowle5ge o= the letters( b9t re=9ses to meet me an5 5isc9ss the a==air. I nee5
tro9ble >o9 no =9rther( nothing more o= interest( =rom a ps>chological point( having
occ9rre5.C
'e=erring to the above acco9nt( BMiss "lackC writes( on October V( 2778:ABI can
corroborate the =acts therein containe5.C
In answer to inE9iries( the narrator sa>s:A
2. B)=ter receiving the =irst anon>mo9s letter I did s9spect its a9thor to be Mrs. &ra>.
"e=ore this I never ha5 the least s9spicion that her interest in Miss "lack was a mercenar>
one( an5 I have been at a loss to acco9nt =or =eeling so ass9re5 she was the writer( witho9t
there being an> evi5ence to =avo9r the i5ea.
U. BI am E9ite s9re I recognise5 the ol5 man in ch9rch as being like the man in m> 5ream
before Miss ". spoke o= the resemblance to MaDor &ra>.
:. BI am E9ite s9re I never saw MaDor &.( an5 I have not the slightest remembrance o=
having hear5 an> 5escription o= him.
3. B1revio9s to Miss "lack urea5ing4 what certainl> were m> tho9ghts abo9t Mrs. &ra>(
we ha5 ma5e some ver> small e?periments in tho9ght-trans=erence( with( however( too
slight res9lts to s9bmit to the /.1.'. In these e?periments I was the percipient@ m>
uwilling4 ha5 no e==ect whatever on Miss "lack. ,e 5iscontin9e5 o9r e?perimenting as I
=o9n5 it e?ha9sting. I think it is clear that a us>mpathetic rapport4 e?ists between 9s( as
once it was uborne in 9pon me4 with ine?pressible power that she was in some 5istress.
*he impression sei]e5 me s955enl> at a certain ho9r( an5 no e==ort wo9l5 5ispel it. *he
news reache5 me ne?t 5a> that Miss ".4s sister ha5 been taken worse at the time( an5 was
5>ing. /he ha5 been ill( b9t not serio9sl> so( an5 the last acco9nt I ha5 receive5 was ver>
goo5. ,hen we are together we have o=ten answere5 9ne?presse5 tho9ghts.
V. BI am ver> sorr> I ma5e no notes whatever o= the inci5ent( never having been in the
habit o= keeping a 5iar>( an5 I cannot be at all acc9rate as to 5ates. Y*he narrator has
however tol5 9s privatel> what were the months in which the vario9s inci5ents occ9rre5.
*he =irst was less than 3 >ears ago.Z
8. BI 5o not remember ever having 5reamt more than once Yi.e.( having ha5 repeate5
2
a
5ream in which an> one besi5es m>sel= has appeare5.
B%ot having an> i5ea that Mrs. &ra>4s name is AA( in =act being impresse5 with the
i5ea that it was AA( 5oes it not strike >o9 as a ver> c9rio9s coinci5ence that I sho9l5
have 5reamt that I saw the tr9e signat9rer *he real name Ycomm9nicate5 in con=i5enceZ
is a rather 9ncommon one. I have never known more than one person bearing the same.
BI E9ite =orgot to sa> that Miss "lack writes that she 5oes not remember her han5 being
on m> sho9l5er( b9t that I was sitting so near as to to9ch her@ m> own impression still is
that it was so.C
In conversation the narrator tol5 Mr. 1o5more that( when she tol5 the whole stor> to Miss
"lack( the latter bro9ght 5own a b9n5le containing man> letters =rom vario9s persons(
an5 that she Pthe narratorQ witho9t 5i==ic9lt> picke5 o9t a letter o= Mrs. &ra>4s( =rom the
resemblance o= the writing to that seen in the 5ream.
ii-33X!
+!P#&R ().
91%R/&R'!"/8 +!$&$.
S 2. *.E most convenient mo5e o= arranging the cases in the present chapter will be( not
b> the character o= the e?perience narrate5Avis9al( a95itor>( an5 so onA=or it happens
that a large maDorit> are vis9al@
2
b9t b> the character o= the evi5enceA=irst-han5 or
secon5-han5( recent or remote.
I will begin with some cases( =irst-han5 or on a par with =irst-han5 PVol. I.( p. 237Q( to
which the chie= obDection( =rom an evi5ential point o= view( is their remoteness o= 5ate.
P37VQ +rom the late Mr. 'obert .enr> $i?( 8:( Lanark Villas( Mai5a Vale( Lon5on( ,.
B+ebr9ar> Un5( 2773.
BIn 27:8( when a ver> >o9ng man( I ha5 become engage5 to a >o9ng la5>@ b9t I 5eci5e5
to leave Englan5 an5 tr> m> =ort9ne elsewhere( an5 wait 9ntil I sho9l5 be able to
establish m>sel=( an5 co9l5 then sen5 =or m> inten5e5 an5 be 9nite5. O= co9rse we were
to keep 9p a reg9lar correspon5ence.
BI le=t Englan5 an5 went to /t. 1etersb9rg( where I ha5 some =rien5s( an5 ver> soon a=ter
m> arrival there I got an appointment on an estate in the /o9th o= '9ssia( belonging to a
rich an5 in=l9ential nobleman. In the co9rse o= a >ear I s9ccee5e5 in obtaining a ver>
goo5 position( an5 co9l5 =airl> hope to be enable5 to marr> in the co9rse o= the ne?t
spring. In the meantime( the correspon5ence with m> inten5e5 contin9e5 ver> reg9larl>.
)ll at once it cease5( an5 =or some time I ha5 receive5 no letters =rom her. I wrote to one
o= her =amil>( an5 was in=orme5 that m> inten5e5 was taken serio9sl> ill( an5 ha5 gone to
Ferse> to some =rien5s there( hoping that the sea air an5 change o= climate might be
bene=icial to her. *his nat9rall> 9nsettle5 me ver> m9ch( an5 I became 5epresse5 an5
low-spirite5 in conseE9ence. One 5a> I remember I was partic9larl> so. I ha5 been ver>
m9ch occ9pie5 59ring the 5a>( an5 towar5s the evening threw m>sel= on the so=a in m>
sitting-room( an5 5roppe5 o== to sleep. It might have been an ho9r or so that I ha5 been
asleep( when( s955enl> awaking( I observe5 at the =oot o= the ii-3V;! co9ch a sort o=
bl9ish vapo9r(
2
which seeme5 to =ill 9p the en5 o= the room( an5 what seeme5 to me a
sha5ow> =orm appeare5 to come o9t o= it( which gra59all> took the =orm o= a =emale@ the
=eat9res bore the e?act likeness o= m> inten5e5. I was now =9ll> awake. I raise5 m>sel=
on the so=a( an5 e?claime5( uLo9isa( is that reall> >o9r ,hat has happene5r4 I receive5
no answer( an5 in a =ew secon5s the apparition was gone( an5 seeme5 to melt awa> into
the vapo9r( which also 5isappeare5. I still s9ppose5 that I ha5 been 5reaming( b9t I co9l5
not shake o== the impression this apparition ha5 ma5e 9pon me.
BI wrote to m> =rien5s in Englan5( sa>ing that I =eare5 m> inten5e5 was 5>ing or 5ea5. I
receive5 in answer that m> =ears were too well =o9n5e5( an5 that the poor girl ha5 5ie5 o=
in=lammation o= the brain( on the same 5a>( an5 abo9t the same time( as I mentione5
having seen the apparition.
B'. .. $.C
In conversation( Mr. $i? e?plaine5 to Mr. 1o5more that he co9l5 not give the precise 5ate
o= the apparition@ it occ9rre5 some time in the a9t9mn o= 27:W( between 8 an5 W p.m.(
when it was 59sk( b9t not >et =9ll> 5ark. .e ma5e no written memoran59m o= the
occ9rrence( b9t tol5 one or two =rien5s in '9ssia on the =ollowing 5a>. ,hen he receive5
the letter anno9ncing the 5eath( he note5 that it took place on the same 5a> as the vision(
b9t he never learne5 whether the ho9r e?actl> correspon5e5( onl> that the 5eath took
place in the a=ternoon.
)ll those who co9l5 give corroborative evi5ence in this case are either 5ea5 or 5isperse5(
so that the> cannot be trace5. %one o= the letters are preserve5( an5 no one is living o=
Mr. $i?4s own relations who co9l5 attest the receipt o= his letters.
Mr. $i? was certain that he ha5 never ha5 an> other e?perience o= hall9cination. )t the
same time( it m9st be note5 that he was at the time in a state o= 5istinct an?iet> respecting
his fianc4e.
,e have more to rel> on here than the mere recollection o= the e?perience@ this receives(
so to speak( a point dappui in the recollection that a letter was written in conseE9ence.
/imilarl>( in the ne?t two cases( an5 in others that =ollow( we have the recollection that
the phantasm was imme5iatel> 5escribe5 an5 commente5 on. In respect o= man> o= these
bor5erlan5 visions( I ma> remin5 the rea5er that the percipient4s certaint> o= having been
completel> awake at the time( tho9gh not concl9sive as to the =act( is in itsel= E9ite
s9==icient to 5isting9ish the e?perience =rom an or5inar> 5ream.
P378Q +rom the late Mrs. Lever( o= -9lcheth .all( "ow5on( wi=e o= Mr. Ellis Lever( well
known in Manchester.
BMa> 23th( 2773.
B,hen at )shton-9n5er-L>ne( in m> =ather4s ho9se( an5 being abo9t 23 >ears o= age( I
was l>ing awake in be5( an5 m> sister( )nne( sleeping b> m> si5e. It was nearing the
5awn at morning( when I saw m> co9sin( Mar> *inker( come to m> be5si5e( an5 she lai5
one han5 on the pillow ii-3V2! near m> sister4s hea5( while her e>es were 9pli=te5( as i=
in pra>er. PM> co9sin Mar> was partic9larl> attache5 to m> sister )nne.Q /he was in her
night5ress( which was =rille5 5own the =ront( an5 a nightcap( also =rille5@ an5 I saw her
5ark-brown e>es as 5istinctl> as possible. I was so a=rai5 that I shrank 9n5er the clothes@
b9t then( re=lecting that I ha5 5one nothing to grieve her( an5 no reason to be a=rai5( I
resolve5 to speak to her. "9t on removing the clothes( she was gone( an5 not knowing
where she co9l5 have gone to( I concl95e5 that it m9st have been her spirit.
2
)t break=ast(
the same morning( I mentione5 what I ha5 seen to m> =ather an5 brothers( an5 to m>
sister )nne. *he> sai5 I m9st have been 5reaming( b9t I was E9ite awake( an5 ass9re5
them that this was the case.
B*he ne?t 5a> a letter came stating that m> co9sin Mar> ha5 5ie5( an5 it was ascertaine5
that her 5eath occ9rre5 at the ver> time at which I ha5 seen her apparition. *his
coinci5ence convince5 the members o= m> =amil> that I ha5 seen m> co9sin( as I ass9re5
them I ha5.
B-)*.E'I%E LEVE'.C
Mrs. Lever4s 5a9ghter writes( =rom -ambri5ge .o9se( Monmo9th:A
BF9ne 3th( 2773.
BI am sta>ing with m> mother4s sister Y)nneZ( who 5istinctl> remembers abo9t her co9sin
Mar>.
B)$) LEVE'.C
Mrs. Lever( hersel=( however( sa>s( BM> sister onl> D9st remembers m> mentioning
-o9sin Mar>( an5 she cannot give me the 5ate.C
P37WQ +rom a la5>( Mrs. ..( who pre=ers that her name sho9l5 not be p9blishe5.
B277:.
B,hen I was a chil5 o= 22 >ears o= age( a ver> sing9lar thing happene5 to me( which is
well-known to m> =amil>( an5 impresse5 itsel= so vivi5l> on m> memor> that I can still(
tho9gh now a gran5mother( recall ever> circ9mstance.
BOne night I awoke in a great state o= =right( thinking someone ha5 to9che5 me. I saw
5istinctl>( stan5ing b> m> be5si5e( m> brother( b9t I was terri=ie5 to see that he looke5
ver> terribl> strange an5 altere5( as it str9ck me( like a 5ea5 person( tho9gh at that time I
ha5 never seen an>one 5ea5. I was also ver> astonishe5 at seeing that he seeme5 5ripping
wet( his clothes wet an5 staine5( his hair 5ripping( an5 he stoo5 with his e>es =i?e5 on
me. In m> terror I calle5 o9t u)licks4 Phis nameQ( when the =ig9re imme5iatel> vanishe5.
U

I D9mpe5 o9t o= be5( r9nning thro9gh the 5oor( which was alwa>s le=t open( into the ne?t
room( m> governess4s( telling her o= what I ha5 seen( an5 in m> alarm( getting into her
be5( where I remaine5 that night. /he trie5 to la9gh awa> m> =ears( sa>ing I m9st have
eaten something that ha5 5isagree5 with me( an5 that what ha5 passe5 was a nightmare(
an5 =orbi55ing me to mention it to m> gran5mother( 9n5er whose care I was living( she
being an ol5 /cotch la5>( an5 s9perstitio9s( an5 that it might 9pset her. %othing(
there=ore( regar5ing the circ9mstance was in an> wa> place5 on recor5.
B)bo9t three months a=terwar5s( as I was rea5ing alo95 to m> governess in the same
sitting-room with m> gran5mother( the In5ian post arrive5. /he ma5e the remark( u.ow
sing9lars %o letters( onl> a newspaper(4 ii-3VU! which she began rea5ing. )=ter a little
while she 5roppe5 the paper with the e?clamation( uOh( m> &o5s4 M> governess ran to
her( an5 presentl> rea5 m> brother4s 5eath b> 5rowning in a E9icksan5 in the 'iver /one(
near /onepore( in "engal. .e was marching with his regiment@ the> were encampe5 on
one si5e o= the river bank( another regiment on the opposite si5e. *his regiment( in which
m> brother ha5 a >o9ng =rien5( ha5 aske5 him to earl> break=ast( abo9t V or 8 o4clock in
the morning@ an5 the native who was showing him the wa> across a=terwar5s 5epose5 he
hear5 a str9ggling all o= a s955en( looke5 back( an5 saw m> brother an5 his pon>
=lo9n5ering in the E9icksan5( with which the river is =9ll( an5 o= which it is s9ppose5 the
coolie ha5 =orgotten to warn him. Instea5 o= throwing m> brother a rope or stick to catch
hol5 o=( the man( in a great state o= =right( ran back to the camp to give the news@ b9t b>
the time help arrive5 it was too late( an5 m> brother was E9ite 5ea5 when the bo5> was
recovere5.
2
*his happene5 March U2st( 273V. In "engal b> that month the s9n is well
risen b> V o4clock( or at all events E9ite broa5 light( an5 being in a5vance o= 9s some si?
ho9rs( the time at which he was 5rowne5 wo9l5 tall> with m> seeing him 59ring the night
at home.
BM. -. ..C
+rom the onl> p9blic notice o= the 5eath that we have been able to 5iscoverAa letter
E9ote5 b> )llens :ndian 'ail =rom the Bengal 9ur1aru o= March 3( 273VAit appears
that Mrs. ..4s brother was 5rowne5 in the /one when ret9rning one morning to his
regiment( having spent the night with another regiment on the other si5e o= the river( an5
that he was buried on +eb. U:. It is th9s likel> eno9gh that the acci5ent occ9rre5 on +eb.
U2. *he 'arch U2( in Mrs. ..4s acco9nt( cannot be correct.
Mrs. .. a55s the =ollowing inci5ent( which is perhaps worth giving in connection with
the =ormer one@ b9t it is possible that the 5a9ghter who was in the same room with her
calle5 o9t in her sleep.
BM> el5est 5a9ghter ha5 come o9t to 9s to -alc9tta( an5 she happene5 =or the time to be
sleeping in m> be5room. Earl> one morning( $ecember( 27W;( a =ew 5a>s a=ter her
arrival( I woke s955enl>( hearing her( as I tho9ght( calling o9t( uMamma( mamma(4 in a
ver> straine5 sort o= voice( b9t( to m> s9rprise( =o9n5 she was so9n5 asleep. )bo9t U3
5a>s a=terwar5s( we got the news that m> secon5 5a9ghter( a girl D9st 23( then at $over
with a relative( ha5 scarlet =ever ver> ba5l>( an5 in the 5eliri9m atten5ing kept onl>
calling o9t( uMamma( mamma.4 /he recovere5@ so this shows( as so man> cases o= the
same kin5 5o( that it is not onl> at the moment o= the spirit4s 5epart9re these
mani=estations occ9r@ b9t I think the> onl> 5o so in cases where either ver> strong
attachment e?ists( or to people whose temperament is o= the rather nervo9sl> sensitive
bree5( an5 I am so in man> wa>s@ =or instance( I have the most e?traor5inaril> keen
hearing.C
*he narrator states that she has never e?perience5 an> hall9cination o= a p9rel> s9bDective
kin5.
P377Q +rom Mr. ,illiam &arlick( +.'.-./.( ::( &reat Fames /treet( "loomsb9r>( ,.-.
B"etween 8 an5 W in the morning o= )9g9st UX( 27:U( when l>ing in ii-3V:! be5( hal=
asleep an5 hal= awake( I was s955enl> startle5 b> perceiving the =orm o= m> brother
&eorge( then absent =rom home( stan5ing besi5e me. *he room was E9ite light( an5 m>
recognition o= the =ig9re was complete an5 clear. .e looke5 at me( an5 then seeme5 to
=a5e slowl> awa>.
2
M> brother( who ha5 a speciall> warm a==ection =or me( was at that
time a sailor on boar5 the merchant ship( uEli]a(4 bo9n5 =or the East In5ies. I ha5 no
reason to s9ppose an>thing was wrong with him( nor was he speciall> in m> tho9ghts.
*he vision( =or I =elt certain that I was awake an5 not 5reaming( ma5e a ver> strong an5
pain=9l impression 9pon me( so m9ch so that the =amil> where I was sta>ing aske5 the
ca9se o= m> tro9ble5 looks. I tol5 them what I ha5 seen( an5 at m> hostess4s Pa=terwar5s
m> mother-in-lawQ reE9est ma5e a note o= the occ9rrence.
BMonths a=terwar5s we receive5 the intelligence that m> brother ha5 5ie5 at "aro5a( o=
5>senter>. *he 5ate an5 ho9r
U
o= his 5eath( as nearl> as co9l5 be calc9late5( coinci5e5
e?actl> with that o= his appearance to me at /tro95 P&lo9cesterQ. I am o= a calm an5
9nimaginative temperament( an5 have never ha5 an> similar e?perience be=ore or since.
*he coinci5ence was well-known to vario9s members o= m> =amil>( b9t I 5o not now
remember that I mentione5 the matter to an>one else at the time.
B,M. &)'LI-0C
Mrs. &arlick writes( on %ov. 27( 2773:A
BI was present at the break=ast table on the UXth )9g9st( 27:U( when m> mother( Mrs.
.9mpage( E9estione5 Mr. &arlick on the ca9se o= his 9n9s9al gloom an5 E9ietness. .e
then tol5 9s that he ha5 seen his brotherAwho was at that time at seaAin his be5room an
ho9r or two be=ore. M> mother answere5( u#o9 will be s9re to hear something( so note
the 5ate.4
B/ome months a=terwar5s I remember that a letter came =or Mr. &arlick( =orwar5e5 =rom
his mother( anno9ncing the 5eath o= this brother on that 5a>( the UXth )9g9st. I hear5 o=
this( o= co9rse( as soon as the letter was receive5.
BL. &)'LI-0.C
Mr. &arlick has never ha5 an> other hall9cination. In conversation( he e?plaine5 to Mr.
1o5more that the =ig9re remaine5 in his sight( apparentl>( =or abo9t 2; min9tes@ b9t the
length o= time( in s9ch circ9mstances( is apt to be greatl> e?aggerate5. .e has a ver>
vivi5 recollection o= the =eat9res( b9t cannot recall the 5ress. .e in=ers =rom this that the
5ress was that which his brother 9s9all> wore( as he wo9l5 certainl> have notice5 an5
remembere5 an> 9n9s9al 5etail in the cost9me. .e was abo9t 27 >ears ol5 at the time.
*he BnoteC re=erre5 to was a mental note onl>( b9t he is con=i5ent o= the acc9rac> o= his
memor>. .e showe5 Mr. 1o5more the entr> o= the 5eath( with the 5ate( in his =amil>
"ible.
,e have not been able to veri=> the 5ate o= 5eath( as it has been impossible to trace the
BEli]a.C
P37XQ +rom Mrs. %in5( Mi5leton .o9se( ,estcombe 1ark( "lackheath.
BMa> 23th( 277:
BOn a &oo5 +ri5a> morning( man> >ears ago( I ha5 been awake earl>( ii-3V3! an5
=in5ing it too soon to get 9p( was l>ing in be5( not asleep( when a =ig9re stoo5 b> m>
be5si5e( in =act( m> =ather-in-law( an ol5 captain in the 'o>al %av>@ he spoke to me a =ew
wor5s
2
an5 5isappeare5. I was so startle5 that I calle5 m> h9sban5 Psince 5ea5Q( who was
asleep( an5 tol5 him what was sai5. I imme5iatel> got 9p an5 tol5 m> mother an5 sister
Ysince 5ecease5Z( who chance5 to be sta>ing with 9s. %ow( what makes this stor> seem
strange was that m> =ather-in-law ha5 5ie5 the night be=ore( s955enl>. ,e 5i5 not get the
news be=ore the afternoon o= &oo5 +ri5a>( as he was resi5ing at "ri5gnorth( in
/hropshire( 28 miles =rom a railwa>. I saw him in the earl> morning( I co9nt abo9t 7
ho9rs a=ter his 5eath. *he case was no 5ream@ an5 the =act o= m> having mentione5 it
be=ore I hear5 o= the 5eath o= m> 5ear =ather-in-law ma5e a strong impression on all the
=amil>.C
)ske5 i= this was her sole e?perience o= a hall9cination o= the senses( Mrs. %in5 replie5
in the a==irmative.
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that -omman5er 1hilip %in5 5ie5 o= heart 5isease
on March UV( 27V:Awhich was &oo5 +ri5a>( not the 5a> be=ore it. 1robabl> the 5eath
took place in the earl> morning( an5 the coinci5ence was closer than Mrs. %in5 s9ppose5.
P3X;Q +rom Mr. .arol5 La=one( .anworth 1ark( Mi55lese?( a co9sin o= the percipient(
La5> -AAg( who en5orses the acco9nt.
B2773.
B)bo9t the >ear 273X( an apparition was seen b> La5> -AAg( then Miss &ale( 9n5er the
=ollowing circ9mstances:A
B/he was living at the time in her =ather4s ho9se at &ratel>( in .ampshire. One night( on
awaking s955enl> =rom sleep( she saw the =ig9re o= a >o9ng man( apparentl> attire5 in his
night shirt( stan5ing at the =oot o= her be5. /he was nat9rall> m9ch s9rprise5( an5
inE9ire5 who he was( an5 what he wante5r .e replie5 that he was the ghost o= Fohn
$owling( an5 La5> -AAg states that( as he spoke( she 5istinctl> saw the initials F. $.
marke5 on the e5ge o= his nightgown. )t this 5istance o= time she will not vent9re to give
the e?act wor5s o= the conversation between them( nor to 5escribe the e?act appearance
o= the =ig9re or its manner o= 5epart9re. It 5isappeare5( however( imme5iatel> a=ter
revealing its name.
B/he mentione5 the circ9mstance to her =amil> at break=ast the ne?t morning( b9t was
incline5 to regar5 it merel> as a strange an5 ver> vivi5 5ream( 9ntil( on 5riving the same
a=ternoon to the neighbo9ring town o= )n5over( she hear5 there =or the =irst time that Mr.
Fohn $owling( a >o9ng solicitor o= the town( ha5 5ie5 on the previo9s night( as =ar as she
co9l5 D95ge abo9t the time when the apparition was seen b> hersel=. La5> -AAg knew
Mr. Fohn $owling b> name an5 sight( an5 ha5 recognise5 the likeness o= the apparition to
him( b9t she ha5 never met or e?change5 a wor5 with him( nor ha5 she the =aintest i5ea
that he was ill.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the 5eath took place some >ears earlier than
La5> -AAg s9ppose5( on %ov. :( 273V.
ii-3VV!
YI have seen a letter( 5ate5 $ec. 2Xth( 27W:( =rom La5> -. to Mr. .. La=one( in which she
sa>s that her h9sban5 obDects to her signing the acco9nt. /he sa>s( BIt is all tr9e as =ar as I
can remember at this remote perio5(C b9t a55s that she has a certain 5rea5 an5 5islike o=
the s9bDect.Z
P3X2Q *he =ollowing two letters were written b> the late Mrs. -larke( wi=e o= the late Mr.
*homas -larke( o= "ishopton -lose( 'ipon( to her stepson( Mr. ,illiam +owler
/tephenson. .e gave them to his co9sin( the 'ev. F. *. +owler( o= "ishop .at=iel54s .all(
$9rham( who han5e5 them on to 9s.
BOctober 2Wth( 27WU.
BOn the morning o= m> =ather4s 5eath( between 3 an5 V o4clock( I saw a sort o= sha5ow>
light at the =oot o= m> be5( an5 hal= arose to look at it. I 5istinctl> saw m> =ather4s =ace(
smiling at me.
2
I 5rew the c9rtains apart( an5 still saw him looking =i?e5l> at me. I awoke
the girl who was sleeping with me( an5 aske5 her to 5raw 9p the win5ow blin5. I then
aske5 her i= she saw an>thing. /he sai5( u%othing. It is too 5ark.4 I =anc> I saw the vision
=or =9ll> =ive min9tes( an5 then all was 5ark again.
U
*he =ace was bo9n5 9n5er the chin(
as 9s9al in 5eath( an5 the cloth seeme5 staine5( b9t not so 5eep as iron-mo9l5 E9ite. On
looking at m> =ather4s corpse( a=ter ret9rning to .9ll( I tol5 an ol5 =rien5( who was with
me( that it was D9st so he looke5 at me( e?cept that the cloth was 5iscolo9re5. /he at once
sai5: u*hen he 5i5 come to >o9( that4s certain( =or the cloth was staine5( an5 I change5 it
a=ter 5a>light.4 It was within a =ew min9tes o= his 5eath that I saw him( an5 he was asking
&o5 to bless me. .e was asking =or me contin9all>.
BM. -.C
In repl> to a reE9est o= Mr. /tephenson4s =or more partic9lar in=ormation on certain
points( Mrs. -larke wrote:A
BOctober 2Xth( 27WU.
BI ha5 been in .arrogate =or some weeks( an5 was con=ine5 to m> room =rom a =everish
col5
:
which ca9se5 restless nights. It was tho9ght necessar> =or one o= the mai5s to sleep
with me( so I aske5 her to 5raw 9p the blin5s. *his was a little a=ter 3 o4clock in the
morning o= the 22th o= %ovember( 2738. On that same 5a>( abo9t X o4clock( b> post( I
receive5 the enclose5 letter( being the =irst intimation I ha5 o= m> =ather4s illness. .e was
taken ill on the /9n5a>@ the> wrote to me on the Mon5a>( an5 he 5ie5 on *9es5a>
morning. I was then U: >ears o= age. M> sister( -hristiana( an5 a woman-servant atten5e5
to m> =ather. ) =aith=9l ol5 =rien5( Mrs. $ible( came as soon as possible to 5o what was
necessar> on s9ch occasions( an5 it was to her that I mentione5 what I ha5 seen. /he
e?plaine5 that( in the e?citement o= the moment( the> ha5 9se5 what ha5 been the bottom
o= an ol5 blin5( which( as soon as it was 5a>light( she saw was staine5( an5 change5 it
hersel=. I can never e?plain what I =elt on that 5a>( i= it can be calle5 =eeling. *he> sai5 I
was like marble to look at( an5 like ice to to9ch.C
*he letter re=erre5 to b> Mrs. -larke( anno9ncing the illness o= her =ather( was enclose5.
*wo persons ha5 written to her on the same sheetA
ii-3V8!
Mr. F9bb( a =rien5 o= the =amil>( an5 her brother( Mr. F. 'ollit( a solicitor in .9ll. Mr.
F9bb4s letter r9ns:A
B.9ll( %ovember 2;th( 2738.
BM# $E)' M)*IL$)(AI= >o9 wish to see >o9r 5ear =ather alive( >o9 m9st come
imme5iatel> >o9 receive this@ he is not likel> to s9rvive long.A#o9rs tr9l>(
B,M. FU""C
,e =in5 =rom the 9ull )dvertiser that the 5eath took place on %ov. 22( 2738( as Mrs.
-larke asserts. /he ma5e a mistake Po= no importanceQ as to the 5a>s o= the week. *he
22th was a ,e5nes5a>( an5 the letter to her was written on *9es5a>.
P3XUQ +rom Mrs. &eorge &rant &or5on( Milton o= 0ikaroch( %airn( %.".
2

B)pril 2W( 2778.
BI am most happ> to acce5e to >o9r reE9est( an5 sen5 >o9 an acco9nt o= what I
e?perience5 at the time o= m> =ather4s Y-olonel /ibbal54sZ 5eath. I remember it as clearl>
as i= it happene5 onl> >ester5a>. It was earl> on the morning o= the :2st Ma>( 27VW( while
I was l>ing perfectl, awake in be5( that I saw m> =ather s955enl> stan5ing at the =oot o=
m> be5. I recognise5 him imme5iatel> =rom his likenesses. Y.e ha5 been =or >ears in
In5ia.Z .e was 5resse5 in regimentals( stanching a wo9n5 in his breast with a pocket-
han5kerchie=. *wo other o==icers in regimentals were besi5e him( whom I 5i5 not
recognise.
U
I 5i5 not reveal this vision( or whatever it can be calle5( =or some time to the
=rien5s who ha5 charge o= me Y$r. an5 Mrs. Mc"ethZ( =or =ear o= being la9ghe5 at Y=orZ
what the> alwa>s terme5 m> u=ancies4@ b9t when the> 5i5 hear o= it( the> note5 it 5own.
B+or : months we receive5 no news =rom In5ia( owing to the 5ist9rbe5 state o= the
co9ntr>@ b9t when the letters 5i5 arrive( the news tallie5 e?actl> with what I ha5 seen. It
was on that ver> 5a> m> =ather ha5 been shot twice( on his wa> to the para5e-gro9n5. On
being misse5( two o==icers went in search =or him( an5 =o9n5 him l>ing wo9n5e5.
BE. *. &O'$O%.C
-olonel an5 "riga5ier .9gh /ibbal5( -.".( was almost the =irst victim o= the In5ian
M9tin>@ an5 at the 5ate o= his 5eath there ha5 been not the slightest an?iet> on his
acco9nt in Englan5. ,e =in5 =rom )llens :ndian 'ail that the rising at "areill>( where he
was in comman5( took place at 22 a.m. on Ma> :2( 27VW( an5 that he was shot in the
chest b> one o= his or5erlies( while ri5ing to the para5e-gro9n5( an5 shortl> a=terwar5s
5roppe5 5ea5 =rom his horse. )llowing =or longit95e( it will be seen that the coinci5ence
was probabl> e?tremel> close.
In answer to the E9estion whether she has ever ha5 a hall9cination o= the senses on an>
other occasion( an5 to other inE9iries( Mrs. &or5on writes:A
BI cannot remember having act9all> seen an>thing else( tho9gh I have alwa>s ha5 strange
presentiments. *he =rien5s who ha5 charge o= me in those 5a>s are both 5ea5( an5 the>
are abo9t the onl> persons I ii-3VW! can remember who co9l5 have known o= the vision
before the sa5 news arrive5. I was per=ectl> clear as to the 5ate@ as the previous 5a> I ha5
been to a picnic@ an5 that 5ate the> all remembere5 being the :;th o= Ma> Ya /at9r5a>Z. It
was the =ollowing morning I saw m> =ather. *he =irst news o= the M9tin> that reache5 9s
m9st have been m9ch later. I ha5 no reason whatever to =eel the least an?io9s abo9t m>
=ather.C
,e have receive5 an acco9nt which s9bstantiall> agrees with the above Pb9t omits the
5etail o= the two other o==icersQ( =rom Miss Lang( o= .9ghen5en -ottage( .igh ,>combe(
"9cks( to whom the occ9rrence was 5escribe5 in 2787( b> an a9nt o= Mrs. &or5on an5
sister o= -olonel /ibbal5.
,e cannot ass9me here that the e?perience was in an> 5egree a clairvo>ant vision o= the
scene( or that the two strangers who appeare5 were an>thing more than a s9bDective
a55ition o= the percipient4s. +or there is nothing in the contemporar> acco9nt to s9ggest
that -olonel /ibbal5 was not ri5ing alone@ an5 i= he 5roppe5 =rom his horse( as 5escribe5(
he m9st have been l>ing dead( not merel> -ounded( when others approache5.
P3X:Q +rom Mrs. +it]geral5( 23( ,in5sor *errace( 0ingstown( Irelan5.
BFan9ar> UUn5( 2773.
BMore than UV >ears have elapse5 since the memorable event occ9rre5( which stan5s o9t
as a lan5mark in m> memor>. M> h9sban5( $avi5 +it]geral5( an5 m>sel= were later than
9s9al in retiring to rest on the night in E9estion. )=ter leaving m> 5ressing-room( in
getting into be5( I =o9n5 m> h9sban5 =irm asleep( so crept in E9ietl>. It was then near 2U
o4clock. I 5i5 not sleep =or some time. "etween that an5 : o4clock m> h9sban5 awoke
me( sa>ing( u/arah( stop +re5( 5on4t let him go.4 I imme5iatel> got 9p( went ro9n5 to the
5oor o= the 5ressing-room to close it( as I =irml> believe5 there was someone in the room(
b9t =o9n5 it close5. On lighting the can5les( m> h9sban5 was sitting 9p in the be5 greatl>
5ist9rbe5( sa>ing( u$i5 >o9 not see +re5r4 In or5er to make light o= the matter I sai5 uIt
was onl> a 5ream.4 .e looke5 at me( not as i= he were convince5 with what I sai5. %e?t
5a> I 5rove to town( to know what time +re5 last wrote to his brother( never sa>ing a
wor5 o= what ha5 occ9rre5 the night be=ore. *ime passe5@ on the arrival o= the news o=
the 5eath o= poor +re5 I was so thrown o== m> 9s9al 5iscretion that I e?claime5 to his
brother ,illiam( uOh( I know when he 5ie5( =or he was with his =ather that night.4
B/. M. +I*J&E')L$.C
Mrs. Mc0ern( o= V:( &eorge /treet( Limerick( writes as =ollows:A
BFan9ar>( 2773.
B)bo9t UV >ears ago( $avi5 +it]geral5( Lan5 )gent( o= Limerick Pm> gran5=atherQ( at that
time between 8V an5 W; >ears o= age( was resi5ing at 'ichmon5( his private 5welling(
abo9t hal=-a-mile o9tsi5e the cit>. *he other occ9pants o= the ho9se were his secon5 wi=e(
/arah +it]geral5( an5 his step 5a9ghter( Mar> .9nt.
2
.e ha5( besi5es( man> sons an5 ii-
3V7! 5a9ghters( the >o9ngest o= the =ormer having gone to )9stralia. One night Pho9r not
known to narratorQ he was awakene5 =rom sleep b> the howling in =ront o= the ho9se o= a
=avo9rite 5ogAspaniel or retrieverAo= the absent son( +re5erick. P%ote( in Irelan5( the
howling o= a 5og is looke5 9pon as a s9re sign o= 5eath in the imme5iate localit>.Q .e
awoke his sleeping partner( an5 sai5( uI am s9re there is something wrong with +re55>@
5o >o9 not hear the wa> the 5og is howlingr4 /he en5eavo9re5 to soothe the ol5 man( an5
went to sleep again( when she was again awoke b> him in a s955en( not to sa> violent(
manner. .e was in a highl> e?cite5 state( e?claiming( uI saw +re55>s I saw +re55>s .e
stoo5 at the bottom o= the be5( with the c9rtains 5rawn asi5e( an5 looke5 at me.4 *he ne?t
morning a note was ma5e o= the occ9rrence( an5 the =ollowing mail =rom )9stralia
bro9ght news o= the la54s 5eath( which the narrator believes to have correspon5e5 with
the =ather4s vision.
B/. E. M-0E'%.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. Mc0ern a55s:A
BI co9l5 not possibl> recollect =rom whom I =irst hear5 o= the occ9rrence( as I was ver>
>o9ng at the time@ b9t I have o=ten hear5 it spoken o= b> 5i==erent members o= the =amil>.
I 5o not remember having ha5 an> conversation on the s9bDect with Mrs. +it]geral5.C
Y*he inci5ent o= the 5og4s howling seems not 9nlikel> to have been importe5 into the
stor>@ an5 it will be observe5 that neither it( nor the 5ramatic repetition o= the e?perience(
occ9rs in the more a9thentic acco9nt. ,e 5o not know that the coinci5ence o= 5a> was
an>thing more than a conDect9re.Z
P3X3Q +rom Mr. .. )tkins( O==ice-keeper at the 'o>al Marine O==ice( 3;( /pring &ar5ens(
/.,. Poriginall> p9blishe5( with a no( de plu(e( in the Dail, Telegraph( =or October U;(
2772Q.
BIn the >ear 273X( I was serving in ..M./. u&e>ser(4 on the east coast o= )=rica( an5 in
compan> with ..M./. u"rilliant(4 anchore5 in *amatave 'oa5s( Ma5agascar. *he
=ollowing =acts I can vo9ch =or. /ome o= o9r o==icers were 5ining on boar5 the u"rilliant.4
) boat4s crew were or5ere5 to be rea5> at si? bells P22 p.m.Q to =etch them on boar5. *he
lights were o9t on the lower 5eck( an5 ever>thing E9iet. ) messmate P*. 1arkerQ an5 I(
belonging to the boat( were sitting in the mess( abreast o= the cook4s galle>( an5 opposite
each other( he with his arms on the table( an5 =ace resting on them( an5( as I tho9ght( =ast
asleepAwhen all at once he D9mpe5 to his =eet( 5eclaring that he saw his mother cross the
5eck in =ront o= the galle>( an5 was ver> m9ch e?cite5. I pointe5 o9t to him that it was
E9ite impossible( as his =ace was towar5s the table( at the same time la9ghing heartil> at
him =or being so =oolish. O9r schoolmaster( Mr. *. /alsb9r>( was l>ing awake in his
hammock close b>( an5 in the morning he ma5e a note o= the circ9mstances( p9tting
5own time an5 5ate. On o9r arrival at the Isle o= +rance( some time a=ter( 1arker receive5
a letter =rom home( stating that his mother 5ie5 that ver> night. I am no believer in ghosts(
b9t think this a ver> remarkable coinci5ence.C
Mr. )tkins( =rom whom we =irst hear5 on +ebr9ar> 2Uth( 2773( has a55e5 the =ollowing
a55itional in=ormation:A
BIt is E9ite possible that 1arker ma> have raise5 his hea5 =rom the ii-3VX! table( in
which case he wo9l5 have a clear view o= the spot over which the apparition was sai5 to
walk. It was ver> 5ark( an5 a real person walking in the same place wo9l5 have been
9nrecognisable.
2
*here was not the slightest 5o9bt( apparentl>( in 1arker4s min5@ =or he
5i5 not e?amine the =ig9re( b9t calle5 instantl> that he saw his mother( an5 then
commence5 sobbing an5 cr>ing. *hese so9n5s 5rew the attention o= Mr. /alsb9r>( the
schoolmaster( an5 ca9se5 him to note the time o= the circ9mstance. +or the three or =o9r
months that elapse5 be=ore the Isle o= +rance was reache5( 1arker umope5 abo9t(4 an5
wo9l5 not be cheere5. In comparing the 5ate o= the 5eath with that o= the apparition(
allowance was ma5e =or the 5i==erence in time( an5 the two events were =o9n5 to e?actl>
correspon5 b> the schoolmaster.C
YIt wo9l5 be a E9ite impossible task( Mr. )tkins sa>s( to h9nt 9p an> o= his ol5 shipmates(
b9t i= he sho9l5 meet with an>one who can corroborate his acco9nt( he has promise5 to
comm9nicate with 9s. *he schoolmaster an5 1arker are 5ea5.Z
P3XVQ +rom Mr. &eorge ,a55ington( o= U8( "ag5ale( ,hitb>( mentione5 above Pp. :88Q.
B1assing the night at an inn in %eva5a -it>( -ali=ornia( I 5reamt( or awoke( b> the 5oor o=
room where I was sleeping being opene5( an5 the =ig9re o= m> great-a9nt( Mrs.
"ea9mont( o= ,etherb>( #orkshire( observe5 stan5ing in what was her 9s9al 5ress( as
worn in 273U( an5 hear5 to sa>( u&eorge( &eorge.4 ) note was ma5e at the time( the 5ate
being the U7th F9l>( 27V2. /he 5ie5 earl> that morning.
B/he ha5 the night be=ore been the s9bDect o= m> tho9ght( on travelling late in the 5ense
5arkness o= the =orest.
B&. ,. ,)$$I%&*O%.C
,e =in5 the 5ate o= 5eath con=irme5 b> the ;eeds 'ercur,.
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. ,a55ington sa>s that he ha5 last seen his a9nt in +ebr9ar>(
273U@ an5 that the 5ress o= the apparition was Bo9t-5oor walking cost9me( the bonnet
being a prominent part o= it.C .e a55s:AB*he note was ma5e on the back o= a letter( an5
9se5 =or re=erence when the news arrive5@ b9t this was not kept.C
*he letter anno9ncing the 5eath is missing@ b9t at o9r reE9est Mr. ,a55ington applie5 to
his mother( an5 she in=orme5 him that she arrive5 at ,etherb>( in response to a s9mmons(
at U p.m. on F9l> U7th( an5 =o9n5 that Mrs. "ea9mont ha5 5ie5 at noon( which wo9l5 be 3
a.m. in -ali=ornia. Mr. ,a55ington4s e?perience took place( he tells 9s( Babo9t 5awnC@
an5 the coinci5ence was th9s probabl> ver> close( tho9gh he himsel=( thro9gh not
allowing =or longit95e( ha5 imagine5 that there was an interval o= abo9t 7 ho9rs. .e a55s
that the hall9cination is 9niE9e in his e?perience.
Y*his is a case in which it seems probable that the percipient proDecte5 the image in the
5ress which ha5 remaine5 associate5 in his min5 with the original. /ee Vol. I.( p. V38.Z
P3X8Q +rom the late Mr. &. ,a5sworth( )ston( "irmingham.
BOctober U2st( 277U.
B)bo9t :; >ears since( I became acE9ainte5 with a >o9ng la5> resi5ing ii-38;! at
/hrewsb9r>. *his =rien5ship contin9e5 =or man> >ears( altho9gh =or a long time we saw
each other b9t rarel>( her health gra59all> =ailing. One morning earl> I was startle5 b>
hearing the stair=oot 5oor open( an5 Maria calle5 me 5istinctl> twice( u&eorge( &eorges4
/o plain was this that I at once answere5( u#es( Maria( what is itr4 an5 went 5own to the
sitting-room to her( onl> to =in5 the whole a 5ream or an ill9sion. %e?t 5a> I receive5 a
letter in=orming me o= her 5eath that morning.
B&. ,)$/,O'*..C
YMr. ,a5sworth4s 5eath( which took place soon a=ter this acco9nt was written( has
prevente5 9s =rom obtaining =9rther in=ormation.Z
P3XWQ +rom Mrs. +agan( "ove> *race>( %ewton )bbot.
B277U.
BEarl> in the >ear 27VWAI think in the month o= )prilAI was awakene5 one morning b>
m> sister Pwhom I s9ppose5 to be some h9n5re5s o= miles awa>Q sorrow=9ll> sa>ing(
uOh( /all>( /all>s4 *hinking she m9st have arrive5 9ne?pecte5l> b> 5k( an5 ha5 met
with some great tro9ble on her Do9rne>( I t9rne5 an5 spoke to her( b9t she was gone.
'o9sing m> h9sban5( I aske5 him to go an5 see what was the matter( b9t she was
nowhere to be =o9n5. *hat morning( at that ho9r( m> sister receive5 the news o= the
s955en 5eath o= her el5est bo> at school( an5 she wrote an5 tol5 me that her =irst wor5s
were( uOhs /all>( /all>( wishing >o9 were heres4 I have no recollection o= ever having
hear5 the voice o= an> other one( not act9all> presentAcertainl> never be=ore this.
B/)'). .. +)&)%.C
,e =in5 =rom a notice in )llens :ndian 'ail that the 5eath occ9rre5 on )pril 27( 27VW.
*he sister4s letter is 9n=ort9natel> lost@ an5 she cannot tr9st her memor> s9==icientl> to
corroborate the acco9nt.
*he ne?t case is an interesting e?ample o= 5eath-imager>( occ9rring in what is
represente5 as a waking e?perience PVol. I.( pp. V:X( V3W@ an5 compare case 3;3Q.
P3X7Q +rom Mrs. -hermsi5e( 'egia .o9se( *eignmo9th.
B)9g9st( 2773.
BE. ". was engage5 to be marrie5 to .. ). $. .e was a s9rgeon in the arm>. ,ant o=
means on both si5es 5ela>e5 the marriage( an5 he s955enl> came to her one 5a> to sa>
ugoo5-b>e(4 as he was or5ere5 to take troops to -ana5a. .e saile5( an5 she hear5 o= his
sa=e arrival. .e spoke o= his ret9rn in the =ollowing spring. One night( being U7th
$ecember( she saw him enter her room abo9t mi5night. ) light seeme5 to shine abo9t
him@
2
b9t he was clothe5 completel> in grave clothes. /he sat 9p in be5 an5 sai5( uOhs ..(
wh> are >o9 so strangel> 5resse5r4 .e sai5( u$o not la9gh@ this is m> new 9ni=orm.4
U
Y~Z
.e then 5eparte5 as he came.
B/he la> trembling all night( an5 weeping sa5l>. %e?t morning she re=raine5 =rom telling
her =amil>( as the> were oppose5 to her marriage@ she( however( 9nb9r5ene5 hersel= to
me. I trie5 to pers9a5e her it was onl> a sill> 5ream@ however( the i5ea that her lover was
5ea5 was most =irml> =i?e5 in her min5. ) month a=ter( she receive5 the news o= his ii-
382! 5eath on that ver> night( an5 that the last wor5 he 9ttere5 was her name. *he whole
thing took s9ch possession o= her that she slowl> =a5e5 awa>( an5 5ie5 abo9t two >ears
a=terwar5s.C
*he =ollowing a55ition is =rom the notes taken b> 1ro=essor /i5gwick 59ring two
interviews with Mrs. -hermsi5e in /eptember( 2773:A
*he occ9rrence was in the winter o= 273V. It was on the ne?t morning that E. ". tol5 Mrs.
-hermsi5e o= the appearance. /he PE. ".Q was E9ite s9re that it was not a 5ream@ an5 ha5
no 5o9bt that her fianc4 was 5ea5. /he hear5 the 5etails o= his 5eath within a month or so
Aas soon as letters then came =rom -ana5aA=rom one o= his brother o==icers( an5 also
=rom his sisters@ an5 then wrote to tell Mrs. -hermsi5e that he ha5 5ie5 the night that she
saw the apparition.
Y,e have e?ha9ste5 ever> means open to 9s to 5iscover an o==icial or newspaper recor5
o= the 5eath in this case. ,e 5o not know how to e?plain this =ail9re@ as Mrs. -hermsi5e
is certain that she has given 9s Mr. $.4s name correctl>( an5 she can har5l> have been
mistaken as to his pro=ession. 1ossibl> he ha5 not an o==icial connection with the arm>.Z
S U. *he ne?t gro9p o= cases are more recent@ b9t some o= them lack corroboration@ an5
some are weakene5( as evi5ence =or telepath>( b> the =act that the percipient was in more
or less an?iet> as to the con5ition o= the absent person( or b> an absence o= 5e=initeness in
the coinci5ence.
P3XXQ +rom the 'ev. ,. ". Lin5esa>( LL.$.( *he )bbe>( *ipperar>.
B)9g9st :;th( 2773.
BIn 27WW I was living in $9blin( an5 ver> an?io9s abo9t m> =ather( who was 5angero9sl>
ill with congeste5 l9ngs( in ,ales.
B)waking s955enl> one night I 5istinctl> saw him sitting on a chair near me( with his
=ace covere5 b> his han5s. ,hen I D9mpe5 o9t o= be5 he vanishe5. /o startle5 was I that(
ne?t 5a>( I crosse5 to ,ales( an5 =o9n5 that he ha5 been 5elirio9s =or two 5a>s.
B,hen I entere5 his room he at once sai5 he ha5 gone the 5a> be=ore to tell me where he
ha5 le=t a top-coat that I knew he ha5 lost some time previo9s to his illness. I went to the
ho9se he name5 in $9blin( an5 =o9n5 the coat there.
B,. ". LI%$E/)#.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. Lin5esa> sa>s:A
B/o =ar as I can remember( m> =ather was still 5elirio9s at the time he sai5 he ha5 gone to
see me.
BI tol5 no one o= the e?perience at the time( =or I was living b> m>sel=. I have never( that I
can recollect( ha5 an> other e?perience o= the kin5( an5 am not s9bDect to an>
uhall9cination o= the senses4
BI am bo9n5 in =airness to tell >o9 that I am an entire 5isbeliever in the s9pernat9ralness
o= s9ch e?periences. *his in=i5elit> ma> be 59e to m> never having hear5 o= an> s9ch
e?periences which co9l5 not be e?plaine5 on the coinci5ence principle.C
YMr. Lin5esa> is o= co9rse right in his 5isbelie= o= the Bs9pernat9ralnessC o= s9ch
phenomena@ b9t it has not str9ck him that the ii-38U! alternative to s9pposing them
supernatural is not necessaril> to s9ppose them accidental. .is concl95ing comment
repro59ces the remarks o= Lor5 "ro9gham( as to which see Vol. I( pp. :X8TW. I nee5
har5l> point o9t again that ever> isolate5 case o= coinci5ence might be acci5ental( an5
that the arg9ment =or telepath> is essentiall> c9m9lative. *his case ma> perhaps have
been reciprocal@ b9t we clearl> have no proo= that the =ather4s e?perience was an>thing
more than a p9rel> s9bDective impression or 5ream.Z
PV;;Q +rom a la5> occ9p>ing a responsible position( which obliges her( o9t o= regar5 to
others( to withhol5 her name =rom p9blication. .er viv0 voce acco9nt( given to me in the
room where the e?perience occ9rre5( ma5e it almost certain that she was in a state o=
normal wake=9lness at the time@ still( as she ha5 been in be5 =or some little time( I have
place5 the case in this chapter rather than the ne?t.
BMa> Un5 2778.
BOn the night o= the 27th $ecember( 27WU( I ha5 retire5 to be5 abo9t 22 o4clock. *he be5(
I ma> mention( is so place5 that an> person entering the room( m9st pass E9ite ro9n5 it
be=ore reaching the si5e on which I la>. I ha5 perhaps been in be5 U; min9tes( an5 ha5
been thinking over the events o= the evening( a p9pils4 concert( when s955enl> I saw m>
h9sban5 b> the 5oor@ he move5 swi=tl> ro9n5 the be5 till he came close to me( when he
as s955enl> 5isappeare5. /o astonishe5 was I that invol9ntaril> I calle5 him b> name.
*he gas was alight( as 9s9al( in the room@ an5 as I knew that I ha5 not been asleep( an5
ha5 not hear5 a so9n5 to alarm me( I ha5 not a 5o9bt( an> more than I have at this
moment( that the vision was that o= m> absent h9sban5. On the :;th $ecember o= the
same >ear( I receive5 a letter b> the )9stralian mail( =rom a gentleman( telling me that m>
h9sban5 ha5 met with a serio9s acci5ent( an5 on the 3th o= March in the =ollowing >ear( I
ha5 a letter =rom the same =rien5( in=orming me o= his 5eath( an5 stating that it took place
on the 27th $ecember( 27WU.
BI ha5 spoken o= the inci5ent o= the night o= the 27th to m> chil5ren as a 5ream( b9t to
two la5ies I relate5 the =act as it occ9rre5@ it was then a week a=terwar5s(
2
an5 when the>
knew that m> h9sban5 was 5ea5( each la5>( tho9gh neither knew the other( remin5e5 me
o= the inci5ent( an5 tol5 me the relation o= it ha5 strangel> impresse5 her.C
,e have con=irme5 the 5ate o= 5eath in the obit9ar> o= the Dail, Telegraph.
In conversation( the narrator in=orme5 me that she has never ha5 an> other vis9al
hall9cination. /he 5escribe5 her e?perience to her chil5ren( at break=ast ne?t morning( as
a 5ream( in or5er not to alarm them. /he hersel= =elt no alarm or apprehension whatever.
O= the two =rien5s whom she mentions( one has recentl> 5ie5( an5 she has lost sight o=
the other. .er h9sban5 ha5 been an invali5 =or >ears( an5 as =ar as she knew was as well
as 9s9al.
*he narrator4s 5a9ghter writes( on Ma> 2:( 2778:A
BI have searche5 ever>where I can think o=( b9t witho9t s9ccess( in =in5ing the
programme o= the 19pils4 -oncert@ b9t m> sister an5 sel= both agree5 as to being sure the
5a> was $ec. 27( 27WU( an5 we believe it =ell on a ,e5nes5a>. Y$ec. 27 was a
,e5nes5a>.Z ,e also remember per=ectl> ii-38:! o9r mother relating the ne?t 5a> what
she calle5 a strange 5ream she ha5 ha5 the night previo9sl>@ an5 have =reE9entl> since
hear5 her speak o= the same as a vision.C
Y*he )9stralian letter( which the narrator has preserve5( states that the ho9r o= the 5eath
was abo9t 3.:; p.m.( which wo9l5 correspon5 with abo9t 8.:; a.m. in Englan5. I=(
there=ore( the vision occ9rre5 on the night o= that 5a>( it =ollowe5 the 5eath b> more than
2U ho9rs. "9t the narrator Pwitho9t m> having s9ggeste5 this pointQ wrote( on Ma> 23(
2778( to sa> that a 5a9ghter( who slept with her on the night o= the vision( remin5s her
that on concert nights the> alwa>s sat 9p late( an5 that probabl> the> 5i5 not go 9pstairs
till nearl> U. %ow this =act wo9l5 ver> probabl> be in the percipient4s memor> at the time
that the news o= the 5eath arrive5( an5 its connection with the vision was s9rmise5@ an5
as she is ver> positive that the dates coinci5e5( it seems at an> rate possible that the
concert was( a=ter all( on the 2Wth( an5 that her vision took place at U.:; a.m. on the 27th.
)s against this h>pothesis( however( I sho9l5 me9tion a recollection which she has that(
when talking over the matter with one o= the =rien5s mentione5( she remarke5 on an
apparent 5iscrepanc> o= ho9rs( an5 the =rien5 Pshe believesQ pointe5 o9t that( longit95e
being allowe5 =or( the ho9rs agree5@ which is D9st what wo9l5 seem to be the case i= the
vision was at U.:; a.m. on the 2Xth( an5 the 2; ho9rs4 5i==erence o= time was reckone5 Pas
so o=ten happensQ the -rong -a,. It is worth noting that even s9pposing o9r arbitrar> 2U
ho9rs4 limit to have been e?cee5e5( the vision still =ell at what was probabl> the =irst
season o= silence an5 recueille(ent that ha5 presente5 itsel= since the ho9r when the
5eath occ9rre5. /ee Vol. I.( pp. U;2( :UX.Z
PV;2Q +rom the 'ev. .. %. ". an5 his sister-in-law( Miss +agg. *he percipient( Mrs. ".( is
o9t o= health( an5 m9st not be tro9ble5 =or an acco9nt. *he =ollowing is a letter =rom Mr.
". to his 5a9ghter:A
B$ecember Vth( 277:.
BI was at Langto=t( b9t E. Pi.e.( Mrs. ".Q an5 Miss +agg ha5 ret9rne5 with Ernie to $eal(
as he was or5ere5 to go to the sea. *here were two rooms at $eal intercomm9nicating(
the inner being onl> approache5 thro9gh the =irst room. In the inner room the n9rse
P)liceQ an5 the bab> were sleeping@ in the o9ter one( E.@ Miss +agg was sleeping
5ownstairs. *he be5 was c9rtaine5. In the night E. was awoke b>( as she tho9ght( the
n9rse stan5ing b> her be5. .al= asleep( witho9t moving( she sai5( u,hat is it( )licer4 b9t
there was no answer. /he sai5 again( u,hat is itr is there an>thing the matter with bab>r4
/till there was no answer. /he then ro9se5 hersel=( an5 sa>ing sharpl>( u,h> 5o >o9 not
speak( )licer4 she p9t back the c9rtain( an5 saw >o9r a9nt stan5ing there. /he was so
terri=ie5 that she D9mpe5 o9t o= be5 an5 ran straight 5own( as she was( to %ell> YMiss
+aggZ. *he ne?t 5a> I( at Langto=t( ha5 a letter sa>ing >o9r a9nt ha5 5ie5 ver>
9ne?pecte5l>( at "ro?bo9rne. ,e 5i5 not know she was serio9sl> ill( as she ha5 gone to
"ro?bo9rne on a visit. I co9l5 not i5enti=> the time@ b9t( as =ar as I co9l5 make o9t( the
Ps9ppose5Q appearance took place some ho9rs a=ter >o9r a9nt4s 5eath.C
Miss +agg writes( =rom 'ipple 'ector>( $eal( on )9g. U7( 2773:A
BOne night( abo9t U o4clock( I believe( m> sister( Mrs. ".( came into m> room sa>ing she
ha5 seen Miss &race ".( an5 she was s9re something ii-383! ha5 happene5. /he tol5 me
she saw someone in her room( an5 tho9ght it was the n9rse come abo9t the bab>. *he
=ig9re was t9rne5 towar5s the win5ow where the =oo5 was kept@ an5 ha5 on a gre>
waterproo= like the n9rse. M> sister spoke to the =ig9re( an5 sai5( u,h> are >o9 getting
the =oo5 so soonr4 M> sister was not then =rightene5( as she E9ite tho9ght it was the
n9rse. "9t the =ig9re then t9rne5 ro9n5( an5 it was the =ace o= Miss &race ".( looking =9ll
at m> sister( b9t a 5ea5 =ace( with a something white ro9n5 the hea5( b9t c9rls D9st like
Miss &race ". 9se5 to wear. M> sister a=ter that came 5own to me( an5 I went into her
room( b9t nothing more was seen. )=ter that we hear5 that Miss &race ". was 5ea5.
BELLE% E. +)&&.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss +agg a55s:A
B*he 5ate o= Miss &race ".4s 5eath was )9g9st :r5( 2787@ the time( I think( between V to
8 o4clock in the a=ternoon. : fanc, she m9st have( as it seeme5( appeare5 to m> sister the
same night a=ter she was 5ea5. ,e knew Miss &race ". was ailing@ she was( in =act( on a
visit at the time o= her 5eath@ b9t there was no tho9ght o= her 5>ing. M> sister ha5 ha5 no
comm9nication with her previo9sl>. I am nearl> s9re that Miss ". m9st have appeare5 to
m> sister the same night that she 5ie5.
BM> sister al-a,s has seeme5 to know things 5i==erent to other people. /he seems to
know when an> one has 5ie5 in an> room. /he seems either to =eel( hear( or see the
people. On one occasion we live5 in an ol5 ho9se in Eastr>( near here( an5 she saw( as it
seeme5( an ol5 woman looking at her. *he ne?t morning when she 5escribe5 it to o9r
cook who ha5 been taking care o= the ho9se be=ore we went into it( she sai5( u#es( that
ol5 woman once live5 here.4C Y*his( o= co9rse( ma> have been a p9rel> s9bDective
hall9cination.Z
1./. b> the 'ev. .. %. ".AB*here is no 5o9bt that the appearance Pso-calle5Q took place
on the night o= the 5a> on the a=ternoon o= which Miss &. ". 5ie5.C
,e have con=irme5 the 5ate o= the 5eath b> the 'egister o= $eaths.
Y*his is apparentl> a case o= 5ela>e5 recognition( similar to those given in -hap. \II.( S
:.Z
*he ne?t acco9nt belongs to the interesting class which s9ggests a pec9liar s9sceptibilit>
in certain persons to spontaneo9s telepathic impressions. P/ee p. WW( an5 cases V2:( V23(
V2V( below.Q One o= the three e?periences recor5e5 was a 5ream( b9t I give it here in
or5er not to break 9p the series.
PV;UQ +rom Mrs. ,.( who pre=ers that her name sho9l5 not be p9blishe5.
BO?=or5( 2773.
P)Q BIn 27W3 I was in Englan5( ill in be5@ an5 I 5istinctl> saw m> 5ear mother( who was
at that time at %ice( come 9p to the =oot o= m> be5( an5 look earnestl> an5 sorrow=9ll> at
me@ it was broa5 5a>light( an5 I notice5 the shawl she wore( one I ha5 not seen her wear
=or man> >ears.
2
I starte5 9p( an5 she was gone.
U
I then knew that her last illness m9st
have come( tho9gh I was kept in ignorance o= it( as I was so 5angero9sl> ii-38V! ill
m>sel=. I wrote to her( an5 her answer tol5 me what I 5rea5e5 was tr9e. I was allowe5 to
recover s9==icientl> to go o9t to %ice( an5 be with her to the en5. )lso( I o9ght to sa>( that
the morning her 5ear image appeare5 to me( a 5octor arrive5 =rom Lon5on whom she ha5
sent to me b> telegraphing to him =rom %ice( an5 this 5octor was the means o= saving m>
li=e( as I was at that time so ill that he sai5 I co9l5 not have live5 more than =o9r ho9rs
longer.
P"Q B,hen I was in the /o9th o= +rance( in 27W7( I ha5 a 5ream that a sister( who is
especiall> 5ear to me( was in a carriage acci5ent( an5 in m> 5ream I saw her kille5( b9t
on reaching her I =o9n5 her 9nh9rt an5 as she smile5 at me I 5reame5 I was 5>ing o= the
agon> o= min5 I ha5 gone thro9gh. I never can =orget the 5ream( the s9==ering was so
intense. I awoke with pain in m> heart an5 =aintness( an5 woke m> h9sban5 an5 tol5 him.
PI think m> cries in m> sleep awoke him.Q I wrote to m> sister( an5 when her answer
arrive5 she gave me in it the acco9nt o= the 5anger she ha5 passe5 thro9gh.
P-Q BOne night I was awakene5 o9t o= m> so9n5 sleep b> a voice close to m> ear( sa>ing(
u'ise( >o9 have no time to lose(4 an5 wor5s to the e==ect that the chil5
2
o= this ver> 5ear
sister was 5>ing( an5 that she nee5e5 m> pra>ers. I cannot remember the e?act wor5s( b9t
I =elt it was conve>e5 to me that : ha5 to help her with all the earnestness I co9l5( an5
there was an awe abo9t it I cannot 5escribe. )=terwar5s I =o9n5 that at this ver> time on
that night her most belove5 chil5 ha5 passe5 thro9gh the crisis in 5iphtheria.
B%othing o= importance ever happene5 to an> one ver> 5ear to me witho9t m> =eeling it(
tho9gh I ma> be =ar =rom them.
B-. M. ,.C
'epl>ing to o9r inE9iries( Mrs. ,.4s 5a9ghter( Miss E. M. ,.( writes Pon Fan. U:( 277VQ(
in re=erence to P)Q( that her mother B5oes not know an>thing abo9t the shawl =orming
part o= m> gran5mother4s 5ress at the time she saw the apparition.C /he has ha5 no other
hall9cinations@ an5 she ha5 no reason to s9spect her mother4s illness. Miss ,.4s own
testimon> is as =ollows:A
BI clearl> remember( in 27W3( m> mother in her 5angero9s illness seeing m> 5ear
gran5mother come 9p to the =oot o= the be5. M> mother has o=ten tol5 me since that her
mother was wearing a certain crimson shawl she was ver> =on5 o=( that her spectacles ha5
5roppe5( an5 she looke5 over them at m> mother( with sa5 inE9iring e>es. M> mother
ga]e5 at her =or a min9te( an5 then crie5 o9t when the apparition vanishe5@ an5 when the
n9rse came in( having hear5 her cr>( m> mother insiste5 on being tol5 the tr9th abo9t her
mother@ =or she sai5 she knew that she ha5 come to tell her she was 5>ing( which was
in5ee5 the =act( tho9gh she live5 long eno9gh to enable m> mother to see her be=ore she
5ie5.C
In re=erence to P"Q an5 P-Q( Mrs. ,.4s sister writes:A
BOn one occasion I receive5 an an?io9s letter =rom m> sister inE9iring i= an>thing ha5
happene5 to me( as she ha5 5reame5 o= a serio9s carriage-acci5ent in which I was in
5anger. *his letter was receive5 b> me be=ore I ha5 in=orme5 her o= the 5anger in which I
ha5 been place5( ii-388! an5 the serio9s conseE9ences which merci=9ll> were averte5
b> the presence o= min5 o= m> coachman.
BOn another occasion m> sister was awakene5 b> a voice which sai5 5istinctl>( u'ise at
once. #o9 have no time to lose. One >o9 love is in sore nee5.4 /he 5i5 rise =rom her be5
to pra> =or me( an5 a=terwar5s knew that m> chil5 ha5 passe5 thro9gh the crisis o=
5iphtheria at that ver> time( an5 that her li=e was in imminent 5anger.
B"E//IE /.C
Miss E. M. ,. writes:A
BI per=ectl> remember both these 5reams o= m> mother4s( as she relate5 them to me
be=ore receiving the answers to her letters to m> a9nt.C
In answer to inE9iries( she a55s:A
BFan9ar> U:r5( 277V.
BMother is not in the habit o= 5reaming o= acci5ents( an5 as =ar as she can remember it
was the onl> time she has ever 5reamt o= an acci5ent. *he carriage 5i5 not 9pset. *he
=acts are as =ollows:AM> a9nt has a ver> light cab b9ilt b> m> 9ncle especiall> =or her(
an5 on one occasion m> a9nt was 5riving along a narrow roa5( when her coachman
whippe5 9p the horses( an5 began 5riving at a =9rio9s pace. M> a9nt( alarme5( looke5
thro9gh the little win5ow at the back o= the carriage( an5 saw a great 5ra> with a r9nawa>
horse tearing a=ter the carriage. F9st as it m9st have r9n into it an5 smashe5 it( the
coachman t9rne5 the cab into an opening in the roa5. It was the onl> place in the roa5
where the cab could have stoppe5( an5 it was the coachman4s onl> hope to reach it( an5
the 5ra> r9she5 b>( leaving the cab 9nharme5. It 5i5 a great 5eal o= 5amage( an5 the
5river was kille5. #o9 see mother 5i5 not 5ream e?actl> the =acts o= the case( b9t onl>
that m> a9nt was nearl> kille5 b> a carriage acci5ent.
B)s to the uother intimations o= 5anger(4 [c.( the> are this( that whenever an>thing
happens to those 5ear to her she alwa>s knows there is so(ething happening. +or
instance( I was lai5 9p with a ver> ba5 co9gh an5 col5 when awa> =rom her last >ear( an5
she wrote me an an?io9s letter( sa>ing( she knew I was ill( =or she ha5 an i5ea I ha5
in=lammation o= the l9ngs. Last month I was s9==ering 5rea5=9ll> =rom toothache( an5
5etermine5 I wo9l5 go an5 have two teeth o9t witho9t sa>ing an>thing to mother( =or =ear
o= worr>ing her@ she tho9ght I was going =or a walk( b9t all the time I was gone she was
so 9nhapp> abo9t me( an5 /. tol5 me when I ha5 come back that mother ha5 crie5 an5
been wretche5 all the time. #o9 see the things are not big eno9gh to attract m9ch
attention( b9t we in the ho9se know them to be tr9e.C
YIt is not E9ite clear how =ar the vision P)Q coinci5e5 with a s955en an5 marke5 change in
the state o= the agent. )lso it is possible that the 5octor4s visit( or the e?pectation o= it(
ma> have calle5 9p her mother4s image to Mrs. ,.4s min5( an5 that her illness ma> have
ren5ere5 her speciall> liable to hall9cination. It wo9l5 remain noteworth> P9nless there
was special reason to =ear the attack o= =atal illnessQ that the apparition pro59ce5 a tr9e
conviction in Mrs. ,.4s min5 as to what was occ9rring to her mother.
)s to P"Q( we have no evi5ence that the 5ream took place on the night o= the 5a> on
which the acci5ent occ9rre5@ b9t to an>one who accepts the general =act o= telepathic
comm9nication( it will at ii-38W! least seem reasonable to s9rmise that the coinci5ence
was not a merel> acci5ental one. *he impression o= the chil54s illness P-Q is( however(
more important( both beca9se it was more than a 5ream( an5 beca9se the time-
coinci5ence seems in this case to have been ascertaine5 to be e?act.
,ith regar5 to the less 5e=inite impressions it wo9l5 be 5i==ic9lt to assign them an
evi5ential val9e witho9t constant an5 care=9l notes( beca9se o= the 5o9ble in5e=initeness
Athe 5i==ic9lt> P2Q o= 5eci5ing what events are o= s9==icient importance to a==or5 a pri(0
facie pres9mption that the coinci5ent e?periences are telepathicall> connecte5 with them(
an5 PUQ o= 5isting9ishing clearl> a pec9liar =eeling that something is happening =rom
vag9e an?iet> abo9t absent =rien5s.
2
I= persons who show signs o= this s9sceptibilit>
wo9l5 contin9o9sl>( =or some little time make a note in writing( with as m9ch 5etail as
possible( whenever a =eeling o= this kin5 occ9rre5( an5 a=terwar5s recor5 the
con=irmation or absence o= con=irmation( interesting light might be thrown on the
s9bDect.Z
PV;:Q Obtaine5 thro9gh the kin5ness o= Miss -. $. &arnett( o= +9r]e .ill Lo5ge(
"righton( =rom a co9sin( Mrs. $.( who pre=ers that her own name sho9l5 not be printe5.
Miss &arnett sa>s:A
BI ma> sa=el> sa> she never be=ore or since ha5 s9ch a vision. /he is thoro9ghl> practical
an5 9nimaginative( not in the least e?citable( an5 I remember well how p9]]le5 she was
=or a long time a=ter. ,hen she came to me some time a=ter( she was =9ll o= it( an5
5escribe5 it to me most graphicall>. /he is almost like a sister to 9s( an5 I think 5isc9sse5
this a==air more with 9s than with her own people. .er sister tho9ght she was 5reaming(
b9t her =ather was rather astonishe5 when she tol5 him o= the vision the ne?t morning.C
B/eptember 2Vth( 277V.
B/ome =ew >ears ago the occ9rrence took place which I am abo9t to relate. I was l>ing
awake one night( m> tho9ghts =i?e5 on no partic9lar s9bDect( when be=ore me seeme5 to
rise the vision o= the interior o= a cathe5ral@ the 5etails which marke5 it =rom an or5inar>
ch9rch being clearl> 5e=ine5. In the open space be=ore the chancel la> a co==in envelope5
in its heav> black pall. )=ter a =ew moments Pas it seeme5 to meQ it =a5e5 gra59all>
awa>.
U
I sat 9p an5 ro9se5 m>sel=( as the whole scene was so real an5 strange( an5 I was
convince5 I ha5 not been asleep. I ha5 not lain 5own long be=ore the same scene again
repeate5 itsel= 9pon m> brain( in ever> 5etail e?actl> as I ha5 seen it be=ore.
:
*he
repetition o= the vision P=or s9ch I =irml> believe5 it wasQ =ille5 me with presentiments o=
tro9ble( an5 ro9sing m> sister( who was sleeping in the same room( I tol5 her what I ha5
seen@ b9t as was nat9ral( she concl95e5 I ha5 been 5reaming. %e?t morning at break=ast I
relate5 what ha5 occ9rre5( an5 it was remarke5 that we knew no one in Englan5 whose
=9neral service wo9l5 be likel> to take place in a cathe5ral. /hortl> a=ter( we receive5
news b> telegram o= the s955en 5eath o= m> brother in the ,est In5ies( an5 the 5a>
coinci5e5 with that on which I ha5 seen the vision as relate5. ,hen the letters ii-387!
containing all 5etails arrive5( we learnt that he was b9rie5 the same 5a> that he 5ie5( in
the evening( the =9neral service taking place in the -olonial -athe5ral. )llowing =or the
5i==erence in time( it appears to have been as near as possible the same time as I in
Englan5 saw the whole scene represente5( the remembrance o= which has remaine5
in5elibl> printe5 on m> memor>.
BF. $.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. $. sa>s:A
B*he 5ate o= m> brother4s 5eath was +ebr9ar> U2st( an5 as =ar as I can remember I ha5
the 5ream that evening( b9t it is so long since that as regar5s 5ates I 5o not like to be too
certain. )s regar5s the length o= time between the 5eath an5 =9neral( it was( I believe(
onl> a =ew ho9rs( certainl> less than 2U. *he news o= his 5eath reache5 9s b> telegram on
+ebr9ar> U7th( abo9t a week later. I have never ha5 an>thing in the wa> o= a vision either
be=ore or since. I enclose the =ew lines =rom m> sister on the s9bDect( a=ter having tol5 her
that I ha5 written >o9 an acco9nt.C *he sister4s wor5s are:A
BI corroborate the statement o= m> sister4s 5ream o= +ebr9ar>( 27WX( which she narrate5
to me the morning a=ter it occ9rre5.
B/. &.C
,e =in5 =rom the Ti(es obit9ar> that the 5eath took place at &eorge *own( $emerara( on
+ebr9ar> U2st( 27WX.
Y,itho9t more 5etails as to the s9ppose5 resemblance between the place seen in the
vision an5 the real place o= the =9neral( no stress o9ght( I think( to be lai5 on this point@
which is one( it will be seen( that telepath> co9l5 not satis=actoril> acco9nt =or.Z
PV;3Q 'eceive5 on Oct. U7( 2773( =rom a gentleman occ9p>ing a high p9blic position(
who 5oes not wish to give his name or to proc9re other attestations. .e writes( it will be
seen( in the thir5 person. +rench is not his native lang9age.
*he acco9nt begins with an e?perience which M. AA ha5 59ring his =ather4s last illness(
while taking a brie= sleep( a=ter long n9rsing.
B1en5ant le pl9s =ort 5e son sommeil( M. AA se sentit comme trNs =ortement seco9H et
appelH par son nom. Il se rHveilla en s9rsa9t( to9t e==ra>H( sa9ta 5e son lit( se 5irigeant
vers la porte( a>ant 5evant l9i comme 9ne ombre( E9i 5ispar9 5Ns E94il =9t 5ans l4entrHe.
Il traversa le gran5 salon( et to9t l4appartement attenant. )rrivH G la chambre 5e son pNre(
il tro9va la gar5e-mala5e 5ebo9t s9r le se9il 5e la porte( l9i barrant le passage. /on pNre
venait 54e?pirer a9 moment mMme. YTranslationZ
BL4impression 5e ce rHveil est restH tellement vive 5ans l4esprit 5e M. AA E94il n4en a
Damais parlH sans aDo9ter( u-e n4Htait certainement pas la rHalitH( mais po9r str c4Htait pl9s
E949n rMve.4C YTranslationZ
*his case alone co9l5 not have =o9n5 a place in o9r evi5ence( as M. AA was aware o=
his =ather4s critical con5ition( an5 was in a highl> an?io9s an5 overstraine5 state. "9t he
contin9es:A
B}9atre ans pl9s tar5( en l4annHe 273X( M. AA habitait -onstantinople@ il Htait proscrit
et l4entrHe 5e son pa>s l9i Htait inter5ite. /a mNre( E9i Htait G "9carest( s4Htait 5Hci5He
54aller s4Htablir a9prNs 5e l9i@ elle n4atten5ait pl9s E9e l4o9vert9re 5e la navigation 59
$an9be( E9i a lie9 gHnHralement vers le mois 5e Mars. Elle avait 5HDG annoncH G son =ils
le ii-38X! nom 59 batea9 5e la -ompagnie 59 Lo>5 )9trichien ser leE9el elle 5evait
s4embarE9er G &alat]( et le 7 )vril elle 5evait arriver G -onstantinople. -es batea9?
arrivaient to9Do9rs 5ans la -orne-54or les mar5is( vers les si? he9res 59 matin.
YTranslationZ
BLe W )vril M. AA passa la soirHe avec 5e9? 5e ses amis et parents( et l4on 5Hci5a E9e le
len5emain les 5e9? amis vien5raient le chercher po9r aller to9s les trois recevoir la 5ame
G bor5. Les 5e9? amis arrivNrent le matin G l4he9re conven9e che] M. AA. &ran5 =9t
le9r Htonnement lorsE9e cel9i-ci le9r 5it E94il Htait in9tile 54aller a9 batea9( parceE9e sa
mNre venait 5e mo9rir. /es amis cr9rent 54abor5 E94il avait re9 5es no9velles( mais
a>ant rH=lHchi E94il n4> avait pas p9 avoir e9 5es lettres 5ep9is 9ne semaine( car il n4>
avait e9 5ep9is a9c9n arrivageAG cette HpoE9e le tHlHgraphe Htait chose complNtement
inconn9e 5ans ces paragesAils =9rent inE9iets s9r l4Htat 5e l4esprit 5e le9r ami( E9i
persistait G le9r 5ire avec la pl9s gran5e ass9rance E9e sa mNre Htait morte 5ans la n9it
mMme. M. AA venait 54avoir( aprNs s4Mtre en5ormi( le meme rHveil( prHcisement avec les
mMmes circonstances( E9e 5ans la n9it 59 U8 a9 UW %ovembre( 2733( lors 5e la mort 5e
son pNre. YTranslationZ
BLe batea9 s9ivant( arrivH le 2V )vril( apportait 5es lettres annonant E9e la mNre 5e M.
AA avait s9ccombH 5ans la n9it 59 W a9 7 )vril G la s9ite 549n accNs 5e =iNvre bilie9se(
aprNs 9ne co9rte mala5ie 5e 5e9? Do9rs.C YTranslationZ
*he narrator state5 in conversation that he ha5 never ha5 an> s9bDective e?perience o= the
sort.
Y*he partic9lar =orm o= the secon5 e?perience ma> perhaps have been 59e to the e==ect o=
the =ormer one on M. AA4s min5.Z
PV;VQ +rom Miss .enrietta ,ilkinson( Enniscorth>( Irelan5.
BFan9ar>( 2773.
BI live in Irelan5( m> nephew in Lon5on. )t the en5 o= October or beginning o=
%ovember( 2772( when he was 7 >ears ol5( he went one 5a> with his mother an5 sister to
0ensington &ar5ens. ,hile pla>ing there he ha5 a severe =all on his back@ his mother ha5
to call a cab an5 take him home( then sen5 =or the 5octor. .e was ver> ill =or three or =o9r
5a>s( l>ing in a 5ark room an5 kept per=ectl> E9iet. *he acci5ent happene5 on a /at9r5a>(
I think. On the /9n5a> his mother wrote to tell me o= it( which letter I receive5 on
*9es5a>. On the Mon5a> night I was in be5( 5ropping o== to sleep( when I opene5 m>
e>es with a start( an5 saw( E9ite 5istinctl>( a Lon5on street( lea5ing =rom 0ensington
&ar5ens to m> nephew4s home. )ll the people( cabs( an5 horses were r9nning ver> =ast in
one 5irection( towar5s m> sister4s ho9se. )mongst them were m> sister an5 her two
chil5ren( also r9nning. *he> stoppe5 a cab( got in( an5 arrive5 at their own ho9se. I saw
no more b9t e?claime5 uMa9rice is h9rts4 wh>( I 5o not know( as m> nephew looke5 all
right in the street. It all seeme5 to come =rom o9tsi5e m>sel=. I tho9ght it ver> strange(
an5 tol5 it to m> =amil> ne?t morning( be=ore m> sister4s letter arrive5. I am not per=ectl>
s9re o= the 5a> o= the week( b9t know it was the 5a> a=ter the acci5ent m> sister wrote(
an5 that it was the night o= the 5a> a=ter she wrote that I saw what I tell >o9.
BI think it was m> nephew4s tho9ghts o= me that gave me the vision( I being the person he
wo9l5 think o=( ne?t to his =ather an5 mother.
B.E%'IE**) ,IL0I%/O%.C
ii-3W;!
)ske5 whether she ha5 ever( on an> other occasion( ha5 a 5ream o= 5eath or acci5ent
which ha5 impresse5 her( she sa>s:AB%o( I remember none. It was E9ite 9niE9e. "9t
wh> call it a 5ream when I was wi5e awaker .a5 it been a 5ream I 5on4t think it wo9l5
have ma5e the same impression on me.C
Miss ,ilkinson4s sister writes on Fan. 7( 2773( =rom -astle .ill( Enniscorth>:A
BI 5istinctl> remember m> sister relating to 9s Pm>sel= an5 another sisterQ her vision or
5ream before she got an> letter. It ma5e a great impression on her( an5 she tol5 9s with
s9rprise an5 a little alarm. /he tol5 9s on *9es5a> morning( an5 the letter telling o= the
acci5ent arrive5 soon a=ter.
BM)'*.) ,IL0I%/O%.C
*he interval between the acci5ent an5 Miss ,ilkinson4s e?perience is too long =or the
case to be treate5 as one o= 5e=erre5 5evelopment Psee Vol. I.( p. V22Q@ b9t the vision(
which seems clearl> to have been o= a ver> 9n9s9al kin5( ma> conceivabl> have been 59e
to a hal= 5elirio9s recr95escence o= the agitate5 scene in the min5 o= the little invali5. *he
con=9se5 an5 inacc9rate character o= the vision might be s9==icientl> acco9nte5 =or in this
wa>@ b9t might also be constr9e5 as the trans=orming an5 5ream-like investit9re which
telepathic percipients have so o=ten seeme5 to s9ppl>.
*he ne?t case is a sing9lar one( as( s9pposing it to have been telepathic( there was no
personal bon5 between the agent an5 percipient. In this respect it recalls cases 3VX an5
3X;@ b9t in the present case there was local pro?imit> between the parties.
PV;8Q +rom a la5> whose =amil> obDect to the p9blication o= her name.
BMa> U3th( 2773.
B/omewhere abo9t three >ears ago( to the best o= m> remembrance( I was s955enl>
awoke in the night b> hearing what seeme5 to me a voice sa>ing( u#o9 ha5 better get 9p(
someone is 5>ing.4 I went to m> =ather4s 5oor( b9t =in5ing all right( ret9rnre5 to be5( b9t
co9l5 not sleep again all the rest o= the night. *he ne?t 5a> one o= m> servants tol5 me
the gentleman ne?t 5oor ha5 5ie5 in the night. I was not aware he was likel> to 5ie(
in5ee5 I knew nothing o= him( an5 he never entere5 m> tho9ghts. .e ha5 been 5elicate or
an invali5 ever since we ha5 live5 here. I 5i5 not mention this 5ream at the time( not
s9pposing it wo9l5 interest m> =ather. I have alwa>s been a great 5reamer.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the 5eath took place on March 2Xth( 2772( at the
ho9se ne?t Miss L.4s.
In answer to inE9iries( Miss L. writes on F9ne U7( 2773:A
BI have hear5( or seem to have hear5( voices at other times( both b> 5a> an5 night( an5 I
think the> have invariabl> ha5 some meaning( e?cept in cases where I have acco9nte5 =or
them in conseE9ence o= m> s9==ering =rom overstraine5 nerves or illness. I 5o not
remember ever being a-o1e b> a voice in this wa> at an> other time( tho9gh I have
sometimes ii-3W2! awoke s955enl> thinking someone calle5 me b> name. *his is the
onl> case I have e?perience5 o= being awakene5 b> a re(ar1.F
YIn an interview with Miss L.( Mr. 1o5more learnt that she ha5 =i?e5 the time o= her
impression b> hearing the clock strike : soon a=terwar5s. *he servant( =rom whom Miss
L. hear5 o= the 5eath ne?t morning( thinks she was tol5 b> a servant ne?t 5oor that it took
place at 3 a.m.( an5 is certain it was Bin the morning.C )=ter hearing o= the 5eath( Miss L.
wrote an5 tol5 her sister o= her e?perience@ the sister con=irme5 this. *he wall between
the two ho9ses is too thick to permit the so9n5 o= conversation to pass.Z
PV;WQ +rom Mr. +rancis ). /9ttab>( U( )men -orner( E.-.( an5 37( 'e5cli==e /E9are( /.,.
BMarch :r5( 2773.
B>n route home( in F9l> last( when abo9t in mi5-)tlantic( on a certain evening I retire5 in
59e co9rse to rest( an5 in m> sleep was s955enl> 5ist9rbe5 b> a voice Pimpet9o9sQ calling
alo95( u+ranks +ranks4 PI was alone( as I ha5 a berth entirel> to m>sel=.Q /o s955enl> 5i5 I
spring 9p o9t o= m> heav> sleep( that I nearl> knocke5 m> hea5 against the berth that was
over mine. I replie5( u#es( >es( whatr4 %o answer coming( I spoke again( hastil>( uI am
hereAwhat4s the matterrAwho calle5r4 %o answer being vo9chsa=e5( an5 s9pposing
there was some mistake on m> part( as poor little 5ist9rbe5 /am9el might have 5one( I
a55resse5 m>sel= alo95( u+rancis )rth9r( go to sleepAsome mistake.4 O= co9rse( the ne?t
morning( at the break=ast tableAthe captain ha5 invite5 me to his tableAI ma5e m9ch
am9sement =or him an5 the la5ies an5 a certain MaDor Fones( o= 0ingston( Ontario. I m9st
a5mit MaDor Fones seeme5 more concerne5 than I allowe5 m>sel= to be. In =act( I trie5 to
p9t awa> the tho9ght( an5 ma5e light o= it. ,ithin an ho9r o= m> reaching m> 5ear ol5
9ncle4s ho9se at 19tne> Pm> wi=e an5 =amil> being then in +ranceQ( m> a9nt in=orme5 me
o= the s955en 5eath o= m> co9sin %ora YMrs. '.Z( which was most to9ching to me@ an5
when I ascertaine5 the 5a> the poor so9l 5ie5( u,h>(4 I sai5( uthat4s the ver> morning I
was 5ist9rbe5 in m> sleep(4 telling her what I have alrea5> 5escribe5 to >o9.
/9bseE9entl>( I gathere5 the ho9r m> co9sin 5ie5( an5 that the strange cr> o= u+rank(
+rank(4 as =or help( which startle5 me o9t o= m> sleep( was at the ver> ho9r when %ora
was reall>( b9t apparentl> 9nconscio9sl>( passing =rom this lower worl5@ =or the
5i==erence in time between here an5 where I was wo9l5 bring the ho9r o= her =light an5
evi5ent call to one an5 the same.
B1erhaps the most e?traor5inar> =eat9re connecte5 with the voice is( that not till I saw her
brother Ernest( in *orE9a>( 5i5 an>one think to ask me( as he did( u"9t whose voice 5o
>o9 s9ppose it wasr4 Imme5iatel> it 5awne5 on me( u,h>( >o9r sister4sA%ora4s( witho9t
a 5o9bt.4 *hen he aske5( "h, I tho9ght it was her voicer u"eca9se I can now 5isting9ish
it as her voice. It was hastil> spoken( impet9o9s( as >o9 know she co9l5 be.4
B+')/. ). /U**)"#C
Mr. /9ttab> =i?e5 the 5ate o= the voice b> its occ9rring in the night Por ver> earl>
morningQ( a=ter the onl, stor( which the> ha5 on the vo>age( this storm being note5 in
his 5iar>. .e kin5l> sent 9s an e?tract =rom the 5iar>( which showe5 that the weather
=rom F9l> 3( when the B"othniaC le=t %ew #ork( to F9l> 7 was =ine. *he e?tracts =or the
ne?t : 5a>s are as =ollow:A
ii-3WU!
BXth.A+ine( b9t ro9gh. En5e5 with a storm( an5 retire5 earl>( whilst I co9l5 stan5.
B2;th.A+ine an5 bright all 5a>( b9t ver> storm>. 'emaine5 in be5 all 5a>.
B22th.AIn m> seat at break=ast. 1leasant 5a>( an5 pla>e5 ush9==les.4C
Mr. /9ttab> contin9es:A
B*he memorial-car5 o= m> co9sin states that she 5ie5 s955enl> F9l> 2;th. I cannot no-
be certain as to when I hear5 m> name calle5Awhether on morning o= 2;th or 22th. )ll I
know is that when in=orme5 o= the 5eath o= m> co9sin( each da, then being =resh in m>
memor>( I =i?e5 it as an un2uestionable =act( not s9pposing I sho9l5 ever be E9estione5
again as to 5etails( an5 having no reasons( no motives whatsoever( =or =i?ing the cr> o=
u+rank( +rank4 to the 5a> o= m> co9sin4s 5eath.
B,hat I state5 5i5 occ9r( an5 no one4s voice b9t that o= %ora resemble5 the twice-
repeate5 impet9o9s cr>.C
,e =in5 =rom the obit9ar> o= the !cots(an that Mrs. '. 5ie5 s955enl> on F9l> 2;( 277:.
/he ha5 no relatives with her when she 5ie5. In conversation with the present writer( Mr.
/9ttab> mentione5 that he was the person who( =rom circ9mstances( ha5 ha5 most to 5o
with her an5 her a==airs o= late >ears( an5 he th9s regar5s it as nat9ral that her tho9ghts
sho9l5 have t9rne5 speciall> to him. .er 5eath was ver> s955en.
Mr. /9ttab> tells 9s that he has on one other occasion e?perience5 a hall9cination( which
again consiste5 in hearing his name calle5@ b9t as this took place at a large railwa>
station( it was possibl> a real call. ,ith regar5 to the present case he sa>s:A
BI 5o not a5mit what I hear5 was hall9cination. I was =ast asleep in m> be5( an5 I was
s955enl> awake5@ I sat 9p E9ickl>( an5 sai5( u#es( >ess I am here. ,hatrA,ho
calle5r4Aor wor5s to that e==ect. I never lost the =irm conviction that I was reall> calle5
Athat a real voice( as i= nee5ing m> protection an5 assistance( calle5 to me.C
,e have ascertaine5 =rom -apt. Mc0a> that he 5oes not Pin )pril( 2778Q recall Mr.
/9ttab>4s mention o= the inci5ent. MaDor Fones writes( on )pril 8( 2778( =rom the )rm>
an5 %av> -l9b( /.,.:A
BI cannot tell >o9 more than the =act that one 5a> Mr. /9ttab> state5 he ha5 awoke in the
night hearing a chil5 call( an5 that he tho9ght it m9st be a niece PI thinkQ who ha5 5ie5.C
*his last 5etail cannot weigh against Mr. /9ttab>4s 5istinct recollection that the voice at
the time was not 5istinctl> associate5 with his co9sin.
Y,hether the e?perience was on the 2;th or 22th( it is possible( tho9gh not certain( that it
=ell within 2U ho9rs o= the 5eath.Z
PV;7Q +rom Mrs. .ancock( 1enarth Lo5ge( /toke "ishop( "ristol( a member o= the
/ociet> o= +rien5s.
B)pril 23th( 2773.
BIn m> %orthern-Irish home( I receive5 a letter on the Wth %ovember( 278V( =rom m>
brother in ,arwickshire( sa>ing that m> mother was ill( an5 he wishe5 I wo9l5 go an5
see her. I starte5 the same evening b> "el=ast an5 +leetwoo5. I ha5 been several ho9rs in
m> berth( on the Irish -hannel( an5 was hal= asleep( when I was startle5 b> =eeling a han5
grasp m> sho9l5er an5 a voice sa>( in a lo95 whisper( u-ome E9ickl>.4 I ii-3W:! rose 9p
an5 sat looking ro9n5 the cabin( b9t co9l5 see no one. I calle5 to the stewar5ess( b9t she
was =ast asleep( an5 so were all the other la5ies. I again la> 5own( b9t not to sleep( an5 in
a ver> short time( not U; min9tes a=terwar5s( the same press9re was p9t on m> sho9l5er
an5 the same wor5s were 5istinctl> 9ttere5 close to m> ear( u-ome E9ickl>.4
2
I again
calle5 lo95l> to the stewar5ess an5 tol5 her to light the lamp( =or I was s9re some one
m9st have been stan5ing b> me. /he 5eclare5 that no one ha5 been in the cabin( an5 all
aro9n5 was so still an5 E9iet. I reache5 the station at hal=-past 2U at noon( when m>
brother met me. .e sai5( u)ll is over( m> mother passe5 awa> at 3 this morning.4
BI o9ght to have state5 that when I calle5 to the stewar5ess an5 ma5e her light the lamp(
imme5iatel> a=ter I hear5 the voice an5 =elt the han5 on m> sho9l5er the secon5 time( I
then aske5 her to tell me what o4clock it was( an5 she sai5( u+o9r o4clock.4 I looke5 at m>
own watch an5 it was the same. I being an onl> 5a9ghter an5 m> mother having been a
wi5ow the last =ive >ears o= her li=e( she was m9ch wrappe5 9p in me an5 in m> chil5ren(
an5 the tie between 9s was o= no or5inar> kin5. I have alwa>s looke5 9pon this as a 5irect
voice =rom hersel=( D9st as she was 5>ing an5 passing into the spirit9al worl5.
BLU-# .)%-O-0.C
,e =in5 =rom the Coventr, 9erald that the 5eath took place on %ov. X( 278V. Mrs.
.ancock can har5l> be mistaken as to having hear5 the news =rom her brother on her
arrival( i.e.( on the 5a> =ollowing that on which she starte5. ,e ma> concl95e there=ore
that the Oth in the =irst line o= her acco9nt is a mistake =or #th.
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. .ancock a55s:A
BIn repl> to >o9r E9estion( whether I have at an> other time( besi5es the one 5escribe5(
uha5 an e?perience o= the kin5( i.e.( =ancie5 I hear5 or =elt a h9man presence when no one
was present(4 I have to sa> that I never 5i5.
BM> brother has D9st been here( an5 sa>s he recollects sa>ing to me uall was over at 3
o4clock this morning(4 on the 5a> he met me at the station( %ovember Xth( 278V@ b9t he
5oes not recollect the partic9lars o= what happene5 to me on boar5 the steamer. .e has at
an> rate a ver> ba5 memor>( whereas I have the rep9tation o= having an 9n9s9all> goo5
one@ an5 to m> min5 that press9re on m> arm( twice( an5 the wor5s u-ome E9ickl>4 are as
vivi5 now as i= all ha5 happene5 last week( instea5 o= 2X >ears ago.C
Y*he weak point in this case is o= co9rse the state o= an?iet> which prece5e5 the
e?perience@ the strong point( i= correctl> remembere5( is the e?actit95e o= the
coinci5ence. Mrs. .ancock ha5 no previo9s belie= in an>thing like telepath>( an5 takes no
special interest in the s9bDect.Z
PV;XQ +rom Mrs. /prag9e( /9nn>si5e( UWV( -ol5harbo9r Lane( "ri?ton( /.,.( who sa>s
that Bthe partic9lars are plain 9nvarnishe5 tr9th.C
B)9g. UVth( 2778.
Y*he narrator4s mother( Mrs. &reen( to whom she was 5eepl> attache5( ha5 promise5 that(
i= she 5ie5 when the> were apart( she wo9l5 let her 5a9ghter Bknow that she was E9itting
this worl5.C
U
/oon a=ter Mrs. ii-3W3! /prag9e4s marriage( her mother went to keep ho9se
=or a son( at MaDor4s -reek( "rai5woo5( %./. ,ales( an5 the two ha5 not met =or 2U
>ears. In the s9mmer o= 2787( Mrs. /prag9e( who ha5 been in %ew Jealan5( was on her
wa> to pa> her mother a visit.Z B/he was e?pecting me@ an5 the last letter was cheer=9l
an5 happ>( intensel> e?pectant o= m> visit@ also she was( she sai5( E9ite well.
BOn /9n5a> night( the 23th o= F9ne( 2787( I retire5 to be5 abo9t 22.:;( an5 slept so9n5l>
9ntil : o4clock( when I s955enl> woke hearing m> mother4s voice. /he stoo5 at the =oot
o= m> be5. /he sai5( u8h, co(eT : -ant ,ouT4 *he moon was at the =9ll@ an5 the room as
light as 5a>. I threw m>sel= o9t o= be5 instantl>. !he -as gone. I then realise5 how =ar
awa> she was: an5 a strange s9pernat9ral =eeling( a =eeling impossible to 5escribe( took
possession o= me: like lightning the compact ma5e in Englan5 man> >ears be=ore
ret9rne5 to m> min5( an5 I knew with certaint> that she was 5>ing. I looke5 at m> watch@
it was : o4clock. I la> awake till the morning 5awne5( an5 at 2U o4clock that 5a> I ha5 a
telegram =rom m> brother( asking me to come on E9ickl> as she ha5 ha5 a =it Ylate on the
/at9r5a> nightZ an5 could not live. *his was Mon5a>. I co9l5 not leave Melbo9rne till the
=ollowing *h9rs5a>( there being onl> steamers twice a week( so on the ,e5nes5a>
Ycorrecte5 in conversation to *h9rs5a>Z I receive5 another telegram sa>ing she was 5ea5.
.er bo5> was kept =or 2; 5a>s that I might atten5 the =9neral( which I 5i5( travelling post
all the time.
BOn E9estioning the n9rse who atten5e5 her( she sai5( u#o9r mother cease5 to breathe on
,e5nes5a>( F9ne 2Wth( b9t the last sign o= li=e she gave was on the /9n5a> night( or
morning( when at abo9t : o4clock( appearing still insensible( she rose 9p an5 attempte5 to
stan5( b9t =ell heavil> =orwar5. ,ith assistance I replace5 her in the be5( an5 she
remaine5 motionless till she cease5 to breathe.4 *his was the e?act moment that her spirit
appeare5 an5 calle5 me.C
2

In conversation( Mrs. /prag9e state5 that not onl> her chil5( b9t also her lan5la5>( Mrs.
"ellman( was sleeping with her on the night o= the vision. ,e are en5eavo9ring to trace
Mrs. "ellman. *he brother an5 the n9rse are 5ea5. Miss )lice /prag9e state5
in5epen5entl> that she 5istinctl> remembers being woke b> her mother4s e?clamation@
an5 she also remembers Mrs. "ellman4s remonstrating with Mrs. /prag9e =or 5ist9rbing
her@ b9t Miss /prag9e has no recollection o= being tol5 at the time what her mother ha5
seen.
Mrs. /prag9e has ha5 onl> one other hall9cination in her li=e( which =ollowe5 the above
b> nearl> W >ears: it was again o= the Bbor5erlan5C t>pe( an5 represente5 her 5ecease5
mother.
Y*he =act that the percipient4s min5 ha5 no 5o9bt been consi5erabl> occ9pie5 with the
tho9ght o= her approaching meeting with her mother( somewhat weakens the case@ b9t I
know o= no other instance where the i5ea o= a happ> meeting has originate5 so abnormal
an e?perience.Z
S :. *he ne?t little gro9p are =irst-han5 cases which have alrea5> been p9blishe5.
PV2;Q +rom the 'e(oir of the 9on. and =ev. *o-er6le6*oer Trench, last )rchbishop of
Tua( P273VQ( b> the 'ev. F. $4)rc> /irr( $.$.( ii-3WV! pp. W8UT:. *he acco9nt is part o=
a letter written b> the 'ev. /am9el Me5licott( =rom 1a9. O9r attention was calle5 to it b>
the 'ev. -anon E>re( o= "ra>( a ver> intimate =rien5 o= Mr. Me5licott( who a55s that Mr
Me5licott ha5 been enable5 to go to 1a9 =or his health thro9gh the kin5ness o= the
)rchbishop o= *9am.
B)n interesting circ9mstance connecte5 with the 5eath o= the 5ear servant o= &o5( o9r
late venerate5 an5 tr9l> belove5 )rchbishop( I will simpl> relate as =ollows. I was at m>
brother4s ho9se in ,iltshire( whither I ma5e m> =irst move in search o= health earl> in
March last >ear. *here at a ver> earl> ho9r on Mon5a>( PI think 3 o4clock(Q the 5ear
)rchbishop PI shall never =orget his sweet =aceQ( tho9gh pale as 5eath( stoo5 at the =oot o=
m> be5 an5 sai5( uI am tire5 o=( an5 I will leave Por I have le=tQ *9am( an5 will never
ret9rn there.4 *his greatl> 5istresse5 me( an5 o= co9rse ro9se5 me. I tho9ght I ha5( as it
were( seen a vision( an5 mentione5 what I 5i5 hear to Mrs. Me5licott as soon as she
awoke. "9t how was I 5ist9rbe5s how pain=9ll> c9t 5own( when( in 59e co9rse o= time(
the heartren5ing ti5ings reache5 me that on that ver> 5a>( an5 at that ver> ho9r( his &race
ha5 5eparte5 this li=e.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'e(oir that the )rchbishop 5ie5 at *9am( o= t>phoi5 =ever( on March
U8( 27:X( at :.2; a.m.@ the coinci5ence was there=ore probabl> close to within an ho9r.
PV22Q *ranslate5 =rom !chriftenfQr und an seine ;ieben Deutschen( b> E. M. )rn5t
PLeip]ig( 273VQ( Vol. III.( pp. VU3TV. P/ee case 38W.Q
)rn5t 5escribes how( in the winter o= 2722( when sta>ing in a =rien54s ho9se( he was
sitting 9p working one night( a=ter a =atig9ing 5a>( an5 was hal= asleep in his chair
ABwhen los m> 5ear ol5 )9nt /ophia( m> secon5 mother( stoo5 be=ore me with a kin5
smile( hol5ing on each arm a little bo>. *he> were chil5ren whom I 5earl> love5. /he
hel5 them o9t to me with a gest9re which seeme5 to sa> u*ake the chil5ren to >o9r care.4C
*he ne?t 5a> at noon( while )rn5t was sitting talking with his =rien5s( Bthe carriage o= m>
brother ,illiam 5rove 9p with a letter( sa>ing( u"rother( come back at once in the
carriage@ we m9st cross the water to "9chhol] to-morrow( an5 b9r> o9r 5ear ol5 )9nt
/ophia( who 5ie5 last night.4C
PV2UQ +rom "or1s of the =ev. John "esle,. ).'. PE5ition o= 27V8Q( Vol. II.( pp. :V;T2.
*he acco9nt( on the =ace o= it( is in the wor5s o= the percipient@ b9t we cannot be
absol9tel> s9re o= this.
*he passage is =rom ,esle>4s Fo9rnal =or *h9rs5a>( F9ne :r5( 2WV8.
BI receive5 a remarkable letter =rom a clerg>man with whom I ha5 been a 5a> or two
be=ore@ part o= it ran th9s: uI ha5 the =ollowing acco9nt =rom the gentlewoman hersel=( a
person o= piet> an5 veracit>. /he is now the wi=e o= Mr. F. ".( silversmith in -ork.4
BuB)bo9t :; >ears ago( I was a55resse5( b> wa> o= marriage( b> Mr. 'ichar5 Mercier(
then a vol9nteer in the arm>. *he >o9ng gentleman was E9artere5 at that time in
-harleville( where m> =ather live5( who approve5 o= his a55resses( an5 5irecte5 me to
look 9pon hirn as m> =9t9re h9sban5. ,hen the regiment le=t the town( he promise5 to
ret9rn in two months an5 marr> me. +rom -harleville he went to $9blin( thence to his
=ather4s( an5 =rom thence to Englan5@ where( his =ather having bo9ght him a cornetc> o=
horse( he p9rchase5 man> ornaments =or the we55ing( ii-3W8! an5 ret9rning to Irelan5(
let 9s know that he wo9l5 be at o9r ho9se in -harleville in a =ew 5a>s. On this the =amil>
was b9sie5 to prepare =or his reception( an5 the ens9ing marriage( when( one night( m>
sister Mar> an5 I being asleep in o9r be5( I was awake5 b> the s955en opening o= the si5e
c9rtains( an5 starting 9p( saw Mr. Mercier stan5ing b> the be5si5e. .e was wrappe5 9p in
a loose sheet( an5 ha5 a napkin( =ol5e5 like a nightcap( on his hea5. .e looke5 at me ver>
earnestl>( an5 li=ting 9p the napkin( which m9ch sha5e5 his =ace( showe5 me the le=t si5e
o= his hea5( all bloo5>( an5 covere5 with his brains@
2
the room( meantime( was E9ite
light.
U
M> terror was e?cessive( which was increase5 b> his stooping over the be5( an5
embracing me in his arms. M> cries alarme5 the whole =amil>( who came crow5ing into
the room. Upon their entrance( he gentl> with5rew his arms an5 ascen5e5( as it were(
thro9gh the ceiling.
:
I contin9e5 =or some time in strong =its. ,hen I co9l5 speak I tol5
them what I ha5 seen.
BuBOne o= them a 5a> or two a=ter( going to the postman =or letters( =o9n5 him rea5ing the
newspapers( in which was an acco9nt that -ornet Mercier( going into -hrist -h9rch
bel=r>( in $9blin( D9st a=ter the bells ha5 been ringing( an5 stan5ing 9n5er the bells( one o=
them( which was t9rne5 bottom 9pwar5s( s955enl> t9rne5 again( str9ck one si5e o= his
hea5( an5 kille5 him on the spot. On =9rther inE9ir>( he =o9n5 he was str9ck on the le=t
si5e o= his hea5.C4C
Y*he 5eath o= Mr. Mercier 5oes not appear in the Dublin 7aAette( which is the onl>
$9blin paper o= that 5ate that we can obtain@ an5 we know o= no other p9blication where
it wo9l5 be likel> to be mentione5.Z
*he remarkable narrative o= Eli]abeth .obson( o= /9n5erlan5( given b> ,esle> in his
5iar>( 9n5er 5ate Ma> UV( 2W87( is too long to E9ote in =9ll. It is complicate5 b> matter
which 5oes not belong to the s9bDect o= this book( an5 b> m9ch that looks like s9bDective
hall9cination. "9t it is almost certain that the cases were given in goo5 =aith b> a witness
o= goo5 character. *he apparentl> telepathic inci5ents Pwhich I incl95e 9n5er a single
evi5ential n9mberQ( taken 5own b> ,esle> =rom E. .obson4s lips( are as =ollows:A
PV2:Q P2Q BFohn /impson( one o= o9r neighbo9rs( a man that tr9l> =eare5 &o5( an5 one
with whom I was partic9larl> acE9ainte5( went to sea( as 9s9al. .e saile5 o9t on a
*9es5a>( *he +ri5a> night =ollowing( between 22 an5 2U o4clock( I hear5 someone
walking in m> room( an5 ever> step so9n5e5 as i= it were stepping in water. .e then
came to the be5si5e in his sea-Dacket( all wet( an5 stretche5 his han5 over me. *hree 5rops
o= water =ell on m> hea5( an5 =elt as col5 as ice. I strove to wake his wi=eAwho la> with
me@ b9t I co9l5 not an> more than i= she were 5ea5. )=terwar5s I hear5 that he was cast
awa> that night.
PUQ B) little be=ore Michaelmas( 2W8:( m> brother &eorge( who was a goo5 >o9ng man(
went to sea. *he 5a> a=ter Michaelmas $a>( abo9t ii-3WW! mi5night( I saw him stan5ing
b> m> be5si5e( s9rro9n5e5 with a glorio9s light(
2
an5 looking earnestl> at me. .e was
wet all over. *hat night the ship in which he saile5 split 9pon a rock( an5 all the crew
were 5rowne5.
P:Q BOn )pril Xth( 2W8W( abo9t mi5night I was l>ing awake( an5 I saw m> brother Fohn
stan5ing b> m> be5si5e. F9st at that time he 5ie5 in Famaica.
P3Q BOn +ri5a>( F9l> :r5( Pr2W8WQ( I was sitting at 5inner( when I tho9ght I hear5 someone
coming along the passage. I looke5 abo9t( an5 saw m> a9nt( Margaret /cot( o= %ewcastle(
stan5ing at m> back. On /at9r5a>( I ha5 a letter in=orming me that she 5ie5 on that 5a>.
PVQ B,hen I was abo9t 28( m> 9ncle =ell ill( an5 grew worse an5 worse =or three months.
One 5a>( having been sent o9t on an erran5( I was coming home thro9gh a lane when I
saw him in the =iel5 coming swi=tl> towar5s me. I ran to meet him( b9t he was gone.
,hen I came home( I =o9n5 him calling =or me. )s soon as I came to his be5si5e( he
claspe5 his arms ro9n5 m> neck( an5 b9rsting into tears( w kept his hol5 till he s9nk
5own an5 5ie5@ an5 even then the> co9l5 har5l> 9nclasp his =ingers. I wo9l5 =ain have
5ie5 with him( an5 wishe5 to be b9rie5 with him( 5ea5 or alive.C
S 3. *he remaining cases are secon5-han5. I will =irst give a consi5erable gro9p where the
narrators are ver> near relatives o= the =irst-han5 witnesses( an5 have no sort o= 5o9bt that
what is recor5e5 is the gen9ine e?perience o= their respective in=ormants.
PV23 an5 V2VQ +rom Lie9t.--olonel +ane /ewell( care o= Messrs. .. /. 0ing an5 -o.( 3V(
1all Mall( /.,.
B,ol=elee( .awick( %.".
B)9g9st 3th( 277V.
BM> mother an5 )nne .erve> were school=ellows together at a Ma5ame )95ibert4s( in
0ensington( an5 the> were bosom =rien5s@ an5( as was not 9n9s9al in those 5a>s with
>o9ng girls( the> e?change5 rings( with the promise that whichever o= the two 5ie5 =irst
she was to sen5 back to the other her ring.
U

B$9ring the =ollowing holi5a>s( =or which m> mother went to her home( %orth "erwick(
)nne .erve> remaining at Ma5ame )95ibert4s in 0ensington( the =ollowing inci5ent
occ9rre5:A
BM> mother s955enl> awoke in the night( to =in5 )nne .erve> stan5ing b> her be5si5e(
hol5ing o9t the ring she ha5 given her. *he apparition laste5 a =ew secon5s( an5 then
=a5e5 awa>. M> mother was m9ch =rightene5( an5 in the morning tol5 her mother what
ha5 happene5 to her in the night( a55ing that she was E9ite convince5 )nne .erve> was
5ea5( altho9gh she ha5 le=t her per=ectl> well a =ortnight be=ore at Ma5ame )95ibert4s.
B*he event prove5 m> mother to be right( =or in co9rse o= post Pnot so rapi5 as in these
5a>sQ a letter reache5 her =rom Ma5ame )95ibert telling her o= )nne .erve>4s 5eath =rom
scarlet =ever( an5 enclosing the ring which she sai5 )nne .erve> ha5 begge5( on her
5eathbe5( might be sent to m> mother.
ii-3W7!
B*he above is e?actl> as I have receive5 it =rom m> mother4s lips. *he ring re=erre5 to
was in m> own possession =or man> >ears.
BM> mother( when at "angalore( as nearl> as I can remember abo9t the >ear 273V( was
one night awakene5 b> the =eeling o= something 9n9s9al happening( an5 saw as she
tho9ght a ver> =avo9rite sister o= m> =ather4s( m> )9nt +ann> PMrs. Fohn .amilton
&ra>Q( stan5ing in her night-5ress at the =oot o= the be5( with her hair =alling loosel>
ro9n5 her. *here was a pec9liar light 9pon her( tho9gh no light o= an> kin5 in the room.
2

)nother pec9liarit> abo9t m> a9nt that m> mother notice5 was( that a large lock o= m>
a9nt4s hair ha5 been c9t straight o== close to the temple.
U
*he apparition appeare5 to ga]e
stea5il> at m> mother =or some little time( an5 then gra59all> 5isappeare5.
BM> mother( to whom s9ch appearances were not altogether 9nknown( =elt so convince5
something serio9s ha5 happene5 to m> )9nt +ann>( that( =earing a shock to m> =ather( she
took meas9res to intercept the letters to m> =ather which she was satis=ie5 m9st bring him
sa5 news o= some sort relating to m> a9nt. *he event prove5 her right( =or in 59e co9rse
o= post =rom home came the letter bearing intelligence o= m> a9nt4s 9ne?pecte5 5eath at
sea PMrs. &ra> was Do9rne>ing =rom the -ape o= &oo5 .ope to Englan5 when she 5ie5Q(
on the night above mentione5( an5 in the letter was enclose5 a large lock o= m> )9nt
+ann>4s hair which ha5 been c9t o== to sen5 to m> =ather.
BI was a chil5 o= V or 8 >ears o= age when the above took place( an5 I remember the
circ9mstance 5istinctl>( tho9gh not the partic9lars( which are( however( e?actl> as I have
o=ten hear5 m> mother relate them to 5i==erent people. I have o=ten hear5 m> mother
relate both these e?periences( as nearl> as m> memor> will serve me( in the e?act wor5s I
have 9se5.
B+)%E /E,ELL.C
In a later letter -olonel /ewell sa>s that he has =aile5 to get the e?act 5ates( an5 a55s:A
BIn writing o9t the two acco9nts I sent >o9( I p9rposel> e?cl95e5 =rom the secon5
an>thing o= m> own personal recollections o= the occ9rrence( which took place at
"angalore( that >o9 might have the stor> e?actl> as relate5 to me b> m> mother.
BLet me repl> to >o9r E9estions as given.
BP2Q u$i5 m> mother alwa>s speak o= the inci5ents as -a1ing e?periences( not mere
5reamsr4
BM> mother never spoke o= either b9t as u-a1ing e?periences.4 /he was ver, 5istinct
9pon that point. /he was E9ite s9re o= having been( in both cases( wi5e awake when she
saw what she 5escribe5.
BPUQ u,as I ol5 eno9gh to recollect whether I hear5 o= the second e?perience before the
news o= 5eath arrive5r4
BI have a 5istinct recollection P=or the scenes ma5e a great impression 9pon meQ o= the
news o= m> )9nt +ann>4s 5eath being taken an5 broken to m> =ather b> m> mother@ his
great grie=@ an5 o= m> mother4s an?iet> before an5 abo9t the coming o= the letters( an5 o=
her 5epression Pshe was nat9rall> o= a bright( cheer=9l 5ispositionQ before the letters
came( which I co9l5 not at the time 9n5erstan5( b9t which I have since =elt was 59e to ii-
3WX! her anticipation o= coming sorrow. I was sel5om awa> =rom either m> =ather4s or
mother4s si5e in those 5a>s( an5 m9st have been abo9t V >ears ol5( an5 co9l5 well
recollect things o= a striking character which took place then. M> earliest recollection is
o= the 5eath o= m> el5est( an5( then( onl> sister( which took place when I was a chil5 o=
between U an5 : >ears o= age. O= this I can o= co9rse onl> 5iml> remember the
circ9mstances( an5 merel> mention it here to show that I was ver> impressionable as a
chil5( an5 began to remember m9ch earlier than the 5ate o= m> )9nt +ann>4s 5eath. I
have no 5o9bt in m> own min5( there=ore( o= the phenomenon having occ9rre5 to m>
mother as 5escribe5 b> her.
BP:Q uPaQ )m I aware as to whether m> mother was in the habit o= having similar
visitations or visions which 5i5 not correspon5 with an>thingr or PbQ( o= her being s9bDect
to hall9cinationsr4
BPaQ I am not aware o= an> s9ch. I 5o know( however( o= one occ9rrence which took place
in +ebr9ar> or March( 27VW( whilst I was sta>ing( en route to In5ia( with m> =ather an5
mother at 1isa.
BI remember m> mother came 5own to break=ast one morning greatl> agitate5( an5 tol5
9s Pm> =ather an5 meQ that she ha5 been awakene5 59ring the night b> something 9n9s9al
occ9rring( an5 saw 5istinctl> a c9rio9s =lame-like light
2
at the en5 o= her be5( which took
no 5e=inite shape b9t =a5e5 awa> an5 le=t the room again 5ark. /he sai5 she was E9ite
s9re that something ha5 happene5 to a near relative who was then in Lon5on. M> =ather
trie5 to reass9re m> mother( b9t she was not to be 5iss9a5e5 =rom her presentiment o=
evil. ) =ew 5a>s a=terwar5s we receive5 letters =rom Englan5 in=orming 9s that the
relative in E9estion ha5 ha5 a s955en an5 5angero9s illnessAin =act( a 5angero9s
miscarriageAon the night in E9estion.
BPbQ I never hear5 o= an> other case o= vision( or otherwise( occ9rring to m> mother( nor
am I aware o= m> mother having been s9bDect in an> wa> to hall9cinations o= the senses.
B*he occ9rrences I have mentione5 were wi5e apart as regar5s time. *he =irst when m>
mother was a girl abo9t 28 or 2W@ ne?t( as a woman o= abo9t ::@ an5 last when she was 3W
>ears o= age.C
U

"e=ore this acco9nt was receive5( the secon5 o= the two inci5ents ha5 been 5escribe5 to
9s b> a clerg>man( 5istantl> connecte5 with La5> /ewell( who ha5 hear5 her narrate it(
an5 ha5 himsel= seen the lock o= hair. *ho9gh correct as to the main =act( his version(
when compare5 with the above( ill9strates the 5i==erence which intimate connection with
the original witness makes in the val9e o= secon5-han5 testimon> Psee pp. :UU an5 V:X(
noteQ. *he =ig9re is represente5 as having appeare5 Bin her shro95( 5ripping wet( an5 with
her black hair c9t E9ite shortC an5 Bon allowing =or 5i==erence o= longit95e( it was =o9n5
that the ho9r o= the vision correspon5e5 with the ho9r o= the 5eath.C -olonel +ane
/ewell4s acco9nt( it will be observe5( merel> states that the night correspon5e5.
PV28Q +rom the 'ev. .. -. $. -han5ler( ,aterbeach Vicarage( -ambri5ge. .is sister(
whose e?perience is recor5e5( is o9t o= health( an5 he wo9l5 pre=er not to have her
tro9ble5 =or a =irst-han5 acco9nt.
ii-37;!
B277:.
B*he =ollowing occ9rre5 abo9t V o4clock a.m.( on October U7th( 27V:. M> sister( then
Eli]a -han5ler( was visiting =rien5s in the neighbo9rhoo5 o= 0illarne>( -o9nt> 0err>(
Irelan5. .er min5 was E9ite compose5( an5 her health per=ectl> goo5. /he was
s9rro9n5e5 b> kin5 =rien5s an5 was o= a ga> an5 bright 5isposition( not in the least
incline5 to morbi5ness. /he ha5 known that her mother was in 5eclining health generall>.
B/he retire5 to rest on the *h9rs5a> evening as 9s9al. )bo9t V o4clock on +ri5a> morning
she awoke s955enl>( an5 as it seeme5 witho9t ca9se( when she imme5iatel> became
conscio9s o= her mother4s =orm at the =oot o= her be5. /he sat 9p an5 ga]e5 intentl>. /he
5escribes her mother4s =orm as tho9gh she ha5 risen =rom her co9ch( an5 the =ace was
=i?e5 with an earnest an5 loving ga]e 9pon her chil5. *he length o= time the =orm
remaine5 I 5o not remember( or whether that time was mentione5 I 5o not remember. M>
sister co9l5 not rest( b9t rose an5 5resse5( greatl> agitate5. /he at once wrote to inE9ire i=
all was well( an5 begging to hear =rom 9s.
B)t the ho9r above name5( I was watching b> m> mother4s be5si5e Yat "ristolZ( she
having been sei]e5 with hernia 59ring a severe =it o= co9ghing. M> mother ha5 s9nk
rapi5l>( an5 a letter o= mine( stating the nat9re o= the illness an5 its probable iss9e( ha5
crosse5 m> sister4s letter to me. )t the ho9r o= V o4clock( I was str9ck with the change o=
m> mother4s appearance( an5 ran to call a sister( who was sleeping near. On appl>ing a
glass to the mo9th( we =o9n5 that the breathing ha5 cease5( an5 o9r mother was gone to
her rest. *he same morning I wrote to Irelan5 telling the sa5 news( receiving the ne?t 5a>
m> sister4s letter telling o= the strange apparition she ha5 seen.
BM> sister is marrie5 an5 settle5 in )9stralia@ b9t she co9l5 a55 b9t little more to the
above acco9nt( =or each partic9lar was written in5elibl> on m> memor>.
B.. -. $. -.)%$LE'.C
In answer to inE9iries as to whether he was certain that the apparition ha5 preceded the
arrival o= his letter anno9ncing his mother4s critical con5ition( he replie5:A
BO9r letters crosse5Amine containing the 5etails o= m> mother4s last 5a>s( an5 m>
sister4s telling the stor> o= the apparition. .er letter m9st have been writtenAas =ar as we
co9l5 calc9late( I rememberAthe morning a=ter m> mother4s 5eath( an5 solel> in
conseE9ence o= the apparition.C
*he Bristol Ti(es con=irms the =act that Mrs. -han5ler 5ie5 on +ri5a> Oct. U7( 27V:.
PV2WQ +rom La5> Miles( Leigh -o9rt( "ristol.
B)9g9st 2st( 277V.
BM> mother( La5> 'oche Pwi=e o= the late /ir $avi5 'oche( o= -arap -room( -o9nt> o=
Limerick( Irelan5Q was ver> m9ch belove5 b> her co9sin( the Y'ightZ .on. Fohn
Van5ele9r( an5 at the moment o= his 5eath he came to sa> goo5-b>e to her. /he woke
=rom sleep at 3 a.m.( an5 saw him( wrappe5 9p in something black( stan5ing near the
lower c9rtain o= her be5. /he woke her h9sban5( an5 sai5( u,h>( there is the .on. Fohn at
the bottom o= the be5s4 /ir $avi5 tol5 her she was 5reaming( an5 to r9b her e>es@ b9t( as
she still a==irme5 it( he got 9p an5 p9lle5 the c9rtain awa>( lit the can5les( an5 stoo5
where she sai5 the appearance was. /he ii-372! sai5( uI see him now( stan5ing ne?t >o9(
waving his han5 in =arewell to me.4 .e =a5e5 awa>( an5 5isappeare5. It was a=terwar5s
known that this gentlemen 5ie5 V; miles o==( o= a paral>tic sei]9re.
B) brother o= this la5>( Mr. &eorge Van5ele9r( o= "all>namona( -o. -lare( also saw his
servant at the moment o= his 5eath. *he man was sent to Limerick on an erran5( got
5r9nk( an5 =ell o== a cart( the wheel o= which passe5 over his throat.
B*hese two cases are E9ite a9thentic( an5 known to man> people.
B+. E. MILE/.C
,e =in5 the 5ate o= Mr. F. Van5ele9r4s 5eath given in !aunders Ne-sletter as %ovember
X( 27U7.
In answer to inE9iries( La5> Miles sa>s:A
B,ith regar5 to m> mother seeing the .on. Fohn Van5ele9r. /he saw him a =ew min9tes
a=ter his 5eath. /he was living at a ho9se in Limerick( an5 he 5ie5 at 0ilr9sh. I hear5 the
acco9nt =rom m> =ather an5 mother 5o]ens o= times when a girl. M> mother was not an
imaginative woman( or inventive. /he 5ie5 in 2732. I have been living over :; >ears in
Englan5( an5 have a goo5 5eal lost sight o= an>one who co9l5 a9thenticate all this(
tho9gh ever>one knew abo9t it at the time.
BM> 9ncle who saw his servant is 5ea5. It happene5 at -arap( -o. Limerick( abo9t the
>ear 27:8.C
In conversation( La5> Miles tol5 me that her 9ncle was 5ressing in the morning( when(
looking ro9n5( he saw the =ig9re o= his servant( with bloo5 abo9t it( an5 a55resse5 it(
thinking it was the man himsel=. /he was in the ho9se at the time( an5 later she hear5 the
acco9nt =rom her 9ncle4s own lips.
PV27Q +rom Mme. Vavin( n4e &irar5( a relative o= o9r =rien5( M. -h. 'ichet( who copie5
the acco9nt =rom a letter a55resse5 to himsel=.
B277V.
BMa mNre( Htant ve9ve( avait HtH trNs aimHe et 5eman5He en mariage par 9n De9ne
pro=esse9r 5e -aen. )>ant E9ittH la ville et Hpo9sH M. -ailla9?( elle avait cessH to9te
relation avec M. 'oger( et n4en enten5it pl9s parler 5ep9is trois o9 E9atre ans. Une n9it(
Htant absol9ment HveillHe( elle vit 9ne =orme blanchtre( comme 9ne vape9r(
2
se pencher
trois
U
=ois s9r son lit( comme po9r l9i 5ire a5ie9. Elle e9t alors( sans po9voir s4en ren5re
bien compte( le sentiment E9e c4Htait M. 'oger E9i l9i 5isait a5ie9. *rNs Hm9e( elle ne
parla 5e la chose G personne@ mais( 9ne h9itaine 5e Do9rs aprNs( elle apprit la mort 5e M.
'oger( mort s9rven9e la n9it mMme o elle avait e9 cette apparition. Elle ne le savait pas
mala5e.C YTranslationZ
Mme. Vavin a55s the =ollowing e?perience o= her own:A
B1o9r moi( mes so9venirs sont pl9s vag9es( Htant pl9s lointains. Mon pNre est mort G pe9
prNs s9bitement. Fe l4avais E9ittH la veille( a9 soir( gai et bien portant. $ans la n9it 9ne
voi?( comme 9n so9==le( et po9r ainsi 5ire sans parole(
:
me =it compren5re E9e mon pNre
Htait mort Le len5emain( lorsE9e on entra 5ans ma chambre( De me Detai en ple9rant 5ans
les bras 5e ma bonne en l9i 5isant( uFe sais E9e papa est mort.4 Fe n4avais v9 ni =orme( ni
apparition 54a9c9ne sorte. F4avais ne9= ans. YTranslationZ
BM)'&UE'I*E V)VI%.C
ii-37U!
PV2XQ +rom Miss Osborne( 2;a( -9nningham 1lace( %.,.
B277:.
B*his stor> I have hear5 m> mother relate( b9t as she an5 m> a9nt Pto whom this inci5ent
occ9rre5Q are both 5ea5( I can onl> tell it as I remember it. I was a chil5 when it
happene5. M> a9nt( Mrs. +airman( was living in 1ort9gal( an5 ha5 not been in Lon5on
=or some >ears. .er hal=-sister Pwith whom she ha5 no especial s>mpath>Q marrie5 a Mr.
Moore( whom Mrs. +airman ha5 never seen. )bo9t a >ear a=ter that marriage( Mrs.
+airman was making arrangements to give a part>. One night she awoke( an5 saw her
sister sitting b> her be5si5e( an5 a gentleman stan5ing b> her.
2
/he hear5 her sister sa>( uI
shall 5ie( I shall 5ies4 /he woke her h9sban5( an5 tol5 him what she ha5 seen. .e( angr>
at being 5ist9rbe5( sai5 it was all nonsense. )t last she slept( b9t woke again( seeing the
same thing.
U
/he again woke her h9sban5( who 9se5 stronger lang9age than be=ore. /o
impresse5 was Mrs. +airman with the =eeling she sho9l5 hear o= the 5eath o= her sister(
that she or5ere5 all arrangements =or the propose5 part> to be stoppe5@ an5 in the time a
letter co9l5 reach her( one came to sa> Mrs. Moore ha5 5ie5 at the time she ha5 seen her.
BI think it was abo9t two >ears a=ter this( Mrs. +airman ret9rne5 to Englan5. /he ha5
never seen an> portrait o= Mr. Moore( who was a ver> or5inar> person( with no marke5
characteristics. /he was walking with m> mother in O?=or5 /treet( when she s955enl>
sai5( uMar>( that is the man I saw with F9lia at m> be5si5e.4 It was reall> Mr. Moore.C
Y*he =inal inci5ent here recalls the concl9sion o= the ,>n>ar5 case P%o. :VWQ( where
there is some 5o9bt what the e?act =acts were@ b9t the point is not one likel> to have crept
into either narrative witho9t some =o9n5ation. *he =act that Miss Osborne4s mother was a
witness o= the recognition makes the acco9nt a secon5-han5 Pnot a thir5-han5Q one( as =ar
as that item is concerne5.Z
PVU;Q +rom a la5>( known to the present writer( who pre=ers that her own name sho9l5 not
be printe5. *he evi5ence is on a par with secon5-han5 PVol. I.( p. 2V7( noteQ.
B)9g. UVth( 2778.
BM> =ather was a marine o==icer on boar5 his MaDest>4s ship AA. -rossing the )tlantic(
in the co9rse o= the vo>age( the me5ical gentleman tol5 him that his mother ha5 appeare5
to him an5 5istinctl> sai5( u)n5rew( )n5rew( men5 >o9r wa>s( or >o9 will never be
where I am.4 /ir Fames Malcolm Ythe narrator4s =atherZ a5vise5 him to write 5own the
5ate an5 ho9r( which $r. $o9glas
:
5i5( an5 a=terwar5s wrote that his mother ha5 5ie5 the
5a> an5 ho9r precisel> as she appeare5 to him. I have o=ten hear5 m> =ather mention the
circ9mstance.C
)nother 5a9ghter o= /ir F. Malcolm4s writes P/ept. U:( 2778Q( BI have o=ten hear5 the
stor> o= $r. -ampbell4s visionAit was not a 5reamAtol5 to /ir F. in the morning( who
a5vise5 him to note it 5own.C /he thinks that the inci5ent took place in the ,est In5ies(
in 27;8 or not long a=ter( an5 gives the name o= the ship as the B-anop9s.C ,e have
ascertaine5 =rom the 'ecor5 O==ice that the B-anop9sC was in the ,est ii-37:! In5ies at
that time( b9t that no 5octor o= the name o= -ampbell was o==iciall> attache5 to her 59ring
the >ears 27;8T2U.
Y,e ma> charitabl> hope that the wor5s hear5 were a contrib9tion o= the percipient4s own
min5( an5 merel> betokene5 a wholesome sense o= parental s9periorit>. I have 5rawn
attention to the s9spicio9s e?actit95e o= the coinci5ence in man> o= the secon5-han5
cases.Z
+rom Mr. E5war5 "9tler( W( 1ark /E9are( Lee5s. I 5o not n9mber the case( as the
evi5ence is possibl> thir5-han5.
BF9ne U2st 2773.
B*he enclose5 acco9nt o= m> brother4s apparition has been rea5 b> m> co9sin +ann>( a
la5> o= sing9lar acc9rac> o= min5 an5 entire tr9st-worthiness( who was one o= the =irst Pi=
not the =irstQ to hear the tale( =rom m> mother hersel=( I think. It e?actl> agrees with her
recollection( an5 ma>( I =9ll> believe( be relie5 on as acc9rate.
BIn the >ear 27VW( m> brother was in the -ivil /ervice o= In5ia( an5 was statione5 in
"engal as a D95ge or magistrate an5 collector. +or an>thing we knew he was per=ectl>
well( an5 ha5 ver> goo5 prospects in his pro=ession. One morning earl>Ait was the
height o= s9mmerAm> mother was l>ing awake( an5 it was clear 5awn. /he saw m>
brother stan5 at the =oot o= her be5. *here was nothing noticeable in his 5ress. .is =ace
wore an e?cee5ingl> tranE9il an5 pleasant e?pression( an5 m> mother =elt no =ear. I 5o
not know how long the vision laste5. ,hen it 5isappeare5 m> mother woke m> =ather(
an5 sai5( uI have seen ,ells.4 *he> ma5e a note o= the 5a> an5 ho9r. *here was no In5ian
telegraph in those 5a>s( an5 some weeks elapse5 be=ore the> receive5 =rom an o==icial
so9rce in In5ia news o= m> brother4s s955en 5eath( which m9st have taken place D9st
abo9t the time o= the apparition. M> brother4s appearance was alwa>s regar5e5 b> m>
mother as a merci=9l an5 kin5l> thing. It prepare5 her =or the news( an5 broke the shock.
BI think m> mother was b> organisation open to 5elicate imp9lses or impacts =rom s9btle
e?terior agencies( i= s9ch there be@ =or I remember her telling me( amongst other things
now =orgotten( that once she ha5 an 9nacco9ntable conviction that she o9ght to go an5
see an ol5 school=ellow( who ha5 been long separate5 =rom her( an5 whose ver> name(
in5ee5( she ha5 almost cease5 to recall. /he s9bseE9entl> hear5 that this ol5 school-
=ellow ha5 5ie5 abo9t that time( an5 on her 5eathbe5 ha5 sai5( uOh( I wish I co9l5 see
)nne AA(4 naming m> mother4s mai5en name.
BE$,)'$ "U*LE'.C
,e =in5 =rom the >ast :ndia !ervice =egister an5 =rom )llens :ndian 'ail( that Mr. ,ells
"9tler 5ie5 on F9ne U;( 27VX Pnot 27VWQAwhich accor5s with the above statement that
the time was Bthe height o= s9mmer.C
Miss +rances "9tler( o= 22( &lo9cester 'oa5( *eignmo9th( on being aske5 whether she
hear5 the acco9nt =rom the percipient4s( Mrs. .. "9tler4s( own lips( replie5 Pon )pril 2X(
2778Q that she co9l5 not recollect whether she hear5 it =rom Mrs. .. "9tler or =rom her
own mother( Mrs. .. "9tler4s sister. ) sister o= Mr. "9tler4s tells 1ro=essor "arrett that
she remembers being tol5 o= this inci5ent shortl> a=ter it took place. Mr. "9tler regrets
not having E9estione5 his mother on the s9bDect( b9t he =eare5 to make her
9ncom=ortable.
PVU2Q +rom Mr. $avi5 -rombie( U( "reakspear 'oa5( /t. Fohn4s( /.E.
ii-373!
B2773.
BM> el5est brother( Fohn( le=t home when I was ver> >o9ng( to become an apprentice to
-aptain ,allace( tra5ing to the East In5ies. Y.e ha5 been awa> =or abo9t three >ears( b9t
was ret9rning( an5 was 5ail> e?pecte5( whenZ m> mother ha5 a vision in which she saw
him( wearing a most careworn an5 an?io9s look( enter the be5room( an5 so 5istinct was
the vision that she awoke m> =ather( who was sleeping at her si5e( e?claiming( uFohn(4
Pm> =ather4s nameQ( uthere4s Fohnnie.4 .e imme5iatel> sat 9p( an5 s9bseE9entl> got o9t o=
be5( an5 went o9t on to the lan5ing to see i= his bo> ha5 reall> arrive5@ =in5ing all E9iet(
an5 having gone 5ownstairs to see i= the =ront 5oor were =astene5( he ret9rne5 to be5( not
over well please5 at having been sent on this wil5-goose-chase.
B%e?t night( abo9t the same time( m> mother 5eclare5 she again saw Fohnnie( looking so
=l9she5 an5 ill( an5 again calle5 m> =ather4s attention to the apparition( which( however(
he 5i5 not see(
2
an5 on this occasion he 5i5 not leave his be5. On the thir5 night she again
saw the apparition( this time as white as a sheet@ it smile5 an5 passe5 awa>. M> =ather
saw what a 5eep impression these visions ha5 ma5e on her min5@ an5( witho9t her
knowing it( he ma5e an entr> in c>pher on the =l>lea= o= the ol5 =olio =amil> "ible( to see
i= it were possible that his 5eath co9l5 have been =oretol5 in this e?traor5inar> wa>.
B*he visions ha5 in5ee5 ma5e an in5elible an5 sorrow=9l impression on m> mother4s
min5( an5( as the sa>ing goes( she was =9ll o= it@ an5 to her imme5iate an5 most intimate
=rien5s she ha5 relate5 all the circ9mstances( an5 her own =ears in connection with them.
O= those to whom she ha5 comm9nicate5 the =acts were Mrs. an5 Miss ,allace( mother
an5 sister respectivel> o= the captain with whom m> brother saile5@ Misses Farvis( two
mai5en a9nts@ Miss "artlett an5 Mrs. Lowe( wi5ow o= a sea-captain.
B)s time wore on the vessel at length arrive5( an5 shortl> therea=ter a letter was 5elivere5
with a black seal( anno9ncing m> brother4s illness an5 5eath( which( on re=erence to the
memoran59m( occ9rre5 at the ver> time the 5reams were 5reame5. *he captain( in
writing( gave an e?tract =rom the entr> in the log. *hen m> =ather( who ha5 no =aith in
5reams( =or the =irst time in his li=e was compelle5 to a5mit that in this case there seeme5
to be goo5 gro9n5s =or believing in them.
BOn the morning =ollowing the anno9ncement o= m> brother4s 5eath( I was reE9este5 to
5eliver a n9mber o= notes with intimation o= his 5eath to man> o= o9r personal =rien5s@
amongst them were those whose names I have given above. On m> ret9rn home( I was
nat9rall> aske5 what the> ha5 sai5 a=ter rea5ing the notes. Mrs. ,allace sai5( u$ear me(
then E==ie4s4 Pm> mother4s nameQ u5ream has come tr9e.4 ) similar remark was ma5e b>
her a9nts( the Misses Farvis. Mrs. Lowe sent con5olences( an5 sai5 m> mother4s =ears ha5
been too well =o9n5e5.
B)s I 5i5 not 9n5erstan5 what the> re=erre5 to I aske5 what the> meant( an5 =or the =irst
time I learne5 all the partic9lars@ an5 altho9gh I co9l5 onl> have been between 8 an5 W
>ears ol5( YVV >ears agoZ the =acts le=t an impression on m> min5 that time has not
e==ace5. O= co9rse( the stor> was o=ten repeate5 in m> presence a=terwar5s( thereb>
keeping it =resh in m> memor>( an5 I can vo9ch =or the tr9th o= the 5etails so =ar as came
9n5er m> personal knowle5ge.
B$. -.C
ii-37V!
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. -rombie sa>s:A
B*he parties name5 are 5ea5 =rom UV to 3; >ears ago. M> brother 5ie5 o= scarlet =ever(
which ran its co9rse with remarkable swi=tness. *he 5eath occ9rre5 on the 5a> m> mother
ha5 the thir5 5ream.C
YIn conversation on F9l> U7th( 2773( Mr. -rombie tol5 me that he remembers seeing the
entr> in the "ible( a=ter the news arrive5( an5 that it was pointe5 to as proo= o= the
correspon5ence o= 5ates. .e 5escribes his mother as the ver> opposite o= a visionar>. *he
visions were nat9rall> eno9gh regar5e5 as drea(s b> the persons to whom the> were
tol5@ b9t Mr. -rombie is convince5 that his mother was awake( an5 points to his =ather4s
con59ct( on being woke( as evi5ence o= this. I m9st point o9t that a repetition o= the sort
here 5escribe5( on three s9ccessive nights( has not been allege5 in an> o= o9r =irst-han5
telepathic cases@
2
an5 it is the kin5 o= 5etail that ma> ver> nat9rall> have got importe5
into the narrative Psee p. UUX( note@ b9t see also p. U:W( noteQ. "9t it is not( o= co9rse( vital
to the evi5ence.Z
PVUUQY~Z +rom Miss F. -onnoll>( o= U2( ,ickham 'oa5( %ew -ross( /.E.( hea5-mistress
o= a high school =or girls.
B)pril 3th 277V.
BOne -hristmas m> =ather was invite5 to spen5 his college vacation with a ver> 5ear an5
val9e5 =rien5( a Mrs. "rown. .owever( as he was also invite5 b> m> gran5=ather( he
pre=erre5 to accept that invitation( gla5 o= the opport9nit> o= meeting m> mother. *he
ho9se was a large one( an5 =9ll o= -hristmas g9ests. One night there was a 5inner-part> o=
=rien5s =rom the neighbo9rhoo5. )=ter 5inner s9ch a storm arose that m> gran5mother
=o9n5 hersel= oblige5 to provi5e ever>one with be5s =or the night. w M> gran5mother( to
arrange =or her 9ne?pecte5 compan>( gave 9p the >o9ng men4s be5rooms to the la5ies(
an5 t9rne5 the librar> into a sort o= barrack room =or the night.
B)t : o4clock( m> Uncle ,illiam spoke to m> =ather( who was sleeping near him( an5
sai5( uFames( who are >o9 talking to@ what are >o9 sa>ingr4 M> =ather raise5 himsel= 9p(
looke5 at his watch( an5 replie5( uI have seen a vision. Mrs. "rown has been stan5ing at
m> =eet( an5 she sai5( B&oo5-b>e( Famess I wishe5 greatl> to see >o9( to sa> goo5-b>e to
>o9 be=ore I le=t this worl5( an5 I have now come to >o9. /erve &o5 an5 be a goo5 man(
an5 .e will prosper an5 bless >o9. I have love5 >o9 so 5earl> =rom the time >o9 were a
bo>( that I ha5 to sa> goo5-b>e. "9t let 9s meet again.C /he wave5 her han5 an5
5isappeare5.4
B"oth the >o9ng men were m9ch impresse5( an5 in the morning m> =ather tol5 m>
gran5mother o= the 5ream or vision. /he a5vise5 him to write an or5inar> letter( D9st
inE9iring abo9t Mrs. "rown an5 her 5a9ghters. Letters then cost tenpence( an5 were not
written on slight ii-378! occasions. M> =ather 5i5 write( b9t a letter crosse5 his( sa>ing
that at : o4clock on the ver> night o= his 5ream( Mrs. "rown ha5 5ie5( an5 her last
conscio9s wor5s were regrets that she ha5 not been able to see him to sa> goo5-b>e.
BM> =ather never m9ch like5 telling this stor>. .e =irml> believe5 he ha5 seen a vision. I
have hear5 it =rom his lips( an5 I have seen the two letters which crosse5 each other in the
post. M> =ather was the 'ev. Fames -ampbell -onnoll>( -haplain o= ,oolwich
$ock>ar5.C
In repl> to inE9iries( Miss -onnoll> writes( on )pril X( 277V:A
P2Q B*he two letters that crosse5 in the post were among m> mother4s papers( an5 I have
=aile5 to =in5 them. /he 5ie5 when I was E9ite a chil5( an5 I hear5 her tell the stor> an5
show the letters( not thinking that I was listening. M> 5ear =ather 5ie5 D9st two >ears ago(
in the =9ll possession o= his =ac9lties( an5 I hear5 it twice =rom his own lips.
PUQ B*he 5ate is 5i==ic9lt. M> =ather marrie5 in 273;( an5 I sho9l5 sa>( D95ging =rom his
or5ination( [c.( that it m9st have been between 27:; an5 27:V. Mrs. "rown4s 5a9ghters
are both 5ea5AMrs. $al>( who marrie5 the last ,ar5en o= &alwa>( an5 Mrs. +ole>. "oth
these la5ies tol5 me the stor>. *he> were present at their mother4s 5eathbe5.
P:Q BI am certain m> =ather 5escribe5 the apparition as speaking 5irectl> to him.C
YIn no =irst-han5 case has the sensor> impression incl95e5 so long a remark as that here
recor5e5. I= acc9ratel> remembere5( it probabl> in5icates that the percipient was more
asleep than awake@ b9t his e?perience m9st apparentl> have been ver> 9nlike an or5inar>
5ream.Z
PVU:Q +rom Mrs. ".( an )ssociate o= the /.1.'.( whose =9ll name we are at libert> to
mention( b9t not to print.
BOctober :;th 2773.
B,hen I was abo9t 28 >ears ol5( m> =ather came 5own to break=ast one morning( an5(
a=ter sa>ing he ha5 been awake a long time( he sai5( uan5 abo9t V or 84 PI =orget the e?act
timeQ uI saw ol5 Mr. AA@ he came an5 stoo5 b> the be5 a min9te or two( an5 then went.4
In the co9rse o= the 5a> we hear5 o= the 5eath o= this ol5 gentleman( o= whose illness we
ha5 previo9sl> known( b9t whose 5eath we ha5 not anticipate5( as it was not tho9ght his
complaint was one likel> to ca9se 5eath. On inE9ir>( we learnt that he ha5 5ie5 at the
ho9r that m> =ather ha5 sai5 he ha5 ha5 a visit =rom him.
BM> =ather was a merr>( strong-min5e5 man( with a scienti=ic t9rn o= min5 an5 a great
scorn o= s9perstition. .e is( alass now 5ea5 some >ears( an5 I 5on4t think we an> o= 9s
tho9ght more o= the circ9mstance than that it was odd( b9t I remembere5 it.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that Mr. AA 5ie5 on Fan9ar> 2;th( 2788( age5 V7(
the ca9se o= 5eath being a cont9se5 wo9n5 on the skin( which bro9ght on er>sipelas.
PVU3Q +rom Mrs. +iel5( 28( -li=ton 'oa5( "righton. .er mother being ol5( we 5i5 not
press =or a =irst-han5 acco9nt.
BF9ne 2773.
BIn the >ear 273;( m> gran5=ather( /ir L. /.( was appointe5 &overnor o= the Islan5 o=
Ma9riti9s@ an5 m> mother went to see him an5 take leave o= him. M> gran5=ather was
getting ol5( an5 m> mother was in a ii-37W! ver> 5elicate an5 precario9s state o= health(
so the probabilities were strong that she wo9l5 never see her =ather again( an5 so it t9rne5
o9t.
BM> mother Ywho was living at -heltenhamZ ha5 been sitting 9p late one night( writing
her In5ian letters( intentl> =inishing one to her h9sban5( which =or some reason she ha5
rather 5ela>e5 =inishing( an5 which( as ne?t 5a> was mail-5a>( m9st be =inishe5 that
night. It was winter time( an5 the =ire was b9rning E9ite brightl> in the grate =or some
little time a=ter m> mother went to be5( which( on acco9nt o= her In5ian letter( she ha5
not been able to 5o till past 2U o4clock. /he was l>ing broa5 awake( an5 the room was
lighte5 E9ite well b> the =irelight. /he ha5 not been thinking o= an>thing b9t her In5ian
letter( an5 she co9l5 not have ha5 the least notion or =ear her =ather was 5ea5( as he ha5
5ie5 s955enl>( a=ter a kin5 o= sei]9re( =rom which he onl> recovere5 to speak a =ew
artic9late wor5sAb9t the =act that he ha5 been ill never reache5 Englan5 9ntil the p9blic
o==icial news arrive5 giving the news o= his 5eath( together with the 9s9al private letters
giving all the 5etails. M> mother was wi5e awake. *he be5Aan ol5-=ashione5 =o9rpostA
=ace5 the =ireplace( an5 on the si5e ne?t the win5ow the c9rtains were closel> 5rawn.
/955enl> m> mother saw a ver> tall =ig9re o= a man Pm> gran5=ather was 9n9s9all> tallQ
pass the =oot o= her be5 slowl>. /he calle5 o9t( u,ho4s therer4 in great =right( an5 as she
calle5 a han5 opene5 the c9rtains on the si5e where the> close5( an5 the same =ig9re was
there. M> mother sprang o9t o= be5 an5 ran into the ne?t room( where the 5ear ol5 u-.4 Ya
hea5-n9rseZ slept with m> two little sisters( almost babies. One o= these little sisters ha5
given the ol5 =aith=9l servant the name o= u*ootoo.4 M> mother r9she5 into the babies4
room calling o9t( u*ootoo( there4s a man in m> room( please get 9p an5 call the servants.
*here are robbers in the ho9se.4
B)=ter going back with her mistress( an5 p9tting her to be5( the n9rse got a scrap o=
paper( an5 wrote 5own the ho9r an5 min9te m> mother ha5 r9she5 into the night-n9rser>
Ashe( u*ootoo(4 =eeling some ba5 news was coming( an5 that m> mother ha5 seen no
living man. *he ver> ne?t Ma9riti9s mails bro9ght the p9blic papers( stating that at s9ch a
time( giving the min9tes even( the g9ns =rom the =ort gave notice to the Islan5 that the
&overnor4s late illness ha5 en5e5 =atall>. It appeare5 that his last wor5s ha5 been o= his
5a9ghter. *he time note5 5own b> u*ootoo4 an5 the o==icial anno9ncement o= his 5eath
e?actl> agree5.
B-.)'LO**E E. +IEL$C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. +iel5 sa>s:A
B2. I have o=ten hear5 m> mother4s e?perience =rom her own lips@ b9t I was onl> a chil5
at the time( an5 she went back to In5ia abo9t three >ears a=ter( to reDoin m> =ather( who
was a "omba> -ivilian( an5 I 5i5 not hear her speak o= this e?perience o= hers till she
came home again. *his wo9l5 be in all E9ite 2; >ears a=ter m> gran5=ather4s 5eath( b9t
u*ootoo4 9se5 o=ten to talk to me abo9t it( when she was with 9s( as I have mentione5 in
the acco9nt I sent >o9. I never saw the entr> o= 5ate. u*ootoo4 9se5 o=ten to sa> to me it
was a pit> perhaps she ha5 not kept it. /he 5i5 keep it =or some little while( b9t in moving
ho9se she lost it. It was D9st hastil> pencille5 5own on a morsel o= paper.
BU. *he 5i==erence o= longit95e -as care=9ll> acco9nte5 =or. M> mother4s uapparition(4 or
whatever it was( came to her between 2U an5 2 at nightAnearer 2 than 2U.
ii-377!
B:. %o( I have never hear5 that m> mother ever saw an> other vision. /he is( I sho9l5 sa>(
not an imaginative person( an5( besi5es( as she ha5 no i5ea her =ather was even ill( she
co9l5 not have imagine5 she saw him( an5 no one ever mentione5 to her the =act o=
u*ootoo4s4 entr> o= 5ate till the official date came home in the p9blic papers@ an5 then m>
mother remarke5 to u*ootoo(4 who o=ten tol5 me what she ha5 sai5( uOh( then( u*ootoo(4
that m9st have been m> =ather I saw that night I was so =rightene5Anot a robber as I
tho9ght.4 M> mother has o=ten tol5 9s she ha5 ma5e this remark to u*ootoo.4C
*he )r(, ;ist con=irms the 5ate o= /ir L. /.4s appointment( an5 gives Fan9ar> Un5( 273U(
as the 5ate o= his 5eath. *he 'auritius =egister an5 the Ti(es a55 that he 5ie5 s955enl>.
PVUVQ Mr. *homas #o9ng( o= Elsinore .o9se( 'obert 'oa5( .an5sworth( "irmingham(
sent 9s an acco9nt o= the =ollowing inci5ent( as Bo=ten relate5C to him b> his mother
Presi5ent at W2( .ighb9r> .ill( %.Q. ,e aske5 him to appl> to her =or a =irst-han5 acco9nt(
which she gave in the =ollowing letter to him( an5 a=terwar5s viv0 voce to the present
writer. .er version( which was given in5epen5entl>( correspon5s e?actl> with his@ which
is some proo= that the =acts have not been 5istorte5( in recent >ears at an> rate( thro9gh
lapse o= memor>.
BFan9ar> 2;th( 277V.
BM# $E)' /O%(A#o9 ask me to relate )9nt L9c>4s 5reamr it was not a 5ream( b9t a
realit>. #o9 m9st know that Uncle "ennet was a small =armer( with a large =amil> o= 2U
chil5ren( conseE9entl> some ha5 to go awa> =rom home. *he> live5 in a small village(
*rel>on( near /t. Ives( -ornwall. %ow( what I am going to relate is abo9t their 5a9ghter
"ets>( who ha5 taken a sit9ationAI think at /t. Ives( One morning a9nt woke 9p an5 saw(
stan5ing b> her be5si5e( this 5a9ghter( with her hair streaming all over her =ace( 5ripping
wet( an5 she( poor thing( looking hal= 5rowne5. )9nt sai5( u"ets>( where have >o9 come
=romr4 *he weather being =right=9ll> ba5( she tho9ght she ha5 walke5 home thro9gh the
wet. /he tol5 her to go an5 5r> hersel=( b9t she vanishe5 awa>. 1oor a9nt was 5rea5=9ll>
alarme5. *he> sent to her place( an5 it appears she wo9l5 go to 1l>mo9th( an5 went in a
little sailing-vessel( an5 that ver> morning the vessel was lost an5 all han5s perishe5.
%ow( m> 5ear son( I can vo9ch =or ever> wor5 being tr9e( =or a9nt was a tr9e -hristian
woman. I was a girl when she tol5 me the 9nhapp> inci5ent( b9t it alwa>s ma5e a most
vivi5 impression on me.A"elieve me( 5ear son( >o9r loving mother(
B-. #OU%&.C
In conversation Mrs. #o9ng mentione5 that she hear5 o= this inci5ent within a 5a> or two
o= its occ9rrence( an5 that =rom her a9nt4s manner it ma5e a ver> strong impression on
her. /he was abo9t 23 at the time( which wo9l5 make the 5ate abo9t 27UV. .er a9nt was a
b9s>( practical woman( with no t9rn an5 no time =or =ancies. *he ca9se o= the girl4s
s955en 5epart9re( Mrs. #o9ng thinks( was not known. ,e have en5eavo9re5 to =in5 a
recor5 o= the acci5ent( b9t have =aile5( not knowing the name o= the vessel.
PVU8Q +rom Miss -a9l=iel5( 2( .>5e 1ark Mansions( %.,. .er =ather was -omman5er
E5win *. -a9l=iel5( o= 'aheen59==e( }9een4s -o.( an5 o= "eck=or5 .o9se( "ath.
ii-37X!
B$ecember 7th( 277:.
B,hen m> =ather was at sea in ..M./. uLavinia(4 he was ver> intimate with two
mi5shipmen( Fohn +re5erick F.( an5 *. Y*he =9ll names were given in con=i5ence.Z *he>
ha5 as >et =orme5 b9t =ew opinions as to the tr9th o= $ivine 'evelation@ altho9gh all
more or less religio9sl> 5ispose5( an5 an?io9s to learn. *he =act o= there being a =9t9re
state( an5 that one o= probation or retrib9tion( was more especiall> 9n5er 5isc9ssion
between them. *o solve this m>ster> =or the s9rvivors( the> ple5ge5 themselves to one
another( that were it permitte5 to give an intimation o= the realit> o= an e?istence a=ter
5eath( the man that 5ie5 =irst sho9l5 show himsel= to the others.
2

BM> =ather was taken prisoner( an5 was b> great interest place5 on his parole( 59ring two
>ears in +rance@ an5 one night(Awhether waking or sleeping( he sai5 he co9l5 not tellA
he saw *. appear. )t once he realise5 the =act that he was 5ea5( an5 that he ha5 come to
re5eem his promise. .e aske5 him whether he was happ>@ to which the apparition replie5
b> slowl> swa>ing his hea5 to an5 =ro( with a sa5 e?pression( an5 a so9n5 as o= the
clanking o= chains accompanie5 the gest9re. .e then vanishe5. .ow soon a=terwar5s m>
=ather receive5 news o= his =rien5( I am 9nable to sa>@ b9t he was in=orme5 o= his having
been kille5 on boar5 ship b> the =all o= a ublock4 =rom the rigging PI think 59ring actionQ(
which ca9se5 instantaneo9s 5eath.
BFohn +re5erick F. ha5 passe5 his e?amination( an5 was a lie9tenant at the time o= his
5eath. M> =ather was again in be5Awhether awake( in a trance( or sleeping( he co9l5 not
sa>@ he believe5 he was 5reaming( b9t it seeme5 like being awake. .is =rien5 an5
shipmate F. appeare5 to him. )t once recognising the =9l=ilment o= the agreement ma5e
between them( he knew that he was 5ea5@ an5 aske5 him the same E9estion as he 5i5 his
=rien5 *.@ to which an e?actl> similar repl> was ma5e( i.e.( b> the slow swa>ing o= the
hea5( accompanie5 b> the so9n5 as o= the clanking o= chains. In 59e time m> =ather was
apprise5 o= the 5eath o= this =rien5 also@ who ha5 ha5 his arm an5 sho9l5er bla5e torn
awa> b> a cannon ball( at the storming o= )lgiers. M> sister an5 I both per=ectl> recollect
hearing this stor> =rom o9r =ather on several occasions.
B/. +. ). -.C
Miss -a9l=iel54s sister also signs her initials( BL. L. ).C
+rom an e?amination o= the ship4s books o= ..M./. BLavinia(C at the 'ecor5 O==ice( we
=in5 that B*.C Doine5 that vessel in the same >ear as Miss -a9l=iel54s =ather( 27;8( an5 that
he was kille5 b> the =all o= a toprail on F9l> 23( 27;7. BF.C has also been trace5 on the
books o= the BLavinia(C an5 seems to have le=t that ship in 272;. ,e have receive5 =rom
the 'ecor5 O==ice a certi=icate to the e==ect that he was 5angero9sl> wo9n5e5 in the
attack on )lgiers on )9g. UW( 2728( an5 that his Ble=t arm was remove5 at the sho9l5er-
Doint.C ,e =in5 =rom the 7entle(ans 'agaAine that his 5eath =ollowe5 on Oct. :.
I= the clanking o= chains
U
reall> =orme5 a =eat9re in both these ii-3X;! e?periences( it
seems an e?cellent instance o= the percipient4s investit9re o= the telepathic impression
with his own 5ream-imager> PVol. I( p. V:XQ.
*he ne?t case o9ght perhaps to be classe5 as a 5ream. "9t the sense o= someone4s
entrance into the room( an5 presence b> the be5 which the perceiver is conscio9s o=
act9all> occ9p>ing( is ver> characteristic o= a semi-waking state( an5 is not( I think( a
common =eat9re in 5reams which are a=terwar5s 5istinctl> recognise5 as s9ch.
PVUWQ +rom the 'ev. /. ,. .anks P$istrict /ecretar> o= the )merican /eamen4s +rien5
/ociet>( an5 well known to 1ro=essor ,illiam Fames( o= .arvar5( a -orrespon5ing
Member o= the /.1.'.Q.
B-ongregational .o9se( "oston.
B)pril UVth( 2773.
B*wo o= m> three brothers were sailors. *he el5est P$wightQ went to sea when he was 22
>ears ol5( an5 was at sea most o= the time 9ntil his 5eath( at the age o= UV >ears. On one
o= his vo>ages he was wrecke5( an5 remaine5 on the wreck nine 5a>s witho9t =oo5 or
5rink. )=ter this m> mother never saw him( tho9gh b> a letter =rom him to m> other
brother she ha5 hear5 the partic9lars abo9t the wreck( =rom which he was taken o== b> a
passing vessel. On the night o= $ecember Vth( 27UX( m> mother 5reame5 that he was
5ea5. ,hen she arose in the morning she was m9ch a==ecte5( an5 59ring the 5a> she was
weeping nearl> all the time. ,hen aske5 what ma5e her think that $wight was 5ea5( she
sai5 that in the night he came into her room( trembling( an5 looking ver> pale( an5 sai5(
u'other.4 /he sai5( u$wight( what is the matterr I will get 9p( an5 5o >o9 come an5 lie
5own 9pon m> be5.4 .e replie5( u%o( mother(4 an5 walke5 o9t o= the room. +rom that
time she alwa>s spoke o= his 5eath with the 9tmost con=i5ence.
BIn F9l>( 27:;( m> other sailor brother was in %ew #ork( where he was met b> a stranger
who aske5 him i= he knew a sailor o= the name o= D-ight 9an1sJ .e replie5( uI have a
brother o= that name =rom whom I have not hear5 =or a long time.4 *he stranger then sai5
to him that a man b> the name o= D-ight 9an1s( abo9t UV >ears ol5( a little shorter than
himsel=( an5 a little lame =rom having broken one o= his legs when he was a bo>( as he
sai5( was kille5 on boar5 the barE9e( u+o9r /ons(4 o= a =all =rom alo=t 59ring a storm( on
the night o= $ecember Vth( 27UX. u*he vessel is now in port( an5 i= >o9 will go with me
on boar5 I will tell >o9 D9st where he =ell. ,e b9rie5 him at sea( an5 his chest is on boar5
the vessel.4 M> brother went on boar5 an5 =o9n5 the statement o= the stranger
corroborate5. ,hen m> mother hear5 o= it she sai5( u*his is no news to me. I have never
ha5 a moment4s 5o9bt abo9t $wight4s 5eath since the time o= m> 5ream.4
B*hese =acts are well remembere5 b> m>sel= an5 m> sister( now 7; >ears ol5.
B/. ,. .)%0/.C
Mr. .anks writes to 9s on March UWth( 277V:A
BI inE9ire5 o= m> sister i= an> memoran59m o= the 5ate o= m> mothers4s 5ream was ma5e
at the ti(e. /he in=orms me that none has ii-3X2! been preserved. /he in=orms me that a
co9sin o= o9rs was visiting the =amil> at the time( who sai5 o= the 5ream: u*his is so
remarkable that I will make a memoran59m o= it.4 .e 5i5 so. .e is now 5ea5( an5 the
memoran59m is lost. M> sister is ver> con=i5ent abo9t the 5ate( as she has letters which
she thinks =i? it. /he is now in s9ch a state o= health that she cannot atten5 to the matter. I
5i5 not keep the date( b9t 5istinctl> remember the fact.C
PVU7Q +rom Mrs. Monteith "rown( Oak -ottage( .>the.
B2773.
B*he =ollowing is an acco9nt tol5 me b> m> a9nt( then Mar> %oble( o= the appearance o=
her brother( E5war5 Mea5ows %oble( at the time o= his 5eath. It took place in the night(
an5 she was awoke b> the so9n5 o= water 5ripping(
2
an5 saw( at the =oot o= her be5( her
=o9rth brother( a lie9tenant in the nav>( an5 then serving in -hina. /he sprang 9p
e?claiming( u%e5( what are >o9 5oing herer4 when the =ig9re vanishe5. In 59e co9rse o=
time( the news came o= his having been 5rowne5 o== )mo>( in -hina( abo9t the time o=
the appearance.
BE. )$EL) "'O,%.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. "rown a55s:A
BI hear5 the stor> 5irect =rom m> a9nt( who is since 5ea5. On re=erring to a naval
biograph>( I =in5 the 5ate o= m> 9ncle4s 5eath was Fan9ar> UUn5( 273:.C *his 5ate is
con=irme5 b> the Snited !ervice 'agaAine.
Y*his is perhaps a case o= here5itar> s9sceptibilit> Psee p. 2:W( noteQ@ =or Mrs. "rown tells
9s that her gran5=ather( )5miral %oble( when =lag-lie9tenant to Lor5 %elson( ha5 a
vision( coinci5ing with 5eath( o= his co9sin( Fe==er> ,heelock( who was serving with the
$9ke o= #ork in 2WX3. "9t this is onl> =amil> tra5ition.Z
PVUXQ +rom Mrs. Martin( ho9sekeeper to Miss )nna /wanwick( U:( -9mberlan5 *errace(
'egent4s 1ark( %. ,.( who consi5ers that her memor> is acc9rate an5 tr9stworth>( in spite
o= a5vance5 age.
BFan9ar>( 2773.
B,hen I was abo9t seven >ears ol5 Yabo9t 27;WZ( m> co9sin( Foseph %ewton( a >o9th o=
abo9t 2W >ears o= age( whose mother an5 step=ather occ9pie5 a =arm near .awar5en( an5
were tenants o= /ir /tephen &l>nn( came to visit m> mother in Liverpool. .e was so
5elighte5 with the shipping that he le=t the =arm an5 entere5 the establishment o= a
shipwright. )bo9t two >ears later( his mother( who rarel> le=t home( presente5 hersel= at
m> mother4s ho9se an5 sai5( uI shall never again see Foseph. )s I la> awake last night( he
appeare5 to me nake5 an5 5ripping with water. I know that he is 5rowne5.4 *his prove5
to be the case. .e ha5 gone with a companion to bathe in the Merse>( an5 ha5 been
carrie5 awa> b> the c9rrent. /even or eight 5a>s a=terwar5s his bo5> was seen =loating in
the water( an5 was picke5 9p b> a packet.
BI remember m> a9nt4s visit( an5 I remember atten5ing m> co9sin4s =9neral. I cannot sa>
that I act9all> hear5 m> a9nt relate her 5ream( b9t I have o=ten hear5 m> mother tell the
stor>. M> mother an5 a9nt are both 5ea5. I never hear5 that m> a9nt ha5 an> similar
5ream at an> other time.
B/U/)% M)'*I%.C
ii-3XU!
Mrs. Martin =9rther states that this was the onl> occasion on which her a9nt visite5
Liverpool.
It has been impossible to trace the 5ate o= this 5eath( as it occ9rre5 be=ore the 5a>s o=
registration.
YI= the narrator has reall> a recollection o= her a9nt4s visit( which both prece5e5 the news
o= the 5eath an5 was a conseE9ence o= the vision( her evi5ence is not ver> =ar =rom being
on a par with =irst-han5 PVol. I.( p. 237Q.Z
PV:;Q +rom Miss Fameson( 8( Leamington Villas( )cton. /he is the >o9ngest 5a9ghter
re=erre5 to in the narrative( being at the time P27:XQ 2; >ears o= age. .er =ather was
resi5ing in %or=olk.
B)pril :;th( 2773.
BOn a bright moonlight night in Fan9ar>( 27:X( an el5erl> gentleman was l>ing
5angero9sl> ill. .e was being care=9ll> watche5 that night b> a 5a9ghter. $9ring the
ho9rs o= =rom 2U mi5night to U o4clock( so pec9liar were his s>mptoms( the 5a9ghter
tho9ght her =ather 5>ing or 5ea5( an5 >et there seeme5 ang9ish. In the morning( abo9t 2;
o4clock( the gentleman came 5ownstairs. .is >o9ngest 5a9ghter was =rightene5 to see her
=ather so altere5( an5 well remembers his resting his elbow 9pon the mantelpiece( with
his =orehea5 on his han5( an5 also sa>ing( uMa> m> Lor5 an5 )lmight> +ather in .is
In=inite merc> grant that I never ma> pass thro9gh another s9ch night.4
BOn the same evening in "o9logne( the el5est son o= the above tho9ght he wo9l5 go
home earl> that night@ bright an5 moonlight@ retire5 to rest Pb9t not to sleepQ shortl> a=ter
2U@ the room E9ite light. %ot =eeling sleep>( he hal= recline5( resting his hea5 9pon one
han5. 1resentl> he saw his be5room 5oor gentl> open. .e ro9se5 himsel= to look an5 see
who co9l5 be coming so E9ietl> into his be5room( when he saw his =ather in his night-
5ress( with a silk han5kerchie=( which he distinctl, recognised( bo9n5 ro9n5 his hea5. .is
=ather came to the =oot o= the be5( an5 stoo5 an5 ga]e5 at his son( who stea5il> looke5 at
him( paine5 to see his =ather looking so ill. *he =ather E9ietl> with5rew( the 5oor close5(
the son D9mpe5 o9t o= be5( an5 5resse5 himsel= E9ickl>( walke5 abo9t the streets o=
"o9logne with the watchman( to whom he relate5 occ9rrence( at 8 a.m. ret9rne5 home(
an5 wrote imme5iatel> to his sisters to inE9ire how his =ather an5 all at home were. *he
letter ca9se5 great s9rprise( as it was an 9n9s9al one. /ome months a=ter( he came home
9pon a visit( when he all95e5 to letter( relate5 above inci5ent( an5 sai5 u,ait one min9te.
F9st recollect which silk han5kerchie= =ather ha5 ro9n5 his hea5. I will tell >o9 which I
saw( an5 then >o9 will see i= I am right.4 )n5 he was right. M> =ather was never tol5 o= it.
M> brother 5ie5 over 2; >ears since.C
In answer to inE9iries( Miss Fameson wrote:A
B*he han5kerchie= which was ro9n5 m> =ather4s hea5 was( as well as I can 5escribe it( o=
an 9n5eci5e5 patternAcolo9rs blen5e5Ascarcel> a scroll( an5 >et a scroll pattern is the
best name I can give@ an In5ian st>le@ a bor5er ro9n5( with the colo9rs less mi?e5@ re5 an5
>ellow( b9t not glaring@ it ha5 been given him at .igh ,>combe. %o two han5kerchie=s
the same pattern. I remember two others ver> well@ both larger in si]e@ one 9se5 to be
calle5 brin5le5@ no 5eci5e5 pattern( b9t the colo9rs woven in@ a la5> wo9l5 9n5erstan5 b>
m> sa>ing something o= a 1aisle> ii-3X:! shawl pattern@ perhaps >o9 will 9n5erstan5 me
better i= I sa> the colo9rs were so mi?e5 as to somewhat resemble the tapestr> c9rtains o=
the present 5a>Awhere there is not a 5eci5e5 pattern.
BE. M. F)ME/O%.C
In conversation Miss Fameson tol5 me that she 5istinctl> remembers the arrival o= this
letter( an5 the sensation it ca9se5. It was the =act o= its arrival that impresse5 on the min5s
o= the =amil> the coinci5ence o= the =ather4s 5istress an5 the brother4s an?iet>. Miss
Fameson gave a vivi5 5escription o= her =ather4s aspect an5 wor5s.
Miss Fameson has =orwar5e5 to 9s the =ollowing letter =rom her sister( Mrs. Large.
B&range -ottage( *aplow.
B%ovember 2Vth( 2773.
BIn answer to >o9r reE9est abo9t 5ear =ather an5 ,illiam( it was this( as near as I can
remember. One night ,illiam woke 9p( whether =rom an> noise or in=l9ence I 5o not
know( an5 saw a =ig9re at the =oot o= his be5( like =ather( with a co9ntenance o= e.tre(e
(iser,. .e was =rightene5( an5 covere5 himsel= 9p with be5clothes till 5a>light@ whether
he slept or not I know not. Upon comparing notes when he wrote to know how we all
were( it seems that night was the one =ather suffered so intensel, with the abscess( an5
tho9ght he sho9l5 not live. I remember when he came 5own in the morning how haggar5
he looke5@ he E9ite 9pset 9s. "9t he ro9se5 no one in the nightAwh> I 5o not know.
+rom a remark he ma5e( he was thinking o= ,illiam 59ring the night. *hat is all I know.
BM. L)'&E.C
Miss Fameson a55s:A
BI think m> own version is correct( =or I am sing9larl> correct in all things bearing 9pon
events o= m> chil5hoo5. I was 2;( m> sister 27. I think the impression ma5e 9pon m>
min5 was more 9nmi?e5( as m> brother was an>thing b9t timi5@ the covering himsel= 9p(
I think( is mi?e5 with another matter.
BE. M. F.C
PV:2Q +rom Mrs. .arve>( 2( 'ochester 'oa5( -am5en 'oa5( %.,.
B+ebr9ar> U8th( 2773.
BOn +ebr9ar> 7th( 277U( m> el5est brother 5ie5 at -ro>5on( at a E9arter past 8 in the
morning. )bo9t 8 o4clock in the evening I receive5 notice o= his 5eath. I wrote that same
evening to m> a9nt an5 9ncle( at "illerica>( in Esse?. M> letter was receive5 b> them the
ne?t 5a>. In the =ollowing F9l>( I visite5 m> a9nt( an5 on speaking o= m> brother4s 5eath
she sai5:A
BuOn the morning be=ore I receive5 >o9r letter I was l>ing awake( when I 5istinctl> saw
the =orm o= a tall man appear at m> be5si5e( an5 slightl> ben5 over it.4 I sai5( u$i5 >o9
reall>r4 /he sai5( u*hat I certainl> 5i5( an5 I awoke >o9r 9ncle( an5 tol5 him@ I co9l5 not
5iscern =eat9res( b9t I saw the =orm o= a man as plain as co9l5 be. I 5i5 not know what to
think it meant.4 M> a9nt ha5 not hear5 o= his illness( =or it was not ma5e known to even
his wi=e that it was so serio9s@ his 5eath was there=ore 9ne?pecte5.
BM. .)'VE#.C
,e have con=irme5 the 5ate an5 place o= 5eath b> the 'egister o= $eaths.
ii-3X3!
,e are reE9este5 not to p9blish the a9nt4s name. Mrs. .arve>( at m> reE9est( wrote to ask
her some E9estions( an5 I have seen the repl>( in which Mrs. .arve>4s 9ncle( speaking o=
his wi=e( sa>s( B)ll she can sa> is that it was soC@ b9t he e?presses the strongest 5rea5 an5
5islike o= the whole s9bDect.
PV:UQ +rom the late Mr. &. ,a5sworth( the narrator o= case 3X8 above.
2

BOctober U2st( 277U.
BIn 27:W m> 9ncle was living in "irmingham. M> =ather( then living in Ferse>( one
morning got 9p in great pert9rbation( having seen his brother 5>ing( an5 sai5 to m>
mother that he m9st go at once to "irmingham. -omm9nication was at that time not ver>
convenient( an5( moreover( e?pensive( so that m> mother nat9rall> 5iss9a5e5 a Do9rne>
9pon s9ch an e?traor5inar> ass9mption@ b9t so convince5 was m> =ather o= the =orce o=
his vision( that he packe5 9p his portmantea9 rea5> =or the s9mmons which he =elt certain
to receive@ an5 when a =ew 5a>s a=ter he got a letter =rom me( an5 a parcel =rom the
e?ec9tor noti=>ing the 5eath( he at once starte5 b> ret9rn steamer.
BM> 9ncle at the time( an5 =or some short time previo9sl>( was known to be ailingAnot
what co9l5 be calle5 reall> 5angero9sl>. *he ca9se o= his 5eath occ9rre5 a=ter I le=t him
in the evening( an5 be=ore m> calling in the morning( so that he ma> be sai5 to have 5ie5
s955enl>( so =ar as was known in Ferse>.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the 5eath took place( ver> s955enl>( on F9l> UX(
27:W.
Y.ere again it is possible that the e?perience was a 5ream@ b9t the impression ma5e b> it
seems to have been o= a ver> 9n9s9al kin5.Z
PV::Q +rom Mrs. .arnett( a near relative o= o9r =rien5( Miss 1orter( who thinks that her
memor> ma> be =9ll> tr9ste5@ b9t the case is ver> remote.
B.oll>bank( 0enle>( /9rre>.
B$ecember( 2773.
B.aving been reE9este5 to write 5own the partic9lars o= an event which occ9rre5 in the
lives o= m> parents( I 5o so.
BIn 27U;( m> =ather an5 mother( both being 9n5er V; >ears o= age( an5 in per=ect health(
were sta>ing in Liverpool Ptheir resi5ence being at ,hitehaven( in -9mberlan5Q( names(
Foseph an5 )nn Mon5el.
BOne night( the latter( sleeping peace=9ll>( was awoke b> the =ormer calling o9t:A
Bu)nn( I =eel s9re )nthon> Mathers is 5ea5.4
Bu,hat makes >o9 think sor4
Bu.e has D9st been at the be5si5e( an5 lai5 an ic>-col5 han5 on m> cheek.4
Bu#o9 m9st have been 5reaming.4
BuOh( b9t m> cheek is still col5.4
B*he ol5 an5 m9ch-esteeme5 =rien5 was( at the time( soDo9rning in one o= the ,est In5ian
islan5s. *he season was known to be more than 9s9all> sickl>( so the tho9ght o= his
5anger might have engen5ere5 morbi5 ii-3XV! =eelings. M> =ather( as well as m>
mother( was content to rest in that hope( 59ring the weeks that m9st elapse ere the news
o= that night4s occ9rrences in Famaica co9l5 reach Englan5. %ews 5i5 arrive( an5 state5
that on the night re=erre5 to Mr. Mathers s9cc9mbe5 to a s955en an5 most severe attack
o= >ellow or other ,est In5ian =ever.
B)s a chil5 I =irst hear5 the tale( b9t o=ten in m> presence was it repeate5 or re=erre5 to(
later in li=e( witho9t an> change or ampli=ication o= 5etail.
BF)%E* .)'%E**.C
Y,e have =aile5 to trace the e?act 5ate o= the 5eath.Z
PV:3Q +rom Miss -rommelin( 2( E5inb9rgh Mansions( Victoria /treet( /.,.
B)pril( 277:.
BM> brother( when at school( having gone to be5 one s9mmer4s night in a 5ormitor> with
several other bo>s( hear5 >o9ng -AA( who slept ne?t to him( call o9t( u-rommelins
Look( there is m> sister stan5ing at the =oot o= m> be5Asees4 M> brother saw nothing(
tho9gh he sat 9p.
2
It was a=ter nine( b9t still light( i= I remember rightl>. #o9ng -AA
still persiste5 he ha5 seen her( in white. %e?t 5a> came a telegram: the chil5 in E9estion
ha5 5ie5 o= heart 5isease( whilst sa>ing her pra>ers at that ver> ho9rAshe ha5
pres9mabl> also been wearing her white night-gown. )s m> brother is now 5ea5( an5 as
we have no knowle5ge o= the school=ellow in E9estion( this cannot be more =9ll>
a9thenticate5.
BM)# -'OMMELI%.C
In conversation( Mr. 1o5more learnt that the bo>4s name was -lose( b9t Miss -rommelin
5oes not know to what =amil> o= -loses he belonge5. *he inci5ent took place in 27V7( or
abo9t that 5ate( when her brother was 2U >ears ol5( an5 she a little >o9nger. /he hear5 o=
it =rom her brother soon a=ter the event.
PV:VQ +rom Mr. )rth9r "e5=or5( )nt4s .ill( La9gharne( /t. -lears( /. ,ales. *his acco9nt
might have been incl95e5 with the =irst-han5 evi5ence( b9t is place5 here on acco9nt o=
its resemblance to the last.
BMarch 2;th( 2773.
B)t a large p9blic school( one winter4s morning( abo9t 5awn( all in o9r 5ormitor> were
ro9se5 9p b> a =ear=9l cr> =rom one o= m> school=ellows( who 5eclare5 that his =ather(
5resse5 in a pea coat( with high boots on( ha5 appeare5 at his be5si5e( 5ripping wet.
/ome 5a>s a=terwar5s an acco9nt o= the =o9n5ering o= the vessel he comman5e5 in
#armo9th 'oa5s reache5 him( an5( as well as co9l5 be ascertaine5( the time o= the loss o=
the vessel correspon5e5 with the appearance o= this 5o9ble o= m> school=ellow4s =ather at
his be5si5e. *he bo5> was recovere5 an5 =o9n5 to be 5resse5 as 5escribe5. I wo9l5 like
to give name an5 other circ9mstances( b9t the wi5ow o= m> school=ellow is alive( an5 I
5o not know her present resi5ence( to ask permission =or 5isclosing it.
B)'*.U' "E$+O'$.C
PV:8Q +rom Mrs. &ar5iner( :;( /kene /treet( Mac59==( 0".( who hear5 o= the inci5ent
=rom her sister soon a=ter its occ9rrence. *he acco9nt was written in 277:. )=ter narrating
that abo9t 3; >ears be=ore( when her =ather was tenant o= Mill o= "o>n5ie( a large =arm
abo9t two miles west o= "an==( three men who ha5 le=t his service one morning got ii-
3X8! 5r9nk( p9she5 o9t to sea in a boat( an5 were 5rowne5( Mrs. &ar5iner contin9es:A
BIn the meantime nothing whatever o= the movements o= these men was known at the
Mill o= "o>n5ie@ b9t all the ho9sehol5 retire5 to rest at the 9s9al ho9r. M> sister( as was
her c9stom( locke5 all the 5oors( an5 place5 the ke>s on a table besi5e her be5. /he was
awakene5 in the mi55le o= the night b> one o= the 5omestics coming to her( an5 asking
=or the ke> o= the kitchen 5oor( as two o= the three la5s who ha5 le=t in the morning ha5
D9st looke5 in at her be5room win5ow( as i= the> were in want o= something. /he sai5 she
ha5 aske5 them what the> reE9ire5( b9t the> ha5 ret9rne5 no answer( an5 having slowl>
move5 5own( le=t the back o= the ho9se( where the> were Doine5 b> the thir5 one. Y*he
premises were searche5 witho9t res9lt.Z ) messenger arrive5 earl> ne?t morning( sa>ing
that the three >o9ng men ha5 been 5rowne5. M> sister is now 5ea5( b9t I am certain( i=
she ha5 been alive( she wo9l5 have corroborate5 the whole o= the =oregoing statement.C
Y*he evi5ence here o= co9rse 5epen5s( not on the mere tale o= a =rightene5 servant( b9t on
the ass9rance o= Mrs. &ar5iner4s sister that the =right relate5 to the apparition o= certain
persons whose 5eath was not known o= till ne?t 5a>. ) mistake o= i5entit> seems
improbable@ as tho9gh a servant( startle5 =rom sleep in the mi55le o= the night( wo9l5 be
likel> eno9gh to mistake =rien5s seeking a5mittance =or tramps or b9rglars( she wo9l5 not
be likel> to mistake tramps or b9rglars =or =rien5s. It m9st be observe5( however( that a
Doint apparition o= three persons who were all 5>ing at the same time is not a t>pe o=
which we have an> =irst-han5 specimens@ an5 tho9gh s9ch an event wo9l5 E9ite a5mit o=
a telepathic e?planation( it s9ggests a certain in=9sion o= the m>thical element. -learl>( a
gen9ine telepathic inci5ent ma> be 9nconscio9sl> e?aggerate5 an5 improve5( D9st as
m9ch as a sp9rio9s one.Z
S V. *he remaining secon5-han5 cases are =rom narrators who were not relatives o= the
original witnesses( b9t =or the most part were thoro9ghl> intimate with them. %one o= the
cases are the mere recitals o= stories cas9all> picke5 9p witho9t an> warrant> as to their
bona fides.
2

PV:WQ Mr. -olchester( o= "9she> .eath( .erts( sen5s 9s the =ollowing case =rom a M/.
work entitle5 =e(iniscences of the Ber(udas( written b> his late =ather( who at the time
o= the occ9rrence narrate5 was assistant-s9rgeon in the 'o>al )rtiller>. *he names o= the
two o==icers( Lie9tenants ii-3XW! -reagh an5 Liston( were given in initial in the M/. *he
a9thor hear5 o= the occ9rrence =rom Lie9tenant -reagh Pwhom he 5escribes as Ba highl>
hono9rable manCQ( an5 ma5e a written note o= it( some months( or perhaps a >ear( a=ter it
happene5. *he acco9nt is somewhat abri5ge5.
B*he passage =rom "erm95a to .ali=a? is in certain seasons ha]ar5o9s( an5 in 27:; a
transport( containing over U;; men( =o9n5ere5 at sea between these two ports. *wo
o==icers o= the regiment to which the 5etachment ha5 belonge5 ha5( in a hal=-Desting wa>(
ma5e a sort o= promise that whoever 5ie5 =irst sho9l5 come back i= he co9l5( an5 let the
other know whether there was another worl5.
2
*his conversation was hear5 b> the
narrator( as it took place in his presence( perhaps a >ear be=ore the events happene5(
tho9gh not remembere5 till a=terwar5s. Liston embarke5 in charge o= the 5etachment( an5
ha5 been gone abo9t a =ortnight( when -reagh( who ha5 one night le=t the mess earl> an5
ha5 retire5 to be5( an5 was beginning to close his e>es( saw his 5oor open an5 Liston
enter. +orgetting his absence( an5 thinking he ha5 come to p9ll him o9t o= be5 P=or
practical Doking was then more common in the arm> than it is nowQ( he crie5( u%o( no@ 5
AAn it( Liston( 5on4t( ol5 =ellows I4m tire5s "e o==s4 "9t the vision came nearer the be5
=oot( an5 -reagh then saw that Liston looke5 as i= ver> ill P=or it was bright moonlightQ(
an5 that his hair seeme5 wet( an5 h9ng 5own over his =ace like a 5rowne5 man4s. *he
apparition move5 its hea5 mo9rn=9ll>@ an5 when -reagh in s9rprise sat 9p( r9bbe5 his
e>es( an5 looke5 again( it was gone. /till -reagh avers that all this time he ha5 no i5ea o=
its being a spectre( an5 believing that he ha5 seen Liston himsel=( he went to sleep. In the
morning he relate5 the occ9rrence( when he recollecte5( b9t not till then( Liston4s absence
on 59t> =rom the islan5. .e asserts he ha5 not latel> been thinking o= Liston@ neither ha5
the vessel been awa> long eno9gh( nor ha5 ba5 weather occ9rre5 to ca9se =ears =or her
loss to be entertaine5. *hat he was wi5e awake( or at least not 5reaming( is shown b> his
sitting 9p an5 a55ressing the apparition.C
,e =in5 =rom the )rm> List that Lie9t. Liston was Blost on passage home =rom "erm95a(
on boar5 the brig u"9low(4 )pril( 27:2(C not 27:;.
YIt is impossible to sa> whether the vision occ9rre5 at the ho9r( or even on the 5a>( that
the transport =o9n5ere5.Z
PV:7Q +rom Miss )nn .9nt Pa member o= the /ociet> o= +rien5sQ( X( "r9nswick /E9are(
"ristol.
BMa> 2Vth( 2773.
B)t the time o= Foan 1ince4s 5eath( her son was in the emplo> o= 1hilip $. *9ckett( o=
+rencha>. I well remember hearing this son( Fohn 1ince( relate how he ha5 been aro9se5
b> the so9n5 o= his mother4s voice( calling him b> name. It was earl> in the morning( b9t
so strong was his impression that his mother4s 5ecease was th9s noti=ie5 to him( that he
got 9p an5 went into his emplo>er4s room( sa>ing that his mother was 5ea5( an5 that he
m9st go at once to her home. )t =irst en5eavo9rs were 9se5 to 5iss9a5e him =rom his
p9rpose( b9t =in5ing how strong an impression ha5 been ma5e on his min5( 1. $. *9ckett
kin5l> acce5e5( an5 Fohn 1ince set o== =or his mother4s resi5ence( which was( I believe( in
$evonshire. On arriving( he =o9n5 the event ha5 taken place as he apprehen5e5. I ii-
3X7! hope5 to proc9re a written acco9nt o= this circ9mstance( as a gran5-5a9ghter o= his(
now living in "ristol( tho9ght she ha5 it in the han5writing o= her mother( who is latel>
5ecease5. /he has been 9nable to =in5 it( b9t =9ll> con=irme5 the partic9lars I have given.
BFohn 1ince 5ie5 in 27V3( age5 7W >ears@ an5 it ma> have been W( or possibl> 2;( >ears
be=ore that I hear5 him relate the occ9rrenceCAat which time( as Miss .9nt has state5 in
conversation( he was in complete vigo9r( with senses 9nimpaire5( an5 an e?cellent
memor>.
*he =ollowing acco9nt o= the same inci5ent is =rom Miss "ow5en( a co9sin o= Miss
.9nt4s.
BOne night in March( 2WX:( m> gran5=ather( Fohn 1ince( was awoke b> a voice( which he
believe5 to be his mother4s( calling him b> name( uFohn( Fohns4 .e was so impresse5 b>
the =eeling that his mother( Foan 1ince( whom he 5earl> love5( was ill or 5>ing( that he
imme5iatel> arose an5 went to the +rien5 with whom he live5( an5 tol5 him he m9st at
once set o9t =or home( stating his reason =or 5oing so. On reaching %ewton "9shel( he
=o9n5 that his mother ha5 5eparte5 this li=e a=ter a =ew ho9rs4 illness( at the time which he
ha5 hear5 her call.
B*hese =ew partic9lars are all I know abo9t the occ9rrence( b9t I believe them to be
correct( having hear5 them =rom m> mother an5 a9nt( 5a9ghters o= Fohn 1ince.
BE. "O,$E%.C
Miss "ow5en has in her possession a letter written to Mr. *9ckett b> a =rien5 o= Foan
1ince4s( 5escribing her short illness( an5 reE9esting that her son4s min5 ma> be prepare5
=or the intelligence o= her 5eath. It is th9s evi5ent that he was not aware o= her 5anger.
PV:XQ +rom the 'ev. -has. -. /tarb9ck( M.).( )n5over( Mass.( U./.).( who wrote in
Fan9ar>( 2773. *he acco9nt was comm9nicate5 to him b> the late .on. 'ichar5 .ill( o=
Famaica( a 1riv> -o9ncillor o= the islan5( the most eminent nat9ralist o= the ,est In5ies.
Mr. /tarb9ck mentions Mr. .ill4s having E9ote5 to him( with D9st grati=ication( a sentence
=rom a letter which he ha5 receive5 =rom -harles $arwinAB>o9 are an observer a=ter m>
own heart.C
B,hen Mr. .ill was >et >o9ng( he began to work against )=rican slaver>( the c9rse o= his
native ,est In5ies. )mong others he visite5 the $9ke o= 0ent( in the hope o= sec9ring his
in=l9ence@ an5 I ma> remark that he live5 to receive =rom the $9ke4s 5a9ghter( as his
sovereign( the -ompanionship o= the "ath( as a token o= appreciation o= his man> an5
signal services both to science an5 h9manit>.
B"eing a Famaican born( an5 o= mi?e5 bloo5 besi5es( he soon =o9n5 that it wo9l5 be as
m9ch as his li=e was worth to ret9rn to his native islan5. +or a n9mber o= >ears he was an
e?ile. ,hite Englishmen( however( tho9gh ]ealo9s abolitionists( tho9gh liable to m9ch
persec9tion( an5 sometimes in consi5erable 5anger( co9l5 manage somewhat better to
keep their hol5 in the islan5. *here was one =rien5 an5 colleag9e o= .ill( an Englishman(
I believe( name5 L9n5>(
2
who was working in Famaica( when his =rien5 starte5 =rom
Englan5 in a sailing vessel =or /t. *homas( ii-3XX! inten5ing to procee5 to .a>ti. .ill
an5 the captain occ9pie5 the main cabin together( having their state-rooms on each si5e
o= it. One evening when the vessel was abo9t in the latit95e o= the )]ores( the captain an5
he were both in their state-rooms( while a large globe-lamp( swinging over the table(
partiall> lighte5 each. .ill was l>ing still awake( when he hear5 a step in the cabin(
which( he tol5 9s( he recognise5 the instant he hear5 it. It passe5 thro9gh the cabin( an5
his =rien5 L9n5> appearing in the 5oor o= his state-room( came 9p to the berth( an5
leaning on it( sai5: u,ell( .ill( I have serve5 the ca9se as long as I co9l5 be 9se=9l@ an5
now it has please5 &o5 to take me.4 .e remarke5 that the wor5s sank ine==aceabl> into
his min5( an5 the more so as the> a==or5e5 so pleasing an evi5ence o= L9n5>4s rea5iness
to go. *he ne?t morning the captain sai5 to him: u,h>( .ill( >o9 look as i= >o9 ha5 ha5 a
5a>4s har5 raking.4 "9t his passenger kept his co9nsel.
BF9st as the> lan5e5 at /t. *homas( a vessel came in =rom 0ingston( an5 a >o9ng =rien5 o=
.ill4s sprang ashore. /al9ting him( .ill sai5: I nee5 not ask how L9n5> is( =or I know he
is 5ea5.4 u,h>(4 e?claime5 his =rien5( in astonishment( uhow co9l5 >o9 know thatr I ha5
b9t time to see the =9neral compan> into the ch9rch( an5 as the win5 was =air( I was
oblige5 to hasten o== to the vessel witho9t going in.4 u%o matter how I know it(4 replie5
.ill( u>o9 see I know it.4 *he> soon parte5( an5 .ill( having complete5 his visit to .a>ti(
ret9rne5 to Englan5.
B/ome two >ears later( Mr. .ill met in Englan5 a gentleman who =irst ha5 been a
missionar> in Famaica( an5 s9bseE9entl> in )=rica. *he> =ell into talk abo9t L9n5>( an5
this gentleman remarke5( uI was with L9n5> when he 5ie5@ an5 I remember that his last
wor5s were: B*he onl> wish I have le=t is( that I might be permitte5 to see .ill once
more( an5 sa> to himAu,ell( .ill( I have serve5 the ca9se as long as I co9l5 be 9se=9l@
an5 now it has please5 &o5 to take me.4C4
2
It seems that his wish was grante5( an5 that he
was permitte5 to go to .eaven b> wa> o= the )]ores.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. /tarb9ck writes to 9s:A
B+eb. UU( 2773.
B*he narratives Ythis an5 anotherZ are thro9gho9t comm9nications ma5e to me 5irectl> b>
Mr. .ill. )n5 I saw him so =reE9entl> an5 so =amiliarl> 59ring m> 2; >ears4 sta> in
Famaica that the> ma> be relie5 on as thoro9ghl> acc9rate reports.
B-.)'LE/ -. /*)'"U-0(
B*en >ears missionar> in Famaica in connection with the )merican Missionar>
)ssociation.C
PV3;Q +rom Mr. +. F. Fones( -ivil Engineer( .eath "ank( Mossle> 'oa5( )shton-9n5er-
L>ne.
BMarch 2773.
B*he =ollowing stor> was tol5 me b> an ol5 =rien5 Yname givenZ( to whom it happene5
when an 9n5ergra59ate o= 1eterho9se -ollege( -ambri5ge. I will tr> an5 p9t it in his own
wor5s as nearl> as possible.
BuI ha5 arrange5 to sta> 9p part o= the long vacation to grin5 in E9iet( an5 to make the
best o= lost time.
Bu*he event occ9rre5 on a *9es5a>( in 273:( an5 I well remember ii-V;;! =eeling ver>
lonel> an5 wretche5( =or the weather was miserabl> wet( an5 all =rien5s ha5 gone 5own
the 5a> be=ore. M> greatest ch9m( a man name5 "oh9n( I ha5 seen o== b> the Lon5on
coach( on his wa> to $over( =rom whence he was to cross the -hannel( to visit the =rien5s
o= the girl to whom he was engage5. ,hen sa>ing goo5-b>e( I little tho9ght we sho9l5
never meet again( at all events in the =lesh. *he =irst U3 ho9rs o= m> solit95e passe5 well
eno9gh( =or I ha5 a lot o= lost time to make 9p. *he evenings( however( h9ng ver> heavil>
on m> han5s.
BuOn the secon5 P*9es5a>Q evening( I t9rne5 in abo9t 2; o4clock( meaning to get 9p earl>
to work the ne?t morning. Instea5 o= 9n5ressing( I threw m>sel= 5own on m> be5 in m>
clothes( an5 soon =ell asleep. .ow long it laste5 I 5on4t know( b9t be=ore ver> long I
woke with a s955en sense o= chilliness(
2
an5 was startle5 to hear a sort o= choking so9n5
at m> back. *9rning ro9n5 E9ickl>( I was s9rprise5 to see( b> the light o= the rea5ing
lamp( m> =rien5 "oh9n( hal= sitting 9p in m> arm-chair besi5e the be5( an5 apparentl>
gasping =or breath. +or a =ew secon5s I looke5 at him in bewil5erment( an5 then calle5
him b> name. In an instant the chair was vacant( an5 D9mping o== the be5 I =o9n5 the 5oor
locke5( an5 the oak sporte5( as I le=t them.
Bu*hinking it onl> a 5ream( tho9gh even then I m9st con=ess I was consi5erabl> startle5
b> the vivi5ness o= it all( I 9n5resse5 an5 got into be5( 5o]ing o== again in a =ew min9tes.
M> sleep cannot( however( have been o= long 59ration( an5 a secon5 time I woke with the
same c9rio9s sensation( an5 again saw "oh9n gasping in the chair besi5e m> be5.
U

Moving ca9tio9sl> to that si5e o= the be5( I ma5e a s955en 5ashAat nothing: =or a secon5
time he was gone.
Bu%ow thoro9ghl> awake( an5( I m9st con=ess( not liking it all( I le=t m> room( an5
calling the porter( we went thro9gh the empt> place( onl> to =in5 ever>thing right an5
sec9re. *he man seeme5 to think I ha5 been taking rather more than perhaps was wise(
an5( m9ch to m> 5isg9st( hinte5 it rather plainl>@ so in him I =o9n5 onl> a Fob4s
com=orter. "eing 9nable to sleep an> more that night( I ma5e 9p m> min5 to rea5 =or the
remaining ho9rs be=ore 5a>light.
Bu*he ne?t 5a> nothing transpire5( an5 I began to =eel I ha5 rather ma5e a =ool o= m>sel=(
an5 5i5 not at all relish the porter4s inE9iries a=ter m> health. ,e5nes5a> passe5( an5 a lot
o= rea5ing was accomplishe5( an5 on *h9rs5a> I walke5 o9t a short 5istance to meet the
Lon5on coach( which bro9ght m> weekl> papers. )=ter a short chat the 5river s955enl>
sai5 B.ave >o9 hear5( sir( o= poor Mr. "oh9n4s sa5 5eathr )s he was going on boar5 the
packet at $over he slippe5 on the gangwa>( =alling into the water( an5 was never seen
again.C
Bu*he shock to me was so great that =or several weeks I was lai5 9p in m> room( an5 in
m> 5eliri9m I was a=terwar5s tol5 I was alwa>s raving abo9t m> poor =rien5 an5 his
m>sterio9s visit to m> rooms.4
B+. F. F.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. Fones sa>s:A
BM> =rien5 abo9t whom >o9 ask has been 5ea5 now abo9t nine >ears. .e =irst tol5 9s the
stor> in the >ear 278W( an5 has since o=ten all95e5 ii-V;2! to it.C In conversation I learnt
that this =rien5 was Mr. Fones4s t9tor( living in the same ho9se( =or several >ears( an5 was
most 5eepl> respecte5 b> him. ,e have ascertaine5 that he was at 1eterho9se in 273:@
b9t the name "oh9n 5oes not appear in the -ambri5ge -alen5ar o= that 5ate( an5 is
probabl> a mistake. ,e have not been able to 5iscover an> p9blic notice o= the acci5ent(
an5 the 5eath was probabl> not registere5.
YIt o9ght to be observe5 that the percipient was probabl> =alling ill at the time o= his
vision@ an5 that in his s9bseE9ent 5eliri9m the or5er o= events ma> have become
con=9se5. /till( it seems 9nlikel> that his recollection o= the an?iet> that s9ccee5e5 the
vision an5 prece5e5 the arrival o= the news is a piece o= p9re imagination.Z
PV32Q +rom Mr. &eorge M. "arker( "r>n5erw( $olgell>.
BF9l>( 2773.
B*ravelling b> train =rom Lon5on to "righton in compan> with m> t9tor( we sat opposite
an el5erl> la5>( who seeme5 to 5o]e. )bo9t hal=wa>( she awoke with a cr>( an5 was m9ch
agitate5. M> t9tor soothe5 her( an5 aske5 her what was the matter. /he state5 that she ha5
seen her son Pwho was in the nav>Q 5rowning be=ore her e>es( an5 that it was so horribl>
real( even to the min9test 5etail o= 5ress( [c.( that she co9l5 not believe that she was
travelling in a railwa> carriage. /he vowe5 that she ha5 not been to sleep. M> t9tor( with
her permission( calle5 9pon her ne?t 5a>( an5 an acE9aintance str9ck 9p( which laste5 =or
some time. )bo9t a =ortnight a=ter the scene in the carriage( news 59l> arrive5 o= the
5eath o= the son at sea( while rowing =rom the ship to the shore. *his event occ9rre5 in
the >ear 27W; or 27W2.
B&EO'&E M. ")'0E'.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. "arker sa>s:A
BI am 9nable to =9rnish >o9 with the a55ress o= m> ol5 t9tor. .is name was )l=re5
$ownes( 83( Upper "r9nswick 1lace( "righton( b9t I have hear5 recentl> that he has le=t
"righton. *he name o= the ol5 la5> I hear5 mentione5 b> m> t9tor >ears ago( b9t I have
no recollection o= what it was( or where( e?actl>( she live5. *he bal5 =acts are( there=ore(
all that I can give >o9. *o me( at the time( this event was o= consi5erable interest. I ma>
mention that I am a thoro9gh 5isbeliever in ever>thing 9nnat9ral an5 ghostl>.
BI have no 5o9bt that the time was e.actl, the same( an5 =or this reason: m> t9tor an5 I
were travelling b> a ver> =ast train between Lon5on an5 "righton( the total Do9rne> onl>
occ9p>ing 2hr. 2;min.@ we were D9st passing( or ha5 D9st passe5 PI reall> =orget whichQ
'e5hill /tation( which is abo9t hal= wa>( so that we co9l5 easil> =i? the time. M> t9tor(
seeing the con5ition o= the poor la5>( aske5( an5 was allowe5( to call 9pon her to inE9ire
a=ter her state( an5 it was 59ring one o= these calls that the news was con=irme5. *he time
o= the 9pset o= the boat was( allowing =or the change between the two 5istances( as nearl>
correspon5ing as possible.C
,e cannot trace Mr. $ownes@ the postmaster at "righton has no later a55ress than that
given.
PV3UQ +rom Mr. /. )l=re5 /teinthal( *he Limes( %elson /treet( Manchester.
ii-V;U!
BMarch U2st( 2773.
B) la5> o= m> acE9aintance( Mrs. )shton( now 5ecease5( the wi=e o= Mr. )l5erman
)shton( o= this cit>( ha5 a son who was the Unitarian minister at &lossop( in $erb>shire.
One night she 5istinctl> saw her son in his night-5ress in her room Pshe live5 then at
-heetham .ill( ManchesterQ( an5 woke her h9sban5( telling him what ha5 occ9rre5.
%either she nor her h9sban5 knew o= an>thing being wrong with their son( b9t ne?t
morning the> were in=orme5 that he ha5 been taken s955enl> ill( an5 ha5 5ie5 at the time
when Mrs. )shton saw the appearance she 5escribe5. %either Mr. )shton nor Mrs.
)shton were /pirit9alists.
B/. )L+'E$ /*EI%*.)L.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. /teinthal a55s:A
B)pril 2st 2773.
B"oth Mr. an5 Mrs. )shton are now 5ecease5. I hear5 the stor>( a short time a=ter the
5eath( =rom Mrs. )shton. It was tol5 me in the presence o= her h9sban5( who con=irme5
the part o= the stor> that she ha5 awakene5 him( an5 ha5 tol5 him o= the appearance she
ha5 seen. Mr. )shton 5ie5 abo9t seven >ears ago( b9t I cannot give >o9 the e?act 5ate. I
am sorr> I cannot be more 5e=inite.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the 'ev. +re5erick )shton 5ie5 at &lossop on
)pril 2V( 27W7.
PV3:Q +rom the late Mr. M>55leton( Leasingham .all( /lea=or5.
B/eptember 2st( 2773.
BMrs. Onslow was s955enl> awakene5 one night b> her son( who was in the 'o>al
Marines( an5 a=loat on boar5 a man-o=-war. /he awoke s955enl> an5 saw her son
stan5ing at the =oot o= the be5. /he e?claime5 to her h9sban5( uOhs Onslow( here is AA4
Pthe son4s nameQ ucome back.4 Onslow awoke( b9t the son Por visionQ ha5 5isappeare5.
*he> note5 the e?act ho9r( [c.( an5 when time allowe5 them to hear =rom him Phis ship
was o== Ma5eira or /t. .elenaQ a letter arrive5 sa>ing he was 5ea5( an5 ha5 5ie5 at the
ver> time he ha5 appeare5 to his mother.
B*his is to certi=> that the above is a per=ectl> correct acco9nt( as I have hear5 Mrs.
Onslow o=ten relate@ b9t alass both she an5 her h9sban5 have long been 5ea5( an5 I
cannot ask =or a written con=irmation.
B'$. ,.)'*O% M#$$LE*O%C
PV33Q +rom Mrs. "r>ant( La5>mea5e( *>n5all4s 1ark( "ristol. *he evi5ence is o= the sort
which ma> be regar5e5 as on a par with =irst-han5 PVol. I.( p. 237Q@ b9t it cannot be
regar5e5 as certain that the =ig9re seen represente5 the s9ppose5 agent.
B2772.
BOne morning one o= the 9pper servants came to m> =ather( -aptain "ea5on( '.%.( an5 in
m> presence sai5 that she =elt s9re he wo9l5 soon hear o= a 5eath in the =amil>( =or in the
night she awoke to =in5 an ol5 la5> stan5ing b> her be5si5e( an5 ga]ing stea5=astl> at her.
/he was 5resse5 in her shro95( an5 /tapleton Pthe mai5Q especiall> notice5 the =ine ol5
lace on her cap. M> =ather la9ghe5 at her( an5 Dokingl> aske5 a 5escription o= her
=eat9res( which /tapleton gave. I sai5( u*hat is so like )9nt +.4 P/tapleton ha5 never seen
Mrs. +.Q *he mai5 sai5 at =irst she was =rightene5( an5 covere5 her hea5 with the
be5clothes@ b9t she was a religio9s woman( an5 pra>e5 =or co9rage to ask the spirit what
it wante5. ii-V;:! On looking again( she =o9n5 the ol5 la5> still there. /tapleton spoke
to her( an5 gra59all> an5 slowl> the =ig9re =a5e5 awa>. *he ne?t 5a>4s post bro9ght news
o= the 5eath o= m> =ather4s a9nt( Mrs. +.
B&EO'&I%) "'#)%*.C
In Ma>( 2773( Mrs. "r>ant writes:A
BI have sent m> =ather >o9r letter( an5 aske5 him to write o9t the stor>( an5 see i= I have
remembere5 it correctl>. I have not compare5 notes with him in an> wa>. I 5on4t think it
is worth m9ch in point o= evi5enceAhowever( what there is is to be relie5 on.
BIn answer to >o9r E9estions:A
BP2Q *he 5ate wo9l5 be nearl> 3; >ears ago.
BPUQ I 5o not at all know i= the servant is living.
BP:Q I 5o not know i= she ha5 ever seen an>thing o= the kin5 be=ore.
BP3Q /he sai5: u) noble-looking ol5 la5> with her night-5ress on an5 bea9ti=9l lace on her
cap.4C
B,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that Mrs. +ranklin 5ie5 on March 7( 2738.
On Ma> U8th( 2773( -aptain "ea5on wrote to Mrs. "r>ant as =ollows:A
B-reechbarrow( *a9nton.
B$E)' &EO'&I%)(A,hen we live5 at %o. 7( 1avilion 1lace( "attersea +iel5s( /arah
/tapleton( who live5 with 9s as ho9semai5( in=orme5 >o9r mother an5 me that an ol5
la5> was sitting on her bo? in her be5room when she was getting o9t o= be5 in the
morning( abo9t W a.m.
B*he apparition remaine5 some time( an5 5i5 not 5isappear 9ntil she a55resse5 it in the
name o= the u+ather( /on( an5 .ol> &host.4 /he sai5 she 5i5 not know an> person like the
apparition( b9t( =rom her e?act 5escription I sai5 it was m> a9nt( Mrs. +.( whom I then
s9ppose5 to be living at %o. V( .ammett /treet( *a9nton.
B*he ne?t post bro9ght me a letter =rom m> co9sin( 'obert "ea5on( stating that Mrs. +.
ha5 5ie5 abo9t the time o= /tapleton4s vision. I 5o not remember the e?act 5ate o= Mrs.
+.4s 5eath. /tapleton was a ver> respectable( stea5> >o9ng womanAa ,esle>an. #o9r
mother o=ten sai5 a=ter( she was the best servant she ever ha5@ she marrie5 a >o9ng
arti=icer( then emplo>e5 at ,oolwich $ock>ar5( in 273V or 2738. I have never hear5 o=(
or =rom( her since.
BI live5 some two >ears with m> a9nt.AI am( >o9r a==ectionate =ather(
B&EO'&E "E)$O%.C
YI= the 5eath was on the night prece5ing the apparition( as -aptain "ea5on state5 in
conversation that he believe5 it was( the news probabl> arrive5 not b> the Bne?t post(C
b9t Pas Mrs. "r>ant sa>sQ b> Bne?t 5a>4s postC@ b9t -aptain "ea5on cannot be absol9tel>
certain that it 5i5 not occ9r be=ore night on the prece5ing 5a>.Z
)s to the ne?t case( see the remark which pre=aces case VUW above. *he stan5ing Bat the
=oot o= the be5CAit will have been observe5Ais a point which occ9rs in a large n9mber
o= these bor5erlan5 cases.
PV3VQ +rom Mrs. .arper( -otham( "ristol.
B$ecember( 277:.
BI was at school at Miss /mith4s( 1ortlan5 /treet( 0ingstown( with the ii-V;3! 5a9ghters
o= the .on. Fames 1.( o= Famaica. .e was e?pecte5 home( an5 a ho9se in -otham 1ark(
D9st opposite m> present resi5ence( was being prepare5 =or him. One night( .annah 1.
woke screaming( sa>ing her =ather was 5ea5. Miss /mith aske5 her wh> she sai5 so( an5
she state5 that her =ather ha5 come an5 stoo5 at the =oot o= her be5( an5 then went an5
looke5 at her sister Isabel in another be5. *he =ather 5ie5 at that time( an5 it seems he ha5
a presentiment that he sho9l5 not live to ret9rn( an5 ha5 or5ere5 a E9antit> o= r9m to be
p9t on boar5 to preserve his bo5> in i= he sho9l5 5ie on the wa>.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. .arper a55s:A
BI was at school with .annah 1.( b9t not at the time the occ9rrence took place to which
>o9 all95e( so o= co9rse was not in the room. I hear5 o= it a=terwar5s =rom a >o9ng la5>
that was in the room( an5 saw her 5istress@ she was a pro95 reserve5 girl( abo9t 2W( an5
ver> 9nlikel> to make a 5ispla> o= =eeling 9nless greatl> move5. *he >o9nger girl
sleeping in the same room 5i5 not see her =ather( altho9gh .annah sai5 that he went =rom
her to look at Isabella. I cannot sa> how long it was a=ter she went that I hear5 o= it@ it
might have been a >ear. ,e were not allowe5 to speak o= it to .annah.
B/. F. .)'1E'.C
,e =in5 =rom the 7entle(ans 'agaAine that the 5eath occ9rre5 on /ept. 3( 27UV( a=ter a
3 5a>s4 illness.
PV38Q +rom Mr. E. 0eep( who =irst wrote =rom abroa5( an5 later =rom UV( 1hillimore
&ar5ens( ,. ,e owe the case in the =irst instance to the O?=or5 1hasmatological /ociet>.
B277;.
B/ome >ears ago( Mr. -harles 1. /mith( a gentleman living in Melbo9rne( became ver>
9nwell( an5 was recommen5e5 to go on a sea vo>age. ) captain o= a merchant vessel
going to Fava o==ere5 him a berth 9pon the ship on ver> mo5erate terms@ b9t Mr. /mith4s
=inances being at a ver> low ebb( a =ew o= his =rien5s cl9bbe5 together an5 presente5 him
with 2;;( an5 Mr. /mith starte5 on his vo>age.
BOne o= the =rien5s s9bscribing to the =9n5 was a Mr. "owman( a ver> ol5 =rien5 o= Mr.
/mith( an5 some time a=ter Mr. /mith4s 5epart9re( Mr. "owman met me in the street( an5
sai5( uOh( Mr. 0eep( I saw -harle> /mith either last night or the night be=ore@ he
appeare5 at the =oot o= m> be5 5resse5 in a long black robe@ an5 b9rsting into tears
vanishe5.4 I sai5( u)re >o9 Dokingr One rea5s o= these things in the Night !ide of Nature(
an5 s9ch r9bbish( b9t one 5oesn4t e?pect to hear o= them in act9al li=e.4 uOh(4 sai5 Mr.
"owman( uthese things are o=ten occ9rring to meA>o9 will =in5 Mr. /mith 5ie5 last
night.4 I steppe5 into m> o==ice( an5 ma5e a note o= the conversation an5 5ate( an5 sai5
that Mr. "owman was not certain i= his 5ream were last night or the night be=ore.
BIn abo9t a month the steamship u.ero4 arrive5 at />5ne> =rom Fava( an5 reporte5 that a
passenger( Mr. -harles +. /mith( o= Melbo9rne( ha5 5ie5 at sea on one o= the 5ates
speci=ie5 b> Mr. "owman.
BE$,)'$ 0EE1.C
)t o9r reE9est Mr. 0eep wrote to Melbo9rne( to get con=irmation o= this narrative@ b9t he
=o9n5 that the 5iar> in which he note5 the inci5ent ha5 been b9rnt( an5 his =rien5s knew
nothing o= Mr. "owman. .e a55s that he thinks the occ9rrence was in 278X.
ii-V;V!
,e have receive5 the =ollowing letter =rom Messrs. &ibbs( "right an5 -o.( o= Melbo9rne:
A
B)pril U7th( 2778.
BIn repl> to >o9r letter o= U;th +eb.( we have interviewe5 -apt. Logan( who was
comman5er o= the s.s. u.ero4 at the time o= the 5eath o= Mr. -. +. /mith@ an5 he a5vises
9s that( as well as he can remember( Mr. /mith 5ie5 on the 5a> a=ter leaving "atavia( in
$ec( 2778(CAapparentl> a slip =or 2787( in which >ear( as we have ascertaine5 b> a
search in />5ne> papers( the B.eroC was tra5ing =rom that place.
PV3WQ +rom Ma5emoiselle &linka( 2( '9e Lincoln( -hamps El>sHes( 1aris.
B2773.
BM> brother ha5 the habit( when he went to ,iesba5en( to visit an ol5 servant mai5( who
ha5 been =or 2V >ears in o9r =amil>( when we were chil5ren( an5 who now lives on a
pension. /he is ver> m9ch attache5 to o9r =amil>. Latel> she ha5 met with an acci5ent(
having =allen =rom a staircase( an5 was lai5 9p in her be5 =or several weeks( with
compresses on her =ace. /he knew o= m> brother4s last illness( b9t was not aware o= its
gravit>.
BOne 5a>( when l>ing in her be5 in a hal= 5o]e( she saw m> brother enter her room( cla5
in his gre> coat as 9s9all>. }9ite con=9se5 that he sho9l5 see her in that state( she
e?claime5( u,h>( E?cellenc>( I am ashame5 that >o9 have come into m> room to =in5 me
here in m> be5.4 .e answere5( u$o not min5 it( "ienchen4 Pthe name we calle5 her b>Q(
uhave >o9 not been sitting at m> be5si5e h9n5re5s o= times when I was a bo>r4 /he
begge5 him to be seate5.
2
*hen he looke5 at her with a long( =i?e5 ga]e( an5 5isappeare5
at the 5oor. +rightene5 an5 ama]e5( she rang =or her lan5la5>( an5 aske5 her wh> she ha5
let Mr. &. enter witho9t anno9ncing him. *he woman proteste5 that nobo5> co9l5 have
entere5 witho9t her knowle5ge( as she ha5 been on the gro9n5 =loor( an5 that she ha5 not
seen his E?cellenc> or an>bo5> else. ) =ew 5a>s later she hear5 o= his 5eath. "9t the 5a>
an5 ho9r she ha5 seen him( an5 talke5 with him( m> brother ha5 ha5 his arm amp9tate5(
being chlorofor(ed.
BF. &.C
In answer to inE9iries( Ma5emoiselle &linka a55s on March Wth( 2778:A
BFacobina 'iekes tol5 me o= this e?perience within a week a=ter its occ9rrence. It ha5
greatl> astonishe5 her( as she ha5 never ha5 an> hall9cination in her li=e. /he was
certainl> awake( as she was in the act o= altering the arrangement o= some compresses on
her =ace. /he tol5 the lan5la5> o= her e?perience imme5iatel> a=ter it occ9rre5@ b9t I 5i5
not m>sel= speak to the lan5la5> on the s9bDect. M> brother 5ie5 two 5a>s a=ter the
operation. *he event occ9rre5 at Easter( 2773. M> brother was in +rank=ort.C
*his case is the onl> one in o9r collection where the s9ppose5 agent was 9n5er the
in=l9ence o= an anOsthetic@ b9t it ma> be compare5 to cases where the con5ition has been
=ainting or coma Psee Vol. I.( p. V8:( noteQ.
ii-V;8!
*he ne?t case resembles %o. V;V( above( in representing a complete scene which seems
to have been conve>e5 to the percipient4s min5 some little time a=ter its occ9rrence( b9t at
a time when the agent4s tho9ghts Pcertainl> in this case( an5 pres9mabl> in the otherQ
were 5irecte5 to the percipient( an5 also occ9pie5 with a mental renewal o= the scene
itsel=. In the present case( however( the interval between the enactment o= the scene an5
the percipient4s e?perience was probabl> little( i= at all( more than 2U ho9rs@ an5 it wo9l5
be E9ite possible to regar5 the case as one o= 5e=erre5 5evelopment PVol. I.( pp. 2:X( V22Q.
PV37Q /lightl> abri5ge5 =rom the acco9nt o= Miss Millicent ). 1age( sent to 9s b> her
brother( the 'ev. ). /haw 1age( Vicar o= /elsle>( /tone-ho9se( &lo9cestershire
BI was sta>ing with m> mother4s co9sin( Mrs. Eli]abeth "ro9ghton( wi=e o= Mr. E5war5
"ro9ghton( E5inb9rgh( an5 5a9ghter o= the late -olonel "lanckle>( in the >ear 2733( an5
she tol5 me the =ollowing strange stor>:A
B/he awoke one night an5 aro9se5 her h9sban5( telling him that something 5rea5=9l ha5
happene5 in +rance. .e begge5 her to go to sleep again an5 not to tro9ble him. /he
ass9re5 him that she was not asleep when she saw what she insiste5 on then telling himA
what she saw in =act. +irst a carriage-acci5ent( which she 5i5 not act9all> see( b9t what
she saw was the res9lt( a broken carriage( a crow5 collecte5( a =ig9re gentl> raise5 an5
carrie5 into the nearest ho9se( an5 then a =ig9re l>ing on a be5( which she then recognise5
as the $9ke o= Orleans. &ra59all> =rien5s collecting ro9n5 the be5( among them several
members o= the +rench 'o>al =amil>Athe }9een( then the 0ingAall silentl>( tear=9ll>
watching the evi5entl> 5>ing $9ke. One man Pshe co9l5 see his back( b9t 5i5 not know
who he wasQ was a 5octor. .e stoo5 ben5ing over the $9ke( =eeling his p9lse( his watch
in his other han5. )n5 then all passe5 awa>: she saw no more. )s soon as it was 5a>light(
she wrote 5own in her Do9rnal all she ha5 seen. +rom that Do9rnal she rea5 this to me. It
was be=ore the 5a>s o= electric telegraph( an5 two or more 5a>s passe5 be=ore the Ti(es
anno9nce5 u*he $eath o= the $9ke o= Orleans.4 YVisiting 1aris a short time a=terwar5s(
she saw an5 recognise5 the place o= the acci5ent( an5 receive5 the e?planation o= her
impression. *he 5octor who atten5e5 the 5>ing $9ke was an ol5 =rien5 o= hers@ an5 as he
watche5 b> the be5( his min5 ha5 been constantl> occ9pie5 with her an5 her =amil>. *he
reason o= this was an e?traor5inar> likenessAa likeness which ha5 o=ten le5 to am9sing
inci5entsAbetween several members o= the "ro9ghton =amil> an5 members o= the
+rench 'o>al =amil> who were present in the room.Z uI spoke o= >o9 an5 >o9rs when I
got home(4 sai5 the 5octor( uan5 tho9ght o= >o9 man> times that evening. *he likeness
between >o9rselves an5 the 'o>al =amil> was( perhaps( never so strong as that 5a> when
the> stoo5 there in their sorrow( all so nat9ral@ =ather( mother( brothers( sisters( watching
the 5>ing son an5 brother. .ere was the link between 9s( >o9 see.4C
ii-V;W!
*he 5etaile5 acco9nt o= the 5eath o= the $9ke o= Orleans was in the Ti(es o= F9l> 2V(
273U. *he carriage acci5ent took place at 2U.:; p.m.( on F9l> 2:. *he $9ke was carrie5
into the nearest ho9se( an5 atten5e5 b> $r. "awnes an5 $r. 1asE9ier. *he 0ing( }9een(
an5 $9e 54)9male arrive5 at the spot almost imme5iatel>@ an5 the acco9nt in
7alignanis 'essenger =or F9l> 23 shows that other members o= the 'o>al =amil> an5
o==icials o= 5istinction were present. *he 5eath occ9rre5 shortl> a=ter : p.m.
Y*his case is so e?ceptional in character as to e?cite some mistr9st. It seems ver> possible
that the scene has ass9me5 a more 5ramatic completeness in the narrator4s memor> than
the original 5escription wo9l5 warrant@ b9t i=( as allege5( the recor5 was imme5iatel>
ma5e in the percipient4s 5iar>( it is 5i==ic9lt to resist the concl9sion that the
correspon5ence was o= a ver> striking kin5.Z
PV3XQ In =ecollections( *olitical, Cc., of the last 9alf Centur, b> the 'ev. F. 'ichar5son(
LL.". P27V8Q( Vol. I.( pp. 8VT7( there is a circ9mstantial acco9nt o= the appearance o= Mr.
Fohn 1almer Pan actor( who 5ie5 s955enl> on the stage at Liverpool( on the Un5 )9g9st(
2WX7Q( on the night o= his 5eath to a person in Lon5on( name5 *9cker. *9cker was a hall-
porter( an5 habit9all> slept on a co9ch in the hall which Mr. 1almer passe5 at night( when
he let himsel= in with a latch-ke>. *he acco9nt was given b> *9cker himsel= to Mr.
'ichar5son( who( tho9gh a gossiping writer( 5oes not seem to be an inacc9rate one.
B*he =act o= his absence =rom Lon5on was known to *9cker( b9t he was not aware abo9t
his arrangement =or his ret9rn. On the night D9st mentione5( *9cker ha5 retire5 at an
earlier ho9r than 9s9al@ b9t the compan> in the 5rawing-room were n9mero9s( an5 the
so9n5 o= their merriment prevente5 him =rom =alling asleep@ he was in a state o= morbi5
5rowsiness( pro59ce5 b> weariness( b9t contin9all> interr9pte5 b> noise. )s he 5escribe5
the scene( he was sitting hal= 9pright in his be5( when he saw the =ig9re o= a man coming
=rom a passage which le5 =rom the 5oor o= the ho9se to the hall. *he =ig9re pa9se5 in its
transit =or a moment at the =oot o= the co9ch( an5 looke5 him =9ll in the =ace@ there was
nothing spectral or like the inhabitant o= the worl5 o= spirits in the co9ntenance or the
o9tline o= the =ig9re( which passe5 on( an5 apparentl> went 9p the staircase. *9cker =elt
no alarm whatever@ he recognise5 in the =ig9re the =eat9res( gait( 5ress( an5 general
appearance o= Fohn 1almer( who he s9ppose5 ha5 ret9rne5 =rom Liverpool( an5 having
the entree o= the ho9se( ha5( as 9s9al( availe5 himsel= o= his latch-ke>. w %e?t morning(
in the co9rse o= some cas9al conversation( he in=orme5 Mrs. Vernon that he ha5 seen Mr.
1almer pass thro9gh the hall( an5 e?presse5 a hope that his trip to Liverpool ha5 agree5
with his health. *he la5> stare5 at him incre59lo9sl>( sai5 he m9st have been 5reaming(
or 5rinking( or o9t o= his senses( as no Mr. 1almer ha5 Doine5 the =estivities in the
5rawing-room. .is 5el9sion( i= 5el9sion it were( was ma5e a so9rce o= mirth to the people
who calle5 in the co9rse o= the 5a>. .e however persiste5 in his assertion o= having seen
Mr. 1almer( an5 on the arrival o= the post =rom Liverpool on the 5a> a=ter he ha5 =irst
ma5e it( la9ghter was t9rne5 into mo9rning( an5 most o= the g9ests were incline5 to think
there was more in it than the> were willing to con=ess.C
ii-V;7!
*he =ollowing case is perhaps worth E9oting( as parallel( in the =orm o= the impression( to
%os. 2WV( 2W8( an5 2X;@ b9t it cannot receive an evi5ential n9mber( being thir5-han5( an5
han5e5 5own b> persons not likel> to =eel an> special sense o= responsibilit> with respect
to it.
+rom ;etters and Journals of ;ord B,ron, -ith Notices of his "ife( b> *homas Moore
P27:;Q( Vol. I.( p. 2X:.
BLor5 ">ron 9se5 sometimes to mention a strange stor>( which the comman5er o= the
packet( -aptain 0i55( relate5 to him on the passage Yto Lisbon( in 27;XZ. *his o==icer
state5 that( being asleep one night in his berth( he was awakene5 b> the press9re o=
something heav> on his limbs( an5 there being a =aint light in the room( co9l5 see( as he
tho9ght( 5istinctl>( the =ig9re o= his brother( who was at the time in the %aval /ervice in
the East In5ies( 5resse5 in his 9ni=orm an5 stretche5 across the be5. -oncl95ing it to be
an ill9sion o= the senses( he sh9t his e>es an5 ma5e an e==ort to sleep. "9t still the
press9re contin9e5( an5 still as o=ten as he vent9re5 to take another look he saw the =ig9re
l>ing across him in the same position. *o a55 to the won5er( on p9tting his han5 =orth to
to9ch this =orm( he =o9n5 the 9ni=orm in which it appeare5 to be 5resse5 5ripping wet. On
the entrance o= one o= his brother o==icers( to whom he calle5 in alarm( the apparition
vanishe5@ b9t in a =ew months a=terwar5s he receive5 the startling intelligence that on that
night his brother ha5 been 5rowne5 in the In5ian /eas.C
Y*he allege5 to9ching o= the clothes an5 =eeling them to be wet is D9st one o= those 5etails
which are met with in tra5itional narratives o= the kin5( an5 =or which we have no =irst-
han5 evi5ence.Z
I appen5 a translation o= a narrative which occ9rs in a '9ssian work( B1rostaia 'iHtch o
Mo95rionn>kh ViHstchakh(C or !i(ple Discourse on Difficult !ub5ects( PMoscow( 27WVQ(
b> the late 1ro=essor 1ogo5ine( o= Moscow( a well-known historian. It is given as =rom
certain BmemoirsC o= 0elsiH==( a '9ssian man o= letters@ b9t as the e?act title o= the
original work is not mentione5( an5 the acco9nt is pro=esse5l> abridged( I 5o not n9mber
it as evi5ence.
BMan> >ears ago I was a p9pil o= the /chool o= -ommerce P/t. 1etersb9rgQ( an5 live5
near it. M> =ather with m> mother an5 other chil5ren live5 at Vasilievne> Ostrov. .e was
a man o= b9siness( an5 ver> m9ch occ9pie5( an5 his visits to me were ver> rare. One
evening I was l>ing on m> be5( rea5ing a book. /955enl> m> 5oor opene5( an5 I saw m>
=ather( pale an5 triste( enter m> chamber( an5 approach m> be5 sa>ing to me( u&o5 bless
>o9( m> sons $on4t =orget thiss4 )n5 b> the same wa> he went o9t. I was not in the least
s9rprise5( =or I was s9re that it was reall> m> =ather who came to me. In a short time I
locke5 the 5oor an5 went to be5. /oon I hear5 a knock at m> 5oor. I opene5 it an5 saw
m> =ather4s coachman@ he tol5 me that m> =ather ha5 e?pire5 abo9t an ho9r be=ore. It was
at the time when I saw him visit me.C
ii-V;X!
+!P#&R ).
)($.!' +!$&$.
S 2. I will again begin with evi5ence which is =irst-han5 or on a par with =irst-han5. *he
=ollowing is a gro9p o= 5eath-cases.
PVV;Q +rom Mr. Foseph ). -hamberlain( .igh &arrett( "raintree( Esse?.
B$ecember( 2773.
B)bo9t 2U or 23 >ears ago( a little scholar in m> school( name5 Fames .arrington( was
ver> ill with 5iphtheria. I ha5 been to a village abo9t three miles o==( to give a lesson on
the piano=orte( an5 was ret9rning on a 5ark night( abo9t W o4clock. I was walking in a
narrow =ootpath between two he5ges( an5 on coming to a stile( I saw a l9mino9s =ig9re
=loat over the stile(
2
meeting me( an5 gra59all> 5isappear at m> le=t han5. I starte5( an5
sai5 to m>sel=( u*hat4s Fimmie(4 then stampe5 m> =oot on the gro9n5 an5 sai5( u.ow
=oolish I am to-night.4 I reache5 home abo9t W.:; to atten5 to m> evening school( an5
D95ge o= m> s9rprise( on entering the school( the caretaker met me at the 5oor( sa>ing(
uFimmie is 5ea5.4 u,henr4 I sai5. .e answere5( u)bo9t hal=-an-ho9r ago.4C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the 5eath occ9rre5 rather longer ago than Mr.
-hamberlain imagine5Aon Oct. U7( 278W.
In answer to E9estions( Mr. -hamberlain sa>s:A
BP2Q *he vision in a general wa> resemble5 Fames( especiall> as to si]e. *he =eat9res
were not clearl> 5e=ine5( b9t more like a magic-lantern view not properl> =oc9sse5.
BPUQ I knew that he was ill( b9t not that he was likel> to 5ie.
BP:Q I was attache5 to him( b9t I cannot sa> I was partic9larl> an?io9s abo9t him. )s =ar
as I remember( I went to the ho9se ever> evening( as his =ather an5 mother kept the
co==ee-room o= which I ha5 the s9perinten5ence@ so m> min5 was occ9pie5 with his
con5ition@ b9t he was not in m> tho9ghts be=ore I saw the l9mino9s =ig9re.
BP3Q I 5i5 mention it to o9r minister( the 'ev. ). Mac5o9gall( b9t I cannot sa> whether it
Yi.e., the mentionZ was at the time or near the timeAcertainl> not on the same evening.
*he =act is( I was rather a=rai5 o= being la9ghe5 at.
BI onl> wish I ha5 been more care=9l in recor5ing the =acts. I shall ii-V2;! never =orget
the shock I receive5 on entering m> evening school hal=-an-ho9r a=terwar5s( an5 learning
=rom the caretaker that Fames ha5 5ie5 abo9t hal=-an-ho9r be=ore.C
Mr. -hamberlain mentions that he has ha5 one other vis9al hall9cination in his li=e@ b9t
this was m9ch less 5istinct( an5 occ9rre5 at a time when he was B9nstr9ng b> constant
n9rsing an5 watching.C
Y.ere the coinci5ence seems to have been ver> e?act@ b9t we cannot with certaint>
e?cl95e the s9pposition that the hall9cination was 59e to the observer4s an?iet> as to his
p9pil4s con5ition.Z
PVV2Q +rom the 'ev. -. -. ,ambe>( now o= 1aragon( ,ilton 'oa5( /alisb9r>( the narrator
o= case 2UX.
B)pril( 2773.
BM> =ather( who was an In5ian o==icer( retire5 =rom the service at an earl> age( owing to
partial loss o= sight( which event9ate5 in total blin5ness. .e was somewhat eccentric.
)mong other things( he was in the habit o= =reE9entl> sitting 9p all night( retiring to be5
when the servants came 5own in the morning.
B,e( that is m> =ather( mother( an5 their si? chil5ren( were living at -rosswa> &reen( in
the parish o= ..( 2U miles =rom the cit> o= ,. One morning(Ahow well I remember its I
was b9t a >o9ng chil5 then(Aa neighbo9ring =armer calle5 at o9r ho9se( an5 reE9este5 to
see Mrs. ,. imme5iatel>. .e was shown into the 5rawing-room an5( when m> mother
Doine5 him( he m>sterio9sl> close5 the 5oor( an5 in an e?cite5 manner aske5 i= it were all
well with the u-aptain.4 M> mother replie5 that he was E9ite well when her el5est son(
who ha5 been rea5ing the newspaper to him in his room( le=t him abo9t hal=-an-ho9r ago.
*he =armer shook his hea5 incre59lo9sl>( an5 took his 5epart9re. /hortl> a=ter this( one o=
the servants having been g9ilt> o= miscon59ct( m> mother( taking me with her( went to
m> =ather4s room to acE9aint him with the matter. )s soon as she ha5 opene5 the 5oor(
she starte5 back in horror( sa>ing to me( uM> AA( here is >o9r =ather.4 /tretche5 on the
=loor( his hea5 against the be5stea5( there he la>( $E)$s
B.e was evi5entl> in the act o= preparing to 5ress P=or a stocking was =irml> graspe5 in
his han5Q( when he was sei]e5 with a =it o= apople?>( 5eath apparentl> having been
instantaneo9s.
B)=ter the =9neral( the =armer 5isclose5 to m> mother this startling event( which =rom
motives o= 5elicac>( he =orbore to mention to her sooner:A
BOn the morning o= his visit( he an5 his carter were with a waggon an5 team o= horses
crossing the common. /955enl> m> =ather( his han5 pointing to o9r ho9se( appeare5 in
=ront o= the horses Pwhich commence5 snorting an5 pl9nging =9rio9sl>Q( an5 as s955enl>
5isappeare5. ,hen the horses ha5 been calme5( the =armer( leaving them in charge o= the
carter( hastene5 to o9r ho9se( an5( as alrea5> relate5( reE9este5 to see m> mother
instantl>.
B-O'%ELIU/ -. ,)M"E#C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. ,ambe> sa>s:A
BM> =ather4s 5eath occ9rre5 when I was in m> seventh >ear. It was the s9bDect o=
conversation between m> mother an5 m>sel= =rom time to ii-V22! time till her 5eath in
2788( so that the apparition was no mere 5ream o= chil5hoo5.
BI saw the =armer come into the ho9se( an5 am 9n5er the impression that I was present at
the interview between m> mother an5 him( b9t am 9ncertain on this point. .owever( m>
mother =orthwith mentione5 to the el5er chil5ren the p9rport o= the =armer4s visit@ b9t at
the time she 5i5 not attach importance to it( as m> =ather was in his 9s9al health when m>
el5est brother le=t him( abo9t hal=-an-ho9r previo9sl>.
B)ll m> brothers an5 sisters are 5ea5( e?cept one sister whom I have not seen( an5 =rom
whom I have not hear5( =or a long time.C
Y*ho9gh the percipient here 5i5 not act9all> describe his e?perience be=ore he hear5 o=
the 5eath( Mr. ,ambe>4s remembrance o= his strange visit assimilates the case to those
reckone5 as on a par with =irst-han5. PVol. I.( p. 237Q. In conversation he mentione5 his
ver> strong impression that he was himsel= in the room 59ring this visit.Z
PVVUQ +rom Mrs. 'ooke( 'aw5on -ollege( near Lee5s.
On /eptember U7( 2773( Mrs. 'ooke wrote that( B)bo9t October( 277U( at X p.m.(C she
ha5 ha5 Ba vis9al impression o= an intimate =rien5 who was 5ea5( tho9gh at the time the
=act was 9nknown to me.C
In answer to inE9iries( she a55s:A
BO9r 5ear =rien5 ha5 onl> 5ie5 within a ver> short time o= m> seeing him. .e was in
)9stralia( an5 we hear5 o= his 5eath a =ew 5a>s over si? weeks a=ter I saw him. .e went
there =or his health( b9t the last news we ha5 o= him was so goo5 that we were not at all
an?io9s. I was sorr> a=terwar5s that I ha5 not kept a note o= the e?act 5a>( b9t I ha5
alwa>s so sco==e5 at ghost tales an5 s9ch like things( that I was most 9nwilling to believe
I ha5 seen him. *he gas was =9ll on at the time@ there was no light abo9t the =ig9re@ he
was as nat9ral as in li=e( b9t as I came near to him vanishe5. I was going 5own a corri5or(
an5 the vision was certainl> ue?ternal an5 palpable.4 I sho9l5 think I saw him =or hal= a
min9te E9ite( an5 e?pecte5 him to come =orwar5 an5 speak. .e was ver> m9ch attache5
to 9s( as we were to him.
B)MELI) M. 'OO0EC
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. 'ooke a55s:A
BI am sorr> to sa> that I 5i5 not mention the s9bDect o= the apparition to an> one at the
time I saw it@ in5ee5( not till man> months
U
Y~Z a=ter o9r =rien54s 5eath. *here is nothing
at all inconsistent with the s9pposition that the time o= the uvision4 correspon5e5 with the
time o= 5eath. I alwa>s tho9ght it probabl> 5i5 so. *he 5ress was a s9it an5 cap I knew
well(
2
b9t he 5ie5 in be5. I have never ha5 a hall9cination.C
Y.ere the coinci5ence is o= co9rse 5o9bt=9l. It wo9l5 remain a remarkable one( even i=
the interval e?cee5e5 the 2U ho9rs4 limit lai5 5own =or the cases in this book.Z
PVV: an5 VV3Q +rom Mrs. +ors>th .9nter( U( Victoria -rescent( /t. .elier4s( Ferse>( who
sent 9s the acco9nts in 277U.
ii-V2U!
Mrs. .9nter ha5 ha5 a =rien5 =rom whom she ha5 parte5 in col5ness( an5 whom she ha5
not since seen or correspon5e5 with. B1oor J.C Pthe real name was privatel> givenQ Bwas
ver> =ar =rom m> tho9ghts( when one night( in the winter o= 278U or spring o= 278:( I ha5
D9st got into be5. *he =ire b9rne5 brightl>( an5 there was m> 9s9al night light. I was
placing m> hea5 on the pillows( when I behel5( close to the si5e o= the be5( an5 on a level
with it( J.4s hea5( an5 the same wist=9l look on his =ace which it ha5 worn when we ha5
parte5 >ears be=ore. /tarting 9p( I crie5 o9t( B,hat 5o >o9 wantrC I 5i5 not =ear@ anger
was m> =eeling. /lowl> it retreate5( an5 D9st as it 5isappeare5 in the sha5ow o= the wall( a
bright spark o= light shone =or a =ew secon5s( an5 slowl> e?pire5.
2

B) =ew 5a>s a=ter( m> sister wrote( u#o9 will have hear5 o= poor J.4s 5eath on his wa> to
the /o9th o= +rance.4 I ha5 hear5 nothing abo9t him =or >ears. /pecial reasons prevente5
m> inE9iring partic9larl> into the precise moment o= his 5eath. /trange to sa> m>
be5=ellow was his great pet among m> chil5ren@ she( however( slept thro9gh this strange
interview.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'edical =egister an5 the !cots(an that BJ.C 5ie5 at .>Nres( on %ov.
2W( 278U.
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. .9nter a55s:A
B)t Melrose( where I was a stranger( I co9l5 not have mentione5 s9ch a thing@ b9t m>
sister pai5 me a visit abo9t Easter( an5 I tol5 her. %o 5o9bt she will con=irm@ b9t I wo9l5
rather not recall the event.C
B) 5a9ghter o= mine in In5ia was e?pecting her con=inement to happen at the en5 o=
%ovember( 27WU. I was not an?io9s abo9t her@ in5ee5 other important =amil> events were
occ9p>ing all m> tho9ghts. On the U:r5 o= October( at noon( I was alone. )ll at once( a
col5 shivering =eeling came over me( an5 I t9rne5 s955enl>( an5 behel5 a slight ben5ing
=ig9re( stan5ing near the close5 5oor( covere5 over with a loose glistening robe or sheet
o= an ash gre> colo9r. It looke5 s9ch a sa5 little 5rooping =ig9re( an5 the attit95e an5
o9tline were strangel> =amiliar to me@ >et I never tho9ght o= her in connection with it. On
the 2Xth %ovember we ha5 the startling news that she ha5 5ie5 Peight 5a>s a=ter giving
birth to a sonQ on the U:r5 o= October( at V o4clock in the a=ternoon. It was not =or some
5a>s a=ter that I tho9ght o= what I ha5 seen in Lon5on at that ho9r on that 5a>@ I have
never since =or a moment 5o9bte5 that it was she. I was in Lon5on( an5 she in In5ia@ o9r
noon was the a=ternoon there( an5 her appearance m9st have been at the moment o=
5issol9tion.C
,e have con=irme5 the 5ate o= 5eath in )llens :ndian 'ail.
YIn both cases the 5egree o= e?actit95e in the coinci5ence m9st be regar5e5 as 9ncertain(
in the absence o= proo= that the 5ate o= the vision was acc9ratel> note5 at the time. Mrs.
.9nter has ha5 at least one( an5 possibl> a secon5( p9rel> s9bDective hall9cination o=
vision PVol. I.( p. V:V( an5 p. U22( aboveQ.Z
ii-V2:!
PVVVQ +rom Mrs. 1err>n( UW( )5rian /E9are( ,estgate-on-/ea.
B)pril 2st( 277V.
BIn 27W; m> mother was 5angero9sl> ill( b9t D9st be=ore her 5eath seeme5 to be rall>ing.
I was aware o= the improvement. One evening( on retiring to be5( abo9t 2; o4clock( I was
astonishe5 to see the =ig9re o= m> mother D9st besi5e m> be5room 5oor. I imme5iatel>
tol5 m> h9sban5 abo9t it( an5 he ma5e a note o= the 5ate P/eptember UUn5Q. M> mother
5ie5 in -ana5a earl> on the morning o= the UUn5 o= /eptember. *he =ig9re looke5 as
tho9gh envelope5 in a =aint smoke.
2
It was not recognisable in =eat9re@ b9t I imme5iatel>
i5enti=ie5 it as the appearance o= m> mother. *he attire was the same in which I ha5 last
seen her several >ears be=ore.
U

B+. ). 1E''#%.C
In answer to the E9estion whether she ha5 ever ha5 an> other hall9cination o= the senses(
Mrs. 1err>n replies( B*his e?perience is E9ite 9niE9e in m> li=e.C /he a55s( BI have
looke5 =or the note b9t cannot =in5 it.C
Mr. 1err>n writes:A
B)t this length o= time I cannot =eel D9sti=ie5 in corroborating the above circ9mstance. I
cannot =in5 an> note o= the event( tho9gh I think one was ma5e.
B'. .. 1E''#%.C
PVV8Q +rom Mrs. 'ichar5s( /pring ,oo5( &o5alming.
BF9l> :r5( 277:.
B)bo9t the >ear 27:3 or 27:V( I was in a boar5ing school at -a5ogan 1lace( -helsea(
kept b> la5ies name5 .orn( where( amongst other p9pils( there were two sisters with
whom I was ver> intimate. *hese girls came =rom a 5istance( their home being in the
%orth o= Englan5( I believe@ an5 travelling then being ver> 5i==erent to what it is in these
5a>s o= railwa>s( the> 5i5 not alwa>s go home =or their holi5a>s( an5 conseE9entl> were
not impresse5 b> the critical state o= their mother4s health.
B,e slept in a large 5ormitor> in which were several be5s( the two sisters occ9p>ing a
5o9ble be5. On a certain night( most o= the girls were asleep( an5 m>sel= in the ne?t be5
to one o= the sisters( who was alrea5> in be5( an5( like m>sel=( an?io9s to be E9iet an5
allowe5 to go to sleep@ b9t we were hin5ere5 b> the =rolicksomeness o= the >o9nger
sister( who sat o9tsi5e the be5 an5 =acing the 5oor at the en5 o= the room( which( I
remember( was not E9ite 5ark( either owing to moonlight or the time o= >ear. )s the el5er
sister was 9rging her to be E9iet an5 to get into be5( the >o9nger one s955enl> e?claime5(
an5 p9tting her han5s over her =ace( seeme5 greatl> agitate5. )s there seeme5 no ca9se
=or this s955en e?citement( we( thinking it was onl> another =orm o= her nonsense( an5
=earing the noise wo9l5 bring 9p the governess( who also slept in the room( scol5e5 her
well( 9pon which she got into be5. *9rning again to look towar5s the 5oor( she 9ttere5
another cr>( 5irecting her sister4s attention to the 5oor@ b9t she saw nothing(
:
an5 still
tho9ght the >o9nger one was Doking. "9t the latter b9rie5 her hea5 9n5er the clothes( an5
I( being ver> tire5( went to sleep an5 tho9ght no more abo9t this 5ist9rbance.
ii-V23!
B%e?t morning no notice was taken o= it( an5 no impression seems to have been ma5e on
m> min5 or that o= the other girls@ probabl>( as I now think( owing to o9r being
acc9stome5 to the volatile 5isposition o= the >o9nger sister. .owever( abo9t two 5a>s
a=terwar5s( the sisters were s9mmone5 into the room o= the la5ies o= the school to receive
letters. /hortl> a=ter( I was sent =or( an5 =o9n5 them in =loo5s o= tears( having D9st hear5
the news o= their mother4s 5eath. "eing their chie= =rien5( I was e?c9se5 =rom lessons that
I might be with them( an5 tr> to console them. )s we were approaching o9r room( the
>o9nger sister stoppe5 9s s955enl>( an5 grasping m> arm with violence( she sai5( uOh( 5o
>o9 remember the other night when I was =rightene5r I believe it was 5ear mamma that I
saw. Let 9s go back an5 ask more abo9t it(4 or wor5s to that e==ect. ,e went back to Miss
.orn4s apartment( an5 on re=erring to the letter( we =o9n5 that their mother ha5 5ie5( as
nearl> as we co9l5 calc9late( at the same ho9r that the inci5ent in the 5ormitor> occ9rre5.
B*his is what the girl sai5 she saw: ) tall( slight =ig9re in white( resembling her mother(
as she now tho9ght( tho9gh she 5i5 not recognise =eat9res( who( with o9tstretche5 arms(
seeme5 to beckon to her.
B*alking it over on the same 5a>( she remarke5( u)h( I think I see now wh> 5ear mamma
appeare5 to me. /he ha5 o=ten reprove5 me =or m> gi55iness( an5 as she was 5>ing( she
wishe5 to give me one more look an5 reproo=. I will tr> an5 be ver> 5i==erent. I shall
never =orget her warning(4 [c. /he appeare5 5eepl> impresse5( b9t as the sisters an5 I
were soon parte5( an5 5i5 not correspon5( I lost sight o= them.
B*his is a tr9e acco9nt( an5 I believe clearl> remembere5 b> me( tho9gh so man> >ears
ago. %either I nor the sister saw the appearance( b9t witnesse5 the e==ect on the girl who
5i5 see it( both being E9ite awake.C
,e =in5 =rom "o>le4s Court 7uide that Mrs. an5 the Misses .orn live5 at 32( -a5ogan
1lace( -helsea( =rom 27:8T7. Mrs. 'ichar5s has there=ore ante5ate5 the inci5ent b> a
>ear or two.
Y*he case is remote@ b9t when the central =act( narrate5 b> an e>ewitness o= the scene( is
so precisel> like that o= n9mbers o= more recent an5 corroborate5 cases( the h>pothesis
that it has been 9nconscio9sl> invente5 5oes not seem speciall> probable.Z
PVVWQ *he narrator o= the ne?t case obDects to p9blicit>( an5 takes no interest in the
s9bDect.
B%ovember 8th( 2773.
B,hen I was abo9t 2; or 2U >ears ol5( I was sitting one evening( towar5s 59sk( at the
piano practising( when I saw an ol5 la5>( the gran5mother o= one o= m> school=ellows(
enter the room. I was in the habit o= seeing her =reE9entl>( an5 recognise5 her per=ectl>.
/he was ver> ol5( an5 to the best o= m> belie= ha5 never entere5 o9r ho9se at all( so that I
was greatl> s9rprise5 to see her. I hear5 the ne?t 5a> she ha5 5ie5 on the evening I saw
her. I never ha5 an> other hall9cination.
BM)'# -.C
In conversation( Miss -. e?plaine5 to Mr. 1o5more that she 5i5 not act9all> see the =ig9re
enter the room. /he looke5 9p s955enl>( an5 =o9n5 it stan5ing b> her si5e. *he =ig9re was
in or5inar> in5oor 5ress( with( as she partic9larl> notice5( a large white cap( o= m9slin
an5 lace( s9ch as the ol5 la5> 9s9all> wore. *he =ig9re vanishe5 s955enl> as she ii-V2V!
looke5 at it. *he room( tho9gh 59sk( was not 5ark( an5 she was able 5istinctl> to
recognise the =eat9res.
/he cannot be certain whether she tol5 an>one o= what she ha5 seen. /he probabl> tol5
the =rien5 Pthe gran55a9ghter o= the la5> who 5ie5Q =rom whom she hear5 the news o= the
5eath ne?t 5a>. *he time o= the 5eath she 5oes not remember.
/he knew the ol5 la5> well( an5 was in the habit o= r9nning in to see her nearl> ever>
5a>. "9t at this 5istance o= time she cannot recollect whether the 5eath was regar5e5 as
imminent.
/he has lost sight o= her =rien5( an5 can get no =9rther partic9lars. *he inci5ent occ9rre5
abo9t 27VU@ b9t the name o= the la5> who 5ie5 being a ver> common one( o9r e==orts to
obtain the e?act 5ate have =aile5.
*he ne?t case seems to ill9strate the heightening o= the percipient4s s9sceptibilit> at the
approach o= 5eath. It is( o= co9rse( ver> rarel> that there is a chance =or this to be
observe5@ as it can onl> comparativel> rarel> happen that 5eath Por some event o= critical
interestQ happens to )4s =rien5 or relative at a 5istance( at the paric9lar time that ) is
5>ing. "9t I ma> re=er to cases :WU an5 328.
PVV7Q +rom the 'ev. F. ). Mac5onal5( =ormerl> o= Manchester( an5 now o= 'h>l. *he
evi5ence ma> =airl> be regar5e5 as =irst-han5 =rom the percipient4s 5a9ghter.
B/eptember( 27W7.
B$9ring the last illness o= Mr. ,illiam Fackson( o= Otle>( who =or V; >ears ha5 been a
consistent member o= the ,esle>an Metho5ist -h9rch( the little son o= his 5a9ghter
sickene5 an5 5ie5. ,ishing not 9nnecessaril> to 5isE9iet the goo5 man( this sa5 event
was withhel5 =rom him. .e was =9ll o= hol> Do>( an5 recognise5 the presence in his
chamber o= a n9mber o= his relatives who ha5 5eparte5 this li=e in the tri9mph o= =aith.
.e pointe5 them o9t in s9ccessionAthis is so-an5-so( an5 there s9ch another. In the
co9rse o= this procee5ing he s955enl> starte5 with s9rprise( =or he 5iscovere5 his
gran5son also among the heavenl> compan>. *hen t9rning to his 5a9ghter( he sai5( u,ell(
never min5( he is all right.4
B.is 5a9ghter( Miss Fane Fackson( certi=ies this. /he sa>s( uIt is per=ectl> tr9e@ I was in the
room with m> lamente5 =ather at the time.4C
In answer to an inE9ir>( Mr. Mac5onal5 writes:A
B)s to the case o= ,illiam Fackson( his 5a9ghter 5i5 en5orse it to me as note5 in the
E9otation marks( b9t I 5estro>e5 her letter( never 5reaming o= a /ociet> =or 1s>chical
'esearch( an5 I 5o not know now where to =in5 her. *he =amil> evi5entl> knew that the
gran5son ha5 5ie5( b9t kept that knowle5ge =rom the 5>ing man. *he in=ormation I
receive5 =rom the wi=e o= Mr. *own -o9ncillor M>ers( o= .9ll.C Miss Fackson is since
5ecease5. ,e learn that Mr. Fackson 5ie5 on Fan. 2U( 27W8.
Y*he central inci5ent in a case o= this t>pe seems reasonabl> e?plicable b> tho9ght-
trans=erence =rom one o= the b>stan5ers Pcf. case :WXQAtho9gh man> wo9l5 o= co9rse be
9nwilling to regar5 the vision o= the other relatives as p9rel> s9bDective. I have re=erre5
more than once to the 5i==ic9lt> o= making E9ite s9re that a piece o= important news(
which is abroa5 in a ho9sehol5( has not reache5 ears =or which it was not inten5e5.Z
ii-V28!
PVVX an5 V8;Q +rom Mr. .ickman .eather( 1ostmaster o= 'et=or5. *he evi5ence in the
=irst case is secon5-han5( b9t in the secon5 is on a par with =irst-han5 PVol. I.( p. 237Q.
B+ebr9ar> 27th( 277V.
BIn m> earl> bo>hoo5 I have =reE9entl> hear5 the =ollowing stor> =rom both m> parents. I
ma> pre=ace the stor> b> sa>ing that( in 27:V( m> =ather( *homas .eather( was a miller(
occ9p>ing a win5mill in ,estthorpe +iel5s( in the parish o= /o9thwell( his ho9se being at
,estthorpe( abo9t one mile 5istant =rom the mill. M> gran5=ather( Fohn .eather( occ9pie5
a =arm 9n5er the late /ir 'ichar5 /9tton( at &overton( in the parish o= "leasb>( abo9t :
miles 5istant. M> =ather( who ha5 been working his mill 9ntil past mi5night( locke5 9p
his mill an5 went home. On his wa> the apparition o= his mother crosse5 his path( an5
was so clearl> seen that he marke5 the 5ress( one which ha5 been commonl> worn( an5
on his arrival at home he at once reporte5 the circ9mstance to Yhis wi=eZ m> mother(
sa>ing that uhe ha5 never seen his mother more plainl> in his li=e.4 Earl> ne?t morning( a
man ro5e in with the sa5 news that m> gran5mother ha5 been =o9n5 5ea5 in her be5.
B) secon5 case occ9rre5 9n5er m> own notice( altho9gh the apparition was not seen b>
me. In the >ear 27V3( m> =ather( who then live5 at &overton( "leasb>( was b9il5ing a
ho9se an5 a >ar5 =or pigs. *he b9il5ing an5 the >ar5 were on a slope. M> =ather was
stan5ing at the lower en5 with his arms resting 9pon the wall@ the entrance to the ho9se
=rom the >ar5 was 5irectl> opposite( an5 was open( the 5oor not having been h9ng. I was
in the =arm>ar5 at some little 5istance( b9t having a clear =9ll view o= m> =ather an5 the
b9il5ing( when I was startle5 b> m> =ather e?claiming( uFack( D9st see what >o9r Uncle
%e5 is 5oing in the pigst>.4 I at once went( altho9gh I knew it to be impossible that m>
Uncle %e5 co9l5 be there( he being serio9sl> ill at the time. .aving searche5 the place(
m> =ather tol5 me that he ha5 5istinctl> seen m> 9ncle cross the 5oorwa>( an5 wo9l5
scarcel> believe that he was not to be =o9n5 insi5e. In abo9t a co9ple o= ho9rs( a
messenger bro9ght the ti5ings that m> 9ncle ha5 5ie5.
BI beg to a55 that in the case o= m> gran5mother there was no previo9s illness( she having
gone to be5 in apparentl> per=ect health.
BFO.% .I-0M)% .E)*.E'.C
,e have proc9re5 a cop> o= an inscription o= a tombstone at "leasb>( which con=irms the
=act that Mrs. Fohn .eather 5ie5 in 27:V PMa> UQ.
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that Mr. E5war5 .eather 5ie5 on %ov. U7( 27V:( not
27V3.
Mr. .eather4s wi=e writes on Ma> UU( 2778( to con=irm these acco9nts( which she hersel=
Bhear5 =rom the lips o= both Mr. an5 Mrs. *homas .eather.C
*he narrator o= the =ollowing cases is the brother o= the narrator o= %o. U:U@ it is possible
there=ore to s9ppose some 5egree o= =amil> s9sceptibilit> Pp. 2:U( noteQ. *he =irst case
ma> have been an ill9sion( an5 I give it no separate evi5ential n9mber.
PV82Q +rom the 'ev. .. ). ..( *he Vicarage AA.
ii-V2W!
B$ecember 2Xth( 277V.
B*he =ollowing occ9rrences took place three >ears ago( an5 ha5 re=erence to parishioners
here who were m9ch on m> min5( an5 whom I was visiting in their last illnesses.
BOne was a =armer4s wi=e who was m9ch a=rai5 o= giving me tro9ble. I ha5 given her the
.ol> -omm9nion 59ring the a=ternoon( an5 when I le=t( promise5 to come again ne?t
5a>. /he sai5 she sho9l5 be ver> gla5 to see me( b9t 5i5 not like to be s9ch a tro9ble( as it
was some 5istance an5 I was going ever> 5a>. I sai5 it was no tro9ble( b9t the reason wh>
I was here( an5 I sho9l5 be s9re to come.
B*hat evening I ha5 a mission service( U miles awa>( in E9ite another 5irection. Mrs. ..
was with me. ,e were walking home together( an5 ha5 Doke5 abo9t not meeting an>one
on the roa5. I sai5( u#o9 see i= >o9 ha5 been alone( >o9 wo9l5 act9all> have met no one
to alarm >o9.4 It was rather 5ark( b9t >o9 co9l5 see a =orm 2V or U; >ar5s awa>. ,e
walke5 on( talking abo9t vario9s things( an5 then I saw someone coming. I sai5 u.ere we
meet someone at last.4 /he sai5( uI 5on4t see an>one.4 uThere(4 I sai5@ ulook( there comes
an ol5 woman( an5 she is twisting her shawl ro9n5 her neck.4 M> wi=e( however( co9l5
see nothing(
2
b9t I tho9ght to m>sel= she will see her plainl> eno9gh 5irectl>. .owever( it
melte5 awa>. *here was no one. I sai5( uIt is ver> o55@ I certainl> did see an ol5 woman.
Let 9s go into -4s ho9se4 Pthe village carpenter4sQ uan5 see i= there is an>one 5ea5.4 ,e
went in( an5 he sai5( uI have D9st got or5ers to make a co==in.4 I looke5 at Mrs. .. an5
sai5( uIn5ee5( who is it =orr4 .e sai5( u+or Mrs. ".(4 naming the =armer4s wi=e I ha5 seen
that ver> a=ternoon. I sai5( u*here m9st be some mistake. I onl> le=t her at 3 o4clock( an5
there were no signs o= imme5iate 5eath.4 u%o(4 he sai5( uit is so.4 I went ne?t 5a>( an5
=o9n5 she ha5 5ie5 =rom a s955en stoppage o= the heart( abo9t hal=-past 7( an5 that almost
the last wor5s were( uI am sorr> to give Mr. .. the tro9ble o= coming again to-morrow.4
B*he other occasion was abo9t two or three months a=terwar5s. ) ver> respectable >o9ng
=armer broke a bloo5vessel on the brain( an5 I visite5 him some three or =o9r times. *he
last time he was E9ite 9nconscio9s( an5 evi5entl> co9l5 not live long. .e was ver>
an?io9s to see me as m9ch as possible be=ore becoming 9nconscio9s( o=ten sa>ing( u/en5
=or the vicar.4 On the morning that he 5ie5( I was awoke b> what I tho9ght was Mrs. .. in
her white 5ressing-gown. ,e were sleeping( =or some reason( in separate rooms that
night. I was ver> sleep> when awoke( an5 sai5( uIs it time to get 9pr I m9st have another
2; min9tes(4 an5 =ell asleep again. I 5i5 not look at the =ace o= the =orm( being ver> sleep>
an5 =eeling sure it was Mrs. .. .owever( b>-an5-b>e( Mrs. .. did come in( an5 sai5(
u#o9ng '. is 5ea5@ the girl who brings the milk bro9ght wor5.4 I sai5( uIs it ver> long
since ,ou first woke mer4 *hen she ass9re5 me it was the =irst time she ha5 been in the
room. .e ha5 5ie5 abo9t V that ver> morning( D9st as I =ancie5 I ha5 been calle5 b> Mrs.
.. M> regret is( I 5i5 not look at the =ace( b9t( being tire5 an5 sleep> I onl> saw the =ig9re
9p to the waist( an5 went o== to sleep with it stan5ing there( never imagining it was not
m> wi=e. *his is m> last hall9cination. I have visite5 scores o= 5eathbe5s since( b9t have
ha5 no =9rther visions.
ii-V27!
BI ma> a55 I am in no wa> nervo9s( b9t a strong( mi55le-age5 man( in e?cellent health(
an5 ver> temperate in eating as well as 5rinking. I 5on4t E9ite know how to acco9nt =or
these things( e?cept that both these people were m9ch in m> min5( an5 both o= them
people =or whom I ha5 m9ch respect an5 s>mpath>.
B.. ). ..C
In conversation( Mr. .. mentione5 that he has ha5 two e?periences o= apparentl>
s9bDective vis9al hall9cination@ b9t these both occ9rre5 when he was a bo>. .e a55s in
s9bseE9ent letters:A
BI ma> a55( as regar5s the =irst o= the two c9rio9s visions( that I was ver> constantl>
walking that roa5 at that ho9r( as I ha5 a weekl> service@ b9t that was the onl> occasion
m> e>es misle5 me. ,hen I =irst saw the =ig9re( it appeare5 to be crossing the roa5( b9t in
o9r 5irection( like a person changing =rom the =ootpath to the mi55le o= the roa5. It was(
o= co9rse( somewhat sha5ow>( as a person is in the 59sk. /till( it ha5 the look o= an ol5
woman@ I co9l5 5isting9ish the se?. *he roa5 is a co9ntr> one( b9t on nearing the village
there are some lamp-posts( b9t we were some 5istance =rom them. It was a clo95> an5
rather win5> night( an5 there were( o= co9rse( sha5ows =rom clo95s an5 trees cast abo9t@
it was not deep 5ark( b9t more than 59sk. I am so acc9stome5 to these walks that it wo9l5
be 5i==ic9lt =or an> nat9ral obDect to have ca9se5 s9ch an ill9sion. I was E9ite s9re that an
ol5 woman was there( in the mi55le o= the roa5Aso s9re that I 5i5 not keep m> e>e 9pon
her( an5 as we came 9p she was gone. Mrs. .. has or5inar> e>esight( m9ch like m> own(
neither remarkable =or great ac9teness o= vision nor the reverse.
BI ma> a55( too( regar5ing the secon5 case( that I was =9ll> awake( tho9gh heav> with
sleep( an5 5i5 not drea( Mrs. .. awoke me. I am personall> convince5 o= this( =or I
won5ere5( as I went o== to sleep again( that Mrs. .. did not go, an5 tho9ght she wo9l5 tell
me in another min9te or two that I reall> (ust get 9p. I =ell asleep with the sensation o=
her presence a=ter m> e>es were close5 again.C
Mrs. .. writes:A
B$ecember U:r5( 277V.
B)s >o9 wish to have some corroboration o= two c9rio9s statements o= =acts ma5e to >o9
b> m> h9sban5( I write a =ew lines to tell >o9 m> remembrance o= the occasions. ,e
were walking home =rom a week-night service( =rom a hamlet some 5istance =rom here(
when I remarke5 I wo9l5 not walk here alone =or an>thing. Mr. .. sai5( uIt is c9rio9s we
have never met an>one.4 %ot long a=terwar5s( as we were nearing the village( he sai5(
u,ell( here comes someone at last@ who is itr4 I sai5( uI 5on4t see an>one.4 .e sai5( uOh
>o9 m9st( b> the lamp-post4 Ythere is a 5iscrepanc> here =rom Mr. ..4s acco9ntZ@ ushe is
p9tting a shawl over her hea5( an5 coming to meet 9s. $o >o9 know herr4 I sai5(
u-ertainl> not( =or there isn4t an>one.4 .e sai5( u)n>how she is coming E9ickl> towar5s
9s@ then >o9 m9st see.4 In another min9te we were both s9re it m9st have been some
appearance( an5 went into the carpenter4s close b> to see i= we co9l5 hear an>thing( an5
his =irst wor5s were( u,ell( sir( I have or5ers =or a co==in =or Mrs. ".4 ,e both sai5(
uImpossibles she seeme5 nicel> this a=ternoon.4 I know she was an?io9s to spare m>
h9sban5 an> tro9ble( as it was a long walk( an5 we nat9rall> connecte5 it with this.
B)s regar5s the >o9ng =armer( he ha5 been m9ch on o9r min5s( as it ii-V2X! was a
5istressing case in man> wa>s. ,or5 was bro9ght earl> in the morning that he was 5ea5@
b9t owing to one o= the chil5ren not being well( an5 having to be in m> room( Mr. .. was
in an a5Doining one( an5 I wo9l5 not 5ist9rb him 9ntil later. ,hen I went in I sai5( u,ell(
poor F. '. is gone.4 .e sai5( uI knew he wo9l5 be@ b9t wh> 5i5n4t >o9 tell me when >o9
came in be=orer4 I sai5( uI have not been in be=ore.4 .e sai5( u#es( when >o9 came in to
wake me( an5 I begge5 =or at all events 2; min9tes more.4 .e then tol5 me what he ha5
sai5 to meAas he tho9ght( an5 he was s9rprise5 I 5i5 not answer. It m9st be three or =o9r
>ears ago( b9t I remember these =acts 5istinctl>.
BE. ..C
Y%either o= these cases wo9l5 be ver> striking alone( b9t the> are o= interest as occ9rring
to the same percipient. *here can har5l> be a 5o9bt that the e?perience in the secon5
instance was a hall9cination( not an ill9sion@ an5 the same acco9nt o= the =irst e?perience
is ren5ere5 to some e?tent probable b> the =act that Mrs. .. 5i5 not share it( tho9gh an>
moving obDect sho9l5 have been as visible to her as her h9sban5. )n5 i= the e?periences
were hall9cinations( the improbabilit> that Mr. .. sho9l5 s9bDectivel> evolve the onl>
two hall9cinations o= his a59lt li=e at those partic9lar moments remains enormo9s(
however m9ch allowance be ma5e =or the =act that he was aware that his two parishioners
were in a 5>ing state.Z
In the =ollowing case the percipient was a >o9ng chil5. It is a phantasmal case which ma>
be compare5 to the merel> impressional cases( %os. 3W an5 37( an5 the 5ream-case( %o.
3V8. /ee also cases :3V( :VU( 8;W( 8:3( 8VU.
PV8UQ +rom Mrs. /k>ring( )5miralt> O==ices( /pring &ar5ens( /.,.
*he acco9nt was proc9re5 =or 9s b> Mr. ). ,. La=one( M.1.( oY=Z .atton( "e5=ont.
BF9ne( 277:.
BIn or abo9t the >ear 27:U( m> h9sban5( -aptain /k>ring( '.%.( le=t Englan5 on a
s9rve>ing e?pe5ition in comman5 o= ..M./. uEtna4@ o9r little son( ,illie( was abo9t B
>ears ol5 at the time o= his 5epart9re. *he chil5 was ver> =on5 o= carr>ing abo9t a
miniat9re portrait o= his =ather( an5 on the U:r5 o= $ecember( 27::( the chil5 being abo9t
: >ears ol5( he was pla>ing in a c9rtaine5 recess in the n9rser> when I hear5 him call o9t
in an e?cite5 tone u1apa( papa( come to me.4 On m> E9estioning him he 5eclare5 he ha5
seen his =ather( an5 was so agitate5 that I was a=rai5 to all95e to the s9bDect again. /hortl>
a=terwar5s I receive5 news =rom the )5miralt> that -aptain /k>ring ha5 been m9r5ere5
b> the natives at -ape 'o?o on the 5a> in E9estion. M> son( who is now 5ea5( live5 to be
a man( b9t ha5 no recollection o= this episo5e.
BI ma> a55 that -aptain /k>ring( when lie9tenant o= ..M./. u"eagle(4 relate5 that his
mother appeare5 to him as he was l>ing in his cot( an5 that he entere5 the occ9rrence in
his log-book at the time@ an5 5iscovere5( on his ret9rn to Englan5( that she ha5 5ie5 on
the 5ate o= the apparition.
B/. L. /0#'I%&.C
Y*his case is again ver> remote@ it is( moreover( impossible to be s9re that in5epen5ent
note was taken o= the 5ate o= the cr>. "9t the inci5ent o= the chil54s agitation is not likel>
to have been 9nconscio9sl> imagine5 ii-VU;! an5 the coinci5ence m9st have been( at
an> rate( close eno9gh to e?cite remark. *he last paragraph in the acco9nt once more
s9ggests that the capacit> o= percipience was here5itar>@ b9t the 5etail as to the log-book
is not one that can be relie5 on PVol. I.( p. 282( noteQ.Z
PV8:Q Mr. .ensleigh ,e5gwoo5 took 5own the =ollowing 5eposition( in /eptember( 27W8(
=rom Fane "ar=or5( the con=i5ential servant Psince 5ecease5Q o= a =rien5( Miss /tephen.
BM> =ather 5ie5 the 22th Fan9ar>( 2737. M> mother ha5 sent me awa> to an a9nt( who
live5 abo9t two miles o==( in or5er to be o9t o= the wa> while m> =ather was so ill. On the
morning o= his 5eath I was calle5 at 8 o4clock( inten5ing( as 9s9al( to help m> co9sins in
the 5air>. )bo9t a E9arter be=ore W( I was going 5ownstairs with m> can5le in m> han5(
when I met m> =ather in his night-shirt coming 9p. .e p9t o9t his han5( as i= to take the
can5lestick( which I 5roppe5 in m> =right( an5 was le=t alone in the 5ark. I knew it co9l5
not be m> living =ather( an5 was convince5 that he was 5ea5( an5 ha5 come to bi5 me
goo5-b>e. I tol5 m> co9sins what ha5 happene5( an5 sai5 that I m9st imme5iatel> go
home. *he> trie5 to pers9a5e me to sta> till a=ter break=ast( sa>ing it was onl> m> =anc>(
b9t I set o== at once( an5 on m> wa> I met m> a9nt( who ha5 been sitting 9p with m>
=ather( an5 was coming back to tell me o= his 5eath( which ha5 taken place D9st at a
E9arter be=ore W.
BF)%E ")'+O'$.C
Y*he co9sins cannot now be trace5@ an5 as Miss /tephen has no cl9e to Fane "ar=or54s
=amil>( the 5ate o= the 5eath cannot be in5epen5entl> veri=ie5. *he case is one which
co9l5 have ha5 little =orce( since the percipient ha5 no 5o9bt been in an?iet> abo9t her
=ather PVol. I.( p. V;XQ( b9t =or the e?treme closeness o= the allege5 conci5ence.Z
PV83Q +rom Mrs. 1o9lter( wi=e o= a retire5 "aptist minister at Lee5s.
B277:.
B,hen I was a >o9ng woman( I live5 =or some time at /evenoaks( an5 atten5e5 a
,esle>an class con59cte5 b> an el5erl> la5> to whom I became warml> attache5. )=ter
that Pin 27:VQ I went to live at "o9rne( in Lincolnshire( an5 one 5a>( while sitting in m>
=ront room( I was startle5 at seeing m> 5ear ol5 =rien5 =rom /evenoaks pass the win5ow(
an5 go towar5s the =ront 5oor. I hastene5 to receive her( b9t on opening the =ront 5oor
there was no one to be seen in the whole length o= the E9iet street. I a=terwar5s learnt that
at that ho9r m> =rien5 5ie5.C
Mrs. 1o9lter4s son-in-law( Mr. F. L. -herr>( o= 'owle> 1ark( /ta==or5( writes to 1ro=essor
"arrett:ABIt is some U; >ears since Mrs. 1o9lter =irst tol5 me the stor>( an5 since I ha5
the pleas9re o= seeing >o9( she has certi=ie5 to the acc9rac> o= the 5ra=t which I s9bmitte5
to her.C
Y*he acco9nt is ver> incomplete@ b9t Mrs. 1o9lter is ol5( an5 m9st not be tro9ble5
=9rther.Z
PV8VQ +rom Mr. Lo9is L>ons( :( "o9verie /E9are( +olkestone.
BOctober 7th( 277:.
BIn 27V3 we resi5e5 in .ana9. ,e kept two servants. One winter4s ii-VU2! evening( D9st
be=ore going to be5( &retchen came po9ncing into the 5ining-room where we were
sitting( in great e?citement( 5eclaring that her =ather( whom she ha5 le=t in goo5 health at
&ellnha9sen( ha5 D9st appeare5 to her with s9ch 5eDection in his co9ntenance that she
m9st go to him that moment@ an5 o== she starte5 in the snow( an5 reache5 &ellnha9sen in
time to close her parent4s breaking e>es. I cannot proc9re =9rther evi5ence.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. L>ons sa>s:A
BIt ma5e a 5eep impression on me( an5 is now E9ite =resh on m> min5. I certainl> was in
the room( an5 there is not a sha5ow o= 5o9bt in m> min5.C
PV88Q +rom Mrs. Morris( 1entrabach( *recastle( "reconshire.
B/eptember 2Wth( 2773.
BEarl> in 2772( I ha5 D9st ret9rne5 =rom a 5rive with m> a9nt( whom I ha5 seen o== b>
train to what we =elt s9re was the 5eath-be5 o= a little co9sin. It m9st have been abo9t 8 in
the evening. I was stan5ing at m> 5ressing-table taking o== m> hat( when I hear5 someone
tr> m> 5oor. I crosse5 the room an5 opene5 the 5oor at once an5 saw( stan5ing in the
5oorwa>( the =ig9re o= little &.( looking ver>( ver> white( an5 5resse5 in a white night-
5ress. ,hat str9ck me most was that his han5s were crosse5( an5 in the =ingers o= his
right han5 were two lilies an5 a lea=. *he =ace smile5 at me@ an5( as I stoo5 looking( the
=ig9re 5isappeare5.
B*he =ollowing 5a> I went 9p to Doin m> a9nt( an5 hear5 that &. ha5 5ie5 abo9t 3 o4clock
the a=ternoon be=ore( an5 that she ha5 seen him soon a=ter her arrival. I imme5iatel>
aske5 i= he ha5 lilies o= the valle> in his han5( an5 she sai5( u#es.4 I then 5escribe5 his
=ig9re( as I ha5 seen it( an5 she sai5 it was precisel> as he looke5 an5 was l>ing at the
time@ that his sister ha5 bo9ght him( at a =lorist4s( the lilies( an5 sent them 9p to him@ that
he ha5 been 5elighte5 with them( an5 ha5 hel5 them 9ntil he 5ie5@ an5 that the> were now
in his han5.
BO= co9rse( m> min5 was =9ll o= him( an5 won5ering whether m> a9nt wo9l5 =in5 him
alive( [c. "9t i= that wo9l5 have ma5e me imagine I saw him( wh> sho9l5 it have ca9se5
me to imagine lilies o= the valle> in 5epth o= winter Pit was the time o= the 5eep snowQ(
an5 o= which I ha5 not hear5r
BM)'# E*.EL MO''I/.C
,e =in5 =rom two obit9ar> notices that the chil5 5ie5 on Fan. U8( 2772( age5 W >ears.
In repl> to inE9iries( Mrs. Morris writes( on October UU( 2773:A
BI will write to m> a9nt an5 ask her to con=irm m> acco9nt o= m> little co9sin4s
appearance( as I =eel s9re she will not hesitate to 5o so.
BI did 5istinctl> see lilies o= the valle> in the chil54s han5.C
Mrs. Morris4s a9nt writes( in a portion o= a letter enclose5 to 9s on %ov. W( 2773:A
B)s regar5s poor little &.( I E9ite remember >o9r sa>ing that >o9 saw him o9tsi5e ,our
5oor( an5 I 5o remember something abo9t >o9r sa>ing >o9 saw him with the lilies. I have
an idea >o9 sai5 so( b9t it was s9ch a sa5 thing altogether that things are mist>.
BM)'# /EL,OO$C
Mrs. Morris a55s( on Fan. U8( 2778:A
ii-VUU!
B)s =ar as I can recollect I 5i5 not mention m> seeing m> co9sin at the time. I was alone
in the ho9se with two ver> nervo9s servants( so that I har5l> think it likel> I sho9l5 speak
to them abo9t an>thing ughostl>.4 "9t I tol5 m> a9nt( 5escribing the chil54s appearance(
before she ha5 tol5 me an> partic9lars o= the 5eath( the =lowers( [c.C
Mrs. Morris has ha5 two other hall9cinations representing a =ig9re( which in both
instances was 9nrecognise5@ one o= these occ9rre5 at the moment o= waking@ the secon5
ma> have been 59e to nervo9sness or e?pectanc>( as another member o= the ho9sehol5
ha5 been similarl> a==ecte5 D9st be=ore. "9t Mrs. Morris is certainl> not o= a nervo9s or
=anci=9l temperament.
YIt is no 5o9bt possible that the hall9cination in this case was p9rel> s9bDective( an5
connecte5 with an?iet> on the chil54s acco9nt@ b9t it is 5i==ic9lt to believe that the
correspon5ence o= the lilies was acci5ental. Mrs. Morris is certain that there was no
association in her min5 between the chil5 an5 this partic9lar =lower@ an5 the i5ea o=
getting the lilies =or him ha5 been a s955en one.Z
PV8WQ +rom the late Mrs. )mos( .>the.
BOctober 2773.
BI was living at +aversham at the time when m> mother was taken ill( who live5 at .>the(
0ent. I went to see her on a +ri5a> an5 ret9rne5 home on *9es5a>. On *h9rs5a> I retire5
to rest at abo9t 2; o4clock( when( on looking at the =oot o= the be5( I saw m> mother
stan5ing 5resse5 in white@ her =eat9res were ver> 5istinct. I spoke to m> h9sban5 an5
aske5 him to look at the =oot o= the be5( as mother stoo5 looking at me. .e sai5( uI 5on4t
see her@ can >o9 see her nowr4
2
M> repl> was( u#es.4 )=ter that she vanishe5 slowl>
awa>. M> h9sban5 sai5 it was ver> o55( an5 at break=ast he aske5 me i= I was a=rai5 to be
alone. M> repl> was( I wo9l5 rather be b> m>sel=. *he ne?t 5a> we ha5 a letter to sa> m>
5ear mother was at rest. I can still see her as plain as at that time. *he 5ate was
%ovember( 2738. I have never ha5 another vision b9t this one.
B/)'). )MO/.C
,e =in5 =rom the obit9aries in two $over papers that Mrs. )mos4 mother( Mrs. ,iles(
5ie5 on %ov. U2( 2738.
O9r =rien5( Miss 1orter( who knew an5 E9estione5 Mrs. )mos( sa>s:A
BI am E9ite pers9a5e5 o= the tr9th o= her statement. In 5escribing the apparition to me(
she tol5 me that the room was E9ite 5ark( b9t that there seeme5 to be a sort o= clo95 o=
light behin5 the =ig9re which enable5 her to see it 5istinctl>.
U
/he was ver> partic9lar in
telling me that it remaine5 all the time she was talking to her h9sban5( an5 that she
looke5 at it =i?e5l> the whole time. /he thinks that it m9st have remaine5 several
min9tes.C
Y*he percipient4s previo9s state o= an?iet> has again to be note5( as possibl> the ca9se o=
the hall9cination.Z
PV87Q }9ote5 B=rom the 'e(oirs of ?. Th. >ngelhardtF in the work o= 1ro=essor
1ogo5ine( o= Moscow( !i(ple Discourse on Difficult !ub5ects, ii-VU:! mentione5 on p.
V;7. ,e have been 9nable to proc9re the original 'e(oirs@ an5 Mr. *. "r9hns( o=
/im=eropol( a -orrespon5ing Member o= the /.1.'.( who has translate5 the passage( has
been eE9all> 9ns9ccess=9l.
BIn 27V7( I live5 in Moscow( an5 was or5ere5 to go =or some time to )rkhangelsk. On
+ebr9ar> PVthT2Wth(Q be=ore leaving( I wrote a congrat9lator> letter to m> mother in
1etersb9rg( who was abo9t to celebrate Pon +ebr9ar> 7thTU;thQ the 7;th anniversar> o=
her birth5a>. I congrat9late5 m> 5ear mother( an5 entreate5 her to bless me =or m> long
Do9rne>. ,itho9t her blessing I =eare5 that m> Do9rne> wo9l5 be 9nhapp>. I sent m> letter
an5 5eparte5. Up to Iaroslavsk the roa5 was tolerabl> goo5. In this town I spent a 5a>.
"9t =rom Iaroslavsk to Volog5a the roa5 became so terribl> ba5 that I was oblige5 to stop
at one station( to rest till the morning. .aving taken o9t m> pelisse( I la> 5resse5 on the
so=a. I 5on4t belong to that happ> class o= men who =all asleep as soon as the> lie 5own. I
took a book an5 trie5 to rea5( b9t m> =atig9e was so great that I co9l5 not rea5. I rose
=rom the so=a an5 e?ting9ishe5 the can5le( thinking that in 5arkness I sho9l5 =all asleep
more E9ickl>. /carcel> ha5 I again reache5 m> be5 when I saw( to m> great
astonishment( m> mother with her sister( who ha5 5ie5 in 2738(
2
stan5ing a =ew =eet =rom
me. Vivi5l> impresse5 b> this e?traor5inar> vision( I looke5( motionless( at these 5ear
ones. M> mother was stan5ing be=ore me as tho9gh alive( an5 she blesse5 me with a sign
o= the cross. "9t her sister( tho9gh per=ectl> recognisable( ha5( so to speak( a more light(
ethereal aspect. I took the matches an5 lighte5 the can5leAb9t the apparitions ha5
alrea5> =a5e5 awa>. *his inci5ent took place in the night o= 2UthTU3th( 2:thTUVth
+ebr9ar>( 27V7( between U an5 : o4clock in the morning. )bo9t a week a=ter m> arrival at
)rkhangelsk( I was in=orme5 b> m> brother-in-law that m> mother e?pire5 in the night o=
2UthT2:th +ebr9ar>.C
S U. In the ne?t gro9p o= cases( =irst-han5 or on a par with =irsthan5( the con5itioning
event or state on the agent4s si5e was something other than 5eath( tho9gh in two o= them
5eath was rapi5l> approaching.
PV8XQ +rom Mr. )lgernon Fo>( U;( ,ilton 1lace( /.,.
B)9g9st 28th( 277:.
B)bo9t 278U( I was walking in a co9ntr> lane near -ar5i== b> m>sel=( when I was
overtaken b> two >o9ng colliers( who s955enl> attacke5 me. One o= them gave me a
violent blow on the e>e( which knocke5 me 5own( hal= st9nne5. I 5istinctl> remembere5
a=terwar5s all that I ha5 been thinking abo9t( both imme5iatel> prior to the attack( an5 =or
some time a=ter it. Up to the moment o= the attack( an5 =or some time previo9sl>( I was
absorbe5 in a calc9lation( connecte5 with the 1enarth $ocks( then in constr9ction( on
which I was emplo>e5. M> train o= tho9ght was interr9pte5 =or a moment b> the so9n5 o=
=ootsteps behin5 me. I looke5 back( an5 saw the two >o9ng men( b9t tho9ght no more o=
them( an5 imme5iatel> ret9rne5 to m> calc9lations. On receiving the blow( I began
spec9lating on their obDect( what the> were going to 5o ne?t( how I co9l5 best 5e=en5
m>sel=( or escape =rom them@ an5 when the> ran awa>( an5 I ii-VU3! ha5 picke5 m>sel=
9p( I tho9ght o= tr>ing to i5enti=> them( an5 o= 5eno9ncing them at the police-station( to
which I procee5e5( a=ter =ollowing them till I lost sight o= them. In short I am positive
that =or abo9t hal= an ho9r previo9s to the attack( an5 =or an ho9r or two a=ter it( there was
no connection whatever( 5irect or in5irect( between m> tho9ghts an5 a person at that
moment in Lon5on( an5 whom I will call u).4 *wo 5a>s a=terwar5s( I receive5 a letter
=rom u)(4 written on the 5a> a=ter the assa9lt( asking me what I ha5 been 5oing an5
thinking abo9t at hal=-past 3 p.m.( on the 5a> previo9s to that on which he was writing.
.e contin9e5: uI ha5 D9st passe5 >o9r cl9b( an5 was thinking o= >o9( when I recognise5
>o9r =ootstep behin5 me. #o9 lai5 >o9r han5 heavil> on m> sho9l5er. I t9rne5( an5 saw
>o9 as 5istinctl> as I ever saw >o9 in m> li=e. #o9 looke5 5istresse5( an5( in answer to m>
greeting an5 inE9ir>( B,hat4s the matterrC >o9 sai5( B&o home( ol5 =ellow( I4ve been
h9rt. #o9 will get a letter =rom me in the morning telling >o9 all abo9t it.C #o9 then
vanishe5 instantaneo9sl>.4
B*he assa9lt took place as near hal=-past 3 as possible( certainl> between 3.2V an5 3.3V. I
wrote an acco9nt o= it to u)4 on the =ollowing 5a>( so that o9r letters crosse5( he receiving
mine( not the ne?t morning( as m> 5o9ble ha5 promise5( b9t on the s9ccee5ing one( at
abo9t the same time as I receive5 his. u)4 solemnl> ass9re5 me that he knew no one in or
near -ar5i==( an5 that m> acco9nt was the onl> one that he receive5 o= the inci5ent. +rom
m> intimate personal knowle5ge o= him( I am certain that he is incapable o= 9ttering an
9ntr9th. "9t there are reasons wh> I cannot give his name( even in con=i5ence.
2

B)L&E'%O% FO#.C
YMr. Fo> having receive5 an acco9nt o= the phantasm written before the news o= his
acci5ent reache5 the percipient( his evi5ence is on a par with =irst-han5 PVol. I.( p. 237Q.Z
PVW;Q +rom Mrs. McM9llin( =ormerl> Miss .ammill Pnow in In5iaQ.
BX( /o9thwick 1lace( .>5e 1ark( ,.
B277:.
BMan> >ears ago an ol5 n9rse( Mar> Vivian( who was living with 9s( tho9ght she saw one
o= the $e Lanc>s( whom she ha5 live5 with( walk thro9gh o9r n9rser>. /he was so certain
she ha5 seen him that she was E9ite overcome( an5 sai5 she was s9re some harm ha5
be=allen him. /ome time a=ter( she hear5 that on his wa> to the -rimea PI think( b9t am
not E9ite s9re when it was(Q this >o9ng $e Lanc> ha5 D9mpe5 overboar5 to save the li=e
o= a sol5ier who ha5 =allen overboar5( an5 ha5 been nearl> 5rowne5( the ver> same
evening she tho9ght she saw him in o9r n9rser>@ an5 he tol5 her he ha5 tho9ght o= his ol5
n9rse when he was in the water.C
Mrs. McM9llin a55s( BI know it was tol5 me at the time.C
La5> "ates( o= U( /9sse? 1lace( .>5e 1ark( writes:A
BMarch 23th( 277V.
B*went>-eight >ears ago an el5erl> woman( name5 Vivian( live5 as n9rse in the service o=
Mr. .ammill( police magistrate( at :3( /9sse? &ar5ens( .>5e 1ark. /he ha5 previo9sl>
been =or man> >ears in the ii-VUV! =amil> o= -olonel $e Lanc>( one o= whose sons in
Ma>( 27VW( was on his vo>age to In5ia with his regiment( the UUn5. One evening( towar5s
the en5 o= that month( Vivian tol5 Miss -onstance .ammill Pthen abo9t 27Q that when
sitting in the n9rser>( between 8 an5 W p.m.( she ha5 seen Oliver $e Lanc> enter an5 pass
thro9gh the room( an5 that she =elt s9re that some mis=ort9ne ha5 happene5 to him. I
hear5 o= the occ9rrence the ne?t 5a>( an5 well remember( even at this 5istance o= time(
the wor5s in which it was relate5 to me:AuVivian has seen a ghost in the n9rser>( an5 it
has ma5e her so ill that she is not able to 5o her work an5 has gone to be5.4 /ome weeks
a=ter( Mr. 1ria9l?( >o9ng $e Lane>4s 9ncle( calle5 to tell Vivian that a letter ha5 been
receive5 =rom him( in which he sai5 that he ha5 nearl> lost his li=e in an 9ns9ccess=9l
attempt to resc9e a private sol5ier o= the UUn5( who ha5 =allen overboar5 between
&ibraltar an5 Malta( a55ing:Au,hen I was in the water I tho9ght o= ol5 Vivian.4 .e gave
no 5ate( b9t Mr. 1ria9l?( at Vivian4s reE9est( inE9ire5 at the ,ar O==ice( an5 =o9n5 that
the man ha5 been 5rowne5 on the UWth o= Ma>Athe 5a> on which( accor5ing to a note
ma5e at the time( she ha5 seen the apparition.
B-aptain $e Lanc> an5 Vivian have been long 5ea5@ an5 Miss -onstance .ammill is
marrie5 now in In5ia@ b9t I have written 5own the stor> e?actl> as I remember to have
hear5 it.
BM. M. ")*E/C
*he =ollowing notice is =rom .art4s )r(, ;ist =or 278V:A
B-aptain Oliver $e Lanc> receive5 the me5al o= the 'o>al .9mane /ociet> =or gallant
con59ct in en5eavo9ring to save the li=e o= 1rivate $empse>( o= the UUn5 'egiment( who
=ell overboar5 between &ibraltar an5 Malta( on the night o= Ma> UWth( 27VW.C
Miss Ewart( o= :( Morpeth *errace( Victoria /treet( tells 9s that when La5> "ates relate5
this inci5ent to her( near the time when it occ9rre5( she mentione5 that Vivian ha5 gone to
make inE9iries o= Mr. 1ria9l? the 5a> a=ter her vision( having receive5 special permission
=rom Mrs. .ammill to 5o so. "9t La5> "ates( tho9gh she sa>s this ma> probabl> have
been so( 5oes not now remember it.
$r. /cott( late hea5master o= ,estminster /chool( who hear5 o= the inci5ent soon a=ter its
occ9rrence( has given 9s an in5epen5ent an5 s9bstantiall> concor5ant acco9nt o= it.
PVW2Q +rom Mr. .. ,oo5erson( U( Little }9een4s 'oa5( *e55ington.
B2772.
BLike the rest o= m> brothers an5 sisters( I have alwa>s ha5 the capacit> o= seeing spirits
in a clairvo>ant wa>.
2
,hen I was a >o9th o= 23( I ran awa> =rom .ampton -o9rt( where
m> parents live5( an5 I went into service as 9n5er-gar5ener with -aptain Emmett( $itton
.o9se( the ne?t estate to Lor5 /t. Leonar5s4( at Long $itton on the other si5e o= the river.
One night( abo9t 27VW( when it was m> t9rn to look a=ter the =ires in the hot-ho9se( D9st as
I was going 5own into the stoke-hole( I saw m> mother stan5ing on the top o= the stoke-
hole in her night-5ress( an5 ii-VU8! her hea5 bo9n5 9p as in a t9rban( as i= she was ill(
which m9ch =rightene5 me@ an5 on Doining the =oreman o= the ho9ses( a /cotchman( he
sai5( u#o9 look =rightene5.4 I tol5 him I ha5 seen m> mother@ he remarke5 that I ha5 seen
her wraith( an5 o9ght to go home( to which I agree5. It was then abo9t hal=-past 2
ouclock. ,e 9se5 the -aptain4s boat that was in the boatho9se to set me over the river(
an5 I ran home. I arrive5 at home at U o4clock( an5 =o9n5 m> mother l>ing in be5 D9st as I
ha5 seen her in m> vision. /he sai5( uI knew I sho9l5 bring >o9.4 /he recovere5 =rom her
illness.
B/ome time a=ter this( I was emplo>e5 as g9ar5 on the &. E. 'ailwa>( an5 I an5 m> mate(
who worke5 the 5own train while I took the 9p train( share5 the same lo5gings at /elb>
/treet( ,aterloo *own( "ethnal &reen. ,e 9se5 to cross each other at "ishop4s /tort=or5(
where we wo9l5 e?change a =ew wor5s. One night I =elt ver> heav> as i= some mis=ort9ne
was abo9t to happen to m> =amil>. I spoke to m> companion when I met him at "ishop4s
/tort=or5( an5 sai5 I was s9re that something was wrong with m> mother. M> companion
ma5e light o= it( an5 sai5 I sho9l5 be all right when I went to work. *he impression(
however( remaine5 with me( an5 when I saw m> companion at night he tol5 me there was
a telegram waiting at home =or me =rom .ampton -o9rt. *he telegram was to warn me
that i= I wishe5 to see m> mother alive( I m9st set o== at once. I starte5 as soon as I co9l5(
a=ter showing the railwa> a9thorities the telegram( an5 taking the =irst train to .ampton
-o9rt( I arrive5 abo9t 2U o4clock( an5 =o9n5 m> mother awaking =rom hal=-an-ho9r4s
sleep( which she ha5 ha5 a=ter long wake=9lness =rom =ever. ,hen she saw me she sai5(
uI co9l5 not 5epart till I ha5 seen >o9( b9t now it is all right.4 /he then la> 5own an5
passe5 awa> 59ring the 5a> witho9t an> tro9ble. *his was in the s9mmer o= 2788.
B.. ,OO$E'/O%C
,e =in5 =rom a newspaper obit9ar> that Mrs. ,oo5erson 5ie5 on )9g. U;( 2787 Pnot
2788Q.
Y)s Mr. ,oo5erson recollects the t9rban as the special =eat9re in his vision which
s9ggeste5 to him the i5ea o= illness( it is not so eas> as it wo9l5 otherwise be to s9ppose
that he wrongl> rea5 back the t9rban into the vision a=ter he ha5 seen it in realit>@ an5 the
case ma> be compare5 to those in -hap. \II.( S 7( where some real =eat9re o= the agent4s
aspect seems to be conve>e5. *he case( however( besi5es lacking corroboration( is o=
co9rse m9ch weakene5( =rom an evi5ential point o= view( b> its opening sentence.Z
PVWUQ +rom a la5> who has a 5rea5 o= p9blicit>.
B/eptember( 2773.
BIn 27VW( 59ring ch9rch service( I ha5 an impression o= something being close to m>
=ace. I opene5 m> e>es( an5 saw 5istinctl> the =ace o= a =rien5.
2
It appeare5 E9ite soli5(
an5 I co9l5 recognise all the markings in the =ace. "eing startle5( I close5 m> e>es( when
it was no longer visible@ on re-opening them it was still present. I cannot now remember
whether the news o= m> =rien54s 5eath reache5 9s that evening( or earl> the =ollowing
morning. .e 5ie5 59ring the 5a> P/9n5a>Q on which I ha5 the vision@ b9t I never hear5
the e.act ho9r.
B.. -.C
ii-VUW!
On being interrogate5 b> o9r =rien5( Miss 1orter( o= 28( '9ssell /E9are( Miss -. a55e5
that when she was =irst aware o= something being near her an5 opene5 her e>es( the
vision was within an inch or two o= her =ace( too close =or recognition till she 5rew back a
little.
2
It seeme5 to remain stationar>. /he cannot sa> how long it remaine5( b9t 5escribe5
how a =eeling o= horror came over her that it wo9l5 alwa>s be there be=ore her e>es. It
was also long eno9gh =or her to make 9p her min5 that her =rien5 was 5ea5( an5 she was
not at all s9rprise5 when the news came. It 5isappeare5 s955enl>A5i5 not =a5e( b9t was
there one moment an5 gone the ne?t.
On inE9ir>( Miss -. tol5 the present writer that she knew her =rien5 to be ill( b9t was in
no apprehension o= his 5eath. /he pre=erre5 not to give his name( b9t 9n5ertook hersel= to
ascertain =rom the Ti(es obit9ar> whether she was right in her recollection that he 5ie5
on a /9n5a>. *he res9lt showe5 that she was not( an5 that he 5ie5 on a ,e5nes5a>.
U
.e
ha5 however been ver> ill( an5 5elirio9s( =or : or 3 5a>s previo9sl>@ an5 as she has never
ha5 a hall9cination on an> other occasion( a remarkable coinci5ence remains.
PVW:Q +rom Mrs. "ea9mont( 2( -rescent 'oa5( /. %orwoo5.
B+ebr9ar> U3th( 277V.
BOne 5a> in the 43;s( when I was living in the 'ector> at Marlboro9gh( m> =ather4s
ho9se( m> mother an5 sister ha5 gone o9t( an5 I was l>ing on a so=a in the 5rawing-room@
at abo9t : p.m. I was rea5ing a book( when the light seeme5 to be slightl> 5arkene5( an5
looking 9p I saw( leaning in at the win5ow =arthest =rom me( abo9t three =eet =rom the
gro9n5( an5 beckoning( a gentleman whom I ha5 onl> seen once( abo9t a =ortnight or
three weeks previo9sl>. /9pposing that m> =ather wante5 me to sign m> name Pas a
witness to a lease( or something o= that kin5Q( I got 9p( went o9t o= the win5ow Pwhich
le5 5own into the gar5enQ( an5 passe5 along in =ront o= the ho9se( an5 9p si? steps into
m> =ather4s st95>( which was empt>. I then went into the >ar5 an5 gar5en( b9t =o9n5
nobo5>@ so I ret9rne5 to m> so=a an5 m> books. ,hen =ather came in( two ho9rs
a=terwar5s( I sai5( u,h> 5i5 >o9 sen5 Mr. .. to call me( an5 then go awa>r4 M> =ather
replie5( u,hat are >o9 talking abo9tr .. is 5own in ,ales.4 %othing more was sai5. I 5i5
not like to 5well on the s9bDect to either o= m> parents( an5 I 5i5 not mention the
occ9rrence to an> one =or several >ears. )bo9t a =ortnight a=terwar5s( I was tol5 b> m>
mother that Mr. .. ha5 written( proposing =or m> han5 Psome propert> o= his a5Doine5
some propert> o= m> =ather4s in ,alesQ. I cannot =i? e.actl, how close the coinci5ence
was@ b9t m> strong impression is that the letter was receive5 within U3 ho9rs o= m>
e?perience. "e=ore I was tol5 o= the contents o= the letter( I remember that I =o9n5 the
bl9e envelope o= Mr. ..4s letter Pwith *. .. on the corner( an5 with the coat-o=-arms on
his seal( an5 with the postmark Llan5iloQ on the =loor in m> =ather4s st95>. ,hen the
news was tol5 me( I seeme5 to receive some e?planation o= m> vision.
ii-VU7!
BI have never ha5 an> hall9cination or vision at an> other time( e?cept when I saw the
ulittle brown la5>4 at 0intb9r>.
2

B-. "E)UMO%*.C
Y.ere we have the points that the hall9cinator> vision o= a recognise5 =ig9re was 9niE9e
in the percipient4s e?perience@ an5 that the s9ppose5 agent tho9ghts m9st have been m9ch
occ9pie5 with her at the time. "9t we have no proo= that( on his si5e( the partic9lar time
at which the phantasm was seen stoo5 o9t in an> wa> =rom the ho9rs an5 5a>s that
prece5e5 an5 =ollowe5 it@ an5 the coinci5ence there=ore lacks precision.Z
PVW3Q +rom Mr. F. .. Fevons( 27U( Elm &rove( "righton.
B)9g9st( 2773.
B,hilst I was 5ressing( the other morning( the =orm o= a =rien5 passe5 amongst some
trees opposite to m> ho9se( an5 so little 5o9bt ha5 I as to the =orm being his( as he looke5
9p to m> win5ow( that I wave5 m> han5 to him to ugo on4 9p the roa5 where we
=reE9entl> walke5. I =ollowe5 in a min9te or two( b9t onl> to =in5 that I co9l5 not =in5
him( high or low( 9p or 5own that roa5( or along an> o= three others. )t length I went
along an acc9stome5 roa5( to a point in the town where we not in=reE9entl> met( or
separate5( as the case might be. "9t non est inventus. /9bseE9entl> I calle5 at his ho9se(
an5 =o9n5 him ver> ill in5ee5( as he still remains.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. Fevons sa>s:A
B/eptember 7th( 2773.
BI think that in cases o= this sort one cannot be too care=9l as to i5entit>( beca9se I know
practicall> how apt the imagination is to o9tr9n the D95gment. "9t o= this partic9lar
instance 9n5er notice( the most I can sa> is( that i= it -as one o= sel=-5eception or mere
s9bDectiveness( I was most completel> 5eceive5 in5ee5. -ertainl> I ha5 reason to e?pect
m> =rien5( as he came past m> place nearl> ever> morning at abo9t 22 o4clock( looke5 9p
at m> win5ow( an5 when I saw him( I wave5 m> han5 in the 5irection in which I implie5
I wo9l5 =ollow him. )s I 5i5 so on the morning to which I am re=erring( I saw him an5
no55e5 to him two or three times( never =or an instant 5o9bting that the =ig9re was his. I
saw( thro9gh the leaves an5 branches o= the trees( on the walk opposite to m> ho9se( his
white hat( silver-rimme5 spectacles an5 5ark gre> bear5( as well as his pec9liar conto9r
an5 gait. .e is WU >ears o= age( tall( slow o= movement( an5 not ver> E9ick o= sight@ an5
as he appeare5 at =irst to hesitate( I wave5 m> han5 again( when he in5icate5( b> his hea5(
in his 9s9al wa>( that he 9n5erstoo5 me( an5 then he walke5 on. I was b9t a =ew min9tes
in m> e==ort to Doin him@ an5 it was when I =o9n5 I co9l5 not see him( or an>bo5> like
him( in an> 5irection( that I was str9ck with the remarkableness o= the occ9rrence( an5 I
stoo5 =airl> p9]]le5( as I m9st have shown( =or I notice5 a passer-b> looking at me in a
sort o= won5ering wa>.
B*he illness was E9ite s955en( an5 neither m> =rien5 nor m>sel= ha5 an> reason( prior to
his sei]9re( to s9ppose that we sho9l5 not meet( as c9stomar>( on the morning mentione5.
*he case has been m> onl, e?perience o= a vis9al hall9cination( with the e?ception o= one
Po= a 5i==erent characterQ I ha5 in m> ver> >o9th=9l 5a>s.
BFO.% .. FEVO%/.C
ii-VUX!
YIt is against the h>pothesis o= mistaken i5entit>( that Mr. Fevons remembers that the
=ig9re seeme5 5istinctl> to recognise his greeting. /till it ma> have been a hall9cination
59e to e?pectanc>. /ee Vol. I.( p. V28.Z
PVWVQ +rom a la5>( Mrs. ,.( who 5esires that her name an5 a55ress ma> not be p9blishe5(
as she has a near relation who wo9l5 m9ch obDect to their appearance.
B+ebr9ar> U;th( 277V.
B,hen a resi5ent near 1ortsmo9th( 59ring a visit ma5e b> m> late mother to Lon5on in
the s9mmer o= 27V7( the >ear prece5ing her 5eath( I 5istinctl> saw her walking in the
back gar5en at noon-5a>. I was not at the time thinking o= her( b9t happening to look
=rom m> chamber win5ow( I behel5 this =ig9re( which( b9t =or m> parent4s absence =rom
home( I sho9l5 have s9ppose5 her veritable sel=. *his inci5ent le5 me to conDect9re
something was amiss@ an5 this i5ea was con=irme5 when the ne?t morning4s post bro9ght
me in=ormation that m> mother ha5 s9staine5 a severe =all( an5 was so ba5l> h9rt that at
=irst =atal res9lts was =eare5@ an5 at the moment I =ancie5 I saw her( her tho9ghts were
bent on telegraphing =or me to go to her.C
*he =ollowing inci5ent is perhaps worth E9oting( as having occ9rre5 to the same person:
A
B) =ew >ears prior to this( when a girl o= 28( an engagement was =orme5 between m>sel=
an5 a >o9ng naval o==icer( abo9t to sail =or the )=rican coast. .e ha5 promise5 m> mother
an5 sel= that he wo9l5 write 9s =rom )scension. It chance5( some time a=ter his 5epart9re(
I accompanie5 a =rien5 in a long co9ntr> walk( when all at once a strange =eeling
possesse5 me that this >o9ng o==icer was near. I seeme5 to =eel the clasp o= his han5 9pon
m> wrist( >et I saw nothing( I ha5 onl> felt a presence. M> companion aske5 wh> I
looke5 so pale. I ma5e an evasive repl>( an5 on ret9rning home tol5 m> mother that u*om
was 5ea5s4 /he trie5 to la9gh awa> m> =anc>@ nevertheless( she note5 the 5ate o= the
occ9rrence@ an5 when a brother o= m> own( then homewar5 bo9n5 =rom the coast o=
)=rica( arrive5( the =irst wor5s he spoke( a=ter an e?change o= greetings( were( uOh( that
poor =ellow >o9 sent letters b> =or me is 5ea5s .e 5ie5 three 5a>s4 sail =rom )scension(
an5 is b9rie5 on the islan5.4
BM. ,.C
,e learn =rom Mrs. ,. that she has not ha5 an> hall9cinations which there is reason to
regar5 as merel> s9bDective. /he a55s:A
BI cannot( owing to the man> >ears that have passe5 since the occ9rrences mentione5(
=9rnish an> 5ates@ m> mother calc9late5 that the sing9lar impression I receive5 was as
near as possible to the time o= o9r >o9ng =rien54s 5eath. M> brother who bro9ght the
ti5ings has been 5ecease5 several >ears.C
PVW8Q Obtaine5 thro9gh Mrs. 1ears( o= ,alton( -leve5on. *he narrative was written 5own
=rom the 5ictation o= Mrs. -.Aa relative o= Mrs. 1ears( a 5a9ghter o= the well-known
Mrs. +r>( an5 a member o= the /ociet> o= +rien5sAwho will not allow her name to be
p9blishe5( an5 entirel> 5eclines to be =9rther E9estione5 on the s9bDect.
BMarch 2;th( 2773.
BOn 23th %ovember( 27:W( or abo9t that time( Mrs. -. was l>ing on a ii-V:;! so=a in her
5rawing-room( rea5ing attentivel>@ the so=a was =acing the light. /955enl> li=ting her e>es
=rom the book( she saw 5istinctl>( stan5ing at the =oot o= the so=a( the =ig9re o= a person
whom Mrs. -. knew b> sight( tho9gh she was not personall> acE9ainte5 with him. /he
observe5 how the =ig9re was 5resse5( an5 even co9nte5 the b9ttons on his greatcoat@ =ive
were visible above the rather high en5 o= the so=a. *he =ig9re was opaE9e@ Mrs. -.
notice5 that she co9l5 not see the piano thro9gh it. )=ter a =ew secon5s( the =ig9re
5isappeare5 as s955enl> as it ha5 come.
B) E9arter o= an ho9r a=terwar5s( Mrs. -. receive5 a visit =rom one o= the clerg>men o=
the town( who came to tell her o= the 5eath( b> 5rowning at sea( o= the person whose
apparition she ha5 D9st seen. *he clerg>man ha5 le=t the wi5ow4s ho9se to come straight
to Mrs. -.( an5 at the (o(ent the apparition was present with Mrs. -.( ha5 been listening
to the wi5ow4s reE9est that he wo9l5 enlist her s>mpath> on behal= o= hersel= an5 her
chil5ren.C
Y*he remoteness o= the case is again a serio9s weakness@ an5 the coinci5ence is o= a ver>
sing9lar t>pe. )t the same time the =act o= the news =ollowing imme5iatel> on the
apparition is a striking one( har5l> likel> to have been 9nconscio9sl> importe5 into the
narrative.Z
*he two =ollowing cases seem to =all into the class ill9strate5 in -hap. \IV.( S W( where
persons are phantasmall> seen or hear5 ver> soon be=ore their act9al appearance in the
=lesh. I have e?plaine5 Pp. X8Q that it is to some e?tent 9ncertain whether this is a gen9ine
telepathic t>pe@ b9t the e?amples are worth recor5ing@ an5 5o9bl> so where the time-
coinci5ence is =orti=ie5 Pas here an5 in case U8UQ b> the =9rther point that o55 or
9n=amiliar 5etails o= appearance are allege5 to have been note5( an5 have prove5 to
correspon5 with realit>.
PVWWQ +rom $r. -ampbell Mor=it( 2:U( )le?an5ra 'oa5( %.,.
,riting on F9l> 3th( 277V( $r. Mor=it =irst 5escribes a co9ple o= b9siness visits which he
receive5 at %ew #ork( in the >ear 27VX or thereabo9ts( =rom a gentleman name5 Metarko(
who then 5eparte5 to his home in the ,est.
B+or a time that 5isappearance took him entirel> o9t o= m> worl5@ b9t one evening( nearl>
two >ears s9bseE9entl>( I ha5 been passing an ho9r or two at a =rien54s( listening to some
=ine m9sic. On m> ret9rn( in goo5 health an5 spirits( I =elt 9n9s9all> wi5e awake( as
rec9rs to min5 even at this moment( an5 in =act E9ite =ree =rom an> s9sceptibilit> to
hall9cination. %evertheless( scarcel> ha5 I got into be5 than there( at the si5e( stoo5
Metarko( looking as when he last was with me( b9t having two new =eat9res( one a kin5
o= e?crescence on the cheek( an5 the other a necktie o= striking pattern. )t =irst this
s955en presence am9se5 me as a =reak o= the imagination( b9t became an anno>ance
when it wo9l5 not leave on m> tr>ing to 5ismiss it. *he goo5 part 5one him =orba5e the
i5ea that he ha5 come to ha9nt me reproach=9ll>( >et I was somewhat 5isE9iete5@ an5 as
m> brother slept in a 5istant room 9pon the same =loor( I calle5 to him thro9gh the open
5oors o= the interme5iate sitting-room( ii-V:2! witho9t receiving an> answer. *he
apparition persiste5( an5 I t9rne5 m> =ace =rom it to the wall( b> wa> o= e?orcism@ an5 a
=ew min9tes later seemingl>( tho9gh act9all> perhaps onl> secon5s( =o9n5 that it ha5
vanishe5.
B/eeking an e?planation o= the occ9rrence b> re=lecting 9pon it( I arrive5 at the
concl9sion that Metarko ha5 5ie5 that night at his 5istant home an5 the apparition was a
ps>chological inci5ent to anno9nce the =act to me( tho9gh =or what reason was be>on5
m> imagination. *he circ9mstance( however( so absorbe5 m> tho9ghts all the ne?t 5a>(
that when evening set in( I =elt the nee5 o= 5iverting in=l9ences( an5 went o9t visiting. On
re-entering( abo9t be5time( I was greete5 b> m> ho9se-keeper with the in=ormation that a
stranger gentleman ha5 calle5 in m> absence( to reE9est that I wo9l5 allow him a
cons9ltation at X o4clock the =ollowing morning. .is name( she sai5( was on the slate( an5
there I =o9n5 itAAto be that o= MetarkosAin his own 9nmistakeable han5writing. *his
=act( asto9n5ing =or the moment( recalle5( vivi5l>( the apparition o= the previo9s evening(
so as to ren5er me impatient =or the act9al interview@ an5 when( at the appointe5 ho9r
ne?t 5a>( he came in the =lesh( pro=o9n5 was m> astonishment to =in5 him then e?actl> as
he appeare5 in the vision :3 ho9rs previo9sl>.
B)=ter listening to the statement o= his case( I aske5 him to call again in the evening. .e
agree5 to this arrangement( an5 le=t( b9t 5i5 not ret9rn as promise5@ an5 =rom that
moment to the present I have never seen or hear5 o= him. .eral5e5 b> a spectre like
itsel=( he 5eparte5.
B*he inci5ent note5 was the onl> one o= a ups>chical4 character that ever occ9rre5 to me.
BM> brother being an 9nimpressionable man( an5 not sharing m> interest in the matter(
has =orgotten( most probabl>( all that I ma> have tol5 him abo9t it at the time. "9t m>
ho9sekeeper( a woman o= consi5erable intelligence an5 s>mpathetic nat9re( might
remember. /he was even then( however( U; >ears m> senior( an5 i= not now 5ea5 is a ver>
ol5 woman( whose whereabo9ts has 5roppe5 o9t o= m> knowle5ge( an5 it wo9l5 be
5i==ic9lt to =in5 her at present.
B-)M1"ELL MO'+I*.C
PVW7Q +rom the .on. Mrs. 1igott--arleton( &re>well .ill( ,inch=iel5( .ants. *he
percipient( Lor5 $orchester( is 5ecease5@ b9t we have his 5a9ghter4s evi5ence to the =act
that the an?iet> which his e?perience pro59ce5 was obvio9s before he hear5 what her
e?perience ha5 been.
BF9l> Vth( 277:.
BEarl> in /eptember( 27WU( I was with m> =ather an5 h9sban5 at the =ormer4s shooting
lo5ge in -o. *>rone. )n ol5 =rien5( -aptain M.( was also sta>ing there( an5 one a=ternoon
it was arrange5 that I sho9l5 accompan> this gentleman an5 a keeper on a =ishing
e?pe5ition. M> h9sban5 ha5 some engagement( b9t m> =ather walke5 a short wa> with
9s. .e never care5 to have me long awa> =rom him( an5( 9pon t9rning back( remarke5( as
he le=t me( u$on4t get too =ar =rom home.4
BIt was a brilliantl> =ine 5a>@ I ha5 a book with me( an5 o=ten sat 5own to rea5 while the
others =ishe5. ,e were abo9t =o9r miles 5own the river( when( chancing to look 9p =rom
m> novel( I perceive5 a heav> clo95 rising into sight above the mo9ntains opposite. I saw
we were uin =or4 a 5renching( tho9ght how it wo9l5 =i5get m> =ather( an5 wishe5 m>sel=
at ii-V:U! home with all m> heart. In a =ew min9tes the storm b9rst 9pon 9s. /helter
there was ne?t to none( an5 as soon as the 5el9ge ha5 somewhat abate5( we ma5e =or the
lo5ge( looking as tho9gh we ha5 all been barel> resc9e5 =rom a water> grave. ,hen
nearl> home( we were met b> m> =ather( m> h9sban5( an5 several men emplo>e5 abo9t
the place. It seeme5 to me sing9lar( not to sa> abs9r5( that m> =ather sho9l5 have t9rne5
himsel= an5 part> o9t in s9ch weather. /till more to m> s9rprise( m> =ather evi5entl>
co9l5 not get over his 5ist9rbance( spoke little that evening( an5 went o== to be5 earlier
than 9s9al.
B*he ne?t 5a> he tol5 me that some little time a=ter his ret9rn =rom the river( he sat 5own
to rea5( with his back to the PwesternQ win5ow@ that s955enl> a shado- fell across the
page/ that( t9rning his hea5( he saw me stan5ing at the hal= open win5ow( m> arms
resting 9pon the p9sh-5own sash@ that he sai5( u.allos "ack alrea5>s4 that I ma5e no
repl>( b9t apparentl> steppe5 5own o== the low o9ter win5ow sill an5 5isappeare5@ that he
p9t a mark in his book( got 9p( an5 looke5 o9t o= the win5ow@ that( not seeing me( he =irst
went to the servants an5 aske5 i= I ha5 come in at the back 5oor@ an5 then went o9t on to
the little terrace be=ore the lo5ge an5 looke5 aro9n5 =or me@ that he s955enl> ca9ght sight
o= the coming storm-clo95@ that his bewil5erment change5 to 9neasiness( an5 that m>
h9sban5 D9st then coming in the> spee5il> starte5 in search.
B.E%'IE**) 1I&O**--)'LE*O%.C
Y*his ma>( o= co9rse( have been a p9rel> s9bDective e?perience@ b9t it cannot well be
attrib9te5 to an> special e?pectation in the percipient4s min5@ an5 its coinci5ence with his
5a9ghter4s tho9ght o= him( an5 5esire to be at home( is at an> rate striking. I= the 5etail o=
the sha5ow on the page is correctl> reporte5( the case well e?empli=ies the 5evelopment
o= a phantasm in two stages PVol. I.( p. VU;Q.Z
S. :. ) large gro9p o= secon5-han5 cases remains. +or convenience( I will again 5ivi5e
them into acco9nts receive5 =rom near relatives o= the percipients( an5 =rom others.
PVWXQ +rom Mr. F. %. Maskel>ne( originall> printe5 as part o= a letter in the Dail,
Telegraph.
BEg>ptian .all.
BOctober U2st( 2772.
B/I'(A.aving =or man> >ears been recognise5 b> the p9blic as an anti-/pirit9alist an5
e?poser o= the =ra95s practise5 b> spirit me5ia( it ma> s9rprise some o= >o9r rea5ers to
learn that I am a believer in apparitions. /everal similar occ9rrences to those 5escribe5 b>
man> o= >o9r correspon5ents have taken place in m> own =amil>( an5 in the =amilies o=
near =rien5s an5 relatives. *he most remarkable one happene5 to m> wi=e4s mother some
>ears ago. Late one evening( whilst sitting alone b9sil> occ9pie5 with her nee5le( a
strange sensation came over her( an5 9pon looking 9p she 5istinctl> saw her age5 mother
stan5ing at the en5 o= the room. /he r9bbe5 her wear> e>es an5 looke5 again( b9t the
spectre ha5 vanishe5. /he concl95e5 it was imagination( an5 retire5 to rest( thinking
nothing more o= the vision( 9ntil the ne?t 5a> bro9ght the ii-V::! news that her mother(
at abo9t the same time the apparition ha5 appeare5( ha5 =allen 5own in a =it an5 e?pire5.
BFO.% %EVILL M)/0EL#%E.C
In answer to o9r inE9iries( Mr. Maskel>ne writes that he regrets not to be able to get this
case =rom his wi=e4s mother in her own wor5s. B/he was a little ve?e5 with me(C he sa>s(
B=or giving p9blicit> to the circ9mstance. I have written it e?actl> as I have o=ten hear5
her relate it.C
PV7;Q +rom a gentleman who pre=ers that his name sho9l5 not appear.
BOctober :2st( 2773.
B)n occ9rrence which happene5 to m> =ather( an5 which I have several times hear5 him
mention circ9mstantiall>( was as =ollows:A
BM> =ather( Lie9tenant ,. -. ".( was in comman5 o= a g9nbrig statione5 to keep o==
slavers on the ,est -oast o= )=rica( in 27:3. In the October o= that >ear( he was alone in
his cabin when he note5 5istinctl>( as he tho9ght( m> mother appear to him. .e note5
5own the circ9mstance in his logbook(
2
giving time an5 5ate@ b9t the e==ect on his min5
was so great that on his ret9rn to Englan5 at the close o= the >ear =rom ill-health( he
calle5 =or a =ile o= the Ti(es 5irectl> he lan5e5 in 1ortsmo9th( an5 looke5 to the month in
E9estion( an5 there =o9n5 that m> mother ha5 5ie5 that ver> night that the appearance
came to him( b9t which he ha5 no means o= learning earlier( owing to the 5i==ic9lt> o=
comm9nication b> letter in those 5a>s.C
,e =in5 =rom the Ti(es obit9ar> that o9r in=ormant4s mother 5ie5 on October 22( 27:3.
PV72Q +rom Mr. E. /tephenson( /chool .o9se( Market ,eighton( #orkshire. .is mother4s
signat9re( attache5 since the acco9nt was place5 in its present position( makes it reall>
=irst-han5.
B%ovember UVth( 2773.
BI am master o= the bo>s4 school an5 organist o= the parish ch9rch at ,eighton. M>
mother4s mai5en name was Fane -ooling. /everal >ears ago Pabo9t 2; or 2UQ she tol5 me
a remarkable stor> which sank 5eepl> into m> min5. I got her to tell me the whole o= her
stor> again( an5 it was e?actl> the same as that she ha5 tol5 >ears be=ore. I cross-
E9estione5 her( b9t alwa>s got the same answers. M> mother is 8V >ears o= age. .er min5
is E9ite clear an5 her memor> ver> goo5. *he a==air happene5 when she was abo9t 28 or
2W >ears ol5( an5 she maintains that even >et she can see Pin imaginationQ her brother as
=airl> as she saw him then.
B*he =ollowing is the stor>( which I have recentl> taken 5own care=9ll> =rom her own
lips. .aving s9bDecte5 m> mother to some ver> close E9estioning( I =eel s9re that >o9
ma> 5epen5 9pon the statements being tr9stworth>.
B.enr> -ooling( the brother o= Fane -ooling( was a sailor( an5 ha5 gone on a long
vo>age. Fane was living in .9ll in the ho9se o= Mr. 0itching( M>tongate. *here was a
large c9pboar5 in the ho9se( which was on a kin5 o= lan5ing( approache5 b> two or three
steps. F9st as she was abo9t to go 9p to it( she saw 5istinctl>( abo9t V p.m.( her brother ii-
V:3! .enr> stan5ing in =ront o= the 5oor. .is e>es were =i?e5 on her =or a short time( an5
then he 5isappeare5 towar5s the le=t. .e was 5resse5 in his seaman4s 5rawers an5 shirt.
*he strings o= his 5rawers were loose@ his =eet were bare@ his hair was 9nti5>@ an5 his
whole appearance was like that o= one ro9se5 s955enl> =rom sleep.
B)=ter the vision ha5 vanishe5( as soon as she recovere5 hersel=( she went home to her
=ather( an5 tol5 him what she ha5 seen. .e sai5 it was all nonsense( an5 tol5 her to take
no notice o= it. .owever( some 5a>s later( a letter came =rom the captain o= the ship(
stating that .enr> -ooling ha5 been washe5 overboar5 59ring a gale in the "a> o=
"isca>( D9st as he was calle5 on 5eck to assist in working the ship( an5 the time he gave
as abo9t the time o= the acci5ent correspon5e5 appro?imatel> to that at which m> mother
saw the vision.
B/ince the above was written( I have =o9n5 the e?act 5ate o= m> 9ncle4s 5eathAMarch
UWth( 27:8. M> mother wo9l5( there=ore( be 2W within a =ew 5a>s.
BE./.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. /tephenson writes( on $ec. U( 2773:A
BI remember m> mother telling 9s the stor> several >ears ago( while her =ather was living
in o9r ho9se( an5 I have no recollection o= an>thing b9t his =9llest assent to what she tol5.
#o9 will remember that in m> previo9s letter( I state5 that she tol5 her =ather what she
ha5 seen( several 5a>s be=ore the> knew what ha5 happene5. I co9l5 almost swear that I
have hear5 him a==irm( b9t will not 5o so as I 5o not e?actl> recollect the occasion( an5
5o not wish to give >o9 an>thing b9t the p9rest evi5ence in s9ch a matter.
BM> mother con=i5entl> a==irms that she saw the vision at that ho9r( V p.m.( an5( as =ar as
she can remember( the letter =rom the captain o= the vessel several 5a>s a=terwar5s
con=irme5 her statement as to the time( an5 the being calle5 =rom his berth. ,e cannot
=in5 the captain4s letter.
BM> mother has not( when completel> awake( ha5 an> other apparition or hall9cination(
e?cept the one =9rnishe5 >o9.C Y*he wor5s Bwhen completel> awakeC simpl> repro59ce
the =orm in which the E9estion was aske5.Z
BP/igne5 as correctQ F)%E /*E1.E%/O%.C
PV7UQ +rom Mrs. 'icar5o( 7( -hesham /treet( /.,.
B)pril 8th( 277V.
BI can onl> recollect the stor> rather imper=ectl>( tho9gh I have o=ten hear5 m> =ather( the
late -olonel -ampbell( o= /kipness( tell it.
BOn a =ine s9mmer4s evening( between 7 an5 X o4clock Pstill E9ite light in the .ighlan5sQ(
abo9t 3; >ears ago or more( m> =ather was walking to the ol5 r9ine5 castle o= /kipness(
which was a short 5istance =rom the more mo5ern ho9se. .e ha5 =itte5 9p a t9rning lathe
an5 workshop in one o= the ol5 rooms( an5 was going to =etch some tool which he ha5
=orgotten in the 5a>. )s he approache5 the gate o= the co9rt>ar5 he saw two o= the
=ishermen PbrothersQ( ,alter an5 Fohn -ook( leaning against the wall rather sti==l>. "eing
in a h9rr> he merel> no55e5( sai5 something abo9t its being a =ine evening an5 went on.
.e was s9rprise5 that the> 5i5 not answer him( which was ver> 9nlike their 9s9al c9stom(
b9t being in a h9rr> 5i5 not think m9ch o= it( an5 when he ret9rne5( the> were gone. *hat
night a s955en gale sprang 9p in the mi55le o= the night. %e?t ii-V:V! morning( when
m> =ather went o9t to see what 5amage ha5 been 5one( he met some =ishermen carr>ing
9p a 5ea5 bo5> =rom the beach. .e inE9ire5( u,ho is itr4 *he> sai5( u,alter -ook( an5
the> are D9st bringing his brother Fohn4s bo5> too. *heir boat capsi]e5 when the> were
o9t with the herring =leet last night( an5 the> were both 5rowne5.4 M> =ather sai5( uIt
can4t be( the> never went to the =ishing( =or I saw them an5 spoke to them between 7 an5
X last night.4 uImpossible( lair5s =or the> both saile5 with the rest o= the =leet between :
an5 3 in the a=ternoon( an5 never ret9rne5.4 M> =ather never believe5 in secon5-sight or
wraiths( b9t sai5 this completel> p9]]le5 him. It m9st have been secon5-sight( as the men
were not >et 5ea5 when he saw them(
2
tho9gh it was absol9tel> impossible that the>
co9l5 have been on lan5 at the time. *his( as =ar as I can remember( is the stor>( b9t I
cannot be 2uite e?act as to 5ate an5 ho9rs.
B)%%E**E 'I-)'$O.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. 'icar5o writes:A
2. B-olonel -ampbell never ha5 an> other e?periences o= the kin5( an5 alwa>s la9ghe5 at
an> s9perstitions or =ancies o= the kin5.
U. B.is sight was remarkabl> keen an5 long@ a splen5i5 shot( [c. Y.e was known as a
spirite5 writer on In5ian =iel5 sports.Z
:. B.e was alwa>s E9ite certain that the men were the -ooks( an5 recognise5 an5 spoke
to them b> name.
3. BIt was well known that the -ooks went with the rest between : an5 3 o4clock@ ever>
boat is seen an5 recognise5 as it leaves the ba>( an5 the> co9l5 not possibl> ret9rn
witho9t its being also known.
V. B*he place was not a 9s9al one =or the =ishermen to lo9nge( being the walls o= o9r ol5
castle( in the gro9n5s( an5 the men4s attit95e was so sti== that -olonel -ampbell imagine5
the> ha5 been 5rinking.
BI have D9st been talking to an el5er relation o= the =amil>( who ha5 hear5 m> =ather tell
the stor>( an5 he corroborates these =acts( onl> not ii-V:8! E9ite s9re whether the =leet
went at : or 3( an5 thinks the apparition was seen abo9t X in the evening.
BM> brother-in-law P-aptain Macneal( o= Uga5ale( Losset 1ark( -ampbeltown(
)rg>llshireQ encloses his statement. *here are man> others who have hear5 the stor> =rom
-olonel -ampbell. I 5o not know i= the acci5ent was seen to happen( or i= onl> the boat
an5 5ea5 bo5ies were =o9n5. I have alwa>s believe5 that the acci5ent occ9rre5 between
2U an5 2( or 2 an5 U in the morning.C
-aptain Macneal writes( on )pril 27( 277V:A
BI have hear5 -olonel -ampbell =reE9entl> relate the stor> regar5ing the -hannel
=ishermen( D9st as his 5a9ghter has relate5 it to >o9.
B.. M)-%E)L.C
Y,e have receive5 two other in5epen5ent acco9nts o= this occ9rrence =rom persons who
ha5 hear5 -olonel -ampbell narrate it. *hese agree with the above in the =9n5amental
point o= the apparition o= the =ishermen occ9rring at or near the time o= their 5eath@ b9t
one o= them 5i==ers in a goo5 man> 5etails( an5 a55s an inci5ent which( =rom the =act that
we have never met with it in =irst-han5 narratives( we sho9l5 D95ge to be improbableA
namel>( that the apparition was seen again at the same spot a=ter a consi5erable intervalA
when -olonel -ampbell was ret9rning home. I= this reall> occ9rre5( it wo9l5 s9ggest that
either the real men were seen( Pwhich however is impossible( i= the ho9rs are correctl>
state5 b> Mrs. 'icar5o(Q or that a real obDect was mistaken =or them. *he phantasmal
representation o= several 5>ing persons is 9ne?ample5 in o9r =irst-han5 evi5ence@ b9t see
case V:8. )s might be e?pecte5( it is a =eat9re that is met with in the more legen5ar>
recor5s@ see( e.g., /acheverell4s )ccount of the :sle of 'an, P2W;UQ( p. 23.Z
PV7:Q +rom $r. +rank -omer( WX( }9een4s &ate( /o9th 0ensington( /.,.
BOctober Vth( 277V.
BIn the >ear 27U; or 27U2( m> gran5=ather( &eo. Miller( M.$.( who was a ph>sician
practising in %ewr>( Irelan5( emigrate5 with his =amil> to -ana5a an5 settle5 in the town
o= %iagara( Upper -ana5a. On their wa> to %iagara =rom }9ebec( having reache5 the
town o= 1rescott( which is above all the rapi5s o= the /t. Lawrence 'iver( the> then
embarke5 on a sailing vessel comman5e5 b> a -aptain 1atterson. )s the vo>age =rom
1rescott to %iagara in those 5a>s wo9l5 probabl> occ9p> abo9t a week( the passengers
wo9l5 9n5o9bte5l> become prett> well acE9ainte5 with the captain o= the little vessel.
)bo9t 8 or 7 weeks a=ter the arrival o= m> gran5=ather an5 his =amil> in %iagara( m>
gran5mother Pwho( b> the wa>( was a la5> o= more than or5inar> so9n5 practical
common-sense( an5 not at all visionar>Q was walking in an orchar5 at the back o= her
ho9se( abo9t : o4clock in the a=ternoon( when -aptain 1atterson passe5 close b> her an5
looke5 straight in her =ace. )t =irst she was 59mb=o9n5e5( not having hear5 his =ootsteps(
b9t recovering =rom her s9rprise she e?ten5e5 her han5 to shake han5s with him@ b9t he
merel> smile5 an5 passe5 o9t o= sight behin5 a small o9t-b9il5ing.
BUpon m> gran5=ather4s ret9rn home( m> gran5mother tol5 him o= the occ9rrence( b9t he
smile5 an5 sai5 she m9st have been 5reaming( as -aptain 1atterson an5 his vessel were
then at the other en5 o= the Lake POntarioQ@ b9t she insiste5 that she was wi5e awake( that
it was a clear ii-V:W! bright a=ternoon( an5 that she certainl> ha5 seen him or his
apparition. ) =ew 5a>s later the vessel arrive5 in %iagara( an5 the mate who was in
charge reporte5 that the -aptain P1attersonQ ha5 been washe5 overboar5 59ring a gale at
the lower en5 o= the Lake. Upon inE9ir> it t9rne5 o9t that it was the same 5a>( an5 Pas
nearl> as co9l5 be D95ge5Q the ver> same ho9r that gran5mother Miller ha5 seen his
apparition in the gar5en. M> mother( Mrs. F. +. '. -omer( was a girl o= 2; or 22 >ears at
the time( an5 remembers her mother an5 others talking abo9t the occ9rrence at the time
an5 a=terwar5s( an5 she hersel= still remembers -aptain 1atterson. /he is now in her W8th
>ear( an5 is again living in %iagara( Ontario( -ana5a.
B+')%0 -OME'.C
$r. -omer sent 9s the original o= the =ollowing e?tract =rom a letter written b> his
mother:A
BIn one o= m> letters I gave +rank an acco9nt o= the 5rowning o= -aptain 1atterson( on
his secon5 vo>age 9p =rom 1rescott( in a storm( an5 o= m> mother seeing him pass near
the black cherr>-tree. It was written on a separate sheet o= paper. $i5 >o9 not get itr I
mean the secon5 vo>age a=ter he bro9ght m> =ather4s =amil> =rom 1rescott to %iagara.C
PV73Q +rom Mr. *. L. Moore( 8( $ownshire .ill( .ampstea5.
B/eptember( 2773.
BM> =ather( MaDor-&eneral &eorge +re5erick Moore( whose 5eath took place on the 7th
o= this month( has =reE9entl> relate5 to me an5 to others the =ollowing inci5ent. ,hen in
In5ia( in the >ear 2737( ver> shortl> be=ore the siege o= Mooltan( he occ9pie5 a b9ngalow
at some place in that neighbo9rhoo5 Pthe name o= which I cannot give with certaint>Q(
an5 ha5 a ho9sehol5 consisting o= the 9s9al n9mber o= native servants. )mong these was
a woman who was a la9n5ress( an5 part o= whose weekl> 59t> was to bring m> =ather4s
clean linen to the b9ngalow( an5 5eposit it in his be5room =or 9se.
B*his woman met with an acci5ent( which en5e5 in tetanus. One 5a>( it being =9ll> light(
m> =ather was l>ing on a so=a in his sitting-room( the woman being somewhere in the
compo9n5( an5 in e.tre(is, as he knew( =rom lockDaw. *he 5oor was open( an5( as he la>
on the so=a( he co9l5 see 5own a passage( which en5e5 in another 5oor Palso openQ(
lea5ing to the compo9n5. *his latter was the main entrance to the b9ngalow( an5 an>one
coming 9p the passage wo9l5 go either into the sitting-room( or( t9rning at right angles(
5own another passage which le5 to the be5room an5 a5Doining bathroom. ,hile l>ing on
the so=a( in =9ll view o= the entrance-passage( m> =ather was astonishe5 to see his
la9n5ress enter =rom the compo9n5( pass 9p the passage( carr>ing( as was her c9stom( his
clean linen.
2
Upon reaching the sitting-room 5oor she t9rne5 5own the corri5or( lea5ing(
as be=ore e?plaine5( to the be5room. .e imme5iatel> rose an5 =ollowe5 her( knowing that
she m9st be in either the be5 or the bath room( =rom which there was no e?it save b> the
wa> she ha5 come( b9t no one was to be seen. M9ch perple?e5( he repaire5 to the
compo9n5 an5 =o9n5 her l>ing 5ea5( having at that moment e?pire5. M> =ather 5escribe5
her appearance as per=ectl> 5e=inite in ever> wa>( wearing the same clothes an5 bangle
ornaments which she 9se5 to 5o when alive@ an5 ii-V:7! her apparition was so palpable
that it was the knowle5ge o= her impen5ing 5eath which ca9se5 him to =ollow her into the
be5room an5 bathroom.
B*hat this appearance was not that o= an> living person is prove5 b> the =act o= there
being no e?it =rom these two rooms save b> the passage 5own which the apparition
walke5.
B*EM1LE L. MOO'E.C
Mr. )rth9r &. .ill( o= 3W( "elsi]e )ven9e( .ampstea5( writes:A
B/eptember( 2773.
B*he late &eneral Moore narrate5 the above acco9nt to me in the presence o= his son a
=ew weeks ago( ver> shortl> be=ore his 5eath( an5 ha5 no 5o9bt whatever o= the realit> o=
the uwraith.4 .e ha5 inten5e5 to 5ictate an acco9nt( at m> reE9est( speciall> =or the /.1.'.
.e was the most 9nimaginative an5 strong-min5e5 man imaginable.C
YMr. .ill mentions that this was not &eneral Moore4s solitar> e?perience o= hall9cination(
as he ha5 once seen the =ig9re o= his brother( two 5a>s a=ter his brother4s 5eath.Z
PV7VQ +rom Mr. ..( a Do9rnalist( who 5esires that names ma> not be p9blishe5. *he
acco9nt has been s9bmitte5 to the =irst-han5 witness( who is per=ectl> willing that it
sho9l5 appear( an5 ma> be taken to a5mit its correctness.
B%ovember 2Uth( 277:.
BMan> >ears ago( m> =ather ha5 an intimate an5 5ear =rien5( a 5octor( who ha5 to pass
ever> winter in Ma5eira. One night m> =ather was going to his rooms( in the /tran5(
when( on the stairs( coming 5own( he met( as he tho9ght( poor $r. &. /o vivi5 was the
ill9sion( that he hel5 o9t his han5( an5( I believe( spoke. O= that I am not certain. *he
ghost( or whatever it might have been( looke5 at m> =ather( an5 passe5 5own the stairs.
/ome little time a=terwar5s( m> =ather receive5 news o= his =rien54s 5eath. It happene5( I
believe( on the ver> 5a> m> =ather met with his little a5vent9re. *his is the stor> as I have
hear5 m> parent tell it.
BVisitations or warnings o= this kin5 are common eno9gh( an5 I remember per=ectl> well
that the a==air( hall9cination or not( impresse5 m> =ather ver> m9chAnot that he is b> an>
means a s9perstitio9s man.C
Y*he percipient cannot remember the precise 5ate o= the occ9rrence( which took place
more than :; >ears ago.Z
PV78Q +rom -olonel V.( who writes( in a letter 5ate5 March 22( 2778( B*he acco9nt was
written b> me =rom a statement ma5e to me b> m> =ather( the late -apt. F. .. V.( in 2783.
*he wor5s are m> =ather4s( an5 I wrote them as he relate5 them to me.C %ames were
given in con=i5ence.
BOne o= m> Yi.e., -olonel V.4s( not his =ather4sZ gran5-a9nts was Mrs. +.( marrie5 to an
o==icer( MaDor or -olonel +.( o= the $ragoons( serving in &eorge III.4s time in )merica.
.e was kille5 at the battle o= /aratoga. M> a9nt live5 at the time in 1ortlan5 1lace( ,.(
an5 was entertaining a large part> one evening. /955enl> the> remarke5 she seeme5 to be
in great pain an5 agon>( e?claiming E9ite alo95 to her g9ests( uOh( 5o go home. I have
seen a most =ear=9l sight( an5 am compelle5 to break 9p the part>.4 /ome o= her most
intimate =rien5s aske5 her what she ha5 seen. /he replie5 that she was certain uher
h9sban5 +. ha5 been kille5 in a battle( an5 that she most 5istinctl> saw his bo5> being
carrie5 to the rear b> his sol5iers.4 /he remaine5 in great an?iet> =or weeks( when the sa5
news con=irming her vision arrive5 =rom )merica( an5 that at the ho9r she ma5e the
e?clamation to her g9ests( her h9sban5( +.( o= the $ragoons ii-V:X! Pallowing =or
5i==erence o= longit95eQ( was kille5 in an attack ma5e on the enem> at the battle o=
/aratoga.C
-olonel V. a55s( B)n a9nt now 5ecease5( tol5 me she was( when a girl( present at the
time when Yher a9ntZ Mrs. +. calle5 o9t uthat +. ha5 been shot an5 that she saw his bo5>
being carrie5 o== the =iel5 o= battle.4C
,e =in5 =rom Burgo,nes Ca(paign, b> -harles %eilson P)lban>( 2733Q( that "riga5ier-
&eneral +. was wo9n5e5 at the battle o= /aratoga( at U p.m. on Oct. W( 2WWW( b9t 5i5 not
5ie till 7 a.m. on Oct. 7. +rom ;etters and 'e(oirs relating to the )(erican "ar of
:ndependence, b> Ma5ame 'ie5esel P*ranslation( %ew #ork( 27UWQ( we learn that he was
carrie5 to Ma5ame 'ie5esel4s h9t at abo9t : p.m.( which wo9l5 correspon5 with abo9t 7
p.m. in Lon5on@ an5 that 59ring the a=ternoon( while he was l>ing mortall> wo9n5e5( he
=reE9entl> 9ttere5 his wi=e4s name.
2

Y,e have no means o= D95ging whether the vision o= the sol5iers carr>ing the bo5> was o=
the clairvo>ant t>pe( or whether the scene was merel> a setting s9pplie5 b> the
percipient4s own min5. %or can we D95ge how =ar the e?perience was an e?ternalise5
hall9cination. P/ee Vol. I.( p. V3V( note.QZ
PV7WQ +rom Mrs. .ackett( 2;( /teele4s 'oa5( .averstock .ill( %.,.
B/eptember U8th( 277:.
B*he inci5ent which I have o=ten hear5 m> =ather YFames $awsonZ speak abo9t was that
one o= the men on boar5 m> gran5=ather4s ship was ill( an5 co9l5 not be in59ce5 to eat
an>thing. .e sai5 i= he co9l5 have a piece o= game-pie( he tho9ght he co9l5 eat that.
,hen gran5=ather got home Pthe ship was then in 5ock in Lon5onQ( he =o9n5 a hamper
ha5 arrive5 =rom #orkshire an5 in it was a game-pie. M> =ather at once begge5 to take a
piece to the man. .e ha5 it tie5 9p in a cloth( to be able to hol5 it more sec9rel> in going
9p the si5e o= the ship. ,hen nearl> at the top o= the la55er( he sai5 he 5istinctl> saw his
sister 5resse5 in white. It so 9nnerve5 him that he 5roppe5 the pie into the water. .is
sister was living in #orkshire( near +lamboro9gh .ea5. )s soon as a letter co9l5 be ha5
in those 5a>s( the> hear5 this sister YFane +osterZ 5ie5 at that time( an5 he was the person
she spoke o= last. I never hear5 m> =ather sa> he ha5 seen an>thing o= the kin5 be=ore or
a=terwar5s.
B-. F. .)-0E**.C
ii-V3;!
Y%o one( perhaps( will imagine that a =ictitio9s narrative wo9l5 take s9ch a =orm as thisA
the apparition coming in as a mere episo5e in the pie4s histor>. "9t the inci5ent is remote(
having occ9rre5( Mrs. .ackett thinks( be=ore 27:;. /he last hear5 the acco9nt =rom her
=ather abo9t 27V;. /he tol5 Mr. 1o5more on )pril 27( 2778( that a s9rviving a9nt o= hers
remembers hearing the acco9nt =rom Mr. $awson( b9t is too ol5 to be applie5 to =or
5ates( [c.Z
PV77Q +rom Mr. F. .. 'e5=ern( U;( &reat )ncoats /treet( Manchester( the narrator o= case
U23.
B277U.
B*he =ollowing narrative I give >o9 as I have ha5 it o=ten =rom the lips o= m> wi=e. *he
circ9mstance took place a n9mber o= >ears ago. /he repeate5 it o=ten. I have ri5ic9le5 it(
ma5e =9n o= it( [c. It ha5 no e==ect 9pon her. /he was a E9iet( tho9ght=9l( 9pright woman@
an5 so =ar as the thing appeare5 to her( all who knew her wo9l5 be satis=ie5 as to the
acc9rac> o= the statement as given b> her. /he was a native o= ,orksop( %otts. ) Mr.
$robble( an ol5 =rien5 o= her =ather4s( resi5ing not =ar awa>( was =on5 o= her even as a
chil5( an5 as she grew 9p( pette5 an5 ma5e m9ch o= her@ this contin9e5( an5 she alwa>s
regar5e5 him as an intimate an5 5ear =rien5. In winter( or at an> time going =rom home(
he wore an ol5-=ashione5 great-coat o= 5rab cloth. I mention this as it was o= pec9liar
make( an5 the onl> one o= the kin5 abo9t that part o= the co9ntr>. Y/he le=t home( an5 was
sta>ing at /tockport.Z In that town( in a street calle5 Un5erbank( is an ol5-=ashione5
mansion with a large co9rt>ar5 in the =ront. It was Pan5 is nowQ a branch o= the
Manchester an5 Liverpool $istrict "ank. "eing one 5a> abo9t noon there( an5 chancing
to look thro9gh a win5ow into the street( she saw on the =ootpath opposite the bank( an5
looking 9p at the b9il5ing( Mr. $robble. .e ha5 on his 5rab overcoat( an5 appeare5 as i=
he was 9pon the point o= coming thro9gh the gatewa> into the co9rt>ar5. /he saw him
Pshe sai5Q =ace to =ace. /he instantl> steppe5 o9t o= the bank( across the co9rt>ar5A
e?pecting to meet himAinto the street. .e ha5 5isappeare5. On each si5e o= the bank
were shops. /he =ancie5 that he m9st have gone into some o= them. /he =ollowe5( as she
tho9ght( b9t co9l5 see nothing o= him. /he =elt m9ch 5isappointe5@ b9t gra59all> the
thing was in a great meas9re =orgotten.
B+i=teen or eighteen months a=ter( she went home to ,orksop. )=ter some 5a>s(
inci5entall> she aske5 her mother how Mr. $robble was. .er mother stare5 at her at =irst(
an5 then aske5 her what ever she was talking abo9tr Mr. $robble ha5 been 5ea5 =or more
than 2U months. M> wi=e( in her t9rn( proteste5 that she saw him( =ace to =ace( in broa5
5a>light@ that it was impossible that she co9l5 be mistaken in the matter@ an5 to this she
a5here5 to her 5>ing 5a>.
BUpon =9rther inE9ir> it appeare5 that Mr. $robble ha5 5ie5 at abo9t the time o= the 5a>
when she believe5 that she saw him( an5 so near as the> co9l5 get at it( on the same 5a>@
an5 that he ha5 been con=ine5 to be5 =or something like X or 2; months previo9s to his
5eath.
BIt appeare5 also that the> ha5 never sent wor5 o= his 5eath( an5 she ha5 never learne5 it
9ntil in the wa>( an5 at the time( here tol5.C
Mrs. .annah Lees( o= -li=ton -rescent( 'otherham( writes to 9s:A
ii-V32!
BI can con=irm the tr9th o= Mr. $robble4s 5eath when sister 'e5=ern was awa>. I was with
her at home( when( as 5escribe5 b> Mr. 'e5=ern( she aske5 abo9t him( an5 onl> then
learne5 o= his 5eath. %othing co9l5 shake her belie= in the =act o= her having seen him at
the time( an5 in the manner 5escribe5.C
YMr. 'e5=ern ass9res 9s that he ha5 not e?change5 a wor5 on the s9bDect with Mrs. Lees
=or >ears( an5 that her testimon> has been given witho9t his having in an> wa> re=reshe5
her memor>. "9t the 5egree o= closeness in the coinci5ence is 9ncertain@ an5 the case
ma> possibl> have been one o= mistaken i5entit>.Z
*he ne?t case is perhaps an e?ample o= the rare t>pe where the operative i5ea in the
agent4s min5 was o= the place in which Prather than o= the person b> whomQ the phantasm
is seen. PVol. I.( p. U87.Q
PV7XQ +rom the 'ev. ,. /. &rignon( *he &rove( 1l9ckle>( 0ent.
BU3th October( 277U.
B*he 5ate was between 27U; an5 27:;. M> =ather ma5e a Do9rne> =rom Montego "a> to
/panish *own( to atten5 the session o= the u.o9se o= )ssembl>4 o= Famaica( o= which he
was a member( an5 passe5 a night en route at the ho9se o= a =rien5 whose name I cannot
now remember. *he =amil> consiste5 o= his =rien5( his =rien54s wi=e( an5 the wi=e4s sister(
a Miss '. Pwe will call her so@ I know the name b9t have perhaps no right to give itQ. *his
>o9ng la5> was o9t o= health( an5 in a ver> 5epresse5 state. )=ter 5inner the la5ies le=t
the room( an5 m> =ather shortl> a=ter strolle5 o9t o= 5oors in the ver> brie= twilight o= a
tropical 5a>. *o his s9rprise he saw Miss '. going along a path =rom the ho9se towar5s a
cl9mp o= trees not =ar =rom it@ he was not ver> near her( b9t calle5 o9t to her. /he
procee5e5 on her wa> witho9t taking an> notice o= him@ s9pposing that she wishe5 to be
alone( he t9rne5 o== in another 5irection( an5 shortl> a=ter ret9rne5 to the ho9se. On
entering the 5rawing-room he =o9n5 his =rien5 an5 his wi=e there( an5 Miss '. also there(
reclining on a so=a. ,hen he came in she rose an5 le=t the room. .e sai5 to his =rien54s
wi=e( u$o >o9 think it sa=e =or >o9r sister to go o9t o= 5oors so late( with a heav> 5ew
=allingr I met her o9tsi5e a =ew min9tes ago.4 u#o9 m9st be mistaken@ she came in here
with me =rom the 5ining-room( la> 5own on the so=a( an5 I am E9ite certain( 5i5 not leave
it till D9st now on >o9r entrance. I have been here the whole time.4 *he> were all p9]]le5
b> his certaint> that he ha5 seen Miss '.( an5 some time having passe5 witho9t her
ret9rning to the room( she was looke5 =or an5 not =o9n5 in the ho9se. On =9rther search
o9tsi5e( she was =o9n5 5ea5( having hange5 hersel= on one o= the trees in the cl9mp
towar5s which m> =ather ha5 seen her( or the appearance o= her( moving.
BIt m9st be remembere5 that the servants abo9t the place were all negroes or brown
people. .a5 s9ch a thing happene5 in Englan5 it might be tho9ght that some =emale
servant( s9==icientl> like Miss '. in =ig9re to be taken =or her at a little 5istance( ha5 been
seen. *here this co9l5 not have been. 1robabl> the poor girl was( while reclining on the
so=a( ii-V3U! thinking( with an intentness which the sane min5 cannot easil> conceive( o=
her p9rpose o= s9ici5e an5 the place she ha5 chosen =or it. -o9l5 this have ha5 the e==ect
o= visibl> proDecting the appearance o= her =orm towar5s the placer
B,. /. &'I&%O%.C
YIn spite o= the special reason s9ggeste5 =or reDecting the h>pothesis o= mistaken i5entit>(
we can scarcel> =eel( in so remote a case( that we realise the circ9mstances with s9==icient
completeness to D9sti=> con=i5ence on that point. I= the vision was not =lesh an5 bloo5( it
is certainl> 5i==ic9lt to resist the concl9sion that it was o= telepathic origin.Z
PVX;Q +rom a teacher in the &>mnasi9m o= *ver( '9ssia( whose name we are aske5 not to
print. *he =irst-han5 acco9nt was sent b> Mr. Vla5islavle==( o= *ver( to Mr. "r9hns( who
translate5 it =or 9s.
B277:.
*he narrator begins b> sa>ing that abo9t 27V8( when a bo> o= 2U( he was a collegian o=
the =irst Moscow &>mnasi9m( an5 that his parents live5 abo9t UV; miles =rom Moscow.
BOne morning in the beginning o= )pril( I went as 9s9al to the )rkhangelsk -athe5ral in
the 0remlin. *he lit9rg> ha5 alrea5> commence5. *he ch9rch was( as 9s9al( =9ll o=
worshippers. )t the beginning o= the lit9rg> I acci5entall> t9rne5 m> hea5( an5 to m>
greatest s9rprise saw in the crow5 o= worshippers m> mother( pra>ing( an5 with her e>es
5irecte5 to the hol> images( like other worshippers ro9n5 her. /he was 5resse5 in her
9s9al 5ress. M> astonishment was ver> great( =or I knew ver> well that m> parents were
then at home. I spent the whole lit9rg> in looking at her( an5 in thinking o= the inci5ent.
Meanwhile the lit9rg> ha5 come to an en5( an5 the worshippers began to kiss the cross.
)mong others( m> mother approache5 the priest. +earing to lose sight o= her( I went
thro9gh the crow5 o= worshippers which s9rro9n5e5 the priest with the cross( an5 when
she( a=ter having kisse5 the cross( went to the 5oor( I went a=ter her. /he went o9t o= the
5oor( a5vance5 some =eet( an5 then stoppe5 at the corner( =orme5 b> the wall o= the
cathe5ral itsel= an5 the wall o= the altar( an5 in s9ch a manner that her =ace t9rne5 towar5s
the crow5 which was passing b> her. &oing a=ter the worshippers( I approache5 her. I saw
her looking at me an5 weeping( her tears =lowing 5own her cheeks. I stoppe5
momentaril>( b9t the crow5 contin9e5 to pass b> 9s( an5 I all at once 9n5erstoo5 that I
saw be=ore me something e?traor5inar>Asomething that was visible to me alone. )n
ine?pressible terror sei]e5 me( an5 I cannot remember how I reache5 o9r lo5ging. "9t I
tol5 nobo5> o= the inci5ent.
B*he s9mmer came. ,e went home to o9r parents. ,hen we arrive5( we hear5 o= o9r
mother4s 5eath: she 5ie5 precisel> at the beginning o= )pril. O9r =ather 5i5 not in=orm 9s
abo9t this 5eath =earing the sorrow=9l news might 5ist9rb o9r Ma> e?aminations in the
Universit> an5 in the &>mnasi9m.C
YI= this report is acc9rate( the case 5oes not look like one o= mistaken i5entit>. "9t the
e?traor5inaril> prolonge5 character o= the apparition s9ggests e?aggeration Pcompare
case :;;Q@ an5 the more so when the >o9th o= the percipient is remembere5.Z
ii-V3:!
S 3. *he cases in this section are narrate5 b> persons not closel> relate5 to the respective
percipients.
PVX2Q +rom $r. 5e ,ol=( 1rovi5ence( '.I.(Aa letter to 1ro=essor "arrett.
B)9g9st U7th( 2773.
BI have been =or man> >ears a practitioner o= me5icine in this cit>@ m> birthplace was the
town o= "ristol( some 2V miles 5istant( where I resi5e5 =or more than :; >ears( an5 =or
the greater part o= that time was a ne?t-5oor neighbo9r o= 'ight 'ev. ). V. Eriswol5(
"ishop o= the Eastern $iocese o= the 1rotestant Episcopal -h9rch( an5 who 5ie5 some 3;
>ears ago. .e was( as all -h9rchmen in this co9ntr> know( greatl> esteeme5 =or his
talents an5 piet>.
B+or what =ollows the "ishop himsel= was m> in=ormant. .e tol5 it to others( an5 I hear5
it =reE9entl> spoken o= b> 5i==erent members o= the =amil>.
BOne a=ternoon( while stan5ing at his 5esk writing in his st95>( a 5oor opene5
2
=rom an
a5Doining room( an5 Mr. -ollins( his son-in-law( entere5( an5 passe5 slowl> thro9gh the
room an5 o9t o= another 5oor@ the "ishop sai5 he ha5 not been thinking or talking o= Mr.
-ollins( an5 ha5 not hear5 =rom him =or some time. .e knew that he co9l5 not be within
a tho9san5 miles o= him( an5 >et he ha5 5istinctl> seen him pass thro9gh the room. *his
o= itsel= was a ver> remarkable occ9rrence( b9t what =ollows ren5ers it still more so.
B,hen the mail =rom -harleston arrive5 some : or 3 5a>s a=ter Pthere were no telegraphs
or railroa5s at that timeQ( a letter was receive5 anno9ncing the 5eath o= Mr. -ollins( on
the ver> 5a> an5 ho9r when the "ishop saw him apparentl> pass thro9gh his st95>.
B*he goo5 "ishop Pwho was no believer in ghosts( necromanc>( or an>thing o= the sortQ
sai5 it was a most remarkable an5 sing9lar circ9mstance( the coinci5ence ren5ering it still
more remarkable( an5 he co9l5 not acco9nt =or it( b9t s9ppose5 it m9st be some sort o= a
hall9cination@ =or( as he was stan5ing at a high 5esk( he co9l5 har5l> have been
drea(ing.
BFO.% F. 5e ,OL+( M.$.C
$r. 5e ,ol= has kin5l> inspecte5 the tombstone o= Mr. -ollins( which shows that he 5ie5
on F9l> 3th( 27;W. $r. 5e ,ol= has also en5eavo9re5 to =in5 some other person who has
hear5 the acco9nt 5irect =rom the "ishop@ b9t in this he has =aile5. *he "ishop4s
gran5chil5ren have all hear5 o= the occ9rrence( b9t not at =irst han5. One o= them tol5 $r.
5e ,ol= that the "ishop himsel= was 5ispose5 to sa> ver> little abo9t it.
PVXUQ -op> o= part o= a letter =rom Miss M. ). Ewart( o= :( Morpeth *errace( Victoria
/treet( /.,.( to Mrs. /i5gwick( 5ate5 )pril 3( 2778.
BI waite5 to write 9ntil I ha5 seen Mr. .enr> -larke( who was brother-in-law to Mr.
&9thrie( Vicar o= -alne( in ,ilts( who tol5 me at 5inner at "owoo5( abo9t 278;( o= the
apparition o= Lor5 0err>( as I 5escribe5 it to >o9. Mr. -larke ha5 no recollection o=
having hear5 Mr. &9thrie tell the stor>( an5 5i5 not know it@ b9t he sai5 that Mr. &9thrie
was greatl> attache5 to Lor5 0err>( who was his p9pil( an5 that La5> ii-V33!
Lans5owne was alwa>s ver> grate=9l to Mr. &9thrie =or the in=l9ence he ha5 over her
son. Lor5 0err> 5ie5 in 27:8. Mr. -larke co9l5 not sa> that he 5ie5 at "owoo5.
BIt was in the beech aven9e( approaching the ho9se at "owoo5( that Mr. &9thrie tol5 me
he met Lor5 0err>( when he was going to the ho9se to see him( knowing him to be
9nwell an5 sh9t 9p. ,hen he reache5 the ho9se( the servant tol5 him that Lor5 0err> ha5
5ie5 a =ew min9tes be=ore( an5( as Mr. &9thrie believe5( at the moment he ha5 met him(
walking briskl>( an5 s9rprising him so m9ch that he 5i5 not attempt to stop him. Lor5 an5
La5> 0err> live5 in a ho9se I know well( close to "owoo5 Pwhere Mr. -larke4s sister(
Mrs. ,arren( now livesQ( b9t Mr. -larke sa>s that the> ma> have been at "owoo5 at the
time o= his 5eath. Mr. -larke was then in -hina. I am sorr> that I cannot tell >o9 more.
BM. ). E,)'*.C
Y*his narrative belongs( no 5o9bt( to a t>pe which as a r9le is 9ntr9stworth>Ahaving
been tol5 to o9r in=ormant b> an acE9aintance( not a relative or intimate =rien5( an5 on
one occasion onl>. "9t the =acts( it will be seen( are o= the ver> simplest kin5( an5 are
presente5 witho9t an> attempt at ornament or 5etail@ an5 Miss Ewart4s acE9aintance with
the localit> wo9l5 nat9rall> ten5 to fi. the simple lines o= the pict9re in her min5.Z
PVX:Q +rom Mr. 1. .. "erthon( +.'.&./.( U;( Margaret /treet( ,. *he narrative was sent to
1ro=essor "arrett in 27WV.
B/ome >ears ago( when resi5ing at ,althamstow( in Esse?( m> wi=e an5 sel= became
intimate with a la5> an5 gentleman who ha5 become temporaril> o9r near neighbo9rs. On
one occasion( when the> were 5ining with 9s E9ite en fa(ille, m> =rien5 an5 I( on
repairing to the 5rawing-room( not long a=ter the la5ies ha5 le=t 9s( were s9rprise5 to =in5
that his wi=e ha5 been s955enl> taken with a kin5 o= =ainting =it( an5 ha5 been oblige5 to
ret9rn home accompanie5 b> one o= o9r =emale servants. M> wi=e( as a matter o= co9rse(
went the ne?t 5a> to inE9ire a=ter her =rien5( who then tol5 her that the ca9se o= her
s955en in5isposition ha5 been the appearance( as i= in her act9al person stan5ing be=ore
her( o= one o= her two sisters( who were then resi5ing with their mother at "e>ro9t( in
/>ria( which ha5 greatl> alarme5 her. -omm9nication b> telegraph ha5 not then been
establishe5( an5 b> post it was m9ch slower than at present. Man> 5a>s ha5 there=ore
elapse5 be=ore the la5> receive5 letters =rom "e>ro9t( b9t on their arrival the> conve>e5
the intelligence that her sister ha5 5ie5 on the 5a> an5( allowing =or the 5i==erence in the
time( at abo9t the ho9r o= her appearance to o9r =rien5.C
In conversation( Mr. "erthon tol5 the present writer that the la5>( Mrs. 5e /alomH( was
pla>ing the piano when she saw her sister4s =ig9re at her si5e. Mr. "erthon 5i5 not hear o=
the inci5ent =rom Mrs. 5e /alomH hersel=( b9t was at once tol5 o= it b> his wi=e( an5 was
also tol5 at once o= the arrival o= the news. .e =reE9entl> saw Mrs. 5e /alomH 59ring the
interval. .e sa>s also that his 5a9ghter( who was 2U at the time( 5istinctl> remembers
hearing o= the circ9mstances at the time. Mrs. 5e /alomH 5ie5 soon a=ter the occ9rrence(
which took place in the a9t9mn o= 27V:. Mrs. "erthon is also 5ecease5.
ii-V3V!
PVX3Q +rom $r. .. *. "err>( UX( 1embri5ge -rescent( "a>swater.
B$ecember UXth( 2773.
B)ltho9gh living now at "a>swater( I have been in practice in the %orth o= Lon5on =or
nearl> 3; >ears. *he =ollowing acco9nt I can vo9ch =or in ever> partic9lar( b9t remember
I 5raw no in=erence =rom it.
B/ome =ive or si? >ears since( I was atten5ing Mrs. ).( in the neighbo9rhoo5 o= &ra>4s
Inn 'oa5. *he la5> became so ill that she sent =or her mother( resi5ing nearl> one
h9n5re5 miles =rom town( to n9rse her. /ome eight or ten 5a>s a=ter( I ma5e m> 9s9al
morning call( an5 =o9n5 Mrs. ). improving( an5 her mother E9ite well. )bo9t : o4clock
in the a=ternoon o= the same 5a>( I was hastil> s9mmone5 to Mrs. ).4s ho9se. ,hen I
arrive5( Mrs. ). was no worse( b9t her mother ha5 s955enl> 5roppe5 5own 5ea5 in a =it. I
telegraphe5 to the h9sban5 YMrs. ).4s =atherZ to come to town 5irectl>( not telling him o=
his wi=e4s 5eath( =earing to alarm him too s955enl>. ,hen the h9sban5 came 9p Phe was a
ver> intelligent man( abo9t W;Q he tol5 me he was not s9rprise5 to =in5 his wi=e 5ea5
when he arrive5 in town. +or( abo9t the time o= her 5eath( he was ret9rning to his home(
thro9gh a =iel5( when he 5istinctl> saw his wi=e cross the =iel5 a =ew >ar5s =rom him. )s
he went home he calle5 at a =rien54s ho9se( an5 sai5( uI am s9re m> wi=e is 5ea5. ,hen I
reache5 home I =o9n5 the telegram asking me to come 9p 5irectl>@ b9t I =elt certain m>
poor wi=e was 5ea5.4 )s I sai5 in m> note( I make no theor> to e?plain the above. *he
=acts I know o= m> own personal knowle5ge.
B.. *. "E''#.C
In a s9bseE9ent letter( $r. "err> sa>s( B*he ol5 man tol5 me himsel=( within U3 ho9rs o=
the vision. I 5on4t think he is living now.C .e a55s that the inci5ent occ9rre5 in the
s9mmer o= 277;@ an5 that he atten5e5 the inE9est.
.e has given 9s( in con=i5ence( the name an5 a55ress o= his patient( b9t 5oes not allow 9s
to appl> to her. )s he 5oes not remember her mother4s name( we have ha5 some 5i==ic9lt>
in obtaining con=irmation o= his acco9nt. ,e applie5 to the coroner o= the 5istrict( who
=o9n5 no inE9est recor5e5 in his books@ b9t he kin5l> inE9ire5 o= a gran5son o= the
5ecease5 la5>( =rom whom he learnt that she ha5 5ie5 in the s9mmer o= 277;( an5 that
there was no =ormal inE9est. %o 5o9bt Pas the coroner s9ggestsQ $r. "err> 9se5 the wor5
BinE9estC =or the in=ormal cons9ltation at which he assigne5 the ca9se o= 5eath.
PVXVQ +rom Miss Eli]a Mortlock( *ivoli Lo5ge( -leve5on( who 5oes not remember when
it was that the acco9nt was written.
B)t ,iesba5en we were acE9ainte5 with a clever goo5 man( 1ro=essor Ebena9( whose
ol5 sister kept his ho9se( [c. .e tol5 9s he ha5 a =rien5 resi5ing 3; or V; miles o==A
likewise a pro=essorAwho was ver> poor( an5 ha5 a large =amil>. On hearing that the
wi=e was 5>ing( Mr. E. went to see them( an5 bro9ght back their el5est bo>( =or whom a
little be5 was p9t 9p in Mr. E.4s room.
BOne morning( abo9t 2; 5a>s a=ter( Mr. E. calle5 an5 aske5 me( u$o >o9 believe that at
the moment o= 5eath( >o9 ma> appear to one whom >o9 lover4 I replie5( u#es( I 5o.4
u,ell(4 he sai5( uwe shall see. I have note5 the 5a> an5 the ho9r@ =or last night a=ter I went
9p to be5( the ii-V38! chil5 sai5 sweetl> Pin &ermanQ( B#es( 5ear mamma( I see >o9.C *o
which I replie5( B%o( 5ear bo>( it is I( I am come to be5.C B%o( he sai5( Bit is 5ear
mamma( she is stan5ing there smiling at me(C pointing to the si5e o= the be5.4 On his ne?t
visit( Mr. Ebena9 tol5 9s that he ha5 receive5 a letter sa>ing that at that time( an5 on that
evening( the wi=e ha5 breathe5 her last.
BELIJ) MO'*LO-0.C
Y*his event happene5 in the spring o= 27V3( an5 Miss Mortlock has lost sight o= 1ro=essor
Ebena9@ b9t it will be seen that she hersel= was in=orme5 o= the vision be=ore the 5eath
was known. *he bo> seems to have been s9==icientl> awake at an> rate to 9n5erstan5 an5
repl> to 1ro=essor Ebena94s remark( an5 Miss Mortlock is s9re that the 1ro=essor believe5
him to have been awake. "9t he ma> have been in a state =avo9rable to s9bDective
hall9cination( =rom knowle5ge o= his mother4s critical con5ition.Z
PVX8Q +rom Mr. ,icks Pa *emperance Missionar>Q( 7W( /o9th=iel5s( Leicester.
BF9l>( 2773.
BIn $evonport( in the >ear 2773( I was acE9ainte5 with a Mrs. +lahert>( an Irish wi5ow(
who occ9pie5 two rooms in a ho9se which accommo5ate5 several poor =amilies. /he ha5
three sons( the el5est o= whom( &arlan5( a la5 o= abo9t 2W( who was stewar5 on boar5 one
o= .er MaDest>4s ships( was her main s9pport. *his la5 ha5 been ashore on leave( an5 ha5
ba5e his mother =arewell to ret9rn to his 59t>. /he( soon a=ter parting with him( set abo9t
cleaning the 5oorwa> o= the ho9se. Looking 9p =rom this occ9pation( she saw him
ret9rning 9p the street( an5 she e?claime5( u,h>( goo5nesss he has lost the boat.
,hatever will he 5or4 /he rose 9p an5 s9rve>e5 him as he approache5 her( i5enti=>ing
his =ace( hair( =ig9re( gait( 5ress( an5 even the b9n5le o= clothes he ha5 carrie5 awa>. /he
calle5 o9t to him( b9t he ma5e no answer( walke5 past her into the ho9se( an5 went 9p
into her rooms. /he =ollowe5( b9t =in5ing nobo5> there( she calle5 o9t chi5ingl>(
u&arlan5( 5on4t pla> with me. *ell me( wh> haven4t >o9 gone aboar5r4 .er e?citement
bro9ght in her neighbo9rs( who aske5 what was the matter@ to which inE9ir> she
respon5e5( uIn5ee5( I 5on4t know. "> the .ol> Mother( I never saw &arlan5 in m> li=e i= I
5i5n4t see him D9st now come in at the 5oor an5 go 9pstairs be=ore me.4 u)re >o9 s9re(
now( he is not hi5ing in some o= >o9r roomsr4 *he> soon satis=ie5 themselves b> search
that this was not the case( an5 tol5 Mrs. +lahert> she m9st have been mistaken. *o this
she answere5 positivel>( u$on4t I know m> own bo>Am> own &arlan5r bless hims an5
5i5n4t I see him come 9p the street( an5 come into this ho9ser #es( an5 9p over the stairs:
an5 5i5n4t he pass me witho9t speakingr the likes o= which he never 5i5 be=ore at all( at
all. /omething m9st be the matter with him.4
BIn this she was right. It t9rne5 o9t that in tr>ing to get =rom the boat on to the la55er
l>ing over the ship4s si5e he misse5 his =oothol5( =ell into the sea( an5 was 5rowne5. *his
happene5 at the ver> time his mother saw his apparition.
BI ha5 this stor>( as it is here given( =rom Mrs. +lahert>4s own lips( an5 have =reE9entl>
since hear5 it =rom her secon5 son( Fohn &arlan5 +lahert>( who was m> companion =or
over 2; >ears.
B,ILLI)M ,I-0/.C
ii-V3W!
PVXWQ +rom the late Miss Eli]abeth Facob( who wrote 5own the acco9nt( some >ears ago(
=or Mrs. /a?b>( o= Mo9nt Elton( -leve5on. *he 5ate o= the inci5ent is now irrecoverable@
Mrs. /a?b>( writing on March 22( 2778( sa>s that she thinks it Bm9st have occ9rre5 =9ll
U; >ears ago.C
*he narrative begins b> 5escribing how one Fohn Miller( an ol5 blin5 man whom Miss
Facob an5 her sister( Mrs. '9ssell( 9se5 to visit in Lon5on( 5ie5 9ne?pecte5l> at a time
when his son-in-law was seeking emplo>ment in the co9ntr>. B*he secon5 night a=ter the
5eath( Mrs. Miller an5 her 5a9ghter ha5 gone to be5( b9t the> were 9nable to sleep =or
thinking o= him( when( to 9se her own wor5s( uI hear5 something strike against the
win5ow( ma4am( an5 I starte5 9p an5 =o9n5 that it was someone throwing 9p stones
against it. /o I D9mps 9p( throws m> =lannel petticoat over m> sho9l5ers( an5 opens the
win5ow. u,ho4s therer4 sa>s I. uIt is I( mother(4 sa>s Fem( Bcome home.C BOh( Fem(C sa>s
I( B=ather4s 5ea5.C /a>s he( BI knowe5 it( an5 that4s wh> I come home.C /o( ma4am I was
str9ck all o= a heap( as >o9 ma> g9ess( an5 I whippe5 on m> clothes an5 let Fem in( an5
then he tol5 9s all how it was.4 .e ha5 been in "9ckinghamshire( towar5s O?=or5( an5 he
was walking b> a plo9ghe5 =iel5 in a co9ntr> place( when( looking 9p( he saw his =ather
Yin-lawZ coming towar5s him. .e was E9ite s9re it was his =ather Yin-lawZ. .e =elt
startle5( b9t was D9st going 9p to speak to him when he passe5 awa> over the plo9ghe5
=iel5 witho9t t9rning( or speaking( or looking at him. Fem =elt so awe str9ck that he co9l5
neither move nor 5o an>thing( b9t he tho9ght 5irectl> that it was a sign that something
was wrong( so he t9rne5 an5 walke5 back to Lon5on as soon as he co9l5( an5 ver>
=ootsore an5 tire5 he was when he arrive5.C
Mrs. /a?b> tells 9s that Miss Facob hear5 ol5 Mrs. Miller relate this inci5ent a =ew 5a>s
a=ter Fem4s ret9rn@ an5 a55s( B*he> =o9n5 that it was e?actl> at the same ho9r that the ol5
man 5ie5( that his son-in-law saw him gli5e past him in the plo9ghe5 =iel5.C
Y*his case 5epen5s on the evi5ence o= respectable( tho9gh 9ne59cate5( witnesses@ an5 the
=act o= the son-in-law4s ret9rn( an5 the reason he allege5 =or it( are not matters on which
memor> wo9l5 become 9ntr9stworth> in a =ew 5a>s. )t the same time( the e?actit95e o=
the coinci5ence ma> easil> have been e?aggerate5. )s Mrs. Miller was cognisant o=
Fem4s 9ne?pecte5 ret9rn be=ore he hear5 o= the 5eath( an5 m9st have hear5 o= the vision
that ca9se5 his ret9rn in almost the same breath as he hear5 o= the 5eath( her evi5ence
ma> perhaps be reckone5 as on a par with =irst-han5 PVol. I.( p. 237Q.Z
PVX7Q *he late &eneral -ampbell( o= &walior .o9se( /o9thgate( in=orme5 9s that a
relative o= his( MaDor .asell( ha5 seen the apparition o= a brother at the time o= the latter4s
5eath( an5 that the onl> a9thorit> whom he was at libert> to E9ote was a common relative
o= his own an5 o= MaDor .asell4sA&eneral Orchar5. )t o9r reE9est he wrote to &eneral
Orchar5( who replie5 as =ollows:A
B,oo5ville &ar5ens( "arnes( /.,.( /9rre>.
BMa> 2Wth( 2773.
B*he event took place 59ring F9ne( 273X Pthe precise 5ate I cannot sa>Q@ it took place on
his vo>age home( on me5ical leave. .asell P37th ii-V37! "en. %.I.Q tol5 me it was in the
'e5 /ea that his brother 5ie5( on the wa> to /9e]. .asell =9rther state5 that on seeing his
brother4s apparition he looke5 at his watch( an5 note5 5own the 5ate an5 time his brother
appeare5 to him( an5 b> his calc9lations it was e?actl> the time intimate5 as to his
5emise( which he a=terwar5s receive5. *he name o= the ship I 5o not know@ however( that
can be easil> ascertaine5 =rom the In5ia O==ice( as well as the act9al 5ate an5 where he
5ie5. *he partic9lars that I have not been able to give have E9ite escape5 m> memor>(
altho9gh at the time the> m9st have been mentione5 to me.
B.asell was in In5ia with his regiment( an5 his brother going to Englan5 on me5ical
leave at that time.
BF. ,. O'-.)'$.C
&eneral Orchar5 writes to 9s on Ma> U3( 2773:A
BI cannot bring to min5 -hen MaDor .asell tol5 me o= the occ9rrence.
B*he apparition appeare5 in the a=ternoon( b9t the ho9r has escape5 m> memor>. It
showe5 itsel= to MaDor .asell( an5 he tol5 me it was visible =or a secon5 or two( an5 then
=a5e5 awa>. .e ma5e the calc9lation as to the time( which agree5 with that o= his
brother4s 5eath.C
&eneral -ampbell sa>s that MaDor .asell str9ck him Bas being a ver> straight=orwar5(
practical sort o= man.C
,e learn =rom the In5ia O==ice that -aptain ,illiam Lowther .asell( attache5 to the 33th
"engal %ative In=antr>( 5ie5 at -airo( on his wa> home( on the 2:th F9ne( 273X. *he
vessel in which he embarke5 =rom In5ia was the 1. an5 O. steamship BOriental(C -aptain
1owell.
PVXXQ *he =ollowing narrative( receive5 =rom an intimate =rien5 o= Mr. M>ers an5 the
present writer( is thir5-han5( an5 is a5mitte5 onl> b> special e?ception Psee Vol. I.( p. 2V7(
noteQ.
B277:.
BM> gran5=ather( /ir F. #.( was 5rowne5 b> the 9psetting o= a boat in the /olent( in or
abo9t the >ear 27:;.
BOn the 5a> o= his 5eath Miss Manningham( a great =rien5 an5 connection o= his( was at
one o= the )ncient -oncerts in .anover /E9are "ooms. $9ring the per=ormance she
=ainte5 awa>( an5 when she came to( 5eclare5 that she ha5 seen a corpse l>ing at her =eet(
an5 tho9gh the =ace was t9rne5 awa>( she knew the =ig9re to be that o= m> gran5=ather.
-omm9nication in those 5a>s was not o= co9rse as eas> as now( an5 her =ears were not
veri=ie5 till some 5a>s a=ter the event.
2
/9ch is the =amil> stor>( which I hear5 o=ten =rom
m> =ather( an5 ha5 veri=ie5 b> m> mother when last I saw her.C
In answer to an inE9ir>( the narrator a55s( BI have alwa>s 9n5erstoo5 that m> =ather hear5
it =rom Miss Manningham@ m> mother hear5 it =rom m> =ather.C
*he =ollowing acco9nt o= the same inci5ent occ9rs in ) *ortion of the Journal 1ept b, T.
=ai1es, >s2., fro( 27:2 to 273W( Vol. I.( p. 2:2:A
B,e5nes5a>( U8th( $ecember( 27:U.A-aptain AA reco9nte5 a c9rio9s anec5ote that
happene5 in his own =amil>. .e tol5 it in the =ollowing wor5s:AIt is now abo9t 2V
months ago that Miss M.( a connection o= ii-V3X! m> =amil>( went with a part> o=
=rien5s to a concert at the )rg>ll 'ooms. /he appeare5 there to be s955enl> sei]e5 with
in5isposition( an5 tho9gh she persiste5 =or some time to str9ggle against what seeme5 a
violent nervo9s a==ection( it became at last so oppressive that the> were oblige5 to sen5
=or their carriage an5 con59ct her home. /he was =or a long while 9nwilling to sa> what
was the ca9se o= her in5isposition@ b9t on being more earnestl> E9estione5( she at length
con=esse5 that she ha5( imme5iatel> on arriving at the concert-room( been terri=ie5 b> a
horrible vision which 9nceasingl> presente5 itsel= to her sight. It seeme5 to her as tho9gh
a nake5 corpse was l>ing on the =loor at her =eet@ the =eat9res o= the =ace were partl>
covere5 b> a cloth mantle( b9t eno9gh was apparent to convince her that the bo5> was
that o= /ir F. #. Ever> e==ort was ma5e b> her =rien5s at the time to tranE9illise her min5
b> representing the =oll> o= allowing s9ch 5el9sions to pre> 9pon her spirits( an5 she th9s
retire5 to be5@ b9t on the =ollowing 5a> the =amil> receive5 the ti5ings o= /ir F. #. having
been 5rowne5 in /o9thampton 'iver that ver> night b> the oversetting o= his boat( an5
the bo5> was a=terwar5s =o9n5 entangle5 in a boat6cloa1. .ere is an a9thentic case o=
secon5-sight( an5 o= ver> recent 5ate.C
,e =in5 =rom the 9a(pshire Telegraph that the =atal acci5ent occ9rre5 at abo9t 3 p.m.(
on Ma> V( 27:2.
It will be seen that the acco9nts present a 5iscrepanc> in the name o= the b9il5ing where
the vision was seenAthe B)rg>ll 'ooms(C accor5ing to the ol5er version( the B.anover
/E9are 'oomsC accor5ing to the later. ,e =in5 =rom the a5vertisements o= the 'orning
*ost that Bthe celebrate5 '9ssian "an5C was that week giving 5ail> concerts( at : p.m.( at
the )rg>ll 'ooms@ an5 =rom -rickle>4s *icture of ;ondon P27:2Q( p. X:( we learn that
Bthe )rg>ll 'ooms( 'egent /treet( b9rnt 5own in the earl> part o= last >ear( have been
again restore5 to their =ormer splen5o9r. *he> are 5evote5 to concerts( balls( an5
e?hibitions( an5 are m9ch =reE9ente5 b> persons o= rank an5 =ashion.4 It is there=ore
probable that Miss Manningham was present at the a=ternoon concert at these 'ooms.
*he .anover /E9are 'ooms were also 9se5 =or concerts at that time@ an5 as the title
B)rg>ll 'oomsC has long cease5 to s9ggest a high-class concert-hall( one easil> sees how
it ma> have been 9nconscio9sl> replace5 in the min5 o= o9r =rien54s parents b> the more
apparentl> s9itable appellation.
*he newspaper-acco9nt shows that the bo5ies o= /ir F. #.( an5 o= two =rien5s who were
5rowne5 with him( were Bcompletel> envelope5 in their cloaks an5 greatcoatsC@ an5
there=ore the 5etail o= the boat-cloak in the vision( i= correct( is interesting@ b9t as we 5o
not know at what han5 the ol5er acco9nt is given( it is impossible to rel> on s9ch a point.
P8;;Q +rom Mr. Fames -o?( Pmentione5 above( p. U:VQ.
B)5miralt> .o9se( }9eenstown.
BMarch 27th( 2773.
B,hen I was serving in -hina in 278;( 59ring the war( a militar> o==icer( who was
serving there at the same time( while crossing *alienwha9 "a>( was capsi]e5 an5
5rowne5. One o= his brother o==icers in=orme5 me that at the time o= the acci5ent he
5istinctl> saw his apparition while ri5ing across the co9ntr>.
ii-VV;!
BI cannot now remember the names o= these o==icers( as this happene5 more than U; >ears
ago.
BF)ME/ -O\.C
In repl> to the E9estion whether he hear5 o= the event imme5iatel> a=ter its occ9rrence(
Mr. -o? sa>s:A
BMarch UVth 2773.
B*he =act o= the o==icer in E9estion having been capsi]e5 an5 5rowne5 was known to 9s
all( I think( on the 5a> the sa5 event happene5@ as the =leet was anchore5 in the "a> o=
*alienwha9( an5 the troops were encampe5 on the shores o= the "a>( so that the arm> an5
nav> were in constant comm9nication. "9t the ne?t 5a>( I believe( while I was ret9rning
=rom the camp( where I ha5 been on a visit( the militar> o==icer who ha5 seen the
apparition spoke to me o= it.C
,e =in5 =rom Mr. '. /winhoe4s ) Narrative of the North China Ca(paign in 1#$N, that
the o==icer who was 5rowne5( as 5escribe5( was Lie9tenant .. L. &. &or5on( o= the
Ma5ras Engineers. .is 5eath took place on F9l> 22th( 278;.
/ir 1eter L9ms5en( 0.-.".( who was in the boat with &or5on( an5 -olonel ,. ..
E5gcome( '.E.( who was in the Ma5ras Engineers in -hina at the time( tell 9s that the>
never hear5 o= the apparition.
YMr. -o? is a care=9l in=ormant@ an5 the =act that he was on the spot( an5 hear5 o= the
inci5ent imme5iatel> on its occ9rrence( seems to D9sti=> an e?ception to the r9le o= not
a5mitting acco9nts =rom persons who ha5 onl> a slight acE9aintance with the original
witness.Z
P8;2Q Mr. +. L. "rine( +insb9r> $istiller>( E.-.( sent 9s a letter =rom his sister( Mrs. +.(
containing the =ollowing passage:A
B+ebr9ar> UXth( 2773.
BI remember( as i= it were onl> >ester5a>( sta>ing at the Miltons. It was Mr. Milton4s
c9stom to go into the cellar( to t9rn the gas o== at the meter. ,hen he came 9p he was
looking 9n9s9all> pale( an5 he sai5( u,here is the sco9n5relr4 O= co9rse it =rightene5 9s(
as we tho9ght he meant a b9rglar@ an5 he wo9l5 not believe( =or some time( that his son(
.arr>( was not having a game with him@ as he saw him E9ite plainl> in the cellar. ) =ew
weeks a=ter( the> ha5 a letter =rom the captain o= the ship( to sa> he 5ie5 in .obart *own
.ospital( on the ver> night he appeare5 to his =ather.
B/. +.C
YMrs. +. 5islikes the s9bDect( an5 we can obtain no =9rther 5etails =rom her. ,e have
written to .obart *own( to obtain a certi=icate o= the 5eath( b9t have not receive5 it in
time =or insertion here.Z
P8;UQ +rom an article in Church Bells =or March U;th( 277V( b> the 'ev. F. +o?le>( Vicar
o= Market ,eighton( #orkshire.
B*here is now living in the parish where we writeAshe was at ch9rch last /9n5a>Aa
wi5ow now in her W7th >ear( b9t in =9ll possession o= all her =ac9lties( who has more than
once tol5 9s( with all the =9lness o= 5etail( an5 s9bDect to all the cross-E9estioning which
we co9l5 5evise( how she was at service some miles =rom home 59ring her =ather4s last
illness( an5 that one *h9rs5a> she =elt 9nable to go on with her work( an5 a=ter a while(
abo9t 2 o4clock( saw a vision o= her =ather@ that it t9rne5 o9t a=terwar5s that her =ather
5ie5 at that ver> time( an5 that D9st be=ore his 5eath he ha5 been speaking o= her@ that a
letter sent to in=orm her o= his being worse =aile5 to reach her@ an5 that tho9gh she knew
he was ii-VV2! ill( she was not aware that he was in imme5iate 5anger@ b9t that she was
so impresse5 with her vision that she set o== home the /at9r5a> =ollowing( an5 learnt
2
on
the wa> that her =ather was 5ea5( an5 that his =9neral was to take place that ver> 5a>( so
that she arrive5 onl> D9st in time. ,e have veri=ie5 one s9bor5inate part o= the above
narrative@ =or b> re=erence to the parish register we =in5 that the b9rial took place on the
:2st o= Ma>( 27U:@ an5 as the /9n5a> letter =or that >ear was E( which is the letter =or the
2st o= F9ne( the b9rial t9rns o9t to have been( as state5( on a /at9r5a>. O9r in=ormant was
then( as shown b> the register o= her baptism( UV >ears ol5.C
In sen5ing the above( Mr. +o?le> writes( October U3th( 2773:AB*he enclose5 c9tting
=rom Church Bells has the a5vantage o= having been rea5 over to Mrs. 1ollar5( an5
accepte5 b> her as a =aith=9l statement o= what occ9rre5 to her. /he was b9rie5 here(
+ebr9ar> 23th( 2773. /he co9l5 rea5 well. *he u2 o4clock4 mentione5 was in the da,-
time. I recollect her mentioning dinner-time. *he place was some o9t-b9il5ing( I think a
s9mmer-ho9se( b9t o= that I am not certain. /he alwa>s tol5 the stor> 9n5er the
impression that she was wi5e awake.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. +o?le> a55s:A
BI cannot recollect whether she sai5 she mentione5 the apparition to an>one before the
news o= the 5eath arrive5. "9t she tol5 me that the apparition was one ca9se( i= not the
ca9se( o= her asking leave to go home to see her =ather. I cannot sa> in whose service she
was.
B)ll I can a55 is( that I cross-E9estione5 Mrs. 1ollar5 repeate5l>( in ever> wa> I co9l5
think o=( an5 that I co9l5 not shake her stor>. "9t then she ma> have tol5 it so man> times
that it ha5 become tr9th to her( like &eorge the +o9rth4s presence at the battle o=
,aterloo.C
Y.ere the impression seems to have been so vivi5 as to prompt a ver> 5eci5e5 line o=
action. "9t on the other han5( the percipient was probabl> in an?iet> as to her =ather4s
con5ition( which 5iminishes the improbabilit> that her hall9cination was p9rel>
s9bDective.Z
P8;:Q +rom Mr. %orris( P"arristerQ( $alke>( Irelan5. *he acco9nt was written 5own be=ore
2787: we receive5 it in 277U.
BIn or abo9t 27V;( an5 =or some >ears previo9s an5 s9bseE9ent( there live5 at .ampton
-o9rt( near $o9glas( Isle o= Man( a gentleman name5 )bbott with a =amil>( consisting o=
Mrs. )bbott( =ive 5a9ghters( an5 one son. Mr. )bbott being =on5 o= the sea( kept a small
>acht( b9t partic9larl> 5esire5 his son never to go o9t in it witho9t his permission. )bo9t
the time above mentione5( while he was himsel= absent in $9blin( his son obtaine5 his
mother4s permission( an5 with two >o9ng companions crosse5 the -hannel to
0irkc95bright on the opposite /cottish shore. On Mr. )bbott4s ret9rn( he was anno>e5 to
=in5 the bo>s ha5 gone o9t witho9t taking a sailor with them( an5 this anno>ance was not
lessene5 b> the receipt o= a letter sa>ing the> co9l5 not ret9rn 9ntil the> receive5 a
remittance. Mr. )bbott at once went into $o9glas( a 5istance o= =o9r or =ive miles( an5
poste5 a letter to his son with the necessar> enclos9re. .e ha5 scarcel> 5one so when(
t9rning ro9n5( he saw his son at the opposite si5e o= the ii-VVU! narrow street( looking at
him with a ver> sorrow=9l e?pression. F9st at that moment he was too m9ch anno>e5 to
speak to him( so he went home an5 tol5 Mrs. )bbott that he ha5 ha5 all his tro9ble =or
nothing as Fohn was in $o9glas. .e a55e5 that he was too m9ch anno>e5 to take an>
notice o= him( b9t he s9ppose5 he wo9l5 be in =or 5inner. In vain the> waite5. )t the ver>
time( his =ather P=rom whose lips I ha5 the stor>Q saw him in $o9glas he was 5rowne5 in
0irkc95bright "a> b> the 9psetting o= his boat. *his was abo9t noon or a little earlier. I
know not whether Mr. )bbott be now alive( nor can I give the a55ress o= an> o= his
=amil>@ b9t he tol5 me the stor> as I have state5 it( with his own lips.
B*.OM)/ F. %O''I/.C
Mrs. *an5>( a 5a9ghter o= Mr. %orris( writes to 9s =rom 2( *empH *errace( $alke>(
Irelan5( that she was 23 at the time o= this occ9rrence( an5 per=ectl> remembers hearing
Mr. )bbott4s acco9nt o= it. /he then narrates it D9st as it is given above.
Y,e have =aile5 to =in5 an> newspaper-acco9nt o= this acci5ent@ an5 the 5eath was not
registere5Aregistration in those 5a>s not being comp9lsor>. "9t we learn =rom the
collector o= ..M. -9stoms at $o9glas( an5 =rom the se?ton at 0irkc95bright( that several
resi5ents at these places remember the event.Z
P8;3Q +rom the 'ev. '. L. Lo9ghboro9gh( 1irton Vicarage( .itchin.
BFan9ar> UVth( 2773.
BI was visiting a poor woman( Mrs. )bbiss( =ar gone in cons9mption( an5 wishing to
5raw her tho9ghts to the certaint> o= approaching 5eath( I aske5 her certain E9estions
abo9t her relations an5 her mother. I ha5 no sooner name5 her mother than she
e?claime5( u)h( sir( there was a strange thing happene5 at the time o= mother4s 5eath@ b9t
I4m thinking >o9 wo9l5 har5l> believe me i= I were to tell it >e.4 uI 5o not know(4 I sai5( uI
hear o= too man> strange things to be m9ch s9rprise5 at what >o9 co9l5 tell me( or to
5o9bt the tr9th o= what >o9 ma> sa>.4 u,ell( sir( the tr9th o= it was this. I was b9t a girl at
the time( an5 mother being ver> ill( s9==ering =rom the same complaint as mine( we ha5 a
woman to help me. Mother kept her be5. )n5 one morning when we ha5 ma5e her
com=ortable an5 given her her break=ast( we tho9ght she seeme5 a little better( an5 came
5own stairs to have o9r break=ast@ b9t( sir( we ha5n4t sat ver> long be=ore the 5oor
opene5( an5 in came =ather looking all s1eered like( an5 sat himsel= 5own in that ver>
chair where >o9 are now sitting. BOh( =ather(C I sai5( Bhow >o9 fritted me( what4s the
matterrC B.ow4s motherCr4 he sai5. B,h>( we gave her her break=ast( an5 she seeme5
E9ite com=ortable like when we le=t her not man> min9tes since.C B*hen r9n an5 see how
she is now.C I went 9p( an5 wo9l5 >o9 believe it( sir( we =o9n5 mother was 5ea5r ,hen I
aske5 =ather what ma5e him come 9p in that =rightene5 wa>( he sai5( B,h>( I was hoeing
in Mr. ,.4s =iel5( an5 D9st as /AA clock was striking X( I see >o9r mother stan5ing at the
en5 o= m> hoe. I was str9ck all o= a heap like( an5 threw 5own m> hoe( an5 ran home as
=ast as I co9l5.C4
B*he =ather4s name was Fohn ,ilson. #o9 ma> place the =9llest reliance on the narrative(
as m> impression is still most vivi5 as to the whole circ9mstance o= the relation. *he poor
woman was well known to me =rom m> =reE9ent visits. /he was too simple-min5e5 to
romance 9pon ii-VV:! the matter( an5 there was a sort o= 5ramatic earnestness in her
manner as she tol5 me( which convince5 me that she realise5 again the strange look o=
her =ather when he ret9rne5 to inE9ire abo9t his wi=e.
B'. Lin5sa> Lo9ghboro9gh.C
Mr. Lo9ghboro9gh has ascertaine5 =rom the 'egister that Mrs. ,ilson 5ie5 in Fan9ar>(
27V;( age5 32@ her h9sban5 in Fan9ar>( 27V:( age5 37@ an5 Mrs. )bbiss in /eptember(
27V8( age5 :U. .e thinks it most probable that Mrs. )bbiss gave him the acco9nt in the
earl> s9mmer o= 27V8. /he m9st have been at least UV Ptho9gh she sa>s Bb9t a girlCQ at
the time o= the inci5ent.
Y*he evi5ence is o= the same class as in case VXW( Mrs. )bbiss having been a witness o=
the 9n9s9al 5emeano9r o= her =ather( 59e to the visionAtho9gh she 5i5 not act9all> hear
the vision 5escribe5Abe=ore the =act o= the 5eath was known to him.Z
P8;VQ +rom Mrs. La9rie( +iesole( "athwick .ill( "ath. ,e owe this case( in the =irst
instance( to Mr. &. F. 'omanes( +.'./.( who sent 9s a letter containing an acco9nt which
Mrs. La9rie ha5 5ictate5 in F9ne( 277:@ b9t the =ollowing acco9nt( 5ictate5 in 277V to Mr.
L. &. +r>( o= &ol5ne> .o9se( -li=ton( is a little =9ller.
B&eneral 0ennett was travelling home to his wi=e( who was sta>ing in some part o= In5ia(
=rom "omba>( an5 was inten5ing to break the Do9rne> =or a week at m> h9sban54s PMr.
La9rieQ ho9se at "aro5a. .e 5ecline5 to sleep in the ho9se( sa>ing that he wo9l5 have his
tent pitche5 near( an5 pre=erre5 it( as cooler. %e?t morning( however( he came in in a ver>
agitate5 state( sa>ing that he hope5 we wo9l5 e?c9se him( an5 that he ha5 or5ere5 his tent
to be str9ck( as he inten5e5 to res9me his Do9rne> imme5iatel> ,hen we aske5 what was
the matter( he replie5 that his wi=e ha5 appeare5 to him( sa>ing that i= he 5i5 not ret9rn
home imme5iatel> he wo9l5 never see her alive. I s9ggeste5 that it was a 5ream( b9t he
sai5 u%o(4 he ha5 reall> seen her. M> h9sban5 sai5 u,ell( &eneral( I am sorr> >o94re
going( I hope >o94ll =in5 her E9ite well.4 &eneral 0ennett starte5 imme5iatel>( an5 on
arriving home he wrote to 9s stating that she was 5ea5( an5 that he =o9n5 her in the 5ress
in which he ha5 seen her in his tent /he 5ie5 a =ew min9tes be=ore his arrival( an5
there=ore =o9r or =ive 5a>s a=ter the visionAas he ha5 a long 5istance to travel. ,hen he
ha5 le=t his wi=e( she appeare5 in goo5 health( an5 he ha5 no message to sa> she was ill.
*he =act that he =o9n5 her dressed wo9l5 seem to s9ggest that she 5ie5 ver> s955enl>.
B-)'OLI%E EMM) L)U'IE.C
&eneral 0ennett an5 Mr. La9rie are both 5ecease5.
Y*his is( o= co9rse( a ver> inconcl9sive case@ =or the 5ress ma> probabl> have been a
=amiliar one@ an5 i= the 5eath was so s955en that no premonitor> s>mptoms ha5 been =elt
=o9r or =ive 5a>s be=ore( there wo9l5 be no strong reason =or regar5ing the vision as
telepathic rather than as a p9rel> s9bDective hall9cination. "9t the 5eath was not b> an
acci5entAit at an> rate took place =rom some morbi5 ph>sical ca9se@ an5 it m9st not be
=orgotten that the approach o= 5eath =rom s9ch a ca9se ma> conceivabl> be 5iscerne5 in a
wa> which is o9t o= the range o= conscio9sness as we 9n5erstan5 it. P/ee Vol. I.( p. U:2.QZ
ii-VV3!
P8;8Q *he =ollowing letter was p9blishe5 in the Banner of ;ight o= Fan9ar>( 27W7. ,e
wrote to make inE9iries o= the writer( Mr. )lwis( b9t have since been in=orme5 b> the
-olonial O==ice that he 5ie5 in 27W7.
B-olombo( -e>lon.
BIt was a =ine( clear evening( man> >ears ago( a 5a> a=ter I ha5 gone to %egombo( to act
=or Mr. Fohn /elb> as $istrict F95ge o= that place( that I Doine5 that gentleman at a game
o= cricket. ,e =inishe5 o9r game( an5 were( in the 59sk o= the evening( coming to the
&overnment .o9se( where we all live5( when Mr. /elb>( who was behin5 9s( came
r9shing past 9s( an5 beckone5 me to come =ast. .e was rather e?cite5( an5 5esire5 me to
be goo5 eno9gh to cons9lt m> watch an5 tell him the time. I 5i5 so. .e then sat 5own at
m> writing-table( took a sheet o= note-paper( an5 wrote 5own( u', -ife died 1K (inutes
to $ ocloc1 Pmonth( [c.( which I =orgetQ. *his slip o= paper he p9t into an envelope(
seale5 it( an5 got me an5 another gentleman then present to p9t o9r signat9res to the =act
therein state5. ,e 5i5 so. )n5 he then e?plaine5 to 9s that his wi=e( who ha5 been long ill
in Englan5( ha5 appeare5 to him at the time above in5icate5( 9n5er the sha5ow o= the big
banian( an5 that he ha5 not the slightest 5o9bt that she ha5 5ie5 at that ho9r( an5 that it
was her spirit
2
which he ha5 seen. In conseE9ence o= this pers9asion( Mr. /elb>( who was
to leave -e>lon in a =ew 5a>s =or Englan5( postpone5 his trip =or a short time. )n5 when
the mail ha5 arrive5( a month or more a=ter the 5ate above given( he showe5 me his
private letters( an5 the> =9ll> con=irme5 the pre5iction o= his wi=e4s 5eath( within a =ew
ho9rs( as I remember( o= the time he state5 he ha5 seen his wi=e 9n5er the tree.
BF)ME/ )L,I/.C
Mr. /. -. Obe>esekere writes to 9s =rom -olombo( on F9l> 27( 277V:A
B#o9 are correctl> in=orme5 as to m> being a son-in-law o= the late .on. Fames )lwis.
On inE9ir> =rom Mrs. )lwis an5 several o= his =rien5s( I learn that the e?tract =rom the
report appearing in the Banner of ;ight =orwar5e5 to me is s9bstantiall> correct( an5
accor5s with their recollection o= Mr. )lwis4 acco9nt to them o= the inci5ent re=erre5 to in
it.
B"oth Mr. Fohn /elb> an5 his brother( .enr> -ollingwoo5( who was }9een4s )5vocate
o= -e>lon( are 5ea5( an5 I 5o not know whether there are an> relations o= theirs in the
Islan5( e?cept a son-in-law o= *hos. .. -. /elb>AMr. +rank ">r5e( o= )vissawelle. Mrs.
/elb> Yi.e., Mrs. .. -. /elb>Z. YsicZ I believe( is still alive at "ath( in Englan5( an5 >o9
might get some in=ormation =rom her abo9t what >o9 re=er to. *he other gentleman who(
with Mr. )lwis( witnesse5 Mr. /elb>4s memoran5a( I am in=orme5( was a Mr. Macartne>(
o= the 1olice( who is also 5ea5.
BMr. )lwis acte5 =or Mr. /elb> as $istrict F95ge o= %egombo =rom 2:th )pril to U3th
Ma>( 278:. Y,e have receive5 con=irmation o= this =act =rom the -olonial O==ice.Z
BI have not s9ccee5e5 in tracing o9t an> written memoran5a o= the event at the time o=
Mr. )lwis@ i= I 5o s9ccee5 in tracing them o9t( I shall with pleas9re =orwar5 >o9 their
cop>.
B/. -. O"E#E/E0E'E.C
ii-VVV!
Mrs. .. -. /elb> writes to 9s( =rom U( #ale View( Lon5on 'oa5( "ath( on Ma> U7( 2778:
A
B,e have hear5 o= the circ9mstances to which >o9 re=er( with regar5 to Mr. Fohn /elb>@
b9t not having seen him when he was in Englan5( a=ter the 5eath o= his wi=e( we are
9nable to give >o9 an> in=ormation.C
Mr. +rank ">r5e has kin5l> written to 9s( sa>ing that the acco9nt given Bs9bstantiall>
agreesC with what he ha5 hear5 be=ore( b9t that he has no written recor5 o= the inci5ent.
.e has also given 9s the means o= tracing Mrs. Fohn /elb>4s 5eath( which took place( as
the 'egister shows( on Ma> 23( 2783. *he (onth, it will be seen( agrees with the above
evi5ence@ b9t the ,ear there given is 278:. *he mistake( i= it be one( probabl> occ9rs in
some recor5 to which Mr. Obe>esekere an5 the o==icials o= the -olonial O==ice both ha5
access@ b9t possibl> Mr. )lwis acte5 as s9bstit9te =or Mr. F. /elb> more than once.
P8;WQ *he =ollowing case was reporte5 b> the late /erDeant -o? to the 1s>chological
/ociet>( in +ebr9ar>( 27WX( on the a9thorit> o= /9rgeon .arris( o= the 'o>al )rtiller>@
who( with two o= his 5a9ghters Pone o= whom became /erDeant -o?4s wi=eQ( was a
witness o= the occ9rrence. *he narrative has been alrea5> p9blishe5 in a book calle5
!pirits before our >,es, b> ,. .. .arrison( pp. 83TV.
B) part> o= chil5ren( sons an5 5a9ghters o= the o==icers o= )rtiller> statione5 at
,oolwich( were pla>ing in the gar5en. /955enl> a little girl screame5( an5 stoo5 staring
with an aspect o= terror at a willow tree there. .er companions gathere5 ro9n5( asking
what aile5 her. uOhs4 she sai5( uthereAthere. $on4t >o9 see. *here4s papa l>ing on the
gro9n5( an5 the bloo5 r9nning =rom a big wo9n5.4 )ll ass9re5 her that the> co9l5 see
nothing o= the kin5. "9t she persiste5( 5escribing the wo9n5 an5 the position o= the bo5>(
still e?pressing her s9rprise that the> 5i5 not see what she saw so plainl>. *wo o= her
companions were 5a9ghters o= m> in=ormant Pone o= the s9rgeons o= the regimentQ(
whose ho9se a5Doine5 the gar5en. *he> calle5 their =ather( who at once came to the spot.
.e =o9n5 the chil5 in a state o= e?treme terror an5 agon>( took her into his ho9se(
ass9ring her that it was onl> a u=anc>(4 an5 having given her restoratives( sent her home.
*he inci5ent was treate5 b> all as what the 5octor ha5 calle5 it( an5 no more was tho9ght
o= it. %ews =rom In5ia( where the chil54s =ather was statione5( was in those 5a>s slow in
coming. "9t the arrival o= the mail in 59e co9rse bro9ght the in=ormation that the =ather
o= the chil5 ha5 been kille5 b> a shot( an5 5ie5 9n5er a tree. Making allowance =or
5i==erence in the co9nting o= time( it was =o9n5 to have been abo9t the moment when the
5a9ghter ha5 the vision at ,oolwich.C
YI= here( as in so man> other o= the secon5-han5 cases( the 5etails an5 the allege5
acc9rac> o= the coinci5ence m9st be 5o9bte5( the main =act o= a striking coinci5ence o=
the sort allege5 ma> still be reasonabl> accepte5 as probable.Z
I have more than once spoken o= nautical evi5ence as likel> to be colo9re5 b>
s9perstition( or mo5i=ie5 an5 e?aggerate5 in the wa> nat9ral to o=t-repeate5 B>arns.C "9t
it ma> be reasonabl> s9ppose5 that the =irst-han5 witnesses in the two =ollowing cases
reall> ha5 ii-VV8! some s9ch e?perience as is 5escribe5( an5 that the coinci5ence was
not a p9re invention.
P8;7 an5 8;XQ +rom Mr. ,illiam $9nlop( Engineer( care o= Messrs. ,in5sor( 'e5lock(
an5 -o.( "angkok( /iam.
B+eb. 2Wth( 277:.
B) relation o= mine( name5 'ichar5 Fones( was apprentice pilot in the Merse>. One 5a>
he boar5e5 an inwar5 bo9n5 vessel( an5 took charge. *he captain o= the vessel was sick(
an5 the mate ha5 comman5@ he seeme5 to be ver> low-spirite5( an5 wo9l5 har5l> answer
m> co9sin when he spoke to him. *he> walke5 the 5eck in silence =or a long time( when
at last the mate s955enl> aske5 m> co9sin what sort o= weather the> ha5 ha5 abo9t the
coast =or the last month or so. M> co9sin sai5 the weather ha5 been ver> ba5. *he mate
then aske5 i= m> co9sin knew an>thing abo9t a certain brig@ he answere5 that he did, b9t
that he wishe5 to know wh> the E9estion was p9t. *he mate then sai5: uM> brother was
captain o= that vessel( an5 I4m 9neas> abo9t him( beca9se( as we were coming 5own the
Me5iterranean this trip( I saw m> brother aboar5 o= this cra=t. )t 7 bells PnoonQ I went
below to 5inner@ when I came on 5eck again I took a look 9p to win5war5 to see what the
weather was like( an5( stan5ing close against the b9lwarks I saw m> brother. I went over
to him( b9t as I got close to him he 5isappeare5. I t9rne5 ro9n5 an5 saw him on the other
si5e o= the 5eck@ I went towar5s him with m> arms stretche5 o9t@ when I got near him I
ma5e a s955en clasp at him( b9t he 5isappeare5 again.4 M> co9sin aske5 the mate to give
him the 5ate o= this appearance@ the mate 5i5 so( an5 m> co9sin answere5( uOn that 5a>(
an5 as near as I can D95ge( at the same ho9r( >o9r brother4s brig was lost with all han5s.4C
Y,e 5iscovere5 a recent a55ress o= Mr. Pnow -aptainQ 'ichar5 Fones@ b9t he ha5 le=t( an5
we have been 9nable to trace him.Z
B+rom the Wth o= October( 278W( till the 23th )pril( 27W2( I was shipmate with Mr. +. L.
M9rph>( aboar5 the ss. u'iga(4 o= Leith( o= which vessel he was secon5 o==icer. Mr.
M9rph>( in spite o= his name( was an Englishman@ he belonge5 to the mi55le class( was
ver> well e59cate5( b9t ver> s9perstitio9s. %ever min5 that( he was as tr9th=9l as man
co9l5 be( hate5 lies an5 liars( an5 no man co9l5 be braver. .is 5eath showe5 what
manner o= man he was( =or when the ss. u.ong 0ong4 was lost in the 'e5 /ea abo9t 7
>ears ago( he gave his place in the boat to another man an5 sta>e5 on the wreck( well
knowing that it was 5eath to 5o so. *he other man ha5 a =amil>( M9rph> ha5 none( so he
sacri=ice5 himsel=.
BI think it was somewhere abo9t the >ear 278:( that M9rph> was be=ore the mast on
boar5 the us9ltana4 o= /o9th /hiel5s( on the r9n home =rom "omba> to Englan5. O== the
-ape o= &oo5 .ope the> were r9nning with 5irt> weather( an5 towar5s night=all it looke5
ver> nast>( so the captain 5etermine5 to heave to. )t 7 bells it was all han5s to close ree=
the main topsail. %ow when a man is bearing a han5 to ree= a main topsail( with
something like a gale o= win5 blowing( he has not m9ch chance to =all a-5reaming. I= >o9
have been to sea >o9 know what it is@ i= >o9 have not( D9st =anc> >o9rsel= some W; or 7;
=eet 9p in the air( sw9ng =rom port to starboar5( =rom starboar5 to port like a stone in a
sling( with ii-VVW! the great sail slatting an5 th9n5ering below >o9. ,ell( M9rph> was
alo=t =isting the sail( when he happene5 to look =orwar5( an5 saw someone on the =ore
topsail >ar5. .e sho9te5 to the man ne?t him( u,ho4s that on the =ore topsail >ar5r4 .is
mate gave a look =orwar5 an5 answere5( u,h>( there4s no one there( we4re all on the >ar5
here.4 M9rph> looke5 along the main topsail >ar5 an5 co9nte5 the han5s@ s9re eno9gh
the> were all there. .e looke5 =orwar5 again( an5 saw that the man on the =ore topsail
>ar5 was his co9sin /tevens( who was in Englan5 at the time. ,hen the ship was bro9ght
to the win5( M9rph>( be=ore t9rning in( entere5 in his private log the 5ate an5 ho9r o= the
apparition.
BOn arriving in Englan5 he =o9n5 that his co9sin ha5 5ie5 on the same 5a> he appeare5
aboar5 the us9ltana(4 b9t between the ho9r o= his 5eath an5 the ho9r o= the apparition(
there was a 5i==erence =or which the longit95e 5i5 not acco9nt.C
Y*he last sentence ma> be taken as in some meas9re an in5ication o= acc9rac> in the
narrative.Z
P82;Q +rom Mr. +rancis $art +enton( =ormerl> in the native 5epartment o= the
&overnment( )9cklan5( %ew Jealan5. .e gave the acco9nt in writing to his =rien5(
-aptain F. .. -rosse( o= Monkstown( -ork( =rom whom we receive5 it. In 27VU( when the
inci5ent occ9rre5( Mr. +enton was Bengage5 in =orming a settlement on the banks o= the
,aikato.C
BMarch UVth( 278;.
B*wo saw>ers( +rank 1hilps an5 Fack M9lhollan5( were engage5 c9tting timber =or the
'ev. '. Ma9nsell( at the mo9th o= the )waroa creek( a ver> lonel> place( a vast swamp(
no people within miles o= them. )s 9s9al the> ha5 a Maori with them to assist in =elling
trees. .e came =rom *ihorewam( a village on the other si5e o= the river abo9t 8 miles o==.
)s +rank an5 the native were cross-c9tting a tree( the native stoppe5 s955enl> an5 sai5(
u,hat are >o9 come =orr4 looking in the 5irection o= +rank. +rank replie5( u,hat 5o >o9
meanr4 .e sai5( uI am not speaking to >o9@ I am speaking to m> brother.4 +rank sai5(
u,here is her4 *he native replie5( u"ehin5 >o9. ,hat 5o >o9 wantr4 Pto the other MaoriQ.
+rank looke5 ro9n5 an5 saw nobo5>@ the native no longer saw an>one( b9t lai5 5own the
saw an5 sai5( uI shall go across the river@ m> brother is 5ea5.4 +rank la9ghe5 at him an5
remin5e5 him that he ha5 le=t him E9ite well on /9n5a> P=ive 5a>s be=oreQ( an5 there ha5
been no comm9nication since. *he Maori spoke no more( b9t got into his canoe an5
p9lle5 across. ,hen he arrive5 at the lan5ing-place( he met people coming to =etch him.
.is brother ha5 D9st 5ie5@ I knew him well.C
In answer to inE9iries as to his a9thorit> =or this narrative( Mr. +enton writes to 9s:
B$ecember 27th( 277:.
BI knew all the parties concerne5 well( an5 it is E9ite tr9e( valeat 2uantu(, as the law>ers
sa>. Inci5ents o= this sort are not in=reE9ent among the Maoris.
B+. $. +E%*O%(
BLate -hie= F95ge( %ative Law -o9rt o= %ew Jealan5.C
*his case( i= =aith=9ll> reporte5( is an interesting e?ample( ii-VV7! vo9che5 =or b> an
e59cate5 E9ropean( o= telepath> occ9rring among an 9ncivilise5 people.
S V. I will concl95e this chapter with three cases( which are respectivel> one( two( an5
three cent9ries ol5( b9t o= which the =irst an5 secon5( at an> rate( ma> =airl> receive an
evi5ential n9mber.
P822Q +rom the ;ife of 'rs. 'ar, <letcher, b> .enr> Moore P2727Q( Vol. I.( pp. U;7TU;X
Aan e?tract =rom Mrs. +letcher4s 5iar>.
BOctober( 2W73.A)s I was retire5 this morning at m> 2; o4clock ho9r( I was calle5 5own
to Mar> &. /he gave me a strange acco9nt which I shall insert as she relate5 it:A) short
time ago( she sai5( she was one 5a> going o9t to work in the =iel5s( b9t tho9ght she wo9l5
=irst go 9pstairs to pra>er. ,hile on her knees( praising &o5 =or the care .e ha5 taken o=
her chil5ren( she was ama]e5 to see her el5est son( abo9t U2 >ears o= age( stan5ing be=ore
hers /he starte5 9pAb9t tho9ght( uMa>be it is the enem> to a==right me =rom pra>er.4
-asting her e>es 9p again to the same spot( she still saw him there@ on which she ran
5own into the kitchen( calling on the name o= the Lor5. /till( wherever she looke5( she
saw him stan5ing be=ore her( pale( an5 as i= covere5 with 5irt. -oncl95ing =rom this that
he was kille5( she ran to her mother( who( on hearing the acco9nt( went 5irectl> to the pit(
5etermine5 to have him home i= alive. On her 5rawing near the pit( she hear5 a great
t9m9lt@ =or the earth ha5 =allen in on him an5 two other men( an5 the people were striving
to 5ig them o9t. )t length he was got 9p alive an5 well( an5 came home to his mother
pale an5 5irt>( D9st as she ha5 seen hims /he then =ell on her knees( an5 began praising
that &o5 who hears an5 answers pra>er.C
P82UQ +rom The "orld of !pirits, b> '. "a?ter P28X2Q( pp. 23WT2V2. )bri5gment o= a
letter to "a?ter =rom Mr. *homas *ilson( Minister o= )>lesworth( in 0ent.
2

BF9l> 8th( 28X2.
BMar>( the wi=e o= Fohn &o==e( o= 'ochester( being a==licte5 with a long illness( remove5
to her =ather4s ho9se at ,est M9lling( which was abo9t X miles 5istant =rom her own@
there she 5ie5( F9ne 3th( 28X2.
B*he 5a> be=ore her 5epart9re she grew impatientl> 5esiro9s to see her two chil5ren(
whom she ha5 le=t at home( to the care o= a n9rse. /he pra>e5 her h9sban5 to hire a horse(
=or she m9st go home to 5ie with her chil5ren.
B"etween 2 an5 U o4clock in the morning she =ell into a trance. One wi5ow *9rner( who
watche5 with her that night( sa>s that her e>es were open an5 =i?e5( an5 her Daw =allen@
she p9t her han5 on her mo9th an5 nostrils( b9t co9l5 perceive no breath@ she tho9ght her
to be in a =it( an5 5o9bte5 whether she was alive or 5ea5. *he ne?t 5a> this 5>ing woman
tol5 her mother that she ha5 been at home with her chil5ren. u*hat is ii-VVX!
impossible(4 sai5 the mother( u=or >o9 have been here in be5 all the while.4 u#es(4 replie5
the other( ub9t I was with them last night while I was asleep.4
B*he n9rse at 'ochester( wi5ow )le?an5er b> name( a==irms an5 sa>s she will take her
oath o= it( be=ore a magistrate( an5 receive the sacrament 9pon it( that a little be=ore U
o4clock that morning she saw the likeness o= the sai5 Mar> &o==e come o9t o= the ne?t
chamber Pwhere the el5er chil5 la> in a be5 b> itsel=( the 5oor being le=t openQ( an5 stoo5
b> her be5si5e =or abo9t a E9arter o= an ho9r@ the >o9nger chil5 was there l>ing b> her@
her e>es move5( an5 her mo9th went( b9t she sai5 nothing. *he n9rse( moreover( sa>s that
she was per=ectl> awake@ it was then 5a>light( being one o= the longest 5a>s in the >ear.
/he sat 9p in her be5( an5 looke5 stea5=astl> 9pon the apparition@ at that time she hear5
the bri5ge clock strike U( an5 a while a=ter sai5( uIn the name o= the +ather( /on( an5 .ol>
&host( what art tho9r4 *here9pon the appearance remove5 an5 went awa>@ she slippe5 on
her clothes an5 =ollowe5( b9t what became o= it she cannot tell. *hen( an5 not be=ore( she
began to be grievo9sl> a==righte5( an5 went o9t o= 5oors( an5 walke5 9pon the whar= Pthe
ho9se is D9st b> the river-si5eQ =or some ho9rs( onl> going in now an5 then to look at the
chil5ren. )t V o4clock she went to a neighbo9r4s an5 knocke5 at the 5oor( b9t the> wo9l5
not rise@ at 8 she went again( then the> rose an5 let her in. /he relate5 to them all that ha5
passe5@ the> wo9l5 pers9a5e her she was mistaken( or 5reamt@ b9t she con=i5entl>
a==irme5( uI= ever I saw her in all m> li=e( I saw her this night.4
BOne o= those to whom she ma5e the relation PMar>( the wi=e o= F. /weetQ ha5 a
messenger who came =rom M9lling that =orenoon( to let her know her neighbo9r &o==e
was 5>ing( an5 5esire5 to speak with her@ she went over the same 5a>( an5 =o9n5 her D9st
5eparting. *he mother( amongst other 5isco9rses( relate5 to her how m9ch her 5a9ghter
ha5 longe5 to see her chil5ren( an5 sai5 she ha5 seen them. *his bro9ght to Mrs. /weet4s
min5 what the n9rse ha5 tol5 her that morning@ =or( till then( she ha5 not tho9ght =it to
mention it( b9t 5isg9ise5 it rather( as the woman4s 5ist9rbe5 imagination.
B*he s9bstance o= this I ha5 relate5 to me b> Fohn -arpenter( the =ather o= the 5ecease5(
the ne?t 5a> a=ter the b9rialAF9l> U. I =9ll> 5isco9rse5 the matter with the n9rse an5 two
neighbo9rs( to whose ho9se she went that morning.
B*wo 5a>s a=ter( I ha5 it =rom the mother( the minister that was with her in the evening(
an5 the woman who sat 9p with her last that night. *he> all agree in the same stor>( an5
ever> one helps to strengthen the other4s testimon>.
B*he> all appear to be sober( intelligent persons( =ar eno9gh o== =rom 5esigning to impose
a cheat 9pon the worl5( or to manage a lie@ an5 what temptation the> sho9l5 lie 9n5er =or
so 5oing I cannot conceive.
B*.OM)/ *IL/O%.C
Y*his case ma> possibl> have been reciprocal@ b9t proo= is lacking that the 5>ing
woman4s sense o= having seen her chil5ren was an>thing b9t p9rel> s9bDective.
2
/ee p.
2V8.Z
ii-V8;!
*heo5ore ). $4)9bignH( in his 9istoire Sniverselle P2828TU;Q( Vol. II.( p. 23:( relates
the =ollowing inci5ent( as tol5 to him privatel> b> the 0ing o= %avarre.
BLe 'oi estant en )vignon( le U: $ecembre( 2VW3( > mo9r9t -harles( -ar5inal 5e
Lorraine. w F4a==erme s9r la parole 59 'oi le secon5 pro5ige Ythe =irst was a violent
stormZ. w c4est E9e la 'oine Y-atherine 5i Me5iciZ s4estait mise an lit 5e meille9re he9re
E9e 5e co9st9me( aiant a son co9cher entr4 a9tres personnes 5e marE9e le 'oi 5e %avarre(
l4)rchevesE9e 5e L>on( les $ames 5e 'ets( 5e Lignerolles et 5e /a9nes( 5e9? 5esE9elles
ont con=irmH ce 5isco9rs@ comme elle estait pressHe 5e 5onner le bon soir( elle se Detta
549n tressa9t s9r son chenet( met les mains a95evant 5e son visage( et avec 9n cri violent
appella G son seco9rs ce9? E9i *assistoient( le9r vo9lant monstrer a9 pie5 59 lit le
-ar5inal( E9i l9i ten5oit la main( elle s4escriant pl9sie9rs =ois( uMonsie9r le -ar5inal( De
n4ai E9e =aire avec vo9s4@ le 'oi 5e %avarre envoie a9 mesme temps 9n 5e ses gentils
hommes a9 logis 59 -ar5inal( E9i rapporta comment il avoit e?pirH a9 mesme point.C
YTranslationZ
Y*he }9een was probabl> aware that the -ar5inal4s 5eath( o= which she ha5 been ver>
5esiro9s( was imminent.Z
ii-V82!
+!P#&R )(.
!./(#%R- !"/ #!+#('& +!$&$.
S 2. MO/* o= the =ollowing cases are on =irst-han5 testimon>@ b9t some o= them are
remote in 5ate@ in some a certain amo9nt o= an?iet> ma> have pre5ispose5 the percipient
to hall9cination@ an5 in others the 5egree o= e?actit95e in the coinci5ence is not certainl>
establishe5. I will give =irst a gro9p where the impression was o= 5istinct wor5s.
P82:Q +rom Mr. M. 1. /tephenson( 7( /o9th=iel5 'oa5( -otham( "ristol.
BFan9ar> :2st( 2773.
BOn or abo9t the 22th %ovember( 277U( I was awakene5 b> two or three knocks at m>
be5room 5oor(
2
an5 a voice calle5( u1as pas4 I calle5 o9t( u,ho4s therer4 b9t no answer
came. PI was sleeping alone( as m> wi=e was ill( an5 slept in an a5Doining room with a
5a9ghter.Q )t break=ast I inE9ire5 i= either o= them ha5 calle5 me@ the> ha5 not 5one so.
u*hen(4 sai5 I usomeone else 5i5( an5 I =ear we shall have ba5 news =rom %ew Jealan5(4
where o9r two sons were living.
BI awaite5 an?io9sl> the arrival o= the ne?t mail( which came in the mi55le o= $ecember(
an5 then we ha5 what I believe5 to be the solving o= the m>ster>. O9r el5est son( on the
U2st October( 277U( was going to see his son at 1almerston( a town some 8; or W; miles
=rom $9ne5in( an5 mi5wa> the train got o== the line@ some carriages were smashe5. .e
was severel> shaken( b9t =elt nothing serio9sl> the matter 9ntil two 5a>s a=ter the mishap(
on his ret9rn home. .e was taken with col5 shivering( an5 the 5octors sai5 the> were
a=rai5 o= er>sipelas an5 bloo5-poisoning setting in. /9ch was the acco9nt o= the case in
o9r =irst letter. ,e looke5 with great concern =or the ne?t mail which was 59e on the Un5
Fan9ar>( 277:( altho9gh in m> own min5 I seeme5 s9re he was 5ea5@ an5 on -hristmas
$a> I sai5 to a =rien5( who 5ine5 with 9s( that I believe5 he ha5 been in his grave si?
weeks( which was the =act. *he news came that o9r son 5ie5 on the 22th o= %ovember
an5 was b9rie5 on the 23th.
BM. 1. /*E1.E%/O%.C
ii-V8U!
,e =in5 =rom the obit9ar> o= the Bristol 'ercur, and Dail, *ost that Mr. /tephenson4s
son 5ie5 in %ew Jealan5 on %ovember 22( 277U.
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. /tephenson a55s:A
BI have been ver> sorr> that I 5i5 not make a note o= the e?act time o= the voice an5 raps
at m> be5room 5oor. I have been tr>ing to calc9late it e?actl>( b9t m> e?perience o=
memor> is that in ol5 age we can recollect things that occ9rre5 V; or 8; >ears ago more
5istinctl> than events which happene5 two or three months back. M> =irm impression is
that what I hear5 was abo9t 8 o4clock in the morning o= the 22th %ovember( an5 his 5eath
took place at 22 or 2U o4clock on the 22th( %ew Jealan5 time. I have searche5 =or the
letter which state5 the time( b9t have not been able to =in5 it.C
YI= Mr. /tephenson is right as to the 5a> o= his e?perience( an5 as to the ho9r o= the 5eath(
the so9n5s =ollowe5 the 5eath b> V or 8 ho9rs. In an interview with Mr. 1o5more( he
state5 that both his wi=e an5 5a9ghter clearl> remember the inci5ent@ b9t on religio9s
gro9n5s the> 5ecline to give written testimon>.Z
P823Q +rom Mr. an5 Mrs. 'oberts( o= %ew "erlin( -henango -o.( %ew #ork.
BMarch( 2773.
B$9ring the -ivil ,ar in )merica a >o9ng man o= the name o= &eorge 'oberts enliste5
on the Union si5e. .e was with those troops when 1ort .95son( Lo9isiana( was attacke5(
an5 in an assa9lt ma5e 9pon that place on /9n5a>( F9ne 23th( 278:( he was kille5. .e =ell
abo9t 2; o4clock that morning.
B.is parents( living in -henango -o.( /tate o= %ew #ork( knew that he was in the
neighbo9rhoo5 o= 1ort .95son( an5 that there might be a battle some time( b9t nothing
more.
BOn /9n5a>( F9ne 23th( 278:( Mrs. 'oberts was getting rea5> =or ch9rch( an5 the =irst
bell that rings a E9arter be=ore 2; ha5 D9st cease5( when Mrs. '. hear5 &eorge4s voice
calling to her( uMothers Mothers4 It was per=ectl> 5istinct an5 clear( as tho9gh in the
room. *he =right an5 conviction o= her son4s 5eath a==ecte5 her so m9ch that she became
ill.
B/hortl> a=ter this( came the news o= the 5eath o= &eorge be=ore 1ort .95son( at the ver>
ho9r that his mother hear5 his voice in her room calling her.
B*hese statements are correct( as the> occ9rre5( F9ne 23th( 278:.
BFO%)*.)% 'O"E'*/.
BM)'*.) 'O"E'*/.C
*he 'ev. '. ,hittingham( o= 1ikesville( Mar>lan5( a -orrespon5ing Member o= the
/.1.'.( who proc9re5 this narrative =or 9s( vo9ches =or Mr. an5 Mrs. 'oberts as
Be?tremel> respectable( worth>( well-to-5o peopleC@ an5 sa>s:A
BI 1no- Mr. 'oberts sai5 that his son was shot D9st at 2; o4clock@ =or he spoke to me o=
his having a strange =eeling o= someone being behin5 him in the ch9rch tower as he was
ringing the =irst bell at( or =or( 2; o4clock( an5 he sai5 that was the ho9r that &eorge was
shot. *his being ii-V8:! onl> a =eeling( or impression( on his part( I 5i5 not think it
worth mentioning( as it co9l5 be easil> imagine5 a=terwar5@ b9t it =i?e5 the time o=
&eorge4s 5eath on m> memor>. *hat was the solitar> instance o= hall9cination that the>
have ever e?perience5. *he> are b> no means imaginative or cre59lo9s in temperament
or habit.C
YI= the coinci5ence here was as close as is allege5( the case is o= some weight( even
tho9gh the mother4s min5 ma> have been to some e?tent preocc9pie5 with the tho9ght o=
her son.Z
P82VQ E?tract =rom a paragraph in the Ti(es o= /ept. 22( 27W8( which recor5e5 the
=9neral( at )leppo( o= Mr. &eorge /mith( the eminent )ss>riologist.
B) most striking coinci5ence ma> here be mentione5 witho9t comment. ) >o9ng &erman
)ss>riologist o= the highest promise( $r. +rie5rich $elit]sch( is now( =or the secon5 time(
in this co9ntr>( having been sent( as on his =ormer visit( b> the 0ing o= /a?on> to st95>
the arrow-hea5e5 inscriptions in the "ritish M9se9m. $9ring his =ormer sta> here last
>ear( which was notice5 at the time in o9r col9mns( $r. $elit]sch an5 Mr. &eorge /mith
nat9rall> became =ast =rien5s( an5 the Leip]ig savant an5 his brother .ermann were
chosen b> Mr. /mith to intro59ce to &erman rea5ers his Chaldean )ccount of 7enesis(
which has accor5ingl> D9st been p9blishe5 at Leip]ig 9n5er their Doint e5itorship.
BOn the 2Xth 9lt.( the 5a> o= Mr. &eorge /mith4s 5eath( $r. $elit]sch was on his wa> to
the ho9se o= Mr. ,illiam /t. -ha5 "oscawen( who is also a rising )ss>riologist. Mr.
"oscawen resi5es in 0entish *own( an5 in passing the en5 o= -rogslan5 'oa5( in which
Mr. &eorge /mith live5( an5 within abo9t a stone4s throw o= the ho9se( his &erman =rien5
sai5 he s955enl> hear5 a most piercing cr>( which thrille5 him to the marrow( u.err $r.
$elit]sch.4 *he timeA=or as soon as he got over the shock he looke5 at his watchAwas
between 8.3V an5 W p.m.( an5 Mr. 1arsons gives the ho9r o= Mr. /mith4s 5eath at 8 p.m.
$r. $elit]sch( who strongl> 5isavows an> s9perstitio9s leanings( was ashame5 to mention
the circ9mstance to Mr. "oscawen on reaching that gentleman4s ho9se( altho9gh on his
ret9rn home he owns that his nervo9s apprehensions o= some mo9rn=9l event in his own
=amil> =o9n5 relie= in tears( an5 that he recor5e5 all the =acts in his note-book that same
night. $r. $elit]sch tol5 the stor> at o9r in=ormant4s break=ast-table( with all the
circ9mstances mentione5 above( incl95ing the ho9r at which he hear5 the shrill cr>. .e
5istinctl> 5enie5 having been thinking o= Mr. &eorge /mith at the time.C
In Fan9ar>( 277V( Phaving =aile5 to elicit =rom .err $elit]sch an> repl> to several
previo9s applications(Q we sent him a cop> o= this e?tract( telling him that we propose5 to
state( in reprinting it( that it ha5 been =irst =orwar5e5 to him( with a reE9est that he wo9l5
contra5ict it i= it 5i5 not tr9th=9ll> represent the =acts. %o repl> has been receive5@ an5
Mr. &rt]( o= the "ritish M9se9m( tells 9s that .err $elit]sch e?presse5 to him a
rel9ctance to write on the s9bDect. ,e ma> pres9me( however( that( ha5 the statement
been s9bstantiall> inacc9rate( he wo9l5 have sai5 so.
YI= the ho9rs are correctl> given( the cr> was hear5 abo9t :| ho9rs a=ter the 5eath.Z
ii-V83!
P828Q +rom Miss "9shell( .>the( 0ent.
B277V.
BOn the evening o= +eb. 27( 278:( I 5istinctl> hear5 m>sel= calle5( an5 recognise5 the
voice as that o= $r. .ar5ing( a retire5 ph>sician( who live5 in the same town Y'amsgate(
an5 in the ne?t streetZ. *he voice seeme5 to come =rom the staircase. I was walking along
a passage( an5 t9rne5 towar5s the stairs( so real 5i5 it appear@ tho9gh I co9l5 har5l>
imagine $r. .ar5ing to be in the ho9se. I knew him slightl>. .e was a kin5( =rien5l> man(
an5 he alwa>s spoke to me i= we met in the streets( a55ressing me as u"9shell4Awhich is
the name I hear5 that evening. *he ne?t 5a>( I hear5 that $r. .ar5ing ha5 5ie5 the
prece5ing a=ternoon or evening. I cannot =i? the precise ho9r. *ho9gh o9t o= health( he
was not con=ine5 to the ho9se( an5 I ha5 met him o9t o= 5oors abo9t three 5a>s be=ore the
occ9rrence( so that I was not b> an> means e?pecting his 5eath.
B*his is the onl> hall9cination o= the senses that I have ever e?perience5.
BM)*IL$) "U/.ELL.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that $r. .ar5ing 5ie5 Page5 V;Q on +eb. U;( 278:.
Miss "9shell is certain Pan5 this is a point which wo9l5 be likel> to be rightl> observe5 at
the timeQ that her e?perience was on the evening be=ore the morning on which she hear5
o= the 5eathAthat no longer interval elapse5@ an5 she has no separate recollection o= the
5ate o= her e?perience. It is probable( there=ore( that the B27thC in the =irst line o= the
acco9nt is wrong( an5 that the coinci5ence was a close one. %ot( however( so close as was
at =irst represente5@ =or Miss "9shell4s later impression is that the 5eath took place in the
earl> ho9rs o= the morningAi.e.( some ho9rs a=ter her evening e?perience o=
Ppres9mabl>Q +eb. 2X. In answer to an inE9ir>( she sa>s that she 5i5 not mention what she
ha5 hear5 to an>one be=ore the 5eath was known.
P82WQ +rom Mrs. +agan( El=anwalt( "ove> *race>( %ewton )bbot.
B277:.
BI was resi5ing in Englan5( while m> son Ywho was one o= the percipients in case :2;Z
was a chaplain in In5ia. I one 5a> e?perience5 a pra>er=9l an5 earnest 5esire( in going 9p
to the altar one Easter $a>( that somehow( I knew not how( m> son might be permitte5 to
comm9nicate me@ an5 as I receive5 witho9t raising m> e>es to the celebrant( I =elt m>
5esire grante5. In 59e co9rse o= post( m> son aske5 me i= I co9l5 e?plain what ha5
occ9rre5 to him at abo9t the time when he knew I m9st have been making m> Easter
-omm9nion. ,hile preparing =or the evening service( an5 not thinking o= me or home( he
hear5 me call him b> name( not as tho9gh in an> 5istress( b9t with a tone o= great
9rgenc>. Instantl> remembering how I was then occ9pie5( he was with me in spirit( an5(
tho9gh 9nconscio9sl>( was permitte5 to satis=> m> longing. )=ter this( tho9gh he knew
there was no one in the ho9se( he ma5e 5iligent search to prove to others that it was no
5el9sion. *he =act that -ar5inal "orromeo( while preaching elsewhere( ha5
comm9nicate5 the 5>ing 1ope was not known to me =or man> >ears a=ter.C
In answer to an inE9ir>( Mrs. +agan sa>s that she ma5e her Easter -omm9nion between
noon an5 2 p.m.@ which wo9l5 s>nchronise with 8TW p.m. in the place where her son was.
*he >ear( she thinks( was 27W3.
Y*his clearl> m9st not be reckone5 as a reciprocal case( since there is no reason to
s9ppose Mrs. +agan4s own impression to have been an>thing ii-V8V! b9t s9bDective.
*hat impression is( however( o= importance( as in5icating the intensit> o= her =eeling at
the moment. .er son has occasionall> ha5 s9bDective a95itor> hall9cinations( b9t not
s9==icientl> o=ten to 5iminish appreciabl> the =orce Ps9ch as it isQ o= the present
coinci5ence. *he case is o= co9rse not one on which m9ch stress can be lai5.Z
In the =ollowing e?ample( the =act o= non-recognition tells against the s9pposition that the
hall9cination was 59e to an?iet>. )s =or the sense o= feeling someone4s presence( I have
alrea5> pointe5 o9t that a =aint a95itor> impression is s9==icient to acco9nt =or it@
2
an5
even the B=eeling someone stooping overC Pwhich occ9rs again in the ne?t caseQ nee5 not
impl> an> 5istinct hall9cination o= to9ch.
P827Q +rom Miss /9mmerbell( 23;( 0ensington 1ark 'oa5( ,. Pmentione5 in Vol. I.( p.
V;WQ. )s the more 5istinct part o= the impression seems to have been receive5 a=ter she
ha5 not onl> been woke( b9t ha5 hersel= 9ttere5 a co9ple o= sentences( the case ma> be
=airl> reckone5 in the -a1ing class.
B277U
B) la5>( to whom I was m9ch attache5( an5 who ha5 ha5 partial care o= me 59ring some
part o= m> earl> >o9th( ha5 =or some >ears s9==ere5 =rom a complaint which at last
necessitate5 a s9rgical operation. *his operation was per=orme5 earl> in )9g9st( 27WW( b>
$r. /pencer ,ells@ m> =rien5 was in a ho9se( chosen b> $r. ,ells =or the p9rpose( in
/e>mo9r /treet. *he operation was s9ccess=9l( an5 we ha5 the ass9rance o= $r. ,ells(
an5 o= the other 5octor who atten5e5 her( that she was 5oing well. I was sta>ing with her
nephew( at ,e>bri5ge( at the time. Ever> 5a> we hear5 better acco9nts o= the patient. On
/at9r5a> evening( Mr. *.( with whom I was sta>ing( receive5 a letter sa>ing that his a9nt
was o9t o= 5anger( an5 appointing the =ollowing *9es5a> =or him an5 me to go an5 see
her.
B,e went to be5 in e?cellent spirits( an5 I slept at once. I was awakene5( in the 5im
5awn( b> =eeling someone stooping over me. *hinking it was Mrs. *. who ha5 come into
the room =or some p9rpose( I sai5( alo95( uIs that >o9( )nnier4 I receive5 no answer( b9t I
felt( tho9gh I co9l5 not see( someone close to me. I spoke again( an5 I 5istinctl> hear5 a
voice whisper( u/oon will >o9 an5 I be l>ing( Each within o9r narrow be5.4 I was
terri=ie5. I looke5 at m> watch to see i= it was nearl> time =or people to be moving abo9t.
It was 3 o4clock. I co9l5 not sleep. I =elt horri=ie5 an5 miserable( b9t o55l>( I never
tho9ght o= m> =rien5. ,hen I went 5own in the morning( m> =rien5s remarke5 that I was
silent an5 59ll. I sai5 I was s9re something was going to take place( an5 at length I tol5
them what ha5 happene5. O= co9rse the> la9ghe5. I went to ch9rch with Mr. *.( an5 the
=irst h>mn s9ng was the one I ha5 =ancie5 I hear5 in the night( beginning u$a>s an5
moments E9ickl> =l>ing.4 *his ma5e me more 5epresse5( b9t I still 5i5 not think o= m>
=rien5.
BOn Mon5a> we went on the river in a small boat( an5 I tol5 Mr. *. I knew we sho9l5 be
5rowne5 beca9se o= m> presentiment. ,e ii-V88! however( arrive5 sa=e at home at W
p.m.( when Mr. *. =o9n5 a letter( sa>ing that at 2; on /at9r5a> night( his a9nt ha5
s955enl> e?hibite5 ba5 s>mptoms( an5 that she 5ie5 at 3 o4clock on /9n5a> morning.
BL. $ /UMME'"ELL.C
Y*he Ti(es obit9ar> recor5s that the 5eath took place( in /omerset /treet Pnot /e>mo9r
/treetQ( on )9g. 3( 27WW. *his was a /at9r5a>( not a /9n5a>@ there=ore( i= Miss
/9mmerbell is correct as to the ho9r o= her impression( the coinci5ence was less close
than she represents( as the 5eath m9st have taken place be=ore mi5night.
,e cannot obtain Mr. *.4s corroboration( as he 5ie5 in the >ear =ollowing the occ9rrence.Z
*he ne?t two recor5s seem to ill9strate the occ9rrence o= several similar telepathic
e?periences to the same percipient Pcompare %o. UWXQ. *he cases not being strong ones( I
have incl95e5 each set 9n5er a single evi5ential n9mber.
P82XQ +rom Mrs. E. M. Ma9nsell( "all>william( 'athkeale( Irelan5( who sa>s o= hersel=(
BI am neither nervo9s nor s9perstitio9s( b9t a ver> matter-o=-=act person.C
BOctober UWth( 2773.
BM> el5est sister was pa>ing 9s a visit( when she was taken ill with internal cramp@ she
calle5 to me in a pec9liar choking voice@ we 9se5 reme5ies( an5 she soon recovere5.
)bo9t a >ear a=terwar5s( she was sta>ing with another sister( when one night I was
awakene5 b> a 5istinct impression o= m> sister stooping over me( an5 calling uEli]a4 in
the same choking voice. I sleep ver> so9n5l>( b9t I starte5 9p wi5e awake( an5 again the
voice seeme5 to call me =rom the open win5ow( =aint an5 choking( uEli]a.4 I am a rather
stoical person in times o= 5anger or =right( so I merel> sai5 to m>sel= uIsabella is ill(4 an5
was soon again =ast asleep. *he ne?t time I saw m> sister( she tol5 me that the ver> night
I ha5 hear5 her call( an5 nearl> to the ho9r( P=or I ha5 hear5 the clock strike 2UQ she ha5
been taken ill( an5 ha5 been onl> able to stagger o9t o= be5 to call =or help. *his was m>
=irst e?perience o= this kin5( that I can remember@ I was then a >o9ng girl. I was not
partic9larl> attache5 to m> sister( =or she ha5 marrie5 >o9ng an5 le=t home@ b9t she
alwa>s looke5 9p to me an5 consi5ere5 me a great a9thorit> on most points.
B*he secon5 instance also concerne5 m> el5est sister. M> =ather( at the time o= which I
write( was living in Limerick( as 5i5 also m> sister. One evening abo9t 7( I le=t the room
to make the tea@ passing the =oot o= the staircase( I hear5 m> sister4s voice( h9she5 an5
5istinct( call uEli]a.4 I listene5( b9t the call was not repeate5. I tho9ght at once( uIsabella is
ill( an5 will sen5 =or me.4 I h9rrie5( an5 prepare5 tea( an5 I well remember taking a
secon5 slice o= brea5( =or( I tho9ght( I ma> be 9p with her all night. Less than hal= an ho9r
a=ter a note was bro9ght m> =ather( I watche5 him( an5 when he ha5 rea5 it aske5( uIs
Isabella illr4 u#es(4 m> =ather replie5( ushe is ver> ill( an5 is calling =or >o9.4 M> =ather(
who was a 5octor( accompanie5 me to her ho9se@ we 5octore5 her( an5 she recovere5
a=ter an illness o= =o9r or =ive 5a>s.
BM> =ather is long 5ea5@ so is m> el5est sister. *he events occ9rre5 over U; >ears ago(
man> >ears be=ore m> marriage.C
ii-V8W!
On $ec. 2X( 277V( Mrs. Ma9nsell wrote:A
BOn another occasion( when living with m> =ather an5 mother( I hear5 m> mother call
me@ I =o9n5 her ghastl> pale( an5 ver> ill@ b9t she ass9re5 me she ha5 not calle5 me@ as
in5ee5( she was too =aint to raise her voice. On another occasion( m> brother-in-law( who
ha5 gone to Lon5on( an5 was ver> ill( tho9gh it was kept a secret( ha5 ret9rne5 on his
wa> home( as =ar as $9blin. I was not thinking at all abo9t him@ b9t( one 5a> in this
ho9se( I was walking =rom the o==ice to the back 5oor o= the 5ining-room Pmi5-5a>Q(
when I hear5 him call lo95l> his wi=e4s name( uMartha.4 I wrote at once to her Pshe ha5
not accompanie5 himQ to make inE9iries. /he ha5 receive5 a letter that morning( Yto the
e==ect thatZ he wo9l5 ret9rn ne?t evening( /at9r5a>( an5 was E9ite strong a=ter his trip.
*he =ollowing *9es5a> I receive5 a letter =rom m> co9sin sa>ing that Mr. -aswell Ythe
brother-in-lawZ was =o9n5 dead in his armchair( partl> 5resse5( at his lo5gings in $9blin(
on /9n5a> morning. I ha5 not known he was ill at all.
BELIJ) M)U%/ELL.C
In answer to an inE9ir>( Mrs. Ma9nsell states positivel> that she has never ha5 an>
hall9cination o= the sort e?cept on these =o9r occasions( Pan5 possibl> one other( when
what she hear5 ma> have been a real callQ. /he a55s:A
BI regret e?tremel> that I can proc9re =or >o9 no corroborative evi5ence abo9t m>
brother-in-law. M> sister is =ar too nervo9s a person =or me to have tol5 her at the time.
*he event Yi.e.( the 5eathZ occ9rre5 on the Xth o= )9g9st( 27W3.C
Y,e have veri=ie5 this 5ate in the <ree(ans Journal( which 5escribes the 5eath as having
been rather s955en. Mrs. Ma9nsell hear5 the voice : or 3 5a>s be=ore@ an5 tho9gh her
brother-in-law was probabl> at that time in a somewhat abnormal state( the acc9rac> o=
coinci5ence which Pi= correctl> remembere5Q wo9l5 D9sti=> 9s in regar5ing the =ormer
e?periences as ver> probabl> telepathic( is lacking to this one.Z
P8U;Q +rom Mr. F. )9g9st9s E5mon5s( 28( ,aterloo 'oa5 /o9th( ,olverhampton. *he
evi5ence is thir5-han5( an5 is a5mitte5 b> special e?ception PVol. I.( p. 2V7( noteQ. Mr.
E5mon5s receive5 the acco9nt o= the secon5 o= the two inci5ents narrate5 =rom both his
=ather an5 brother.
B277:.
Mr. E5mon5s =irst 5escribes a ver> serio9s illness which attacke5 his =ather Pthe 'ev. *.
-. E5mon5s( pastor o= the "aptist -h9rch( /t. )n5rew4s /treet( -ambri5ge(Q in the >ear
27:2. $9ring the illness a letter was receive5 =rom a =rien5 o= his =ather4s( the 'ev. Fosiah
,ilkinson( o= /a==ron ,al5en( Esse?.
BIt was to this e==ect. I 5on4t vo9ch =or the per=ect verbal acc9rac>. It was a55resse5 to
m> mother.
BuI have been ma5e aware
2
o= the alarming illness o= >o9r 5ear h9sban5( b9t I have the
happiness to ass9re >o9 that his sickness is not 9nto 5eath.4 *he note concl95e5 with a
message o= love( when m> =ather ii-V87! sho9l5 be able to receive it( an5 o= s>mpath>
to hersel=. *his note arrive5 when m> =ather was to all appearances as near his en5 as at
an> perio5 o= his illness.
B,hen m> =ather was able to see a =ew =rien5s( Mr. ,ilkinson came over an5 9rge5 him(
as soon as he was permitte5 to move( to come with m> brother ->r9s( his secon5 son( an5
visit him( which the> 5i5. *hese three being alone( m> =ather mentione5 this note an5
sai5 it ver> m9ch s9rprise5 him( on acco9nt o= the sing9larl> con=i5ent manner in which
his recover> was spoken o=. *o which Mr. ,ilkinson replie5 that in several instances he
ha5 been tol5 b> an a95ible voice o= some =act speciall> concerning his interests or
wel=are( a voice which none b9t himsel= hear5( an5 there was no visible presence. *hese
intimations( he sai5( ha5 alwa>s been ma5e to him 59ring his =amil> worship( an5 PI
believe I am right in sa>ingQ that the> ha5 never been mentione5 o9t o= his own =amil>.
.e sai5( however( uI will relate one s9ch case.
BuI was kneeling at pra>er one morning with m> =amil>( when a voice sai5( B#o9r brother
is 5ea5.C
2
I ha5 b9t one brother( to whom I was greatl> attache5( who live5 at the ,est
En5 o= Lon5on. *he shock was so great that I sank on the =loor in a swoon. On recover> I
5esire5 m> wi=e to p9t the nee5=9l things into m> portmantea9( an5 sen5 to stop the
-ambri5ge coach to Lon5on( a short 5istance =rom the ho9se( telling her that m> brother
was 5ea5( an5 that I m9st go to Lon5on. On arrival I 5rove to the ho9se( =o9n5 the blin5s
closel> 5rawn( an5 on coming to the 5oor the servant e?presse5 great relie= at seeing me(
sa>ing that his master ha5 5ie5 s955enl> in the night an5 his mistress was in a most sa5
con5ition.
Bu%ow(4 Mr. ,ilkinson sai5( uon the morning on which I wrote that note to >o9r wi=e( at
morning pra>er with the =amil>( a voice sai5( B#o9r 5earest =rien5 is ver> ill( b9t his
sickness is not 9nto 5eath.C I hear5 no more( b9t as soon as o9r worship was concl95e5 I
wrote that note.4
BF. ). E$MO%$/.C
S U. In the ne?t two cases( the impression( i= reall> a hall9cination( seems to have
represente5 a so9n5 which was act9all> in the agent4s ears at the time.
P8U2Q +rom Mrs. Malcolm( ,ribbenhall( "ew5le>( Pmentione5 above( p. WXQ.
B)9g9st Vth( 277V.
B$9ring the commencement o= the >ear 273X PI being then a >o9ng girlQ( I ha5 a te5io9s
illness. On one occasion( to relieve a congeste5 l9ng( I ha5 a blister applie5( an5( in
conseE9ence( was prevente5 on that night =rom obtaining sleep. One o= m> brothers was
with the arm> in the 19nDa9b at that time( an5 m> tho9ghts were constantl> with him( an5
5o9btless I =ollowe5 the events o= the war with intense interest. On the night in E9estion(
being( as I have sai5( wi5e awake( I was astonishe5 b> hearing the report o= big g9ns. I
raise5 m>sel= in be5 with some 5i==ic9lt>( an5 then contin9e5 to hear the 5istant =iring o=
cannon( sometimes nearer( sometimes remote. )t length the g9ns cease5( b9t were
s9ccee5e5 b> a sharp an5 rapi5 5ischarge o= m9sketr>. *he so9n5s laste5 altogether abo9t
=o9r ho9rs. M> great an?iet> was that some one sho9l5 hear these strange so9n5s o= battle
as well as m>sel=@ b9t I was =orbi55en at the time ii-V8X! to leave m> room( an5 hearing
m> =ather co9ghing in his be5room opposite( I paci=ie5 m>sel= with the ass9rance that he
m9st be awake an5 wo9l5 hear what I hear5. &reat was m> morti=ication in the morning
to =in5 that neither he nor m> mother were aware o= an>thing 9n9s9al having occ9rre5 in
the night past. *hen m> ol5 =rien5 the 5octor came in( inE9iring la9ghingl> whether I was
growing =anci=9l Phaving been tol5 m> stor>Q. I also la9ghe5 an5 replie5( u#o9 shall know
i= m> battle is mere =anc> when the ne?t news comes =rom the seat o= war in In5ia.4
B,hether this was m> =irst connecting o= the so9n5s I ha5 listene5 to with an In5ian
battle( or whether I ha5 5one so 59ring the contin9ance o= those so9n5s( is a point I am
not now clear 9pon. "9t altho9gh the 5octor( when o9t o= m> hearing( 5esire5 that I might
not again be le=t alone at night( it is observable that neither then nor at an> later time was
I ren5ere5 the least nervo9s b> m> strange e?perience( nor 5i5 I apprehen5 evil to the
brother engage5 in the campaign. In 59e time( ti5ings o= the severe battle at &ooDerat
reache5 9sAthe 5a> on which it was =o9ght( an5 ho9rs( allowing =or 5i==erence o= time(
e?actl> coinci5ing with the 5ate o= m> prophetic
2
battle. M> brother was in the thick o=
the =ight( b9t escape5 9nh9rt.
B&EO'&I%) M)L-OLM.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. Malcolm sa>s:A
BI sen5 >o9 a written testimon> =rom one o= m> sisters( as to m> having spoken o=
hearing the battle at the time o= the occ9rrence. *he ho9rs 59ring which the so9n5s
contin9e5 were =rom 2 to V o4clock a.m. in the morning as =ar as m> recollection serves.
)t the time o= the occ9rrence I was living in m> =ather4s ho9se in a ver> remote part o=
,arwickshire. *he nearest sol5iers4 E9arters to 9s wo9l5 be at -oventr> or "irmingham(
at a 5istance o= between :; an5 3; miles.C
*he sister4s corroboration( 5ate5 October X( 277V( is as =ollows:A
BI remember the inci5ent abo9t the battle o= &ooDerat. #o9 were ill at the time( an5 in the
morning >o9 tol5 9s >o9 =elt as i= >o9 ha5 been in a battle( as >o9 ha5 hear5 contin9al
=iring an5 report o= cannon =or a long time. I cannot sa> what time o= the night it was
when >o9 hear5 it.
BI think >o9 ma5e a note o= it( an5 we hear5 a=terwar5s =rom +rank that the battle began
on the =ollowing morning.
BLU-# $I-0I%/.C
+rom the ;ondon 7aAette =or )pril 2Xth( 273X( it appears that the battle( which took place
on +eb. U2( laste5 =rom 7.:; 9ntil mi55a>( a=ter which the p9rs9it o= the enem>
commence5( lasting 9ntil 59sk. 7.:; a.m. at &ooDerat wo9l5 correspon5 to abo9t :.:;
a.m. in Englan5.
Mrs. Malcolm nas e?perience5 no other a95itor> hall9cination( e?cept that twice( when
overstraine5 b> n9rsing a relative in a =atal illness( she ha5 the impression o= hearing her
name calle5.
Y*he =act that the so9n5s were not hear5 b> others( tho9gh at least one other person seems
to have been awake at the time( is rather a strong proo= that the e?perience was a
hall9cination@ an5 i= so( there is at least an appreciable chance that it was telepathic. I
have mentione5 a case o= s9bDective hall9cination o= the same character in Vol. I.( p. 3X3(
secon5 note. *he long 59ration o= the impression is( owing to its Br95imentar>C character(
less remarkable than that allege5 in cases :;; an5 VX;.Z
ii-VW;!
P8UUQ +rom a la5>( Mrs. M.( whose name an5 a55ress it seems right to s9ppress( tho9gh
she ma5e no stip9lation on the s9bDect. *he acco9nt was receive5 in )9g9st( 2773.
Mrs. M. 5escribes how( in F9l>( 27W3( while spen5ing her holi5a> happil> in the vale o=
Leven( an5 in per=ect health( she Bwas awakene5 s955enl> with a cr> o= 5istress ringing
in m> ears( an5 it was twice repeate5 a=ter I became wi5e awake. *he last time it seeme5
partl> s9ppresse5 an5 =9rther awa>. It seeme5 ver> near at =irst( an5 I recognise5 the
voice as poor little *om4s. Y*om was a chil5 between U an5 : >ears o= age( one o= several
o= whom she ha5 been in charge( an5 whom she ha5 known to be consi5erabl> ill-9se5 b>
the la5> who was acting as his g9ar5ian.Z I sprang o9t o= be5 an5 looke5 o9t. It was a
lovel> still night( not a movement nor a so9n5 5ist9rbe5 the air( an5 it was so light that I
co9l5 see the time on a small silver watch which was l>ing on the table. It was 2U.3V.C
*he e==ect on Mrs. M. was so great that she mentione5 the e?perience ne?t morning to the
a9nt with whom she was sta>ing( an5 resolve5 to ret9rn at once to the scene o= her 59ties(
b9t was prevente5 b> a telegram giving her other instr9ctions. ,hen she 5i5 ret9rn( she
learnt =rom the servants that( on the /9n5a> night when she ha5 hear5 the cries( *om4s
g9ar5ian ha5 ha5 him in her room all night@ an5 that the> Bhear5 cries an5 moans 9ntil
the> =ell asleep( an5 at mi5night were awakene5 b> three s9ccessive cries that rang
thro9gh the ho9seAthe last a s9ppresse5 echo o= the others.C %e?t morning the servants
=o9n5 marks o= cr9el ill-9sage on the chil5( which Mrs. M. =o9n5 still ver> apparent.
Y,e have not receive5 the a9nt4s corroboration( tho9gh Mrs. M. promise5 to tr> to obtain
it =or 9s. *he correspon5ence o= the three cries is a 5etail not 9nlikel> to have been
s9bseE9entl> imagine5. /ee p. UUX( note.Z
S :. *he =ollowing is a gro9p o= non-vocal cases( o= an entirel> r95imentar> t>pe Psee
above( pp. 2UVT:UQ.
P8U:Q +rom a gentleman who 5oes not =eel D9sti=ie5 in allowing his brother4s( the agent4s(
name to appear( an5 is there=ore oblige5 to withhol5 his own =rom p9blication. *he
percipient has 5ie5 since 277:( when the acco9nt was written.
In the a9t9mn o= 27W3( the narrator4s brother( ,. M.( a resi5ent in E5inb9rgh( was
sta>ing( with a sister( some 27 miles =rom that place. B.e ha5 been s9bDect( at irreg9lar
intervals( to attacks o= illness o= a severe character( b9t( at this 5ate( was in =air health(
an5 atten5ing to b9siness.
B*wo or three 5a>s a=ter his arrival at o9r sister4s ho9se he was E9ite 9ne?pecte5l>
sei]e5( late one evening( with serio9s illness( hematemesis s9pervene5( an5 within two or
three ho9rs =rom the =irst sei]9re he was a corpse. *he late ho9r( an5 5istance =rom the
railwa> station( prevente5 an> comm9nication 59ring the night with o9r ho9sehol5 in
E5inb9rgh.
B"etween 22 an5 2U oclock that night( m> mother( age5 then WU( b9t active an5 vigoro9s
in bo5> an5 min5( as in5ee5 she is still( was alone in her be5room an5 in the act o=
9n5ressing. /he occ9pie5 this room alone( an5 it was the onl> sleeping apartment on the
5ining-room =lat which was ii-VW2! in 9se that night( the onl> other be5room there being
the a5Doining room( then 9ntenante5( owing to m> own absence in the %orth. M> =ather(
el5est brother( an5 sister-in-law occ9pie5 rooms on the =lat above. *he servants4
accommo5ation was in the 9n5er or s9nk =lat beneath( sh9t o== =rom the 9pper b> a swing
5oor at the =oot o= a =light o= steps. ) small 5og( the onl> other inmate o= the ho9se( slept
that night( an5 in5ee5 alwa>s( in the kitchen. M> mother was in her 9s9al goo5 health(
her =ac9lties per=ectl> preserve5( an5 her min5 9ntro9ble5 with an> apprehensions o= evil
ti5ings. /he ha5 rea5( as 9s9al( a portion o= her "ible( an5 was in the act o= 9n5ressing(
when she was s955enl> startle5 b> a most e?traor5inar> noise at the 5oor o= her room(
which opene5 5irectl> into the inner lobb>. It was as i= ma5e b> a person stan5ing
5irectl> o9tsi5e an5 close to the 5oor( b9t it was 9tterl> 9nlike an> or5inar> s9mmons or
alarm. In her own wor5s( it was like nothing so m9ch as the noise o= someone hastil> an5
imperio9sl> lashing the 5oor with a heav> ri5ing whip( 5eman5ing a5mittance. It was
lo95( an5 repeate5 three or =o9r times( as i= insisting on attention( with brie= intervals
between. *hen it cease5.
BM> mother( tho9gh possesse5 o= consi5erable coolness( was startle5@ b9t with a
resol9tion which man> might env>( she procee5e5 to light a can5le( knowing the hall
lights were e?ting9ishe5( the whole o= the inmates having be=ore retire5 =or the night( an5
went to the 5oor. uI knew(4 she sai5( uthat it was no one in the ho9se seeking a5mission.
/9ch an imperative s9mmons wo9l5 never have been ma5e at m> 5oor.4 On opening it(
nothing was visible( the vario9s 5oors opening on the lobb> were close5( an5 the
=astenings o= the =ront 5oor 9n5ist9rbe5. M9ch s9rprise5( tho9gh retaining sel=-
possession( m> mother 5ebate5 with hersel= as to ro9sing the other members o= the
=amil>( b9t 9ltimatel> resolve5 not to 5o so 9nless the so9n5 was repeate5( which it was
not. It was abo9t mi5night( b9t m> mother 5i5 not note the precise ho9r an5 min9te. Earl>
ne?t =orenoon( m> =ather an5 sister-in-law having le=t( the news came that m> brother ha5
e?pire5 at mi5night( 27 miles o== b> roa5 =rom E5inb9rgh.
BIt ma> be note5 that nothing in or near the 5oor co9l5 possibl> have occasione5 the
noise in E9estion( the material being ol5( well-seasone5 timber( not liable to warp or
crack. It a=terwar5s appeare5 that the noise in E9estion ha5 not been hear5 b> an>one in
the ho9se save b> m> mother( which no one will won5er at who knows how per=ectl>
u5ea=ene54 ol5-=ashione5 stone ho9ses in E5inb9rgh invariabl> are.
B/peaking =or m> own part( I wo9l5 not have place5 so m9ch reliance on the narrative
which I have =rom m> mother4s own lips( ha5 it come =rom an> other person in the ho9se.
*he others might have been imaginative or nervo9s( or wise a=ter the event( or possibl>
wholl> mistaken. "9t with m> mother4s clear an5 balance5 D95gment( little a==ecte5 b>
matters which power=9ll> swa> others( I have no room =or hesitation whatsoever. I
believe( as =irml> as I believe in the =act o= m> own e?istence( that the circ9mstances
happene5 e?actl> as she narrate5 them.C
Y*he entr> in the 'egister o= $eaths( which is probabl> correct( shows that the 5eath
occ9rre5 on /eptember U( 27WV Pnot 27W3Q( at 3.V; a.m.( not at mi5night. *he coinci5ence
was there=ore not so e?act as the narrator imagine5. /till( i= the mother4s e?perience was a
hall9cinationAan5 it ii-VWU! certainl> 5oes not seem eas> to e?plain it otherwiseAthe
i5entit> o= night makes the case a striking sample o= its kin5.Z
P8U3Q +rom Mrs. -allin( o= whom her mistress( Miss 'osenberg( o= &abarrie #illa(
/ars=iel5 'oa5( "alham( sa>s:A
BI can vo9ch =or the acc9rac> an5 tr9stworthiness o= Mrs. -allin( the narrator o= the
inci5ent 5escribe5.C
B$ecember( 277U.
BMr. F.( emplo>e5 as agent b> m> mistress( Miss -.( resi5ent in the 'o>al )ven9e(
-helsea( ha5 long s9==ere5 severel> =rom asthma( an5 on Miss -. going to see him one
5a>( when he ha5 been 9nable to go o9t =or man> weeks( some time in %ovember( 27WX(
he remarke5 he sho9l5 go to see her on her birth5a> Phaving alwa>s 5one so =or man>
>earsQ( i= he ha5 to take a cab =or it@ his wi=e reDoine5( uI 5o not think >o9 will(4 meaning
his state o= health wo9l5 not allow him to 5o so( an5 he replie5 to her( u#es( I -ill.4
BMiss -. retire5 to be5 as 9s9al on the night o= $ecember Wth. I slept in the same room(
which was the =ront one on the =irst =loor( with =ol5ing 5oors into the small 5ressing-room
behin5( no other person being in the ho9se. In the earl> morning o= ne?t 5a> P7th( an5 her
birth5a>Q Miss -. was awoke b> a lo95 knock at the =ol5ing-5oor( an5( listening( it was
repeate5: she then calle5 me( b9t be=ore she co9l5 ro9se me( hear5 it again( the thir5
time.
2
I then got 9p( an5 looke5 o9tsi5e both the 5oors with a light( an5 co9l5 see no one@
I also looke5 at the time( which was a E9arter past four. ,e then both went to sleep again(
I thinking m> mistress ha5 5reamt this( b9t she alwa>s persiste5 she hear5 the knocks
5istinctl>.
B)=ter break=ast we hear5 that Mr. F. ha5 5ie5 at four that morning( an5 Miss -. sai5 to
me that he came to tell her( having so certainl> promise5 to go to her on that 5a>.
BMiss -. 5ie5 the =ollowing March( age5 X3( b9t having all her =ac9lties clear to the last(
an5 o=ten all95ing to Mr. F.4s visit on her birth5a>. .is age was abo9t 8; onl>( an5 he ha5
=reE9entl> sai5 he sho9l5 5ie be=ore her( an5 she 9se5 to repl> u$on4t wait =or me o9t o=
politeness(4 being alwa>s rea5> with a Doke.
BM. -)LLI%.C
,e =in5 =rom the Ti(es obit9ar> that Mr. F. 5ie5 on $ecember 7( 27WX.
YIt ma> be conceive5 that Mr. F.4s previo9s promise o= a visit on that 5a> worke5 itsel=
o9t in the percipient4s min5( when the 5a> arrive5( in the =orm o= a hall9cination@ b9t s9ch
acc9ratel>-time5 5evelopment is( as =ar as I know( E9ite 9ne?ample5( e?cept in some rare
h>pnotic cases o= comman5s an5 promises G long9e HchHance.Z
*he =ollowing e?periencesAi= hall9cinations( an5 not 59e to some 9n5iscovere5 ph>sical
ca9seAare o= interest as having taken precisel> the same =orm.
U
It is one that is likel> to
raise a smile@ b9t I m9st repeat that it is E9ite open to hall9cinations o= the senses to take
pec9liar =orms( an5 that there is no reason wh> telepathic specimens sho9l5 have an
imm9nit> in this respect PVol. I.( pp. V;:( V3WQ. Moreover( the partic9lar =orm here
5escribe5 ma> witho9t improbabilit> ii-VW:! be trace5 to earl> associations in the
percipient4s min5. *he gro9n5s =or 5o9bting the telepathic origin o= the impressions are(
not their o55ness or trivialit>( b9t P2Q the =act that the> 5i5 not in an> wa> s9ggest the
s9ppose5 agent( which alwa>s greatl> 5iminishes the =orce o= the time-coinci5ence@ an5
PUQ in one case the lack o= precision in the time-coinci5ence itsel=. *he narrator( Miss ..(
is( in her own wor5s( Bo= a matter-o=-=act 5isposition( an5 not a believer in things o9t o=
the wa>(C an5 she attaches no importance whatever to these inci5ents. /he withhol5s her
name =rom p9blication o9t o= 5e=erence to what she thinks wo9l5 be the wishes o= her
relatives.
B%AA Vicarage( October U8th( 2773.
P8UVQ B) =ew >ears ago Yin 27W3Z I was sta>ing with some relatives at +olkestone( who
ha5 taken a ho9se there =or a =ew weeks an5 ha5 occ9pie5 it all the previo9s s9mmer. ,e
were a merr> part>( with >o9ng people an5 chil5ren. I slept in a large room on the =irst
=loor. I was awakene5 one night b> the so9n5 o= man> mice pattering over the =loor@ the>
appeare5 to be r9nning swi=tl> an5 then o9t at the 5oor. M9ch astonishe5( I looke5
aro9n5 to see where the> co9l5 have come =rom( b9t no trace appeare5. In the morning I
inE9ire5 o= the n9rse( who came to call me( i= she ha5 hear5 an>thing( u%o(4 was the
repl>. I =oolishl> sai5( u,ell( I 5o not min5 mice( b9t in o9r =amil> the so9n5 o= them
means 5eath or ill l9ck.4 I complaine5 to the lan5la5>( who sai5 ushe ha5 never seen a
mo9se in her ho9se4@ she sent in a new trap( b9t nothing more was hear5 o= the intr95ers.
*hree or =o9r 5a>s a=ter this( came the sa5 news o= the 5eath o= a ver> 5ear relative =rom
an acci5ent( whilst abroa5. *he event happene5 a =ew min9tes be=ore the noise o= the
mice ha5 5ist9rbe5 me.
BIn $ecember( three >ears a=ter this( I was at /t. Leonar5s-on-/ea( with a relative who
ha5 been serio9sl> ill( an5 on the night o= the :2st $ecember I sat 9p in m> own room at
the top o= the ho9se( to see the ol5 >ear o9t an5 the new one in. I have re=erre5 to a 5iar>
kept b> m> sister( an5 I =in5 I ha5 spent a most E9iet 5a>. I was in goo5 spirits( =or m>
invali5 was m9ch better( the =ire in the room was bright( an5 I certainl> was not thinking
o= mice@ b9t D9st be=ore 2U o4clock came the so9n5 o= man> mice sweeping over the =loor.
I hear5 it 5istinctl> an5 with some trepi5ation( b9t no one 5ear to me was ill. I note5
5own the =act( an5( having relatives abroa5( awaite5 with some impatience the colonial
mail. I receive5 the =ollowing note =rom m> brother:A
Bu$E)' L.(AI write to tell >o9 a piece o= sa5 news. ,hilst >o9 were probabl>
welcoming the new >ear( a =ew min9tes be=ore it arrive5 I went 5own m> gar5en( to
receive the corpse o= m> el5est son@ he ha5 broken his neck b> a =all =rom his horse three
ho9rs be=ore.4
BI ha5 been in the ho9se where this occ9rre5 several times be=ore( an5 have sta>e5 there
several times since( b9t I have never seen or hear5 real mice there.
BI ma> a55 that m> mother regar5e5 the so9n5 o= mice as an omen o= 5isaster( b9t she
never wo9l5 tell me wh>( looking 9pon it probabl> as a s9perstition she wishe5 her
chil5ren to be =ree =rom.C
ii-VW3!
In answer to a reE9est =or her sister4s corroboration( Miss .. replies:A
BI regret to sa> that on religio9s gro9n5s Mrs. L. will not write a con=irmator> note@ o=
co9rse she sa>s she per=ectl> remembers the circ9mstances( an5 that a mo9se-trap was
imme5iatel> p9rchase5 =or m> room. *hat4s practical.C
In conversation( Miss .. in=orme5 me that she has ha5 no other hall9cination( 9nless
hearing some 9nacco9ntable knocks on one occasion( when others hear5 them( be so
co9nte5. On the =irst occasion( in a lo5ging( the boar5s were bare to a great e?tent. *he
secon5 time the room was carpete5. *he noise was lo95 as well as 5istinct. Miss .. has
since hear5 real mice( an5 was gla5 to i5enti=> the so9n5 again. .er mother4s s9perstition
as to mice =orebo5ing tro9ble ha5 been constantl> bro9ght be=ore her min5( 59ring her
mother4s li=e: it was m9ch on her mother4s brain( so to speak.
*he )r(, ;ist shows that the 5eath in the =irst case took place on F9l> UU( 27W3.
,e =in5 the acci5ent in the secon5 case 5escribe5 in a local paper =or Fan9ar> :( 27WW( as
having taken place on $ecember :2@ an5 the 5eath is reporte5 as having taken place
Babo9t mi5nightCAi.e.( allowing =or longit95e( nearl> 2U ho9rs be=ore Miss ..4s
impression. ,itho9t e?ten9ating this element o= weakness in the case( I ma> remin5 the
rea5er how =reE9entl> the emergence o= telepathic percipience seems to be 5e=erre5 9ntil
a season o= solitar> recueille(ent PVol. I.( p. U;2Q.
S 3. *he =ollowing are tactile cases.
P8U8Q +rom Mr. ,. ". -legram( /a9l Lo5ge( /toneho9se( &lo9cestershire.
BFan9ar> 2Vth( 2773.
BI well remember a sing9lar circ9mstance I have o=ten hear5 m> =ather Pone o= the earl>
civil engineers o= this co9ntr>Q relate( which occ9rre5 to himsel=. .e was a man o= ver>
strong min5( an5 more =ree =rom =ancies an5 s9perstitions than most people. )t the time
o= the occ9rrence he was abo9t :; >ears o= age.
B.e was in the habit o= l>ing with his right han5 e?ten5e5 o9t o= be5( an5 one morning(
abo9t V o4clock( when wi5e awake( he =elt a =irm han5 grasp his( so m9ch like the grasp
o= his =ather4s han5 that he imme5iatel> tol5 m> mother uthat his =ather ha5 taken his
han5 as he 9s9all> 5i5 when sa>ing Bgoo5-b>e.C4 .is =ather 5ie5 at that time that
morning( somewhat s955enl>. M> =ather 5i5 not know he was ill. .is =ather 5ie5 near
/9n5erlan5@ m> =ather at that time was living in /9sse?.
B,. ". -LE&')M.C
Mr. -legram mentione5 in conversation that his gran5=ather ha5 a partic9larl> =irm an5
strong clasp o= the han5( which was also a characteristic o= his =ather( the percipient. *he
latter was a strong( practical man( as =ar remove5 as possible =rom s9perstition. *he
inci5ent ma5e a 5eep an5 lasting impression 9pon him.
P8UWQ +rom La5> "elcher( UV( -9mberlan5 *errace( 'egent4s 1ark( %.,.
B)pril( 2773.
B$9ring the great +rench war( when %apoleon I. was overr9nning ii-VWV! .ollan5( an5
a=ter the 9n=ort9nate ,alcheren e?pe5ition( o9r =leet was or5ere5 to the /chel5t( I believe
in the severe winter o= 272:. *he sailors an5 marines =rom the vario9s ships were lan5e5
in parties to man an5 5e=en5 the 5>kes. /o severe was the col5 that long woo5en she5s
were erecte5( an5 large =ires kept 9p =or the watch parties. )ll the o==icers in t9rn lan5e5
to keep the men to their posts.
BOn one night when m> =ather( -aptain 1eter .e>woo5( lan5e5 with his men =rom the
uMontag9e(4 the line o= battle ship he comman5e5( an5 the watch ha5 been set( the
o==icers stretche5 themselves 5own on some mattresses( the =irst lie9tenant near him( then
the Master o= Marines. )ll was E9iet( when the last mentione5 o==icer crie5 o9t that some
one ha5 lai5 a col5 han5 on his cheeks /ilence was or5ere5. )gain in a =ew min9tes he
ma5e the same complaint an5 challenge5 the lie9tenant( who peremptoril> or5ere5
silence. ) thir5 time he ma5e the same o9tcr>( D9mpe5 9p an5 r9she5 =rom the spot in
terror. *he whole part> were thoro9ghl> ro9se5( an5 m> =ather consi5ere5 the
circ9mstance so pec9liar that he note5 it with the 5ate an5 the precise ho9r at which it
ha5 occ9rre5.
B,eeks a=ter( when the 5espatches an5 letters arrive5 =rom Englan5( the Master o=
Marines receive5 the news o= his =ather4s 5eath an5 the ho9r o= his 5epart9re( which
tallie5 e?actl> with the note which -aptain .e>woo5 ha5 ma5e. Up to the perio5 o= m>
5ear =ather4s 5eath I have hear5 him mention the =act( b9t never reasone5 on it. .e
possesse5 a calm D95gment an5 a ver> religio9s min5.
B$I)%) "EL-.E'.C
,e learn =rom the )5miralt> that -aptain 1eter .e>woo5 was in comman5 o= the
BMontag9eC =rom F9l>( 272:( to March( 2723@ also that there is no s9ch o==icer as BMaster
o= Marines(C b9t that the Masters Pnow st>le5 /ta==--ommissioners or %avigating
Lie9tenantsQ were &eorge $9nn an5 F. /an=or5.
Y*his case is ver> remote@ an5 even i= correct in the central =act( cannot be relie5 on in
5etailsAe.g.( as to the absol9te e?actit95e o= the coinci5ence( an5 as to the three
occ9rrences o= the sensation( the =avo9rite legen5ar> n9mber Pp. UUX( noteQ.Z
P8U7Q +rom Mrs. /penser( :8( 1ortlan5 /treet( /o9thport( a member o= the /ociet> o=
+rien5s.
B/eptember 2st( 27W2.
BI =ormerl> ha5 two a9nts. One( m> a9nt $e Mierre( resi5ing at 19tne>( ha5 been
con=ine5 three weeks. M> a9nt( Mrs. ,illiams Ywho live5 in Lon5onZ( being an invali5(
was in the habit o= taking a warm bath at night. ,hen her mai5 ha5 place5 her in it( she
retire5( 9ntil the time appointe5 =or leaving her ha5 e?pire5@ b9t one night( soon a=ter she
ha5 le=t( she was m9ch alarme5 b> so9n5s o= great 5istress =rom her mistress( which le5
her hastil> to ring =or assistance an5 s9mmon her master( =or her mistress4s weeping an5
agitation were 9ncontrollable. )s soon as her h9sban5 entere5 the room( Mrs. ,illiams
e?claime5( u/9san is 5ea5. /he has been to take leave o= me. .er kiss was like a wa=t o=
col5 air 9pon m> cheek.4 .er h9sban5 5i5 his best to alla> her agitation( telling her she
ha5 =allen asleep in the bath an5 5reamt it. .e also tol5 her that he ha5( that a=ternoon(
seen one o= her brothers who ha5 tol5 him that her sister was so remarkabl> well that her
h9sban5 was going to the pla> that ii-VW8! night( with other members o= her =amil>. "9t
nothing soothe5 her 9ntil he promise5 to sen5 to 19tne> the ne?t morning to inE9ire.
B*he groom receive5 or5ers to leave b> 8 o4clock( so as to bring the answer back b> 7
o4clock. ,hen the groom arrive5 at the ho9se the servant sai5( uM> mistress is 5ea5. /he
was taken s955enl> ill while sitting 9p( an5 was 5ea5 be=ore m> master got home. /he
5ie5 at hal=-past 2; o4clockAthe e?act time that her sister was thrown into s9ch 5istress
b> her appearing to take leave o= her. I remember the occ9rrence well.
BLU-# /1E%/E'.C
Mrs. /penser writes on March 27( 2778: BI think m> a9nt 5ie5 abo9t 27;3. I am the onl>
one living who hear5 the =act relate5 at the time@ an5 o=ten( in a=ter >ears( witho9t an>
variation.C )n5 later( BI remember with 9nclo95e5 clearness the partic9lars respecting m>
a9nt4s 5eathAthe =irst in the =amil> that I knew o= an5 care5 abo9t. It was a great event in
the =amil>( an5 the impression ma5e on m> min5 was in5elible.C ,e have =aile5 to
5iscover the e?act 5ate o= the 5eath: Mrs. 5e Mierre 5oes not seem to have been b9rie5 at
19tne>. In conversation Mrs. /penser state5 that she thinks that there was an appearance(
as well as the sensation o= the kiss.
Y*he narrator( who wrote the above 2V >ears ago( shows even now no sign o= impaire5
memor>@ b9t the case is again =ar too remote =or 5etails to be tr9ste5.Z
P8UXQ +rom the 'ev. &eorge "rett( *he -ollege( ,eston-s9per-Mare( who hear5 the
acco9nt =rom the percipient( a ver> near relative o= his own.
BFan9ar> U8th( 277V.
B)bo9t 3; or 3V >ears ago( a Miss /ophia ,allace was engage5 to a Mr. ,ilson. *he>
were m9ch attache5 to each other( an5 he seems to have been a man whose mental
constit9tion was o= a kin5 to make him capable o= e?erting a ver> real in=l9ence 9pon
those among whom he was known. .e 5ie5 o= cons9mption be=ore the time propose5 =or
their marriage@ nat9rall>( his fianc4e was ver> an?io9s( an5 m9ch sa55ene5( when it
became evi5ent that he wo9l5 not live. On the evening o= his 5eath she was passing along
a 5arkene5 passage in a ho9se where she was sta>ing( not more than U or : miles Pperhaps
less than UQ =rom the ho9se o= Mr. ,ilson( when she =elt a col5 han5 clasp hers. Upon
comparison o= time a=terwar5s( she =o9n5 this ha5 occ9rre5 at the time o= Mr. ,ilson4s
5eath.
B&EO. "'E**.C
Y*he an?iet> here( o= co9rse( allows it to be s9ppose5 that the e?perience was p9rel>
s9bDective PVol. I.( p. V;XQ.Z
I will concl95e this chapter with a case which s9ggests the same s>mpath> o= ph>sical
con5ition as we have enco9ntere5 in certain h>pnotic cases Psee above( pp. ::;T2Q( where
the trans=erence is =rom the Bs9bDectC to the operator. *he e?ceptional rapport
Pestablishe5 or increase5 b> a co9rse o= h>pnotismQ which e?iste5 between the two
persons concerne5 has been mentione5 in Vol. I.( p. :28( an5 m9st be borne in min5 in
the D95ging o= the present inci5ent.
P8:;Q +rom Mr. +. -or5er( 38( -harlwoo5 /treet( /.,.
ii-VWW!
B$ecember( 277U.
BOn F9l> 7( 277U( m> wi=e went to Lon5on to have an operation Pwhich we both believe5
to be a slight oneQ per=orme5 on her e>es b> the late Mr. -ritchett. *he appointment was
=or 2.:;@ an5( knowing =rom long previo9s e?perience the close s>mpath> o= o9r min5s(
abo9t that time I( at "righton( got rather =i5get>( an5 was m9ch relieve5Aan5 perhaps a
little s9rprise5 an5 5isappointe5Aat not =eeling an> 5eci5e5 sensation which I co9l5
constr9e as s>mpathetic. *aking it there=ore =or grante5 that all was well( I went o9t at
U.3V to con59ct m> concert at the )E9ari9m( e?pecting to =in5 there a telegram( as ha5
been arrange5( to sa> that all was well. On m> wa> I stoppe5( as 9s9al( to compare m>
watch with the big clock o9tsi5e Lawsons4 the clockmakers. )t that instant I =elt m> e>es
=loo5e5 with water( D9st as when a chill win5 gives one a s955en col5 in the e>es( tho9gh
it was a hot( still s9mmer4s 5a>. *he a==ection was so 9n9s9al an5 startling that m>
attention co9l5 not b9t be strongl> 5irecte5 to it@ >et( the time being then 22 min9tes to :(
I was s9re it co9l5 have nothing to 5o with m> wi=e4s operation( an5( as it contin9e5 =or
some little time( tho9ght I m9st have taken col5. .owever( it passe5 o==( an5 the concert
imme5iatel> a=terwar5s p9t it o9t o= m> min5.
B)t 3.; I receive5 a telegram =rom m> wi=e u)ll well over. ) great s9ccess(4 an5 this E9ite
took awa> all an?iet>. "9t on going to town in the evening( I =o9n5 her in a terrible state
o= nervo9s prostration@ an5 it appeare5 that the operation( tho9gh marvello9sl>
s9ccess=9l( ha5 been o= a ver> severe character. }9ite acci5entall> it came o9t that it was
not till U.:; that Mrs. -or5er entere5 the operating-room( an5 that the operation
commence5( a=ter the 59e a5ministration o= an anOsthetic( at abo9t 2; min9tes to :( as
near as we co9l5 calc9late.
B+. -O'$E'.C
YI= telepath> is a realit>( there seems at an> rate a =air probabilit> that this inci5ent was
telepathic. "9t it is no 5o9bt possible to s9ppose that the occ9pation o= Mr. -or5er4s
tho9ghts with his wi=e4s con5ition ha5 in59ce5 a s>mpathetic liabilit> to the pec9liar
a==ection recor5e5( an5 that the reason wh> it came to a hea5 at that partic9lar time was
simpl> the change o= ph>sical con5ition involve5 in going o9t into the open air. It will be
observe5( however( that the 5a> was hot( which rather tells against this h>pothesis.Z
ii-VW7!
+!P#&R )((.
+!$&$ !FF&+#("* M%R& #!" %"& %F #& P&R+(P(&"#;$
$&"$&$.
*.I/ chapter contains some =9rther cases in which the senses o= sight an5 hearing were
both a==ecte5.
P8:2Q +rom the !tor, of (, ;ife( b> -olonel Mea5ows *a>lor( Vol. I.( pp. :UT::.
B*his 5etermination Yto live 9nmarrie5Z was the res9lt o= a ver> c9rio9s an5 strange
inci5ent that be=ell me 59ring one o= m> marches to .>5eraba5. I have never =orgotten it(
an5 it ret9rns to this 5a> to m> memor> with a strangel> vivi5 e==ect that I can neither
repel nor e?plain. I p9rposel> withhol5 the 5ate o= the >ear. In m> ver> earl> li=e( I ha5
been 5eepl> an5 5evote5l> attache5 to one in Englan5( an5 onl> relinE9ishe5 the hope o=
some 5a> winning her when the terrible or5er came o9t that no =9rlo9gh to E9rope wo9l5
be grante5. One evening I was at the village o= $ewas 095ea( a=ter a ver> long a=ternoon
an5 evening march =rom M9kt9l( an5 I la> 5own ver> wear>@ b9t the barking o= village
5ogs( an5 the ba>ing o= Dackals( an5 over-=atig9e an5 heat( prevente5 sleep( an5 I was
wi5e awake an5 restless. /955enl>( =or m> tent 5oor was wi5e open( I saw the =ace an5
=ig9re so =amiliar to me( b9t looking ol5er( an5 with a sa5 an5 tro9ble5 e?pression@ the
5ress was white( an5 seeme5 covere5 with a pro=9sion o= lace( an5 glistene5 in the bright
moonlight. *he arms were stretche5 o9t( an5 a low plaintive cr> o= u$o not let me go@ 5o
not let me gos4 reache5 me. I sprang =orwar5( b9t the =ig9re rece5e5( growing =ainter an5
=ainter till I co9l5 see it no longer( b9t the low sa5 tones still so9n5e5. I ha5 r9n
bare=oote5 across the open space( where m> tents were pitche5( ver> m9ch to the
astonishment o= the sentr> on g9ar5( b9t I ret9rne5 to m> tent witho9t speaking to him.
BI wrote to m> =ather( I wishe5 to know whether there was an> hope =or me. .e wrote
back to me these wor5s: u*oo late( m> 5ear sonAon the ver> 5a> o= the vision >o9
5escribe to me( ). was marrie5.4B
Miss Mea5ows *a>lor( the e5itor o= the book =rom which this passage is E9ote5( writes to
9s:A
B8( 1hillimore *errace( 0ensington( ,.
B$ecember Vth( 277:.
BI have receive5 >o9r letter on the s9bDect o= the vision mentione5 in ii-VWX! m>
=ather4s( -olonel Mea5ows *a>lor4s( uLi=e.4 I have hear5 him mention it ver> o=ten( an5
he alwa>s relate5 the inci5ent precisel> in the same manner( an5 e?actl> as it is in the
book. I can throw no =9rther light 9pon it@ nor can I a55 an> =9rther partic9lars. *he la5>
is 5ea5( an5 I am not aware that she ever knew o= the circ9mstance.
B)LI-E ME)$O,/ *)#LO'.C
Y,e have 5iscovere5 a certain amo9nt o= inacc9rac> in another narrative tol5 in the same
book@ otherwise the present one wo9l5 not have been relegate5 to the /9pplement. Miss
Mea5ows *a>lor4s remarks show( however( that the e?perience was 5istinctl> imprinte5
on her =ather4s memor>. *he 5etail as to the lace( it will be observe5( is o= a sort ver>
likel> to have been Brea5 backC into the vision a=ter the news arrive5 which wo9l5 seem
to make it appropriate.Z
P8:UQ +rom the 'ev. F. .otham P-ongregational MinisterQ( 1ort Elliot( /o9th )9stralia(
who tol5 9s Pin 2773Q that the acco9nt was given to him b> some =rien5s( Mrs. Leaworth>
an5 her 5a9ghters( an5 was written o9t b> him the same evening Bin nearl> the same
lang9age in which it was given( an5 s9bmitte5 to Mrs. Leaworth>( who correcte5 it.C It
ma> there=ore be taken as her acco9nt. Mr. .otham has since 5ie5( an5 his son sa>s that
no more in=ormation can be obtaine5.
*he acco9nt =irst 5escribes the resc9e( in 2732( o= the crew o= the +rench ship(
BLuOrient(C o== the coast o= $evon( mainl> b> the e?ertions o= Mr. Leaworth>.
B*he captain( 59ring his sta> in the neighbo9rhoo5( was a constant visitor at o9r ho9se(
an5 became E9ite a =avo9rite. )=ter he ha5 recovere5 =rom his col5 an5 wetting( he tol5
9s that he was s9re something serio9s ha5 happene5 at home. ,hen aske5 wh> he
tho9ght so( he sai5 that D9st be=ore the storm came on( he ha5 seen his wi=e stan5ing close
besi5e him( an5 that she ha5 sai5: u$o not grieve =or me.4 ,ell( we all trie5 to p9t this
melanchol> i5ea o9t o= his hea5. ,e tol5 him he was low-spirite5 at the loss o= his ship(
an5 that nothing b9t imagination ha5 ma5e him =anc> this thing.
BO= co9rse the captain wrote 5irectl> home( giving an acco9nt o= the loss o= his ship an5
cargo( an5 an?io9sl> awaite5 a repl>. .e was 5etaine5 some weeks among 9s( an5 59ring
that time we became ver> intimate. In 59e time he receive5 a letter in=orming him that his
wi=e ha5 been con=ine5( an5 mother an5 chil5 were both 5oing well. ,e then Doke5 him
abo9t his =ears( an5 congrat9late5 him 9pon the goo5 news he ha5 receive5. $9ring the
weeks he =9rther remaine5 with 9s( we set to an5 ma5e 9p a bo? o= presentsAsmall
things( [c.( =or the bab>. )=ter completing all his arrangements( he bi5 9s goo5-b>e( an5
starte5 =or home. ) letter =rom him( however( in=orme5 9s that the presentiment was too
tr9l> =9l=ille5. .is wi=e 5ie5 on that night@ b9t when his =rien5s receive5 his letter
mo9rn=9ll> 5etailing the loss o= his vessel( the> were a=rai5 to sen5 him wor5 abo9t the
loss o= his wi=e( an5 so replie5 as we have sai5.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. .otham a55e5:A
BMrs. Leaworth>( senior( has recentl> 5ie5. .er 5a9ghters are still livingAone( Mrs.
Lin5sa>( onl> a short 5istance =rom me@ an5 the other ii-V7;! who marrie5 Mr. Fohn
.in5marsh( onl> son o= o9r =irst -olonial &overnor( has remove5 to %ew Jealan5.
BIn answer to >o9r E9estionsAP2Q *he acco9nt was given me at the ho9se o= Mr. Fno.
.in5marsh( near 1ort Elliot( /o9th )9stralia. PUQ #es. "> u5ie5 on that night4 I mean on
the night he saw the apparitionAthe night the storm began.
BF%O. .O*.)M.C
P8::Q +rom the late &eneral -raigie( who tol5 9s PMarch 22( 277:Q that he ha5 hear5 the
=acts =rom -olonel an5 Mrs. AA( the parents o= the percipient.
&eneral -raigie began b> 5escribing how( in 2787( he became acE9ainte5 with -olonel
AA an5 his =amil>( resi5ent at M9ssoorie( an5 at their ho9se saw a goo5 5eal o= some
relatives o= his own( Mr. an5 Mrs. ".
B*he >ear 2787 ha5 come to a close. ,ith the termination o= the season( o= co9rse all
E9ropean visitors ha5 ret9rne5 to their homes in the plains. In the or5inar> co9rse o=
relie=( m> regiment was or5ere5 to -awnpore( an5 =rom that time I lost sight o= Mr. an5
Mrs. ".( whom I le=t behin5 at Meer9t. I cannot( witho9t re=erring to =rien5s at a 5istance(
give the 5ates o= what =ollows@ b9t I believe that it was in the beginning o= 278X that
societ> was shocke5 b> hearing that Mr. ". ha5 Yin conseE9ence o= 5omestic 9nhappiness
59e to his own con59ctZ shot himsel=. .e shot himsel= at Meer9t( at abo9t 7 o4clock in the
evening.
BOn that night -olonel AA4s wi=e an5 5a9ghter were together in a be5room at 2; p.m.
*he =ormer ha5 alrea5> got into be5@ the latter was br9shing o9t her hair b> her cheval-
glass( an5 in her night attire. /955enl> the girl e?claime5: uOh( mamma( there4s Mr. "s4
u,herer4 crie5 the scan5alise5 mother( cl9tching an5 p9lling 9p the be5-clothes.
2
u*here(
mammas $o >o9 not see himr *hereAhe sa>s: B7ood6b,e, !iss,Agood6b,eTC *here(
now he4s goingAnow he4s gones4 )n imme5iate alarm was given@ the room( the ho9se(
the gar5en were care=9ll> searche5( witho9t obtaining an> satis=actor> cl9e to so
e?traor5inar> a scene in a la5>4s be5chamber. -olonel AA closel> E9estione5 the girl(
who not onl> positivel> a5here5 to her previo9s 5eclarations( b9t now 5etaile5 the clothes
worn b> Mr. ". as he appeare5 to her.
B*wo 5a>s a=terwar5s( the post( an5 newspapers( bro9ght to M9ssoorie the news o= the
s9ici5e o= Mr. ". -olonel AA an5 his wi=e 5i5 not comm9nicate the =act to their
5a9ghter =or some 5a>s( as the> tho9ght that since the night when she seeme5 to have
seen Mr. ". she ha5 been strangel> 5epresse5. ,hen the =act was gentl> broken to her( it
ha5 s9ch an e==ect that never =rom that 5a> was an> all9sion ever ma5e to the occ9rrence.
B.. -. -')I&IE(
BMaDor-&eneral.C
,e =in5 =rom the East In5ia -ompan>4s 'egister that Lie9t. ".4s 5eath took place on %ov.
8( 2787( at Meer9t.
Y-olonel AA is 5ea5. ,e have applie5 to his wi5ow =or her recollections ii-V72! o= the
inci5ent( b9t have not as >et receive5 a repl>. ,e have ascertaine5 that -olonel AA was
on =9rlo9gh in 2787.Z
P8:3Q $r. /pencer *. .all( a well-known writer on =orestr>( [c.( in his Da,s in
Derb,shire P278:Q( pp. 7VT8( relates as =ollows:A
B1hilip an5 his =irst wi=e( Martha( who was a co9sin o= mine( having no chil5ren o= their
own( a5opte5 the little 5a9ghter o= a >o9ng woman( who went to live at $erb>. *he chil5
calle5 them =ather an5 mother as soon as she co9l5 speak( not remembering her own
parents( not even her mother. ,hile >et ver> >o9ng( she one 5a> began to cr> o9t that
there was a >o9ng woman looking at her( an5 wanting to come to her( an5( accor5ing to
her 5escription o= the person( it m9st have been her mother. )s no one else saw the
apparition( an5 the chil5 contin9e5 =or more than hal= an ho9r to be ver> e?cite5( 1hilip
took her o9t o= the ho9se to that o= a neighbo9r@ b9t the apparition kept them compan>(
talking b> the wa>. *he> then went to another ho9se( where it accompanie5 them still(
an5 seeme5 as tho9gh it wante5 to embrace the chil5: b9t at last vanished in the direction
of Derb,Aas the little girl( now a >o9ng woman( 5escribes itAin a flash of fire.
B$erb> is abo9t 23 miles 5istant =rom .ollowa>( an5 as in that 5a> there was neither
railwa> nor telegraph( comm9nication between them was m9ch slower than at present. )s
soon( however( as it was possible =or intelligence to come( the news arrive5 that the poor
chil54s mother ha5 been burnt to death@ that it happene5 abo9t the time when it saw her
apparition@ an5( in short( that she was sorrowing an5 cr>ing to be taken to the chil5 59ring
the whole o= the time between being b9rnt an5 her e?piration.
B*his is no ui5le ghost stor>(4 b9t a simple matter o= =act( to which not onl> 1hilip( b9t all
his ol5 neighbo9rs can testi=>@ an5 the >o9ng woman has not onl> relate5 it more than
once to me( b9t she tol5 it in the same artless an5 earnest manner to m> =rien5( the late
$r. /am9el "rown( o= E5inb9rgh( who once calle5 at the cottage with me( repeating it
still more clearl> to Messrs. +owler an5 ,ells( on o9r recent visit.C
In answer to inE9iries( the narrator Psince 5ecease5Q wrote to 9s:A
B2( Leopol5 &rove( "lackpool.
B%ovember 23th( 2773.
BIt is now a generation since I resi5e5 in $erb>( an5 most o= those known to me there are
now 5ea5 or the a55resses =orgotten. 1hilip /pencer( m> co9sin( 5ie5 long ago( an5 his
secon5 wi=e too. I have =orgotten the >o9ng woman4s name( b9t she ma> be marrie5( or
have le=t the neighbo9rhoo5. M> poor 5ear =rien5( $r. /am9el "rown( is 5ea5. I= an>bo5>
is living at .ollowa> likel> to remember all the partic9lars o= the case >o9 mention( m>
co9sin( Mrs. /arah "9ckle( ma>( b9t I cannot tell. Y,e wrote@ b9t the la5> appears to have
le=t the place( an5 o9r letter was ret9rne5.Z #o9 ma>( however( re=er to me as to the
acc9rac> o= the narrative in m> book. )n>thing more care=9ll> or clearl> atteste5 than
what is written I never hear5( an5 I co9l5 have ha5 no motive =or inacc9rac>.
B/1E%-E' *. .)LLC
YOne ma> s9rmise that this was ver> possibl> a case o= telepathic hall9cination( witho9t
placing reliance on the 5etails.Z
ii-V7U!
P8:VQ +rom Mrs. ,alsh( o= *he 1rior>( Lincoln. *he percipient re=9ses a =irst-han5 an5
signe5 acco9nt@ she has risen in li=e( an5 is ver> sensitive as to an>thing which ma> recall
her =ormer 5epen5ent position. *he 'ev. F. F. Lias( who proc9re5 the narrative =or 9s( tells
9s that he =irst hear5 it in the li=etime o= Mr. ,alsh( who Bwas b> no means a cre59lo9s
man( b9t a man o= the worl5.C
B+ebr9ar> 27th( 2773.
B/ome time in the >ear 278U PI thinkQ I was living with m> h9sban5 an5 =amil> o= little
chil5ren( accompanie5 b> o9r English n9rse( in apartments in the cit> o= "r9ssels. *he
ho9se we occ9pie5 was a large one( an5 we rente5 the 5rawing-room an5 the =loor above.
*he gro9n5 =loor was occ9pie5 b> the owner o= the ho9se( a "elgian( an5 his wi=e an5
little chil5ren. ,e ha5 no interco9rse with this =amil>@ we ha5 o9r own kitchen on the
5rawing-room =loor( an5 the 9pper =loor consiste5 o= n9rser>( with n9rser> be5room
opening =rom it. ,e ha5 a +lemish general servant( who went home abo9t X ever> night.
O9r English n9rse was a ver> clever girl( abo9t UU or U: >ears o= age. /he rea5 a goo5
5eal( an5 ta9ght hersel= +rench. /he was ver> matter-o=-=act( an5 han5> an5 9se=9l in
ever> wa>. /he ha5 been with me V or 8 >ears. .er parents were labo9ring people in the
neighbo9rhoo5 o= Lon5on( an5 b> rea5ing an5 c9lt9re she ha5 raise5 hersel= a goo5 5eal
o9t o= their sphere. ,e ha5 been abo9t 2U months awa> =rom Englan5( when the
circ9mstance I write o= happene5. M.4s mother( a=ter having a large =amil>Athe >o9ngest
being abo9t X or 2;A5i5 not tell M.( nor 5i5 an> o= the =amil>( that she was again
e?pecting an a55ition. *he wi=e o= o9r lan5lor5 ha5 been con=ine5 two 5a>s( so was in
her own room( on the gro9n5 =loor o= the ho9se we live5 in.
BOne night m> h9sban5 an5 m>sel= ha5 been o9t to 5inner. On ret9rning( a little a=ter 2;
o4clock( m> h9sban5 was ama]e5 to =in5 o9r apartments in 5arkness( an5 he ran 9p to the
n9rser> =loor to complain to M. o= her inattention@ as the other servant ha5 gone home it
was her place to light o9r room. M> h9sban5 =o9n5 the n9rser> lighte5( b9t empt>( an5
going towar5s the chil5ren4s room he met M. coming o9t. /he began( uOhs I am so gla5
to see >o9@ I have been so =rightene5 that I was oblige5 to sit on ,illie4s be5 till >o9
came in.4 I was in the room b> this time( an5 inE9iring into the ca9se o= =ear. M. sai5(
u)=ter I p9t the chil5ren to be5 I sat 5own in the n9rser> to m> work( when I hear5
someone coming 9p the stairs. I went to the 5oor( an5 on the =irst lan5ing b> >o9r room( I
saw( as I tho9ght( Ma5ame %. carr>ing something heav>. I =elt that she o9ght not to be
o9t o= her be5( an5 I calle5 to her in +rench: BFe vien5rai vo9s ai5er(C r9nning 5own the
stairs to where I s9ppose5 she was. ,hen I got there it gave me a E9eer sensation to =in5
no one. .owever( I sai5 to m>sel=( it was a sha5ow( an5 ma5e m>sel= go back to m>
work. I ha5 scarcel> seate5 m>sel= when a voice calle5: BMa>( Ma>( Ma>C Pthe name m>
chil5ren calle5 herQ. I got 9p( went to the 5oor( an5 seeing someone( ran hal=wa> 5own
the stairs to meet the woman( when a terrible 5rea5 came 9pon me( an5 I r9she5 back to
the n9rser> an5 sat on one o= the little be5s( =eeling that being with even a sleeping chil5
was better than being alone.4 M> h9sban5 la9ghe5 at her( tol5 her the vin ordinaire was
too strong@ that she ha5 been 5reaming( [c. ,e none o= 9s tho9ght m9ch o= it( till the
=irst post =rom Englan5 ii-V7:! bro9ght M. a letter to sa> her mother ha5 been con=ine5(
an5 she an5 the chil5 ha5 5ie5 within an ho9r a=ter. *hen we all =elt convince5 that M.4s
mother ha5 been able to come an5 see her 5a9ghter.
2

B.)''IE* ,)L/..C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. ,alsh sa>s:A
B)t the time( I am s9re she 5i5 not connect the appearance with her own mother( nor 5i5
she recognise the voice. )ll she tol5 9s was that she tho9ght it was Ma5ame %>o. Ma>4s
mother was ver> m9ch the same sort o= person in appearance as Ma5ame %>o(
U
witho9t
there being an> likeness@ the> were abo9t the same age( =ig9re( an5 position in li=e. ,e
onl> connecte5 Ma>4s stor> with her night o= terror( when she receive5 the news =rom
Englan5.C
Y,e cannot now ascertain the e?act times o= the apparition an5 o= the 5eath@ b9t the>
probabl> occ9rre5 within a =ew ho9rs o= each other. I=( as seems nearl> certain( the call o=
the -hristian name( as well as the vis9al e?perience( was a hall9cination( that point is
5eci5e5l> in =avo9r o= the telepathic e?planation o= the case.Z
P8:8Q +rom Mr. Lo9is L>ons( :( "o9verie /E9are( +olkestone.
B277U.
BMa5ame Laramea EspHron( o= %antes( since 5ea5( tol5 me the =ollowing some 28 or 2W
>ears ago. /he ha5 an onl> son( =on5 o= =ishing( which recreation he in59lge5 in 59ring
the =orenoon( an5 ha5 been =or some >ears most p9nct9al to be home =or 5inner at 2U
o4clock. One 5a> he 5i5 not make his appearance at the 9s9al ho9r. .is mother opene5
the win5ow to look o9t =or him( when she hear5 him call her several times( an5 on
t9rning ro9n5 she saw her son coming thro9gh the wall( an5 making his e?it thro9gh the
opposite wall.
:
)n ho9r or so a=terwar5s( a message was bro9ght to her( that her son =ell
over the pier an ho9r ago( an5 was 5rowne5. Ma5ame EspHron was a most worth>
woman( an5 tol5 me her stor> bathe5 in tears. ) mother weeping =or her onl> son tells no
lies.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. L>ons a55s:A
BMa5ame EspHron was in mo9rning =or her son when she tol5 me the sa5 stor>. I was
ver> intimate with her( an5 m> 5a9ghter( who went with me to %antes( was a =reE9ent
visitor at her ho9se.C
P8:WQ +rom Mr. Fohn ,illiams( XX( ,ellington 'oa5( $95le>.
B)pril W( 2773.
BOn $ecember :r5( 273X( m> mother 5ie5( between the ho9rs o= X an5 2; p.m. .er sister(
living =rom : to 3 miles awa>( saw her on the top o= the staircase( she having D9st gone to
be5( at the same time that mother e?pire5. /9ch was the e==ect( that she sent a messenger
ne?t morning to see i= her sister was reall> 5ea5.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. ,illiams states that his mother 5ie5 at *he .a>s( Ol5
/win=or5( ,orcestershire. .is a9nt P/arah 1iper( =ormerl> ii-V73! o= %etherton( $95le>Q
is now 5ecease5. .e hear5 o= her e?perience =rom his sister( Mrs. 'a>bo9l5( o=
/to9rbri5ge Page5 23 at the timeQ( who( he sa>s( Bwell remembers a9nt coming in the
a=ternoon( a=ter the ret9rn o= the messenger( an5 telling =ather an5 her as to seeing her
sister at the top o= the staircase. I was not at home when she Pa9ntQ calle5( so I hear5 it
=rom m> sister( or =ather( when I got home the same evening o= a9nt4s visit. M> sister
well remembers what her a9nt sai5( an5 to-5a> P+ebr9ar> 28( 2778Q she tol5 me that a9nt
sai5( mother calle5 her b> name P/arahQ : times@
2
so she not onl> saw( b9t hear5 her.
BF. ,.C
*he 'egister o= $eaths con=irms $ec. :( 273X( as the 5ate.
Mrs. 'a>bo9l5 writes( on )pril W( 2778:A
BI remember well the night o= $ecember :( 273X( it being the night o= m> 5ear mother4s
5eath( which happene5 abo9t X.3; p.m. On the =ollowing 5a> m> a9nt( mother4s sister(
/arah 1iper( came to o9r ho9se in the a=ternoon( an5 sai5 she knew that m> mother was
5ea5( =or she saw her at the top o= the stairs in her be5room( an5 hear5 her call u/arah(4 :
times. *his( =rom the time she state5 as having seen an5 hear5 her( was as near the time
mother 5ie5 as possible.
BM)'# ')#"OUL$.C
In answer to an inE9ir>( Mr. ,illiams sa>s that his a9nt knew nothing o= her sister4s
illnessAp9erperal =ever a=ter a premat9re con=inementABso co9l5 not be e?pecting her
5eath.C
P8:7Q +rom Mrs. /a> *homson( 3W( )lban> Villas( "righton.
U

B+ebr9ar>( 2778.
BI will relate the inci5ent that occ9rre5 to m> late h9sban5( -olonel *homson( as I was
with him at "r9ssels at the time. -olonel *homson was with the 0ing o= the "elgians( at
"r9ssels( an5 his brother( the -o9nt 5e +lan5resAan5( I believe( ver> =ew others in the
room. .e was writing 5own instr9ctions =rom the king abo9t the vol9nteers that Lor5
.eaton an5 he ha5 bro9ght over. /omeone leant over him( an5 sai5( u#o9r brother wants
>o94@ he answere5( u*ell him I am now engage5 with the king( an5 impossible to leave
him@ b9t ask him to wait.4 "eing ver> m9ch engage5 writing 5own the king4s 5irections(
he sai5 he half looke5 ro9n5( an5 saw a man in his vol9nteer 9ni=orm@ he har5l> gave him
a glance( b9t sai5 he wo9l5 come as soon as he co9l5. $irectl> he was 5isengage5( he
went into the ante-room( an5 aske5 the man> he knew there i= the> ha5 hear5 an>one
asking =or him( as he hear5 his brother ha5 arrive5 in "r9ssels. O= co9rse all E9estions
were aske5( privatel>( an5 on para5e( b9t all wearing his 9ni=orm denied having calle5
him. Moreover( the two sentries who were on g9ar5( o9tsi5e the room the king was in(
sai5 it was i(possible that an> vol9nteer ha5 passe5 in witho9t their knowle5ge. In the
co9rse o= a =ew 5a>s he hear5 o= his brother4s 5eath.
BI cannot tell >o9 da, an5 date o= Mr. Fohn /inclair *homson4s ii-V7V! 5eath( b9t I have
no 5o9bt m> sister-in-law can s9ppl> >o9 with correct in=ormation on that point. -olonel
*homson was comman5ing the *ower .amlets 'i=le "riga5e( consisting o= three corps@
b9t at "r9ssels Lor5 .eaton an5 he took over( I think( at least 7;; vol9nteers to "elgi9m.
-olonel *homson 5ie5 the ne?t >ear( F9ne 7th( 27W;. .e was at "r9ssels in )9g9st or
/eptember the >ear be=ore. I never hear5 o= m> h9sban5 seeing or hearing an>thing
s9pernat9ral
2
be=ore.
B,. /. *.OM/O%.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. *homson writes on March Wth( 2778:A
B*he ho9r m> h9sban5 hear5 the voice( telling him his brother waite5 =or him( was noon.
*he news o= his brother4s 5eath 5i5 not come 9ntil the ne?t 5a>. "9t whether the ho9rs o=
hearing the voice an5 the 5eath occ9rre5 at the same time I am 9nable to sa>. ,e har5l>
ever spoke o= it( as it was not a s9bDect -olonel *homson care5 to 5isc9ss.C
,e learn =rom Miss 0ate *homson( a 5a9ghter o= Mr. Fohn /. *homson( that her =ather
5ie5 at abo9t 7 p.m.( on /at9r5a>( /ept. 22th( 278X( at )itech9an .o9se( )r5rishaig(
)rg>leshire@ an5 we have veri=ie5 the 5ate b> an obit9ar> notice in the !cots(an.
Mr. 1o5more writes( +ebr9ar> Xth( 2778:A
BI calle5 on Mrs. Fohn /inclair *homson( o= 27( &lo9cester ,alk( -amp5en .ill( ,.( on
the Xth +ebr9ar>( an5 hear5 the narrative( as here given( =rom her. .er h9sban54s 5eath
was E9ite 9ne?pecte5(Athe illness being onl> a s955en attack o= go9t@ an5 she thinks it is
certain that -olonel *homson 5i5 not even know that his brother was ill. /he hersel= 5i5
not see -olonel *homson in the interval be=ore his own 5eath in the =ollowing F9ne@ b9t
shortl> a=ter that event she hear5( =or the =irst time( o= the above occ9rrence =rom a $r.
,alker( o= 1eterboro9gh( who ha5 receive5 an acco9nt o= it =rom -olonel *homson
himsel=. /he has s9bseE9entl> hear5 the =9ll 5etails =rom Mrs. /a> *homson.C
YI= the letter anno9ncing the 5eath reall> arrive5 at "r9ssels( =rom /cotlan5( on the 5a>
=ollowing -olonel *homson4s e?perience( the 5eath m9st clearl> have prece5e5 that
e?perience b> more than 2U ho9rs. "9t Mrs. *homson a5mits that she has no 5istinct
recollection o= the interval that elapse5 be=ore the arrival o= the letter( an5 in5ee5 spoke
o= it( in the =irst letter in which she mentione5 the occ9rrence to 9s( as Ba =ew 5a>sC@ an5
tho9gh her son( Mr. F. +. )lison *homson( o= -ro?ton Lo5ge( -laren5on /treet(
Leamington( mentions having hear5 =rom his =ather that the letter arrive5 Bon the
=ollowing morning a=ter the warning(C he a55s a sentence showing that he conceives this
to be tantamo9nt to sa>ing that the 5a>s o= the 5eath an5 o= his =ather4s e?perience were
the same@ an5 his evi5ence( there=ore( cannot be hel5 to 5eci5e the point.Z
P8:XQ +rom Mr. ,illiams( /9mmer=iel5( 'h>l.
B%ovember U:( 277V.
B)bo9t 38 >ears ago m> =ather went to a place near Utica( in )merica( leaving m> mother
with m>sel=( then si? >ears o= age( a >o9nger brother( an5 a bab> sister at home at
"ont9chel( in %orth ,ales. In his correspon5ence ii-V78! with m> mother he 5escribe5
the co9ntr> to which he ha5 gone( an5 intimate5 his p9rpose to ret9rn home an5 sell his
propert> at "ont9chel( an5 take 9s all o9t to live there. ,e all slept in a two-be55e5 room(
with win5ows =acing each other. M> brother an5 I were together in one o= the be5s(
asleep( be=ore m> mother came to be5 with the bab>. )=ter p9tting the lights o9t she
hear5 a noise resembling the =lapping o= a bir54s wing against the win5ows. It was a
moonlight night. /he got 9p an5 looke5 o9t o= the win5ow( b9t seeing nothing ret9rne5 to
be5. Imme5iatel> a=ter this she saw m> =ather stan5ing in the room( 5resse5 in his 9s9al
clothes( an5 looking at her an5 at the chil5 l>ing besi5e her. )s soon as she ca9ght his e>e
he t9rne5 his back 9pon them( an5 looke5 at 9s as we la> in the other be5. M> mother
calle5 him b> his name( an5 got o9t o= be5 to go to him( =9ll> believing that it was he( b9t
he instantl> vanishe5. /o terri=ie5 was she now that she le=t the ho9se the ne?t 5a>( an5
went to her parents( who live5 at '9thin( taking 9s with her. )bo9t si? weeks a=ter this
removal( a letter came seale5 with black( written b> a =rien5 o= m> =ather4s( 5etailing the
circ9mstances o= his illness( o= his 5eath an5 b9rial( an5 speci=>ing the time o= his
5emise. M> mother ha5 care=9ll> recor5e5 the time o= her vision( an5 now =o9n5 that(
allowing =or 5i==erence o= longit95e( it correspon5e5 e?actl> to that o= his 5eath. I
remember m> mother4s s955en removal =rom "ont9chel to '9thin( an5 hear5 her
repeate5l> relate the partic9lars here given. I cannot sa> that I hear5 her relate the
partic9lars be=ore she receive5 the letter@ b9t I remember 5istinctl> that she sai5 she gave
them to her parents( at the time o= her removal( as the reason wh> she came to them so
s955enl>. M> brother an5 sister( still living( can corroborate this testimon>.
B,. ,illiams.C.
Y*he brother4s an5 sister4s corroboration has not been receive5 in time =or insertion.Z
*he =ollowing is the onl> instance known to me in which telepath> seems act9all> to
have ai5e5 the co9rse o= the law. *he stor> is remote( b9t we have the contemporar>
evi5ence@ an5 there seems no reason to 5o9bt that a coinci5ence o= the kin5 allege5 took
place.
P83;Q *he Buc1ingha(, Bedford, and 9ertford Chronicle =or %ov. 2( 27U7( states that on
/at9r5a>( Oct. UV( 27U7( ,illiam E55en( market gar5ener Pcalle5 %oble E55enQ( was
=o9n5 5ea5 on the roa5 between )>lesb9r> an5 *hame( with several ribs broken. .e was
5iscovere5 b> Mr. *a>lor( miller( who was ret9rning =rom )>lesb9r>( an5 gave the alarm.
)t the a5Do9rne5 inE9est( on %ov. V( a ver5ict o= m9r5er was ret9rne5 against some
person 9nknown.
*he Buc1ingha( 7aAette o= )9g9st UU( 27UX( gives an acco9nt o= the apprehension o= a
man name5 /ewell( who ha5 state5 in a letter to his =ather that he knew who ha5 kille5
E55en. .e acc9se5 a man name5 *>ler( an5 both were trie5 at the )>lesb9r> 1ett>
/essions( )9g9st UU( be=ore Lor5 %9gent( /ir F. $. 0ing( '. "rowne( EsE.( an5 others. On
the =irst 5a> o= the e?amination( Mrs. E55en( wi=e o= the m9r5ere5 man( gave the
=ollowing evi5ence:AB)=ter m> h9sban54s corpse was bro9ght home( I sent to *>ler( =or
some reasons I ha5( to come an5 see the corpse. ii-V7W! I sent =or him =ive or si? times. I
ha5 some partic9lar reason =or sen5ing =or him which I never 5i5 5iv9lge. w I will tell
m> reasons i= >o9 gentlemen ask me( in the =ace o= *>ler( even i= m> li=e sho9l5 be in
5anger =or it. ,hen I was ironing a shirt( on the /at9r5a> night m> h9sban5 was
m9r5ere5( something came over meAsomething r9she5 over meAan5 I tho9ght m>
h9sban5 came b> me. I looke5 9p( an5 I tho9ght I hear5 the voice o= m> h9sban5 come
=rom near m> mahogan> table( as I t9rne5 =rom m> ironing. I ran o9t an5 sai5( uOh( 5ear
&o5s m> h9sban5 is m9r5ere5( an5 his ribs are broken.4 I tol5 this to several o= m>
neighbo9rs. Mrs. -hester was the =irst to whom I tol5 it. I mentione5 it also at the
/aracen4s .ea5.C
/ir F. $. 0ing: B.ave >o9 an> obDection to sa> wh> >o9 tho9ght >o9r h9sban5 ha5 been
m9r5ere5rC B%os I tho9ght I saw m> h9sban54s apparition an5 the man that ha5 5one it(
an5 that man was *>ler( an5 that was the reason I sent =or him. w ,hen m> neighbo9rs
aske5 me what was the matter when I ran o9t( I tol5 them that I ha5 seen m> h9sban54s
apparition. w ,hen I mentione5 it to Mrs. -hester I sai5: uM> h9sban5 is m9r5ere5( an5
his ribs are broken@ I have seen him b> the mahogan> table.4 I 5i5 not tell her who 5i5 it.
Mrs. -hester answere5( I was alwa>s =rightene5( since m> h9sban5 ha5 been stoppe5 on
the roa5. Y*he 5ecease5 E55en ha5 once be=ore been wa>lai5( b9t was then too power=9l
=or his assailants.Z In conseE9ence o= what I saw( I went in search o= m> h9sban5( 9ntil I
was taken so ill I co9l5 go no =9rther.C
Lor5 %9gent: B,hat ma5e >o9 think >o9r h9sban54s ribs were brokenrC B.e hel5 9p his
han5 like thisC Phol5s 9p her armQ( Ban5 I saw a hammer( or something like a hammer(
an5 it came into m> min5 that his ribs were brokenC
/ewell state5 that the m9r5er was accomplishe5 b> means o= a hammer. *he e?amination
was contin9e5 on )9g9st :2 an5 /eptember 2:@ an5 =inall> both prisoners were
5ischarge5 =or want o= s9==icient evi5ence. /ewell 5eclare5 that he ha5 onl> been a
looker-on( an5 his acc9sations against *>ler were so =9ll o= prevarications that the> were
not hel5 s9==icient to incriminate him. *he inE9ir> was again res9me5 on +ebr9ar> 22(
27:;( an5 /ewell( *>ler( an5 a man name5 &ar5ner were committe5 =or trial.
*he trial Psee Buc1ingha( 7aAette( March 2:( 27:;(Q took place at the "9ckingham Lent
)ssi]es( March V( 27:;( be=ore Mr. "aron Va9ghan( an5 a &ran5 F9r>@ b9t in the report o=
Mrs. E55en4s evi5ence( no mention is ma5e o= the vision.
/ewell an5 *>ler were =o9n5 g9ilt>( an5 were e?ec9te5( protesting their innocence( on
March 7( 27:;.
Miss "rowne( writing to 9s =rom +arnham -astle( in Fan9ar>( 2773( gives an acco9nt o=
the vision which s9bstantiall> accor5s with that here recor5e5( a55ing:A
B*he wi=e persiste5 in her acco9nt o= the vision@ conseE9entl>( the acc9se5 was taken 9p(
an5( with some circ9mstantial evi5ence in a55ition to the woman4s stor>( committe5 =or
trial b> two magistrates( m> =ather -olonel 'obert "rowne( an5 the 'ev. -harles
)ck=iel5. *he m9r5erer was trie5 an5 convicte5 at the )ssi]es( an5 hange5 at )>lesb9r>.
ii-V77!
BIt ma> be a55e5 that -olonel "rowne was remarkabl> =ree =rom s9perstition( an5 was a
thoro9gh 5isbeliever in ughost stories4 .e came home( an5 sai5( la9ghing( u,e have ha5 a
ghost calle5 in( in co9rt to-5a>. ,e shall see how the stor> is con=irme5s4C
*he =ollowing narrative ma> be compare5 to the arrival e?amples in -hap. \IV.( SW. "9t
i= we =o9n5 a 5i==ic9lt>( in an> case( in regar5ing the mere =act o= impen5ing arrival as the
occasioning con5ition o= a telepathic trans=erence Pp. X8Q( the 5i==ic9lt> is intensi=ie5
when the arrival is o= someone with whom the percipient is in 5ail> association( an5 who
has onl> been awa> an ho9r or two on or5inar> b9siness. I think( there=ore( that the
chance that the e?perience here 5escribe5 was p9rel> s9bDective is too appreciable to
allow the acco9nt to be n9mbere5 as evi5ence.
) letter written to the !pectator b> the late 'ev. ,. L. -la>( o= 'ainhill Vicarage( 9n5er
5ate +eb. X( 278X.
BOn a /9n5a> a=ternoon( abo9t :; >ears ago Pthe precise 5ate I cannot recollectQ( m>
mother an5 el5est sister( then abo9t 7 >ears ol5( were sitting together in the 5ining-room.
%o one else was in the ho9se e?cept a >o9nger chil5 an5 his n9rse( an5 another servant@
all the rest o= the =amil> were w at ch9rch( an5 m> =ather( Fohn -la>( o= 1reston( was at
the gaol. .e was 59e home in abo9t hal= an-ho9r( it then being nearl> 3 o4clock. *he
a=ternoon was ver> wet( b9t ver> still( the rain po9ring in torrents( b9t with an even(
stea5> 5ownpo9r. ,hile sitting th9s m> mother hear5 =ootsteps approach( an5 presentl>
some one opene5 an5 passe5 thro9gh the >ar5-5oor. P*his >ar5-5oor =ace5 on the roa5. w
*he nearest ho9se was =9ll V;; >ar5s 5istant( an5 an> one going to the =ront 5oor wo9l5
have to pass this >ar5-5oor( the 5ining-room win5ows( another win5ow( an5 then t9rn
ro9n5 the corner o= the ho9se( thro9gh a gate in the gar5en.Q /he was a goo5 5eal startle5(
more especiall> as this 5oor( accor5ing to 5omestic reg9lations( o9ght to have been
locke5. /he ro9se5 hersel= to listen with all her might( an5 hear5 5istinctl>Aall the more
5istinctl> as the ho9se was so E9ietAthe person who ha5 opene5 the >ar5-5oor enter the
ho9se b> the back 5oor( traverse a passage in the basement store>( open the 5oor at the
=oot o= the back stairs( mo9nt the back stairs( an5 enter the =ront hall. "9t b> this time she
was completel> reass9re5( =or she ha5 recognise5 m> =ather4s =ootsteps. .e p9t his
9mbrella into the stan5( with a rattling noise( took o== his top-coat an5 shook it( an5 then
came thro9gh the inner hall into the 5ining-room. *he hall-5oor an5 5ining-room 5oor
were both aDar( so she easil> hear5 all this. .e went 9p to the =ire( an5 resting his elbow
on the mantel-piece( an5 one =oot on the =en5er( stoo5 there =or a =ew moments 5r>ing
himsel=. )t length she sai5( u#o9 m9st be ver> wet@ ha5 >o9 not better go an5 change
>o9r clothes at oncer4 u#es(4 he replie5( uI think I ha5 better 5o so(4
2
an5 so he t9rne5( le=t
the room( an5 went 9pstairs to his 5ressing-room.
B)s he 5i5 not come 5own again =or more than hal=-an-ho9r( m> ii-V7X! mother
=ollowe5 him to see what was the ca9se o= his 5ela>. *o her astonishment( she =o9n5 his
room empt>( an5 no sign o= his having been there. /he searche5 all thro9gh the rooms on
the same lan5ing( b9t co9l5 not =in5 him( an5 at length came 5own p9]]le5 an5
=rightene5@ b9t tr>ing to calm hersel= with the s9pposition that( altho9gh she ha5 not
notice5 his 5epart9re( he m9st have le=t the ho9se again =or some p9rpose or other. "9t
while she sat there( still =l9rrie5 an5 9neas>( she hear5 again the same =ootsteps
approaching( the same opening o= the >ar5-5oor( the same entrance b> the back 5oor( the
same traversing o= the passage 5ownstairs( an5 mo9nting b> the back stairs into the hall(
the same p9tting 5own o= the 9mbrella( an5 shaking o= the coat( an5 then m> =ather came
into the room( walke5 9p to the =ire( an5 place5 his elbow on the mantel-piece( an5 =oot
on the =en5er( D9st as he ha5 5one be=ore. u,h>( where have >o9 beenr4 e?claime5 m>
mother( as soon as she co9l5 speak a=ter the =irst gasp o= ama]ement. u"eenr4 he sai5(
t9rning ro9n5 an5 noticing =or the =irst time her e?citement an5 5istress( uI have been to
the gaol as 9s9al.4 uOhs >o9 know that4s not what I mean. I mean where have >o9 been
since >o9 came in b> the back 5oor D9st as >o9 have 5one D9st now( rather more than hal=-
an-ho9r agor4 uI 5on4t 9n5erstan5 >o9 at all@ I have come straight =rom the gaol an5 have
never been in the ho9se since I le=t this morning.4 uOh( it4s too ba5 pla>ing Dokes like this
to =righten me( when >o9 know I am not well.4 PM> mother was in 5elicate health at the
time.Q )n5 then( in answer to his ama]e5 E9estions( she po9re5 o9t the stor> I have tol5
>o9.
BI believe the inci5ent happene5 e?actl> as I have narrate5. I have hear5 m> =ather tell the
stor> repeate5l>( an5 he was sing9larl> acc9rate an5 tr9th=9l. M> mother4s acco9nt( too(
tallies precisel> with his. M> sister cannot now( I think( 5isting9ish between what she
recollects an5 what she has so o=ten hear5 relate5. "9t m> =ather at the time E9estione5
her as to what she ha5 hear5 an5 seen( an5 her acco9nt was that uI saw mamma get 9p
s955enl>( an5 go into papa4s 5ressing-room( an5 then she went into all the rooms 9pstairs
as i= she was looking =or something( an5 then she came 5own an5 looke5 as i= something
was the matter( b9t she wo9l5n4t answer me when I aske5 her what it was.4
B,hen m> mother tol5 her stor> m> =ather instantl> recollecte5 that as he le=t the gaol the
tho9ght occ9rre5 to him( when he saw how heav> the rain was( that i= he =o9n5 the >ar5-
5oor 9nlocke5 he wo9l5 go in that wa>Aa thing that he ver> sel5om 5i5Ato avoi5 going
ro9n5 the corner to the =ront 5oor( an5 the tho9ght having once occ9rre5 he mentall>
rehearse5 the circ9mstances o= his entranceA5oing in spirit precisel> what he a=terwar5s
5i5 in the bo5>. *he 5istance =rom the gaol to o9r ho9se at East -li== was rather more
than two miles( an5 w this correspon5s with m> mother4s urather more than hal=-an-
ho9r.4
B,. L. -L)#.C
Mrs. -la>( wi5ow o= the 'ev. ,. L. -la>( an5 a =rien5 o= 1ro=esso "arrett4s( writes on
U3th /eptember( 277::A
BI have more than once hear5 the stor> relate5 an5 5isc9sse5 in m> mother-in-law4s
presence b> her h9sban5. *here is no 5o9bt she =irml> believe5 in the vision. M>
impression is that he tho9ght it ha5 been a ver> vivi5 5ream.
BE. F. -L)#C
ii-VX;!
+!P#&R )(((.
R&+(PR%+!' +!$&$.
*he =ollowing specimens( or possible specimens( o= this rare t>pe seem worth presenting(
tho9gh =or the most part =ar =rom complete =rom an evi5ential point o= view.
P832Q +rom a clerg>man in #orkshire( who 5esires that his name ma> not be p9blishe5.
BFan9ar>( 277V.
B*he =ollowing e?perience took place nearl> UV >ears ago( b9t there is no 5o9bt o= its
correctness in ever> 5etail. I became acE9ainte5 with a >o9ng la5> in Lon5on( who( I
ma> sa> witho9t vanit>( =ell violentl> in love with me. *here was a strange =ascination
abo9t her which attracte5 me to her( b9t( altho9gh ver> >o9ng( I was =ar =rom
reciprocating her a==ection. "> 5egrees I 5iscovere5 that she ha5 the power o= in=l9encing
me when I was awa> =rom her( making me seem to realise her presence abo9t me when I
knew that she was some 5istance awa>@ an5 then that she was able( when I saw her( to tell
me where I ha5 been an5 what I ha5 been 5oing at certain times. )t =irst I tho9ght that
this was merel> the res9lt o= acci5entAthat some one ha5 seen me an5 reporte5 to herA
9ntil one 5a> she tol5 me that at a certain ho9r o= the 5a> I ha5 been in a 5rawing-room(
which she 5escribe5( when I knew there ha5 been no chance o= coll9sion( an5 that no one
co9l5 have tol5 her o= m> visit to the ho9se.
B/he then tol5 me that when she began intentl> to =i? her min5 on me( she seeme5 to be
able to see me an5 all m> s9rro9n5ings.
2
)t =irst she =ancie5 it was onl> imagination(
9ntil she saw b> m> manner that what she 5escribe5 ha5 reall> taken place. I ha5 several
opport9nities a=terwar5s o= testing this power( an5 =o9n5 she was correct in ever>
instance.
BI nee5 scarcel> sa> that when I ha5 satis=ie5 m>sel= o= this( I kept o9t o= the wa> o= s9ch
a 5angero9s acE9aintance. ,e 5i5 not meet =or abo9t 2; >ears( an5 ha5 5ri=te5 so wi5el>
apart as to lose sight o= each other. One 5a> I was walking with m> wi=e on the ,est -li==
at 'amsgate( when a strange =eeling o= oppression came over me( an5 I was compelle5 to
sit 5own. ) =ew min9tes a=terwar5s m> ol5 acE9aintance stoo5 be=ore me( intro59cing me
to her h9sban5 an5 asking to be intro59ce5 to m> wi=e.
ii-VX2!
B,e met several times while the> sta>e5 at 'amsgate( an5 I learne5 that she ha5 been
marrie5 =or some >ears( an5 ha5 several chil5ren@ b9t I have seen nothing o= them since(
an5 have no wish( even i= I ha5 the opport9nit>( o= renewing the acE9aintance. %o
re=erence whatever was ma5e to the past( an5 I 5i5 not learn whether she ha5 still the
strange power she =ormerl> possesse5.C
*his ma> probabl> have been a reciprocal case( tho9gh we cannot now ascertain whether
the impressions which s9ggeste5 to each o= the two parties the other4s presence were
sim9ltaneo9s. *he onl> other case in o9r collection where a prolonge5 co9rse o=
reciprocal action is allege5 to have occ9rre5 is the =ollowing.
P83UQ +rom Miss L. ). ,. Pthe narrator o= case 23;Q( whose onl> reason =or withhol5ing
her name =rom p9blication is that she is s9re that her =amil> wo9l5 obDect to its
appearance.
/he begins b> sa>ing that when she was 2X or U;( she ha5 a spell o= in5i==erent health(
ca9se5( it was tho9ght( b> over-st95>. $9ring this time( =rom March in one >ear till F9ne
in the ne?t( she was m9ch tro9ble5 at intervals b> sing9lar 5reams( which she recor5e5 in
a note-book( an5 also 5escribe5 to one o= her sisters. *he main =eat9re in these 5reams
was the appearance o= a partic9lar person. BI was not in love( nor in5ee5 ha5 I been@ an5
certainl> no =eeling b9t that o= a m>sterio9s rep9gnance Pan5 at the same time an inabilit>
to avoi5 or escape =rom the in=l9ence o= the person o= whom I 5reamtQ act9ate5 me. .e
was someone I ha5 never in all m> li=e wittingl> seen( tho9gh I ha5 reason to think
a=terwar5s that he ha5 seen me at a "irmingham m9sical =estival. On that occasion I ha5
apparentl, =ainte5( an5 it was attrib9te5 to the heat an5 the e?citement o= the m9sic. I
har5l> knew i= it were or not. I onl> knew I =elt all m> p9lses stop( an5 a b9rning an5
singing in m> hea5( an5 that I was per=ectl> conscio9s o= those aro9n5 me( b9t 9nable to
speak an5 tell them so. *o ret9rn to m> 5reams. I alwa>s knew as I slept -hen the
in=l9ence was coming over me( an5 o=ten in m> 5ream I commence5 it b> thinking( u.ere
it is( or here he comes again.4 *he> were not alwa>s 5isagreeable 5reams in themselves(
b9t the =ascination was al-a,s dreadful to me( an5 a kin5 o= str9ggle between two
nat9res within me seeme5 to 5rag m> powers o= min5 an5 bo5> two wa>s. I 9se5 to
awake as col5 as a stone in the hottest nights( m> hea5 having the E9eer =eeling o= a hot
iron pressing somewhere in its insi5e. I wo9l5 shiver an5 m> teeth chatter with a terror
which seeme5 9nreasonable( =or there was( even in the s9bDects o= m> 5reams( sel5om
an>thing -ic1ed or terri=>ingC
*he 5reams cease5 a=ter a co9rse o= me5ical treatment. In the ne?t >ear b9t one Miss ,.
was visiting in Liverpool. BI ha5 enDo>e5 two or three goo5 5ances( an5 was sitting o9t
one( b> the la5> o= the ho9se( when not suddenl,( b9t b> 5egrees( I =elt m>sel= t9rning
col5 an5 ston>( an5 the pec9liar b9rning in m> hea5. I= I co9l5 have spoken I wo9l5 have
sai5( uM> 5reamss m> 5reamss4 b9t I onl> shivere5( which attracte5 the notice o= m>
companion( who e?claime5( u#o9 are ill( m> 5ear. -ome =or some wine( or hot co==ee.4 I
rose( knowing what I was going to see( an5 as I t9rne5( I looke5 straight into the e>es o=
the =ac-simile o= the being ii-VXU! who ha5 been present to m> sleeping tho9ghts =or so
long( an5 the ne?t moment he steppe5 =orwar5 =rom the pillar against which he was
leaning behin5 the lace c9rtain( an5 shook han5s with m> companion. .e accompanie5
9s to the re=reshment room( atten5e5 to m> wants( an5 was intro59ce5 to me. I 5ecline5
5ancing( b9t co9l5 not avoi5 conversation. .is =irst remark was( u,e are not strangers to
each other. ,here have we metr4 I =ear I shall scarcel> be believe5 when I sa>( that
Psetting m> teeth( an5 nerving m>sel= to meet what I =elt wo9l5 conE9er me( i= I once
s9bmitte5 in even the slightest 5egreeQ I answere5 that I never remembere5 meeting him
be=ore( an5 to all his E9estionings ret9rne5 the most reserve5 answers. .e seeme5 m9ch
anno>e5 an5 p9]]le5( b9t on that occasion 5i5 not mention 5reams.
BI took an opport9nit> o= asking m> sister i= she remembere5 m> 5escription o= the man
o= m> 5reams( an5 9pon her answering u#es(4 aske5 her to look ro9n5 the rooms an5 see
i= an> one there resemble5 him( an5 hal=-an-ho9r later she came 9p( sa>ing( u*here is the
man( he has even the mole on the le=t si5e o= his mo9th.4C
Miss ,. s9bseE9entl> met this gentleman at almost ever> part> she went to. B.e was
sometimes so gloom> an5 =ierce at m> 5etermine5 avoi5ance o= an> b9t the most
or5inar> conversation( that I =elt E9ite a terror o= meeting him. .e =reE9entl> aske5 i= I
believe5 in 5reams@ i= I co9l5 relate an> to him@ i= I ha5 never seen him be=ore@ an5 wo9l5
sa>( a=ter m> persistent avoi5ance o= the s9bDect( uI can 5o nothing( so long as >o9 will
not trust me.4C
Miss ,. sa>s that she has several pages( in her note-book( o= entries o= 5reams in which
she seeme5 to be accompan>ing her visitor in a =light thro9gh the worl5.
B,hen conversing with him in the =lesh( he aske5 me i= I ha5 uever travelle5.4 I sai5 u%o.4
.e showe5 s9rprise( an5 began to 5ilate on the won5ers o= s9ch an5 s9ch a place or
scene( all o= which I =elt s9re I ha5 seen with him( an5 entere5 in m> note-book. It was
5eepl> interesting( an5 I was totall> absorbe5 in his recitals( time a=ter time( when he
abr9ptl> stoppe5( sa>ing( u"9t have >o9 never ha5 scenes s9ch as these be=ore >o9r4 an5 I
replie5( u#es( in m> 5reams I have.4 /9ch( or similar remarks( I know I have note5 5own(
an5 his eagerness to make me a5mit similar e?periences was at times almost =ierce. I ha5
a great longing at times to tell him ever>thing( b9t an innate sense that b> so 5oing I
sho9l5 be as completel> his slave an5 tool as I ha5 been in 5reams( alwa>s stoppe5 me.C
*he e==ort o= these conversations was so e?ha9sting to Miss ,. that she wrote home to
get hersel= recalle5Aa =act which her strange acE9aintance seems to have int9itivel>
5ivine5( an5 =or which he bitterl> reproache5 her. /he has never seen him since. /he sa>s(
in answer to inE9iries:AB#o9 are right in >o9r conDect9re that he in=erre5 Yr implie5Z he
ha5 seen me in 5reams. .e o=ten talke5 as i= he were per=ectl> aware that I knew it( b9t
that I wo9l5 not go be>on5 a certain limit in a5mitting an>thing.C /he a55s that her sister
remembers all the circ9mstancesAthe 5reams( their =reE9enc>( an5 the correct
5escription o= the man s9bseE9entl> met@ b9t we have not been able to proc9re the sister4s
written con=irmation. Miss ,. sa>s that she cannot spare the time to make e?tracts =rom
her 5iar> =or p9blication.
ii-VX:!
YI= the 5etails here are E9ite acc9rate( it wo9l5 be reasonable to e?plain the case
telepathicall>. "9t it is possible to s9ppose that the 5ream-=ig9re ass9me5 the 5istinctness
which ma5e it seem the co9nterpart o= the real =ig9re( onl> a=ter the real one was seen@
an5 that Miss ,. hersel= le5 the conversations in the 5irections where the> seeme5 to
con=irm her 5ream-e?periences. ,itho9t an in5epen5ent acco9nt =rom the gentleman
himsel=( the interpretation o= the case m9st remain 59bio9s@ an5 as Miss ,. is 9nwilling
to mention his name( no more can be 5one. /ho9l5 the acco9nt ever meet his e>e( it is to
be hope5 that he will comm9nicate with 9s.Z
In the ne?t case it is impossible to tell how closel> the two e?periences coinci5e5.
P83:Q +rom Mr. .ensleigh ,e5gwoo5( :2( }9een )nne /treet( ,.
B+ebr9ar> 2;th( 2778.
BI sen5 >o9 a well-a9thenticate5 5ream o= m> 5a9ghter-in-law( Mrs. )l=re5 ,e5gwoo5(
with the vo9chers. #o9 will see that she tol5 it imme5iatel> a=ter the occ9rrence to Mrs.
0.( an5 to me a 5a> or two a=terwar5s( on her ret9rn to }9een )nne /treet. I have a
strong recollection that it was on that occasion that she e?plaine5 her noticing the ring( b>
sa>ing that in her 5ream the stranger leant his han5 on the be5si5e as he stoope5 over her.
/he e?presse5 great con=i5ence that she sho9l5 know him again i= ever she saw him( an5
I tol5 her to let me know i= ever she 5i5. .owever( she never mentione5 to me the =act o=
her having =allen in with him that a9t9mn( an5 she onl> mentione5 it inci5entall>( when
she was with me last -hristmas( as a matter well-known to me.
BI= I ha5 known it at the time( we might perhaps have been able to ascertain how =ar the
5reams were s>nchrono9s. It is not likel> that the> were absol9tel> so( as hers was in the
a=ternoon.
B.. ,E$&,OO$.C
BIn F9ne( 473( I went to +olkestone to look o9t =or a ho9se( an5 slept =or a night or two at
the ,est -li== .otel. *he secon5 5a> I was there( being a goo5 5eal tire5( I went 9p in the
a=ternoon to m> room( locke5 the 5oor an5 =ell asleep 9pon m> be5( having 9n5resse5
m>sel= an5 merel> covere5 m>sel= with the sheet( it being a warm 5a>. )=ter a while( I
was startle5 o9t o= sleep b> 5reaming in a ver> livel> wa> that a gentleman( whom I ha5
never seen be=ore( was stooping over me. .e was 5resse5 in a 5ark gre> twee5 s9it@ he
wore on his little =inger a cornelian ring( an5 a small cameo pin which was a veile5
=ig9re. I observe5 that one o= his e>es 5roope5 a little. *here were a n9mber o= J9l9s
stan5ing behin5 him. ,hen he bent 5own towar5s me he p9t o9t his han5 an5 sai5( u1oor
thing( >o9 seem tire5.4
B*he impression was so vivi5 that I D9mpe5 o== the be5 to see whether the 5oor co9l5
have come open( b9t I =o9n5 that it was locke5 as I ha5 le=t it. I got 9p an5 5resse5( an5
went to tea with Mrs. 0.@ I tol5 her m> 5ream( sa>ing I was s9re I sho9l5 recognise the
man i= ever I saw him. .aving =o9n5 a s9itable ho9se( I ret9rne5 to m> =ather-in-law4s in
}9een )nne /treet( an5 tol5 him m> 5ream( as I ha5 5one to Mrs. 0. In the mi55le ii-
VX3! o= )9g9st we move5 to +olkestone( an5 not man> weeks a=terwar5s( as I was going
5own the Militar> .ill lea5ing =rom the camp to /an5gate( I met the gentleman whom I
ha5 seen in m> 5ream( wearing the same clothes. .e stoppe5( an5 looke5 at me( an5 sai5(
uI think we m9st have met be=ore.4 I sai5( u#es4@ then intro59ce5 m>sel=( an5 tol5 him o=
m> 5ream. .e wore the same pin( b9t not the ring. I calle5 his attention to it. .e sai5 he
ha5 not worn the cornelian ring =or some >ears( as he pre=erre5 his brother4s( b9t that he
ha5 been looking at his ol5 ring. .e ha5 5reamt o= seeing me l>ing 5own in a white
gown. *he 5a> he met me( I ha5 on a white 5ress. .e also tol5 me he ha5 been at the
-ape( an5 once belonge5 to the Mo9nte5 'i=les when =irst establishe5.
BM. '. ,E$&,OO$.C
BI believe I 5i5 not hear o= m> wi=e4s 5ream 9ntil a=ter she ha5 met with the gentleman
she ha5 seen in her 5ream. Ver> soon a=ter that meeting I was tol5 the stor>.
B). ) ,E$&,OO$.C
*hinking it possible that MaDor M. ha5 9nconscio9sl> notice5 Mrs. ). ,e5gwoo54s
appearance 59ring the 5a>s when she was in +olkestone in F9ne( I aske5 her how she was
5resse5 59ring that short sta>. /he replie5:A
B)t the time I was 5own here =or the two 5a>s( I wore a black silk gown( as I well
remember m> =rien5 Mrs. 0. a5miring it when I went an5 5rank tea with her. I tol5 her o=
m> 5ream at the same time.C
Mrs. 0. writes:A
B$ecember U7th( 277V.
BI remember E9ite well the circ9mstance >o9 all95e to. Mrs. )l=re5 ,e5gwoo5 tol5 me
abo9t it the same evening( when she was sitting with me at Mea5owbank( b9t I think she
sai5 she saw this vision o= a man looking at her( not in a drea(( b9t on s955enl> a-a1ing
fro( sleep( an5 that he vanishe5 as she looke5 at him. /he tol5 me that she partic9larl>
notice5 a st95 or breast-pin he was wearing( an5 that 59ring the short time the =ig9re was
visible she saw other =ig9res in the backgro9n5( like J9l9s with their spears passing
behin5 him. *his( at the time( ma5e 9s won5er i= the room at the ,est -li== .otel she was
then 9sing ha5 been at an> time occ9pie5 b> someone who ha5 5ie5 in the J9l9 ,ar.
/ometime a=ter this( Mrs. )l=re5 tol5 me she ha5 seen an o==icer at /horncli==e who
resemble5 the man o= her vision( an5 that he was wearing a pin D9st like the one she ha5
observe5( an5 she won5ere5 who he was. I 5o not remember that a=ter this we ever spoke
o= the matter again@ an5 I never hear5 that she ha5 a=terwar5s met him to speak to( or that
he ha5 tol5 her that he ha5 ha5 a correspon5ing vision or 5ream o= her.
BM. ). 0.C
*he =ollowing acco9nt is =rom MaDor +. +. M.:A
B+ebr9ar>( 2778.
B)s nearl> as I can recollect( some time in F9ne( 2773(
2
I met Mrs. ,e5gwoo5 coming
5own the Militar> 'oa5 =rom /horncli==e -amp. I ha5 ii-VXV! a con=9se5 i5ea that I ha5
met the la5> be=ore( an5 there=ore t9rne5 to look at her. Mrs. ,e5gwoo5 aske5 me some
E9estion( an5 intro59ce5 hersel=( when( in conversation( I remarke5 that some time
previo9sl> I ha5 5reame5 I ha5 seen her( an5 that she was 5resse5 in a white gown.
BMrs. ,e5gwoo5 replie5 that she also ha5 5reame5 she ha5 seen m>sel=( an5 5escribe5
the 5ress I wore( an5 also a scar=-pin an5 ring that I possess. *he latter she co9l5 not
possibl> have seen( as I ha5 not worn it =or some >ears( an5 conseE9entl> it was locke5
9p in a secret 5rawer in m> chest. *he acc9rate 5escription o= the ring an5 pin seeme5 to
me to be ver> remarkable.
B+. + M.C
In answer to inE9iries( MaDor M. writes( on +eb. 27( 2778:A
P2Q BI =eel s9re I ha5 never seen Mrs. )l=re5 ,e5gwoo5 be=ore I met her coming =rom
/horncli==e -amp( a=ter the 5ream >o9 re=er to( an5 I ha5 no reason =or connecting the
5ream with her Yi.e.( at the time that it was 5reamtZ.
PUQ BI 5o not think m> 5ream was s9==icientl> vivi5 to enable me to recognise the =eat9res
o= the la5>.
P:Q B*he 5ream occ9rre5( I believe( in the secon5 week in F9ne( 2773. BI ma> sa> that I
5i5 not look 9pon m> 5ream as at all pec9liar( an5 sho9l5 have tho9ght no more o= the
circ9mstance ha5 not Mrs. ,e5gwoo5 in=orme5 me o= her 5ream( which I tho9ght ver>
remarkable( inasm9ch as she 5escribe5 acc9ratel> some articles o= Deweller> belonging to
me( which she co9l5 not possibl> have previo9sl> seen.C
.e a55s that Mrs. ). ,e5gwoo5 was correct in sa>ing that he ha5 serve5 =or man> >ears
in /o9th )=rica@ b9t that he ha5 not recentl> ret9rne5 =rom that co9ntr>.
Mr. .ensleigh ,e5gwoo5 writes on +eb. U( 2778:A
BMaDor M. sa>s that when he saw Mrs. ). ,e5gwoo5 in her white gown( he instantl>
recognise5 her b> her =ig9re. *he 5ate o= her 5ream was the 2:th F9ne( which she =i?es b>
something abo9t a photograph.C
YIt is impossible here to be s9re that MaDor M.4s sense o= having seen Mrs. ). ,e5gwoo5
be=ore he met her was reall> 59e to his 5ream. "9t i= the case is not reciprocal( it is at an>
rate strongl> s9ggestive o= telepathic clairvo>ance on Mrs. ). ,e5gwoo54s part.Z
*he ne?t e?ample ma>( no 5o9bt( have been an acci5ental coinci5ence@ b9t both
e?periences seem to have been o= an 9n9s9al kin5( 9nlike or5inar> 5reams. I= telepathic
in character( the case ma> not improbabl> have been reciprocal( witho9tAit will be
observe5As9ggesting an>thing o= the nat9re o= clairvo>ance. Each percipient has the
impression o= the other as present in the percipient4s own environment.
P833Q +rom Mrs. ,hite( 2;( .ope *errace( ,alham &reen( /.,.
B277:.
BOn one occasion m> h9sban5 Ysince 5ecease5A=or man> >ears con59ctor ii-VX8! o=
the Ball,(ena 8bserverZ complaine5 o= a slight in5isposition@ b9t being ver> averse
alwa>s to the atten5ance o= a 5octor( he 5esire5 me to see that some cooling 5rink was
le=t in his be5room( an5 that we sho9l5 all retire as 9s9al. I occ9pie5 a room on the =loor
above him( an5 a=ter seeing that ever>thing necessar> was le=t on his 5ressing-table( an5
ever>thing com=ortable an5 as he wishe5( I( at his 9rgent reE9est( went to be5( an5 being
partic9larl> =atig9e5 =ell into a 5eep sleep@ in which state I became ac9tel> conscio9s o=
the con5ition I ha5 le=t m> h9sban5 in( an5 min5=9l o= m> own secret resolve to visit him
59ring the night an5 see i= he ha5 taken his 5rink or i= he slept( [c.( tho9gh I ha5
st95io9sl> avoi5e5 telling him so( lest he sho9l5 think I was making a =9ss. I was E9ite
conscio9s o= all this in that pec9liar wa> we see an5 know 59ring sleep. I also seeme5 to
know I was in a 5eep sleep( an5 I longe5 to b9rst m> bon5s an5 carr> o9t m> intention.
/im9ltaneo9sl> with this wish( I now became aware o= m> h9sban54s presence at the 5oor
o= m> room( then o= his presence =illing the chamber an5 slowl> an5 solemnl> crossing to
the be5 where I la>. In that =lash o= conscio9s tho9ght which ma5e me aware o= this( I
tho9ght he m9st be ver> ill an5 come to reprove me =or this torpor o= sleep that still so
enchaine5 me that I co9l5n4t speak to him( tho9gh longing with all m> heart an5 so9l to
5o so. *his all( swi=t as tho9ght( passe5 while he seeme5 to ben5 over me as if to find did
: sleep@ then with the same slow( solemn presence =illing the room( again he passe5 awa>.
*hen( with one shrill cr>( I b9rst the s9==ocating bon5s that hel5 me( an5 m> mai5( who
slept in the ne?t room( was besi5e me at once. /he aske5( was I =rightene5r I sai5 not at
all( b9t to =ollow me to her master4s room@ that I ha5 inten5e5 seeing to him thro9gh the
night( b9t ha5 =allen =ast asleep an5 neglecte5 to 5o so.
B,hen I ca9tio9sl> entere5 his room( the mai5 behin5 me( I =o9n5 him awake an5 a keen(
almost reproach=9l look on his =ace. I 5ismisse5 the mai5( an5 then e?plaine5 what a
heav> sleep I ha5 D9st awoke =rom( which ha5 prevente5 me coming sooner( [c. u,ill
>o9 tell me(4 he now inE9ire5( uwhat obDect >o9 have in tr>ing to conceal =rom me that
>o9 -ere here a =ew moments agor4 I then =ell on m> knees( an5 ass9re5 him that I ha5
not risen =rom m> be5 9ntil this present moment( an5 that it was owing to a strange(
silent( an5 secret visit =rom him that so 5ist9rbe5 an5 alarme5 me( that I was there now.
u)h(4 he sai5( usomething like this happene5 to me be=ore( b9t this is the most remarkable
e?perience o= allAbeca9se happening to each o= 9s at the same time.4 .e then narrate5
how( a =ew min9tes be=ore( I ha5 stolen( as it were( 9p to his si5e( arrange5 the clothes(
kisse5 him on brow an5 cheek( an5 then gli5e5 awa>@ that m> visit ha5 a soothing e==ect(
an5 that he was conseE9entl> irritate5 at m> appearing to =orget it( when I came the
second time.C
YIn conversation( Mrs. ,hite partic9larl> 5escribe5 to me the sense o= entrance an5 o= the
(ove(ent o= the presence. *here was light eno9gh =or her to have seen an> visible =ig9re(
b9t she saw nothing. /he also 5escribe5 the e==ect 9pon hersel=( be=ore she reache5 his
room( as ver> overpowering( 5epriving her o= the power o= speech. .er viv0 voce acco9nt
agree5 in ever> 5etail with the above acco9nt which ha5 been written abo9t a >ear
previo9sl>@ an5 she gave me an impression o= acc9rac>. )s an instance o= her
9nwillingness to believe marvels( she tol5 me how incre59lo9s she ii-VXW! ha5 been as
to the gen9ineness o= e?periments in h>pnotism which her h9sban5 9se5 sometimes to
carr> o9t.Z
I will concl95e this chapter with two cases which( as reporte5( seem to have been
collective as well as reciprocal.
P83VQ +rom Mrs. *.( who 5oes not wish her name to be p9blishe5. *he acco9nt was
written in Fan9ar>( 27WX.
BI have m>sel= ha5 an e?cee5ingl> interesting e?perience o= the apparition o= the living(
vi].( m> own appearance at the s9ppose5 5eathbe5 o= m> sister( when we were :(;;;
miles apart. /he was atten5e5 on this partic9lar night b> another sister( who 5istinctl>
saw me go into the room( an5 lean over m> 5arling >o9ng sister. *he latter was too ill to
speak( b9t she whispere5( uMar> is here@ now I am happ>.4 I o9ght to mention that m>
el5er sister is not given to vision( an5 is( in5ee5( a ver> practical( matter-o=-=act person@
b9t she has alwa>s 5eclare5 that she saw me =rom m> knees 9p(
2
an5 that the ver> 5ress
was plain to her( too.
B)t this time I was D9st recovering =rom m> con=inement with m> son( who is nearl> 2W.
.e was between =o9r an5 =ive weeks ol5( when( one night( I =ell asleep thinking how
m9ch I sho9l5 like to see this sister. I knew o= her illness( an5 that she was not likel> to
recover( an5 o= her intense 5esire to see me. "etween 9s the most ten5er attachment ha5
alwa>s e?iste5( an5 it was tho9ght that her illness was m9ch increase5 thro9gh her grie=
at o9r separation.
BOn the night re=erre5 to( I ha5 a most vivi5 5ream o= seeing her( in a be5 not in her o-n
roo(( an5 o= seeing m> other sister in atten5ance. I leane5 over her an5 sai5( as I tho9ght(
uEmma( >o9 will recover.4 I tol5 m> h9sban5 that I ha5 been home when I woke( an5 m>
impression that she wo9l5 recover. *his 5ream com=orte5 me ver> m9ch( an5 =rom this
night there was a change =or the better in m> sister( an5 she gra59all> recovere5 =rom
what was s9ppose5 to be an inc9rable illness. ,hen we came to compare 5ates( we =o9n5
that m> 5ream( an5 m> appearance to m> two sisters( occ9rre5 at as nearl> as possible the
same time. I was so li=e-like to m> >o9nger sister that she tho9ght I ha5 reall> arrive5 on
a visit@ b9t( as I sai5 be=ore( to m> el5est sister I was sha5ow> below m> knees( b9t
per=ectl> nat9ral in appearance. /he a=terwar5s remembere5 that I 5i5 not notice her as I
passe5 into the inner room( altho9gh in m> 5ream I saw her( nor 5i5 I seem to see
an>thing b9t the one obDect o= m> love.C
Mrs. *. wrote to 9s( on Oct. :( 277::A
B%either o= m> sisters wrote me( b9t a member o= the =amil> to whom the occ9rrence was
tol5 on the =ollowing morning. Un=ort9natel> I have not kept this letter( an5 cannot 5ate
the time( e?cept =rom m> son4s birth( which took place on the 3th March( 278U. I change5
m> be5( still keeping the same room( when he was a month ol5( an5 it was within a night
or two o= making this change that I ha5 m> 5ream. ,hen the letter came( which was like
a repetition o= m> 5ream( I went back in m> min5 to the time Pnot more than three weeks
be=oreQ( an5 was m>sel= satis=ie5 that the times were coinci5ent. It was nearl> 2; >ears
a=ter( ii-VX7! be=ore I ha5 an opport9nit> o= talking with m> sister o= the occ9rrence(
which was onl> one o= several ver> startling things connecte5 with m> >o9nger sister4s
illness( an5 I =o9n5 we agree5 in all s9bstantial things. I =o9n5 them both 5isincline5 to
talk o= what ha5 happene5 59ring Emma4s illness( an5( in5ee5( their memor> o= all the
circ9mstances o= m> mani=estation was less clear than mine.C
Mrs. *. is 9nable to comm9nicate with her =amil> respecting this case( as the> all have an
e?treme 5islike to the s9bDect. In conversation( she e?plaine5 that she ha5 le=t )merica
abo9t nine months at the time o= this vision( an5 that her sister recognise5 her as wearing
a print 5ress o= a ver> 5eci5e5 bl9e( which she ha5 le=t behin5 her in )merica.
/he has =9rther answere5 the =ollowing E9estions:A
$i5 Mrs. *. 5ream o= hersel= as in the bl9e 5ressr
BI cannot now remember. M> impression is that I 5i5 not recollect m> 5ress on waking.C
.a5 the sisters ever seen the bl9e 5ressr
B#es. I ha5 worn the 5ress in the morning 59ring the previo9s earl> s9mmer time.C
2

,as the invali5 sister reall> in a room not her o-nr )n5 i= so was its arrangement( Binner
room(C [c.( reall> represente5 in the 5reamr
BM> sister was not in her own room( b9t in a room on the gro9n5 =loor Pan inner roomQ(
e?actl> as I ha5 seen her in m> 5ream.C
U

.a5 Mrs. *. ever seen the room be=orer
B#es.C
Mr. *. cannot remember an> o= his wi=e4s e?periences in 5etail@ he sa>s:A
BI am 9nable to recall the partic9lar circ9mstance to which >o9 re=er. *his ma> be 59e to
the =act that =or several >ears previo9s to( an5 since( the 5ate re=erre5 to( m> wi=e has
relate5 to me n9mero9s remarkable inci5ents in her e?periences( together with their
s9bseE9ent veri=ication.
B,. *.C
YIt is 9n=ort9nate that the evi5ence here is secon5-han5 =rom the si5e on which the more
striking e?perience occ9rre5. I= that e?perience is correctl> recor5e5( the =act that two
percipients share5 in it is a strong in5ication that it was telepathicall> pro59ce5. *he
proo= o= the reciprocalit, o= the case 5epen5s greatl> on the 5etail in the 5ream as to the
change5 room( on which it is impossible entirel> to rel>( in the absence o= a written note
ma5e be=ore the act9al =act was known.Z
P838Q +rom Mr. F. -otter Morison( :;( +it]Dohn4s )ven9e( %.,.
BF9ne 27th( 277:.
BM> mother an5 gran5mother were together in the 5ining-room o= their ho9se in the Isle
o= ,ight( occ9pie5 on some 5omestic matter which ma5e the e?cl9sion o= chance visitors
5esirable. ) s955en knock at the 5oor ca9se5 m> gran5mother to hasten to it with a view
to taking the ii-VXX! stranger into the 5rawing-room. *he knock was hear5 b> both
mother an5 5a9ghter. On opening the 5oor with the least loss o= time possible( m>
gran5mother was s9rprise5 to =in5 not onl> no one there b9t no one even in the long
corri5or which le5 to the 5ining-room. M> mother 5istinctl> remembere5 the look o=
astonishment in her mother4s =ace as she ret9rne5 =rom the 5oor. %othing more was sai5
on the s9bDect( b9t in a short time a=terwar5s a letter was receive5 =rom Lon5on =rom m>
gran5mother4s sister( or rather her =amil>( sa>ing that she Pthe sisterQ ha5 been most
serio9sl> ill( at 5eath4s 5oor in5ee5( b9t was now a little better( an5 wishe5 m>
gran5mother to come an5 see her. *he latter went 9p to town an5 =o9n5 her sister still
ver> ill( b9t slowl> recovering. )=ter the m9t9al en5earments nat9ral to s9ch an occasion(
m> gran5mother sai5:A
B$o >o9 know( s9ch a strange thing occ9rre5( e?actl> at the time( it seems( when >o9
were s9ppose5 to be 5ea5 or 5>ing.4
BuI know what >o9 are going to sa>(4 sai5 the other. u,hen I was in the trance which was
mistaken =or 5eath( I tho9ght I went to >o9r ho9se in the Isle o= ,ight an5 knocke5 at
>o9r 5ining-room 5oor. #o9 opene5 it instantl> an5 looke5 m9ch a==righte5 at not seeing
me or an> one( tho9gh I saw >o9.4
B*he sing9lar point in the stor> is the anticipation b> the one sister o= what the other
sister was going to sa>.
B%o theor> or in=erence was ever 5e59ce5 b> m> relations =rom the circ9mstance( an5 it
was onl> mentione5 as an o55 coinci5ence b> them an5 their =rien5s( who( as well as m>
mother( have o=ten tol5 me the stor>.
BF)/. -O**E' MO'I/O%.C
Mr. Morison writes o= his gran5mother:A
B/he was a person o= a strong 9n5erstan5ing( as I have o=ten hear5 =rom people who
knew her personall>. /he ha5 an aversion to what she calle5 s9perstition( belie= in ghosts(
[c.@ so the =acts o= the stor> were 9nwelcome to her rather than otherwise.C
*ho9gh the so9n5 here seems to have correspon5e5 with a 5istinct impression o= the
agent4s( there is no concl9sive proof o= reciprocalit>( as her sense o= visiting her relatives4
ho9se ma> have been p9rel> s9bDective. )t the same time( the i5ea o= knocking at a 5oor
an5 having it opene5( >et being onesel= invisible to the person who opens it( appears so
9nlikel> a one to occ9r even to a 5reaming min5( that the h>pothesis o= telepathic
clairvo>ance on the agent4s part seems Pas the =acts stan5Q eminentl> 5e=ensible. It m9st
be note5( however( that the 5escription o= this si5e o= the occ9rrence comes to 9s at third
han5.
ii-8;;!
+!P#&R (0.
+%''&+#()& +!$&$.
S 2. O+ the collective crises which remain to be presente5( the large maDorit>( like the
cases in -hap. \VIII. above( are waking a==ections o= sight an5 hearing. I will begin(
however( with three o9tl>ing instances( o= which the =irst ha5 no sensor> element at all(
the secon5 is a 5ream-case( an5 the thir5 concerne5 the sense o= to9ch onl>. *he> agree in
the =act that the two percipients were not in each other4s compan> at the time o= the
e?perience Psee -hap. \VIII.( S UQ.
P83WQ +rom Mr. -harles E5e( ,onersh Lo5ge( &9il5=or5( a me5ical man( to whom the
inci5ent was relate5 b> both the percipients. *he acco9nt was sent to 1ro=essor "arrett on
)9g. UX( 27WW.
BLa5> &. an5 her sister ha5 been spen5ing the evening with their mother( who was in her
9s9al health an5 spirits when the> le=t her. In the mi55le o= the night the sister awoke in a
=right( an5 sai5 to her h9sban5( uI m9st go to m> mother at once@ 5o or5er the carriage. I
am s9re she is taken ill.4 *he h9sban5( a=ter tr>ing in vain to convince his wi=e that it was
onl> a =anc>( or5ere5 the carriage. )s she was approaching her mother4s ho9se( where
two roa5s meet( she saw La5> &.4s carriage. ,hen the> met( each aske5 the other wh>
she was there. *he same repl> was ma5e b> both. uI co9l5 not sleep( =eeling s9re m>
mother was ill( an5 so I came to see.4 )s the> came in sight o= the ho9se( the> saw their
mother4s con=i5ential mai5 at the 5oor( who tol5 them( when the> arrive5( that their
mother ha5 been taken s955enl> ill( an5 was 5>ing( an5 ha5 e?presse5 an earnest wish to
see her 5a9ghters.
B*he =oregoing inci5ent was tol5 me as a simple narrative o= what happene5( both b>
La5> &. an5 her sister. *he mother was a la5> o= strong will( an5 alwa>s ha5 great
in=l9ence over her 5a9ghters.
B-.)'LE/ E$E.C
,riting on F9ne UV( 2773( Mr. E5e sa>s( B"oth La5> &. an5 her sister are 5ea5( altho9gh
at the time o= m> writing the acco9nt the =ormer was living.C .e cannot =i? the 5ate o= the
occ9rrence. .e comm9nicate5 the names in con=i5ence.
P837Q +rom Mr. '. /. 1engell>( ::( Ingestre 'oa5( /ta==or5( who =irst p9blishe5 the
narrative in a maga]ine. On +eb. U8( 2773( he wrote to 9s to con=irm it( an5 to s9ppl> the
names o= the parties.
ii-8;2!
Mr. 1engell> narrates that( some time in the >ears 278:T2788( his =ather( then 9nmarrie5(
went on a vo>age to -olombo as mate o= the u)5ela(4 belonging to Messrs. -obbol5 an5
-o.( o= Ipswich. /ome weeks a=ter his 5epart9re( his fianc4e, )nne />mons( who ha5
been looking o9t =or a letter =rom him( ha5 a vivi5 5ream o= an Eastern seaport. L>ing to
the le=t o= the pict9re she was startle5 to see a vessel( which she instantl> recognise5 as
the u)5ela(4 o= which her =ather was captain( an5 which she knew well. *here on 5eck
were several Orientals( lightl> cla5( at work( an5 b> their si5e was Fames 1engell>.
/955enl> she saw him walk a step =orwar5( an5 the ne?t moment he was str9ggling in the
waters. /he was in agon>( b9t strange to sa>( the e?citement 5i5 not at once awake her(
an5 she saw him throw 9p his han5s an5 sink( an5 he appeare5 no more. )t this point she
awoke( 5eepl> impresse5 with the realistic nat9re o= her vision. /trange to relate(
however( the ne?t night she went thro9gh the same series o= mental tort9res( her lover
=ell( str9ggle5 wil5l>( b9t was 5rowne5. ,hen she arose that morning( she con=i5e5 her
5reams( an5 the an?ieties the> ha5 aro9se5 in her breast( to her a9nt.
B/everal 5a>s later( )nne receive5 a letter =rom her lover4s mother( who( it happene5( was
also her a9nt( an5 who( with her h9sban5( live5 abo9t 2:; miles awa>( in another part o=
the co9ntr>. *he letter( to her intense s9rprise( aske5 whether an> news ha5 been receive5
o= the arrival o= the u)5ela4 at -olombo( the writer giving as a reason =or her solicit95e
=or her son a 5ream which she ha5 ha5 a =ew 5a>s be=ore Pgiving the 5ateQ. /he also ha5
5reame5 on two consec9tive nights that she ha5 seen her son =all overboar5 an5 rise no
more( an5 so power=9ll> ha5 she been a==ecte5 b> the visions that a=ter the repetition she
ha5 the ne?t morning written the letter receive5. *he 5a>s 9pon which Mrs. 1engell> ha5
5reamt o= her son4s 5eath were the ver> ones 9pon which )nne hersel= ha5 been so
agitate5. *he> co9l5 onl> wait an5 pra>( an5 a=ter some weeks their an?iet> was relieve5(
an5 their pra>ers rewar5e5( b> the receipt o= a letter =rom Fames( anno9ncing his arrival
at -olombo a =ew 5a>s be=ore the 5ate o= the letter( a=ter a long an5 tempest9o9s passage.
.e went on to tell( to )nne4s great astonishment( how narrow an escape he ha5 recentl>
ha5 =rom 5rowning. u*he 5a> a=ter o9r arrival(4 he wrote( uI was stan5ing on a plank =rom
the hatchwa> to the b9lwarks( watching the coolies 5ischarging her. ,hile so stan5ing I
almost 9nconscio9sl> steppe5 =orwar5( an5 the plank( one en5 o= which was resting on
the b9lwarks( at once tippe5 9p( an5 I was in the water. "eing 9nable to swim( m> 5anger
was great( an5 I ha5 s9nk once be=ore the boatswain with a boathook ca9ght me( an5 hel5
me 9p till the> bro9ght the boat aro9n5.4 Most won5er=9l to relate( a comparison o= 5ates
showe5 )nne that it was on the ver> 5a> o= her =irst 5ream that her lover4s li=e was so
nearl> lost( an5 his mother was no less s9rprise5 than )nne. .owever( uall4s well that
en5s well.4 Fames came home( an5 he an5 his co9sin were marrie5.C
Mrs. 1engell>( the mother o= Fames 1engell>( writes:A
B2;( &lo9cester 1lace( Littlehampton.
B)pril 2Xth( 2778.
BI am sorr> to sa> I cannot remember the e?act 5ate o= the 5ream( onl> that( as near as I
can recollect( it was in or near 2783. M> son was ii-8;U! then mate in the u)5ela(4 the
ship o= his 9ncle( whose 5a9ghter he a=terwar5s marrie5. /he 5reamt( one night( that her
co9sin was climbing =rom a boat into the ship( when he slippe5 his =oot an5 =ell in 9n5er
the ship@ when the> took him 9p( he was nearl> 5ea5. /he wrote to tell me her 5ream( an5
b> that I =o9n5 she ha5 5reamt the same 5ream the same night as I ha5. ,hen m> son
came home( 9pon E9estioning him( I =o9n5 that he ha5 =allen into the water at -olombo(
an5( as near as he co9l5 tell( the same 5a> as I 5reamt he 5i5. M> 5a9ghter-in-law( I am
sorr> to sa>( is now 5ea5@ i= she were living she wo9l5 be able to tell >o9 more
partic9lars.
BE. 1E%&ELL#.C
YMr. 1engell> D9stl> 5raws attention to the =act that a 5ream 59e to apprehensions o=
5anger an5 5isaster wo9l5 not be ver> likel> to take the =orm o= B5rowning in a E9iet
harbo9rC@ b9t the amo9nt o= 5etail in his narrative is more than can be sa=el> relie5 on( in
the absence o= written notes. It will be seen that Mrs. 1engell> senior4s acco9nt o= her
5a9ghter-in-law4s 5ream 5oes not e?actl> agree with Mr. 1engell>4s. Mr. 1engell> kin5l>
trie5 to obtain =or 9s an acco9nt o= the acci5ent =rom his =ather( b9t =o9n5 that Bhe( a plain
sea-captain( ha5 little recollection o= what happene5 U; >ears ago( 59ring his absence.CZ
P83XQ +rom the papers o= the late 1s>chological /ociet>. *he original 5oc9ment is in the
han5writing o= the late Mr. /erDeant -o?. %o names are given( an5 the M/. bears no 5ate.
B*he =ollowing remarkable case is taken =rom the lips o= the parties to whom it occ9rre5(
an5 =or whose veracit> I can vo9ch.
BF. 1.( wi=e o= -olonel 1.( sa>s: uIn F9l>( 27W2( I was at ,e>mo9th( sleeping with m>
5a9ghter. I was wakene5 in the night b> a col5 kiss 9pon m> lips. I concl95e5 that m>
5a9ghter ha5 kisse5 me( an5 won5ere5 m9ch wh> her lips were so corpse-like. I =ell
asleep again( an5 on the =ollowing morning( on awaking( I aske5 m> 5a9ghter wh> she
ha5 kisse5 me( an5 what ma5e her lips so col5. /he sai5 that she ha5 not 5one so. /oon
a=ter this conversation a messenger arrive5 to sa> that m> mother( who was in another
ho9se in ,e>mo9th( was ver> ill( an5 reE9este5 m> imme5iate atten5ance. I ha5 le=t her
on the previo9s evening in per=ect health( so that I ha5 no sense o= alarm =or her to
acco9nt =or a mental impression. I =o9n5 her serio9sl> ill( an5 she 5ie5 in three weeks.
Bu*wo 5a>s be=ore her 5eath( I receive5 a letter =rom m> sister( Mrs. -.( who was on a
vo>age to )merica( written =rom the ship( then o== .ali=a?( 5ate5 the 5a> a=ter the night
on which I ha5 =elt the col5 kiss( in which she sai5( BI am s9re there is something wrong
with mother@ she is either 5ea5 or ill@ =or last night I =elt a col5 kiss on m> lips( as I la> in
m> berth.C )s =ar as we co9l5 a=terwar5s trace( this ha5 occ9rre5 to both o= 9s almost at
the same moment. M> mother an5 sister ha5 been e?tremel> attache5. *he> were then
parte5 =or the =irst time.4
B*his narrative o= Mrs. 1. was con=irme5 to me b> her 5a9ghter( who was sleeping with
her on the night in E9estion( to whom she ha5 ma5e the inE9ir> wh> she ha5 kisse5 her(
an5 what ha5 ma5e her lips so col5.
BE$,. ,. -O\.C
YI= this recor5 is acc9rate( an5 the coinci5ence was more than a ver> c9rio9s acci5ent(
there still wo9l5 be a 5o9bt as to the agenc>. It seems so improbable that hall9cinations(
originating in a telepathic imp9lse ii-8;:! =rom the mother( sho9l5 in5epen5entl> take
the same ver> rare =orm in each 5a9ghter4s e?perience( that I sho9l5 certainl> pre=er to
s9ppose one o= these e?periences to have been in some meas9re the so9rce o= the other. It
is eminentl> a case where it is 5i==ic9lt to 5erive the =orm o= the impression =rom the
original agent4s Pthe mother4sQ min5( as even i= she tho9ght o= kissing her 5a9ghters( she
wo9l5 not think o= the kisses as col5 or corpse-like. /ee Vol. I.( pp. V:XT3;.Z
S U. *o pass now to the vis9al e?amplesAI will =irst cite cases where there is gro9n5 =or
s9pposing the hall9cination( in its inception( to have been more than s9bDective( an5 59e
to the 9n9s9al con5ition o= an absent person. )n5 in accor5ance with the or5er a5opte5
be=ore( in -hap. \VIII.( I will begin with the =ew remaining cases where the percipients
were not in each other4s compan> at the time o= their e?perience.
P8V;Q +rom Mrs. +ors>th .9nter( the narrator o= cases VV: an5 VV3.
B277U.
Mrs. .9nter4s h9sban5 ha5 ha5 a /cotch wet-n9rse o= the ol5-=ashione5 sort( more
5evote5 to him than even to her own chil5ren. /oon a=ter her marriage( Mrs. .9nter ma5e
acE9aintance with this n9rse( Mrs. Mac=arlane( who pai5 her several visits 59ring Mr.
.9nter4s absence in In5ia. In F9ne( 27VW( Mrs. .9nter( who was travelling to a health-
resort( con=i5e5 to Mrs. Mac=arlane4s keeping a bo? o= val9ables. One evening in the
=ollowing )9g9st( Mrs. .9nter was entertaining some =rien5s@ b9t having occasion to
ret9rn to the 5ining-room =or a moment( she passe5 the open 5oor o= her be5room( an5
=elt irresistibl> impelle5 to look in@ an5 there on the be5 was a large co==in(
2
an5 sitting at
the =oot o= it was a tall ol5 woman stea5=astl> regar5ing it. B'et9rning to m> =rien5s( I
anno9nce5 the vision( which was receive5 with sho9ts o= la9ghter( in which( a=ter a time(
I Doine5. .owever( I ha5 seen what I have 5escribe5( an5( moreover( co9l5 have tol5 the
ver> 5ress the ol5 woman wore.
B,hen m> =rien5s le=t( an5 I ha5 pai5 m> 9s9al last visit to the n9rser>( m> n9rse looke5
o55 an5 distraite, an5 to m> astonishment =ollowe5 me on to the lan5ing. uO ma4am(4 she
began( uI =eel so E9eer( s9ch a strange thing happene5. )t W o4clock I went to the kitchen
=or hot water( an5 when I came o9t I saw a tall ol5 woman coming 5ownstairs( an5 I
stoppe5 to let her pass( b9t( ma4am( there was something strange abo9t her( so I t9rne5 to
look a=ter her. *he hall 5oor was wi5e open( an5 she was making =or it( when in a
moment she melte5 awa>. I can swear I saw her( an5 can tell >o9 her ver> 5ress( a big(
black poke bonnet an5 a checke5 black-an5-white shawl.4C *his 5escription o= the 5ress
e?actl> correspon5e5 with what Mrs. .9nter ha5 hersel= seen.
Mrs. .9nter la9ghe5 the matter o==( an5 5i5 not even think o= connecting her own vision
with the n9rse4s. )bo9t hal= an ho9r a=terwar5s( when in be5( she hear5 a piercing scream
=rom her little 5a9ghter( age5 V( =ollowe5 b> lo95( =rightene5 tones( an5 she then hear5
the n9rse ii-8;3! soothing the chil5( B%e?t morning little E. was =9ll o= her wrongs. /he
sai5 that ua na9ght> ol5 woman was sitting at the table an5 staring at her( an5 that ma5e
her scream.4 %9rse tol5 me that she =o9n5 the chil5 wi5e awake( sitting 9p in be5(
pointing to the table( an5 cr>ing o9t( u&o awa>( go awa>( na9ght> ol5 womans4 *here was
no one there. %9rse ha5 been in be5 some time( an5 the 5oor was locke5.
BM> chil54s vision I treate5 as I 5i5 her n9rse4s( an5 5ose5 both. .owever( a 5a> or two
a=terwar5s( I receive5 a letter =rom Mrs. Mac=arlane4s son( anno9ncing her 5eath( an5
telling me how her last ho9rs were 5ist9rbe5 b> an?iet> =or m> h9sban5 an5 his =amil>.
M> n9rse( on being tol5 the news( e?claime5( u&oo5 Lor5( it was her I saw that night(
an5 her ver> 5resss4 I never ascertaine5 the e?act ho9r o= her 5eath. M> letter o= inE9ir>
an5 con5olence was never answere5( tho9gh m> bo? was 59l> sent to me.C
Mrs. .9nter writes to 9s that( a=ter rea5ing this acco9nt in the <ortnightl, =evie- Pwhere
it was =irst p9blishe5Q( the Blittle E.C o= the stor> wrote to her( BI -ell remember m> part
o= that stor>.C Mrs. .9nter a55s( BI can tr9l> sa> that she ha5 never been spoken to abo9t
it all these >ears.C
,e =in5 =rom the obit9ar> o= the 7lasgo- 9erald that Mrs. Mac=arlane 5ie5 on )9g9st
:2( 27VW.
P8V2Q +rom the late Mr. ". -oleman( who wrote as =ollows to the E5itor o= the !piritual
'agaAine:A
B37( 1embri5ge Villas( "a>swater.
BFan9ar> 23th( 2782.
BI was recentl> sta>ing at the Victoria .otel( /o9thport( kept b> Mr. /altho9se( an ol5 an5
respectable inhabitant o= that town. YI learnt thatZ Mr. /altho9se was a =irm believer in
apparitions( =o9n5e5 on an inci5ent which occ9rre5 in his own =amil>. I accor5ingl>
aske5 Mr. /altho9se to tell me the partic9lars( an5 he relate5 the =ollowing stor>:A
Bu/ome >ears ago m> el5est son( *homas( shippe5 as a sailor on a vo>age to In5ia. )=ter
he ha5 been absent a month or two( I was s9rprise5 one s9mmer morning to see him
stan5ing b> m> be5si5e in his sailor4s 5ress. I e?ten5e5 m> han5 to greet him( an5
inE9ire5 the ca9se o= his 9ne?pecte5 ret9rn. *he =ig9re remaine5 =or an instant m9te an5
immoveable( an5 vanishe5 =rom m> sight.
BuE?cite5 an5 perple?e5 b> this 9nlooke5-=or inci5ent( I rose an5 prepare5 to make m>
9s9al visit to m> =arm( which is two miles 5istant =rom /o9thport( reasoning m>sel= into
the belie= that I ha5 been 9n5er a 5el9sion. On reaching the =arm m> servant( ,illiam
"all( who still resi5es there( aske5 me i= Master *om ha5 ret9rne5 home. I sai5( B%o@ wh>
5o >o9 askrC B,ell(C he sai5( BI certainl> saw him cross the =arm>ar5 earl> this morning.
I ran to open the gate an5 co9l5 not see where he ha5 gone( b9t I am as s9re as I live that
I saw him in his sailor4s 5ress.C *his statement corroborating m> own e?perience o= the
morning( I ma5e s9re that some 5isaster ha5 be=allen m> son( an5 in 59e time this prove5
to be the case. .e ha5 5ie5 that ver> 5a> an5 ho9r( o= 5>senter>( on boar5 ship( be=ore
reaching "omba>.4
B"E%F)MI% -OLEM)%.C
ii-8;V!
) son o= Mr. /altho9se( to whom we sent the acco9nt( writes to 9s as =ollows:A
BX2( 'ailwa> /treet( /o9thport.
BF9ne 2Uth( 2773.
B+rom what I can remember I believe the acco9nt is correct. I showe5 this paper to m>
brother-in-law( an5 he tol5 me that m> =ather alwa>s sai5 so.
2
I have hear5 "all Ynow
5ecease5Z tell the tale man> times.
BFO.% /)L*.OU/E.C
Later( Mr. /altho9se writes to 9s that he =in5s that Mr. *homas /altho9se4s ship le=t
Liverpool on F9ne :( 2738( an5 that he was taken ill between "omba> an5 .ong 0ong(
on %ov. U:. ,e learn =rom the &eneral 'egister o= /hipping an5 /eamen that he serve5
as thir5 mate on the ship BInglewoo5(C o= Liverpool( =rom F9ne : to $ec. 2:( 2738( on
which latter 5ate he 5ie5 at sea. *he wor5s Bs9mmer morningC an5 Bbe=ore reaching
"omba>C in the above acco9nt are there=ore incorrect.
*he =ollowing case is a sort o= come5> o= errors. Onl> two o= the =o9r hall9cinations
which it incl95es represente5 the absent agent@ as to the two which 5i5 not( I shall ha]ar5
no =9rther s9pposition than that their coinci5ence with the others was not acci5ental.
P8VUQ +rom Mrs. +agan( "ove> *race>( %ewton )bbot( the narrator o= case 82W.
B277:.
B-aptain 'obert +agan( late o= the "engal )rtiller>( while in charge o= the bri5ge o= boats
at Lahore( was in the 5istrict on the river collecting boats. One morning( 59ring his
absence =rom home( his el5est bo>( o= abo9t 8 >ears ol5( seeing his mother D9st 5resse5
=or break=ast in a colo9re5 m9slin( begge5 her to take it o== an5 p9t on a black 5ress(
sa>ing( u"eca9se papa is 5ea5.4 *he mother( a=ter 5iverting his tho9ghts =or a short time(
sai5( u/hall I p9t on a black 5ress now( -harlier4 uOh( no(4 he answere5( upapa is not 5ea5
now(4 an5 ran awa>.
BOn leaving her room( she was met b> the hea5 n9rse( a /cotch-woman( with the inE9ir>
i= she ha5 hear5 =rom the master that morning. ,hen tol5 his 9s9al letter ha5 not come(
she sai5( usomething ver> 9ncann> has happene5 to him( =or looking o9t o= the win5ow
D9st now( I saw )nnie( the 9n5er-n9rse( an5 the gar5ener go 9p to master4s =avo9rite
rosetree an5 gather a =lower( an5 be=ore she co9l5 have got in =rom the gar5en( I =o9n5
her in the night n9rser>( which she ha5 never le=t( =inishing bathing the chil5ren.4
B%ot thinking m9ch o= this( Mrs. +agan passe5 on to the break=ast-room( where she
e?pecte5 to =in5 her visitors( -aptain an5 Mrs. 'evele>. %ot 5oing so( she went to Mrs.
'.4s room( whom she =o9n5 still at her toilet( =or which 9np9nct9alit> Mrs. '. apologise5(
sa>ing she ha5 ha5 a 5rea5=9l =right( having seen Mrs. +agan stan5ing in =ront o= the
chest o= 5rawers( who( when aske5 how she ha5 come 9nobserve5 into the room( t9rne5
ro9n5 an5 then 5eliberatel> vanishe5 thro9gh the chest o= 5rawers an5 the 5oor behin5 it.
U
ii-8;8!
B*his thir5 strange remark le5 Mrs. +agan to relate all three at the break=ast-table to
-aptain 'evele>. /he co9l5 not help observing how 9nlike his 9s9al manner was his
br9sE9eness in c9tting short the conversation( as soon as he ha5 hear5 all partic9lars. +ive
5a>s passe5 witho9t an> in=ormationAprivate or o==icialA=rom -aptain +agan@ b9t at the
en5 o= that time he arrive5 home looking ill( an5 sa>ing that( on the morning o= which we
have been speaking( he was with 5i==ic9lt> res9scitate5 =rom 5rowning( the boat in which
he was having capsi]e5. *his was nat9rall> taken as the sol9tion o= the m>ster>. -aptain
'evele>( t9rning to Mrs. +agan( sai5( uI m9st apologise =or m> br9sE9eness o= manner
that morning( b9t I =eare5 to alarm >o9 b> seeming to attach an> importance to what ha5
happene5( an5 lest I sho9l5 be in59ce5 to tell >o9 o= the greater =right I ha5 m>sel= ha5
than an> o= >o9. +or( +agan(4 a55ressing the -aptain( uas I passe5 =rom >o9r o==ice( where
I ha5 been rea5ing with the Moonshee( an5 going thro9gh the 5rawing-room( I 5istinctl>
saw >o9 sitting in >o9r 9s9al chair.4C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. +agan a55s:A
B)s to the stor> o= those who saw m> h9sban5 an5 me an5 ha5 impressions that he was in
5anger( it is now so long ago that m> son co9l5 har5l> remember it. -aptain 'evele>( o=
the "engal In=antr>( who saw him( his wi=e( who saw me( an5 the two women( the
/cotchwoman( b> name )nn 0enn>( an5 the Irishwoman( b> name )nnie 'obertson( both
then wives o= privates in the "engal )rtiller>( I =ear( co9l5 har5l> be trace5 as witnesses@
b9t I give >o9 their names.
BIt occ9rre5 at )nark9llie( Lahore( 19nDa9b( abo9t the >ear 27V;.C In conversation with
Mrs. +agan( 1ro=essor /i5gwick learnt that Mrs. 'evele> 5i5 not connect the apparition
o= Mrs. +agan with -aptain +agan. Mrs. 'evele>( who is now living near Montreal( has
been latel> applie5 to =or an in5epen5ent acco9nt@ b9t no answer has been receive5 9p to
the time o= going to press.
P8V:Q +rom Mrs. .eck=or5( 8( *he -rescent( Minories( E.
B2773.
B,hen I was a chil5 8 >ears ol5( m> mother 5ie5 a=ter a short illness( in &erman>( an5
one o= her two 9nmarrie5 sisters came =rom Irelan5 to take charge o= m> two el5er sisters
an5 o= me( leaving m> other a9nt in the co9ntr> ho9se which ha5 =or >ears been their
home. ,ithin a =ew 5a>s o= a >ear =rom the 5eath o= m> mother( m> el5est sister( a
remarkabl> health> chil5( 5ie5 o= scarlatina( also in &erman>. ,hen I was a girl in m>
teens( m> s9rviving sister an5 I were one 5a> talking abo9t apparitions( in the spirit o=
absol9te 5isbelie= in s9ch appearances which ha5 been care=9ll> =ostere5 b> those who
e59cate5 9s( incl95ing m> a9nt@ when( somewhat to m> astonishment( she reco9nte5 to 9s
the =ollowing stor>.
BOne night( she sai5( abo9t the time o= m> mother4s 5eath( she ha5 retire5 to rest( b9t was
not asleep( when s955enl> she saw the =ig9re o= m> mother( attire5 in her 9s9al white
5ressing-gown( sitting at the =oot o= her be5 an5 ga]ing stea5=astl> at her. M> a9nt sai5
that she was aware that( owing to the =act o= m> mother being 5elicate( an5 no letter
having arrive5 ver> latel> =rom &erman>( she was an?io9s abo9t her( an5 ii-8;W! that
hence( on seeing the =ig9re( she 5eci5e5 that it was the res9lt o= some mental 5isor5er(
an5 resol9tel> close5 her e>es so as to avoi5 an> =9rther 5el9sion. )=ter keeping them
sh9t =or some time( she re-opene5 them( an5 =o9n5 that the =ig9re ha5 5isappeare5. /he
sai5 that having a horror o= enco9raging s9perstitio9s =ancies( she took no note o= the 5a>
or ho9r( an5 having resolve5 not to tell the sister who then live5 with her( so as not to
e?cite or =righten her( ha5 never broken her resol9tion. /he a5mitte5( however( that when
she hear5 o= m> mother4s 5eath a short time a=ter( it str9ck her that the coinci5ence was
remarkable.
BMan> >ears a=ter this conversation( when m> a9nt ha5 passe5 awa>( an5 we two girls
were living with her sister( the conversation t9rne5 9pon ughosts.4 *he compan> consiste5
o= m> )9nt /.( her a5opte5 5a9ghter Pa co9sin o= o9rsQ( an5 m>sel=. )=ter remarking that
she 5i5 not believe in ghosts( m> )9nt /. tol5 9s she wo9l5 reco9nt to 9s a ver>
remarkable e?perience she ha5 once ha5. /he sai5 that one night( abo9t the time o= m>
mother4s 5eath( she ha5 retire5 to rest( b9t was not asleep( when s955enl> she saw m>
mother( in her 9s9al white 5ressing-gown( sitting at the =oot o= her be5@ that she sai5 to
the =ig9re( uOh( M.( how are >o9r4 Por wor5s to that e==ectQ an5 that the =ig9re replie5(
u}9ite well( b9t I shall come back =or Fane.4
2
*he =ig9re then 5isappeare5. M> )9nt /.
sai5 that she resolve5 not to tell her sister( =or =ear o= e?citing her( an5 that she ha5 taken
no note o= the 5a> or ho9r( not wishing to enco9rage a s9perstitio9s =eeling@ b9t that on
hearing o= m> mother4s 5eath( she ha5 been str9ck b> the strangeness o= the coinci5ence.
Even then( she sai5( the wor5s regar5ing m> sister Fane appeare5 9nmeaning( b9t were
startlingl> e?plaine5 when the chil5 soon =ollowe5 her mother.
BM> )9nt /. never reco9nte5 this e?perience to her sister( who th9s passe5 awa> in
ignorance o= the phenomenon o= a 5o9ble apparition. #ears passe5 witho9t an> all9sion
to these sing9lar recitals between m> sister( m> co9sin( an5 m>sel=@ we were thoro9ghl>
incre59lo9s o= the possibilit> o= ughosts4 in general when we hear5 them( an5 /pirit9alism
was to 9s( =or long a=terwar5s( a s9bDect merel> =or mirth@ neither 5oes either m> sister or
m> co9sin pro=ess a belie= in /pirit9alism now@ >et the> are both rea5> to attest the tr9th
o= m> version o= a stor>( the principal witnesses to the veracit> o= which have passe5
be>on5 the reach o= inE9ir>.
B/)'). .E-0+O'$.
B). &O++ Yher sister( o= UU( 1alace 'oa5( Upper %orwoo5Z.
B/. -. EL)%$ Yher co9sinZ.C
Mrs. &o== tells 9s that the occ9rrence took place at -hristmas( 273V. .er impression ha5
been that the wor5s hear5 were in answer to a 5irect E9estion o= her a9nt abo9t the
chil5ren.
S :. In the =ollowing =ar larger gro9p the percipients were together.
P8V3Q +rom 1ro=essor F. E. -arpenter( Leathes .o9se( +it]Dohn4s )ven9e( %.,.( an
)ssociate o= the /.1.'.
B)pril 8th 2773.
BI 5o not know that m> stor> is likel> to be ver> satis=actor> to >o9 ii-8;7! beca9se I am
9nable to give precise 5ates( an5 have no means o= access to an> memoran59m ma5e at
the time. It is possible that an acco9nt which I wrote soon a=ter the occ9rrence ma> be
preserve5 Ysee belowZ( an5 i= >o9 sho9l5 5esire =9rther partic9lars I ma> be able to
proc9re them =or >o9.
B*he mani=estation took place in the earl> s9mmer o= 2787 or 278X( b9t I cannot now
recall which. I live5 then in lo5gings in -li=ton. *he mistress o= the ho9se was a nervo9s(
highl> e?citable woman( lame( having one leg shorter than the other. One morning( a=ter
break=ast( she appeare5 m9ch e?cite5( an5 then in=orme5 me that the evening be=ore she
ha5 seen a ghost. *he circ9mstances( as =ar as I recollect( were these. Miss 'ee5 Pthe
lan5la5>Q was stan5ing abo9t W.:; in the kitchen Plighte5 b> a win5ow opening into a
small areaQ( in =ront o= the kitchen =ire. *he mai5servant was stan5ing at the table with
her back to the win5ow( peeling some onions =or m> =ellow-lo5ger4s s9pper. /955enl>(
Miss 'ee5 sai5 to the girl( uOh( Eli]a( what4s thatr *he girl replie5( u1lease4m( I saw a
man go ro9n5 the table an5 o9t thro9gh the 5oor.4 F9st then the street-5oor bell rang. *he
kitchen 5oor was close5( an5 ha5 not been opene5. *he girl4s statement e?presse5 e?actl>
what Miss 'ee5 hersel= ha5 seen. ,hen the bell rang the girl e?claime5( u1lease( miss(
I4m so =rightene5( I 5aren4t go 9pstairs.4 *he lan5la5> went 9p( an5 on coming 5own
again E9estione5 the girl abo9t the =ig9re. *he> ha5 both seen onl> the 9pper part( above
the e5ge o= the table( an5 it was nake5. I aske5 Miss 'ee5 i= it resemble5 an>one she
knew. uI sho9l5 have sai5 it was like m> 9ncle(4 she answere5( ub9t he is a ver> sto9t man(
an5 this was ver> thin.4 /he then 5etaile5 to me another c9rio9s inci5ent in her own li=e(
o= which I have now =orgotten the partic9lars@ b9t I got the impression that she was too
e?cite5 to give me precise =acts abo9t remote events( tho9gh her stor> abo9t the night
be=ore was E9ite coherent an5 5istinct.
B*he seE9el was c9rio9s. Either that 5a>( or ver> shortl> a=terwar5s( she was telegraphe5
=or to go to her 9ncle( who was 5angero9sl> ill an5 ha5 been repeate5l> calling =or her. )t
the time o= the mani=estation she ha5 no i5ea that he was in an> b9t his 9s9al health. .e
live5( I think( at "erkele>( in &lo9cestershire. /he went imme5iatel>( an5 on her ret9rn a
=ew 5a>s a=ter tol5 me what a shock she ha5 =elt( on going into the sick room( at seeing
her 9ncle re59ce5 to the atten9ate5 =orm o= the man who ha5 presente5 himsel= in the
kitchen.
2

BI have been sorr> since that I 5i5 not separatel> E9estion the servant( b9t I ha5 reason to
think her so little sensible that it 5i5 not seem worth while. It was onl> a=ter Miss 'ee54s
ret9rn =rom her 9ncle4s sick be5 that the inci5ent seeme5 to have an> importance.
BF. E/*LI% -)'1E%*E'.C
In a s9bseE9ent letter( 1ro=essor -arpenter sa>s:A
BUn=ort9natel> no letter can be =o9n5 with an> acco9nt o= the act9al inci5ent. )ll that has
been 5iscovere5 I have transcribe5 on the opposite page. *he 5etails I ha5 E9ite =orgotten.
*he passage 5oes not sa> that Miss 'ee5 went to her 9ncle4s ho9se( b9t I =eel s9re that
she was s9mmone5 ii-8;X! thither@ in5ee5( the partic9lars here recor5e5 co9l5 har5l>
have been learne5 b> her an>where else. I =ear this is a lame an5 impotent concl9sion.
Y-op>.Z
B4-li=ton( March 2Uth( 278X.
w BuI sen5 >o9 the seE9el o= m> ghost stor>Ai= it is to be consi5ere5 as a seE9el at all. I
5on4t know whether I tol5 >o9 that I aske5 Miss '. i= her ghostl> visitor resemble5
an>one she knew( an5 she sai5 the onl> one she co9l5 think o= whom he was like was her
9ncle( b9t he was sto9t an5 the appearance was thin. )t the en5 o= last week she hear5(
9ne?pecte5l>( that her 9ncle a =ew weeks be=ore ha5 been taken serio9sl> ill( that he ha5
been e?cee5ingl> re59ce5( an5 that he was then l>ing at 5eath4s 5oor. P*o-5a> I hear that
he is 5ea5.Q +9rther( some small propert> that he ha5 he ha5 =ormerl> le=t to Miss 'ee5.
/ome little while ago( however( an a9nt o= Miss '.4s came to utake care o= him(4 an5
in59ce5 him to alter his will in her =avo9r( at an> rate so =ar as li=e interest was
concerne5. ,hen he =ell ill( he became m9ch agitate5 at the inD9stice he tho9ght he ha5
5one Miss '.( an5 e?presse5 himsel= with strong sel=-acc9sation( tho9gh( like man> weak
people( he p9t o== a secon5 alteration =rom 5a> to 5a>. ,hether one o= these =its o=
5istress took place at the time o= the so-calle5 appearance( an5 there was reall> an>
connection between them( cannot now be trace5( an5 the stor> m9st be le=t with its
possibilities 9nsolve5.4
B1./.AMiss 'ee5 gave 9p her ho9se some 2; >ears ago or more. /he was a=terwar5s
re59ce5 to consi5erable 5istress b> sickness( [c. I have certainl> hear5 nothing o= her =or
7 >ears( an5 have E9ite lost all trace o= her.C
P8VVQ +rom Mrs. Mainwaring( o= 0nowles( )r5ingl>( .a>war54s .eath( Pthe narrator o=
case :W;(Q who sent 9s a less 5etaile5 acco9nt in )9g9st( 2773.
BMarch 23th( 277V.
BM> a9nt( Margaret /a9le]( an5 m> mother( then Mar> /a9le]( slept together@ an5 the
r9les o= the ho9se were strict. One most =orbi55en thing was noise in be5rooms( or
talking a=ter going to be5. "9t the two >o9ng girls one night went on chattering an5
la9ghing a=ter the> were in be5( an5 s955enl> the 5oor opene5 an5 m> gran5mother came
in. /he D9st came an5 looke5 at them sorrow=9ll>( as i= she was ve?e5( an5 witho9t
speaking le=t the room. I 5o not remember( at this moment( whether the> spoke to her
then@ however( the> =elt so grieve5 at her look an5 silence that the> both D9mpe5 o9t o=
be5 an5 =ollowe5 her E9ickl> to her 5oor( b9t =o9n5 it locke5( an5 she wo9l5 not answer
Aas the> tho9ghtAwhen the> begge5 her to =orgive them. M> gran5=ather woke( an5
=o9n5 her b> his si5e in a 5eep swoon.
2
*he> sent =or the 5octor( an5 he sai5 that he was
onl> D9st in time to save her li=e( as she ha5 evi5entl> been in that state some time@ an5 a
=ew ho9rs a=ter a chil5 was born.
B*his is the stor> =amiliar to me =rom m> mother4s lips since m> chil5hoo5( an5 I am as
s9re o= its tr9th as one can be o= an>thing one 5oes not know onesel=. *he el5er sister( m>
a9nt( 5ie5 soon a=ter.
BE. L. M)I%,)'I%&.C
ii-82;!
Y/pecial circ9mstances( which Mrs. Mainwaring has e?plaine5 to 9s( prevent o9r
appl>ing to her mother =or a =irst-han5 acco9nt.Z
P8V8Q 'eceive5 thro9gh the kin5ness o= the 'ev. 1reben5ar> /a5ler( 'ector o= .oniton.
*he la5ies concerne5 in the case were his great-a9nt an5 her 5a9ghter Pwho 5ie5 in )pril(
277VQ. ,riting in 277:( Mr. /a5ler sa>s( BI took the stor> =rom Miss +AAn4s own lips(
E9estioning her closel> 9pon it. /he is as clear an5 =resh in min5 as m>sel=. /he has a
ver> acc9rate an5 retentive memor>. I cannot sa> when I first hear5 the acco9ntAver>
man> >ears ago.C In )pril( 2773( he a55e5 that the acco9nt was taken 5own in writing
Bseveral >ears since.C
BIn the >ear 272X( Mrs. /AAr an5 Yher 5a9ghterZ Miss +AAn were going into Lee5s(
5own /t. 1eter4s .ill( when Mrs. /AAr s955enl> stoppe5( an5 pointe5 o9t to Miss +
AAn a man on horseback( ri5ing E9ickl>( a little wa> be=ore them( 9p the hill. /he
e?claime5( u*here is Fonah /.s .ow strange he lookss .e looks like a corpse. )h( to think
o= his ri5ing o9t now( when we hear5 >ester5a> that he was 5>ing o= =evers4 *he man then
passe5 them on horseback witho9t noticing them( tho9gh he was well acE9ainte5 with
them. *he> stoo5 still( an5 looke5 at him as he passe5. .is e>es looke5 =i?e5( as i=(
tho9gh open( the> were not looking at an>thing. .e was ri5ing E9ickl>. *he> =ollowe5
him with their e>es( till the> lost him at the t9rn o= the hill some little wa> behin5 them.
.e ha5 on a light-colo9re5 5rab greatcoat( which he 9s9all> wore. Miss +AAn thinks
that he ha5 no hat on( b9t is not per=ectl> s9re abo9t that. *he> 5i5 not see him till he was
nearl> 9p to them.
B*he> went into the town to Mr. /AAr4s wareho9se. Mr. /AAr met them at the 5oor(
an5 be=ore the> co9l5 sa> an>thing to him( sai5(4 I have D9st hear5 that Fonah /. 5ie5 at U
o4clock to-5a>.4 Mrs. /AAr looke5 at her watch( an5 calc9late5 that it was D9st at that
time the> saw him pass.C
,e reE9este5 the parish clerk at Lee5s to search =or the 5ate o= the 5eath@ he wrote back
impl>ing that he ha5 5one so( b9t re=9se5 to sen5 the res9lt e?cept in combination with
other in=ormation( o==ere5 on terms which( tho9gh not 9nreasonable =rom his point o=
view( we co9l5 not accept.
Y*he case is too remote =or reliance to be place5 on 5etails@ b9t the =act Pi= correctl>
remembere5Q that the la5ies were astonishe5 at seeing this partic9lar person o9t ri5ing(
tells against the h>pothesis o= mistaken i5entit>( in so =ar as it implies that the> gave him
more than a hast> glance.Z
P8VWQ +rom Mr. Leonar5 E. *homas( $errie $owns( /t. Mar> -ra>.
B$ecember 2Wth( 277:.
B) lan5la5> o= mine( Mrs. '.( with whom I live5 =or >ears( an5 who was one o= the
kin5est o= womenAa thoro9ghl> &o5-=earing woman( who( I =irml> believe( wo9l5 scorn
to invent or concoct an> taleArelate5 to me( among other ver> pec9liar e?periences( the
=ollowing:A
B/he was a little girl o= abo9t 22 >ears( when her gran5=ather( who live5 a =ew streets
awa> =rom them( was taken ill PI believe she sai5 with scarlet =everQ( an5 she was not
allowe5 to go near the ho9se. One a=ternoon her gran5=ather Pwho was ver> =on5 o= the
chil5Q wishe5 to see her ii-822! ver> m9ch( an5 she was taken to him. *hat night she
was l>ing b> her mother4s si5e in be5( an5 the 5oor stoo5 aDar with a light on the lan5ing.
/he was l>ing awake( when she hear5 the pat( pat( pec9liar to a nake5 =oot( ascen5ing the
stairs. *he =orm o= her gran5=ather entere5 the room( a5vance5 to the be5( 5rew the
c9rtain( an5 looke5 at them( an5 was gone. /he was trembling violentl>( an5 cl9ng to her
mother( who ha5 seen it too( an5 who sai5( u.9sh( chil5s it is onl> >o9r gran5=ather.4 .er
mother then got 9p an5 str9ck a light( an5 5resse5( sa>ing( uI =ear something m9st have
happene5 to >o9r gran5=ather@ I ha5 better go ro9n5 an5 see.4 "9t the chil5 begge5 her
not to( as she wo9l5 be =rightene5 to 5eath. *he> waite5( an5 abo9t three-E9arters o= an
ho9r a=terwar5s a messenger came ro9n5 to bear the news o= her gran5=ather4s 5eath(
which ha5 taken place at that precise time.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. *homas a55s:A
BI =o9n5 o9t the present a55ress o= Mrs. '.( an5 wrote to her( asking her to be goo5
eno9gh to write me o9t an acco9nt o= what she ha5 once relate5 to me( at the same time
stating =or what p9rpose I wishe5 it. I e?tract =rom her repl> that part o= it which re=ers to
the s9bDect( an5 which r9ns as =ollows:A
BuI 5o not care in an> wa> to enter into s9ch matters. ,hat I tol5 >o9( to the best o= m>
knowle5ge( is tr9e( b9t 9n5o9bte5l> the impression then ma5e has been 5eepene5 b>
hearing mother speak o= it@ an5 I alwa>s think s9ch things that we cannot acco9nt =or in
an> wa> or 9n5erstan5 are best let alone.4C
Y$etails again cannot be relie5 on( the narrator having been so >o9ng at the time. "9t the
=act o= the mother4s s9bseE9ent re=erences to the inci5ent =avo9rs the s9pposition that she
hersel= share5 the e?perience( an5 that it was not a mere =rightene5 5ream o= the chil54s.Z
P8V7Q +rom Mrs. /penser Pmentione5 above( p. VWVQ. *he acco9nt was copie5 =or 9s b>
Mrs. /a?b>( o= Mo9nt Elton( -leve5on( =rom a private letter.
BXW( 'ailwa> /treet( /o9thport.
B/eptember 2st( 27W2.
BM> sister Eli]abeth ha5 a >o9ng =rien5 sta>ing with her( who share5 the same be5. *he>
ha5 cease5 chatting( an5 were preparing =or sleep( when Eli]abeth to9che5 .enriette(
sa>ing( uLook at that bea9ti=9l lights4 .enriette e?claime5( uVer> bea9ti=9l( b9t what is
itr4 Eli]abeth replie5( uOh( it is little Mar> /tangers .ow e?E9isitel> bea9ti=9l. /he is
=loating awa>(4 an5 the vision passe5.
BEarl> the ne?t morning( she sent to Mr. /tanger4s ho9se( an5 learnt that the 5ear chil5
ha5 5ie5 at the e?act time she ha5 seen the vision( abo9t 22 o4clock the previo9s night.
B*he appearance was o= the per=ect chil5( envelope5 in a so=t clo95 o= the =aintest bl9ish
light@
2
so clear( an5 emitting or re=lecting a light which ill9minate5 the whole e?E9isitel>
bea9ti=9l little vision@ b9t Eli]abeth 5i5 not seem to know whether the light originate5 in
the clo95 or in the lovel> little =ig9re. .enriette saw the light clearl>( as well as Eli]abeth.
BLU-# /1E%/E'.C
ii-82U!
)n inscription on a tombstone at 0eswick shows that Mar> /tanger 5ie5 on Ma> U3(
27UX( age5 : >ears an5 7 months.
Mrs. /a?b> tells 9s that the two percipients were the most intimate =rien5s o= the chil54s
mother. *he chil5 was a co9sin o= the la5>AMrs. "rowne( o= *allantire .all( near
-ockermo9thAto whom Mrs. /penser4s letter was written. In conversation with Mrs.
/penser( I learnt that she hersel= hear5 o= the vision on the morning a=ter its occ9rrence@
also that the chil5 ha5 been pla>ing abo9t the 5a> be=ore( an5 that its 5eath was 59e to
loss o= bloo5 a=ter an incision necessitate5 b> a s955en attack o= cro9p.
Y,e might s9ppose .enriette4s e?perience to have been 59e simpl> to Eli]abeth4s
s9ggestionAwhich ma> have been the reason wh> .enriette saw the light an5 not the
=ig9re. "9t i= she reall> usaw the light clearl>(4 we sho9l5 th9s be cre5iting verbal
s9ggestion with a larger power o= evoking sensor> hall9cination in non-h>pnotise5
persons than the evi5ence on the s9bDect seems at all to warrant Psee p. 277( an5 Vol. I.(
pp. V2UT:Q.Z
P8VXQ +rom the Theor, of *neu(atolog,, b> $r. Fohann .. F9ng /tilling Ptranslate5 b> /.
Fackson( 27V2Q( pp. UW2TUWU. /tilling knew the =amil> o= the narrator well( an5 vo9ches
in strong terms =or their tr9th=9lness an5 probit>.
BM> brother F. .. -. was place5 b> a certain reigning prince as 5octor o= me5icine in ).(
an5( on acco9nt o= his pec9liar abilities( the title o= )9lic -o9ncillor was con=erre5 on
him. .e resi5e5 there abo9t =o9r >ears( towar5s the close o= which he resolve5( at the
reE9est o= m> late =ather( to ret9rn to .. w ,e ar5entl> looke5 =or his arrival. w I 5reamt
one night that I saw m> brother on horseback( who sai5 to me that he was on a Do9rne>@
he wo9l5 there=ore give me several commissions to m> parents. I observe5 that his
e?pression o= co9ntenance appeare5 ver> strange( an5 aske5 him wh> he looke5 so bl9e-
black in his =acer on which he ma5e answer that it was occasione5 b> the new cloak he
ha5 p9t on( which was 5>e5 with in5igo. On this he reache5 me his han5( b9t whilst
giving him mine( his horse began to pl9nge( which terri=ie5 me( an5 I awoke. %ot long
a=ter awaking( the 5oor o= m> room opene5( someone came to m> be5si5e( an5 5rew
asi5e the c9rtains( when I perceive5 the nat9ral =ig9re o= m> brother in his night-gown.
)=ter stan5ing there a =ew min9tes( he went to the table( took 9p the sn9==ers( an5 let
them =all( an5 then sh9t the room 5oor again.
2
Y~Z +ear( apprehension( an5 terror
overpowere5 me to s9ch a 5egree that I co9l5 not sta> in be5 an> longer. I begge5 m>
el5est sister( who also witnesse5 this scene( to accompan> me to m> parents. On entering
the chamber o= the latter( m> =ather was astonishe5( an5 aske5 me the reason o= m>
noct9rnal coming. I beso9ght him to spare me the answer till the morrow( an5 onl> permit
me to pass the night in his room( to which he assente5.
B)s soon as I awoke in the morning( I was calle5 9pon b> m> parents to relate what ha5
happene5( which m> el5est sister con=irme5. *he circ9mstance seeme5 so remarkable to
m> =ather that he note5 5own the night an5 the ho9r. )bo9t three weeks a=terwar5s m>
=ather receive5 the melanchol> intelligence o= m> brother4s 5ecease@ when it appeare5
ii-82:! that he ha5 5ie5 the same night( an5 the same ho9r( o= an epi5emic 5isor5er( in
which he ha5 been s9==ocate5( an5 his =ace ha5 become E9ite black. In the last 5a>s o= his
illness he ha5 spoken contin9all> o= his =amil>( an5 ha5 wishe5 =or nothing more ar5entl>
than to be able to speak once more with me.C
YI= the sing9lar bl9e-black appearance o= the =ace was reall> a =eat9re o= the 5ream( an5
was not Brea5 backC into it a=ter the tr9th was known( the 5etails abo9t the 5>e5 cloak
well ill9strate the s9bDective an5 =allacio9s embo5iment which a percipient ma> s9ppl> to
a telepathic impression. )nother instance o= a waking hall9cination =ollowing at some
interval a=ter a 5ream is case W;2.Z
P88;Q +rom Mr. )l=re5 ,. .obson( who sent the acco9nt =rom -ambri5ge( 9n5er 5ate
March UU( 2783( to the E5itor o= the !piritual 'agaAine. $r. 1arkinson( o= /t. Fohn4s
-ollege( -ambri5ge( tol5 9s that he remembere5 Mr. .obson( a gra59ate o= that -ollege(
as a sensible man. *he inci5ent was relate5( in Mr. .obson4s presence( to the late $r.
Elliotson( b> Mr. Foseph -. 'obertson( E5itor o= the 'echanics 'agaAine, who 5ie5( we
=in5( in 27VU. ,e have not been able to trace his =amil>.
B*he two brothers Yi.e., Mr. 'obertson an5 a brotherZ( both ver> >o9ng at the timeAI
=orget their e?act agesAwere in be5 together at their =ather4s ho9se( when the> both saw
the apparition o= a la5> to whom their =ather Pa wi5owerQ was engage5 to be marrie5. /he
5ie5 s955enl> that same night. *he =ather was awa> =rom home( an5 not with the bo>s. In
this case it seems as i= the 5>ing la5> ha5 been 5esiro9s o= appearing to the =ather( an5
ha5 come to his 9s9al 5welling in the e?pectation o= seeing him@ b9t was 5isappointe5(
=in5ing onl> his sons instea5.
2

BIt so happene5 that Mr. 'obertson himsel= 5ie5 a =ew months a=ter the above 5ialog9e(
an5 the brother re=erre5 to in it was with me in the same mo9rning coach at the =9neral(
an5 con=irme5 the stor> as tol5 b> his 5ecease5 brother. *he el5er brother was( I believe(
more alarme5 at the apparition than the >o9nger.C
P882Q +rom a relative o= o9r energetic =rien5 an5 helper( Miss +rances M. 1ear5( o=
*orE9a>( who proc9re5 9s the acco9nt. /he sa>s that the narrator Pwhose name we are not
at libert> to p9blishQ Bis a remarkabl> shrew5( sensible person.C
B277:.
BIn the 5eca5e o= 273A( one o= .er MaDest>4s 'egiments was l>ing in a small town( well
9p in Upper -ana5a then( now Ontario. )n o==icer in that regiment( a captain( ha5 =rom
the =irst shown a great regar5 =or me( an5 ha5 alwa>s been ver> 5evote5 in his attentions@
b9t tho9gh I like5 him m9ch( I co9l5 not sa> that I wo9l5 accept him. In the spring o= 273
A( )pril( there were steeplechases got 9p b> the garrison. -aptain AA( who was a
splen5i5 horseman in ever> wa>( entere5 his horse. I m9st mention that three or =o9r
>ears be=ore( he ha5 met with an acci5ent whilst ri5ing a race( an5 winning. ) man ro5e
across the co9rse. -aptain AA with his horse ran against him( was thrown( his horse
inD9re5( an5 his own leg broken( which ca9se5 him to have a li(p or halt in his walk@ b9t
it 5i5 not prevent him being a bea9ti=9l walt]er( an5 a per=ect ri5er. .e an5 I ro5e
together contin9all>( an5 he ma5e me the goo5 horsewoman I was.
ii-823!
B*he 5a> be=ore the steeplechases above mentione5( -aptain AA again spoke to me
abo9t m> col5ness( an5 tol5 me he p9t his =ate on this race. I= he won( wo9l5 I sa> u>es4@
an5 i= I 5eci5e5 th9s( wo9l5 I give him a rose I ha5 been n9rsing =or this occasionr I ha5
not answere5 then@ b9t i= I wore m> rose( an5 a=terwar5s gave it to him whether he won
the race or not( it wo9l5 be a repl> to him. ,ell( I wore m> rose. *he 5a> was lovel>. .e
won his race an5 rose an5 m> acceptance@ =or I was one o= a large =amil> o= 5a9ghters
an5 m> =ather not >o9ng( an5 I reall> like5 no one better. O= co9rse he was 5elighte5. M>
mother gave a 5ance that evening to all o9r worl5. -aptain AA engage5 me =or the =irst
three walt]es( in =act =or several 5ances( an5 he was to be there earl>. *he 5ance began(
an5 the 5ances( b9t m> partner 5i5 not appear. I began to =eel anno>e5@ an5 several o= his
brother o==icers looke5 at each other smiling an5 began making Dokes( [c. I sai5 to
mamma( u.ow o55 it is@ he has never 5one s9ch a thing be=ore(4 when I sa- hi( -al1
into the dra-ing6roo(, which was the ball-room( in his shell-Dacket. *he other o==icers
were in =9ll 5ress as 9s9al =or balls( b9t he appeare5 in his 9s9al shell-Dacket( mess-5ress(
with m> rose in his b9ttonhole. .e walke5 across the room. I looking at him( he gave me
a serio9s( earnest( >et 5evote5 an5 constant regar5. .e walke5 across the room in =ront o=
me( went towar5s the win5ow( an5 t9rne5 an5 went back o9t o= the 5oor( alwa>s the limp(
an5 the earnest stea5> regar5. ) walt] then began. I waite5 =or him@ he never came.
Mamma sai5( u.ow strange.4 I went to the other rooms. %o partner there@ he was not to
be seen an>where. One or two others saw( -olonel ,.( -olonel *.(
2
an5 one or two o= his
brother o==icers. It spoile5 m> evening. /omehow I care5 not to 5ance( an5 =elt low an5
5epresse5 an5 h9rt.
B%e?t morning( whilst we were at break=ast( papa came r9shing in( looking an?io9s an5
alarme5. .e t9rne5 to me an5 sai5( u/.( 5i5 >o9 not sa> -aptain AA was here last nightr
#o9 saw him.4 Mamma an5 I both sai5( u#es( certainl>. .e came into the 5rawing-room(
walke5 across to the win5ow( his 9s9al limp( an5 gave me s9ch a serio9s look.4 ,e
sprang 9p an5 sai5( u,h> 5o >o9 askr4 I knew something ha5 happene5. 1apa sai5( u.e
has not been in barracks all night. .e ro5e o9t towar5s "AA bri5ge to a =arm abo9t V
p.m. .is horse came back abo9t 2U p.m.( sa55le soake5( an5 horse terri=ie5.4 O= co9rse
the whole garrison t9rne5 o9t( an5 a general search was ma5e. .e was not =o9n5 9ntil the
secon5 5a>( in the river. *he =lap o= an overcoat showe5 where the bo5> was. .e ha5 p9t
on his shell-Dacket be=ore starting( inten5ing to ret9rn late =or mess. M> rose was still in
his b9ttonhole( an5 it was b9rie5 with him. .e came home( or inten5e5 5oing so( b> a
5eep =or5( b9t the river ha5 risen s955enl>( as it sometimes 5i5. .e was ver> late( an5 he
trie5 no 5o9bt to swim the river( b9t 5i5 not s9ccee5. It was s9ppose5 the horse became
=rightene5 an5 knocke5 him on the =orehea5( as there was a mark. .is watch ha5 stoppe5
at abo9t 2;.2V p.m. O9r parties began alwa>s at X p.m.( an5 close5 at 2.:; a.m. .e came(
I serio9sl> believe( to keep his engagement to me( an5 to have his last long look o= one he
so love5@ =or he 5i5 so =ar more than I 5eserve5.
ii-82V!
B*his is( I am gla5 to sa>( the onl> ghostl> a5vent9re I have ever ha5. I am most matter-
o=-=act( an5 b> no means s9bDect to hall9cinations o= an> kin5. On the contrar>( I 5o not
easil> believe an>thing. *hat was the onl> time in all m> li=e that I ever ha5 s9ch a vision@
an5 nothing on earth will ever make me believe that his spirit
2
5i5 not come to see me
that evening an5 to keep his engagement with meAthe pec9liar limp( the sa5 e?pression
he rather ha5 at all times( an5 the little crimson monthl> rose.
BM> sister ). remembers it. M> mother alwa>s sai5 how o55 an5 9nacco9ntable it was.
-olonel *.( who is 5ea5( never got over it. It gave him a sh955er even to speak o= it.
u"e5a5s I 5on4t like ghostss4 he o=ten sai5.C
,e have obtaine5 =rom the -hie= Librarian o= the *oronto 19blic Librar> a certi=ie5
e?tract =rom the Toronto >.a(iner o= Ma> U8( 2732( giving an acco9nt o= Lie9t. Pnot
-apt.Q
U
,.4s 5eath which 5i==ers =rom the above in stating that his horse an5 5og ret9rne5
to a =arm-ho9se near the river Babo9t U; min9tes a=terC V o4clock( when he ha5 been last
seen( an5 Bwere bro9ght into the town ne?t 5a>.C .e m9st there=ore have been 5rowne5
soon a=ter V. *he 5etail abo9t his watch stopping at 2;.2V is th9s probabl> incorrect( an5
the closeness o= the coinci5ence has been e?aggerate5.
P88UQ +rom an in=ormant who 5esires that her name ma> be s9ppresse5( on acco9nt o= the
pain=9l nat9re o= the main inci5ent. /he is a ver> reasonable an5 respectable woman( who
e?presses a strong contempt =or s9perstition( an5 is ver> sensible o= the e?aggeration an5
5el9sion which enter into the v9lgar belie=s in Bs9pernat9ralC occ9rrences.
B277:.
B,hen I was a >o9ng girl( I resi5e5 with m> =ather( mother( sister Pname5 EllenQ( an5
brother( at -lapham. M> sister was in love with a man( b9t m> =ather an5 mother
5isapprove5 o= the attachment( an5 sent her to a =rien5 in "righton( to be o9t o= the wa>.
One evening 59ring her absence( between 8 an5 W o4clock( m> mother an5 brother were
talking in the gar5en( at the back o= the ho9se. *here was a wall at the bottom o= the
gar5en( an5 a gate( lea5ing into a large enclose5 space 9se5 =or 5rilling( [c.@ this
enclos9re was locke5 in the evening( an5 was certainl> locke5 at the time in E9estion. It
was 59sk( b9t not 5ark. M> brother Fohn Pa ver> active bo>( b9t who happene5 to have
D9st spraine5 his ankleQ looke5 over the wall( an5 s955enl> e?claime5( uMother( there4s
Ellens4 M> mother looke5( saw( an5 recognise5 the =ig9re o= m> sister( an5 sai5( uFohn( go
E9ick( an5 tell her to come in. $on4t sa> an>thing to >o9r =ather.4 Fohn replie5( uI can4t
beca9se o= m> =oot@ call Mar>.4 Mother then calle5 me( an5 whispere5( u*here4s Ellen@ go
an5 tell her to come in@ her =ather shall not know an>thing abo9t her coming back.4 M>
mother4s i5ea was to get her E9ietl> into the ho9se( an5 sen5 her awa> again ne?t 5a>. I at
once went thro9gh the gar5en-gate( an5 gave her the message. I partic9larl> notice5 her
5ress( a 5ark bl9e pelisse( b9ttone5( an5 the ribbon on her bonnet. ) path le5 thro9gh the
enclos9re to the o9tsi5e gate( an5 she kept rece5ing =rom me along this path( while ii-
828! I =ollowe5 more an5 more E9ickl>( m> mother an5 Fohn watching 9s. *here was a
5eep 5ip in the path( an5 here I overtook her an5 trie5 to catch hol5 o= her( b9t seeme5 to
catch nothing. /he still rece5e5( an5 at last stoo5 b> the watch-bo?( close to the gate@ an5
here I repeate5 the message to her( b9t as she ma5e no answer( I went back.
2
M> mother
sai5( u,h>( where4s Ellenr4 I sai5( uI le=t her b> the gate.4 M> mother replie5( u"9t >o9
ca9ght hol5 o= her.4 u#es(4 I sai5( ub9t I 5i5 not seem to =eel an>thing in m> han5.4
BM> mother t9rne5 ver> pale( an5 went into the ho9se an5 tol5 m> =ather( an5 both o=
them =elt a conviction that some calamit> ha5 happene5. *he ne?t 5a> the news came that
m> sister ha5 thrown hersel= into the sea an5 been 5rowne5 a little be=ore W o4clock on
the prece5ing evening. *his is the onl> occasion on which I have ever seen an
apparition.C
Y*his is a case where it is speciall> important to 5isting9ish the central =act o= a
coinci5ence( which ma> be regar5e5 as probabl> telepathic( =rom the 5etails which ma>
have been s9bseE9entl> imagine5 or e?aggerate5. Even i= the report is s9bstantiall>
correct( we have no proo= that the hall9cination was spontaneo9sl> collective@ in the
9ncertain light( it ma> possibl> have been pro59ce5 in the secon5 an5 thir5 percipients b>
the s9ggestion o= the =irst.Z
P88:Q +rom Mr. -. -olchester( "9she> .eath( .erts.
B277U.
B+ort>-two or three >ears ago( m> =ather was with a 5etachment o= his regiment( the
'o>al )rtiller>( statione5 at Montreal( -ana5a. .e ha5 le=t his mother some months
be=ore in Englan5( in an in5i==erent state o= health. One evening he was sitting at his 5esk(
writing to her( when m> mother( looking 9p =rom her work( was startle5 to see his mother
looking over his sho9l5er( seemingl> intent on the letter. M> mother gave a cr> o= alarm(
an5 on m> =ather t9rning ro9n5 the apparition vanishe5.
U
On the same evening I an5 m>
brother Page5 abo9t 8 an5 V >earsQ were in be5( watching the bright moonlight( when
s955enl> we saw a =ig9re( a la5> with her han5s =ol5e5 on her breastAneither looking to
right nor le=t( b9t with her e>es cast 5own in me5itation( the hea5 slightl> bent =orwar5A
walking slowl> between the be5 an5 the win5ow( backwar5s an5 =orwar5s. /he wore a
cap with a =rill tie5 9n5er her chin( an5 a 5ressing-gown o= the appearance o= white
=lannel( her white hair being neatl> arrange5. /he contin9e5 to walk( it seeme5 to me(
=9ll> V min9tes( an5 then was gone. ,e 5i5 not cr> o9t( an5 were not even alarme5( b9t
a=ter her 5isappearance we sai5 to each other( u,hat a nice kin5 la5>s4 an5 then went to
sleep.C
*he chil5ren mentione5 what the> ha5 seen to their mother ne?t morning( b9t were tol5
not to talk abo9t it. *he news o= their gran5mother4s 5eath on that same evening arrive5 a
=ew weeks a=terwar5s.
BI ma> a55(C Mr. -olchester concl95es( Bthat neither I nor m> ii-82W! brother ha5 ever
seen o9r gran5mother 9ntil that evening( nor knew o= what m> mother ha5 seen till >ears
a=ter. *he apparition I saw is as palpabl> be=ore me now as it was 3; >ears since.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the 5eath occ9rre5 on March :2( 273;.
YMr. -olchester tells 9s( in answer to the E9estion whether he believes his own
remembrance to have been 9nbroken( that Bthe occ9rrence was not wholl> or even
partiall> revive5 b> m> motherC@ an5 that the vision is 9niE9e in his e?perience. "9t his
e?treme >o9th at the time makes his =irst-han5 recollection e?tremel> 5o9bt=9l. *his
obDection 5oes not appl> to his evi5ence as to his parents4 share in the a==air. I= the =acts
are correctl> reporte5( this case belongs to the =ormer gro9p( o= cases where the
percipients were apart( as m9ch as to the present one.Z
P883Q +rom Mr. E. "9tler( W( 1ark /E9are( Lee5s.
BOctober( 2773.
B$9ring m> clerkship I resi5e5 in lo5gings( with a kin5-hearte5 -hristian woman o= great
simplicit> o= character an5 reliable veracit>. I hear5 =rom her this stor>.
B.er brother was engage5 in the wine tra5e( an5 spent a great part o= his time in 1ort9gal
an5 /pain. .is two chil5ren were le=t in Lee5s. I am not s9re whether their mother was
living( b9t the> were =reE9entl>( i= not altogether( at their a9nt4s. One 5a> the two chil5ren
were in the back sitting-room along with their a9nt( an5 one or two besi5es PI believe
their co9sinsQ. It is the room I ver> shortl> a=terwar5s live5 in. *he chil5ren
sim9ltaneo9sl> crie5 o9t( uOhs there4s papas gone 9pstairs.4 *he> were la9ghe5 at( an5
chi55en( b9t persiste5( an5 the search ha5 to be ma5e. %othing was 5iscovere5. It was
a=terwar5s =o9n5 b> the testimon> o= the papa himsel=( that e?actl> at that time when the
chil5ren saw him he ha5 =allen into the $o9ro( an5 was in that stage o= sing9lar
e?perience be=ore 5eath b> 5rowning when uall the li=e seems mappe5 o9t be=ore the
spirit(4 an5 the so9l is D9st on the point o= parting =rom the bo5>. I 5o not recollect
whether he sai5 that he ha5 speciall> tho9ght o= his chil5ren in that s9preme moment.
Insensibilit> =ollowe5@ b9t he was resc9e5( not too late =or restoration.
BE$,)'$ "U*LE'C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. "9tler sa>s:A
B,ith regar5 to >o9r inE9ir>( I =ear I sho9l5 have some 5i==ic9lt> now in getting an>
corroboration o= m> comm9nication respecting m> ol5 lan5la5>( tho9gh m> own
remembrance o= her comm9nication is too vivi5 to a5mit o= the possibilit> o= mistake. It
was tol5 me in the room( m> own room( where it occ9rre5( with =inger pointing to the
passage an5 staircase. .er name was Mrs. "ooth@ the ho9se( %o. W( &rove *errace( Lee5s:
the absentee in /pain( her own brother( ,illiam ,il5@ o= the chil5ren( his 5a9ghters(
ever> one I believe is 5ea5. *he 5a9ghters le=t Lee5s man> >ears ago( an5 I believe I am
right that the> are neither o= them living.C
P88VQ +rom Mr. "eres=or5 -hristmas( -arrara( Ital>.
B%ovember :;th( 277V.
BM> =ather( &eorge "eres=or5 -hristmas( was a cavalr> o==icer in the $anish service@ his
el5er an5 onl> brother( Fohn -hristmas( an a5miral ii-827! in the same service. *he
latter4s onl> son( ,alter -hristmas( was( an5 is still =or a9ght I know to the contrar>( one
o= the gentlemen o= the be5-chamber to the 0ing o= $enmark. *he circ9mstance I am
abo9t to relate took place be=ore m> =ather4s marriage( when he was >et a >o9ng man an5
living with m> gran5=ather in -openhagenAit m9st have been somewhere abo9t 27UV.
)5miral -. ha5 saile5 =or /t. *homas( an5 m> =ather accompanie5 him( leaving m>
gran5=ather in his 9s9al health in $enmark. *he two brothers occ9pie5 the same cabin(
across which( =or the sake o= coolness on entering the tropics( a co9ple o= cots ha5 been
sl9ng parallel to each other. *he> were within a =ew 5a>s4 sail o= the islan5@ the sea calm(
the sk> clear( an5( on the night in E9estion( a bright moonlight po9ring in thro9gh the
wi5el>-opene5 cabin win5ows( lighting 9p all within with almost the 5istinctness o=
5a>light. "oth brothers m9st have been awake5 s955enl> an5 sim9ltaneo9sl>Ab> what(
the> never knewAb> some irresistible an5 9nknown powerAwake5 to see stan5ing
between their cots the =ig9re o= their =ather. "oth ga]e5 in m9te ama]ement: there it
stoo5( motionless =or a moment( which seeme5 a cent9r>@ then it raise5 one han5 an5
pointe5 to its own e>es. *he> were close5. M> =ather starte5 9p in be5( an5 as he 5i5 so
the =orm vanishe5. /o m9ch was m> 9ncle impresse5 with the =act that he at once entere5
it( with 5ate an5 moment o= appearance( in the log-book@ while nat9rall> the circ9mstance
became the all-absorbing topic o= conversation an5 spec9lation to all on boar5.
B,hen later letters reache5 them in the ,est In5ies( the ho9r an5 min9te( allowing o=
co9rse =or 5i==erence o= time( were =o9n5 to coinci5e e?actl> with those in which m>
gran5=ather ha5 5ie5.
BIn 59e time the circ9mstance was known to all -openhagen. %either m> 9ncle nor =ather
ever like5 to speak abo9t it. I have ha5 the =act =rom the lips o= both. "oth =irml> believe5
in the realit> o= the vision( an5 neither o= them was the man to give hee5 or cre5ence to
an i5le 5el9sion. I remember both( in answer to a E9estion o= mine( 5eclaring to having
=elt no =ear( or even awe: s955en won5er an5 an 9nacco9ntable chill( as o= an ic>
atmosphere(
2
was the pre5ominating impression. It was onl> when the =ig9re pointe5 to its
own close5 e>es( that a 59mb 5rea5 o= impen5ing bereavement awoke. M> =ather( as also
m> 9ncle( 9se5 to a==irm that neither on the evening in E9estion nor 9pon an> o= the
previo9s 5a>s ha5 their =ather been partic9larl> the s9bDect o= either their conversation or
tho9ghts. *here was no preparation( so to sa>( on their part =or the apparition@ at the same
instant both were s955enl> awoke =rom sleep b> some m>sterio9s an5 irresistible will(
when both behel5 the i5entical =orm stan5ing within arm4s length o= them.
BI have no 5o9bt( i= >o9 have among >o9r correspon5ents or members an>one in
-openhagen willing to take the tro9ble( >o9 might be able to get at the entr> ma5e in the
log-book.
U
M> 9ncle was on active service till his 5eath almost( which took place onl> a
=ew >ears ago( an5 there co9l5 be no 5i==ic9lt> in tracing back the vessels he comman5e5.
B"E'E/+O'$ -.'I/*M)/.C
ii-82X!
*he ne?t case( i= telepathicall> originate5( is an interesting instance o= the appearance o= a
phantasm to certain percipients on local( not personal( gro9n5s Pp. U87Q.
P888Q +rom Miss E5ith +arE9harson( sent to 9s b> her relative( Mrs. M9rra> )>nsle>( o=
&reat "rampton( near .ere=or5.
BF9ne( 277V.
BIn the >ear 2787( %o. X( $r9mmon5 1lace( E5inb9rgh( was in the occ9pation o= Mr.
+arE9harson( =ormerl> a F95ge o= the .igh -o9rt in Famaica. On the night o= &oo5
+ri5a> in that >ear( two o= his 5a9ghters( Miss E5ith +arE9harson( her sister Marianne
Ynow Mrs. .enr> M9rra>Z( an5 a little co9sin( )gnes /pal5ing( age5 8 >ears( were
sleeping in a room at the top o= the ho9se. )bo9t 22.3V p.m.( the two sisters were
awakene5 b> hearing lo95 screams =rom the chil5( who was sleeping on a mattress place5
on the =loor besi5e their be5. *he mattress was against the 5oor lea5ing into a 5ressing-
room@ this 5oor was locke5 an5 seale5 with white tapes an5 black wa?@ it ha5 been th9s
close5 b> a member o= the =amil> to whom the ho9se belonge5 be=ore Mr. +arE9harson
entere5 9pon his tenanc>. *he 5eath o= the hea5 o= the =amil>( an5 the 5elicac> o= health
o= one o= the 5a9ghters( ha5 ca9se5 them to wish to leave E5inb9rgh( an5 spen5 the
winter in *orE9a>.
BOn hearing the chil54s screams o= terror( Miss M. +. to9che5 her sister an5 sai5( u$o >o9
hear the chil5 screamingr4 Miss E. +. replie5 that she 5i5( an5 t9rne5 her hea5 ro9n5 to
listen better. ,hen the chil5 was aske5 what she was screaming abo9t( she sai5( uI am
wi5e awake( an5 I have seen a =ig9re which was leaning over me(4 an5 when =9rther
E9estione5 where the =ig9re went to( sai5( u'o9n5 the si5e o= >o9r be5.4
BMiss E. +.( when she t9rne5 ro9n5( saw a =ig9re sli5e =rom near the chil54s be5 an5 pass
along the =oot o= the be5 whereon she an5 her sister were. P)t the =irst moment she
tho9ght it was a thie=.Q *he latter( on hearing her sa> in +rench u:: , a 2uel2uun, was so
terri=ie5 that she hi5 her hea5 9n5er the be5clothes.
BMiss E. +. 5escribes the =ig9re as being 5resse5 in a ro9gh brown shawl hel5 tightl>
ro9n5 the b9st( a wi5e brimme5 hat( an5 a veil. ,hen the chil5 was E9estione5
a=terwar5s she gave the same acco9nt o= the cost9me.
BMiss E. +. sa>s that a=ter passing along the =oot o= the be5 with a noiseless gli5ing
motion( the =ig9re 5isappeare5 into the 5arkness.
BE?cept the 5oor which was locke5 an5 seale5( the onl> 5oor o= e?it to the room was one
which was E9ite close to the be5@ at right angles with the 5oor an5 with the hea5 o= the
be5 was a large hanging c9pboar5.
B"oth the la5ies got 9p instantl>. *he> =o9n5 the 5oor o= their room close5( as the> ha5
le=t it. *heir brother4s room was ne?t to theirs@ the> knocke5 at his 5oor to ro9se him( at
the same time keeping a sharp looko9t on the 5oor o= their own room to see that no one
escape5. *he whole part> then ma5e a thoro9gh search in the room an5 c9pboar5( =o9n5
nothing 5ist9rbe5( an5 once more retire5 to rest. *he ne?t morning the page-bo> sai5 that
he ha5 been 9nable to sleep all night on acco9nt o= the so9n5s he hear5 o= someone
scratching at his win5ow. .e 5eclare5 that he ha5 shie5 all his boots an5 ever>thing he
co9l5 la> hol5 o= in the 5irection whence the noise came( b9t witho9t e==ect. .e co9l5
stan5 it ii-8U;! no longer( an5 went to the room where some o= the women-servants
slept( begging to be let in. *he> ha5 hear5 nothing( however( tho9gh the>( like himsel=(
slept in the basement o= the ho9se.
B*he whole =amil> were har5l> assemble5 on the /at9r5a> morning( when the son-in-law
o= the late owner o= the ho9se arrive5( an5 aske5 to see Mr. +arE9harson. .e wishe5
partic9larl> to know e?actl> what 5a> this gentleman an5 his =amil> inten5e5 leaving the
ho9se( Ptheir term wo9l5 e?pire the =ollowing week(Q =or he ha5 D9st receive5 a telegram
in=orming him that his sister-in-law ha5 5ie5 that night( an5 the> were an?io9s to bring
her bo5> there imme5iatel> =or b9rial.C
P,ith respect to this last paragraph( the narrator4s =ather writes:A
B*he above is a correct statement o= the occ9rrence.
B-. M. +)'}U.)'/O%.CQ
Miss +arE9harson contin9es:A
B*he possible sol9tion o= what we pres9me to have been an apparition o= this la5> is( that
the be5room occ9pie5 b> the Misses +arE9harson being the one she habit9all> 9se5( in
her 5>ing moments she 5esire5 to visit it once more( or else that there was something in
the 5ressing-room which she partic9larl> wishe5 =or.
BE$I*. ). +)'}U.)'/O%.C
*he =ollowing in5epen5ent acco9nt is =rom Mrs. M9rra>:A
B-obo( &9ernse>.
BF9ne U3th( 277V.
BO9r home was in 1erthshire@ b9t in the winter o= 2787 m> =ather took a ho9se =or =o9r
months in $r9mmon5 1lace( %o. 7( Yr XZ in E5inb9rgh( in or5er to give 9s a change. *he
ho9se belonge5 to &eneral /tewart( who ha5 a 5elicate 5a9ghter( an5 he let it( to take the
5a9ghter to *orE9a> =or the winter. ,e 5i5 not know the /tewarts( so o9r imagination
co9l5 not have assiste5 in an> wa> to acco9nt =or the c9rio9s apparition that was seen. I
m>sel= 5i5 not see it(
2
b9t I was in the room with m> sister an5 little co9sin( who both
5i5. M> belie= is that 1rovi5ence prevente5 m> seeing it( as I am o= a ver> nervo9s
temperament( an5 it might have ha5 a ver> ba5 e==ect on me i= I ha5. ,ell( the apparition
took place on &oo5 +ri5a> night( at abo9t 2U o4clock. *his little co9sin( who was onl>
abo9t 8 >ears ol5( ha5 come into town =rom the co9ntr>( an5 as o9r ho9se was ver> =9ll
she ha5 a shake-5own besi5e o9r be5 on m> si5e. I was the =irst to be awakene5 b>
hearing her calling o9t in a =rightene5 wa>. /o I sai5( u,hat is the matter( )55ier4 uOh(4
she sai5( u-o9sin Marianne( I am so =rightene5. ) =ig9re has been leaning over me( an5
whenever I p9t o9t m> han5s to p9sh it o== it leant back on >o9r be5s4 )t this I was
alarme5 an5 awoke m> sister( who li=te5 her hea5 =rom her pillow an5 looke5 9p( when
she saw a =ig9re gli5ing across the =oot o= o9r be5 wrappe5 in a shawl( with a hat an5 veil
on. /he whispere5 to me in +rench u:l , a 2uel2uun, thinking it was a thie=( whereat we
both D9mpe5 o9t o= be5 together an5 went to the ne?t room to get o9r brother( -aptain
+arE9harson. .is be5room 5oor ha5 a shak> lock which ma5e a noise( so he ha5
barrica5e5 it with a portmantea9. ,hile he was coming to o9r help( we kept o9r e>es
=i?e5 on o9r 5oor in case an>one sho9l5 have escape5( b9t we saw nothing( an5 a=ter o9r
all ii-8U2! searching ever> corner o= the be5room we came to the concl9sion that no one
ha5 been there( =or ever>thing was intact. ,e then E9estione5 little )55ie as to what she
ha5 seen an5 what the =ig9re was like. /he 5escribe5 it as that o= a la5> with a shawl on
an5 a hat( an5 a veil over her =ace( an5 sai5 that as I spoke she ha5 gone across the =oot o=
the be5 in the same 5irection that m> sister ha5 seen her go. *his chil5( I m9st tell >o9(
ha5 been most care=9ll> bro9ght 9p b> her mother( an5 was not allowe5 to rea5 even =air>
tales =or =ear o= having =oolish i5eas in her hea5( which makes the thing more remarkable(
=or she ha5 certainl> never hear5 o= a ghost. I 5on4t know even now whether she knows
an>thing abo9t it( =or we ha5 to preten5 that it m9st have been m> el5est sister who ha5
come in to pla> 9s a trick( =or =ear o= =rightening her.
B*hen the ne?t morning we were relating o9r a5vent9res( when a ring came to the 5oor(
an5 the servant sai5 a gentleman wante5 to speak to m> =ather. *his gentleman was a Mr.
+in5la>( who ha5 marrie5 a Miss /tewart. .e came to ask when we were to leave( =or he
knew it was abo9t the time( as he ha5 receive5 a telegram that morning to sa> that Miss
/tewart ha5 5ie5 in *orE9a> 59ring the night( an5 the> wante5 to bring her bo5> to
E5inb9rgh. ,e hear5 a=terwar5s =rom =rien5s o= the /tewarts that the be5room we ha5
ha5 been hers. I =orgot to mention that the chil54s be5 la> across the 5oor o= a small room
which ha5 been locke5 9p b> the /tewarts( an5 the> ha5 p9t tapes across an5 seale5 them
with black wa?.
B,e have none o= 9s ever ha5 an> hall9cinations either be=ore or a=ter this strange a==air.
uM)'I)%%E MU'')#.C
,e =in5 =rom the !cots(an an5 the >dinburgh Courant that Miss /tewart 5ie5 on )pril
22( 2787( the 5a> =ollowing &oo5 +ri5a>. I= the 5eath took place in the co9rse o= a =ew
ho9rs a=ter mi5night( B59ring the nightC wo9l5 o= co9rse be the nat9ral e?pression.
Mrs. "riet]cke( o= WU( /tern5ale 'oa5( ,.( a=ter rea5ing this acco9nt in the Journal o= the
/.1.'.( wrote to 9s as =ollows( on /ept. UX( 277V:A
BI was ver> intimate with two Misses M>ers@ an5 within a 5a> or two o= their co9sins4(
the Misses +arE9harson( having the e?perience relate5( the> Pthe Misses M>ersQ tol5 me
the a==air( D9st as relate5 in the Journal/ an5 the> also( I 9n5erstoo5( ha5 seen "o>5 PU(
#ork 1lace( E5inb9rghQ( the ho9se-agent( an5 hear5 that the 5escription o= the la5> in the
large hat an5 veil was e?actl> like the la5> to whom the ho9se belonge5. *he Misses
M>ers were m9ch impresse5. *he el5er is 5ea5@ the other marrie5 a Mr. $9nlop( an5
went to In5ia@ I have lost sight o= her.
B.. 0. "'IE*J-0E.C
Mrs. M9rra> con=irms the =act that her co9sins( the Misses M>ers( were in=orme5 o= the
vision ver> soon a=ter its occ9rrence( an5 a55s:ABI 5o not think an> o= 9s mentione5 it to
Mr. "o>5@ he ma> have hear5 it =rom someone else( =or it ca9se5 E9ite a sensation in
E5inb9rgh. I have no reason to believe that the 5ress o= the =ig9re was in an> wa>
characteristic o= Miss /tewart.C
2

ii-8UU!
Y*he resemblance o= the =ig9re seen to the la5> who 5ie5 is entirel> problematic. It might
almost have been =oretol5 as certain that the resemblance wo9l5 =orm a prominent item in
an> thir5-han5 version o= the occ9rrence.Z
P88WQ +rom the 'ethodist 'agaAine =or March( 272X( p. U;7(Aa letter to the E5itor.
B'ochester( +ebr9ar> 3th( 2727.
B/I'(A)t the /he==iel5 -on=erence o= 272W( when e?amining the >o9ng men in the
p9blic congregation( I was greatl> s9rprise5 b> the e?traor5inar> 5eclaration o= one o= the
preachers. *he e==ect his narrative pro59ce5 9pon the a95ience in59ce5 me to reE9est him
to commit to paper what he ha5 so 5istinctl> 5etaile5. )s it contains a well-a9thenticate5
acco9nt o= what in=i5elit> has a==ecte5 to 5en>( an5 man> well-in=orme5 -hristians
receive with s9spicion an5 5o9bt( >o9r insertion o= his letter to me will at least a==or5
some =9rther evi5ence on a E9estion which is o= s9ch high interest an5 importance to the
worl5.
BI. &)UL*E'.C
B/he==iel5.
B7th )9g9st( 272W.
BM'. 1'E/I$E%*(A.O%. /I'(A)ccor5ing to >o9r 5esire I take 9p m> pen( to give >o9
the partic9lars o= a sole(n fact, which was the =irst gran5 means o= lea5ing m> min5
serio9sl> to think o= those solemn realitiesA5eath( D95gment( an5 eternit>.
B) sister being marrie5 to a gentleman in the arm>( we receive5 intelligence that the
regiment to which he belonge5 ha5 or5ers =or one o= the /panish Isles PMinorcaQ. One
night P28 >ears backQ abo9t 2; o4clock( as his wi=e( his chil5( an el5er sister( an5 m>sel=
Pa bo> o= nine >earsQ were sitting in a back room( the sh9tters were close5( bolte5( an5
barre5( the >ar5-5oor locke5( when s955enl> a light shone thro9gh the win5ow( the
sh9tters( the bars( ill9mine5 the room we sat in.
2
,e looke5Astarte5Aan5 behel5 the
spirit
U
of a (urdered brother/ his e>e was =i?e5 on his wi=e an5 chil5 alternatel>@ he
wave5 his han5( smile5( contin9e5 abo9t hal= a min9te( then vanishe5 =rom o9r sight. *he
moment be=ore the spirit 5isappeare5( m> sister crie5( u9es dead/ hes dead4@ an5 =ainte5
awa>. .er little bo> ran to his =ather4s spirit( an5 wept beca9se it wo9l5 not sta>. ) short
time a=ter this( we receive5 a letter =rom the colonel o= the regiment seale5 with black
Pthe 5ark emblem o= mortalit>Q( bearing the 5ole=9l b9t e?pecte5 news( that on s9ch a
night Pthe same on which we saw his spiritQ m> brother-in-law was =o9n5 weltering in his
bloo5 Pin ret9rning =rom the mess-roomQ@ the spark o= li=e was not E9ite o9t. *he last
wish he was hear5 to breathe was to see his wi=e an5 chil5@ it was grante5 him in a certain
sense( =or the ver> ho9r he 5ie5 in the Islan5 o= Minorca( that same ho9r Paccor5ing to the
ver> little 5i==erence o= clocksQ his spirit appeare5 to his wi=e( his chil5( an el5er sister(
an5 m>sel=( in $oncaster. wBI am( /ir( >o9rs obe5ientl>(
B*.O/. /)V)&E.C
ii-8U:!
B1./.AM> sister( =rom the night she saw the spirit o= her h9sban5( (ourned him as 5ea5(
nor co9l5 m> =ather prevent it b> an> arg9ment. .e en5eavo9re5 to pers9a5e 9s we were
all 5eceive5( >et he acknowle5ge5 the testimon> which the chil5 gave staggered hi(/ b9t
when the letter arrive5 =rom the colonel o= the regiment( with the aw=9l ti5ings( he was
struc1 du(b. M> two sisters are >et living an5 can testi=> to the tr9th o= this acco9nt( an5
at least one h9n5re5 persons besi5e o9r own =amil> can prove o9r mentioning the hour
the spirit appeared, several weeks be=ore we receive5 the melanchol> letter( an5 that the
letter mentione5 the ho9r an5 night he 5ie5 as the same in which we behel5 his spirit.
B*. /.C
Mr. /avage wrote a precisel> concor5ant acco9nt
2
Po= which we have a cop>Q =or the 'ev.
'. 1ilter( whose 5a9ghter writes as =ollows on the s9bDect to o9r =rien5( the 'ev. F. ).
Mac5onal5:A
B$oncaster.
B$ecember 2Wth( 277V.
B$E)' M'. M)-$O%)L$(AM> =ather( the 'ev. '. 1ilter( hear5 Mr. /avage relate a
c9rio9s =act at the -on=erence when he was receive5 into u=9ll conne?ion.4 Mr. /avage
sai5 that as a >o9th he ha5 been scepticall> incline5(
U
b9t that the circ9mstance relate5
ha5 le5 to his conversion. M> =ather was so m9ch intereste5 that he reE9este5 Mr. /avage
to write 5own the narrative =or him. .e 5i5 so. *he paper which >o9 have acc9ratel>
copie5 was the res9lt@ it was care=9ll> preserve5( an5 =ell into m> han5s at m> =ather4s
5eath.
B*he 'ev. .. .astling( who live5 in $oncaster V; >ears ago( remembers the tale ver>
well. .is recollection agrees e?actl> with the narrative >o9 have copie5. *he sister4s
h9sban5 was s9ppose5 to have been m9r5ere5 in mistake =or somebo5> else( or else b>
someone who ha5 a gr95ge against him. Mr. .astling sa>s the scene was a ho9se in /t.
&eorge4s &ate( p9lle5 5own a =ew >ears ago.
B#o9rs ver> tr9l>(
BF. M. 1IL*E'.C
S 3. In the =ollowing gro9p o= cases( it is more 5o9bt=9l whether the e?perience recor5e5
sho9l5 be ascribe5 to the agenc> o= the person whom the phantasm represente5. I= not(
the> are simpl> e?amples o= trans=erre5 hall9cinations o= s9bDective origin( an5 as s9ch
their position in this book has been s9==icientl> e?plaine5 Ppp. 27:( 27XTXUQ. *he =irst
three e?amples are Pe?cept in the =act o= being collectiveQ parallel to the Barrival casesC o=
-hap. \IV.( S W.
P887Q +rom The Journal of 'ental !cience, =or )pril( 277;( p. 2V2. *he e5itor writes( on
+eb. 2U( 277;:A
B,e have receive5 the =ollowing letter =rom a ph>sician( narrating two ps>chological
e?periences( in one o= which another element enters( ii-8U3! namel>( an e?ternal event
coinci5ent with the s9bDective impression. .a5 o9r correspon5ent been e?pecte5 b> his
=amil> at the time( the e?planation o= ue?pectant attention4 in an abnormal con5ition o=
the nervo9s s>stem might have s9==ice5( i= it be a5mitte5 that two persons can( thro9gh
this ca9se( have optical ill9sions at the same moment. ,hether in s9ch cases mere
coinci5ence is a s9==icient sol9tion( or whether the two circ9mstances stan5 in an> ca9sal
relation( m9st be 5eci5e5 b> s9ch an acc9m9lation o= evi5ence as wo9l5 ren5er the =irst
h>pothesis 9ntenable.C
B+ebr9ar> 2Uth( 277;.
BM# $E)' $'. *U0E(A)ltho9gh the =ollowing circ9mstance is not e?actl> similar in
kin5 to that relate5 b> $r. Fessopp( >o9 ma> like to make 9se o= it. )t( an> rate( it is at
>o9r service( an5 >o9 ma> rel> 9pon its being E9ite acc9rate. One 5a>( some >ears ago(
two o= m> =emale relations were looking o9t o= a win5ow in &reenwich D9st opposite the
hospital( an5 both saw( or tho9ght the> saw( me pass an5 look in. One o= them ran
imme5iatel> to the 5oor( b9t to her astonishment co9l5 see no one either 9p or 5own the
street. )t this time I was not e?pecte5( being( as all m> =amil> s9ppose5( in 1aris. "9t
within a E9arter o= an ho9r I arrive5 at &reenwich. ,hen I 5i5 enter( I was calle5 to
acco9nt =or the practical Doke I was s9ppose5 to have pla>e5 9pon m> relations( b>
peeping in at the win5ow an5 then concealing m>sel=( an5 it was with some 5i==ic9lt> I
convince5 them that I ha5 come straight to the ho9se.
B/ome >ears a=ter this( m> wi=e an5 5a9ghter Pnot the relations re=erre5 to previo9sl>Q
were sitting in the 5ining-room( when the> both saw an ol5 la5> enter at the gate( an5
walk 9p the steps lea5ing to the =ront 5oor o= the ho9se. M> wi=e sai5 to her 5a9ghter(
u,hat can bring ol5 Mrs. -. o9t in s9ch a =loo5 o= rainr '9n an5 open the 5oor( that she
ma> not have to wait =or the servant to answer the bell.4 On opening the 5oor( there was
no one there( nor in the gar5en. /ome other c9rio9s things o= the same character have
occ9rre5@ b9t as the ill9sion a==ecte5 onl> a single person( I re=rain =rom mentioning
them( as the> might arise =rom the ph>sical con5ition o= the parties concerne5( which
co9l5 har5l>( I think( be the case with the others.AVer> sincerel> >o9rs(
BM. $.C
In answer to inE9iries( $r. .ack *9ke writes to 9s:A
BL>n5on Lo5ge( .anwell( ,.
BFan9ar> UXth( 277V.
BuM. $.4 5ie5 some while ago. .is name was $r. "oase( long respecte5 as a ph>sician at
+almo9th. .e retire5 to 1l>mo9th( where he took an active part in the Irvingite -h9rch to
which he belonge5.
B.e was altogether reliable( an5 I have no reason to 5o9bt the correctness o= the =acts
narrate5.
B$. .. *U0EC
Y*hese inci5ents( i= correctl> recor5e5( 5o not look like mistakes o= i5entit>. I= Pas ma> be
g9esse5 =rom BM.$.4sC =inal sentenceQ either o= the percipients in the secon5 case ha5 on
other occasions e?perience5 p9rel> s9bDective hall9cinations( the =act wo9l5 be o= interest
as =avo9ring the view that the vision o= Mrs. -. originate5 s9bDectivel> in one o= the two
min5s.Z
ii-8UV!
P88XQ +rom Mrs. /t9rge( U( Mi5lan5 'oa5( &lo9cester.
B%ov. U8( 2773.
B,hen resi5ing in Montserrat( ,est In5ies( in or abo9t the >ear 27V7( I was on a visit to
some =rien5s in the principal town o= )ntig9a. One evening Mr. &eorge .abershon( a
gentleman who boar5e5 with the =amil>( b9t lo5ge5 in another part o= the town( remaine5
rather late@ Mrs. "9rns( the la5> o= the ho9se( retire5( leaving her 5a9ghters( to one o=
whom Mr. .abershon was engage5( an5 a >o9ng la5> name5 Minnie )n5erson( an5
m>sel= 5ownstairs. *he evening was a bea9ti=9l moonlight one. )s soon as Mr.
.abershon le=t( a servant passe5 thro9gh the room in which we were sitting an5 =astene5
the o9ter 5oor( lea5ing =rom the veran5ah into the street( passing into the ho9se a=ter he
ha5 5one so. /oon a=ter Minnie 9ttere5 an e?clamation. I looke5 9p an5 saw Mr. ..( or
what appeare5 to be him( entering the room =rom the veran5ah( an5 I sai5( uMr.
.abershons4 Minnie sai5( u#es.4 %one o= the others in the room saw him. *he apparition
5isappeare5 almost imme5iatel>. ,e were somewhat startle5 at his 9ne?pecte5
reappearance( an5 searche5 abo9t an5 looke5 5own the roa5 Pit was bright moonlight( as
mentione5 be=oreQ( b9t co9l5 see no one( nor co9l5 we 9n5erstan5 how he co9l5 have got
in( as the o9ter 5oor was locke5.
B,hen o9r hostess hear5 o= the matter in the morning she was m9ch anno>e5( an5 on Mr.
.abershon4s arrival to break=ast( she spoke to him abo9t having come back( =rightening
the girls. .e 5eclare5 he ha5 not 5one so( b9t sai5 that on his wa> home he ha5 tho9ght
o= ret9rning to ask =or a piece o= meat =or the 5ogs( a thing which he ha5 5one more than
once be=ore( an5 that he stoo5 in the roa5 consi5ering whether or no he sho9l5 5o so(
5eci5ing in the negative beca9se he tho9ght we sho9l5 la9gh at him( as he o=ten 5i5 come
back. I s9ppose he appeare5 to Minnie an5 m>sel= at the time he was consi5ering whether
or no he sho9l5 ret9rn.
BI regret to sa> most o= those who were present in that room( as well as Mr. .abershon(
are now no more( b9t I believe I have correctl> narrate5 the =acts. *he onl> s9rvivor is
now the wi=e o= F9stice /emper( a D95ge in the /9preme -o9rt o= the Leewar5 Isles. I ma>
a55 that Mr. .abershon was a m9ch esteeme5 >o9ng Englishman( whose veracit> co9l5
be entirel> 5epen5e5 9pon.
B)%%IE /*U'&E.C
Mrs. /emper sen5s 9s the =ollowing in5epen5ent acco9nt( =rom which it appears that she
was not hersel= present at the time.
B/t. 0itts.
BU;th )pril( 2778.
B*he inci5ent to which >o9 re=er took place in the ho9se o= m> =ather( Mr. "9rns. I was
not present( b9t the strange tale was tol5 to me( an5 I am ver> please5 to tell >o9 all I
know abo9t it( in accor5ance with >o9r reE9est. *he =acts( as well as I can call them to
min5( are these. Mr. &eorge .abershon spent the evening with m> =amil>. On his leaving(
all the members o= it retire5 to rest with the e?ception o= m> sister Psince 5ea5Q an5 her
=rien5 Mrs. /t9rge@ the two girls remaine5 in the 5rawing-room( which was still brightl>
lighte5. *o their s9rprise the> became aware that Mr. .abershon ha5 come back( an5 was
stan5ing at one o= the entrance 5oors( ga]ing at them. *he> preten5e5 not to see him@ b9t
on his keeping his stat9e-like position( the> got so c9rio9s to know wh> ii-8U8! he ha5
ret9rne5 that one o= them aske5 what he wante5. *he> receive5 no repl>( an5 on
a5vancing to where he stoo5( he 5isappeare5. Imagining he was pla>ing them a trick(
the> searche5 abo9t the veran5ah@ the> then watche5 the street 9p which he ha5 to go to
get to his lo5gingsAan5 it being a bright( moonlight night( ever> obDect wo9l5 be seen
5istinctl>. .e( however( was not there.
B%e?t 5a>( on their asking Mr. .abershon how he manage5 to el95e them( he pro=esse5
per=ect ignorance o= what the> were talking abo9t. Later on( m> mother( who tho9ght he
ha5 m>sti=ie5 the girls eno9gh( privatel> aske5 him to set the matter at rest b> e?plaining
it. Mr. .abershon ass9re5 her that he ha5 not come back. .e sai5 he ha5 ha5 a strong an5
almost irresistible -ish to 5o so( that he ha5 t9rne5 an5 walke5 a =ew steps( an5 then(
thinking b> that time the 5oor wo9l5 be sh9t( he retrace5 his steps an5 went home. Mr
.abershon4s 5enial co9l5 not be 5o9bte5 b> an> one who knew him.
BI ma> as well mention that Mr. .abershon was engage5 to be marrie5 to m> sister( an5
the reason he wishe5 to ret9rn to the ho9se was that he ha5 not E9ite 9n5erstoo5
something she wishe5 5one.
BMI%%IE /EM1E' Yn4e "U'%/Z.C
YIt will be seen that Mrs. /emper represents her sister( an5 not Minnie )n5erson( as the
secon5 percipient. )=ter a conversation with Mrs. /t9rge( I =eel no 5o9bt that her version
is the correct one. *he 5iscrepancies between the two acco9nts can scarcel> be hel5 to
a==ect the central =act 5escribe5.Z
P8W;Q +rom $r. ,>l5( 32( -o9rt=iel5 'oa5( /.,.
B$ecember( 277U.
BMiss L. an5 her mother were =or 2V >ears m> most intimate =rien5s@ the> were la5ies o=
the highest intelligence( an5 per=ectl> tr9th=9l( an5 their stor> was con=irme5 b> one o=
the servants@ the other servant I co9l5 not trace.
BMiss L.( some >ears be=ore I ma5e her acE9aintance( occ9pie5 m9ch o= her time in
visiting the poor. One 5a>( as she walke5 homewar5s( she =elt col5 an5 tire5( an5 longe5
to be at home( warming hersel= at the kitchen =ire. )t or abo9t the min9te correspon5ing
to this wish( the two servants being in the kitchen( the 5oor-han5le was seen to t9rn( the
5oor opene5(
2
an5 in walke5 Miss L.( an5 going 9p to the =ire she hel5 o9t her han5s an5
warme5 hersel=( an5 the servants saw she ha5 a pair o= green ki5 gloves on her han5s.
/he s955enl> 5isappeare5 be=ore their e>es( an5 the two servants in great alarm went
9pstairs an5 tol5 the mother what the> ha5 seen( incl95ing the green ki5 gloves. *he
mother =eare5 something was wrong( b9t she attempte5 to E9iet the servants b>
remin5ing them that Miss L. alwa>s wore black an5 never green gloves( an5 that
there=ore the ughost4 co9l5 not have been that o= her 5a9ghter.
BIn abo9t hal=-an-ho9r the veritable Miss L. entere5 the ho9se( an5 going into the kitchen
warme5 hersel= b> the =ire@ an5 she ha5 on a pair o= green ki5 gloves which she ha5
bo9ght on her wa> home( not being able to get a s9itable black pair.
B&. ,#L$ M.$.C
*he 'ev. ,. /tainton Moses writes:A
ii-8UW!
BU2( "irchington 'oa5( 0,( Fan9ar> :2st( 277:.
BI have hear5 the stor> o= Miss L. =rom her mother. It is( as =ar as m> memor> serves(
reco9nte5 here with per=ect acc9rac>. "oth the la5ies mentione5 were intimatel> known
to me( an5 entirel> to be tr9ste5.
B,. /*)I%*O% MO/E/.C
Y*his case( it will be seen( 5oes not 5epen5 on the testimon> o= the servants( b9t on that
o= Mrs. L.( whose character =or tr9th=9lness is vo9che5 =or b> two gentlemen who knew
her intimatel>. *he point as to the longing to be Bwarming hersel= at the kitchen =ireC is(
however( one ver> likel> to have been imagine5 or e?aggerate5@ even s9pposing that it
was gen9inel> remembere5( the Bmin9te correspon5ingC to it is not likel> to have been
a=terwar5s ascertainable( tho9gh ver> likel> in5ee5 to be inferred as that o= the
apparition@ an5 it is impossible to be s9re that the green gloves were mentione5 be=ore the
realit> o= their e?istence was known@ so that Miss L.4s agenc> cannot be con=i5entl>
ass9me5.Z
*he ne?t two cases resemble %os. :U7 an5 :UX( the state o= the person whose phantasm
appeare5 presenting nothing which co9l5 be s9ppose5 to be a 5istinctive con5ition o=
telepathic agenc>.
P8W2Q +rom $r. "9chanan Plate ..E.I.-./. "engal EstablishmentQ( 2U( '9tlan5 /E9are(
E5inb9rgh. )ll the percipients are 5ea5( e?cept one( who is inaccessible. )mong them
were $r. "9chanan4s late wi=e( an5 her parents.
B*he =ollowing circ9mstance took place at a villa abo9t one an5 a-hal= miles =rom
&lasgow( an5 was tol5 me b> m> wi=e. O= its tr9th I am as certain as i= I ha5 been a
witness. *he ho9se ha5 a lawn in =ront( o= abo9t three or =o9r acres in e?tent( with a lo5ge
at the gate ver> 5istinctl> seen =rom the ho9se( which was abo9t 7; >ar5s 5istant. *wo o=
the =amil> were going to visit a =rien5 seven miles 5istant( an5 on the previo9s 5a> it ha5
been arrange5 to take a la5>( Miss ,.( with them( who was to be in waiting at a place
abo9t a mile 5istant. *hree o= the =amil> an5 a la5> visitor were stan5ing at one o= the
5ining-room win5ows waiting =or the carriage( when the>( incl95ing m> wi=e( saw Miss
,. open the gate at the lo5ge. *he win5 ha5 5isarrange5 the =ront o= a pelisse which she
wore( which the> 5istinctl> saw her a5D9st. /he wore a light gre>colo9re5 beaver hat( an5
ha5 a han5kerchie= at her mo9th@ it was s9ppose5 that she was s9==ering =rom toothache(
to which she was s9bDect. /he entere5 the lo5ge( to the s9rprise o= her =rien5s( an5 as she
5i5 not leave it( a servant was sent to ask her to Doin the =amil>@ b9t she was in=orme5 that
Miss ,. ha5 not been there( an5 it was a=terwar5s ascertaine5 that no one( e?cept the
woman4s h9sban5( ha5 been in the lo5ge that morning.
B*he carriage arrive5 at the ho9se abo9t 2; a.m.( an5 Miss ,. was =o9n5 at the place
agree5 9pon in the 5ress in which she appeare5 at the lo5ge( an5 s9==ering =rom
toothache. )s she was a nervo9s person( nothing was sai5 to her o= her appearance at the
gate. /he 5ie5 nine >ears a=terwar5s.
B,M. M. "U-.)%)%( M.$.C
$r. "9chanan wrote( on :;th Oct.( 277:( to sa> that he ha5 D9st been sta>ing with
relatives o= his late wi=e( who ha5 o=ten hear5 the stor> =rom her( an5 con=irme5 it in
ever> 5etail( e?cept that it was a -hite ii-8U7! beaver hat. .e a55s that Bthose who
witnesse5 the =act are E9ite matter-o=-=act people( not in the slightest 5egree e?citable(
an5 most certainl> not nervo9s.C
Y*he =act o= the =ig9re4s seeming to enter the lo5ge( as to which $r. "9chanan is E9ite
positive( =avo9rs the h>pothesis o= hall9cination( as against that o= mistaken i5entit>.Z
P8WUQ +rom Mrs. "evan( 1l9mpton .o9se( "9r> /t. E5m9n5s.
B2773.
BIn the month o= F9l>( 27VV( I was spen5ing a week with m> brother( the 'ector o=
-he5b9rgh( an5 his sweet >o9ng wi=e( when one evening( a=ter the chil5ren ha5 gone to
be5( an5 we were all three sitting together( m> brother sai5( u-ecilia an5 I have o=ten
wante5 to ask >o9 whether >o9 were thinking o= 9s in an> special wa> on the 2Vth o= last
%ovemberr4
B)=ter a =ew min9tes4 consi5eration( I co9l5 onl> sa> that I remembere5 nothing o= the
sort( as there was no special ca9se =or it at that time( an5 begge5 to know wh> the> aske5.
BM> brother then sai5 that on the morning o= that 5a>( which o= co9rse the> speciall>
note5( he awoke while the night-light was still b9rning( between 8 an5 W o4clock( an5
opening his e>es( he 5istinctl> saw me stan5ing at the =oot o= the be5( on his wi=e4s si5e
o= it. )=ter watching me =or a short time with some won5er( b9t with no sensation o= =ear(
he reache5 o9t his han5 an5 to9che5 his wi=e( sa>ing( u-ecilia( are >o9 awaker4 u#es( I
have been awake some min9tes.4 u$o >o9 see an>thingr4 u#es( I see /arah stan5ing at the
=oot o= the be5.4 u.ow ver> stranges4 an5 while the> spoke to each other( the =9rnit9re o=
the room was seen thro9gh m> =ig9re( which soon entirel> 5isappeare5.
2

B,e were at the time living onl> 23 miles o==( an5 I was in a 5elicate state o= health. *he>
came 5own to break=ast E9ite e?pecting that the post wo9l5 bring some ba5 news o= me(
an5 all 5a> looke5 =or a messenger =rom /95b9r>( an5 ma5e an earl> reason =or 5riving
over( to =in5 all as 9s9al. *hinking that s9ch a strange circ9mstance might make me
nervo9s( the> kept it to themselves 9ntil time ha5 prove5 that( whatever it was( no harm
ha5 come to me. *he> aske5 each other whether it co9l5 possibl> have been o9r mother
who was then living near %orwich( an5 who 5ie5 there in +ebr9ar>( 27VV( b9t the> were
E9ite agree5 that it was no one b9t me. I certainl> knew nothing abo9t it( either at the
time or a=terwar5s@ nor 5i5 it make me =eel the least nervo9s.
BM> 5ear brother an5 his wi=e also are passe5 to the other worl5@ she in 278U( he in 2783.
B/)'). "EV)%.C
YI have pointe5 o9t( on p. 7:( that a person whose phantasm( has appeare5 to others( an5
who has been in=orme5 o= the =act( is in rather a 5i==erent position =rom an or5inar>
secon5-han5 witness.Z
In the ne?t two cases the originating agenc> o= an absent living person seems o9t o= the
E9estion@ an5 =or the =irst o= them( at an> rate( there wo9l5( in m> view( be no 5i==ic9lt> in
s9pposing a p9rel> s9bDective origin in one min5( Pperhaps that o= the 5>ing woman(Q an5
a trans=erence thence to the other.
ii-8UX!
P8W:Q +rom Miss F. E. ,alker( 37( 1embroke 'oa5( -li=ton( "ristol. /he hear5 the
acco9nt =rom a co9sin( o= whom she writes( on +eb. 8( 277::A
B-o9sin Emmeline was ol5 /E9ire "ingle>4s >o9ngest 5a9ghter@ she was sincere an5
=earlessl> true, b9t she ha5 no poetic an5 scarcel> an> imaginative =ac9lt>. I sho9l5 have
cite5 her as a goo5 specimen an>where o= the matter-o=-=act an5 common-place woman(
which perhaps gives a somewhat a55itional weight to her narrative which she con=i5e5 to
me man> >ears ago. /he 5ie5 abo9t 8 >ears since.C Later Miss ,alker a55s:AB*he event
narrate5 took place when she was abo9t U;( an5 m9st have happene5 in PI thinkQ 2733 or
273V. /he tol5 me her stor> ver> simpl> an5 viv0 voce. /he also tol5 it separatel, to m>
el5er sister in precisel> the same terms. It was : who threw it( =or brevit>4s sake( into the
narrative =ormC Yan5 into the =irst personZ.
BM> =ather an5 mother ha5 man> chil5ren@ most o= 9s 5ie5 in in=anc>@ /9sanna s9rvive5(
an5 -harlotte an5 m>sel=. +ather4s was an entaile5 estate( an5 the 5eaths o= two sons(
,illiam( who 5ie5 in bo>hoo5( an5 Fohn( who 5ie5 in in=anc>( ha5 been the great
5isappointment o= his li=e. /9sanna remembere5 both the bo>s( b9t ,illiam was born an5
5ie5 long be=ore m> time( an5 Fohn 5ie5 at abo9t two >ears ol5( when I was the bab>. O=
,illiam there was no likeness( b9t ,ou know Fohn4s pict9re well( a well-painte5 =9ll-
length oil pict9re representing a to55ling babe in white =rock an5 bl9e shoes( one o= m>
=ather4s pri]e gre>ho9n5s cro9ching besi5e him( an5 an orange rolling at his =eet.
BI was grown 9p( abo9t U;( /9sanna was 3;( an5 -harlotte abo9t :; >ears ol5. +ather was
5eclining( an5 we live5 together( contente5 an5 9nite5( in a pleasant ho9se on the bor5ers
o= .arrogate -ommon. On the 5a> abo9t which I am writing( -harlotte was 9nwell@ she
ha5 complaine5 o= a chill( an5 the 5octor recommen5e5 her to keep in be5. /he was
sleeping E9ietl> that a=ternoon( an5 /9sanna sat on one si5e o= her be5 an5 I sat on the
other@ the a=ternoon s9n was waning( an5 it began to grow 59sk>( b9t not 5ark. I 5o not
know how long we ha5 been sitting there( b9t b> chance I raise5 m> hea5 an5 I saw a
gol5en light above -harlotte4s be5( an5 within the light were en=ol5e5 two cher9bs4 =aces
ga]ing intentl> 9pon her. I was =ascinate5 an5 5i5 not stir( neither 5i5 the vision =a5e =or a
little while. )t last I p9t m> han5 across the be5 to /9sanna( an5 I onl, sai5 this wor5(
u/9sanna( look 9ps4 /he 5i5 so( an5 at once her co9ntenance change5( uOh( Emmeline(4
she sai5( uthe> are ,illiam an5 Fohn.4 *hen both o= 9s watche5 on till all =a5e5 awa> like
a washe5-o9t pict9re@ an5 in a =ew ho9rs -harlotte 5ie5 o= s955en in=lammation.C
In conversation( Miss ,alker tol5 me that she is certain that her co9sin 5rew the other
sister4s attention to the vision witho9t mentioning what she hersel= saw@ also that she was
sing9larl> precise in statement an5 incapable o= e?aggeration.
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that Miss -harlotte "ingle> 5ie5 at .arrogate( on
F9ne 7( 273:.
*he ne?t acco9nt is one o= the p9]]ling carriage-cases mentione5 on p. 2XV. .ere there
was a local tra5ition o= a phantasm carriage( ii-8:;! 59e to so9n5s( =reE9entl> hear5(
which were probabl> not hall9cinations b9t ill9sions@ an5 this ma> possibl> have acte5 as
a =avo9rable con5ition to a vis9al hall9cination o= the sort 5escribe5@ b9t it will not in the
least acco9nt =or the correspon5ence an5 coinci5ence o= the two hall9cinations( which >et
can har5l> have been acci5ental. I 5o not give the case an evi5ential n9mber( beca9se the
written acco9nt 5oes not make it appear as impossible as to the witnesses on the spot it
certainl> did appear( that the carriage sho9l5 have been a real one. *he narrator is Mr.
1a9l "ir5( /tran5( -alc9tta.
BF9l> UVth( 2773.
BOne evening( D9st at 59sk( I was ret9rning home =rom o==ice in m> b9gg>( with lamps
lighte5. It was 59sk( b9t 9n5er the sha5ow o= the trees which overhang the aven9e it was
prett> 5ark. I was 5riving prett> =ast( when I hear5 what appeare5 to be a r9nawa> gharrie
coming =rom the ho9se towar5s me. I imme5iatel> checke5 m> horse an5 peere5 ahea5 to
see how to avoi5 the coming 5anger( b9t as the noise 5i5 not appear to get an> nearer( I
ca9tio9sl> procee5e5( an5 when abo9t 2;; >ar5s =rom the ho9se( 5istinctl> saw the
re=lection o= m> lamps on the panels o= a carriage in =ront o= me( procee5ing the same
wa>( vi].( to .astings .o9se Yin the s9b9rb o= )liporeZ. I kept m> e>es on the panels( so
as not to r9n into them. *he gharrie t9rne5 to the le=t to go 9n5er the portico( =ollowe5 b>
me(
2
b9t when I arrive5 there( there was no gharrie@ it ha5 5isappeare5. I was ver> m9ch
p9]]le5 at this( b9t sho9l5 probabl> have tho9ght nothing more abo9t it( ha5 not m> wi=e(
who was watching =or m> arrival =rom an 9pper win5ow( aske5 me at once( u,hat
gharrie was that D9st ahea5 o= >o9r4 *his( >o9 will a5mit( was c9rio9s( an5 I o==er no
theor> abo9t it.
B1)UL "I'$.C
Mrs. "ir5 writes( on F9l> U8( 2773:A
BI cannot a55 an>thing =9rther to m> h9sban54s 5escription abo9t the gharrie at .astings
.o9se( e?cept that I also saw the o9tline o= the gharrie as it came 9p the aven9e in =ront
o= m> h9sban54s b9gg>( with his lamps shining on it so as to 5e=ine the o9tline@ an5 I was
at a win5ow 9pstairs watching =or m> h9sban54s ret9rn( so that we saw the apparition
=rom totall> 5i==erent points o= view( an5 witho9t( o= co9rse( hol5ing an> comm9nication.
I s955enl> lost sight o= the =ictitio9s gharrie( an5 5i5 not trace it right 9p to the portico. It
t9rne5 o==( I tho9ght( =rom the 5irect roa5@ certainl>( it 5isappeare5. I ma> =9rther state
that I hear5 no so9n5 o= a secon5 vehicle( b9t onl> that ma5e b> m> h9sban54s horse an5
b9gg>@ b9t I was aware o= his checking his horse( as i= he saw something ahea5( an5 this
action o= his ma> have been the ca9se o= conD9ring 9p in m> vision the s9ppose5 gharrie.
,e have alwa>s spoken ver> scepticall> o= this circ9mstance( altho9gh =eeling in o9r
inner conscio9sness that there was something not 9tterl> to be 5isregar5e5 in the
occ9rrence.
B&E'*'U$E "I'$.C
ii-8:2!
S V. *he remaining cases are a95itor>. In the =ollowing gro9p the impression was o= a
recognise5 voice.
P8W3Q +rom Mr. -. +. .. +roehnert( P"an5master o= the 'o>al Marines(Q :( Victoria 1lace(
/toneho9se( 1l>mo9th( who wrote as =ollows to the Dail, Telegraph, on October 2V(
2772.
B/I'(A'et9rning =rom In5ia in 27V3( I resi5e5 =or a =ew months at $Rssel5or=( an5 there
ma5e the acE9aintance o= two well-known =amiliesA.askal an5 +ocke. Mr. .askal( a
gentleman well known as the a9thor o= several works on Oriental botan>( hel5 a high
appointment 9n5er the $9tch &overnment in "atavia@ an5 his =amil>( consisting o= Mrs.
.askal( several 5a9ghters( an5 Miss +ocke as companion( ha5 engage5 passage o9t in a
large $9tch vessel( an5 saile5 =rom )mster5am. One evening( soon a=terwar5s( when
Mrs. +ocke( with the rest o= her =amil>( were at tea( the> all hear5 a lo95 cr> o= uMothers4
o9tsi5e the win5ow. *he> all recognise5 at once the voice o= the el5est 5a9ghter( )nna(
who ha5 saile5 with the .askals. *he> r9she5 to the win5ow( b9t saw nothing. /carcel>
ha5 the> taken their seats again( when a most agonising shriek was hear5( an5 twice
uMother( mother(4 in the same voice. ) =ew 5a>s later a report came that a large $9tch
vessel ha5 been wrecke5. I ha5 le=t =or Englan5( an5 was written to an5 aske5 to make
inE9iries at Llo>54s i= there was tr9th in this report. *he answer I receive5 was that on
that partic9lar evening this vessel was lost with ever> so9l on boar5.A#o9rs tr9l>(
B-. +. .. +'OE.%E'*.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. +roehnert wrote to 9s( on F9ne 22( 277::A
B*he +ockes were ol5 an5 well-known resi5ents o= $Rssel5or=@ b9t no 5o9bt Mr. an5
Mrs. +ocke are 5ea5 b> this time@ b9t there was another 5a9ghterAsister o= the one lost
Ab9t I 5are sa> she has been marrie5 long since( an5 wo9l5 go 9n5er another name.
$Rssel5or= being near .ollan5( the news o= a large $9tch vessel having been lost soon
reache5 that town( especiall> as it was reporte5 that among the e==ects washe5 on shore
man> things were recognise5 as having belonge5 to the =amil>( .askal( s9ch as some
val9able pict9res( [c.( [c.
BMrs. I=Den( a =rien5 o= mine an5 the .askals( wrote to me(
2
telling me o= the hearing o=
the voice on that partic9lar evening( an5 o= the r9mo9r o= the stran5ing o= the vessel(
reE9esting me to ascertain at Llo>54s i= a vessel ha5 been lost@ the answer was as I state5(
the ship ha5 been lost that ver> night.
BMrs. .askal an5 her chil5ren ha5 also resi5e5 at $Rssel5or= 9ntil the> 5eparte5.
B)t the time when this happene5 I was "an5master o= the Un5 Li=e &9ar5s at Lon5on.C
Mr. +roehnert a55s( on )pril 2( 277V:A
BIn repl> to >o9r letter regar5ing the +ocke case at $Rssel5or=( I am sorr> I cannot
recollect the ho9se the> were living in at the time@ it is so long ago. "9t I E9ite remember
that it was in a E9iet localit>@ an5 the voice came =rom the back o= the ho9se( which in
most &erman ho9ses is calle5 u$er .o=(4 an5 which is 9s9all> not =reE9ente5 in the
evening b> ii-8:U! the occ9pants o= the ho9ses@ the voice came 5istinctl> thro9gh the
win5ow( which was open.C
In the ne?t case( the two persons a==ecte5 were wi5el> separate5( an5 their impressions
5i==ere5.
P8WVQ +rom Mr. *homas #o9ng( Elsinore .o9se( 'obert 'oa5( .an5sworth( "irmingham.
B:2st $ecember( 2773.
BOne eveningAten >ears ago abo9tAI was sitting at tea with m> wi=e an5 chil5ren(
when m> wi=e s955enl> sai5( u,hat a noise there is 9pstairs(4 asking me i= I hear5 it. I
sai5 u%o.4 /he( however( insiste5 that there was( an5 insiste5 9pon going 9pstairs to
investigate. /he co9l5 hear the win5ows rattle5 as i= b> the win5. I accompanie5 her
9pstairs( an5 as she went she s955enl> =elt a win5 r9sh b> her. I =elt no r9sh o= win5( nor
were the win5ows rattling. *he night was calm. )=ter investigating the room =rom
whence the win5 was s9ppose5 to procee5( an5 =in5ing nothing o9t o= the common( we
ret9rne5 to the parlo9r( m> wi=e m9ch agitate5( an5 I was also agitate5. ,hen ne?t she
hear5 =rom home( it was a letter conve>ing the sa5 intelligence o= her =ather4s 5eath b>
5rowning( which took place abo9t the time she =elt the ph>sical in=l9ence. "9t what is
still more strange( her brother( who was captain o= a small vessel( an5 at sea on the same
evening o= his poor =ather4s 5eath( hear5 his name calle5. .e was in the cabin at the time.
.e imme5iatel> went on 5eck( asking who calle5. u%o one(4 was the repl>. .e went into
his cabin( an5 again he hear5 his name( an5 again he went on 5eck( thinking a trick was
being pla>e5. Once more all 5enie5 having calle5 him. .e there9pon re-entere5 his cabin(
onl> to hear his name calle5 again( an5 on 5eman5ing sternl> who calle5( an5 receiving
the same answer( u%o one(4 he sai5 he =elt ver> E9eer.
2

B*.OM)/ #OU%&.C
YMrs. #o9ng4s e?perience co9l5 not be presente5 as telepathic evi5ence on its own
acco9nt( the impression having been so vag9e. "9t she is not a nervo9s or =anci=9l
person( an5 is certain that she has never ha5 an> similar e?perienceAwhile the =act that
her h9sban5 5i5 not hear or =eel what she hear5 an5 =elt 5eci5e5l> s9pports the view that
the e?perience was hall9cination@ an5 i= so( it is a remarkable =act that it =ell on the night
which was marke5 not onl> b> her =ather4s 5eath( b9t b> her brother4s =ar more 5istinct
hall9cination o= the recognise5 voice.Z
-aptain )5ams writes:A
B8U( -ommercial 'oa5( %ewport( Monmo9thshire.
B%ovember 2:th( 277V.
BIn answer to >o9r letter in re=erence to m> =ather4s 5eath( I will en5eavo9r in a =ew lines
to give >o9 the in=ormation >o9 want.
B)s the ship was l>ing in the port o= /t. Malo( in +rance( on the 2Vth $ecember( 27W2( I
was l>ing in m> berth at 3 o4clock in the a=ternoon. I hear5 a voice. I knew the voice at
once to be m> =ather4s( calling uFim( Fim( Fim.4 It was not a 5ream( =or I was awake an5
getting 9p. I aske5 the men on boar5 whether the> hear5 an>one calling.
ii-8::!
*he> sai5( u%o.4 I sai5 to them( uM> =ather is 5ea5.4 ,hen I arrive5 at Ferse> PIslan5Q( m>
wi=e sai5 to me( u*here is ba5 news =or >o9.4 I sai5( u#es( I know@ m> =ather is 5ea5.4 *his
was abo9t nine 5a>s a=ter m> =ather was lost in "9rnham PEsse?Q. ,hen I rea5 the news
o= his 5eath( YI =o9n5 thatZ it was at the same ho9r I hear5 his voice.
BF)ME/ )$)M/.C
In answer to an inE9ir> as to whether this was his sole e?perience o= a hall9cination(
-aptain )5ams a55s:A
B#o9 wish to know whether it is the onl> time I have hear5 an>thing o= the kin5. #es( it is
the onl> time.C
Mrs. )5ams writes =or her h9sban5( on Fan9ar> 2Xth( 2778:A
BIn repl> to >o9r letter o= %ovember 2Wth( in which >o9 ask a =ew more E9estions:
B<irst.A#o9 ask m> h9sban5 whether he ma5e a note o= it. .e 5i5 not@ b9t he alwa>s
remembere5 the 5ate( =or he has a ver> goo5 memor>.
B!econdl,.AIt is impossible to =in5 an> o= the men who were with him at the time. /ome
are 5ea5. *he others( I 5o not know where the> are.
B/. E. )$)M/.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the =ather o= Mrs. #o9ng an5 -aptain )5ams
was 5rowne5 in the 'iver -ro9ch on $ec. 2V( 27W2.
In the ne?t case( the agenc> is 5o9bt=9l( as( tho9gh a near relative o= one o= the
percipients 5ie5 at the time( the voice hear5 was taken to be that o= his brother. It is not
9nlikel> that the two men4s voices resemble5 one another4s: compare the cases o= mis-
recognition( %os. 2W; an5 2W2. *he acco9nt is =irst-han5@ b9t we 5o not know how long a
perio5 ha5 elapse5 a=ter the occ9rrence( be=ore it was recor5e5 in writing.
P8W8Q +rom the 7entle(ans 'agaAine for 2WVU( Vol. \\II.( pp. 2W:T3. *he e5itor states
the writer Pwho signs himsel= B). ".CQ to be Ba man o= great veracit>(C an5 the
comm9nication to be Ba piece o= his own private histor>.C
BOn the U:r5 )9g9st( 2W:8( at noon( stan5ing at the shop 5oor with m> mistress an5
mai5-servant an5 Mr. "lo?ham( then ri5er to Mr. Oakes an5 -o. Pwho now lives an5
=ollows the haber5asher> tra5e in -ateaton /treetQ( we were choosing =ig9re5 ribbons an5
other milliner> goo5s( when I hear5 m> =ather4s voice call u-harles(4 ver> a95ibl>. )s
acc9stome5( I answere5( u-oming( sir.4 "eing intent on viewing the patterns( I sta>e5
abo9t =o9r min9tes( when I hear5 a voice a secon5 time call u-harles.4 *he mai5 hear5 it
then as well as m>sel=( an5 answere5( u.e is coming( Mr. ,AmAn.4 "9t the pattern
book not being gone thro9gh with( I was impatient to see the en5( an5 being also
9nwilling to 5etain the gentleman( I still tarrie5. *hen I saw the 5oor open(
2
hear5 m>
=ather call a thir5 time( in a strong( emphatic( angr> tone( an5 sh9tting the 5oor I hear5
ii-8:3! its so9n5. "oth m> mistress an5 the mai5 hear5 this last call( on which she
p9she5 me o9t o= the shop with( u/irrah( get >o9 gone( >o9r =ather is E9ite angr> at >o9r
sta>.4 I ran over( li=te5 9p the latch( b9t =o9n5 the gate locke5. *hen going in at the back
gate saw m> mother-in-law in the >ar5. w I imme5iatel> went in( when I =o9n5 no =ather
nor an> appearance o= 5inner. 'et9rning( I inE9ire5 o= her =or m> =ather@ she sai5 he was
not come home( nor wo9l5 5ine at home that 5a>. w I then went back to the compan>(
whose consternation was as great as m> own. w ,hether all this was the =orce o=
imagination I cannot sa>( I believe it ma>. I will not arg9e to the contrar>( tho9gh two
senses o= two persons besi5es m>sel= co9l5 not( probabl>( be so liable to 5eception. M>
min5 an5 5isposition =rom that ho9r receive5 a new t9rn. I became another creat9re. w
BIt is ver> remarkable that I ha5 an onl> 9ncle Pwho was g9nner o= the u"i55e=or5(4 then
statione5 at LeithQ( that 5ie5 there that same 5a> an5 abo9t the same ho9r.C
,e learn =rom the )5miralt> that ..M./. B"i55e=or5C was at Leith 'oa5 on )9g9st U:(
2W:8.
*he =ollowing case is an e?act parallel to %o. ::8( an5 sho9l5 be rea5 in connection with
the remarks on pp. 2X;TU.
P8WWQ +rom Mr. Emmerson( -9llercoats( near %ewcastle-on-*>ne.
BFan9ar> Xth( 277V.
BIn the s9mmer o= 273X( I was sitting in m> st95io painting( abo9t noon( three 5a>s a=ter
m> mother was b9rie5. PIn this localit> people were 5>ing b> h9n5re5s o= choleraAo=
which she 5ie5.Q I 5istinctl> hear5 her call m> name( u.arr>(4 in a ver> lo95 voice( which
ma5e me start to m> =eet. M> =ather( who was in another room( r9she5 into m> st95io(
terri=ie5( an5 aske5 me i= I ha5 hear5 m> mother calling (e. M> mother( who was 5ea=(
ha5 a ver> shrill voice( that there was no mistaking it.
B*his is the onl> e?perience o= the kin5 that I have ever met with( b9t which ma5e a
lasting impression on m> min5.
B.. .. EMME'/O%.C
Mr. Emmerson4s =ather is 5ea5. Mrs. Emmerson writes to 9s on Fan9ar> U2st( 2778:A
BI wish to write a =ew lines to in=orm >o9 that I =reE9entl> hear5 m> h9sban5 an5 his
=ather talking abo9t both o= them hearing the mother calling him b> name. *he> were
both (ost positive abo9t it@ an5 it le=t E9ite an impression 9pon their min5s. I can vo9ch
=or the tr9th o= this statement.
BM)'# EMME'/O%.C
In conversation( I learnt =rom Mr. Emmerson that he an5 his =ather were the onl> persons
in the ho9se at the time that the voice was hear5@ he ha5 no sisters living at home( an5 the
ho9sehol5 ha5 been 5isorganise5 owing to the cholera. Mr. Emmerson is ver> =ar =rom
incline5 to believe in marvels( an5 the above has simpl> remaine5 in his min5 as a 9niE9e
an5 ine?plicable =act( which at the time was evi5entl> o= the most startling kin5. *he
con5itions were o= co9rse =avo9rable to s9bDective hall9cination@ b9t( eE9all> o= co9rse(
this will not e?plain the 5o9ble e?perience.
ii-8:V!
S 8. In the ne?t an5 =inal gro9p( no artic9late so9n5s were hear5@ an5 in most o= the cases
the impression was o= a mere noise.
*he =ollowing two cases are too remote =or 5etails to be relie5 on@ an5 the nat9re o= the
so9n5s ma> ver> likel> have become more precise in recollection a=ter the coinci5ent
=acts were known. /till it ma> be s9rmise5 that the e?periences 5escribe5 were( at an>
rate( collective hall9cinations.
P8W7Q +rom Mr. M. 1. /tephenson( the narrator o= case 82:.
B7( /o9th=iel5 'oa5( -otham( "ristol.
BFan9ar> :2st( 2773.
B*he case I am going to relate happene5 more than V; >ears ago. M>sel= an5 wi=e ha5
been to her brother4s to see their little 5a9ghter( age5 abo9t two >ears( who was tho9ght
to be 5>ing. It was evi5ent when we saw her that she co9l5 not last long. ,e le=t abo9t 2;
o4clock at night( an5 retire5 to be5( an5 settle5 E9ietl> to go to sleep. "9t be=ore we co9l5
5o so we hear5 a startling screamAa sort o= 5eath-scream
2
Aon the pillow between 9s.
,e each tho9ght the other was taken ill( an5 t9rne5 in alarm( an5 =o9n5 that the noise was
not aro9se5 b> either o= 9s. I t9rne5 the matter o== as best I co9l5( not to alarm m> wi=e.
In the morning she sai5 to me( u*hat was a c9rio9s noise we hear5 last night@ what co9l5
it have beenr4 I sai5( uLittle Mar> 5ie5 last night at that time( an5 that was the noise she
ma5e be=ore she 5ie5(4 which prove5 to be the =act. I imitate5 the noise the same evening(
an5 the chil54s mother e?claime5( u.ow stranges that was the e?act scream ma5e b> m>
chil5 be=ore she 5ie5.4
B*hese things( when the> occ9r( take a 5eep hol5 on 9s( an5 altho9gh it happene5 more
than VU >ears ago( we both o= 9s remember it as =reshl> as i= it were b9t a >ear ago.C
In answer to inE9ir>( Mr. /tephenson a55s:A
B*he 5eath-cr> o= the chil5 was hear5 b> 9s at the precise time o= her 5eath( an5 the
mother Pwho has been 5ea5 more than :; >earsQ recognise5 the cr> I imitate5 as the last
cr> o= her 5ear chil5.C
*o a reE9est =or his wi=e4s written corroboration( Mr. /tephenson replies:A
BI am sorr> that I cannot compl> with >o9r reE9est. M> 5ear wi=e is a con=irme5 invali5
an5 cannot be pers9a5e5 to 5o what >o9 wish. #o9 are not to s9ppose that there is an>
5o9bt as to the tr9th o= what I relate5 to >o9.C
P8WXQ +rom the mother o= a +ellow o= /t( Fohn4s -ollege( -ambri5ge( who 5esires that her
name ma> not be p9blishe5.
B2773.
BOn the 2Vth o= Ma>( 27UX( m> mother( m>sel=( an5 a servant were in the hall( when we
hear5 a lo95 groan. ,e were somewhat startle5( an5 a short time a=ter we hear5 the groan
repeate5( b9t lo95er. ,e then looke5 abo9t the gar5en an5 in the street( b9t co9l5 see
nothing. ,e ha5 D9st ret9rne5 to the ho9se( when a thir5 time
U
the groan was repeate5( b9t
still lo95er. ,e were m9ch startle5( an5 again looke5 abo9t to =in5 the ii-8:8! ca9se( b9t
to no p9rpose. /hortl> a=ter( m> brother came in( in breathless haste( to tell his mother
that his gran5=ather was thrown =rom his horse( an5 nearl> kille5. *he 5ear ol5 man 5ie5
the same night.C
,e =in5 =rom a cop> o= a tombstone in Lo9ghton ch9rch>ar5( that the 5eath occ9rre5 on
Ma> 28th Pnot 2VthQ( 27UX. *he parish-clerk tells 9s that the acci5ent took place abo9t
2;; >ar5s =rom his ho9se.
P87;Q +rom Mr. -harles .. 0allensee( -roan .o9se( /la5esbri5ge( -ornwall.
B$ecember :;th( 277U.
BIn the >ear 2732( an el5er brother o= mine 5ie5( at 1rincess /treet( $evonport. ,hen I
ret9rne5 =rom school on the 5a> o= his 5eath( I was tol5 to go to his room( as he ha5
inE9ire5 =or me. On entering the room( I =o9n5 a great change in him since the morning(
an5 I( who ha5 never seen 5eath( >et knew that he was 5>ing. In the room were m> =ather
an5 mother@ m> =ather stan5ing at the si5e o= m> brother4s be5( while m> 5ear mother sat
weeping near the =oot. I took a seat near m> mother4s si5e.
BIt might have been an ho9r or more that we remaine5 th9s( listening to the breathing o=
m> brother( e?pecting each breath to be the last. I remember it was a bea9ti=9l a=ternoon(
an5 the s9n shone into the room an5 across m> brother4s be5. /955enl> there were three
violent blows or conc9ssions( so violent that I =elt the room shake. M> mother sprang to
her =eet( an5 with e?citement e?claime5( u*here it is again4@ at the same time I saw m>
=ather stooping 5own an5 t9rning back the carpet that went ro9n5 the be5. M> own
=eeling was one o= won5er an5 c9riosit>( an5 on looking at m> brother( I saw he was
5ea5. M> =ather4s stooping 5own an5 e?amining the carpet was e?plaine5 b> him( a=ter
he ha5 =elt the thir5 blow strike him at the bottom o= his =oot@ while m> mother4s
e?clamation( u*here it is again(4 was beca9se she ha5 hear5 similar mani=estations at the
5eath o= other members o= her =amil>. I know nothing o= /pirit9alism per se/ I never
atten5e5 an> meeting or seances on the s9bDect( there=ore cannot sa> whether the
knocking I hear5 was o= that character@ b9t o= this I am E9ite certain( that no known
power pro59ce5 the noise.
B-.)'LE/ .. 0)LLE%/EE.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the 5eath occ9rre5 on October U2( 2732.
In answer to an inE9ir> whether he ha5 ever e?perience5 hall9cinations o= the senses on
other occasions( Mr. 0allensee replie5:A
BI have not met with an> similar mani=estations. I can scarcel> call it a uknocking(4 as it
seeme5 to =ill( an5 even shake( the room. *he so9n5 was as o= a stick being broken( b9t
m9ch lo95er( an5 power=9l. M> =ather =elt the last blow at the bottom o= his =oot( an5
almost the =irst thing I remember( a=ter m> won5er ha5 passe5( was seeing him stooping
5own an5 e?amining the carpet 9n5er his =eet. M> mother tol5 9s chil5ren a=terwar5s( on
several occasions( that she ha5 hear5 similar noises at the 5eath o= her =ather an5 brother.
M> mother was an e59cate5 woman( an5 =ar =rom s9perstitio9s@ an5 >et she co9l5 not b9t
believe in this.C
P872Q +rom Mr. .. -. .9rr>( -.E.( 8;( Law=or5 'oa5( 0entish *own( %.,.
ii-8:W!
BFan9ar> 3th( 2773.
BMan> >ears ago I lo5ge5 with an ol5 la5>( her son an5 5a9ghter( o= the name o= /pencer(
in Manchester. In conversation the> =reE9entl> tol5 me that on the occasion o= the 5eath
o= an> member o= their =amil>( one or more o= them invariabl> ha5 some monition o= it.
*his I treate5 with a consi5erable amo9nt o= scepticism. One morning the> receive5 a
letter =rom Ormskirk( near Liverpool( in=orming them that the >o9ng people4s a9nt was
ver> ill. *he son at once went o== to see her. *hat night I ha5 gone 9pstairs to be5( m>
room being 9p one =light( an5 imme5iatel> opposite to the =ront 5oor@ whilst I was
9n5ressing I hear5 a ver> lo95 knock( as tho9gh given with the han5( not the knocker.
Miss /pencer imme5iatel> came o9t o= the sitting-room( an5 calle5( sa>ing( uMr. .9rr>(
5i5 >o9 knock 5ownr4 I answere5( u%o( it was at the hall-5oor.4 /he went an5 opene5 it(
an5 at once sai5( on =in5ing no one there( u&oo5 &o5s m> a9nt4s 5ea5.4 ,itho9t sa>ing
an>thing to them( I wrote 5own the e?act time( abo9t 22 p.m.( so =ar as I can remember.
"> the =irst post possible( the> receive5 a letter =rom >o9ng /pencer( in=orming them the
a9nt ha5 5ie5 e?actl> at the time I ha5 note5( allowing =or the 5i==erence o= mean-time(
b> which watches were then reg9late5. I sho9l5 a55 that I was in no wa> relate5 to the
/pencers.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. .9rr> sa>s:A
BI 5o not know o= an> o= the /pencer =amil>@ the ol5 la5>( her son an5 5a9ghter( I
mentione5( having long been 5ea5. *he circ9mstance I name5 occ9rre5 in the >ear 2732(
b9t as I was a part> to it I consi5er m> evi5ence =irst-han5. #o9 ne?t ask me whether I
have ha5 uan> a95itor> hall9cinations.4 I cannot remember an> b9t the one I give >o9.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that a Mrs. /pencer( who is probabl> the person
mentione5 in this case( 5ie5 at Ormskirk in 2732.
Y*his case co9l5( o= co9rse( have no claim at all to attention( b9t =or its analog> to others(
as there is no s9==icient proo= that the so9n5 was not a real knock. I= it was a
hall9cination( Mr. .9rr>4s share in the e?perience cannot be acco9nte5 =or as the
s9bDective e==ect o= strain an5 an?iet>.Z
P87UQ +rom Mr. ,. .illstea5( a teacher o= m9sic( who( at the time when he gave 9s the
acco9nt( in 2773( was acting as care-taker in a large ho9se at -ambri5ge.
BIn October( 2737( I was sitting with m> mother in 7( /9==olk 1lace( 1all Mall East. *he
ho9se was empt> e?cept =or o9rselves. *he room was mainl> lighte5 b> a large sk>light.
*he ho9se was E9ite E9iet. It was rather 5ark on an October 5a>. /955enl> we were both
startle5 b> a terri=>ing noise( as i= a cartloa5 o= gravel ha5 been shot 5own =rom a height
on to the sk>light. I D9mpe5 9p in startle5 alarm( thinking that the sk>light was( o= co9rse(
smashe5 to pieces b> the stones which I ha5 act9all> hear5 =alling on it. *here was not
the slightest trace o= an>thing 9n9s9al. M> mother( who ha5 ha5 man> warnings o=
5i==erent kin5s( was less alarme5. /he took =or grante5 that someone was 5ea5( b9t we
co9l5 neither o= 9s think who it co9l5 be( as we knew o= no one who was ill.
B/ome 5a>s a=terwar5s( a co9sin o= mine calle5( an5 tol5 9s that his ii-8:7! brother
'ichar5 was 5ea5. ,e aske5 when he 5ie5( an5 =o9n5 that it was at 59sk on the ver>
a=ternoon on which we hear5 the crash. M> mother ha5 been ver> =on5 o= the >o9ng man(
an5 so was I. O= late he ha5 gone wrong( an5 we ha5 seen less o= him.
B,ILLI)M .ILL/*E)$.C
YUn=ort9natel> the in=ormation necessar> to enable 9s to veri=> the 5eath was not aske5
=or at the time@ nor was an a55ress obtaine5 to which we might s9bseE9entl> write. *he
narrative was certainl> given in goo5 =aith@ b9t its onl> =orce( again( 5epen5s on its
analog> to other cases.Z
)s regar5s the c9rio9s =orm o= the impression in the =ollowing case( see the remarks on
case 8UV( pp. VWUT:.
P87:Q +rom Mrs. ,in5ri5ge( /9tton Villa( XX( )lbert 'oa5( $alston( E.
B%ovember Xth( 277U.
BIn or abo9t the >ear 2782( I( being wear> an5 worn( =irst thro9gh the long illness an5
then the 5epression an5 inertness o= m> h9sban5( complaine5 to a la5> =rien5( Mrs. ..(
whose h9sban5 ha5 =reE9entl> remonstrate5 with mine =or what appeare5 to be his
la]iness. M> =rien5( having a strong s>mpath> =or me( 9rge5 her h9sban5 to obtain a
sit9ation =or him. .e sai5( uI will kill him =or her4@ an5 proc9re5 m> h9sban5 work which
he believe5 wo9l5 place his li=e in 5anger.
B*hree >ears a=ter( Mr. .. la> 5angero9sl> ill@ at his reE9est I ha5 gone over to see him(
an5 =o9n5 him in a most e?cite5 state@ he entreate5 me to 9se all m> in=l9ence to in59ce
m> h9sban5 to leave the sit9ation he ha5 proc9re5( as he =eare5 it wo9l5 9ltimatel> ca9se
his 5eath.
B/ome weeks a=terwar5s m> h9sban5 an5 I were awoke b> the noise( apparentl>( o=
someone en5eavo9ring to open o9r be5room 5oor. *he noise was E9ite lo95( as i= the
intr95er co9l5 not open it rea5il>( an5 5i5 not care who hear5 him. M> h9sban5 listene5
=or a while( an5 then opene5 the 5oor with a light in his han5. *here was nothing there(
b9t imme5iatel> there was the so9n5 o= a large 5og entering( an5 scratching on the =loor
at his =eet. M> h9sban5 searche5 the ho9se( b9t we co9l5 =in5 nothing. It was D9st U a.m.
) 5a> or two a=terwar5s I hear5 o= his 5eath that night. *he wi5ow( whom I went to see(
tol5 me that( in her own wor5s( he u5ie5 twice.4 ,hen( as the> tho9ght( alrea5> 5ea5(A
the> began to la> him o9t(Ahe opene5 his e>es( an5 m9ttere5 something abo9t
u,in5ri5ge.4 u,hat time was thisr I aske5. uF9st U a.m.(4 she sai5.
BE. ,I%$'I$&E.C
Mr. ,in5ri5ge corroborates as =ollows:A
BOne night( having retire5 in the or5inar> wa>( we were aro9se5 b> a shaking an5
scratching at the be5room 5oor( so 5istinct an5 impressive that we began to be alarme5(
an5 I arose( an5 striking a light( went to the 5oor( an5 opene5 it. ,ith an e?clamation I
starte5 back. /omething to9che5 m> =eet. /omething seeme5( as it were( to be grovelling
at m> =eet( b9t I co9l5 see nothing. I then searche5 the ho9se an5 =o9n5 all 9n5ist9rbe5(
as we le=t it. I looke5 at the time@ it was U o4clock. I co9l5 not sleep an> more that night.
B*he ne?t 5a> I hear5 that a man( who ha5 e?presse5 to m> wi=e that he wo9l5 5o a great
wrong to me( ha5 5ie5. I in=orme5 m> wi=e( an5 she sai5 she wo9l5 visit the wi5ow. /he
went( an5 Mrs. ..( in relating the ii-8:X! inci5ents most remarkable in her h9sban54s
5eath( in=orme5 her that he ha5 5ie5( as it were( twice@ =or a=ter he was prono9nce5 5ea5(
an5 the n9rse was la>ing him o9t( he seeme5 to ret9rn to li=e( an5 m9rm9re5 the name
u,in5ri5ge.4 Li=e was not e?tinct =or a E9arter o= an ho9r a=ter this. Mrs. .. in=orme5 m>
wi=e that her h9sban5 5ie5 at U o4clock( the time I looke5 at m> watch.
B". ,I%$'I$&E.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that the 5eath took place on /eptember 23( 278:.
In conversation( Mr. ,in5ri5ge in=orme5 Mr. 1o5more that he ha5 never e?perience5 an>
other hall9cination. Mrs. ,in5ri5ge has e?perience5 one other( which was o= a sing9lar
kin5( an5 is 5escribe5 in the *roceedings o= the /.1.'.( Vol. III.( p. 7X.
Mr. ,in5ri5ge co9l5 not clearl> remember having been touched, as he p9ts it in his letter@
he can onl> be s9re that he ha5 the impression o= something grovelling at his =eet. *hat
impression ma>( however( have been conve>e5 b> so9n5 onl>. Mrs. ,in5ri5ge states that
he tol5 her at the time that he ha5 been to9che5.
*he =ollowing is a =9rther specimen o= the m9sical class(
2
parallel to %o. :77. ,ith
respect to its place in the present collection( I m9st again re=er to pp. 2X;TU.
P873Q ) gentleman who is a master at Eton -ollege wrote to 9s( on +eb. :( 2773:A
BI enclose a cop> o= a memoran59m ma5e a =ew 5a>s a=ter the event re=erre5 to. M>
memoran59m has been copie5 =or me b> Miss ..( whose name occ9rs in it. /he is m>
matron@ a sensible( mi55le-age5( active( an5 e?perience5 woman. %one o= the people
concerne5 were >o9ng( =light>( or =anci=9l. I have the 5octor4s letter@ his name is &.( an5
he still resi5es here. Miss .. onl> wishes to a55 that it m9st have occ9rre5 =rom U;
min9tes to perhaps :; a=ter 5issol9tion( an5 she sa>s that she has never hear5 an>thing
like the e?treme sweetness o= the so9n5.
B.. E. L.C
*he memoran59m is as =ollows:A
BEton -ollege.
B)9g9st 8th( 2772.
BI wish to write 5own( be=ore there is time =or con=9sion( the =ollowing =act( occ9rring on
*h9rs5a> morning( F9l> U7( 2772( when m> 5ear mother 5ie5( whom &o5 rests )=ter all
was over( Miss E. I.( Eli]a ,.( $r. &.( an5 m>sel= being in the room( Miss I. hear5 a
so9n5 o= uver> ii-83;! low( so=t m9sic( e?cee5ingl> sweet( as i= o= three girls4 voices(
passing b> the ho9se.4 /he 5escribe5 =9rther the so9n5 as i= girls were going home
singing( onl> strangel> low an5 sweet@ it seeme5 to come =rom the street( past the ho9se
towar5s the -ollege b9il5ings Pthe roa5 en5s there in a cul6de6sac&, an5 so passe5 awa>.
/he looke5 to call m> attention( an5 tho9ght I perceive5 it. /he notice5 that the 5octor
hear5 it( an5 that he went to the win5ow to look o9t. *he win5ow =aces /.E. Eli]a ,.
being in the room at the same time hear5 a so9n5 o= ver> low( sweet singing. /he
recognise5 the t9ne an5 wor5s o= the h>mn. u*he stri=e is o4er( the battle 5one.4 Miss I.
recognise5 no t9ne( b9t =elt uthat the m9sic so9n5e5( as it were( =amiliar.4 )s a ver>
accomplishe5 m9sician( especiall> remarkable =or her E9ick memor> o= m9sic( ha5 wor5s
or air been those o= a well-known h>mn( she wo9l5 almost certainl> have remembere5 it.
*hese two spoke to each other when alone abo9t what the> ha5 hear5. Miss I. gives the
time at abo9t 2; min9tes a=ter m> 5ear mother e?pire5. *he> were then 9naware o= this
a55itional circ9mstance. Miss .. ha5 le=t the room( an5 ha5 s9mmone5 -harlotte -( with
whom she ha5 proc9re5 something reE9ire5 =or la>ing o9t the bo5>. )s the two ret9rne5
9pstairs the> hear5 a so9n5 o= m9sic( an5 both stoppe5. -harlotte sai5 to Miss ..( u,hat
is thisr4 )=ter a pa9se she sai5( uIt m9st be Miss I. singing to com=ort master.4 *he>
a=terwar5s entere5 the room( o= which the 5oor ha5 been sh9t all along. -harlotte =9rther
5escribe5 the so9n5 as ver> sweet an5 low( seeming to pass b> them. /he =elt as i=( ha5
she onl> been able to listen( she co9l5 have 5isting9ishe5 the wor5s. It 5i5 not occ9r to
her that her 5escription was most incongr9o9s@ she co9l5 not listen attentivel>( b9t =elt uas
i= rapt9re were all aro9n5 her.4 It was not 9ntil a=terwar5s( when she mentione5 to Eli]a
having hear5 Miss I. singing( an5 how strangel> it so9n5e5( that the> =o9n5 that each ha5
hear5 the so9n5. Miss .. 5escribe5 the so9n5 as ver> pec9liar an5 sweet( seeming to pass
b> them an5 pass awa>( as the> both stoppe5 on the stairs. )ll the staircase win5ows give
north-west. I hear5 nothing(
2
an5 I sho9l5 have given no weight to a so9n5 hear5 or
5escribe5 b> these women in the room a=ter comm9nicating with each other( or b> these
women o9t o= the room respectivel>@ b9t the coinci5ence o= each part> hearing it
separatel> an5 in5epen5entl> witho9t previo9s comm9nication( as well as the matter-o=-
=act e?planation s9ggeste5 =or it b> one o= them seeming to impl> that their tho9ghts
were not 5welling on the s9pernat9ral( a55e5 so m9ch weight to this acco9nt that I wrote
to the 5octor( who answers:A4I E9ite remember hearing the singing >o9 mention@ it was
so pec9liar that I went to the win5ow an5 looke5 o9t( b9t altho9gh E9ite light I co9l5 see
no one( an5 cannot there=ore acco9nt =or it.4 *he time m9st have been abo9t U a.m. on
F9l> U7th( 2772.C
Miss I. writes:A
B2:( 1ark /treet( ,in5sor.
B+ebr9ar> UUn5( 2773.
BI will cop> the memoran59m which I ma5e in m> 5iar> D9st a=ter the 5eath o= m> 5ear
=rien5 an5 connection( Mrs. L.
ii-832!
BF9l> U7th( 2772.
BF9st a=ter 5ear Mrs. L.4s 5eath between U an5 : a.m.( I hear5 a most sweet an5 sing9lar
strain o= singing o9tsi5e the win5ows@ it 5ie5 awa> a=ter passing the ho9se. )ll in the
room hear5 it( an5 the me5ical atten5ant( who was still with 9s( went to the win5ow as I
5i5( an5 looke5 o9t( b9t there was nobo5>. It was a bright an5 bea9ti=9l night. It was as i=
several voices were singing in per=ect 9nison a most sweet melo5>( which 5ie5 awa> in
the 5istance. *wo persons ha5 gone =rom the room to =etch something( an5 were coming
9pstairs at the bac1 o= the ho9se( an5 hear5 the singing an5 stoppe5( sa>ing( u,hat is that
singingr4 *he> co9l5 not naturall, have hear5 an> so9n5 o9tsi5e the win5ows in the =ront
o= the ho9se =rom where the> were. I cannot think that an> e?planation can be given to
thisAas I thinkAs9pernat9ral singing@ b9t it wo9l5 be ver> interesting to me to know
what is sai5 b> those who have ma5e s9ch matters a s9bDect o= st95>.
BE. I.C
$r. &. writes in 2773:A
BEton( ,in5sor.
BI remember the circ9mstance per=ectl>. 1oor Mrs. L. 5ie5 on F9l> U7th( 2772. I was sent
=or at abo9t mi5night( an5 remaine5 9ntil her 5eath at abo9t U.:; a.m. )s there was no
E9ali=ie5 n9rse present( I remaine5 an5 assiste5 the =rien5s to ula> o9t4 the bo5>. +o9r or
=ive o= 9s assiste5( an5 at m> reE9est the matron o= Mr. L.4s ho9se an5 a servant went to
the kitchen 5epartment to =in5 a sh9tter or =lat boar5 9pon which to place the bo5>. /oon
a=ter their 5epart9re( an5 whilst we were waiting =or their ret9rn( we 5istinctl> hear5 a
=ew bars o= lovel> m9sicAnot 9nlike that =rom an olian harpAwhich seeme5 to =ill the
air =or a =ew secon5s. I went to the win5ow an5 looke5 o9t( thinking there m9st be
someone o9tsi5e( b9t co9l5 see no one( altho9gh it was E9ite light an5 clear. /trangel>
eno9gh( those who went to the kitchen hear5 the same so9n5s as the> were coming
9pstairs( E9ite at the other si5e o= the 5oor. *hese are the =acts( an5 I think it right to tell
>o9 that I have not the slightest belie= in the s9pernat9ral( /pirit9alism( [c.( [c.
BF. ,. &.C
Y*he =act that Mr. L. 5i5 not share the e?perience is strong evi5ence that the so9n5s were
not obDectivel> ca9se5 b> persons singing o9tsi5e the ho9se@ an5 this is =9rther con=irme5
b> the slight 5i==erence which there appears to have been between the impressions
receive5.Z
E%$ O+ *.E /U11LEME%*.
ii-83U!
!//(#(%"!' +!P#&R
%F +!$&$ R&+&()&/ #%% '!#& F%R ("$&R#(%" (" #&(R
PR%P&R P'!+&$.
S 2. *he printing an5 revision o= these vol9mes have occ9pie5 a consi5erable time@ an5
meanwhile several items o= evi5ence have been receive5 too late =or insertion in the
chapters to which the> properl> belong. *he> =all 9n5er the three classes( alrea5>
5isting9ishe5( o= e.peri(ental, transitional( an5 spontaneous cases. I will begin with
some cases o= the =irst class( which s9==icientl> show that the e?periments 5escribe5 at
the opening o= the treatise a5mit o= being repeate5 an5 varie5 with s9ccess.
*he =ollowing res9lts were sent to 9s at the close o= last >ear( b> .err Ma? $essoir( o= UW(
0thener-/trasse( "erlin. .e has 5evote5 a goo5 5eal o= time to e?perimenting with a
=ew =rien5s( he himsel= almost alwa>s acting as percipient. .e began with trials o= the
Bwilling-gameC t>pe( an5 soon convince5 himsel= that slight m9sc9lar hints were the =9ll
an5 s9==icient e?planation o= all the or5inar> Btho9ght-rea5ingC e?hibitions. .e then
intro59ce5 =orms o= e?periment which o==ere5 no opport9nit> =or 9nconscio9s g9i5ance
on the agent4s partAs9ch as the g9essing o= n9mbers( wor5s( an5 car5s( witho9t an>
contact between agent an5 percipient. *hese trials( tho9gh the amo9nt o= s9ccess was
above what co9l5 with probabilit> be ascribe5 to chance( were not n9mero9s eno9gh to
D9sti=> an> 5e=inite concl9sion. "9t a series o= trials in the repro59ction o= 5iagrams
a==or5s an interesting parallel to those 5escribe5 in Vol. I.( pp. :WTV2. *he agent was in
some cases .err E. ,eiss( o= U7( ,ilhelm-/trasse( "erlin Pa =ellow-st95ent with .err
$essoir at the "erlin Universit>Q@ in others .err .. "ilt]( o= 23( /chelling-/trasse( "erlin@
an5 in one case P%o. WQ .err ,. /achse( o= U( 0irchbach-/trasse( "erlin. P.err ,eiss an5
.err "ilt] are known to 9s( thro9gh correspon5ence( in5epen5entl> o= these
e?periments.Q )ll three gentlemen have sent 9s certi=icates o= the acc9rac> o= the recor5
o= the e?periments in which the> were respectivel> concerne5.
ii-83:!
.err $essoir th9s 5escribes the con5itions o= the trials:A
B,hile the agent 5rew the original( I was almost alwa>s o9t o= the room( to avoi5 being
in=l9ence5 b> the so9n5 o= the 5rawing. ,hen the agent calle5 o9t u'ea5>(4 I came in(
with e>es closel> ban5age5Athe ban5age being ma5e to cover the ears( so as to sh9t o9t
cas9al so9n5s. I set m>sel= at the table( an5 in man> instances place5 m> han5s on the
table( an5 the agent place5 his han5s on mine: the han5s la> 2uite still on one another.
2

,hen an image presente5 itsel= in m> min5( the han5s were remove5( the original
5rawing Yon which the agent ha5 been =i?ing his e>esZ was t9rne5 over( or covere5 with a
book( an5 I took o== the ban5age an5 5rew m> =ig9re. Man> o= the e?periments were
ma5e witho9t contact( even tho9gh no note to that e==ect was ma5e.C
)s regar5s the cases where there were t-o or three attempts at repro59ction( .err $essoir
sa>s( that a=ter he ha5 ha5 a clear image in his min5( an5 ha5 remove5 the ban5age( the
image wo9l5 sometimes lose its clearness( an5 that he was sensible that the =ig9res which
he pro59ce5 5i5 not correspon5 with it( an5 so trie5 again. /till( as no 5o9bt the agent
wo9l5 have tol5 him i= the earlier attempt ha5 been s9ccess=9l( an5 he wo9l5 not then
have ma5e another( ever> incorrect attempt m9st co9nt as simpl> a =ail9re.
*he =ollowing woo5c9ts( which have been ver> care=9ll> copie5 =rom the original sheets(
incl95e all the trials in which .err $essoir was himsel= the percipient( with the e?ception
o= two( Pone( to the e>e( a s9ccess( an5 the other a =ail9re(Q omitte5 on acco9nt o= some
9ncertaint> as to the con5itions. %os. iii.( vi.( an5 ?.( in which .err .. "ilt] was the
percipient( m9st be set against three complete =ail9res on his part. *he series given
contains a consi5erable proportion o= =ail9re@ b9t i= the rea5er will 5raw 2X =ig9res o=
abo9t an eE9al 5egree o= comple?it>( an5 get a =rien5 to 5o the same( an5 will then
compare each =ig9re o= one series with the correspon5ing one o= the other( he will realise
the improbabilit> o= obtaining b> mere chance( in so short a set( X resemblances as close
as those in %os. i.( iv.( vi.( vii.( ?i.( ?iii.( ?v.( ?vii. an5 ?viii.( below.
ii-833!
I.
O'I&I%)L.
)gent: ..".
'E1'O$U-*IO%.
II.
O'I&.
)gent: ..".
'E1. 2.
'E1. U.
III.
O'I&. 'E1.
)gent4s name omitte5.
It appears here that the agent4s image incl95e5 an
impression o= the le=t part o= the =rame. M.$.
ii-83V!
IV.
O'I&
)gent: ..".
'E1.

O'I&.
)gent: ..".
'E1. 2.
'E1. U.
'E1. :.
'E1. 3.
ii-838!
VI
O'I&.
)gent: M.$.
'E1. 2. 'E1. U.
VII.
O'I&.
)gent:
..".
'E1. 2.
'E1. U.
,hile the secon5 repro59ction was procee5ing( an interr9ption occ9rre5
which prevente5 its completion.
ii-83W!
VIII.
O'I&.
)gent: ..".
'E1. 2.
'E1. U.
'E1. :.
'E1. 3.
I\.
O'I&.
)gent: ..".
'E1. 2.
'E1. U.
'E1. :.
*he percipient sai5( BIt looks like a win5ow.C
\.
O'I&. 'E1. 2. 'E1. U. 'E1. :.
)gent: M. $.
ii-837!
\I.
O'I&.
)gent: .. ".
'E1. 2.
'E1. U.
'E1. :.
ii-83X!
\II.
O'I&.
)gent: .. ".
'E1. 2.
'E1. U.
\III.
O'I&.
)gent: E. ,.
'E1. 2.
'E1. U.
*he percipient sai5( BIt looks like a win5ow.C
ii-8V;!
\IV.
O'I&.
)gent: E. ,.
'E1. 2.
'E1. U. 'E1. :.
\V.
O'I&.
)gent: E. ,.
'E1. 2.
'E1. U.
*he first attempt at repro59ction appears to have been a =ail9re.
\VI.
O'I&.
)gent: E. ,.
'E1. 2.
'E1. U.
'E1. :.
ii-8V2!
\VII.
O'I&.
)gent: E. ,.
'E1. 2.
'E1. U.
\VIII.
O'I&.
)gent: E.
,.
'E1. 2.
'E1. U.
*he percipient sai5( BI see two bright triangles b9t I cannot tell e?actl> how
the secon5 is sit9ate5.C
\I\.
O'I&.
)gent: E. ,.
'E1. 2.
'E1. U. 'E1. :.
*he =ollowing shorter recor5 is taken =rom the monthl> Do9rnal !phin. PLeip]igQ( =or
F9ne( 2778( an5 we have not seen the original 5iagrams. *he e?periments were ma5e at
the ho9se o= "aron $r. von 'avensb9rg( whose wi=e was the percipient. .err Ma?
$essoir 5rew the originals on the sp9r o= the moment( o9t o= the "aroness von
'avensb9rg4s sight( an5 taking care that his pencil sho9l5 move noiselessl>. .e an5 the
"aron then concentrate5 their attention on the =ig9re( which the "aroness( sitting at
another table( en5eavo9re5 to repro59ce( a=ter a time var>ing =rom U; to 3V secon5s. P*he
"aron 5i5 not take part in the =irst e?periment( which( it will be seen( was a =ail9re.Q
ii-8VU!
I.
O'I&.
'E1. 2. 'E1. U.
II.
O'I&.
'E1. 2.
'E1. U.
III.
O'I&.
'E1.
*he correction was ma5e b> the percipient be=ore the original
was shown to her.
ii-8V:!
IV.
O'I&.
'E1.
V.
O'I&.
'E1.
*he percipient sai5( BIt is circle o9tsi5e( an5 there is something else insi5e it@C then( a=ter a
pa9se( B) triangle.C /he then 5rew the repro59ction( an5 a55e5 that the circle was an
imper=ect one.
,ith respect to these e?periments( the "aron an5 "aroness von 'avensb9rg have sent a
note o= corroboration( o= which the =ollowing is a translation:A
B27( Jietenstrasse( "erlin( ,.
BF9l> X( 2778.
B,e certi=> that the report o= o9r sitting =or a trial o= tho9ght-trans=erence( which
appeare5 in the si?th n9mber o= !phin.( is thro9gho9t in correspon5ence with the =acts(
an5 has been 5rawn 9p with complete acc9rac>.
B+'EI.E'' &OELE' VO% ')VE%/"U'&.
BELIJ)"E*.( +'EI+')U &OELE' VO% ')VE%/"U'&.C
*he =ollowing is a set o= 3;; trials( ma5e in batches o= 3; or V; at a time( in F9ne( 2778(
b> the Misses ,ing=iel5( whose =ormer e?periments have been 5escribe5 in Vol. I.( p. :3.
*he ninet> n9mbers which contain two 5igits were inscribe5 on ninet> slips o= paper( an5
place5 in a bowl. Miss M. ,ing=iel5( sitting si? =eet behin5 the percipient( 5rew a slip at
ran5om( an5 =i?e5 her attention on the n9mber which it bore@ Miss 0. ,ing=iel5 ma5e a
g9ess at the n9mber( an5 the real n9mber an5 the g9ess ma5e were at once recor5e5 in the
*able. *he slip o= paper was then replace5( the contents o= the bowl sh9==le5( an5 another
5raw ma5e at hap-ha]ar5. *he most probable n9mber o= right g9esses =or acci5ent to
bring abo9t in the 3;; ii-8V3! trials was 3. *he act9al n9mber o= completel> right
g9esses was UW@ in U2 other cases the two right 5igits were given in reverse or5er: an5 in
28U others( one o= the 5igits was given rightl> in its right place. *he probabilit> which
this res9lt a==or5s =or a ca9se other than chance is represente5 b> 3W nines an5 a V
=ollowing a 5ecimal point@ i.e.( the o55s are nearl> two h9n5re5 tho9san5 million trillions
o= trillions to 2. It wo9l5 be a ver> ina5eE9ate statement o= the case to sa> that( i= the
waking ho9rs o= the whole pop9lation o= the worl5 were =or the =9t9re contin9o9sl>
5evote5 to making similar trials( li=e on this planet wo9l5 come to an en5 witho9t s9ch an
amo9nt o= s9ccess( or an>thing like it( having been acci5entall> obtaine5.
ii-8VV!
*he ne?t acco9nt is =rom the 'ev. -anon Le=ro>( Inc9mbent o= /t )n5rew4s( Liverpool.
*he percipient( Miss AA( is known to Mr. M>ers an5 the present writer. .er bona fides
is above s9spicion@ b9t her state o= health has 9n=ort9natel> prevente5 =9rther
e?perimentation.
B277V.
BEarl> in /eptember( 2773( in Jermatt( I was( thro9gh the kin5ness o= Miss AA(
permitte5 to have an opport9nit> o= testing( b> personal observation( e?perience( an5
evi5ence( the realit> or otherwise o= what is( I believe( calle5 telepath>. I am bo9n5 to sa>
that when I was in=orme5( an5 most kin5l> in=orme5( o= what was propose5 to be 5one(
the innate scepticism o= m> nat9re rose to its highest.
BI was in=orme5 that the e>es o= Miss AA wo9l5 be tightl> ban5age5( an5 I saw them
ban5age5@ that in this 5arkene5 state( mental or oc9lar perceptionAprobabl> the latter
2

Awo9l5( nevertheless( enable her to rea5 an> wor5 written b> me on a slip o= paper.
*here might be mistake@ there might be literal transposition Yr transposition o= lettersZ@
there might be 5ela>@ b9t( speaking broa5l>( I was ass9re5 that the wor5 co9l5 be
5iscerne5. ,e sat at opposite si5es o= the table. I was 5esire5 to hol5 the la5>4s han5. I
5i5 so( an5 while so 5oing I e?erte5 m> will to the 9tmost( an5 to the intent that( i=
possible( the con=lict o= wills sho9l5 res9lt in =avo9r o= m> scepticism. I m9st( with
shame an5 h9miliation( con=ess that m> incre59lit> an5 volitional resistance 5i5 not
hesitate to select a wor5 which m> gi=te5 antagonist probabl> never hear5 o=@ an5
accor5ingl> I 5e=iantl>( con=i5entl>( an5 I will a55( mercilessl>( wrote the name o=
*erence4s ol5 pla>A9eautonti(oru(enos. *he completion o= m> wor5 was =ollowe5 b>
a prolonge5 pa9se. I =elt as i= breathing was an intr9sion( an5 not a so9n5 was hear5. )t
last the blin5e5( an5 I tho9ght the wearie5( or at least straine5( interpreter sai5( u,hat a
long wor5s4 *hen a pa9se. *hen as =ollows: u,h>Atwo( =o9r( si?( eightAthere are
eighteen letters in that wor5s4
BUnconscio9sl> m> resisting power became less than it was( an5 it 5ecrease5 =rom the
moment Miss AA sai5( u,hat a long wor5s4 %evertheless( the long pa9se seeme5 to
give me a chance( an5 again I gathere5 9p m> min5 to resolve that 5etection sho9l5 be
arreste5. "9t ver> soon this p9rpose was =oile5@ the la5> calml> sai5( u*hat wor5 has two
m4s to it@ it begins with an h@ an5 I never saw that wor5 be=ore.4 I =elt ver> g9ilt> as I
observe5 what I tho9ght were signs o= =atig9e( an5 then 5eclare5 the wor5 was 9n9s9alA
ill-known( an5 aske5 that the ban5age might be remove5.
BIn a =ew moments I was allowe5 to tr> with simpler wor5s. )gain the ban5age was
applie5( the wor5 was written( an5 o9r han5s were claspe5. I wrote the wor5 in1. In abo9t
one min9te the wor5 was rea5( th9s( uk( n( i@ >o9r wor5 is in1.4
B)gain I was most kin5l> allowe5 to tr> another wor5. I wrote to,. In a min9te the wor5
was rea5 th9s( u>( o( t@ >o9r wor5 is to,.4
U

ii-8V8!
*he e?perience then close5( so =ar as this species o= 5iscover> was concerne5.
B,ILLI)M LE+'O#( M.).C
In answer to inE9iries( -anon Le=ro> writes( on F9ne 2W( 2778:A
B)bercromb> /E9are( Liverpool.
BI believe I wrote the letters 9n5er the cover o= m> le=t han5. Miss AA co9l5 not
possibl> 5escr> them. M> own in=le?ible scepticism respecting her power provi5e5( I can
ass9re >o9( a rea5> sa=eg9ar5 against an>thing she might have been 5ispose5 to 5o 9n5er
the pec9liar circ9mstances o= the e?periment. I am( to this ho9r( a most 9nwilling believer
in her possession o= some =orce which reveale5 what she co9l5 not see( an5 which
5isclose5 what I resolve5 sho9l5 be impenetrable.C
Miss .amilton( o= 3W( )lbert Mansions( 0ensington &ore( ,.( a Member o= the /.1.'.(
sen5s Pin F9ne( 2778(Q the =ollowing recor5 o= an imprompt9 trial( o= the sort which we
wish we co9l5 pers9a5e more people to make. In s9ch a case as this( contact( tho9gh
better avoi5e5( can scarcel> be hel5 to a==or5 the opport9nit> =or 9nconscio9s ph>sical
hints. One reservation 9n=ort9natel> m9st be ma5e: the recor5 was not 5rawn 9p in
writing at the time. "9t Miss .amilton tells 9s that the 5etails were then an5 there
care=9ll> gone over( with a view to the present report@ an5 we have several memories to
rel> on.
BE?periment between Miss Leila Melvill Ynow Mrs. Lewis .amiltonZ( an5 Mr. Lewis
.amilton( /eptember( 277V.
BMiss L. M.( e>es lightl> ban5age5 with a silk han5kerchie=( was uwille54 b> Mr.
.amilton. .e place5 his han5s on her =orehea5( an5 wille5 intentl> that she sho9l5 rea5
the Yprinte5Z wor5s( ) !er(on( at which he ga]e5 stea5il> all the time he wille5. /he sai5(
slowl>( )@ then spelle5 the =irst =ew letters o= u/ermon(4 an5 then sai5 the whole wor5.
B*he same evening she rea5 in the same manner these wor5s( Count, <a(ilies. Later on(
in %ovember( the same e?periment was trie5( an5 she rea5 the 9n9s9al wor5s( Chatto and
"indus. Each e?periment took abo9t three min9tes. )mongst the witnesses present were:
A
BM)'# -. $. .)MIL*O%.
B). MELVILL Ysister o= the percipientZ.
BLILLI)/ .)MIL*O%.C
*he agent an5 percipient also sign the acco9nt.
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. .amilton writes( on F9ne UV( 2778:A
BLans5owne( +arE9har 'oa5( Upper %orwoo5.
P2Q B.a5 the s9bDect4s e>es been 9nban5age5( she co9l5 have 9n5o9bte5l> seen the
wor5s@ b9t not onl> were the> tightl, ban5age5( b9t m> =ingers were place5 on her close5
e>eli5s( so that she co9l5 not even ii-8VW! have opene5 them( ha5 there been no
ban5age. On one occasion the wor5s she rea5 were hel5 above the s9bDect4s hea5( so that
she co9l5 not in an> case have seen. YMiss .amilton in5epen5entl> con=irms this.Z I ma>
sa>( however( that in no single case was there an> possibilit> o= her having seen the
wor5s. *he wor5s( an5 book( or pamphlet( =rom which the> were rea5( were chosen after
her e>es were ban5age5( an5 o9t o= her sight( an5 the> were not whispere5 =rom one
witness to the other( b9t shown ro9n5.
PUQ BIn no instance 5i5 she fail -ith (e( b9t when Mr. .ope trie5 her one evening( she
=aile5( an5 on another occasion PoneQ she sai5 almost at once she co9l5 not 5o it that
evening. *he e?periment was trie5 a goo5 man> times( an5 e?cept =or the above( alwa>s
s9ccee5e5.
P:Q B+or abo9t si? months we 5i5 not tr> again( an5 on the two occasions we have trie5
latel>( she has sai5 she co9l5 not 5o it. ,e( however( 5o inten5 to tr> again.
BLE,I/ .)MIL*O%.C
*he =ollowing recor5s o= e?periments have been sent to 9s b> o9r =rien5 $r. LiHbea9lt( o=
%anc>( a -orrespon5ing Member o= the /.1.'.
B-ompte-ren59 5es e?pHriences 5e transmission 5e pensHes( =aites le 2; $Hcembre( 277V(
5e : he9res G 3 he9res et 5emie 59 soir( che] M. le $r. LiHbea9lt( en prHsence 5e M. le $r.
LiHbea9lt( 5e Ma5ame /.( et 5e M. le $r. "r9llar5. OpHrate9r( M. le 1ro=esse9r LiHgeois@
s9Det( Mlle. M.( U; ans. YTranslationZ
B2. Mlle. M.( trNs intelligente et impressionable( est habit9He G Mtre en5ormie et entre trNs
vite en Htat 5e somnamb9lisme( pen5ant leE9el elle est en rapport avec to9s les assistants.
YTranslationZ
BM. le 1ro=esse9r LiHgeois la met en Htat 5e somnamb9lisme h>pnotiE9e( et l9i s9ggNre
5e n4Mtre en rapport E94avec l9i se9l@ il l9i 5onne 59 papier et 9n cra>on( et l9i comman5e
5e =aire la mMme chose E9e l9i. )lors il se ren5 G 9ne table voisine et 5essine 9n triangle
s9r 9n registre( 5ont la co9vert9re relevHe =orme 9n Hcran entre l9i et le s9Det( et intercepte
to9te comm9nication vis9elle. )9ssitLt Mlle. M. Hcrit 5e son cLtH( uLes gran5s hommes.4
Le rHs9ltat est 5onc n9l. YTranslationZ
BU. En secon5 lie9 M. LiHgeois 5it a9 s9Det( to9Do9rs en somnamb9lisme( uFe 5essine 9n
obDet(4 et 5ans les mMmes con5itions E9e prHcH5emment( il 5essine 9ne cara=e. Le s9Det 5it
a9ssitLt( u-4est 9n vase(4 et elle 5essine 9n vase 5e =orme carrHe. u-e n4est pas cela(4 5it
M. LiHgeois. )lors Mlle. M. 5essine 9n obDet 5e mMme =orme E9e la cara=e( mais
5i==orme( v9 E94a>ant les >e9? =ermHs elle plaait ses traits a9 D9ger. Le rHs9ltat est 5onc
e.act.
2
YTranslationZ
B:. En troisiNme lie9( uFe 5essine E9elE9e chose(4 5it M. LiHgeois( et il =ig9re 9n
bonhomme. Le s9Det( 5ans le mMme Htat passi=( 5it s9ccessivement( u-4est 9n 5essin
54ornement(4 et elle commence G tracer E9elE9es traits@ p9is s9r 9ne rHponse nHgative(
uOn croirait 9ne bo9ssoleA9n arbreA9ne maison.4 'Hs9ltat n9l. ) ce moment M.
LiHgeois rHveille Mlle. M. avec la s9ggestion 5e trNs bien voir G son rHveil ii-8V7! le
5ernier obDet 5essinH( et 5Ns ce moment elle est en comm9nication avec les assistants. uFe
ne sais pas(4 5it Mile. M.( et aprNs E9elE9es min9tes( u-4est 9ne tMte(4 E9e s9r 5eman5e
elle =ig9re 5e pro=il. )lors on l9i 5it E9e c4Htait 9n bonhomme. uEh biens4 rHpon5-elle(
uma premiNre impression a HtH 5e =aire 9n bonhomme( mais D4ai craint E9e l4on ne se
moE9t 5e moi.4 YTranslationZ
B3. Mile. M. restant rHveillHe( M. LiHgeois reto9rne G sa table et 5essine 9ne table carrHe
v9e en perspective( avec 9n tiroir et son bo9ton@ p9is( aprNs avoir montrH silencie9sement
son 5essin G chaE9e assistant en partic9lier( il place ses 5e9? mains s9r la tMte 59 s9Det et
l9i 5it( uMaintenant vo9s alle] 5eviner ce E9e De viens 5e =aire.4 )prNs moins 5e 5e9?
min9tes 5e rH=le?ion( u-4est 9ne table(4 5it-elle@ uelle est ron5eApas to9t-G-=ait.4 /9r
5eman5e 5e la 5essiner( elle 5essine pe9-G-pe9 9ne table e?actement semblable et 5ans la
mMme position( avec le tiroir et son bo9ton. 'Hs9ltat e?act. YTranslationZ
BV. Mlle. M.( E9i( comme a9c9n assistant( n4a v9 le 5essin( est en rapport avec M.
LiHgeois se9l. M. LiHgeois 5essine 9n c9be. Mlle. M. 5it spontanHment( u-4est 9ne
lampe.4 M. LiHgeois l9i met les mains s9r la tMte. u-4est 9ne chaise(4 5it-elle. M. LiHgeois
l9i =i?e les >e9? s9r les siens et l9i tient la main. uFe ne sais pas.4 )lors le 5essin est
montrH a9? assistants. u-4est 9n chapea9(4 5it-elle. Mlle. M. est mise 5e no9vea9 en
somnamb9lisme. uFe ve9? E9e vo9s vo>ie] le 5essin(4 5it M. LiHgeois. u-4est 9n petit
b9rea9.4 u%on.4 uOh( il > a 5es carrHsAo9i(4 et elle 5essine 5e9? carrHs( l49n a95esso9s 5e
l4a9tre. u-e n4est pas cela(4 et comme elle ne tro9ve pas( aprNs E9elE9es min9tes( u}9el
est l4obDet o il > a 5es carrHsr4 uFe ne sais pas.4 u-4est 9n c9be.4 u)h( c4est vrai@ De vo9lais
le =aire.4 1en5ant l4e?pHrience( M. le $r. LiHbea9lt avait aDo9tH 5es points =ig9rant 9n 5H.
5onc rHs9ltat mH5iocre. YTranslationZ
B8. Mile. M.( Htant to9Do9rs en Htat 5e sommeil h>pnotiE9e( M. LiHgeois 5essine 9ne
croi?. uIl > a 9n carrH(4 5it Mlle. M. P-4Htait vrai@ la croi? Htait 5essinHe 5ans 9n carrH.Q
uMais E94> a-t-il 5e5ansr4 5eman5e M. LiegHois. u-4est 9n verreAnonA9ne HtoileAnon
A9n triangle. -epen5ant il > a trois traits.4 En=in elle =ig9re s9ccessivement 9n angle(
p9is 9ne croi? 5e /. )n5rH( E9an5 on l9i ett 5it 5e laisser aller son cra>on sans s4en
occ9per. 'Hs9ltat G pe9 prNs n9l. YTranslationZ
BW. M. LiHgeois Hcrit le mot (ariage. Mile. M. Hcrit 5e s9ite( uMonsie9r.4 19is elle 5it(
u-ara=eAnonAtablea9Anon.4 u}9elle est la lettrer4 u-4est 9n lAnon( c4est 9n (.4. 19is(
aprNs E9elE9es min9tes 5e rH=le?ion( uIl > a 5ans le mot 9nAiA9n a aprNs I4mA9n gA
9n a9tre aA9n eAil > a si? lettresAnonAsept.4 }9an5 elle ett tro9vH to9tes les lettres et
le9r places( (a iage( elle ne p9t 5Hco9vrir la lettre r. -e n4est E94aprNs pl9sie9rs min9tes
E94on l9i 5it 54essa>er les combinaisons avec les 5i==Hrens consonnes( et en=in elle Hcrit
(ariage. 'Hs9ltat mH5iocre.C YTranslationZ
B1rocNs-verbal relatant trois =aits Htonnants 5e s9ggestion mentale( obten9s par MM.
LiHbea9lt et $e &9aita( a9 5omicile 59 $r. LiHbea9lt P3( r9e "ellev9e( %anc>Q( le X
Fanvier( 2778. YTranslationZ
B%o9s so9ssignHs LiHbea9lt P)mbroiseQ( 5octe9r en mH5ecine( et $e &9aita P/tanislasQ(
homme 5e lettres( to9s 5e9? 5eme9rant act9ellement G %anc>( attestons et certi=ions avoir
obten9s les rHs9ltats s9ivants. YTranslationZ
B2. Mlle. Lo9ise L.( en5ormie 59 sommeil magnHtiE9e( =9t in=ormHe ii-8VX! E94elle
allait avoir G rHpon5re G 9ne E9estion E9i l9i serait =aite (entale(ent sans l4intervention
54a9c9ne parole ni 54a9c9n signe. Le $r. LiHbea9lt( la main app9>He a9 =ront 59 s9Det( se
rec9eillit 9n instant( concentrant sa propre attention s9r la 5eman5e( Huand sereA6vous
gu4rieJ E94il avait la volontH 5e =aire. Les lNvres 5e la somnainb9le rem9Nrent so95ain:
uBientGt,4 m9rm9ra-t-elle 5istinctement. On l4in vita alors G rHpHter 5evant to9tes les
personnes prHsentes( la E9estion E94elle avait int9itivement per9e. Elle la re5it 5ans les
terrnes mMmes( o elle avait HtH =orm9lHe 5ans l4esprit 5e l4e?pHrimentate9r. -ette
premiNre e?pHrience( entreprise par le $r. LiHbea9lt( G l4instigation 5e M. 5e &9aita(
rH9ssit 5onc pleinement. Une secon5e Hpre9ve 5onna 5es rHs9ltats moins rigo9re9? mais
pl9s c9rie9? pe9t-Mtre encore( ainsi E94on va voir. YTranslationZ
BU. M. 5e &9aita( s4Htant mis en rapport avec la magnHtisHe( l9i posa (entale(ent 9ne
a9tre E9estion( =eviendreA6vous la se(aine prochainer
2
u*eut6[tre(4 =9t la rHponse 59
s9Det@ mais invitH G comm9niE9er a9? personnes prHsentes la E9estion mentale( elle
rHpon5it( uVo9s m4ave] 5eman5H si vous reviendreA la se(aine prochaine.4 -ette
con=9sion( portant s9r 9n mot 5e la phrase( est trNs signi=icative. On 5irait E9e la De9ne
=ille a ubronchH4 en lisant 5ans le cervea9 59 magnHtise9r. YTranslationZ
B:. Le $r. LiHbea9lt( a=in E94a9c9ne phrase in5icative ne =tt prononcHe( mMme G voi?
basse( Hcrivit s9r 9n billet( uMa5emoiselle( en se rHveillant( verra son chapea9 noir
trans=ormH en chapea9 ro9ge.4 Le billet =9t passH 54avance G to9s les temoins( p9is MM.
LiHbea9lt et 5e &9aita posNrent( en silence( le9r main s9r le =ront 59 s9Det( en =orm9lant
mentalement la phrase conven9e. )lors la De9ne =ille( instr9ite E94elle verrait 5ans la
piNce E9elE9e chose 54insolite( =9t rHveillHe. /ans 9ne hHsitation elle =i?a a9ssitLt son
chapea9( et( avec 9n gran5 Hclat 5e rire( se rHcria( u-e n4Htait pas son chapea9@ elle n4en
vo9lait pas. Il avait bien la mMme =orme@ mais cette plaisanterie avait asse] 59rH@ il =allait
l9i ren5re son bien.4 uMais en=in( E94> vo>e]-vo9s 5e changHr4 uVo9s save] 5e reste. Vo9s
ave] 5es >e9? comme moi.4 uMais encorer4 On 59t insister trNs longtemps po9r E94elle
consentt G 5ire en E9oi son chapea9 Htait changH@ on vo9lait se moE9er 54elle. 1ressHe 5e
E9estions elle 5it en=in( u?ous vo,eA bien 2uil est tout rouge.4 -omme elle re=9sait 5e la
repren5re( =orce =9t 5e mettre =in G son hall9cination( en l9i a=iirmant E94il allait revenir G
sa co9le9r premiNre. Le 5octe9r so9==la s9r le chapea9( et( re5even9 le sien G ses >e9?(
elle consentit G le repren5re.
U
YTranslationZ
B*els sont les rHs9ltats E9e no9s certi=ions avoir obten9s 5e concert. En =oi 5e E9oi( no9s
avons rH5igH le prHsent procNs-verbal. YTranslationZ
B%anc>( ce X Fanvier( 2778( fait en double .
B). ). LIK"E)UL*.
B/*)%I/L)/ $E &U)I*).C
B%o9s avons HtH( 9ne =ois( trNs he9re9? avec 9ne De9ne =ille 5e 2V ans( Mlle. -amille
/imon( et cela en prHsence 5e M. "r9llar5 et 5e E9elE9es a9tres personnes.
:
Fe l9i ai
s9ggerH mentalement E94G son rHveil elle verrait son chapea9( E9i est brun( trans=ormH en
chapea9 5aune@ p9is De ii-88;! l4ai mise en rapport avec to9t le mon5e( et D4ai =ait
circ9ler( so9s les >e9? 5e chac9n( 9n billet in5iE9ant ma s9ggestion( avec
recomman5ation 5e penser comme moi. Mais( par 9ne 5istraction 5ont De s9is co9t9mier(
De n4ai pl9s songH G la =in G la co9le9r E9e D4avais 5HsignHe antHrie9rement par Hcrit@ D4ai
e9 l4i5He bien arrMteH E94elle verrait son chapea9 teint en rouge. Et( en la rHveillant( De l9i
ai a==irmH E94elle verrait E9elE9e chose reprHsentant notre pensHe comm9ne. -ette De9ne
=ille( HveillHe( n4a pl9s reconn9 la co9le9r 5e son chapea9. uIl Htait br9n(4 a-t-elle 5it.
)prNs l4avoir longtemps consi5HrH( elle a ass9rH E9e rHellement il n4avait pl9s le mMme
aspect( E94elle n4en po9vait pas trop en 5H=iner la co9le9r( mais E9e to9te=ois il l9i
paraissait 549n 5aune6rouge0tre. )lors De me s9is so9ven9 5e ma 5istraction. )9 cas
prHsent les temoins avaient pens4 5aune et moi rouge@ par s9ite( l4obDet a par9 5aune et
rouge G la somnamb9le rHveillHe@ ce E9i est la pre9ve E949ne s9ggestion mentale pe9t Mtre
l4Hcho 5e pl9sie9rs cervea9? pensants.C
2
YTranslationZ
*he =ollowing e?periment( ma5e with the same Bs9bDect(C an5 sent to 9s b> $r. LiHbea9lt
on F9ne :( 2778( is an interesting e?ample o= temporar> latenc, o= the telepathic
impression.
BF4avais( G cette De9ne =ille( =ait s9ggHrer par pl9sie9rs personnes( et mentalement(
E94aprNs la sortie 5e son sommeil elle verrait un co2 noir se promenant s9r le plancher 5e
l4appartement. )9 rHveil et longtemps aprNs PG pe9 prNs 9ne 5emie he9reQ elle ne voit
absol9ment rien( E9oiE9e De l9i e9sse annoncH E94elle 5evait apercevoir E9elE9e chose.
-4est alors Pa9 bo9t 549ne 5emie he9reQ E9e cette De9ne =ille Htant allH a9 Dar5in( et a>ant
consi5HrH ma petite basse co9r( par hasar5( elle revint to9t co9rant no9s 5ire: u)hs De sais
ce E9e De 5evais voir@c4est un co2 noir. -ette i5ee m4est ven9e en regar5ant votre coE.4
Mon coE est moitiH 549n noir ver5tre s9r les ailes( la E9e9e( et le ventre( et parto9t
aille9rs il est 549n blanc Da9ntre. )insi voilG 9ne association 549ne i5He se transmettant
5e la v9e 549n Mtre rHel( G 9ne i5He =ictive transmise s9ggestivement et mentalement par
les personnes prHsentes.C YTranslationZ
*he =ollowing recor5 o= e?periments was kin5l> sent to 9s( on )pril UW( 2778( b> $r.
F9les Ochorowic]( e?-1ro=essor )grHgH o= the Universit> o= Lemberg( now resi5ing at U3(
"o9levar5 /t. &ermain( 1aris. It is to be wishe5 that the original notes ha5 incl95e5 a
ver> m9ch more 5etaile5 5escription o= the con5itions@
U
b9t as corroborative o= the
parallel b9t more striking res9lts recor5e5 in Vol. I.( -hap. II.( the present set 5eserves
attention.
ii-882!
*he =irst e?periments( with car5s( were o= the t>pe 5escribe5 in Vol. I.( pp. :2T:@ b9t
tho9gh the s9ccess obtaine5 tol5 slightl> in =avo9r o= a ca9se other than chance( the series
was too short to have an> in5epen5ent val9e. *he complete recor5 o= the ne?t set o= trials
is as =ollows. *he percipient was thro9gho9t in a normal waking state. P-omplete
s9ccesses are marke5 <( partial s9ccesses x( =irst g9esses onl> being co9nte5.Q
Ma5ame $.( agHe W; ans( =orte( rob9ste( trNs intelligente. 'he9matisme artic9laire
chroniE9e. E?pHrience h>pnotiE9e@ lo9r5e9r( paral>sie( analgHsie( 5ans le 5oigt. $e9?
personnes imaginent 9n obDet( Ma5ame $. le 5evine. Elle ne pe9t pas no9s voir.
YTranslationZ
1'EMI'E /K'IE( LE U )V'IL( 277V.
PaQ U%E -)'*E $E FEU.
O"FE* 1E%/K. O"FE* $EVI%K.
2. /i? 5e piE9e B/i? noir.Cx
U. $i? 5e piE9e. B'o9ge@ 9n roi@ 9n 5i?.C
:. Valet 5e c9r. B'o9ge@x 9n roi@ 9ne 5amerC
PbQ U%E -OULEU'.
3. "le9e B"le9e.C<
V. Fa9ne BFa9ne.C<
8. %oire B%oire.C<
PcQ U% O"FE* }UEL-O%}UE.
W. Une lampe BUn livre@ 9n cigare@ 9n papier.C
7. Un chapea9 5e soie( noir B}9elE9e chose 5e ble9@ chaise.C
X. Un =a9te9il
BUne s9criHre@ 9ne armoire@ 9n
me9ble.C
2;. Le sel BUn go9t 5e sel.C<
PdQ U%E LE**'E.
22. ] Bi( r( s.C
U%E 1E'/O%%E -O%%UE.
2U. Valentine BValentine.C<
2:. M
r
. O. BM
r
. $.r M
r
. P.rC
U% 1O'*')I* $E L) /)LLE.
2

23. $49n HvME9e B-4est l4HvME9e.C <
U% -.I++'E.
2V. 7 BW( V( U( 7.C
ii-88U!
U%E IM1'E//IO%
O"FE* 1E%/K. O"FE* $EVI%K.
28. &aie B*riste.C
U%E +I&U'E }UEL-O%}UE.
2W. Une croi? noire BUn arbreAbranches croisHes.C
27. Un vieillar5 G long9e barbe BUn homme( barb9@ barbe blanche.C<
U%E 1.O*O&')1.IE /U' /E1*.
2X. $49n garon BUne De9ne =ille@ 5es en=ants.C
U% %OM }UEL-O%}UE.
U;. Marie BMarie.C<
U2. )5am BFean( &9stave( -harles.C
U% %OM"'E }UEL-O%}UE.
UU. $i? B/i?( 5o9]e( ne9=( 5i?.C
U% O"FE* }UEL-O%}UE.
U:. Un livre ble9( satin B-o9le9r violetteArose.C
U3. Un cra>on 54or posH s9r 9n =on5 ble9
B}9elE9e chose 5e noir s9r 59
ble9(Cx
UV. )s 5e piE9e s9r 9n =on5 noir
B}9elE9e chose 5e noirAble9@ 9ne
carte@ l4as 5e trM=le.C
U% I%/*'UME%*.
U8. Un clarion BUn violon.C
U% -.I++'E.
UW. : BU( V.C
U% O"FE* $E L) /)LLE.
U7. Une assiette avec 9n image BL4assiette avec l4image.C<
U% &O*.
UX. $9 sel B)igreAamer.C
:;. /9cre B$o9?.Cx
:2. $es =raises
B$49ne pommeA59 raisin@ 5es
=raises.C
$EU\IME /K'IE( LE U M)I( 277V.
U% O"FE* }UEL-O%}UE.
:U. Un b9ste 5e M. %.
BUn portraitA549n homme@x 9n
b9ste.C
::. Un Hventail B}9elE9e chose( 5e ron5.C
:3. Une cle=
B}9elE9e chose en plombAen
bron]eAen =er.C
:V. Une main portant 9ne bag9e.
B}9elE9e chose E9i brilleA9n
5iamantA9ne bag9e.C
ii-88:!
U% &O*.
:8. )ci5e B$o9?.C
U%E +O'ME.
:W. Un carrH B}9elE9e chose 54 irrHg9lier.C
:7. Un cercle BUn triangleA9n cercle.C
U%E LE**'E.
:X. M BM.C<
3;. $ B$.C<
32. F BF.C<
3U. " B)( \( '( ".C
3:. O B,( )Anon( c4est 9n O.C
33. Fan BFC P-ontin9e]Q( BFan.C<
*'OI/IME /K'IE( LE 8 M)I( 277V.
Le s9Det( no9s to9rnant le 5os( tient 9n cra>on et 4crit ce E9i l9i vient 5ans la pensHe.
%o9s l9i to9chons le 5os lHgNrement 549n 5oigt( en regar5ant les lettres Hcrites par no9s.
Vingt-5e9? e?pHriences
2
ont HtH =aites sans Mtre notHes e?actement@ c4Htaient po9r la
pl9part 5es Hchecs. /9it 9ne sHrie 5e s9cces Htonnants. YTranslationZ
88. "rabant
B"raAC PDe m4e==orce mentalement G
ai5er le s9Det( sans rien 5ireQ Bbant.C<
8W. 1aris B1waris.C<
87. *HlHphone B*w*HlHphone.C<
}U)*'IKME /'IE( LE 7 M)I( 277V. PMME/ -O%$I*IO%/.Q
U%E LE**'E.
8X. J BL( 1( 0( *.C
W;. " B".C<
W2. + B/( *. +.C
WU. n BM( %.C
W:. 1 B1( J( ).C
W3. # BV( #.C
WV. e Be.C<
W8. &9stave B+( *( &abriel.C
WW. $9ch B-( O.C
W7. ba B"( ).Cx
WX. % O B+( 0( O.C
U% %OM"'E.
7;. 33 B8(7(2U.C
72. U BW(V(X.C
PF4engage mon ai5e G se reprHsentor la =orme Hcrite et non les sons nombres.Q
7U. : B7(:.C
7:. W BW.C<
73. 7 B7Anon( ;( 8( X.Cx
ii-883! /9ivent 2: e?pHriences s9r les =ormes 5essinHes( phantastiE9es( parmi
lesE9elles cinE se9lement prHsentaient 9ne certaine analogie. YTranslationZ
U%E 1E'/O%%E -O%%UE.
X7. Le s9Det l9i-mMme BM. O.Anon( c4est moi.C
XX. M. $ BM. $.C<
U% IM)&E }UEL-O%}UE.
2;;. %o9s no9s reprHsentons la l9ne croissantA
M
e
1. Pmon ai5eQ s9r 9n =on5 5e n9ages( moi 5ans
9n ciel ble9 =oncH. YTranslationZ
BFe vois les n9ages( E9i =ilent. Une
l9miNre. -4est la l9ne.C<
YTranslationZ
*he =ollowing is a tab9lar view o= the res9lts o= this series:A
*otal.
-omplete
/9ccesses.
1artial
/9ccesses.
+ail9res
I. Vis9alA$iagrams( with contact 2: ; ; 2:
II. Imagine5 obDects( vario9s( with
contact
: U ; 2
witho9t contact UW 7 3 2V
III. Imagine5 n9mbers( letters( an5
names( witho9t contact
2U V ; W
IV. Vis9al n9mbers an5 names an5 letters(
with contact
32 8 U ::
V. )bstract i5eas 2 2
VI. *astes 3 ; 2 :
2;2 U2 W W:
It will be seen that the maDorit> both o= complete an5 partial s9ccesses occ9r in the =irst
33 trials( in which there was no contact.
) thir5 set o= trials( ma5e with a h>pnotise5 Bs9bDect(C gave 7 complete an5 W partial
s9ccesses( an5 22 =ail9res. "9t here( tho9gh contact was avoi5e5( the =orm o= e?periment
Ainvolving movement o= the limbs( an5 sometimes act9al movement abo9t the room(A
is open to grave obDection@ as it can never be prove5 to the satis=action o= persons not
present that g9i5ance o= some sort was not a==or5e5 b> 9nconscio9s ph>sical signs.
*he =ollowing case o= the trans=erence o= a name is recor5e5 b> M. -h. 'ichet. It is one
o= the spora5ic instances which occ9rre5 be=ore the time was ripe =or placing telepath> on
a =irm evi5ential basis. In =9t9re( we ma> hope that similar cas9al instances will( as a
matter o= co9rse( be recor5e5 at the moment( Pespeciall> b> me5ical ii-88V! an5
scienti=ic observers(Q an5 =orwar5e5 to o9r Lon5on hea5E9arters( or to those o= the
!oci4t4 de *s,chologie *h,siologi2ue in 1aris.
BOctobre :;( 277V.
BFe n4ai obten9 E949ne se9le =ois 5ans 5e nombre9ses recherches s9r la l9ci5itH 5es
personnes mesmerisHes( 9n rHs9ltat satis=aisant. -4est prH cise4ment 5ans 9ne 5e mes
premiNres e?pHriences( et elle est remarE9able( car De ne l4ai Damais p9 rHpHter( mMme
avec 9ne appro?imation moin5re. Une De9ne =ille( convalescente( =9t mise 5ans le
sommeil magnHtiE9e( en %ovembre( 27WU( par moi( G l4.Ltel-$ie9. Un Do9r( vers 3 he9re
5e l4aprNsmi5i( D4amenai avec moi 9n De9ne Ht95iant )mHricain 5e mes amis( M. .earn.
M. .earn n4av ait Damais v9 cette De9ne =ille. LorsE9e elle =9t en5ormie( De 5is G mon s9Det
magnHtiE9e: u-onnaisse]-vo9s le nom 5e mon amir4 PF4Htais str 5e ne pas avoir prononcH
son nom.Q Elle se mit G so9rire. u%on(4 me 5it-elle. 19is( comme D4insistais( elle aDo9ta: uFe
ne le vois pas.4 F4insiste encore( et elle me 5it: uIl > a cinE lettres.4 uEh biens4 5is-De alors(
uE9elle est la premiere lettrer4 )lors elle( G voi? trNs basse( me 5it( u..4 u}9elle est la
secon5e lettrer4 5is-De. uE.4 uEt la troisiNmer4 uFe ne la vois pas.4 -omme elle cherchait
in9tilement( De 5is( u1assons G la E9atriNme.4 u'.4 u19is la cinE9iNme.4 u%.4 YTranslationZ
BF4ai essa>H le len5emain 54a9tres e?pHriences analog9es avec le mMme s9Det( mais sans
s9ccNs. $e mMme pl9s tar5( sans s9ccNs( avec 54a9tres personnes. YTranslationZ
B-4est po9r cela E9e De ne l4avais pas p9bliHe@ mais maintenant E9e le =ait 5e cette
thought6transference semble bien pro9vH( De me crois a9torisH G le 5onner@ car il rentre
5ans 9n ensemble 5e =aits E9i paraissent 5emontrHs( et D4en ai HtH tellement =rappH E9e De
me so9viens avec 9ne prHcision absol9e 5e to9tes les circonstances E9i l4ont
accompagnH.C YTranslationZ
*he ne?t case is =rom $r. ). M. -hilto==( o= 0harko==( an5 is parallel to those 5escribe5 in
Vol. I.( pp. 7UT:.
BUniversit> o= 0harko==.
BMa>( 2778.
.
BOn Fan. :2( 2778( in 1etersb9rg( in the lo5ging o= M. &reshner( I( in : min9tes( an5 at a
5istance o= 3 =eet( pl9nge5 into sleep M. $robia]g9in( an o==icer o= the '9ssian nav>. *he
e?periment was ma5e in the presence o= M. *o9mas( M.$. Pnow 1ro=essor at the
Universit> o= ,arsawQ( an5 o= man> other witnesses. ,hen the us9bDect4 =ell asleep( one
o= the witnesses wrote on a sheet o= paper the P'9ssianQ wor5 u"og4 P&o5Q. *hen I took
this sheet o= paper an5 p9t it on the =orehea5 o= m> us9bDect.4 *o m> E9estion whether he
can rea5 the wor5 written on the paper( M. $robia]g9in gave an a==irmative answer( an5
then procee5e5 to prono9nce in a 5ea5 voice the letters. *he =irst two were rea5 correctl>(
b9t in lie9 o= ug4 he sai5 utch.4 ,hen I remarke5 to him that the last letter is g9esse5
incorrectl>( he imme5iatel> sai5 the tr9e letter. In m> opinion this e?periment cannot be
e?plaine5 b> umental s9ggestion(4 =or those present e?pecte5 that the us9bDect4 wo9l5
prono9nce the right letter( ug(4 an5 he nevertheless prono9nce5 utch.4C
Y*here is no '9ssian wor5 Bbotch.C )s regar5s pec9liarities o= spelling( see Vol. I.( pp.
W8T7. *he in5epen5ent action o= the percipient4s ii-888! min5 which s9ch pec9liarities
in5icate a==or5s( accor5ing to the reasoning in this book( no gro9n5 at all =or 5o9bting
that the i5ea was telepathicall> trans=erre5 =rom one min5 to the other.Z
,e owe the =ollowing acco9nts o= some e?periments in h>pnotic rapport to Mr. -. 0egan
1a9l( who states that he has known the phenomenon o= Bcomm9nit> o= taste in the
mesmeric sleepC to have occ9rre5 several times in the case o= this Bs9bDect.C Mr. 1a9l
writes:A
BMa> UWth( 2773.
BI live5 at &reat *ew( in O?=or5shire( =rom March( 27V2( to Ma>( 27VU. ,hen there( the
=ollowing circ9mstance occ9rre5( b9t I am not able to =i? the month( =9rther than to sa>
that I think it was in the late s9mmer o= 27V2. P%o. I am now convince5 that it was in
)pril( 27VU.Q
BI ha5 been in the habit o= mesmerising =reE9entl> Mr. ,alter +rancis /hort( then an
9n5ergra59ate scholar o= %ew -ollege( who was( witho9t an> single e?ception( the most
usensitive4 person o= either se? I have ever known. .e 9s9all> became what is calle5
clairvo>ant( b9t this alwa>s tire5 him( an5 I sel5om ma5e protracte5 e?periments in this
5irection. On several occasions I =o9n5 that a comm9nit> o= taste was establishe5
between 9s( b9t onl> once ma5e an> e?periment with more than one s9bstance( s9ch as a
bisc9it( or glass o= water.
B)t &reat *ew( with his consent( m> two sisters alone being present besi5es o9rselves( I
carrie5 the matter =9rther. ,e ha5 5ine5 in m> onl> sitting-room( and the dessert -as still
on the table. PI think I am right( tho9gh m> sister +. 5o9bts.Q I p9t /hort to sleep in an
arm-chair( which I t9rne5 with its back to the table( an5 /hort4s =ace to the wall. *here
was no mirror in the room. I aske5 /hort( taking his han5( i= he tho9ght he co9l5 taste
what I took in m> mo9th( an5 he sai5 he tho9ght that he co9l5. I( still hol5ing his han5(
sh9t m> own e>es( an5 m> sisters p9t into m> mo9th vario9s things which were on the
table. I remember onl> raisins( b9t there were =o9r or =ive vario9s s9bstances taste5.
*hese were all E9ite correctl> 5escribe5( e?cept that I think there was an 9ncertaint>
abo9t the kin5 o= wine. /hort( however( ha5 o= co9rse been aware o= what was on the
table( b9t he co9l5 not know( nor 5i5 I know( the or5er in which I was to be =e5 with these
things.
B*o carr> the e?periment =9rther( one o= m> sisters le=t the room( bringing back vario9s
things wholl> 9nknown to me( which she a5ministere5 to me having m> e>es sh9t. I
remember spices( black pepper( salt( raw rice( an5 =inall> soap( all o= which /hort
recognise5( an5 the last o= which he reDecte5 with a spl9tter o= great 5isg9st. *he
e?periment onl> en5e5 when we co9l5 think o= nothing more to taste.
BI ha5 at that time alrea5> le=t O?=or5@ /hort 5i5 so soon a=ter( an5 o9r vario9s
occ9pations sel5om allowe5 o9r meeting. .is conviction o= m> power over him was s9ch
that he begge5 that I wo9l5 never attempt to place him 9n5er mesmeric in=l9ence when I
was at a 5istance =rom him( on the gro9n5 that( as he was rowing in the O?=or5 boat( I
might 5o so when he was on the river. I ha5 once a==ecte5 him at a 5istance( 9n5er rather
sing9lar circ9mstances( an5 o= co9rse willingl> gave the promise.
B-. 0E&)% 1)UL.
ii-88W!
BM> sister +. is right in remarking that o9r =o9r selves were the onl> persons in the ho9se.
M> onl> servant was a woman in the village( who live5 close b>( an5 came an5 went at
=i?e5 ho9rs( like an O?=or5 sco9t.C
*his acco9nt was sent b> Mr. 1a9l to his sister( Miss 1a9l( with the =ollowing letter:A
BIn talking with m> =rien5 .enr> /i5gwick over m> e?periments in mesmerism man>
>ears ago( I mentione5 one with /hort at *ew( when >o9 an5 M. were present. .e has
aske5 me to write it 5own( an5 get i= possible >o9r recollections on it.
B*he partic9lar e?periment was one in which /hort( being in the mesmeric sleep( was
able to taste what was p9t into m> mo9th. I= >o9 recollect the circ9mstance at all( I want
>o9( be=ore rea5ing what I have sai5( enclose5 in another envelope( to write 5own a
statement o= what >o9 remember as m9ch in 5etail as possibleAtime( place( persons
present( things taste5( [c.@ then to rea5 m> narrative( an5 to write also how =ar >o9r
recollection( th9s re=reshe5( tallies with mine( an5 preserve both acco9nts( even i= >o9
=in5 them contra5ictor>@ then to sen5 m> acco9nt an5 >o9r acco9nt an5 remarks enclose5
to M.( together with this note( asking her to =ollow e?actl> the same plan( an5 ret9rn m>
statement( >o9rs( an5 her own to me( together -ith this note.
BI sho9l5 like >o9 also to sa> that >o9 have observe5 m> or5er o= procee5ing as in5icate5
above.
B-. 0E&)% 1)UL.C
Miss 1a9l replie5 as =ollows( on Ma> UW:A
BOn *h9rs5a>( )pril UXth( 27VU( m> sister an5 I went to sta> with m> brother at &reat
*ew( in O?=or5shire( an5 Mr. /hort Doine5 9s at O?=or5( an5 went with 9s to *ew. )s he
ret9rne5 to O?=or5 on /at9r5a>( Ma> 2st( the mesmeric e?periments( which I well
remember( m9st have been on +ri5a>( )pril :;th( an5 the> were a=ter 5inner in the
evening. M> brother mesmerise5 Mr. /hort( an5 when he was E9ite asleep he trie5 some
e?periments.
BM> brother 5rank some wine PI think it was portQ( an5 we saw Mr. /hort4s lips an5 throat
moving as i= he was swallowing it( an5 on m> brother asking him what he was 5rinking(
he at once sai5 what it was. *he wine ha5 been taken =rom a c9pboar5 an5 po9re5 o9t(
where( even ha5 he been awake( Mr. /hort co9l5 not have seen what it was be=ore tasting
it.C
BYI think m> own acco9nt is the more correct.A-. 0. 1.ZC
BM> sister then got some black pepper =rom the kitchen an5 p9t it in m> brother4s han5(
an5 on his p9tting some in his own mo9th( Mr. /hort at once taste5 it( an5 on m> brother
asking him what he ha5 in his mo9th( he sai5 it was ver> hot an5 9npleasant( b9t was not
E9ite s9re what it was. M> brother hel5 Mr. /hort4s han5 all the time.
B*he onl> other thing I remember is that on m> brother removing his han5 a=ter( an5
s9bstit9ting m> sister4s( Mr. /hort looke5 as i= in pain( an5 sai5 the change was
9npleasant.
B%o one else was in the little cottage at the time.
B+( 0. 1)UL.
ii-887!
B1./.A/ince writing m> acco9nt I have rea5 m> brother4s( an5 think it ver> acc9rate( as(
now I am remin5e5 o= the soap( [c.( I can =aintl> recollect it( b9t not clearl>( as I 5o the
things I have written 5own.
B)lso I think the 5essert ha5 been p9t awa>( an5 the wine taken o9t again on p9rpose.
BI remember the 5ate( as I have alwa>s written 5own ver> shortl> the events o= each 5a>.C
Mr. 1a9l4s other sister( Mrs. 1.( writes( on Ma> UX( 2773:A
BIn the >ear 27VU or 27V:( I believe at "lo?ham Ycertainl> *ew.A-. 0. 1.Z( I remember
m> brother tr>ing e?periments on a =rien5( Mr. /hort( whom he was in the habit o=
mesmerising. One evening( I saw him mesmerise Mr. /hort( an5 while he was in that
state m> brother aske5 =or a glass o= water or wine( an5 5rank it. Mr. /hort appeare5 as i=
he was 5rinking( an5 swallowe5( an5 ma5e a repl> when aske5 what it was@ b9t the
e?periment I remember best was( a=ter m> getting some pepper( an5 giving it to m>
brother( he p9t some into his mo9th( an5 Mr. /hort looke5 as i= in pain( an5 sai5( u.ot.4
*hen I took his han5( an5 his =ace change5( an5 I think he sai5( u%ast>.4 I know he
seeme5 to 5islike the change =rom m> brother4s to9ch@ b9t altho9gh I know there were
other e?periments( it is so long ago that I cannot E9ite recall them.
BM. E. 1.
B1./.A/ince writing the above I have rea5 m> brother4s narrative( which is( I think(
s9bstantiall> correct.C
*he 'ev. ,. +. /hort writes to Mr. 1o5more:A
B*he 'ector>( $onhea5 /t. Mar>( /alisb9r>.
BF9ne 2Uth( 2773.
B$E)' /I'(A/tock tells me >o9 wo9l5 like m> acco9nt o= some mesmeric e?periences
o= mine at &reat *ew in the >ear4 VU. #o9 are ver> welcome( b9t :U >ears ma> have
impaire5 m> memor> =or the 5etails( an5 I sho9l5 like 0egan 1a9l to see the acco9nt
be=ore an> 9se is ma5e o= it.
BI ha5 come 9p to %ew -ollege b> acci5ent a week be=ore the time( an5 =in5ing college
empt> accepte5 an invitation to pa> 1a9l( then c9rate o= &reat *ew( a visit. One night( I
think the *h9rs5a> =ollowing( he mesmerise5 me( an5 ma5e( I believe( some s9ccess=9l
e?periments in the utrans=erence o= taste4@ b9t o= these( as I was in a 5eep sleep( I can sa>
nothing. ,hen I was in 59e time awakene5( he sai5( u,e trie5 to get >o9 to visit %ew
-ollege( b9t >o9 sai5 it was all a g9ess( an5 wo9l5 tell 9s nothing.4 I answere5( uI seem to
have 5reamt o= %ew -ollege F9nior -ommon-room( an5 to have seen ". an5 &. sitting at
a small ro9n5 table 5rawn near the =ire( with the lamp on the large table near them(
pla>ing at car5s.4 It was agree5 that I sho9l5 test the tr9th o= this on m> ret9rn to O?=or5
on +ri5a> Pone 5a> be=ore men in general came 9pQ. On entering college I met ".( an5
sai5( u#o9 9pr )re there an> other men comer4 uOh( >es@ hal=-a-5o]en. &. an5 so-an5-so(4
[c. u,ere >o9 in the -ommonroom last night at 2; PrQr4 u#es.4 u,ho else was therer4
uOh( the whole lot o= 9s. %o( b> 2; ever>one was gone b9t I an5 &.4 u,here were >o9
sittingr4 u)t a small table close to the =ire( it was so col5.4 ii-88X! u,ith the lamp on the
big table near >o9r4 u#es( 5rawn close to 9s.4 u*hen I will tell >o9 what >o9 were 5oing.
#o9 were pla>ing car5s.4 u.ow o55s ,e weren4t pla>ing car5s( b9t &. was showing me
tricks on the car5s.4
BI have alwa>s tho9ght this a thoro9ghl> goo5 case( too e?act to be a mere coinci5ence(
an5 I think tolerabl> acc9rate even in the wor5s 9se5( b9t those who 5o not( like m>sel=(
believe in clairvo>ance
2
will probabl> set it 5own to a happ> g9ess.
BI have not =or man> >ears ha5 an> e?perience o= mesmerism( b9t a=ter this( =or some
>ears( I saw a great 5eal o= it( an5 have no more 5o9bt o= its realit>( even in its higher
phases o= in59cing clairvo>ance( [c.( than I have o= m> own e?istence.
BI 5o9bt whether ". wo9l5 remember this PI 5on4t think &. ever hear5 o= itQ( b9t I wo9l5
write to him i= >o9 like it( onl> I am rather overworke5 D9st now.A"elieve me( >o9rs
ver> tr9l>(
B,. +. /.O'*.C
Mr. /hort writes( on +eb. 27( 2778:A
BM> =rien5 ". remembere5 nothing o= the circ9mstances Pnat9rall> eno9ghQ( tho9gh I =eel
per=ectl> s9re it took place.C
Mr. -. 0egan 1a9l writes( on F9ne 28( 2773:A
BI am sorr> to sa> I 5o not remember m9ch abo9t the clairvo>ance part o= the e?periment
with ,alter /hort( tho9gh I remember the comm9nit> o= taste vivi5l>( an5 have 5escribe5
it to Mr. /i5gwick.
B/hort became clairvo>ant on several occasions 9n5er m> mesmerism( b9t I 5o not recall
the 5etails with certaint>. On the evening in E9estion I onl> remember that on tr>ing some
e?periments /hort sai5 he was tire5( an5 wishe5 to be wakene5. I 5o not remember his
mentioning his u5ream4 or that I hear5 a=terwar5s how nearl> correct it ha5 been. It is
probable that he 5i5 mention the 5ream( b9t that I pai5 little attention to it( being =9ll o=
the =irst e?periment( an5 that as I onl> saw him occasionall>( an5 we 5i5 not e?change
letters( I never hear5 the veri=ication.C
In the =ollowing cases( tho9gh the> are in a sense e?perimental( the e?periment was not
5irecte5 to the partic9lar res9lt obtaine5. *he> are parallel to those recor5e5 in Vol. I.( pp.
W7 an5 73@ the> ill9strate tho9ght-trans=erence o= the B9n5ergro9n5C sort( both agent an5
percipient being 9nconscio9s o= the i5ea which nevertheless is prett> clearl> shown to
have passe5 =rom one min5 to the other otherwise than thro9gh the recognise5 sensor>
channels. ,e have reason to think that this =orm o= trans=erence is not e?tremel>
9ncommon@ an5 these specimens ma> serve to elicit =9rther recor5s.
Mrs. ,ing=iel5 Pmother o= the la5ies mentione5 above( p. 8V:Q writes as =ollows:A
ii-8W;!
B:3( Ennismore &ar5ens( /.,.
B)pril Un5( 2778.
BOn the evening o= Fan. 2:( 2778( Mr. *atham Yo= U( -ambri5ge &ate( ,.Z was writing
a9tomaticall>( b9t not ver> legibl>. .e wrote a wor5 twice( which some o= 9s trie5 to
rea5( b9t co9l5 not. .e sai5 he tho9ght it was 1hoebe( or something like it. /ome min9tes
a=terwar5s Miss ,ing=iel5( who was sitting at the other si5e o= the room( wrote
a9tomaticall>( u,ho is &. %orb>r4 ,e none o= 9s knew this name( an5 aske5 wh> the
E9estion was written. ,e were tol5 ubeca9se he wante5 to tell something abo9t an
acci5ent(4 or wor5s to that e==ect. *he s9bDect then 5roppe5( an5 the writing was at an en5.
B/ome hal=-ho9r or more a=terwar5s( Mr. M. ,. took 9p Mr. *atham4s paper an5 looke5
at it( an5 sai5( u,h>s this is &. %orb>.4 )n5 when we e?amine5 the letters care=9ll> we
=o9n5 it was so. *here=ore Mr. *atham an5 Miss ,. were both in=l9ence5 to write the
same name in5epen5entl> o= each other(
2
as at the time Miss ,. wrote( u,ho is &.
%orb>r4 she ha5 not seen what Mr. *atham wrote( an5 we none o= 9s ha5 an> i5ea o= s9ch
a name. *here were si? persons present besi5e Mr. *. an5 Miss ,.( none o= whom ha5
ever hear5 the name.
BE. ). ,I%&+IEL$(
B1E'-# *)*.)M.C
*he ne?t recor5 is =rom Miss "irrell an5 Mrs. Me5le>( near relatives o= the present writer(
who entertains little 5o9bt that the =acts( tho9gh somewhat remote( are recor5e5 with
s9bstantial acc9rac>.
B:W( )55ison &ar5ens( %orth 0ensington( ,.
BOctober( 277V.
BI was pla>ing at table-t9rning in the -hristmas holi5a>s o= 278:( with a part> o= si? or
seven. )t last the table rappe5 a name we none o= 9s knew. ,e tho9ght there was a
mistake. ) la5> in the room( b9t not at the table( t9rne5 ro9n5 an5 i5enti=ie5 it as the
name o= some relationAI think her sister4s son. ,e aske5 the table to rap three times i= it
wishe5 her to come( which it 5i5. /he came an5 p9t her han5s on the table b9t no 5istinct
message =ollowe5. *he name was new to me. I sai5( u,as there reall> s9ch a personr4
*he la5>( who was a goo5 5eal 5istresse5( answere5( uOh >ess4 an5 mentione5 one or two
=acts abo9t him( t9rning ro9n5 to another la5> o= her own age( in the room but not at the
table( =or =9rther con=irmation. /he 5i5 this as we were too >o9ng to remember the 5ea5
person.
BOLIVE "I''ELL.C
B,al5en .o9se( )ll /aints /treet( %ottingham.
BOctober :;th( 2778.
BI was seate5 with a part> o= si? or eight ro9n5 a table with o9r han5s place5 9pon it( an5
it rappe5 in repl> to the letters o= the alphabet. /everal names were spelt o9t an5 vario9s
broken sentences. *he table at length spelt the name u,illiam /mallshaw.4 ,e replie5(
u*here ii-8W2! never was s9ch a person(4 an5 one gentleman la9ghe5 an5 sai5( u#o9
have ma5e a mistake( tr> again.4 *he table contin9e5 to rap an5 then a la5> in another
part o= the room( awa> =rom o9r part> altogether( sai5 ver> nervo9sl>( u: had a brother,
"illia( !(allshavi.4 *he table contin9e5 to rap an5 we aske5 i= Miss /mallshaw sho9l5
Doin 9s. It replie5( ues(4 an5 she came. %o sentence o= an> val9e or sense was ma5e o9t
a=ter this.
BEMIL# &. ME$LE#.C
Miss "irrell is tolerabl> con=i5ent that the s9rname was not /mallshaw( b9t L>on( which
was Miss /mallshaw4s marrie5 sister4s name.
Mr. )9g9stine "irrell( who was present( sa>s that the e?pression o= Miss /mallshaw4s
=ace( as she came across the room( is =i?e5 in his memor>@ b9t he cannot recall what
=ollowe5( when she p9t her han5s on the table( or the reason o= her being s9mmone5 to
the table.
Y*he state o= Miss /mallshaw4s health has prevente5 9s =rom appl>ing =or her
recollections.Z
S U. *he =ollowing is a transitional case( akin to those recor5e5 in Vol. I.( pp. 2;:TX@ b9t it
5i==ers =rom that gro9p in the =act that the agent remembers his own 5irect share in the
occ9rrence( an5 appears to have been reciprocall> a==ecte5. ,e owe the case to Mr. .. 1.
/parks Po= Overbeck Villa( ,oo5stone( near /o9thampton(Q an5 Mr. ). .. ,. -leave Po=
U7( Var5ens 'oa5( %ew ,an5sworth( /.,.(Q who at the time were =ellow-st95ents o=
naval engineering at 1ortsmo9th. 1ersonal acE9aintance has completel> con=irme5 the
impression ma5e on me b> the letters o= these gentlemen( that the> ha5 observe5 the
phenomena( which were a complete s9rprise to them( with intelligence an5 care. *he>
were 9naware o= the remarkable interest o= their res9lts@ an5 Mr. /parks a55resse5 me in
the =irst instance( not so m9ch to s9ppl> in=ormation which( =or a9ght he knew( might be
o= a common eno9gh t>pe( as to ask =or a5vice abo9t h>pnotic e?perimentation in
general. .e 5i5 not know to what a55ress to write@ b9t acting on a 5im recollection o= a
newspaper notice o= o9r obDects( he bol5l> la9nche5 a letter into space( which b> goo5
l9ck reache5 me a=ter a certain amo9nt o= peregrination. .is acco9nt( receive5 in Fan9ar>(
2778( is as =ollows:A
B..M./. uMarlboro9gh4( 1ortsmo9th.
P87VQ B+or the last >ear( or =or abo9t the last 2V months( I have been in the habit o=
mesmerising a =ellow-st95ent o= mine. *he wa> I 5i5 it was b> simpl> looking into his
e>es as he la> in an eas> position on a be5. *his pro59ce5 sleep. )=ter a =ew times I =o9n5
that this sleep was 5eepene5 b> making long passes a=ter the patient was o==.
2
*hen
comes ii-8WU! the remarkable part o= this sort o= mesmerism. YMr. /parks then 5escribes
his us9bDect4s4 abilit> to see( in the trance( places in which he was intereste5( i= he
resolve5 to see them be=ore he was h>pnotise5@ b9t there is nothing to show that these
visions were an>thing b9t p9rel> s9bDective.Z .owever( it has been 59ring the last week
or so I have been so s9rprise5 an5 startle5 b> an e?traor5inar> a==air. Last +ri5a> evening
PFan9ar> 2V th( 2778Q he e?presse5 his wish to see a >o9ng la5> living in ,an5sworth(
an5 he also sai5 he wo9l5 tr> to make himsel= seen b> her. I accor5ingl> mesmerise5 him(
an5 contin9e5 the long passes =or abo9t U; min9tes( concentrating m> will on his i5ea.
,hen he came ro9n5 PI bro9ght him ro9n5 b> D9st to9ching his han5 an5 willing him(
a=ter 2 ho9r an5 U; min9tes4 tranceQ he sai5 he ha5 seen her in the 5ining-room( an5 that
a=ter a time she grew restless( an5 then s955enl> looke5 straight at him an5 then covere5
her e>es with her han5s. F9st a=ter this he came ro9n5. Last Mon5a> evening PFan9ar>
27th( 2778Q we 5i5 the same thing( an5 this time he sai5 he tho9ght he ha5 =rightene5 her(
as a=ter she ha5 looke5 at him =or a =ew min9tes she =ell back in her chair in a sort o=
=aint. .er little brother was in the room at the time. O= co9rse( a=ter this we e?pecte5 a
letter i= the vision was real@ an5 on ,e5nes5a> morning he receive5 a letter =rom this
>o9ng la5> asking whether an>thing ha5 happene5 to him( as on +ri5a> evening she was
startle5 b> seeing him stan5ing at the 5oor o= the room. )=ter a min9te he 5isappeare5(
an5 she tho9ght that it might have been =anc>@ b9t on the Mon5a> evening she was still
more startle5 b> seeing him again( an5 this time m9ch clearer( an5 it so =rightene5 her
that she nearl> =ainte5.
B*his acco9nt I sen5 >o9 is per=ectl> tr9e( I will vo9ch( =or I have two in5epen5ent
witnesses who were in the 5ormitor> at the time when he was mesmerise5( an5 when he
came ro9n5. M> patient4s name is )rth9r .. ,. -leave( an5 his age is 27 >ears. M> own
is 2X >ears. ). -. $arle> an5 ). /. *h9rgoo5( =ellow-st95ents( are the two witnesses I
mentione5.
B.. 1E'-# /1)'0/.C
Mr. -leave writes( on March 2V( 2778:A
B..M./. uMarlboro9gh(4 1ortsmo9th.
B/parks an5 m>sel= have( =or the past 27 months( been in the habit o= hol5ing mesmeric
sHances in o9r 5ormitories. +or the =irst month or two we got no ver> satis=actor> res9lts(
b9t a=ter that we s9ccee5e5 in sen5ing one another to sleep. I co9l5 never get /parks
=9rther than the sleeping state( b9t he co9l5 make me 5o an>thing he like5 whilst I was
9n5er the in=l9ence@ so I gave 9p tr>ing to sen5 him o==( an5 all o9r e==orts were ma5e
towar5s m> being mesmerise5. )=ter a short time we got on so well that /parks ha5 three
or =o9r other =ellows in the 5ormitor> to witness what I 5i5. I was E9ite insensible to all
pain( as the =ellows have repeate5l> pinche5 m> han5s an5 legs witho9t m> =eeling it.
)bo9t 8 months ago I trie5 m> power o= will in or5er( while 9n5er the in=l9ence( to see
persons to whom I was strongl> attache5. +or some time I was entirel> 9ns9ccess=9l(
altho9gh I once tho9ght that I saw m> brother Pwho is in )9straliaQ( b9t ha5 no
opport9nit> o= veri=>ing the vision.
B) short time ago( I trie5 to see a >o9ng la5> whom I know ver> well( an5 was per=ectl>
s9rprise5 at m> s9ccess. I co9l5 see her as ii-8W:! plainl> as I can see now( b9t I co9l5
not make m>sel= seen b> her( altho9gh I ha5 o=ten trie5 to. )=ter I ha5 5one this several
times( I 5etermine5 to tr> an5 make m>sel= seen b> her( an5 tol5 /parks o= m> i5ea(
which he approve5. ,ell( we trie5 this =or =ive nights r9nning witho9t an> more s9ccess.
,e then s9spen5e5 o9r en5eavo9rs =or a night or two( as I was rather over-e?erte5 b> the
contin9e5 e==orts an5 got severe hea5aches. ,e then trie5 again Pon( I think it was( a
+ri5a>( b9t am not certainQ( an5 were( I tho9ght( s9ccess=9l@ b9t as the >o9ng la5> 5i5 not
write to me abo9t it( I tho9ght I m9st have been mistaken( so I tol5 /parks that we ha5
better give 9p tr>ing. "9t he begge5 me to tr> once more( which we 5i5 on the =ollowing
Mon5a>( when we were s9ccess=9l to s9ch an e?tent that I =elt rather alarme5. PI m9st tell
>o9 that I am in the habit o= writing to the >o9ng la5> ever> /9n5a>( b9t I 5i5 not write
that week( in or5er to make her think abo9t me.Q *his took place between X.:; p.m. an5
2; p.m. Mon5a> night( an5 on the =ollowing ,e5nes5a> morning I got the letter which I
have enclose5. I( o= co9rse( then knew I ha5 been s9ccess=9l. I went home abo9t a
=ortnight a=ter this( when I saw the >o9ng la5>( who seeme5 ver> =rightene5 in spite o=
m> e?planations( an5 begge5 me never to tr> it again( an5 I promise5 her that I wo9l5
not.
BI m9st now tell >o9 o9r metho5 o= mesmerism. I la> on m> be5( with m> hea5 raise5 on
two pillows( an5 /parks sat =acing me abo9t three =eet o== on a chair. *he lights were
ma5e low( an5 then I watche5 his e>es intentl>( thinking in the meantime o= the >o9ng
la5> whom I wante5 to see. )=ter a short time Pabo9t W min9tesQ m> sense o= hearing le=t
me( an5 I co9l5 see nothing b9t two e>es( which a=ter a short time 5isappeare5( an5 I then
became senseless. P,hen we =irst e?perimente5 I co9l5 never get =arther than this state(
an5 it was onl> a=ter repeate5l> tr>ing that I 5i5 so.Q I then seeme5 to see Pin5istinctl> at
=irstQ her =ace( which gra59all> became plainer an5 plainer 9ntil I seeme5 to be in another
room altogether( an5 co9l5 5etail min9tel> all the s9rro9n5ings. I tol5 /parks( when I
came ro9n5( what I saw( who was with the >o9ng la5>( an5 what she was 5oing( all o=
which were veri=ie5 in her letter.
B). .. ,. -LE)VE.
*he two witnesses o= the e?periment last 5escribe5 write as =ollows:A
BI have seen Mr. -leaveus acco9nt o= his mesmeric e?periment( an5 can =9ll> vo9ch =or
the tr9th thereo=.
B). -. $)'LE#.C
BI have rea5 Mr. -leave4s statement( an5 can vo9ch =or the tr9th o= it( as I was present
when he was mesmerise5 an5 hear5 his statement a=ter he revive5.
B). E. /. *.U'&OO$.C
*he =ollowing is a cop>( ma5e b> the present writer( o= the letter in which the >o9ng la5>(
Miss ). AA( 5escribe5 her si5e o= the a==air.
*he envelope bore the postmarks( B,an5sworth( Fan. 2X( 2778(C B1ortsmo9th( Fan. U;(
2778(C an5 the a55ress( BMr. ). .. ,. -leave(( ..M./. uMarlboro9gh(4 1ortsmo9th.C
ii-8W3!
B,an5sworth.
B*9es5a> morning.
B$E)' )'*.U'(A.as an>thing happene5 to >o9r 1lease write an5 let me know at once(
=or I have been so =rightene5.
BLast *9es5a> evening( I was sitting in the 5ining YroomZ rea5ing( when I happene5 to
look 9p( an5 co9l5 have 5eclare5 I saw >o9 stan5ing at the 5oor looking at me. I p9t m>
han5kerchie= to m> e>es( an5 when I looke5 again( >o9 were gone. I tho9ght it m9st have
been onl> m> =anc>( b9t last night PMon5a>Q( while I was at s9pper( I saw >o9 again( D9st
as be=ore( an5 was so =rightene5 that I nearl> =ainte5. L9ckil> onl> m> brother was there(
or it wo9l5 have attracte5 attention. %ow 5o write at once an5 tell me how >o9 are. I
reall> cannot write an> more now.C
BY/ignat9re o= -hristian name.Z
It will be seen that Miss AA mentions Tuesda, as the 5a> o= her =irst hall9cination@
whereas both Mr. /parks an5 Mr. -leave mention <rida, as the 5a> on which he =irst
seeme5 to obtain a vision o= the room where she was@ an5 tho9gh( in a letter written on
March U2st( Mr. -leave e?presses 9ncertaint> on this point( an5 inclines to the view that
his =irst vision o= the room occ9rre5 on the *9es5a>( Bas I waite5 =or a 5a> or two to see i=
I sho9l5 get a letter be=ore I trie5 againC on the =ollowing Mon5a>( it is impossible to set
asi5e the earlier statement. "9t in conversation( both he an5 Mr. /parks e?presse5 their
5eci5e5 opinionAwhich accor5s with what wo9l5 be nat9rall> in=erre5 =rom their letters
Athat *9es5a> m9st at an> rate have =allen within the five da,s running on which trials
were ma5e( be=ore the break@ an5 the =irst inci5ent there=ore gives val9able con=irmation
to the secon5. Mr. -leave4s omission to write as 9s9al to Miss AA on the /9n5a> was
perhaps an error o= D95gment@ as it leaves it open to the obDector to sa> that the non-
receipt o= a letter on Mon5a> morning so wro9ght on her min5 as to conD9re 9p a spectral
ill9sion( to which she ha5 become pre5ispose5 b> her e?perience o= the previo9s week.
Mr. -leave e?plains that tho9gh he might nat9rall> eno9gh have imagine5 Miss AA to
be in the 5ining-room at that ho9r( it wo9l5 have seeme5 to him more probable( ha5 he
ma5e a g9ess at the scene( that other el5er members o= the =amil> sho9l5 also be present(
than that she sho9l5 have been alone with her little brotherAwhich is so =ar an arg9ment
=or s9pposing his vision to have been o= the telepathicall> clairvo>ant sort( an5 not a mere
s9bDective pict9re. "9t the nat9re o= his percipience is( o= co9rse( ii-8WV! a separate
E9estion@
2
the prime =act in the case is the hall9cination pro59ce5 b> his agenc>. Miss
AA( it will be seen( was so serio9sl> 5ist9rbe5 b> what occ9rre5 that she has reE9este5
him not to repeat the e?periment. .er =eeling is nat9ral eno9ghAit is D9st one o= the
nat9ral con5itions that Bps>chical researchC has to reckon with. Ever> 5epartment in the
e?ploration o= %at9re has 5i==ic9lties o= its own@ an5 it wo9l5 be strange i= a st95> that
5eals with living h9man material were an e?ception. *hat the partic9lar =orm o= obstacle
here again enco9ntere5 Psee Vol. I.( p. 2;XQ ma> make the acc9m9lation o= evi5ence =or
the rarer ps>chical phenomena a slow process is probable eno9gh@ b9t that the
prolongation o= o9r search sho9l5 have alrea5> bro9ght 9s a single =resh instance o= this
rarest t>pe is reall> a =act o= the most hope=9l signi=icance( an5 one which wo9l5 alone
ampl> vin5icate the plan o= wi5e an5 p9blic inE9ir> that we have a5opte5.
*he ne?t acco9nt is perhaps even more remarkable( as the agent was in a normal state.
,e owe it to Mrs. '9ssell( o= "elga9m( In5ia( wi=e o= Mr. .. '. '9ssell( E59cational
Inspector in the "omba> 1resi5enc>.
BF9ne 7th( 2778.
P878Q B)s 5esire5( I write 5own the =ollowing =acts( as well as I can recall them. I was
living in /cotlan5( m> mother an5 sisters in &erman>. I live5 with a ver> 5ear =rien5 o=
mine( an5 went to &erman> ever> >ear to see m> people. It ha5 so happene5 that I co9l5
not go home as 9s9al =or two >ears( when on a s955en I ma5e 9p m> min5 to go an5 see
m> =amil>. *he> knew nothing o= m> intention@ I ha5 never gone in earl> spring be=ore@
an5 I ha5 no time to let them know b> letter that I was going to set o==. I 5i5 not like to
sen5 a telegram( =or =ear o= =rightening m> mother. *he tho9ght came to me to will with
all m> might to appear to one o= m> sisters( never min5 which o= them( in or5er to give
them a warning o= m> coming. I onl> tho9ght most intensel> =or a =ew min9tes o= them(
wishing with all m> might to be seen b> one o= themAhal= present m>sel=( in vision( at
home.
U
I 5i5 not take more than ten min9tes( I think. I starte5 b> Leith steamer on a
/at9r5a> night( en5 o= )pril( 27VX. I wishe5 to appear at home abo9t 8 o4clock p.m. that
same /at9r5a>. I arrive5 at home abo9t 8 o4clock on the *9es5a> morning =ollowing. I
entere5 the ho9se witho9t an>one seeing me( the hall being cleane5 an5 the =ront 5oor
open. I walke5 into the room. One o= m> sisters stoo5 with her back to the 5oor@ she
t9rne5 ro9n5 when she hear5 the 5oor opening( an5( on seeing me( stare5 at me( t9rning
5ea5l> pale an5 letting what she ha5 in her han5 =all. I ha5 been silent. *hen I spoke( an5
sai5( uIt is I. ,h> 5o >o9 look so =rightene5r4 when she answere5( uI tho9ght I saw >o9
again as /tinchen4 Panother sisterQ usaw >o9 on /at9r5a>.4
ii-8W8!
B,hen I inE9ire5( she tol5 me that on the /at9r5a> evening( abo9t 8 o4clock( m> sister
saw me E9ite clearl> entering the room in which she was b> one 5oor( passing thro9gh it(
opening the 5oor o= another room where m> mother was( an5 sh9tting the 5oor behin5
me. /he r9she5 a=ter what she tho9ght was I( calling o9t m> name( an5 was E9ite
st9pe=ie5 when she 5i5 not see me with m> mother. M> mother co9l5 not 9n5erstan5 m>
sister4s e?citement. *he> looke5 ever>where =or me( b9t o= co9rse 5i5 not =in5 me. M>
mother was ver> miserable@ she tho9ght I might be 5>ing.
BM> sister who ha5 seen me i.e.( m> apparitionQ was o9t that morning when I arrive5. I
sat 5own on the stairs( to watch( when she came in( the e==ect o= m> real appearance on
her. ,hen she looke5 9p an5 saw me( sitting motionless( she calle5 o9t m> name( an5
nearl> =ainte5. M> sister has never seen an>thing 9nearthl> either be=ore that or
a=terwar5s@ an5 I have never ma5e an> s9ch e?periments againAnor will I( as the sister
that saw me =irst when I reall> came home ha5 a ver> severe illness a=terwar5s( ca9se5 b>
the shock to her nerves.
BF. M. 'U//ELL.C
Mrs. '9ssell wrote to ask her sister P+r9lein .oist( o= W( ,ohler4s )llHe( )ltona(
.olsteinQ i= she recollecte5 the occ9rrence( an5 has copie5 an e?tract =rom her sister4s
repl>( o= which the =ollowing is a translation:A
BO= co9rse I remember the matter as well as i= it ha5 happene5 to-5a>. 1ra> 5on4t come
appearing to me againsC +r9lein .oist 5eclines( however( to give an in5epen5ent
acco9nt( on the gro9n5 o= 5islike to the s9bDect.
I procee5 to some more h>pnotic cases. *he =ollowing is an apparentl> gen9ine( tho9gh
isolate5( case o= the telepathic in=l9ence o= will on a h>pnotic Bs9bDect(C who however
was at the time in a normal state. PCf. Vol. I.( pp. 7XTX3.Q *he =9rther e?periment with the
same Bs9bDectC recalls the cases in Vol. I.( p. X8( an5 above( pp. ::3T8. ,e receive5 the
acco9nt in Ma>( 2778( =rom Mr. E. M. -lissol5( o= :( O?=or5 /E9are( ,.
BUnite5 Universit> -l9b(
B1all Mall East( /.,.
P87WQ BIn the >ear 27W7 PI believeQ( there was a carpenter P&annawa>Q emplo>e5 b> me to
men5 a gate in m> kitchen gar5en( when a =rien5 o= mine PMoensQ calle5 9pon me( an5
the conversation t9rning on mesmerism( he aske5 me i= I knew an>thing abo9t it m>sel=.
On m> repl>ing in the a==irmative( he sai5( u-an >o9 mesmerise an>one at a 5istancer4 I
sai5 that I ha5 never trie5 to 5o so( b9t that there was a man now in the gar5en 9pon
whom I co9l5 easil> operate( an5 that I wo9l5 tr> the e?periment with this man( i= he
PMoensQ wo9l5 tell me what to 5o. .e then sai5( u+orm an impression o= the man whom
>o9 inten5 mesmerising in >o9r min5( an5 then wish him strongl> to come to >o9.4 I ver>
m9ch 5o9bte5 the s9ccess o= the enterprise( b9t I =ollowe5 o9t the s9ggestion o= m>
=rien5( an5 I was e?tremel> astonishe5 to hear the steps o= the man( whom I wishe5 to
appear( r9nning a=ter me@ he came right 9p to me an5 aske5 me what I wante5 with him. I
m9st e?plain that m> =rien5 was walking with me previo9sl> in the gar5en( an5 that we
ha5 seen an5 talke5 to the ii-8WW! man whom I s9bseE9entl> mesmerise5( b9t that when
I wishe5 him to come to me I was o9t o= his sight( behin5 the gar5en wall( some 2;;
>ar5s 5istant( an5 that I ha5 neither b> conversation nor otherwise le5 him to believe that
I propose5 to mesmerise him.
BM> =rien5 PMoensQ is 5ea5@ the man &annawa> I have not hear5 o= =or more than seven
>ears@ b9t I have this 5a> written to him( an5 aske5 him( i= he remembers the inci5ent
all95e5 to( to write to me( an5 in his own lang9age 5escribe the scene. I ma> tell >o9 that
I have not s9pplie5 him with an> o= the above 5etails( b9t have le=t him Pi= he canQ to tell
his own stor>.
BE. M. -LI//OL$.C
Mr. &annawa> writes back( in a letter which Mr. -lissol5 has =orwar5e5 to 9s( that he
remembers being o=ten mesmerise5 b> Mr. -lissol5( an5 he recalls some inci5ents o= his
e?periences@ b9t he 5oes not recollect this partic9lar occasion. One sentence o= his letter
is as =ollows:ABI remember( in the 5ining-room( when >o9 ma5e me think the same as
>o9 were thinking abo9t( an5 I tol5 >o9 what >o9 were thinking o=.C Mr. -lissol5
e?plains that this was an occasion when the .on. )9beron .erbert was present( an5 he
th9s 5escribes it:A
BF9ne 2( 2778.
B&annawa> was mesmerise5( an5 stoo5 in one corner o= m> 5ining-room. .erbert sat at
the table( an5 wrote on a paper a s9bDect on which he wishe5 me to think. &annawa>
instantl> tol5 me( when I aske5 him( what the tho9ght was abo9t. .erbert wrote:A
Bu2. I see a ho9se in =lames.
BuU. I see a woman looking o9t o= a win5ow.
Bu:. /he has a chil5 in her arms.
Bu3. /he throws it o9t o= the win5ow.
BuV. Is it h9rtr4 [c.( [c.
B&annawa> became m9ch e?cite5( as he appeare5 to witness these scenes acte5 be=ore
him. I am conscio9s that i= there ha5 been (ala fides on m> part( there was nothing in the
e?periment@ b9t it was E9ite honestl> con59cte5( an5 we were all o= 9s ver> m9ch
s9rprise5 at the won5er=9l acc9rac> with which &annawa> interprete5 m> tho9ghts.C
I wrote to Mr. )9beron .erbert( asking him i= he remembere5 participating in an
e?periment in tho9ght-trans=erence( ma5e with Mr. -lissol54s Bs9bDect(C &annawa>( in
which the i5eas trans=erre5 relate5 to a con=lagration. .e replie5:A
B)shle> )rnewoo5 +arm( L>mington.
BF9ne UUn5( 2778.
BM> recollection is as =ollows@ some o= the 5etails have escape5 me. I tho9ght o= a ho9se
on =ire. &annawa> Pa carpenter( I thinkQ( on m> asking him what I saw( answere5 E9ite
rightl>. I then aske5 him again what I saw( an5 he answere5 E9ite rightl>( u+ire-engine
coming 9p.4 *hen the conversation went on PI have shortene5 itQ. I. u)hs something has
happene5s what is itr4 &. u) horse( belonging to the =ireengine( has =allen 5own.4 P}9ite
right.Q M> memor> is E9ite 5istinct 9p to this point as to the E9estions an5 answers(
tho9gh I cannot e?actl> remember the part &annawa> an5 Mr. -lissol5 took respectivel>.
I ii-8W7! remember ver> 5istinctl> I tho9ght o= an5 aske5 these E9estions( an5 I believe
it was &annawa> himsel= who answere5 them 5irectl> to me. *he ne?t point was that( in
answer to what I saw( he sai5 the> were throwing =eather-be5s o9t o= a top-store> win5ow
Athis also was per=ectl> rightAb9t on this point m> memor> is not so clear as on the
=irst three points. I have as clear an5 positive a memor> as a man co9l5 have abo9t the
three =irst points( P2Q =ire( PUQ =ire-engine( P:Q horse =alling 5own. *he> were all E9ite
=airl> aske5( an5 E9ite =airl> answere5@ an5 I believe I might a55 to them the =o9rth point(
uthe =eather be54 b9t I cannot speak positivel> on this. *hen comes a c9rio9s point. I
imagine5 an entirel> 5i==erent sceneAI cannot recall it( b9t it was to 5o with a woo5A
an5 his power seeme5 to =ail entirel>. .e ma5e E9ite wrong answers. I have no 5o9bt
abo9t the tr9th=9lness o= the whole procee5ings. One night I ha5 mesmerise5 him( an5
tol5 him he was in a boat( an5 attacke5 b> a shark. I= I ha5 allowe5 it( he wo9l5 have
almost battere5 himsel= to pieces in striking with both arms 9pon the =loor( where he
tho9ght the shark was.
2
.e was an e?traor5inar> man. It was eno9gh( when >o9 knew
him( to look in his e>es to have in=l9ence over him. 0in5l> tell Mr. -lissol5 I most =9ll>
corroborate his statement as =ar as I know it.
B)U"E'O% .E'"E'*.C
)nother gentleman who was present on this occasion was Mr. ). *. *. 1eterson( o=
)rnewoo5 *owers( L>mington( who believes that it was he who 5rew 9p the programme
o= the e?periment. .is acco9nt is as =ollows:A
BF9ne U3th( 2778.
BI 5rew o9t a programme in writing o= what I wishe5 the operator to thin1 witho9t
speaking( in or5er to tr> the mere power o= the operator over the patient. On this occasion
.erbert was the operator( &annawa> the patient. 1rogramme.A) =ire-engine with two
horses galloping on a p9blic roa5. One o= the horses =alls 5own@ gets 9p again( an5 on
the> go. ) ho9se on a rising gro9n5 on the le=t on =ire. ) woman in her night-5ress( with a
bab> in her arms( imploring =or help =rom the =irst =loor. 1eople are throwing be5s o9t o=
some o= the win5ows o= the rooms( which are taken to opposite where the la5> was. *he
chil5 is thrown o9t an5 ca9ght all right. *he woman D9mps o9t( an5 is ca9ght an5 save5.
B*his paper I han5e5 to .erbert( reE9esting him not to sa> a wor5( which reE9est he
obe>e5. .e p9t &annawa> into trance( an5 &annawa> acte5 the part Yo= spectator(
pres9mabl>(Z to the ver> letter.
B). *. *. 1E*E'/O%.C.
YMr. 1eterson goes on to 5escribe another eE9all> s9ccess=9l e?periment where the
pict9re trans=erre5 was a =ishing-scene. 1ossibl> this prece5e5 the =ail9re which Mr.
.erbert mentions.Z
It is in connection with h>pnotism that the most striking telepathic res9lts have been
obtaine5( in the recent rapi5 5evelopment o= Bps>chical researchC among +rench men o=
science. *he ii-8WX! cases here given were reporte5 to the /ociHtH 5e 1s>chologie
1h>siologiE9e towar5s the close o= last >ear( an5 were p9blishe5 in the =evue
*hilosophi2ue =or +ebr9ar> an5 =or )pril( 2778. *he observations themselves( an5 the
circ9mstances o= their p9blication( mark a 5istinct step in the scienti=ic recognition o=
telepathic phenomena on the -ontinent. *he =irst reportANote sur 2uel2ues *h4no(Wnes
de !o(na(bulis(eAis =rom 1ro=essor 1ierre Fanet( o= .avre( a -orrespon5ing Member
o= the /.1.'.
P877Q B&rce G l4obligeance 549n mH5ecin bien conn9 5e la ville 59 .vre( M. le 5octe9r
&ibert( D4ai p9 pen5ant 9ne E9in]aine 5e Do9rs observer certains phHnomNnes c9rie9? 5e
somnamb9lisme. w YTranslationZ
BLe s9Det s9r leE9el ces e?pHriences ont HtH =aites est 9ne brave =emme 5e la campagne(
E9e no9s 5Hsignerons so9s le nom 5e Mme. ". Elle a to9Do9rs e9( a9tant 59 moins E9e
l4on pe9t le savoir( 9ne trNs bonne santH( et en partic9lier elle ne prHsente G l4Htat normal
a9c9n 5es signes 5e l4h>stHrie. Elle est se9lement s9Dette 5ep9is son en=ance G 5es accNs
5e somnamb9lisme nat9rel( pen5ant lesE9els elle pe9t parler et 5Hcrire les sing9liNres
hall9cinations E94elle parat Hpro9ver. /on caractNre pen5ant sa vie or5inaire est trNs
honnMte( trNs simple et s9rto9t trNs timi5e@ E9oiE9e son intelligence paraisse =ort D9ste(
Mme. ". n4a re9 a9c9ne instr9ction( elle ne sait pas Hcrire et Hpelle G peine E9elE9es
lettres. 1l9sie9rs mH5ecins ont 5HDG( parat-il( vo9l9 =aire s9r elle E9elE9es e?pHriences(
mais elle a to9Do9rs re=9sH le9rs propositions. -e n4est E9e s9r la 5eman5e 5e M. &ibert
E94elle a consenti G venir passer E9elE9es Do9rs a9 .vre( 59 U3 septembre a9 23 octobre
277V( et c4est pen5ant ce co9rt( sHDo9r E9e no9s avons e9 l4occasion 5e l4observer.
YTranslationZ
BIl est asse] =acile 5e mettre Mme. ". en Htat 5e somnamb9lisme arti=iciel@ il s9==it po9r
cela 5e l9i tenir la main en la serrant lHgNrement pen5ant E9elE9es instants.C YTranslationZ
*he 9s9al s>mptoms o= 5eep h>pnotic trance presente5 themselves( incl95ing complete
insensibilit> to light( so9n5( an5 pain.
B%Hanmoins il est 9n genre 54e?citation a9E9el Mme. ". reste sensible pen5ant ce
sommeil. -el9i E9i l4a en5ormie( et cel9i-lG se9l( a le po9voir 5e provoE9er G volontH 9ne
contract9re partielle o9 gHnHrale. Il s9==it( par e?emple( E94il place 9n 5oigt 5ans
l4e?tension =orcHe po9r E94il reste rai5e comme 9n morcea9 5e bois( et 9ne personne
HtrangNre ne parvient pas G le =lHchir. /i G ce moment le magnHtise9r to9che mMme
lNgHrement le 5oigt contract9rH( il s4asso9plit instantanHment. 1o9r provoE9er la
contract9re gHnHrale( il s9==it E9e le magnHtise9r place sa main Hten59e G 9ne petite
5istance a9-5evant 59 corps.C YTranslationZ
Other persons co9l5 not pro59ce these e==ects in the slightest 5egree@ an5 in several other
wa>s the person who ha5 h>pnotise5 the s9bDect retaine5( 59ring her trance( a E9ite
pec9liar in=l9ence over her.
)=ter abo9t 2; min9tes o= 5eep sleep( Mme. ". wo9l5 wake into a somnamb9lic state( in
which she was completel> sensible to impressions( an5 co9l5 answer E9estions.
ii-87;!
BMais le caractNre( ainsi E94on l4a =rHE9emment remarE9H( n4est pl9s 59 to9t le mMme
E94G l4Htat 5e veille. )9 lie9 54Mtre simple et timi5e( Mme. ". est 5even9e s9bitement trNs
har5ie( trNs vive( pleine 5e caprices et to9te 5isposHe G se moE9er 5e to9t le mon5e(
E9elE9e=ois avec esprit.C YTranslationZ
+rom this stage she co9l5 be wakene5 to the normal state b> the person who ha5
h>pnotise5 her( b9t b, no one else Psee Vol. I.( p. 77( noteQ@ i= not wakene5 she soon
relapse5 again into the state o= 5eep sleep.
*he =irst phenomena s9ggestive o= Bps>chicalC in=l9ence presente5 themselves in the
process o= h>pnotisation.
BM. &ibert tenait 9n Do9r la main 5e Mme. ". po9r l4en5orinir@ mais il Htait visiblement
prHocc9pH et songeait G a9tre chose E94G ce E94il =aisait: le sommeil ne se pro59isit pas 59
to9t. -ette e?pHrience rHpHtee par moi 5e 5iverses maniNres no9s a pro9vH E9e po9r
en5ormir Mme. ". il =allait concentrer =ortement sa pensHe s9r l4or5re 59 sommeil E94on
l9i 5onnait( et E9e pl9s la pensHe 5e l4opHrate9r Htait 5istraite( pl9s le sommeil Htait
5i==icile G provoE9er. -ette in=l9ence 5e la pensHe 5e l4opHrate9r( E9elE9e e?traor5inaire
E9e cela paraisse( est ici to9t G =ait prHpon5Hrante( G 9n tel point E94elle pe9t remplacer
to9tes les a9tres. /i on presse la main 5e Mme. ". sans songer G l4en5ormir( on n4arrive
pas G provoE9er le sommeil@ a9 contraire( si l4on songe G l4en5ormir sans l9i presser la
main( on > rH9ssit par=aitement.C YTranslationZ
E?periments o= this sort were o=ten repeate5@ b9t it is impossible( as M. Fanet =9ll>
recognises( absol9tel> to e?cl95e the h>pothesis that the h>pnotisation was 59e to some
s9ggestion o= the p9rpose in view( 9nconscio9sl> conve>e5 b> gest9re( or attit95e( or
mere silence an5 appearance o= e?pectation. *his obDection wo9l5 not appl> to other
cases in which M. &ibert( witho9t warning( an5 at a moment then an5 there =i?e5 on b>
M. Fanet or another =rien5( pro59ce5 a 5istinct e==ect on the s9bDect =rom another part o=
the townAthe =act being imme5iatel> veri=ie5 b> M. Fanet@ who on one occasion =o9n5
that the Bs9bDect(C on =eeling the imp9lse to sleep( ha5 onl> prevente5 hersel= =rom
>iel5ing to it b> p9tting her han5s in col5 water@ an5 on two others( =o9n5 her in a 5eep
trance =rom which onl> M. &ibert co9l5 wake her. On the last o= these occasions( M.
&ibert( at a 5istance( =9rther wille5 three times( at intervals o= V min9tes( the per=ormance
o= certain actions 59ring the trance( which the entrance5 Bs9bDectC began to e?ec9te(
tho9gh obvio9sl> rebelling against the imp9lse( an5 en5ing with a la9gh( BVo9s ne
po9ve] pas w si pe9( si pe9 E9e vo9s so>e] 5istrait( De me rattrape.C
BMais les s9ggestions mentales( car ce mot me parat ici bien G sa place( pe9vent Mtre
=aites s9r Mme. ". 549ne a9tre maniNre et avoir 9n to9t a9tre s9ccNs. On rH9ssit pe9(
comme no9s l4avons 5it( E9an5 on l9i comman5e 54e?Hc9ter l4or5re immH5iatement
pen5ant le sommeil@ on rH9ssit bea9co9p mie9? E9an5 on l9i comman5e mentalement
9ne action G e?Hc9ter pl9s tar5 E9elE9e temps aprNs le rHveil. Le 7 octobre M. &ibert =it
9ne s9ggestion 5e ce genre: sans prononcer aucun (ot il approcha son =ront 5e cel9i 5e
Mme. ". pen5ant le sommeil lHthargiE9e( et pen5ant E9elE9es instants concentra sa
pensHe s9r l4or5re E94il l9i 5onnait. Mme. ". par9t ressentir 9ne impression pHnible et
po9ssa 9n gHmissement@ 54aille9rs le sommeil ne par9t pas 59 to9t Mtre 5HrangH. M.
&ibert ne 5it ii-872! G personne l4or5re E94il avait 5onnH et se contenta 5e l4Hcrire s9r 9n
papier E94il mit so9s enveloppe. Le len5emain De revins a9prNs 5e Mme. ". po9r voir
l4e==et 5e cette s9ggestion E9i 5evait s4e?Hc9ter entre 22 he9res et mi5i. ) 22 he9res
cette =emme mani=este la pl9s gran5e agitation( E9itte la c9isine o elle Htait( et va 5ans
9ne chambre pren5re 9n verre E94elle emporte@ p9is( s9rmontant sa timi5itH se 5Hci5e G
entrer 5ans le salon o De me tro9vais( et to9te Hm9e 5eman5e si on ne l4a pas appelHe@ s9r
ma rHponse nHgative elle sort et contin9e pl9sie9rs =ois G monter 5e la c9isine a9 salon
sans rien apporter 54aille9rs. Elle ne =it rien 5e pl9s ce Do9r-lG( car bientLt elle tomba
en5ormie G 5istance par M. &ibert. Voici ce E94elle raconta pen5ant son sommeil: uFe
tremblais E9an5 De s9is ven9e vo9s 5eman5er si on m4avait appelHeAil =allait E9e De
vienneAc4Htait pas commo5e 5e venir avec ce platea9Apo9rE9oi ve9t-on me =aire porter
5es verresAE94est-ce E9e D4allais 5ire( n4est-ce pasADe ne ve9? pas E9e vo9s =assie] cela
Ail =allait bien E9e De clise E9elE9e chose en venant.4 En o9vrant l4enveloppe( De vis E9e
M. &ibert avait comman5H hier G Mme. ". u54o==rir 9n verre 54ea9 G chac9n 5e ces
messie9rs.4 Ici encore il =a9t reconnatre E9e l4e?pHrience n4avait pas entiNrement rH9ssi(
la s9ggestion n4avait pas HtH e?Hc9tHe@ pe9t-on nier 59 moins E94elle n4ait HtH compriser
YTranslationZ
BVoici maintenant 9ne e?pHrience pl9s signi=icative. Le 2; octobre( no9s convenons( M.
&ibert et moi( 5e =aire la s9ggestion s9ivante: u$emain G mi5i =ermer G cle= les portes 5e
la maison.4 F4inscrivis la s9ggestion s9r 9n papier E9e De gar5ais s9r moi et E9e De ne
vo9l9s comm9niE9er G personne. M. &ibert =it la s9ggestion comme prHcH5emment en
approchant son =ront 5e cel9i 5e Mme. ". Le len5emain E9an5 D4arrivai G mi5i moins 9n
E9art De tro9vai la maison barrica5He et la porte =ermHe G cle=. 'enseignements pris(
c4Htait Mme. ". E9i venait 5e la =ermer@ E9an5 De l9i 5eman5ai po9rE9oi elle avait =ait cet
acte sing9lier( elle me rHpon5it: uFe me sentais trNs =atig9He( et De ne vo9lais pas E9e vo9s
p9issie] entrer po9r m4en5ormir.4 M. "ernheim et M. 'ichet ont 5HDG parlH 5e ces
personnes E9i inventent 5es raisons po9r s4e?pliE9er G elles-mMmes 9n acte E94elles =ont
nHcessairement so9s l4inn9ence 549ne s9ggestion. Mme. ". Htait G ce moment trNs agitHe@
elle contin9a G errer 5ans le Dar5in( et De la vis c9eillir 9ne rose et aller visiter la bote a9?
lettres placHe prNs 5e la porte 54entrHe. -es actes sont sans importance( mais il est c9rie9?
5e remarE9er E9e c4Htait prHcisHment les actes E9e no9s avions 9n moment songH G l9i
comman5er la veille. %o9s no9s Htions 5Hci5Hs G en or5onner 9n a9tre( cel9i 5e =ermer les
portes( mais la pensHe 5es premiers avait sans 5o9te occ9pH l4esprit 5e M. &ibert pen5ant
E94il comman5ait( et elle avait e9 a9ssi son in=l9ence. YTranslationZ
BVoici 9ne troisiNme e?pHrience E9i ne mHriterait pas 54Mtre racontHe( car elle rH9ssit
moins bien E9e la prHcH5ente( mais elle est intHressante cepen5ant( car elle montre
combien le s9Det pe9t rHsister G ces s9ggestions mentales. Le 2: octobre( M. &ibert l9i
or5onne to9Do9rs par la pensHe 54o9vrir 9n parapl9ie le len5emain G mi5i et 5e =aire 5e9?
=ois le to9r 59 Dar5in. Le len5emain elle =9t trNs agitHe G mi5i( =it 5e9? =ois le to9r 59
Dar5in( mais n4o9vrit pas 5e parapl9ie. Fe l4en5ormis pe9 5e temps aprNs po9r calmer 9ne
agitation E9i 5evenait 5e pl9s en pl9s gran5e. /es premiers mots =9rent ce9?-ci:
u1o9rE9oi m4ave]-vo9s =ait marcher to9t ii-87U! a9to9r 59 Dar5inAD4avais l4air bMteA
encore s4il avait =ait le temps 54hier par e?empleAmais a9Do9r54h9i D4a9rais HtH to9t G =ait
ri5ic9le.4 -e Do9r-lG il =aisait =ort bea9 et la veille il ple9vait bea9co9p: elle n4avait pas
vo9l9 o9vrir 9n parapl9ie par 9n bea9 temps 5e pe9r 5e paratre ri5ic9le. La s9ggestion
avait a9 moins HtH comprise si elle n4avait pas HtH e?Hc9tHe entiNrement.C YTranslationZ
In )pril( 2778( Mr. M>ers an5 $r. ). *. M>ers ha5 the opport9nit> o= witnessing some
=9rther e?periments ma5e with this Bs9bDect.C
2
*he times at which the trials were ma5e
were alwa>s chosen witho9t preme5itation. It is tr9e that Mme. ". ha5 come to .avre =or
a =ew weeks =or the p9rpose o= h>pnotic e?periments( an5 ma> there=ore have ha5 a
general i5ea that attempts to in=l9ence her =rom a 5istance were likel> to be ma5e@ b9t the
closeness o= the coinci5ences( co9ple5 with the =act that she is not liable to go into
spontaneo9s trances at other times( makes it in the highest 5egree improbable that the
res9lts were 59e to acci5ent.
P2Q BIn the evening o= )pril UU( 2778(C sa>s Mr. M>ers( Bwe 5ine5 at M. &ibert4s( an5 in
the evening M. &ibert ma5e an attempt to p9t Mme. ". to sleep at a 5istance P=rom his
ho9se in the '9e /Hr> to the 1avilion( '9e 5e la +ermeQ( an5 to bring her to his own
ho9se b> =orce o= will. )t 7.VV he retire5 to his st95>@ an5 MM. Ochorowic]( Marillier(
Fanet( an5 ). *. M>ers went to the 1avilion( where Mme. ". was sta>ing( an5 waite5
o9tsi5e in the street. )t X.UU $r. M>ers observe5 Mme. ". coming hal=-wa> o9t o= the
gar5en-gate( an5 again retreating. *hose who saw her more closel> observe5 that she was
plainl> in the somnamb9lic state( an5 was wan5ering abo9t an5 m9ttering. )t X.UV she
came o9t Pwith e>es persistentl> close5( so =ar as co9l5 be seenQ( walke5 E9ickl> past
MM. Fanet an5 Marillier( witho9t noticing them( an5 ma5e =or M. &ibert4s ho9se( tho9gh
not b> the 9s9al or shortest ro9te. PIt appeare5 a=terwar5s that the bonne ha5 seen her go
into the salon at 7.3V( an5 iss9e thence asleep at X.2V: ha5 not looke5 in between those
times.Q /he avoi5e5 lamp-posts( vehicles( [c.( b9t crosse5 an5 re-crosse5 the street
repeate5l>. %o one went in =ront o= her or spoke to her. )=ter eight or ten min9tes she
grew m9ch more 9ncertain in gait( an5 pa9se5 as tho9gh she wo9l5 =all. $r. M>ers note5
the moment in the '9e +a9re@ it was X.:V. )t abo9t X.3; she grew bol5er( at X.3V reache5
the street in =ront o= M. &ibert4s ho9se. *here she met him( b9t 5i5 not notice him( an5
walke5 into his ho9se( where she r9she5 h9rrie5l> =rom room to room on the gro9n5-
=loor. M. &ibert ha5 to take her han5 be=ore she recognise5 him. /he then grew calm.
BM. &ibert( be=ore hearing $r. M>ers4 statement( sai5 that =rom 7.VV to X.U; he tho9ght
intentl> abo9t her@ =rom X.U; to X.:V he tho9ght more =eebl>@ at X.:V he gave the
e?periment 9p( an5 began to pla> billiar5s@ b9t in a =ew min9tes began to will her again.
It th9s appeare5 that his visit to the billiar5-room ha5 coinci5e5 with her hesitation an5
st9mbling ii-87:! in the street. /he ma>( however( have hesitate5 merel> beca9se she
was not s9re o= the wa>.
PUQ BOn )pril U:( M. Fanet l9nche5 in o9r compan>( an5 retire5 to his own ho9se at 3.:;
Pa time chosen b> lotQ to tr> to p9t her to sleep =rom thence. )t V.V we all entere5 the
salon o= the 1avilion( an5 =o9n5 her asleep with sh9t e>es( b9t sewing vigoro9sl> Pbeing
in that stage in which movements once s9ggeste5 are a9tomaticall> contin9e5Q. 1assing
into the talkative state( she sai5 to M. Fanet( u-4est vo9s E9i m4ave] =ait 5ormir G E9atre
he9res et 5emi.4 *he impression as to the ho9r ma> have been a s9ggestion receive5 =rom
M. Fanet4s min5. ,e trie5 to make her believe that it was M. &ibert who ha5 sent her to
sleep( b9t she maintaine5 that she ha5 =elt that it was M. Fanet.
P:Q BOn )pril U3 the whole part> chance5 to meet at M. Fanet4s ho9se at : p.m.( an5 he
then( at m> s9ggestion( entere5 his st95> to will that Mme. ". sho9l5 sleep. ,e waite5 in
his gar5en( an5 at :.U; procee5e5 together to the 1avilion( which I entere5 =irst at :.:;(
an5 =o9n5 Mme. ". pro=o9n5l> asleep over her sewing( having cease5 to sew. "ecoming
talkative( she sai5 to M. Fanet( u-4est vo9s E9i m4ave] comman5He.4 /he sai5 that she =ell
asleep at :.V p.m.C
,riting =rom .avre on F9ne 27( 2778( M. Fanet gives the =ollowing brie= s9mmar> o= the
res9lts obtaine5 in the partic9lar e?periment o= in59cing Bsommeil G 5istance(C 59ring
this visit o= Mme. ". to .avre:A
B%e parlons pas 5es s9ggestions 5e sommeil =aites par la pensHe en se tenant 5evant le
s9Det( o9 mMme 5ans 9ne a9tre piece 5e la maison@ on n4est Damais asse] certain E9e le
s9Det ne soit pas 59 to9t prHven9. Il ne s4agit ici E9e 5es e?pHriences tentHes 5e loin( 5e
che] M. &ibert o9 5e che] moi( c4est-G-5ire( G V;; mNtres a9 moins 59 pavilion o se
tro9vait Mme. ". Les e?pHriences =aites 5ans ces con5itions( soit par M. &ibert( soit par
moi( sont a9 nombre 5e U2 pen5ant ce secon5 sHDo9r 5e Mme. ". a9 .vre. Fe ne compte
pas 9n essai =ait a9 milie9 5e la n9it 5ans 5es con5itions 5Hplorables. -onsi5Hrons comme
Hchecs to9tes les e?pHriences 5ans lesE9elles le s9Det n4a pas HtH tro9vH en5ormi E9an5 on
entrait 5ans le pavilion( o9 mMme celles 5ans lesE9elles le s9Det a mis pl9s 549n E9art
54he9re G s4en5ormir aprNs l4instant 5e la s9ggestion mentale. Le nombre 5e ces ins9ccNs
a HtH 5e 8( et chac9n 54e9? pe9t avoir 9ne e?plication precise. Il reste G retenir 2V s9ccNs
prHcis et complets( o9 2V conci5ences e?traor5inaires( s9ivant E9e l4on vo95ra les
compren5re 549ne maniNre o9 549ne a9tre.C YTranslationZ
*he ne?t recor5 is =rom M. F. .Hrico9rt( o= V;( '9e 5e MiromHnil( 1aris.
P87XQ BL4observation E9e De rapporte ici 5ate 5e l4annHe 27W7( HpoE9e G laE9elle De l4ai
comm9niE9He G mon ami M. -harles "ichet( E9i l4a gar5He =i5Nlement et pr95emment
5ans ses cartons( po9r 5es raisons =aciles G compren5re. YTranslationZ
BIl s4agit 549ne De9ne =emme 5e vingt-E9atre ans( 54origine espagnole( ve9ve et mNre
549ne petite =ille 5e cinE ans. w L4e?amen le pl9s min9tie9? n4a p9 =aire 5Hco9vrir che]
elle a9c9ne tare h>stHriE9e( personnelle o9 hHrH5itaire.C YTranslationZ
M. .Hrico9rt easil> s9ccee5e5 in h>pnotising Mme. $. on the =irst trial.
ii-873!
BF4en5ormais Mme. $. avec 9ne =acilitH chaE9e Do9r pl9s gran5e. En e==et( aprNs E9in]e
Do9rs environ 5e cet entranement spHcial( De n4avais pl9s besoin po9r obtenir ce rHs9ltat
ni 59 contact ni 59 regar5: il me s9==isait 5e vouloir( to9t en m4abstenant 5e to9te espNce
5e geste E9i ptt trahir mon intention. Ktait-elle en conversation animHe a9 milie9 5e
pl9sie9rs personnes( tan5is E9e De me tenais 5ans E9elE9e coin 5ans l4attit95e 5e la pl9s
complNte in5i==Hrence( E9e De la vo>ais bientLt( G mon grH( l9tter contre le sommeil E9i
l4envahissait( et le s9bir 5H=initivement( o9 repren5re le co9rs 5e ses i5Hes( selon E9e moi-
mMme De contin9ais o9 cessais 54appliE9er ma pensHe a9 rHs9ltat G obtenir. YTranslationZ
BEt mMme De po9vais regar5er =i?ement mon s9Det( l9i serrer les po9ces o9 les poignets( et
=aire to9tes les passes imaginables 5es magnHtise9rs 5e pro=ession@ si ma volontH n4Htait
pas 5e l4en5ormir( il restait par=aitement HveillH( et convainc9 5e mon imp9issance.
YTranslationZ
BMais bientLt( ce ne =9t pl9s se9lement 549ne e?trHmitH G l4a9tre 549ne chambre E9e De
so9geai G e?ercer mon action@ 549ne piNce G 9ne a9tre( 549ne maison G 9ne a9tre maison(
sit9He 5ans 9ne r9e pl9s o9 moins HloignHe( le mMme rHs9ltat =9t encore obten9.
YTranslationZ
BLes circonstances 5ans lesE9elles D4e?erai ainsi po9r la premiNre =ois cette action G
long9e 5istance mHritent 54Mtre rapportHes avec E9elE9es 5Htails. Ktant 9n Do9r 5ans mon
cabinet PD4habitais alors 1erpignanQ( l4i5He me vint 54essa>er 54en5ormir Mme. $.( E9e
D4avais to9t lie9 5e croire che] elle( et E9i habitait 5ans 9ne r9e 5istante environ 5e :;;
mNtres 5e la mienne. F4Htais 54aille9rs bien HloignH 5e croire a9 s9ccNs 549ne pareille
e?pHrience. Il Htait trois he9res 5e l4aprNs-mi5i( De me mis G me promener 5e long en
large( en pensant trNs vivement a9 rHs9ltat E9e De vo9lais obtenir@ et D4Htais absorbH par cet
e?ercice( E9an5 on vint me chercher po9r voir 5es mala5es. Les cas Htant pressants(
D4o9bliai mornentanHment Mme. $. E9e De 5evais 54aille9rs rencontrer vers E9atre he9res
et 5emie s9r 9ne promena5e p9bliE9e. M4> Htant ren59 G cette he9re( De =9s trNs HtonnH 5e
ne l4> point voir( mais De pensai E94aprNs to9t( mon e?pHrience avait bien p9 rH9ssir@
a9ssi( vers cinE he9res( po9r ne rien compromettre et rHtablir les choses en le9r Htat
normal( 5ans le cas o cet Htat ett HtH e==ectivement tro9blH( par acE9it 5e conscience( De
songeai G rHveiller mon s9Det( a9ssi vigo9re9sement E9e to9t G l4he9re D4avais songH G
l4en5ormir. YTranslationZ
BOr( a>ant e9 l4occasion 5e voir Mme. $. 5ans la soirHe( voici ce E94elle me raconta(
549ne maniNre absol9ment spontan4e( et sans E9e D4e9sse =ait la moin5re all9sion G son
absence 5e la promena5e. Vers trois he9res( comme elle Htait 5ans sa chambre G co9cher(
elle avait HtH prise s9bitement 549ne en vie invincible 5e 5ormir@ ses pa9piNres se
=aisaient 5e plomb( et ses Dambes se 5HrobaientADamais elle ne 5ormait 5ans la Do9rnHeA
a9 point E94elle avait e9 G peine la =orce 5e passer 5ans son salon( po9r s4> laisser tomber
s9r 9n canapH. /a 5omestiE9e Htant alors entrHe po9r l9i parler( l4avait tro9vHe( comme
elle le l9i raconta pl9s tar5( ple( la pea9 =roi5e( sans mo9vement( co((e (orte( selon ses
e?pressions. F9stement e==ra>He( elle s4Htait mise G la seco9er vigo9re9sement( mais sans
parvenir cepen5ant G a9tre chose E94G l9i =aire o9vrir les >e9?. ) ce moment( Mme. $.
me 5it E94elle n4avait e9 conscience E9e 54Hpro9ver 9n violent mal 5e tMte E9i( parat-il(
avait 5ispar9 s9bitement vers cinE he9res. -4Htait prHcisHment le moment o D4avais
pensH a la rHveiller. YTranslationZ
ii-87V!
B-e rHcit a> ant HtH spontanH( De le rHpNte( il n4> avait pl9s 5e 5o9te G conserver: ma
tentative avait certainement rH9ssi. )=in 5e po9voir la reno9veler 5ans 5es con5itions
a9ssi probantes E9e possible( De ne mis pas Mme. $. a9 co9rant 5e ce E9e D4avais =ait( et
D4entrepris to9te 9ne sHrie 54e?pHriences 5ont De ren5is tHmoins nombre 5e personnes( E9i
vo9l9rent bien en =i?er les con5itions et contrLler les rHs9ltats. 1armi ces personnes( De
citerai le mH5ecin-niaDor et 9n capitaine 59 bataillon 5e chasse9rs 5ont D4Htais alors l4ai5e-
maDor. *o9tes ces e?pHriences se ramNnent en somme a9 t>pe s9ivant. YTranslationZ
BKtant 5ans 9n salon avec Mme. $.( De l9i 5isais E9e D4allais essa>er 5e l4en5ormir 549ne
piNce voisine( les portes Htant =ermHes. Fe passais alors 5ans cette piNce( o De restais
E9elE9es min9tes avec la pensHe bien nette 5e la laisser HveillHe. }9an5 De revenais( De
tro9vais en e==et Mme. $. 5ans son Htat normal( et se moE9ant 5e mon ins9ccNs. Un
instant pl9s tar5( o9 9n a9tre Do9r( De passais 5ans la mMme piNce voisine so9s 9n prHte?te
E9elconE9e( mais cette =ois avec l4intention bien arrMtHe 5e pro59ire le sommeil( et aprNs
9ne min9te G peine( le rHs9ltat le pl9s complet Htait obten9. On n4invoE9era ici a9c9ne
s9ggestion a9tre E9e la s9ggestion mentale( p9isE9e l4attention e.pectante( mise en De9
5ans to9te sa =orce( lors 5e l4e?pHrience prHcH5ente( avait HtH absol9ment sans action. Les
con5itions 5e ces e?pHriences( E9i se contrLlent rHciproE9ement( sont 549ne simplicitH et
549ne vale9r s9r lesE9elles D4attire l4attention( parce E94elles constit9ent 9ne sorte 5e
schHma G s9ivre po9r la 5Hmonstration. YTranslationZ
BMme. $. prHten5ait E9e( to9tes les =ois E9e De pensais G elle( elle ressentait 9ne vive
5o9le9r 5ans la region prHcor5iale@ c4Htait 54aille9rs cette mMme 5o9le9r E94elle Hpro9vait
encore E9an5 les sHances 5e somnamb9lisme se prolongeaient( et E9i me 5Hterminait G >
mettre =in. $e =ait( apres convention prHalable( si De vo9lais E9e Mme. $. 5escen5t 5e
che] elle( De n4avais E94G m4arrMter 5ans 9ne r9e voisine 5e la sienne( et G l9i en 5onner
l4or5re mentalement. Fe ne tar5ais pas G la voir arriver( et to9Do9rs elle me 5isait E9e sa
douleur au coeur l9i avait in5iE9H ma prHsence.C YTranslationZ
*he ne?t acco9nt( =rom $r. E. &le>( o= :W( '9e -la95e "ernar5( 1aris( recor5s some
observations o= his =rien5( $r. $9sart( Pp9blishe5 in the Tribune 'edicate in Ma>( 27WVQ(
on a girl o= 23( whom he =o9n5 s9==ering =rom obstinate h>sterical attacks( an5 =or whom
he easil> proc9re5 sleep b> a simple h>pnotic process.
P8X;Q BF4avais observH E9e( E9an5( en =aisant 5es passes( De me laissais 5istraire par la
conversation 5es parents( De ne parvenais Damais G pro59ire 9n sommeil s9==isant( mMme
aprNs 9n long espace 5e temps. II =allait 5onc =aire 9ne large part G l4intervention 5e ma
volontH. Mais celle-ci s9==irait-elle sans le seco9rs 54a9c9ne mani=estation e?tHrie9rer
VoilG ce E9e De vo9l9s savoir. YTranslationZ
B) cet e==et D4arrive 9n Do9r avant l4he9re =i?He la veille po9r le rHveil( et( sans regar5er la
mala5e( sans =aire 9n geste( De l9i 5onne (entale(ent l4or5re 5e s4Hveiller: De s9is a9ssitLt
obHi. ) ma volontH( le 5Hlire et les cris commencent. Fe m4assie5s alors 5evant le =e9( le
5os a9 lit 5e la mala5e( laE9clle avait la =ace to9rnHe vers la porte 5e la chambre( ii-878!
De ca9se avec les personnes prHsentes( sans paratre m4occ9per 5es cris 5e Mile. F.( p9is( G
9n moment 5onnH( sans E9e personne se =tt aper9 5e ce E9i se passait en moi( De 5onne
lordre (ental 59 sommeil( et cel9i-ci se pro59it. 1l9s 5e cent fois l4e?pHrience =9t =aite et
variHe 5e 5iverses =aons: l4or5re mental Htait 5onnH s9r 9n signe E9e me =aisait le $r. \.(
et to9Do9rs l4e==et se pro59isait. Un Do9r( D4arrive lorsE9e la mala5e Htait HveillHe et en
plein 5Hlire@ elle contin9e( malgrH ma prHsence( a crier et s4agiter( De m4assie5s et D4atten5s
E9e le $r. \. me 5onne le signal. )9ssitLt cel9i-ci 5onnH et l4or5re mental =orm9la( la
mala5e se tait et s4en5ort. uVo9s savie] E9H D4etais lG 5ep9is E9elE9e tempsr4 u%on(
monsie9r@ De ne me s9is aper9e 5e votre prHsence E94en sentant le sommeil me gagner@
D4ai e9 alors conscience E9e vo9s Htie] assis 5evant le =e9.4 YTranslationZ
BFe 5onnais chaE9e Do9r( avant 5e partir( l4or5re 5e 5ormir D9sE94 a9 len5emain G 9ne
he9re 5HterminHe. Un Do9r( De pars( o9bliant cette prHca9tion@ D4Htais G W;; (Wtres E9an5 De
m4en aper9s. %e po9vant reto9rner s9r mes pas( De me 5is E9e pe9t-Mtre mon or5re serait
enten59( malgrH la 5istance( p9isE9e G 2 o9 G U mNtres 9n or5re mental Htait e?Hc9tH. En
consHE9ence( De =orm9le l4or5re 5e 5ormir D9sE94a9 len5emain 7 he9res( et De po9rs9is
mon chemin. Le len5emain( D4arrive G W he9res et 5emie@ la mala5e 5ormait. u-omment(
se =ait-il E9e vo9s 5ormie] encorer4 uMais( monsie9r( De vo9s obHis.4 uVo9s vo9s trompe]@
De s9is parti sans vo9s 5onner a9c9n or5re.4 u-4est vrai@ mais cinE min9tes aprNs( De vo9s
ai par=aitement enten59 me 5ire 5e 5ormir D9sE94G 7 he9res. Or il n4est pas encore 7
he9res.4 -ette 5erniNre he9re Htant celle E9e D4in5iE9ais or5inairement( il Htait possible
E9e l4habit95e =tt la ca9se 549ne ill9sion et E94il n4> ett ici E949ne simple coinci5ence.
1o9r en avoir le coe9r net et ne laisser prise G a9c9n 5o9te( De comman5ai G la mala5e 5e
5ormir D9sE94G ce E94elle rett l4or5re 5e s4Hveiller. YTranslationZ
B$ans la Do9rnHe( a>ant tro9vH 9n intervalle libre( De rHsol9s 5e complHter 24e?pHrience.
Fe pars 5e che] moi PW 1ilo(Wtres de distance&( en 5onnant l4or5re 59 rHveil. Fe constate
E94il est U he9res. F4arrive et tro9ve la mala5e HveillHe: les parents( s9r ma
recomman5ation( avaient notH l4he9re e?acte 59 rHveil. -4Htait rigo9re9sement celle G
laE9elle D4avais 5onnH l4or5re. -ette e?pHrience( pl9sie9rs =ois reno9velHe( G 5es he9res
5i==Hrentes( e9t to9Do9rs le mMme rHs9ltat. YTranslationZ
BMais voici E9i paratra pl9s concl9ant encore. YTranslationZ
BLe 2
er
Danvier( De s9spen5is mes visites et cessai to9te relation avec la =amille. Fe n4en
avais pl9s enten59 parler( lorsE9e le 2U( =aisant 5es co9rses 5ans 9ne 5irection opposHe et
me tro9vant G 2; 1ilo(etrWs 5e la mala5e( De me 5eman5ai si( malgrH la 5istance( la
cessation 5e to9s rapports et l4intervention 549ne tierce personne Ple pNre magnHtisant
5Hsormais sa =illeQ( il me serait encore possible 5e me =aire obHir. Fe 5H=en5s G la mala5e
5e se laisser en5ormir@ p9is( 9ne 5emi-he9re aprNs( rH=lHchissant E9e si( par
e?traor5inaire( D4Htais obHi( cela po9rrait ca9ser prHD95ice G cette malhe9re9se De9ne =ille(
De lNve la 5H=ense et cesse 54> penser. YTranslationZ
BFe =9s =ort s9rpris( lorsE9e le len5emain( G 8 he9res 59 matin( De vis arriver che] moi 9n
e?prNs portant 9ne lettre 59 pNre 5e Mile. F. -el9i-ci me 5isait E9e la veille( 2U( G 2;
he9res 59 matin( il n4Htait
ii-87W!
arrivH G en5ormir sa =ille E94aprNs 9ne l9tte prolongHe et trNs 5o9lo9re9se. La mala5e( 9ne
=ois en5ormie( avait 5HclarH E9e( si elle avait rHsistH c4Htait s9r mon or5re( et E94elle ne
s4Htait en5ormie E9e E9an5 De l4avais permis. YTranslationZ
B-es 5Hclarations avaient HtH =aites vis-G-vis 5e tHmoins a9?E9els le pNre avait =ait signer
les notes E9i les contenaient. F4ai conservH cette lettre( 5ont M. AA me con=irma pl9s
tar5 le conten9( en aDo9tant E9elE9es 5Htails circonstanciHs.C YTranslationZ
S :. I come now to the spontaneo9s cases. *he =ollowing seems to be an instance o=
cas9al spontaneo9s trans=erence o= an i5ea@ an5 strikingl> e?empli=ies the latenc, o= the
impression( an5 its emergence a=ter several ho9rs( which has been so =reE9entl> note5 in
the co9rse o= this work. Mrs. Lethbri5ge( o= *regeare( La9nceston( -ornwall( writes:A
B"ella Vista( -orsier( Veve>( /wit]erlan5.
B)pril 2;th( 2778.
P8X2Q BIn $ecember( 2772( m> h9sban5 was slowl> recovering =rom a severe illness@ an5
one a=ternoon( abo9t V o4clock( I went into his st95>( where he ha5 gone =or U or : ho9rs(
to see i= he wante5 an>thing. +in5ing him asleep in his armchair( I le=t him( an5 having
some village len5ing-librar> books to sort( I went into the small room where the> were
kept( calle5 the ubo?-room4 Pin a 5istant part o= the ho9seQ( to 5o so. *here( to m>
s9rprise( I saw o9r gamekeeper4s 5og( Vic( c9rle5 9p. On seeing me she rose( wagge5 her
tail( t9rne5 hal= ro9n5 an5 la> 5own again. *his 5og ha5 never been insi5e the ho9se
be=ore( which was the reason o= m> s9rprise at seeing her where she was. .owever( I
t9rne5 her o9t o= 5oors( an5 there I tho9ght the matter en5e5. I am 2uite sure I 5i5 not
mention the matter to m> h9sban5.
B.e went to be5 ver> earl> that evening( an5 ha5 a most restless night( talking a great
5eal in his sleep. ,hile =ast asleep he relate5 the whole occ9rrence o= u.awke4s 5og(
Vic(4 act9all> being =o9n5 in the bo?-room( even 5escribing the animal4s behavio9r(
rising( t9rning hal= ro9n5 an5 l>ing 5own again. %e?t morning I aske5 m> h9sban5 i= he
ha5 5reamtr u%o( not that he knew o=.4 I= he ha5 not 5reamt o= Vicr u%o( wh> o= Vicr4
*hen I aske5 him i= b> an> chance he ha5 hear5 where Vic ha5 been =o9n5 the previo9s
eveningr4 %o. ,herer4 )n5 when I tol5 him( he was e?tremel> astonishe5( D9st beca9se
the 5og ha5 never been known insi5e the ho9se be=ore( an5 the bo?-room was on an
9pper lan5ing. /9bseE9entl> I relate5 to him what he ha5 sai5 in his sleep( b9t he
evi5entl> ha5 not the slightest recollection o= it.
BMILLI-E%* &. LE*."'I$&E.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mrs. Lethbri5ge a55s:A
BI am gla5 m> acco9nt intereste5 >o9( an5 regret e?tremel> that it cannot be
corroborate5( =or I full, understand the necessit> in investigations s9ch as >o9rs to obtain
per=ectl> tr9stworth> evi5ence( an5 =ree =rom intentional or 9nintentional e?aggerations
or inacc9racies. M> 5ear h9sban5 5ie5 abo9t 28 months ago. On receiving >o9r letter I
trie5 to =in5 o9t whether he mentione5 the occ9rrence in his 5iar>( b9t 9n=ort9natel> the
5iar> o= that >ear P2772Q was le=t behin5 in Englan5.
ii-877!
B+rom (ine( which I s9ccee5e5 in =in5ing( written at the time( I cop> o9t the =ollowing
brie= notice( 5ate5 $ec. 23th( 2772. u"aron talke5 a great 5eal in his sleep last night( an5
c9rio9sl> eno9gh he 5escribe5 how the terrier was =o9n5 c9rle5 9p on the mat in the bo?-
room( which act9all> happene5 >ester5a>( probabl> =or the =irst time in the terrier4s li=e(
=or I was so ama]e5 at =in5ing the 5og in so 9n9s9al a place that I calle5 the chil5ren to
see it. "9t the strange part is this( "aron was asleep in the st95> at the time( an5 no one
ha5 tol5 him o= the occ9rrence. O= this I am 2uite sure.4
BI mentione5 the occ9rrence to several people at the time( b9t as it happene5 V >ears ago(
I 5o9bt i= an> o= them wo9l5 recall it E9ite acc9ratel>.C
YMr. Lethbri5ge4s complete =orget=9lness is clearl> a strong in5ication that the news o=
the occ9rrence ha5 not reache5 him in an> normal wa>Ae.g.( b> overhearing the chil5ren
speaking o= it.Z
*he =ollowing e?periences belong to a class whose =orce( in the c9m9lative proo= o=
telepath>( is comparativel> smallAthe class o= mere impressions( witho9t an> sensor>
a==ection@ b9t the> are in themselves well-evi5ence5 cases( the recor5s o= the impressions
having been care=9ll> written 5own be=ore the news o= the correspon5ing event arrive5.
*he narrator is Mr. F. -. &rant( o= X7( -ornwall &ar5ens( /.,.@ =rom whose ver> =9ll
Do9rnal the> were copie5 b> the present writer. Mr. &rant 5esires that the names o= the
persons mentione5 shall not be printe5@ b9t sa>s that Bthe =9llest in=ormation is open to
private inE9ir>.C *he instance which was secon5 in 5ate is given be=ore the earlier one( as
being more complete( an5 is the onl> one to which I have attache5 an evi5ential n9mber.
P8XUQ Entr> in 5iar> =or )pril 22( 277U.
B) ver> strange thing happene5 to me last night. It has happene5 once be=ore. )=ter being
asleep some little time( I was wakene5 9p( E9ite E9ietl> an5 with no 5rea5 or horror( b9t
with the absol9te an5 certain knowle5ge that there was a upresence4 in m> room. I looke5
ever>where into the 5arkness( implore5 it to appear( b9t to no e==ect@ =or tho9gh I have the
gi=t o= u=eeling(4 I have not that o= usight.4 I =elt certain( in =act was tol5 b> it( that it was to
5o with "r9ce Y-hristian nameZ. I tho9ght it was his =atherAI was s9re it was: I tho9ght
he m9st be 5ea5.
2
)ll this took place in abo9t a co9ple o= min9tes or so@ an5 as I saw I
co9l5 see nothing( I got 9p( str9ck a match( lighte5 the can5le at m> be5si5e( an5 looke5
at m> watch. It was D9st 23 min9tes past 2U o4clock. I then p9t o9t the can5le@ b9t all
=eeling o= the presence ha5 gone. It ha5 spoken as onl> a spirit
U
can speak( an5 then ha5
passe5 awa>. I 5i5 not get to sleep =or a long time( an5 was ver> 9nhapp> =or poor "r9ce.
w I ii-87X! have been E9ite o9t o= sorts all 5a> =or poor ol5 "r9ce( to whom I wrote this
morning. *ol5 M. an5 '. o= m> =eeling an5 e?periences o= the night.C
Y*he entr> =or )pril 2U mentions a conversation with Mr. an5 Mrs. M.( in which Mr.
&rant remembers that he 5escribe5 the occ9rrence.Z
Entr> =or )pril 2:.
BIn a=ternoon went over to m> a9nt M.4s( ha5 a long talk with her( tol5 her an5 F. an5
others all abo9t m> presentiment. I have not hear5 =rom poor "r9ce >et.C
Entr> =or )pril 23.
BUp earl>( at hal=-past sevenAe?pecting a letter. *he letter has come( as I e?pecte5A
5eep black e5ge@ b9t it is not his =ather( b9t his brother( that has 5ie5( poor ol5 E.( 5ate
an5 all( on *9es5a>. w I wrote to him this morning. I will not tell him o= m> strange
meeting o= *9es5a> morning or Mon5a> night. w ,itnesses to this strange pre-
knowle5ge o= mine: Mrs. '.( m> ho9sekeeper@ Mrs. -.( m> a9nt@ F.( m> co9sin P-aptain
-.Q@ other co9sins( Mrs. M. an5 Mr. M.( Mr. .. '.( an5 Mme. &. /o >o9 see
2
I am not
witho9t m> a9thorities( besi5es m> written Do9rnal.C
Entr> =or )pril 2V.
B,rote a long letter to m> =ather( giving him what news there was( an5 telling him abo9t
m> E9eer e?perience.C
*he =ollowing is a cop>( ma5e b> the present writer( o= a letter written to Mr. &rant b>
Mr. M.( on F9ne :( 2778:A
B,e 5istinctl> remember >o9r telling 9s abo9t the strange circ9mstance that took place
be=ore
U
the 5eath o= one o= >o9r =rien5s. *he 5etails have escape5 o9r memor>( b9t we
remember that it was a case o= premonition( which was a=terwar5s veri=ie5.
B-. ,. M.C
*he 5ate o= 5eath appears in the Ti(es obit9ar> as )pril 2;( 277U. *his was Mon5a>( not
*9es5a>@ an5 probabl> Mr. &rant ass9me5 that the 5a> on which his =rien5 hear5 o= the
5eath was the 5a> o= the 5eath itsel=. *he 5eath( which took place in -hina( can onl> have
=allen within 2U ho9rs o= his e?perience i= it occ9rre5 in the =ew ho9rs prece5ing
mi5night.
Mr. E. *. '.( who 5ie5( was an intimate =rien5 o= Mr. &rant4s( b9t not so intimate as his
brother "r9ce.
BEntr> in 5iar> =or ,e5nes5a>( $ec. 2;( 27WX. PMr. &rant was at the time in /o9thern
In5ia.Q
B#ester5a> I ha5 a pec9liar sensation. ,hen I sa> >ester5a>( I mean last night. w I have
as it were an inner e>e opene5. I ha5 a sort o= 9nconscio9s =eeling that( i= I were to wish
it( I co9l5 see some strange visitant in the chamber with meAsomeone 5isembo5ie5.
Y.ere ii-8X;! =ollow some wor5s o= 5escription which( tho9gh general an5 not
5istinctive( appl> per=ectl> to the partic9lar person who( as it t9rne5 o9t( 5ie5 at the time(
an5 wo9l5 have applie5 eE9all> nat9rall> to onl> a small gro9p o= persons. Mr. &rant has
what appear to me vali5 reasons =or withhol5ing the cla9se =rom p9blication.Z I =orce5 the
i5ea =rom me( an5 =ell into a tro9ble5 sleep.C
Entr> =or $ec. 22.
B,ent in a=ternoon to the librar>@ thence to -.4s. .ear b> telegram( while there( o= the
5eath o= m> 9ncle( Mr. -.( on *9es5a>. ,on5er i= that ha5 an>thing to 5o with m>
=eelings the night be=ore last.C
,e =in5 in the obit9ar> o= a lea5ing newspaper that the 5eath took place on $ec. X( 27WX.
Mr. &rant states that he ha5 ha5 no i5ea that an>thing was the matter with his 9ncle.
I have st95ie5 in Mr. &rant4s 5iar> the =9ll recor5 o= a thir5 case( which was even more
remarkable than the =irst( as it incl95e5 the pec9liarit> that( =or some time a=ter his =irst
impression( he =elt =orcibl> impelle5 to dra- the =ig9re o= the person who 5ie5. *he case
was ma5e the more striking to me b> the =act that Mr. &rant was so certain that the 5eath
Pthe( time o= which he ha5 onl> ver> vag9el> learntQ m9st have coinci5e5 in 5ate with his
impression( that he ha5 act9all> not taken the tro9ble to veri=> the coinci5ence. .e le=t it
to me to =in5 in the Ti(es obit9ar>Aas he con=i5entl> =oretol5 that I wo9l5Athat the
5eath Pwhich was E9ite 9ne?pecte5Q occ9rre5( tho9san5s o= miles =rom the place where
he was( on the 5a> prece5ing that on which the entr> in his 5iar>( relating his impression
o= the previo9s night( was written. *he impression o= that night 5i5 not( however( bear
5istinct re=erence to the partic9lar person who 5ie5( b9t was a more general sense o=
calamit> in the =amil>. -ertain reasons which at present make it 5esirable not to p9blish
the 5etails o= this case ma> in time cease to e?ist.
Mr. &rant writes( on Ma> :2( 2778:A
BE?cept on these three occasions( I have never( to the best o= m> recollection( ha5 an>
=eeling in the least resembling those 5escribe5.C
*o pass now to e?amples where the senses were concerne5Athe =ollowing is an a95itor>
5eath-case o= the or5inar> t>pe. *he narrator is Mrs. Evens( mentione5 above Ppp. 2W8
an5 :33Q.
P8X:Q In 277V( Mrs. Evens =ille5 9p a cens9s-=orm Pp. WQ with the in=ormation that abo9t
/eptember( 27V7( in the earl> ho9rs o= the night( she( e?perience5 an a95itor>
hall9cination representing the voice o= a Bmost intimate an5 5eepl> attache5 =rien5. /he
5ie5 s955enl> that night. *he la5> was +rench. ,e ha5 been ver> intimate( an5 she ha5
=reE9entl> mesmerise5 me =or ne9ralgia. ,e ha5 been parte5 =or more than a >earAshe
in +rance an5 I in Englan5. I ha5 been to sleep( b9t woke as if : -ere called. I sat 9p( saw
nothing( b9t hear5 5istinctl>( in the well-known an5 belove5 voice( u)5ie9( ma chHrie4
Pher name =or meQ. ii-8X2! It was not till a week a=ter that I hear5 o= her s955en an5
E9ite 9ne?pecte5 5eath Pshe not having been illQ on that night. )t the time( I ha5 no
=eeling o= s9rprise or =ear. I ma> mention that onl> 59ring the last >ear I hear5( in an
in5irect manner( that( 9n5er the press9re o= great horror( she was s9ppose5 to have
committe5 s9ici5e.C
In repl> to inE9iries( Mrs. Evens writes:A
BOl5bank( Enniskillen.
B$ecember( 277V.
BI was sta>ing in a co9ntr> ho9se( b9t not with Pat that timeQ ver> intimate =rein5s( YsicZ
an5 I cannot =eel s9re that I mentione5 the circ9mstance. I shall be writing to one o= them
soon( an5 will ask i= she remembers m> speaking o= it at all. *he recollection( e?cept as
to precise 5ate( is as vivi5 in m> min5 as everAthe tone o= the voice( as o= one not
stationar,( b9t leaving the room b> the 5oor(
2
which was on the le=t si5e an5 near the
hea5 o= m> be5@ an5 likewise the wor5s( 5istinctl> spoken. I le=t +rance in 27VW( an5 m>
=rien5 5ie5 in 27V7. It was the >ear be=ore m> marriage( an5 I was then a girl o= U;. I ha5
no terror( or even s9rprise@ b9t eE9all> little when I hear5 o= her s955en 5eath( which I
seeme5 to have =oreknown. )s to the ho9r( I gathere5 that it m9st have been tolerabl>
sim9ltaneo9s with the 5eath. ,e 5i5 not go to o9r rooms till 22 ever in that ho9se. I ha5
the sensation o= being awoke o9t o= m> =irst sleep. M> =rien5 was =o9n5 5ea5 an5 cold Pin
her ho9se in )lsaceQ between 3 an5 V in the morning. .aving le5 a wan5ering li=e since
m> marriage( I have kept no letters o= so long ago. *he circ9mstances o= the loss o= m>
belove5 =rien5( an5 (, fir( belief in1er desire to ta1e leave of (e, are both in5elibl>
impresse5 on m> memor>. I wish( =or the sake o= science( m> 5etails were more
satis=actor>.
BI was a parlo9r boar5er =rom 4VV to 4VW Pincl9siveQ at the -htea9 &iron( then a large
an5 well-known school. Mme. .. was one o= the principals@ the =rien5ship between 9s
was o= a ver> close an5 9n9s9al kin5. /he was D9st the sort o= woman whose u-ill4 once
more to see a 5ear =rien5 wo9l5 tri9mph over almost an> 5i==ic9lties( as I alwa>s believe
it 5i5.
B)&%E/ EVE%/.C
In repl> to =9rther inE9iries( Mrs. Evens a55s:A
BIn m> own min5 I alwa>s associate the hearing o= the voice with a /9n5a> night. #o9
will sa> this is 9nreliable( an5 so it is( b9t I =in5 that in the recollection o= m> 5omestic
events( births( 5eaths( [c.( m> recollection o= the da, of the -ee1( with its associations( is
more reliable than that o= the date.
B)s to an> other Ya95itor>Z hall9cinations( the onl> one I can remember is the so9n5 o=
m9sic 9n9s9al in character( [c.( b9t it took place when I was worn o9t with n9rsing an5
grie=( an5 I have alwa>s assigne5 it to an abnormal con5ition o= the nervo9s s>stem(
associate5 with a time o= s9ch sorrow that I can har5l> bear to go back 9pon it.
BI seeme5 not so m9ch to be awoke b, the voice as to wake to hear it. I ha5 no 5o9bt as
to whose it was@ it pro59ce5 the e==ect o= a passing( not stationar>( voice@ the wor5s(
5istinctl> 9ttere5( were ua5ie9( ma chHrie.4 I hear5 >ester5a> =rom the =rien5 with whom I
was sta>ing at ii-8XU! the time. /he sa>s( u,e both4 Phersel= an5 sisterQ uwell remember
abo9t >o9r =rien5 Mme ..( an5 what a terrible attack o= ne9ralgia >o9 ha5 D9st at the time
when she 5ie5.4 I ha5 =orgotten this latter circ9mstance. It wo9l5 acco9nt in some
meas9re =or the want o= 5istinctness in m> recollections.C
,e have proc9re5 =rom the 'egistrar at 'appoltsweiler an o==icial certi=icate o= the 5eath(
which states that it occ9rre5 at U p.m.( on /ept. Vth( 27V7. *his was a /9n5a>Awhich
con=irms Mrs. Evens4 recollection. *he 5eath m9st have prece5e5 her e?perience b> at
least 2; ho9rs.
*he ne?t case( also a95itor>( is apparentl> one o= 5irect repro59ction o= the agent4s
sensation. P/ee cases U8WTUW;.Q It is =rom Mr. F. &. +. '9ssell( o= )5en( )ber5eenshire
Pthe narrator o= case 2X8Q. *he agent was a near relative who ha5 been making a long sta>
with Mr. an5 Mrs. '9ssell.
B:U( Upper "rook /treet( &rosvenor /E9are( ,.
B$ecember 27th( 277V.
P8X3Q BOn ,e5nes5a>( $ecember Un5( 277V( I was woke 9p at night( between 2U p.m.
an5 U a.m. Pas =ar as I can recollectQ( b> hearing m>sel= 5istinctl> calle5 =rom a small
passage o9tsi5e m> be5room 5oor@ the voice seeme5 to come =rom D9st o9tsi5e the 5oor
itsel=. I got 9p( =earing Mrs. ,aller( in the a5Doining room( was ill( b9t( as the calling o=
m> name was no longer repeate5( I 5i5 not then 5ist9rb her. P*here is no 5oor o=
comm9nication between the rooms( the wall is soli5( an5 a gigantic war5robe is against
it.Q %e?t morning I aske5 her i= she ha5 calle5 me 59ring the night@ b9t she 5eclare5 she
ha5 slept ulike a top(4 an5 ha5 never tho9ght o= me or an>one else. I 5i5 not mention the
inci5ent to her sister Pwho ha5 D9st le=t 9s a=ter a long visitQ( b9t she PMrs. ,allerQ 5i5( on
ret9rning to the co9ntr>. I enclose what Miss #o9ng wrote to me( solel> =rom her sister
mentioning to her m> having E9estione5 her. *he 5ates correspon5 e?actl>@ it was the
=irst night o= Mrs. ,aller4s visit.
BF. &. +. 'U//ELL.C
*he =ollowing is the e?tract =rom Miss #o9ng4s letter to Mr. '9ssell:A
BI will tell >o9 something that has str9ck me rather. *he two nights m> sister was with
>o9 in Lon5on were ver> 5ist9rbe5 nights to me@ >o9 were contin9all> in m> 5reams( an5
one o= those nights I =o9n5 m>sel= sitting 9p in be5( having woke m>sel= 9p b> calling
>o9 lo95l> b> name. ,hen she came back she tol5 me >o9 ha5 aske5 her one morning
whether she ha5 calle5 >o9 in the night( as >o9 ha5 5istinctl> hear5 >o9r name. I wish I
co9l5 remember which night it was. I have an impression it was the =irst.
B"L)%-.E #OU%&.C
Mr. '9ssell Pwho gave me the acco9nt viv0 voce on $ecember 28th( a =ortnight a=ter the
occ9rrence(Q has e?plaine5 that the wall between his room an5 the ne?t is so thick that
even a ver> lo95 cr> in one wo9l5 be almost ina95ible in the other. .e has never ha5 s9ch
a hall9cination on an> other occasion.
ii-8X:!
*he =ollowing cases are vis9al. *he =irst is =rom Mr. *eale( o= V;( .awle> 'oa5( 0entish
*own( %.,.
BF9ne( 2778.
P8XVQ BIn 2773( m> son ,alter was serving in the :r5 0ing4s 'o>al 'i=les 'egiment( in
the /o95an. *he last we ha5 hear5 =rom him was a letter in=orming 9s that he was abo9t
to ret9rn to Englan5( which he e?pecte5 wo9l5 be abo9t -hristmas time. *hings were in
this position on the U3th October( 2773( when on ret9rning home in the evening( I sai5(
Pnoticing m> wi=e looking ver> white(Q u,hatever is the matter with >o9r4 an5 she sai5
she ha5 seen ,alter( an5 he ha5 stoope5 5own to kiss her( b9t owing to her starting heA
likeAwas gone( so she 5i5 not receive the kiss.
B)=ter that we ha5 a letter =rom the la5> n9rse at 'amleh .ospital to sa> that the poor
bo> ha5 a thir5 relapse o= enteric =ever@ the> tho9ght he wo9l5 have p9lle5 thro9gh( b9t
he ha5 been taken( an5 when we ha5 that letter( it was a week a=ter he 5ie5. "9t the 5ate
when the letter was written correspon5e5 with the 5ate o= the 5a> when ,alter appeare5(
which was on the U3th October( 2773.
Y,hen Mr. *eale 9se5 these wor5s( he ha5 not re=erre5 to the letter( an5 was 9n5er the
impression that it ha5 been written on the ver> 5a> o= the 5eath( which Pas will be seen
belowQ was October U3.Z
BM> son +re5erick( /elina( an5 %ell> were in the room( b9t none o= them saw ,alter@
onl> +re5 hear5 his mother scream( uOhs4 an5 +re5 aske5 her what was the matter. I
tho9ght( having hear5 man> tales o= this kin5( I wo9l5 set it 5own@ so I p9t the 5ate on a
slip o= paper. .e was in his regimentals( an5 she tho9ght he ha5 come on =9rlo9gh to take
her b> s9rpriseAknowing the back wa>@ b9t when she saw he was gone( an5 the 5oor not
open( she got 5rea5=9ll> =rightene5.
B+'E$. F. *E)LE.C
Mrs. *eale hersel= 5ie5 in )pril( 2778( a=ter an illness 59e in great meas9re to the shock
o= the bereavement.
Mr. *eale has shown me the letters which were receive5 59ring )9g9st( /eptember an5
October( 2773( respecting his son4s con5ition. ) letter( 5ate5 )9g9st U;( which the son
5ictate5 an5 signe5( states that he is in hospital( 5own with enteric =ever. *he ne?t letter(
5ate5 /eptember W( which was similarl> 5ictate5 an5 signe5( states that he has ha5 a ver>
serio9s illness( b9t is m9ch better( an5 hopes soon to be home. *he ne?t letter( 5ate5
October 2U( =rom /ister *homas( states that he ha5 ha5 a ba5 relapse a =ortnight
previo9sl>( b9t Bis getting on ver> nicel> now.C *his was the last letter receive5 be=ore
October U3. In a letter 5ate5 October VU( Lie9tenant ,. .. 0enne5> states that the 5eath
ha5 taken place on the prece5ing 5a>@ an5 in a letter 5ate5 October U7( /ister *homas
states that the 5eath occ9rre5 abo9t U o4clock p.m.( on +ri5a>( October U3. *his 5ate has
been con=irme5 to 9s b> an o==icial comm9nication =rom the $epot at ,inchester.
In conversation( Mr. *eale e?plaine5 to me that his wi=eus e?perience took place between
W an5 7 in the eveningAwhich wo9l5 be between W an5 7 ho9rs a=ter the 5eath. /he was
at the time sitting at the table( talking. *he son who was present is at a 5istance@ b9t Miss
*eale ii-8X3! showe5 me how the persons in the room were place5( an5 5escribe5 to me
how she saw her mother start( an5 hear5 her e?clamation. Mr. *eale is certain that his
wi=e never e?perience5 an> other vis9al hall9cination@ an5 he sa>s that she was o=
an>thing b9t a broo5ing temperament( an5 was not at the time an?io9s abo9t her son. .is
note o= the 5ate o= the vision was on the back o= an envelope( which he carrie5 in his
pocket-book. .e tho9ght that this envelope was lost@ b9t was kin5 eno9gh( at m> reE9est(
to make a search( which bro9ght it to light. *he envelope( which lies be=ore me( bears his
a55ress( an5 the post-mark Lon5on( %.( +eb. UU( 73@ the pencil note on the back o= it is
U3-2;-73.
*he ne?t case is =rom the 'ev. '. Markham .ill( o= /t. -atherine4s( Lincoln.
BF9ne 2W( 2778.
P8X8Q BOn the evening o= Easter /9n5a>( abo9t 7 or X >ears ago( I think( I was D9st
beginning m> s9pper( =eeling ver> tire5 a=ter the 5a>4s work( when I saw the 5oor
opening behin5 me.
2
I was sitting with m> back to the 5oor( b9t co9l5 D9st see it over m>
sho9l5er. I ma> also have hear5 the opening( b9t cannot speak with certaint> 9pon this
point. I t9rne5 hal= ro9n5( an5 D9st ha5 time to see the =ig9re o= a tall man r9shing hastil>
into the room( as i= to attack me. I sprang 9p at once( t9rne5 ro9n5( an5 threw the glass(
which I hel5 in m> han5( at the spot where I ha5 seen the =ig9re( which ha5 5isappeare5
in the act o= m> rising. *he 5isappearance ha5( however( been too s955en to arrest the act
o= throwing. I then realise5 that I ha5 seen an apparition( an5 I imme5iatel> connecte5 it
with one o= m> 9ncles( whom I knew to be serio9sl> ill. Moreover( the =ig9re which I saw
resemble5 m> 9ncle in stat9re. Mr. )5cock came in( an5 =o9n5 me E9ite 9nnerve5 b> the
occ9rrence@ an5 to him I relate5 the circ9mstances. I 5on4t remember telling him that I
connecte5 the vision with m> 9ncle. *he ne?t 5a> a telegram came anno9ncing m>
9ncle4s 5eath on the /9n5a>. M> =ather was s9mmone5 to m> 9ncle4s 5eath-be5
9ne?pecte5l>( on the /9n5a> evening as he was sitting at s9pper( an5 the 5eath m9st have
coinci5e5 in time with what I saw.
B'. M)'0.)M .ILL.C
*he 'ev. .. )5cock( o= Lincoln( writes:A
BF9ne 28( 2778.
BI calle5 on m> =rien5( the 'ev. Markham .ill( one evening( an5 =o9n5 him apparentl> in
an e?ha9ste5 con5ition in an arm-chair@ he tol5 me( be=ore I co9l5 ask =or an>
e?planation( that he ha5 D9st seen the =ig9re o= his 9ncle stan5ing opposite to him against
the wall( behin5 a piano@ that he li=te5 9p a glass =rom the table( an5 was abo9t to throw it
at him( when the =ig9re vanishe5. .e sai5 he =elt convince5 that he sho9l5 ver> shortl>
hear o= his 9ncle4s 5eath. It was onl> the =ollowing 5a>( or the 5a> a=ter( that he showe5
me a letter receive5 that morning in=orming him that his 9ncle ha5 5ie5 on the 5a> when
the appearance took place.C
In conversation( Mr. 1o5more learnt =rom Mr. .ill that he was alone at the time. .e has
ha5 no other vis9al hall9cination in his li=e( 9nless it were an e?perience which impresse5
him in somewhat the same wa> as this one( b9t which ma> well have been merel> a case
o= mistaken i5entit>.
ii-8XV!
Mr. )5cock e?plaine5 that the above inci5ent m9st have occ9rre5 abo9t 2U >ears ago. .e
cannot remember whether it was a /9n5a> evening.
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that Mr. .ill4s 9ncle 5ie5 on )pril V( 27W3( which
was Easter /9n5a>.
YIt wo9l5 be 5i==ic9lt to acco9nt =or the hall9cination here as 59e to an?iet> respecting the
9ncle4s con5ition. I= a person4s min5( =rom broo5ing over the con5ition o= a sick relative(
is le5 to evolve a phantasm o= that relative( we sho9l5 certainl> e?pect the appearance to
be recognised@ an5 we sho9l5 not e?pect its character to be at once 9n=amiliar an5
=ormi5able.
It will be seen that the two acco9nts 5i==er as to whether the glass was act9all> thrown.Z
*he ne?t e?ample belongs to the Bbor5erlan5C class. It is one o= the cases where the
agent4s bon5 o= connection has apparentl> been with someone who was in the
percipient4s compan> at the time o= the e?perience( rather than with the act9al percipient.
%Cf. %os. U3U an5 :VV.Q *he narrator 5esires that his name ma> not appear( as the =amil>
o= the agent( whom he has alrea5> assiste5 liberall>( might base on the inci5ent 5escribe5
a sentimental claim to =9rther =avo9rs.
BF9ne 2U( 2778.
P8XWQ B*here can be no 5o9bt whatever that there is some transmission =or which no
e?planation has >et been given b> the savants.
BI am a practical b9siness man( an5 look 9pon all theories o= /pirit9alism( [c.( as so
m9ch h9mb9g that onl> 5el95es weak-min5e5 people. "9t at the same time( I recentl>
ha5 an e?perience o= a most e?traor5inar> character( which I sho9l5 scarcel> have
believe5 i= relate5 to me o= an>one else( an5 the plain =acts o= which I will give as the>
act9all> occ9rre5.
BI ha5 in m> emplo> a clerk who contracte5 an illness which incapacitate5 him =rom
reg9lar atten5ance at his 59ties. .e was absent abo9t si? months in 2773( an5( on leaving
the hospital( as I =o9n5 that he was 9nable to res9me his reg9lar work( I agree5 with him
that he sho9l5 come to the o==ice whenever he =elt able to 5o so( an5 that I wo9l5 pa> him
=or the work so 5one. *his arrangement contin9e5 =or some months@ then( at the
beginning o= )pril( 277V( he ha5 to sta> awa> altogether =or two or three weeks. .e
seeme5 in =air general health( b9t he was tro9ble5 with a 5isease5 ankle-Doint( which
prevente5 him =rom getting abo9t. I was in no an?iet> on his acco9nt( however( an5 ha5
no apprehension o= an> serio9s illness. M> wi=e( who knew Mr. J. =rom seeing him
occasionall> at m> private ho9se( 5i5 not even know that he was absent =rom the o==ice at
this time.
BOn the night o= the UWth-U7th )pril( I was wakene5 b> m> wi=e calling o9t conv9lsivel>(
u*here is someone looking at >o9.4 *ho9gh b> no means timi5 as a r9leAa practical
woman( not s9bDect to nervo9s =ancies o= an> kin5Ashe was m9ch 5ist9rbe5 an5
terri=ie5. /he D9mpe5 o9t o= be5( an5 t9rne5 9p the gas. +in5ing no intr95er in the room(
an5 all the 5oors locke5( she got back into be5@ b9t she was shivering all over( ii-8X8!
an5 it was some time be=ore I s9ccee5e5 in E9ieting her. *he clock in the hall str9ck 2
59ring this 5ist9rbance.
BIn the morning we re=erre5 to the inci5ent( an5 I tol5 m> wi=e she m9st have been
s9==ering =rom nightmare.
BLater on that 5a>( news was bro9ght to m> o==ice that poor J. ha5 passe5 awa> in the
night. ,hen I got home in the evening( m> wi=e met me as 9s9al at the 5oor( an5 I sai5 to
her( uI have some sa5 news to tell >o9.4 "e=ore I co9l5 sa> more she replie5( uI know what
it is@ poor J. is 5ea5. It was his =ace which I saw looking at >o9 last night.4
BI a=terwar5s learnt( =rom a man who lo5ge5 in Mrs. J.4s ho9se( that he ha5 5ie5 D9st at 2
o4clock in the morning o= the U7th( an5 that in the 5eliri9m which prece5e5 his 5eath( he
calle5 9pon me to look a=ter his wi=e an5 chil5ren when he was gone.C
Mrs. ".( the percipient( writes:A
BI have rea5 this paper thro9gh( an5 the contents correctl> 5escribe what transpire5. I was
a-a1e( when I saw the =ace. I have never e?perience5 an> similar occ9rrence.C
Y*he last sentence is in answer to the E9estion whether she ha5 e?perience5 a
hall9cination o= the senses on an> other occasion.Z
,e have veri=ie5 in the Ti(es obit9ar> the =act that J. 5ie5 on )pril U7( 277V.
Mr. 1o5more has e?amine5 the clerk whom Mr. ". 5espatche5 to make inE9iries o= the
wi5ow on hearing o= the 5eath(Ai.e.( on the a=ternoon o= )pril U7Aan5 who has since
hear5 Mrs. ". narrate her e?perience. /o =ar as he co9l5 recollect( Mrs. J. tol5 him that J.
5ie5 abo9t 2.:; a.m.( certainl> at an earl> ho9r in the morning. .e 5i5 not remember to
have hear5 an>thing abo9t the 5>ing wor5s( [c.
*he =ollowing is a Bbor5erlan5C case o= the or5inar> t>pe. *he percipient( Emma "9rger(
has been =or 8 >ears in the service o= o9r =rien5 an5 colleag9e( M. -h. 'ichet( an5 has his
most complete con=i5ence. Mr. 'ichet writes:A
BMars( 2778.
P8X7Q BEmma "9rger( gHe 5e U3 ans( nHe G Malsch( prNs 5e 'a5sta5t( avait HtH =iancHe G
1aris avec M. -harles "r. Le mariage Htait conven9. Emma ". partit le 2 aott a Usrel
P-orrN]eQ( che] Ma5ame 54U.( o9 elle Htait alors en service. La santH 5e M. -harles "r.
Htait bonne( o 59 moins il avait to9tes les apparences 5e la santH. En to9t cas le mariage
Htait 5Hci5H( et Emma ". n4avait a9c9ne inE9iHt95e s9r lHtat 5e la santH 5e son =iancH.
YTranslationZ
B}9elE9es Do9rs aprHs son arrivHe G Usrel( le W o9 7 aott( Emma ". re9t 9ne lettre 5e
-harles( l9i apprenant E9e po9r a==aires 5e =amille il E9ittait 1aris( et allait passer
E9elE9es Do9rs 5ans les )r5ennes. YTranslationZ
BLe 2V aott( Do9r 5e la =Mte 5e /ainte #ierge( Emma ".( E9oiE9e n4Htant pas 5Hvote( se
sentit prise 549ne gran5e tristesse et ple9ra abon5amment a9 pHlerinage E9i avait lie9
alors G Usrel. YTranslationZ
BLe soir 5e ce mMme Do9r( 2V aott( E. co9chait comme 54habit95e 5ans 9n cabinet 5e
toilette contig9 G la chambre 5e Ma5ame 54U. ) cLtH 5e son lit Htait la petite porte 549n
escalier 5e service( porte masE9He par le ri5ea9 59 lit( 5e sorte personne E9i Htait 5ans 5e
lit 5evait se ii-8XW! lever et Hcarter le ri5ea9 59 bas 59 lit po9r voir E9i entrait par
l4escalier. Voici le rHcit E9e m4a =ait E. YTranslationZ
BuVers on]e he9res et 5emie 59 soir De venais 5e me mettre a9 lit@ les 5omestiE9es
n4Htaient pas encore co9chHs to9s( parceE94on enten5ait encore 59 br9it 5ans la maison.
Ma5ame 54U. Htait co9cheH 5ans la chambre voisine( 5ont la porte 5e comm9nication
Htait o9verte. F4ai alors enten59 9n lHger br9it( comme si la porte 59 petit escalier
s4o9vrait. Fe me s9is mise G geno9? s9r mon lit po9r so9lever le ri5ea9 et prHvenir la
personne E9i entrait E9e Ma5ame 54U. Htant co9chHe( il ne =allait pas =aire 5e br9it( ni
passer par sa chambre. -4est alors E9e D4ai aper9 5istinctement la personne 5e -harles
"r. Il Htait 5ebo9t( son chapea9 et sa canne G la main 5roite( 5e la main ga9che tenant la
porte entr4o9verte( et restant 5ans l4entrebillement 5e la porte. II avait 9n cost9me 5e
vo>ageAson cost9me habit9el. Il > avait 9ne veille9se 5ans la chambre( mais D4Htais
tenement s9rprise E9e De ne me s9is pas 5eman5H si la clartH 5e la veille9se s9==isait po9r
e?pliE9er l4e?trNme nettetH avec laE9elle D4ai aper9 to9s ses traits( sa ph>sionomie( et le
5Htail 5e son cost9me. Il avait 9ne =ig9re so9riante( et il m4a regar5He sans rien 5ire( en
s4arrMtant 5ans la porte. )lors De l9i ai 5it avec sHvHritH( ne po9vant( E9elE9e
invraisemblable E9e =9t son arrivHe so95aine G Usrel( pas s9pposer E9e ce ne =tt pas
-harles "r. l9i-mMme( BMais E9e vene]-vo9s =aire icir Ma5ame 54U. est lG. 1arte]s parte]
5oncsC 19is( comme il ne 5isait rien( D4ai repris 5e no9vea9( B}94est-ce E9e vo9s me
vo9le]r 1arte]( parte] 5oncsC )lors il m4a rHpon59( en so9riant et avec 9ne gran5e
tranE9illitH( BFe viens vo9s =aire mes a5ie9?@ De pars en vo>age. )5ie9sC -4est G ce
moment E9e Ma5ame 54U.( E9i Htait 5ans la chambre voisine( et E9i( n4Htant pas
en5ormie encore( lisait 5ans son lit( m4a>ant enten59 parler to9t ha9t( me 5it( BMais
E94ave]-vo9s 5one( E.r vo9s rMve]sC Mais moi( a9 lie9 5e l9i rHpon5re( cro>ant to9Do9rs
E9e -harles "r. Htait rMellement 5evant moi( De l9i 5is( et cette =ois G voi? pl9s basse(
BMais parte] 5onc( parte] 5onc.C Et alors il 5ispar9t( non pas s9bitement mais comme
E9elE949n E9i =erme 9ne porte et E9i s4en va.
2
-4est alors se9lement E9e( s9r 9ne no9velle
5eman5e pl9s pressante 5e Ma5ame 54U.( De l9i rHpon5is( BMais o9i( ma5ame( D4ai e9 9n
ca9chemar.C YTranslationZ
BuF4Htais par=aitement HveillHe( p9isE9e De ne m4Htais pas en5ormie( et E9e De venais G
peine 5e me co9cher. Fe pensai alors( restant encore E9elE9e temps HveillHe( E9e -harles
"r. Htait ven9 me s9rpren5re( et De me mis G regretter 5e ne pas l9i avoir 5eman5H o il
allait en vo>age. Mais De ne m4en prHocc9pai pas o9tre mes9re( et a9 bo9t 549ncertain
temps De m4en5ormis trNs tranE9illement( sans s9pposer le moins 59 mon5e E94il ne
s4agissait pas 5e la presence =ormelle( en chair et en os( 5e -harles "r. G la porte 5e ma
chambre. YTranslationZ
BuLe len5emain matin De =9s =ort HtonnHe 5e ne pas enten5re parler 5e -harles "r. Fe cr9s
E94on Do9ait avec moi 9ne sorte 5e comH5ie@ en=in De me 5Hci5ai G 5eman5er si on n4avait
pas =ait venir E9elE949n 5ans ma chambre. On m4ass9ra E9e non@ on me plaisanta 5e mes
rMves( et De =inis par croire E9e D4avais rMvH( o9 pl9tLt( par 9ne sorte 54inconsHE9ence( De
ii-8X7! n4arrMtai pas ma pensHe s9r les invraisemblances acc9m9lHes 5e cette visite. Fe
sa9rai bien la vHritH( me 5isais-De( E9an5 il Hcrira. YTranslationZ
BuLe len5emain( 27 aott( vers ne9= he9res 59 matin( De ret9s la lettre s9ivante:A
YTranslationZ
BuBM)$EMOI/ELLE(AMonsie9r -. vient 5e recevoir par 5HpMche tHlHgraphiE9e la
no9velle 5e la mort 5e M. -harles "r. Il est mort le 28 59 co9rant. %o9s no9s Doignons G
vo9s po9r le regretter. YTranslationZ
BuB1E''I%( -oncierge.
BuBU8( '9e Marignan( 1aris.
BuBle 27 aott.4C
2

YM. 'ichet has seen an5 transcribe5 this letter.Z
BuOn D9gera 5e ma st9pe9r E9an5 De re9s cette lettre. $ep9is D4ai appris E9e -harles "r.
Htait mort 5ans la n9it 59 2V a9 28 aott( 549ne mala5ie 59 coe9r E9e to9t le mon5e
ignorait( et E9i ne s4Htait antHrie9rement tra59ite par a9c9n s>mptLme.4C YTranslationZ
,e have ma5e repeate5 an5 9rgent applications to the Maire o= the comm9ne where the
5eath occ9rre5( =or a cop> o= the )cte de D4cWs( b9t have receive5 no repl>.
*he Vicomtesse 54Ussel wrote to 9s on )pril 2( 2778( that Emma "9rger was in her
service in the s9mmer o= 27WV( at -orrN]e( an5 slept in a room a5Doining her own@ b9t she
5oes not remember hearing o= the inci5ent. /he remembers noticing( however( towar5s
the en5 o= the sta>( that Emma "9rger was in 5istress( an5 learning a=terwar5s that this
was 59e to the 5eath o= some one abo9t whom Emma ha5 never tol5 her.
*he percipient has ha5 in her li=e two hall9cinations representing a person whom she
knew to be 5ea5. "9t the =irst o= these 5i5 not occ9r till X >ears a=ter the inci5ent above
5escribe5@ an5 the> can scarcel> there=ore be regar5e5 as 5iminishing the =orce o= the
coinci5ence.
*he =ollowing is a cop> ma5e b> M. 'ichet o= a letter written to Emma "9rger b> a
=rien5( Ma5ame )9ro9ssea9?( who hear5 =rom her o= the vision be=ore the news o= the
5eath arrive5.
BVo9s me 5eman5e] si De me so9viens 5e votre rMve. Fe m4en so9viens comme si c4Htait
54a9Do9r54h9i. Fe me rappelle par=aitement 5e notre pHlerinage G la #ierge( et 5e to9t ce
E9e vo9s m4ave] racontH a9 s9Det 5e votre rMve( et a9ssi 5e votre =iancH.C YTranslationZ
On Ma> 2:( 2778( M. 'ichet writes:A
u1o9r ce E9i concerne le cas 5e -harles "r. De p9is vo9s 5onner 54intHressants 5Htails. F4ai
p9 =aire venir che] moi la personne E9i a e9 la con=i5ence 5e Emma "9rger avant E9e la
mort 5e -harles "r. soit conn9e( et voici ce E94elle m4a racontH. uLe 2V aott( Do9r 5e la
=Mte 5e la Vierge( Emma n4Htait pas comme 54or5inaire. Elle Htait triste et cherchait G
s4Hga>er@ elle Htait G pe9 prNs comme =olle ce Do9r-lG. Le soir il > a e9 9n gran5 5ner(
mais( comme Emma Htait la bonne 549n en=ant( elle a 5nH 5ans la chambre 5e l4en=ant
avec moi( E9i Htais alors no9rrice. 19is( vers 5i? he9res no9s no9s sommes co9chHes(
chac9ne 5ans notre chambre( mon no9risson 5ormant avec moi 5ans ma chambre( Emma
co9chant se9le 5ans 9ne petite chambre contig9e G la gran5e chambre 5e Ma5ame 54U.
Le len5emain matin( elle a 5it G Feanne( la =emme-5e-chambre ii-8XX! 5e la -omtesse
54U.( BVo9s m4ave] 5onc envo>H E9elE949n cette n9it.C Feanne s4est mise G rire( et alors
Emma m4a racontH E94elle avait =ait 9n rMve trNs he9re9?( E94elle avait v9 son =iancH 5ans
sa chambre( p9is E9an5 elle s4est rHveillHe E94elle s4est sentie trNs triste( et E94elle n4a p9
5ormir le reste 5e la n9it. )lors De l9i ai 5it( B*aise]-vo9s 5one( vo9s Mtes =olle(C et no9s
no9s sommes to9tes moE9Hes 54elle. Mais elle 5it( BFe s9is str E9e c4est l9i E9i est ven9(
et on ne m4Ltera pas 5e l4i5He E9e e4est vrai. Vo9s po9ve] vo9s moE9er 5e moi( mais De
crois bien E9e e4est vrai.C YTranslationZ
BuFE)%%E )U'OU//E)U\( G *ragn>( %iNvre.4
B1./.AFe viens 5e montrer G Emma "9rger la lettre E9e De vo9s Hcris( car D4ai interrogH
)9ro9ssea9? hors la prHsence 54Emma. Elle l4appro9ve complNtement( mais 5it
se9lement E94a9 lie9 5e se croire heureuse elle Htait tres enn9>He( sans etre inE9iNte( et
E9e c4Htait par s9ite 5es moE9eries 5ont on l4avait assaillie E94elle avait rHpon59( uEh
bien o9is D4Htais trNs contente 5e voir mon =iancH.4C YTranslationZ
*he =ollowing is a collective case. It will be seen that we have no proo= that the secon5
witness in5epen5entl> recognise5 the =ig9re@ at the same time( the wa> in which the
=ig9re 5isappeare5( i= correctl> remembere5( tells strongl> against the h>pothesis o=
mistaken i5entit>. *he narrator is Mr. )mos "ear5sle>( M.'.-./.( o= &range-over-/an5s(
Lancashire. .e ha5 sent 9s a shorter acco9nt in 277:.
BF9ne U7th( 2778.
P8XXQ B+rom 273V to uV; I live5 between the villages o= .AA an5 LAA( in $erb>shire.
*he lan5lor5 o= the chie= hotel in LAA ha5 a =arm D9st opposite m> ho9se( =rom which I
9se5 to get m> s9pplies o= milk an5 other 5air> pro59ce. I ha5 also been calle5 in on one
occasion to atten5 his wi=e in illness. One evening( probabl> in )9g9st or /eptember( I
ha5 been o9t with m> bo>( Fohn .owittAa connection o= the poet( ,illiam .owittA
h9nting =or moths( an5 was ret9rning home abo9t X p.m.( as =ar as I can remember. ,e
ha5 D9st passe5 a railwa> c9tting which crosse5 the roa5( or rather which was inten5e5 to
cross the roa5@ =or the c9ttingA28 or U; =eet 5eepAha5 been bro9ght within a =ew >ar5s
o= the roa5wa> on either si5e( b9t ha5 not >et been carrie5 thro9gh it. F9st a=ter passing
this part I t9rne5 ro9n5( an5 saw( as I tho9ght( E.( the owner o= the =arm re=erre5 to(
crossing the roa5Ahaving apparentl> D9st come in b> a =ootpath on the rightAin the
5irection o= a correspon5ing =ootpath a little lower 5own on the le=t. I ha5 notice5 that the
c9tting ha5 been carrie5 right thro9gh the =ootpath( so that passengers wo9l5 have to
make a d4tour( an5 thinking that E. was probabl> not aware o= this( an5 might r9n some
risk o= =alling 5own the embankment( I sent the la5 a=ter him( to warn him o= the 5anger.
*he la5 ran o== at once@ the 5istance was not more than 2;; >ar5s or so@ b9t when he got
to the stile( the man was nowhere to be seen. .e co9l5 not have got clear awa> in that
short interval@ b9t we searche5 the c9tting to see i= he ha5 b> an> ill-chance =allen 5own
there. *here was nothing to be seen@ an5 a=ter spen5ing abo9t hal= an ho9r in a =r9itless
search( we ret9rne5 home. ii-W;;! %e?t morning( .owitt came to me with a scare5 =ace
to tell me that E. ha5 =allen 5own 5ea5 the night be=ore( abo9t X p.m.( D9st a=ter he ha5
o==ere5 to make a blasphemo9s wager.
B*hat is all the stor>. I co9l5 not( an5 5i5 not( =or a moment 5o9bt m> recognition o= E.4s
=ig9re. M> e>esight is goo5( an5 I think it har5l> possible that I co9l5 have been
mistaken. ,h> the apparition sho9l5 have come to me I cannot sa>( 9nless( perhaps( the
5>ing man4s tho9ghts t9rne5 instinctivel> towar5s me as a 5octor. I have never ha5 an>
hall9cination o= the senses(A9nless this apparition was one.C
,e =in5 =rom the 'egister o= $eaths that E. was =o9n5 5ea5 in his be5( =rom heart-
5isease( on F9l> UV( 273W. $r. "ear5sle> 5oes not pro=ess to have gathere5 the
circ9mstances o= his 5eath =rom e>e-witnesses@ an5 the imagination o= neighbo9rs wo9l5
be likel> to e?aggerate the s955enness with which the s9ppose5 p9nishment =ollowe5 on
the transgression.
Mr. 1o5more has E9estione5 Mr. Fohn .owitt( now b9tler at the /hip"9il5ing #ar5 "oar5
'ooms( "arrow. .e has no real in5epen5ent memor> o= the inci5ent( tho9gh when Mr.
1o5more repeate5 $r. "ear5sle>4s acco9nt( he sai5( B%ow >o9 seem to bring it all back to
me.C .e was onl> 23 at the time.
Drea(s( as has been so o=ten pointe5 o9t( being a speciall> weak class o= evi5ence( it was
not m> intention to give an> =9rther specimens in this chapter@ b9t at the last moment
some recor5s have been receive5 which claim a5mittance. *he =orce o= cases where a
5ream e?actl> repro59ces the tho9ghts o= a person in the 5reamer4s vicinit> is so m9ch
increase5 b> their m9ltiplication in the e?perience o= the same two persons( that the
=ollowing a55itional instance( =rom the narrators o= case X;( nee5s no apolog>. Mrs.
+iel5ing writes:A
B#arlington 'ector>( "ath( 2Xth Ma>( 2778.
PW;;Q BI sleep ba5l>( an5 on Mon5a> night it was U o4clock when I slept. I ha5( =or hal=-
an-ho9r be=ore going o==( =i?e5 m> min5 9pon ever> t9rn an5 corner o= m> girlhoo54s
home Pwhere I have not been =or above U; >earsQ in /cotlan5. M> =ather( a sE9ire( ha5 a
neighbo9r sE9ire( calle5 9arve, Bro-n. In m> whiling awa> the night( I 5welt 9pon him(
an5 his ho9se an5 =amil>( particularl,. M> h9sban5 knew him onl, b> name( b9t o=
co9rse( knew m> home( an5 loves it as m9ch as I 5o. .e an5 I awoke at 8. "e=ore a -ord
o= an> kin5 was sai5( he sai5 to me( uI have ha5 s9ch a strange 5ream abo9t .arve>
"rown( an5 been at the ol5 home( wan5ering abo9t it.4 ,hat ma5e it seem stranger is that
.arve> "rown is a man we never spoke o= in o9r lives( or =or U; >ears have ever tho9ght
o=( till Mon5a> night in i5leness I went over ol5 meetings with him@ an5 I was wi5e
awake an5 m> h9sban5 asleep@ he ha5 slept heavil> all the night a=ter a 2U mile walk@ so
there was no possibilit> o= m> lea5ing his min5 near /cotlan5( in an> conversation even(
be=ore he slept.
BFE)% ELE)%O') +IEL$I%&.
BF. M. +IEL$I%&.C
*he chie= interest o= the ne?t case 5epen5s on the repetition o= the 5ream. I have implie5
PVol. I.( p. :V7( noteQ that 5istinct repetition on ii-W;2! several s9ccessive nights( tho9gh
b> no means 9ne?ample5( is ver> 5eci5e5l> rare( in 5reams o= p9rel> s9bDective origin@
an5 the repetition in a case o= telepathic origin ma> =airl> be taken as an in5ication o= that
special intensit> which is shown also in other wa>sAnotabl> o=ten b> the e?ceptional
sense o= realit> s9rviving into waking ho9rs Psee case 37UQ. I 5o not( however( n9mber
the acco9nt( as the closeness o= the coinci5ence cannot be completel> 5etermine5. *he
narrator is $r. &ibert( the lea5ing ph>sician at .avre( who was concerne5 in case 877.
B'9e /Hr>( le .vre.
B2X Mai( 2778.
uLa scNne se passait en 273X( a9 printemps. Un vieillar5 gH 5e 73 ans( 59 nom 5e "orel(
gran5-oncle 5e ma mNre( 5eme9rant prNs &enNve( a9 petit /accone?( vint 9n same5i
5HDetner G la maison. %o9s 5eme9rions G la Monnaie( campagne a9? portes 5e &enNve( G
9ne 5istance 5e 3 kilomNtres 5e la 5eme9re 59 vieillar5. Il Htait par=aitement portant.
$e9? Do9rs aprNs sa visite( 5ans la n9it 5e 5imanche a9 l9n5i( G 5e9? he9res 59 matin( a9
milie9 5e son sommeil( ma mNre se rHveille en criant( uL4oncle est mort@ De le vois G terre(
les bras Hten59ss4 Mon pNre chercha G la rass9rer( mais la n9it =9t sans sommeil.
YTranslationZ
BLe l9n5i( mon pNre no9s raconta le rMve 5e ma mNre( et no9s en rmes( l9i 5isant E9e si
l4oncle Htait mort on serait venir no9s prHvenir. $ans la n9it 5e l9n5i a9 mar5i( G la mMme
he9re( no9vea9 rHveil 5e ma mNre( E9i crie 5e mMme( uL4oncle est morts4 En=in( 5ans la
n9it 5e mar5i a9 mercre5i( mMme scNne. YTranslationZ
BLe mercre5i( mon pNre( E9i Htait D9ge 5e pai?( me pria 5e l4accompagner a9 petit
/accone?( a=in 5e convaincre ma mNre E9e son rMve( rHpHtH trois =ois( n4Htait E949n rMve.
) peine arrivH G la 5eme9re 5e nom oncle( on no9s 5it E9e le vieillar5 n4avait pas par9
5ep9is trois Do9rs. La petite maison isolHe Htait close 5e to9tes parts. Mon pNre =it sa9ter
9n volet( et no9s vmes 5ans la c9isine le vieillar5 Hten59. %o9s pHnHtrmes par l4Hc9rie(
et D4allais relever le malhe9re9?( E9i Htait mort( la tMte 5ans le =o>er( =ace contre terre( les
bras Hten59s( E9an5 mon pNre me =it remarE9er E9e le crne Htait =racassH. Il avait HtH
assassinH. L4assassin =9t pris( con5amnH G mort( et e?Hc9tH. Il avo9a to9t aprNs sa
con5amnation. Il avait t9H le vieillar5 le 5imanche( entre mi5i et 9ne he9re. Le rMve 5e
ma mNre avait 5one e9 lie9 5o9]e o9 trei]e he9res aprNs le crime. YTranslationZ
B$'. &I"E'*.C
,e have proc9re5 =rom the $Hpartement 5e F9stice et 1olice( at &eneva( a cop> o= the
1roces-verbal ma5e b> the o==icial who inspecte5 the scene o= the crime imme5iatel>
a=ter the m9r5er was 5iscovere5( an5 who receive5 on the spot the evi5ence o= M. &ibert
pWre. *his 5oc9ment completel> con=irms $r. &ibert4s acco9nt o= the m9r5er( an5 o= the
5iscover> o= the bo5> l>ing =ace 5ownwar5s on the hearthAthe arms however( not
BHten59s(C b9t Bracco9rcis so9s l4estomacC@ b9t it shows that his recollection is not
correct as to 5ates an5 5a>s. *he m9r5er was 5iscovere5 abo9t 8 p.m. on *h9rs5a>(
%ovember X( 2737@ an5 M. &ibert pWre state5 that he ha5 ma5e the visit to the ho9se(
which le5 to ii-W;U! the 5iscover>( on hearing that his 9ncle ha5 not been seen b> the
neighbo9rs since the *9es5a> evening. It seems probable there=ore that the m9r5er was
committe5 on the *9es5a> night.
2
It ma> =airl> be s9ppose5 that $r. &ibert is at least as
likel> to be right in his statement that the 5reams =ell on the nights imme5iatel> prece5ing
the 5iscover>( as in his statement o= the partic9lar 5a>s o= the week on which the> =ellA
since his recollection o= the 5a>s o= the week is connecte5 with his recollection( prove5
incorrect( as to the 5a> on which the m9r5er =ell@ an5 this h>pothesis is somewhat
=avo9re5 b> his recollection that there was an interval o= more than a 5a> between the last
visit o= M. "orel to the &iberts4 ho9se an5 the =irst 5ream. It is not improbable( there=ore(
that one o= the 5reams ver> closel> coinci5e5 with the m9r5er. "9t a=ter this 5ream there
wo9l5 be room =or onl> a single repetitionAon the ,e5nes5a> night.
*he ne?t two cases ill9strate the point so o=ten emphasise5Athe ps>chological i5entit> o=
5reams an5 waking phantasmsAin a rare an5 interesting wa>@ a telepathic impression
taking e==ect =irst as a 5ream( an5 a=terwar5s as a hall9cination. In the =irst o= the two
cases there was an interval o= a goo5 man> ho9rs between the two e?periences.
U
In the
secon5 case( the vis9al hall9cination was apparentl> a prolongation o= the 5ream-image
into waking moments Psee Vol. I.( pp. :X;T2Q@ b9t the waking e?perience incl95e5 a
=9rther =eat9reAa hall9cination o= hearing.
*he =ollowing acco9nt was obtaine5 thro9gh the kin5ness o= Mrs. ,alw>n( o= X( /ion
.ill( -li=ton( "ristol( who has known the narrator =rom a bo>.
B+ebr9ar> U3th( 2778.
PW;2Q BuI 5reame5 that Maggie( m> sister-in-law( ha5 been taken serio9sl> ill. *he ne?t
evening( when I went into the 5ining-room to have m> 9s9al smoke previo9s to going to
be5( D9st a=ter I entere5 the room( Maggie s955enl> appeare5( 5resse5 in white( with a
most heavenl> e?pression on her =ace. /he =i?e5 her e>es on me( walke5 ro9n5 the room(
an5 5isappeare5 thro9gh the 5oor which lea5s into the gar5en. I =elt I co9l5 not speak@ b9t
=ollowe5 her. On opening the 5oor an5 o9tsi5e sh9tter nothing was to be seen. I vo9ch =or
the tr9th o= this.
Bu.. E. M.4C
Mr. M.4s mother writes to Mrs. ,alw>n:A
B.. an5 his wi=e were in Englan5 in the a9t9mn( an5 ret9rne5 on the Xth %ovember. *he>
ha5 been visiting the parents in L.A&eneral an5 Mrs. '. *he> le=t the ne?t >o9nger sister
apparentl> in her 9s9al health. On +ri5a>( the U;th( she was at the theatre with =rien5s. )t
2 a.m. she ii-W;:! was sei]e5 with violent internal pains@ these contin9e5 all 5a>( b9t no
5anger was apprehen5e5 till 3.3V p.m.( when she became insensible( an5 at V.2V all was
over. *he ca9se o= 5eath( uper=oration o= the stomach.4 On the /at9r5a> night .. 5reamt
that Maggie ha5 been taken 5angero9sl> ill@ the ne?t evening when he went into the
5ining-room as 9s9al to have his smoke previo9s to going to be5( D9st a=ter he entere5 the
room Maggie s955enl> appeare5 to him. YMrs. M.4s 5escription o= the appearance e?actl>
coinci5es with her son4s acco9nt.Z
B.e tol5 me in the morning what ha5 happene5. I trie5 to pers9a5e him it was onl> an
optical 5el9sion( b9t he knew better. ,h> the apparition sho9l5 have come to .. is most
e?traor5inar>( =or he was not in the least s9perstitio9s( nervo9s( or =anci=9l. *he onl> wa>
we can acco9nt =or it is that the telegram which the &eneral sent o== on /9n5a> never
reache5 9s( an5 it was act9all> ,e5nes5a>( the 5a> o= the =9neral( be=ore we hear5 the
sa5 news( an5 she might have known this an5 come to tell 9s that she was gone.
B'. L. M.C
,e =in5 =rom an obit9ar> in the ;ea(ington Ne-s that Miss '. 5ie5 on U2st %ovember(
277V( an5 that she Bremaine5 per=ectl> conscio9s 9ntil V o4clock( when she s955enl>
collapse5 an5 5ie5 in a E9arter o= an ho9r.C
*he =inal case is =rom Mr. M. /. &ri==in( o= /an 'emo( ,e>mo9th.
BMa>( 2778.
PW;UQ BI have been reE9este5 to give an acco9nt o= an o55 coinci5ence which occ9rre5
some three >ears since. PI am no believer in spirits( an5 believe the =ollowing was the
res9lt o= illness.Q I was in the tropics( an5( at the time I mention( lai5 9p with =ever( when
one night I ha5 a 5ream abo9t an ol5 la5> =rien5 o= mine. I woke 9p s955enl>( an5
tho9ght I saw her at the =oot o= m> be5( an5 the strange part was I tho9ght I hear5 her
speak. /he seeme5 to be 5resse5 in white. I tol5 this to a =rien5( who onl> la9ghe5 at me
an5 sai5 I was ill( b9t at the same time( he p9t 5own the 5ate an5 ho9r. ) =ew mails a=ter(
I hear5 o= the ol5 la5>4s 5eath( at the same 5ate an5 ho9r. I have no belie= in spirits
whatever( b9t this was a =act.C
In answer to inE9iries( Mr. &ri==in s9pplie5 the =ollowing =9ller acco9nt.
BF9ne 2V( 2778.
B)t the time o= the occ9rrence( F9ne( 277U( I ha5 been in Famaica =or abo9t 27 months. I
ha5 been ill with co9ntr> =ever( b9t was convalescent( tho9gh still ver> weak. I was
sleeping in a room ne?t that o= a =rien5( with the 5oor open between. I ha5 a 5ream( in
which m> min5 went back to ol5 times when I ha5 seen m9ch o= the la5> I mentione5@
an5 then I became aware that she was 5ea5( in a room which seeme5 to be near me( an5
that I wante5 to get to her@ an5 as this tho9ght =lashe5 across me( I seeme5 to see her.
*hen I woke with a s955en start( an5 5istinctl> saw her stan5ing at the =oot o= m> be5(
5resse5 in white( an5 with the han5s b> her si5e. *he =ace was e?tremel> 5istinct( an5
E9ite 9nmistakeable. .a5 a real person been stan5ing in that place( I certainl> co9l5 not
have 5isting9ishe5 the =eat9res( as it was ii-W;3! a 5ark night.
2
*he =ig9re plainl>
prono9nce5 m> name( uMarc9s(4 once( an5 then gra59all> 5isappeare5 as I watche5 it. It
remaine5 visible a s9==icient n9mber o= secon5s =or me to be keenl> aware that I was
awake@ I =elt E9ite clearl>( the for(er e?perience was a 5ream( then I woke( an5 no- this
is a waking realit>. )=ter the 5isappearance( I calle5 o9t( an5 m> =rien5 came in. I
5escribe5 the whole e?perience to him( an5 he was s9==icientl> impresse5 with it to notice
the timeAwhich was a =ew min9tes past mi5night( F9ne 22thAan5 to note the occ9rrence
at once in his 5iar>. *he ne?t morning he an5 others la9ghe5 at the matter( b9t co9l5 not
b9t be impresse5 b> its realit> to me.
B)bo9t three weeks a=terwar5s( I receive5 a letter =rom a 5a9ghter o= m> =rien5(
in=orming me o= her mother4s 5eath in Englan5( on F9ne 22th( soon a=ter V a.m. M> =rien5
an5 I calc9late5 the 5i==erence o= longit95e( an5 the ho9rs correspon5e5 to within a =ew
min9tes. I ha5 no i5ea o= the la5>4s being ill( an5 ha5 neither been an?io9s abo9t her nor
thinking abo9t her. In conversation with the =amil>( two >ears later( the> tol5 me that a
=ew min9tes be=ore her 5eath she sai5( u*ell Marc9s I tho9ght o= him.4 I ma> mention that
this la5> ha5( three >ears be=ore( n9rse5 me thro9gh a 5angero9s illness@ an5 I ha5 a
warm a==ection =or her.
BI 5o not recollect on an> other occasion in m> li=e e?periencing the contin9ation o= a
5ream-image into waking moments@ nor have I ever ha5 a hall9cination either o= sight or
hearing.
BM)'-U/ /OU*.,ELL &'I++I%.C
Mr. &ri==in kin5l> allowe5 me to cop> the =ollowing sentence =rom the letter which
anno9nce5 the 5eath:A
B)lphington.
BF9ne 2W( 277U.
BMother 5ie5 on /t. "arnabas4 $a> Yi.e.( F9ne 22Z( at V.U;( an5 was b9rie5 on the
*h9rs5a> =ollowing( F9ne 2Vth( 277U.C
,e have veri=ie5 the 5ate o= 5eath in the 'egister o= $eaths.
*he ne?t letter that Mr. &ri==in receive5 ma5e it E9ite clear that the V.U; was a.m.@ an5 in
conversation with the =amil> since( the 5eath was 5escribe5 to him as having taken place
before brea1fast.
YMr. &ri==in has now no separate recollection o= the 5ate o= his vision. .e ha5 an i5ea
that the 5eath ha5 been on F9ne 2V( not having looke5 =or some time at the letter in which
it was anno9nce5( where it will be seen that F9ne 2V Pthe 5a> o= the =9neralQ is the onl>
5a> o= the month mentione5( the 5a> o= the 5eath being otherwise 5escribe5. *he BF9ne
22C in the =oregoing acco9nt was a55e5 a=ter he ha5 re=erre5 to this letter. "9t there can( I
think( be no reasonable 5o9bt that he is D9sti=ie5 in his conviction that his vision took
place on F9ne 22. .e can har5l> be wrong in his recollection that he an5 his =rien5 ma5e a
care=9l comp9tation o= the longit95e( with a view to ascertaining how close the
coinci5ence was@ an5 that the> speciall> notice5 a slight 5iscrepanc>. P*he 5i==erence o=
longit95e being abo9t W:( the time o= the 5eath wo9l5 correspon5 with abo9t 2U.:;
a.m.( not 2U.2; a.m.@ so that i= the two times are E9ite acc9ratel> given( Mr. &ri==in4s
e?perience prece5e5 the 5eath b> abo9t U; min9tes.Q %ow persons who took this amo9nt
o= tro9ble with regar5 ii-W;V! to the hours( ma> =airl> be ass9me5 not to have ma5e a
gross bl9n5er as to the i5entit> o= da,@ even i= Mr. &ri==in is mistaken Pwhich there is no
reason =or s9pposingQ in his recollection that the means =or establishing the i5entit> o=
5a> were there in black an5 white be=ore them. It is to be hope5 that the 5iar> has been
preserve5( an5 that the evi5ence will in time be complete5 b> o9r obtaining the entr>. *he
=rien5 who ma5e it is at present in )merica( an5 Mr. &ri==in has written to him( b9t
5o9bts whether the last a55ress given will now =in5 him. .e is s9re( he thinks( to have
news o= him be=ore ver> long. I ma> mention that Mr. &ri==in4s mother tol5 me that her
son gave her a =9ll 5escription o= the occ9rrence on his ret9rn to Englan5( not ver> long
a=ter it took place.Z
I nat9rall> cannot conve> to others the =9ll e==ect o= Mr. &ri==in4s viv0 voce 5escription.
*ho9gh he ha5 not attrib9te5 an> scienti=ic importance to the inci5ent( he impresse5 on
me that his own e?perience( taken alone( an5 E9ite apart =rom the =acts which he learnt
a=terwar5s( was to him absol9tel> 9niE9eAb> =ar the strangest an5 most perple?ing thing
that ha5 ever happene5 to him. It gave him precisel> the same vivi5 =eeling o=
astonishment that the sanest o= m> rea5ers wo9l5 receive i= the> looke5 9p =rom this
page( an5 saw a =rien5 stan5ing palpabl> be=ore them( who ga]e5 at them( a55resse5
them( an5 then vanishe5 into air. )s regar5s the coinci5ence( Mr. &ri==in will allow me to
a55 that the view e?presse5 in his =irst acco9ntAnamel>( that his own illness was a
s9==icient e?planation o= his e?perience( an5 that the coinci5ence there=ore was acci5ental
Ais not that which he now hol5s. I pointe5 o9t to him Pas so o=ten in the co9rse o= these
pagesQ that the theor> o= acci5ent which wo9l5 be the reasonable one i= the partic9lar
e?perience in E9estion stoo5 alone or nearl> alone in o9r generation( becomes
9nreasonable when the case is onl> one o= a large class@ an5 I can onl> hope that others
ma> agree with him in =in5ing this arg9ment as D9st as it is obvio9s.
.ere I m9st stop. -ases contin9e to reach 9s which ma> claim a place in a =9t9re
collection@ b9t time is nee5e5 =or inE9ir> into their 5etails@ an5 the limits o= space
propose5 =or the present work have alrea5> been overpasse5. *o those whom it ma> have
intereste5( its last wor5 m9st be a remin5er that to them we look =or vigoro9s ai5 in the
acc9m9lation o= =9rther =acts( which ma> con=irm or mo5i=> o9r concl9sions.
ii-W;8! ii-W;W!
#!1'& %F ".M1&R&/ +!$&$.
I% -OLUM% IV.
) )95itor>. M Motor.
$ $ream. O Ol=actor>.
E Emotional. / /ensation o= pain( [c.
& &9stator>. * *actile.
I I5eational. V Vis9al.
I% -OLUM% V.
. .9sban5. w ,i=e.
+ +ather. m Mother.
/ /on. 5 $a9ghter.
" "rother. s /ister.
U Uncle. a )9nt.
% %ephew. n %iece.
- -o9sin PmaleQ. c -o9sin P=emaleQ.
& &ran5=ather or &ran5son. g &ran5mother or &ran55a9ghter.
+' +rien5s.
2
/* /trangers.
)- )cE9aintances.
2

In col9mn V.( the =irst letter in5icates the percipient( the secon5 the agent. Letters
in5icating =emales are in small t>pe.
*he large maDorit> o= the names( o= which onl> the initials are here given( appear in =9ll at
the pages in5icate5.
%O.
1)&E.
VOL. I.
1E'-I1IE%* )%$ )&E%*.
%)*U'E O+
IM1'E//IO%
'EL)*IO%/.I1 O+ 1.
*O ).
2 77 "lin5 Man A $r. E. .>pnotic sleep ) -
U 7X Miss -. A 'ev. F. L. /. M a -
: X; 1atient A Mr. ". M a -
3 X; Mr. %. $.AMesmerist M ) -
V X; Mrs. *. A Mr. .. /. *. M = '
8 X2 Miss L. +. -. A Mr. .. /. *. M c -
W X: Miss V. A Mr. /. .. ". M = '
7 X3 E. -. A 'ev. L. L. I a -
X X8 Mrs. ,. A Mr. &. ). /. I or V a -
2; X7 +rien5s A Mr. .. /. *. / + + '
22 X7 &irl A /on o= 'ev. L. L. I a -
2U XX +rien5s A Mr. .. /. *. I + + '
2: 2;: 'ev. ,. /. M. A +rien5 V ) + r
23 2;3
Miss L. /. V.
Miss E. -. V.
! A Mr. /. .. " V == '
2V 2;8 Mrs. L. A Mr. /. .. ". V * a -
28 2;7 Miss V. A Mr. /. .. ". V * = '
2W 277 Mrs. ). /. A Mr. ). /. / w .
27 2X; Mrs. %. A 'ev. 1. .. % ; w .
2X 2X2 'ev. F. $. A Miss F. ,. I + r
U; 2X3 Mrs. ". A Mrs. &. I or V 5 m
U2 2X8 Mr. 0. A Mrs. 0. I . w
UU 2XW Miss M. A Mrs. 0. E c c
U: 2XX Mr. +. ,. A Mr. '. ,. ". $ " "
U3 U;U Mrs. ,. A /ir F. -. $ 5 +
ii-W;7!
UV U;3 Mrs. -. A Mr. F. -. V m /
U8 U;W Mr. &. M. A Mr. '. 0. V c c
UW U;X Mr. '. '. AMr. ]. I or V +'
U7 U2; Mr. %. F. /. A Mr. +. L. V + '
UX U2U Mr. ). ". A Mrs. +. V ) c
:; U23 +. '. A Mrs. ). PrQ ) V s t
:2 U28 -apt. F. -. A Mr. F. V % U
:U U27 'ev. '. ". A Mrs. ". V / m
:: UU2 Miss/. A -apt. F. ". ) = '
:3 UUU Mr. ). J. E Mr. /. ". ) + '
:V UUV Mrs. %. A 'ev. 1. .. %. )*. $ = '
:8 UUW
Mr. F. $.
Miss '. /.
! AMrs. E. ) + = r
:W U:3 -ol. L. ). A /ir L. &. I + '
:7 U:V Mr. 0. A .err /. I + '
:X U:8 Miss ". AMrs. ". I 5 m
3; U:8 -o9nt &. AMr. '. ". I / *
32 U:W Miss -. ". M. A Feweller E s *
3U U:X Miss -. E. /. A Mr. ,. ". /. I s " PrQ
3: U3;
'.
E.
! AMiss AA
E
E
s s
s s
33 U3U
Mr. L. .. /.
Mrs. L. .. /.
!
A Miss M. '. or
Mr. ). +.
I + = ' r
3V U3: Mrs. .. $. A Mr. - I a -
38 U33 Miss ). /. F. A Miss M. L. F. I s s
3W U3V Mr. M. A Miss FA I - c
37 U38 Miss ). O. A Mr. $. ). I c -
3X U3W Mrs. ). A 'ev. ). ,. ) I ) w .
V; U3W "ishop ,.A/on. I + /
V2 U3X Mrs. /. A Mr. *. ,. /. I w .
VU U3X Mme. O. A Mons. O. I w .
V: UV2 Mrs. &. A Mr. &. I or V m /
V3 UV: Miss M. E. 1. A Mr. F I = '
VV UV: Mr. '. -. A Mr. F. -. I " "
V8 UVV Mr. F. &. 0. A Mother-in-law I or V + r
VW UV8 Miss M. E. 1. A /ister I s s
V7 UVW Mr. F. .. A Mrs. .. or Miss .. I or V / m or " s
VX UV7 Miss &. A Mr. .. &. I or V s "
8; U8; Mrs. F. A Mr. ,. '. I or V s "
82 U82
Mr. F. ). ,. A Mr. *. ,. or Mr.
&. ,.
I or V " "
8U U8U Mrs. L. A Mr. ). I or V = '
8: U8: Mrs. ". A+rien5 I or V = '
83 U83 La5> L. A /ir ". L. I or V w .
8V U8V Miss L. Mr. I or V = '
88 U8W B+. '. -. 1.C A Lan5lor5 I or V ) -
8W UW2 Mr. ). -. A/ister E " s
87 UW2 .on. Mrs. 1. A /ister E s s
8X UWU Mr. F. $. ..
A "rother
A Uncle
A Mother
! E
" "
% U
/ m
W; UW: Mrs. '. AMr. /. '. E w .
W2 UW3 $r. E. L. +. A &ran5mother E & g
WU UWV Mrs. ". A 'ev. F. F. E 5 +
W: UW8 Mr. A A Mrs. A E . w
W3 UWW Mrs. /. A Mr. /. E w .
WV UW7 $r. F. $. A +ather E$ / +
W8 U7; 'ev. F. M. ,. A*win brother E " "
WW U72 Mr. F. -. A *win brother E " "
ii-W;X!
W7 U7: Mr. ). F. M. A *win brother E " "
WX U7: 'ev. E. $. M. A +ather M / +
7; U73 Mrs. -. A Mr. -. M w .
72 U7V Mr. ). /. A Mrs. /. M . w
7U U78 Mrs. ,. A +ather M 5 +
7: U7W Mr. 1.A+ather M / +
73 U77 Mrs. V.AMr. V. M w .
7V U77 MaDor 0. A +ather M / +
78 UX2 Mr. '. '. A 'ev. *. .. M + '
7W UX: M5lle. ". A M5lle. M. M = r
77 :23 Mr. E. 1. *. AMrs. *. $ . w or w .
7X :2V 'ev. F. 1. .. A Mrs. .. $ . w
X; :2V Mr. F. M. +. AMrs. +. $ . w or w .
X2 :28 Mr. M. AMrs. M $ . w
XU :28 Mr. ,. A Mrs. ,. $ . w
X: :2W Mrs. -. A Mr. - $ w .
X3 :27 Miss -. /. ". -Miss 0. E. $ PrQ = r
XV :U2 Mr. -. A Mrs. -. $ . w
X8 :UU Mr. -. A Mrs. -. $ . w
XW :UU M. .. A Miss M. M. $ = r
X7 :U3 Mr. $. ". ,. /. A +ather $ / +
XX :UV Mr. *. F. .. A Mrs. ,. $ + r
2;; :UW Mr. F. ). A Lie9t. O $ I + '
2;2 :U7 Mrs. M. AMr. M.r $ w . PrQ
2;U :UX Mrs. L. A Mr. F. - $ = '
2;: ::; Coriolanus A Mr. E. -. ". $ + '
2;3 ::2 Miss E. F. M. A 'ev. ). ". M $ c -
2;V ::: Mrs. .. A Mr. .. .. $ m /
2;8 ::V Mrs. /. A /on $ m /
2;W ::8 Mr. ). ). A /on $ + /
2;7 ::7 'ev. -anon ,. A Mr. ). ,. $ " "
2;X ::X Mrs. +. A Mr. +. $ w .
22; ::X Mrs. -. L. A Mother $ 5 m
222 :3U Miss ". A %avv> $ = '
22U :3U Mr. &. &. A Mrs. /. $ ) c
22: :3: Mrs. &. A /on $ m /
223 :3V 'ev. ,. $. ,. '. A ,. E. $ + '
22V :38 Mrs. +. AMr. -. +. $ m /
228 :3W Mrs. /. AMrs. -. '. /. $ = r
22W :3X .err von '. A -apt. von 1. $ ) -
227 :V; Miss L. 0. $. A +rien5 $ = '
22X :V; Miss0. &. AMr. M. $ a -
2U; :VU Mrs. F. A Mr. &. F. .. $ = '
2U2 :V: Mr. E. F. .. A +ather $ / +
2UU :VV Mrs. +. A Mr. +. $ w .
2U: :VV Mrs. +. A Mr. +. E. +. $ m /
2U3 :VW Miss -. ). A Mr. L. PrQ $ a -
2UV :V7 Mr. F. ,. AMrs. ,. $ / m
2U8 :VX Mrs. .. ". A -olonel +. $ a -
2UW :8U
Mrs. M.
MissV.
! Mrs. ).
$
$
= = r
2U7 :8: "riga5e /9rgeon ,. A Mother $ / m
2UX :83 'ev. -. -. ,. A Mr. ,. $ + '
2:; :8V Mrs. M. A Mr. ,. $ s "
2:2 :88 Mrs. .. A Mr. F. M. $ s *
2:U :88 Mrs. .. AMr. F. &. $ a -
2:: :8X Miss '. .. ". $ r
2:3 :W; Mrs. /. A Mr. .. $ s "
ii-W2;!
2:V :W: Miss 1. A Mr. F. *. M. 1. $ s "
2:8 :W3 Mrs. M. M. A MaDor 1. $ = '
2:W :WV Mrs. M. M. A +rien5 $ = r
2:7 :WV Mrs. &. A Miss ). $ a n
2:X :WW Miss /. /. 1. A ,. *. $ a -
23; :W7 Miss L. ). ,. A "rother $ s "
232 :7; Mrs. .. A /ister-in-law $ = r
23U :72 $r. #. A *enants $ ) -
23: :7: Mrs. M. A $r. .. $ n U
233 :7:
$r. ".
Mrs. /.
! A Mr. A
) $
$
+ '
s "
23V :78 Mrs.V. /. A /on $ m /
238 :XV Lor5 ". A &. V + '
23W :XW Mrs. 0. A Mr. E. 0. M m /
237 :XX $r. '. A &ran5mother M & g
23X 3;; Mr. ,. $. A Miss $. $ PrQ + 5
2V; 3;: Lor5 L. A "rother ) " "
2V2 3;3 Mrs. 1. A "rother ) s "
2VU 3;8 Mrs. '. A /on ) m /
2V: 3;W 'ev. ). F. A Mrs. M.F ) + r
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VOL.
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378 3V; Mrs. L. A M. *. V c c
37W 3V2 Mrs. .. A Mr. ). V s "
377 3VU Mr. ,. &. A Mr. &. V " "
37X 3V: Mrs. %. A -apt. %. V ) = '
3X; 3V3 La5> -. A Mr. F. $. V ) s *
ii-W27!
3X2 3VV Mrs. -. A Mr. '. V 5 +
3XU 3V8 Mrs. &. &. A -ol. /. V 5 +
3X: 3VW Mr. +. A Mr. +. +. V + /
3X3 3V7 *. 1. A Mrs. 1. V / m
3XV 3VX Mr. &. ,. A Mrs. ". V ) % a
2

3X8 3VX Mr. &. ,. A Miss M. AA ) + r
3XW 38; Mrs. +. A Mrs. AA ) s s
3X7 38; Miss E. ". A Mr. .. ). $. V ) = '
3XX 382 'ev. ,. ". L. A Mr. L. V / +
V;; 38U Mrs. AA A Mr. AA V w .
V;2 38: Mrs. ". A Miss &. ". V = r
V;U 383 Mrs. ,. A Mother an5 others V($() 5 m( s s( s s
V;: 38W Mrs. $. A Mr. AA V s "
V;3 387
Mons. M. A Mons. M.( Mme.
M.
* ) V / +( / m
V;V 38X Miss .. ,. A Ma9rice AA V a %
V;8 3W; Miss L. A Mr. AA ) s *
V;W 3W2 Mr. +. ). /. A Mrs. '. ) - c
V;7 3W: Mrs. .. A Mrs. AA * ) 5 m
V;X 3W: Mrs. /. A Mrs. &. ) V 5 m
V2; 3W3 'ev. /. M. A )rchbishop o= *. V ) + '
V22 3WV .err ). A +ra9 V % a
V2U 3WV Mrs. F. ". A Mr. '. M. V * = '
V2: 3W8 E. .. A F. /. an5 others ) V *( [c.
= '( s "(
s "( na( n U
V23 3WW Mrs. /. A Miss ). .. V = r
V2V 3WW Mrs. /. A Mrs. &. V s s
V28 3WX Miss E. -. A Mrs. - V 5 m
V2W 37; La5>'. A .on. F. V. V c -
V27 372
Mme. -. A Mons. '.
Mme. V. A Mons. &.
V )
)
= '
5 +
V2X 37U Mrs. +. A Mrs. M V ) s s
VU; 37U $r. -. A Mrs. - V ) / m
VU2 37: Mrs. -. A Mr. F. - V m/
VUU 37V 'ev. F. -. A Mrs. ". V ) + r
VU: 378 Mr. ". A Mr. V ) -
VU3 378 Miss /. A /ir L. /. V 5 +
VUV 377 Mrs. ". A Miss ". ". V m 5
VU8 377
-omman5er -. A F. +. F.
-omman5er -. A *.
V )
V )
+ '
+ '
VUW 3X; Mrs. .. A $. .. V )Pr $Q m /
VU7 3X2 Miss M. %. A Lie9t. E. M. %. ) V s "
VUX 3X2 Mrs. %. A F.%. V m /
V:; 3XU Mr. ,.F.A Mr. F V / +
V:2 3X: Mrs. AA A Mr. AA V a %
V:U 3X3 Mr. ,. A Mr. ,. V " "
V:: 3X3 Mr. F. M. A Mr. ). M V * + '
V:3 3XV Mr. -. A Miss -. V " s
V:V 3XV Mr. AA A +ather V / +
V:8 3XV /ervant A +arm La5s V a -
V:W 3X8 Lie9t. -. A Lie9t. L. V + '
V:7 3XW F. 1. A Mrs. 1. ) / m
V:X 3X7 .on. '. .. A Mr. L. ) V + '
V3; 3XX Mr. AA A Mr. ". ) V + '
V32 V;2 Mrs. AA A /on. I or V m /
ii-W2X!
V3U V;U Mrs. ). A 'ev. +. ) V m /
V3: V;U Mrs. O. A Mr. O V m /
V33 V;U /. /. A Mrs. +. V s t
V3V V;: Miss .. 1. A .on. F. 1. V 5 +
V38 V;3 Mr. ". A Mr. -. +. /. V + '
V3W V;V F. '. A Mons. &. V ) = '
V37 V;8 Mrs. ". A $r. AA I or V = '
V3X V;W *. A Mr. F. 1. V )-
VV; V;X Mr. F. ). -. A F. .. V + '
VV2 V2; +armer A -apt. ,. V ) -
VVU V22 Mrs. '. A Mr. AA V = '
VV: V22 Mrs. .. A P. V = '
VV3 V2U Mrs. .. A Mrs. AA V m 5
VVV V2: Mrs. 1. A Mother V 5 m
VV8 V2: Miss AA A Mrs. AA V 5 m
VVW V23 Miss M. -. A Mrs. /. V a c
VV7 V2V 'ev. ,. F. A $a9ghter PrQ V + 5
VVX V2V Mr. *. .. A Mrs. .. V / m
V8; V28 Mr. *. .. A Mr. E. .. V " "
V82 V28 'ev. .. ). .. A Mrs. ". V + r
V2W 'ev. .. ). .. A Mr. '. V + '
V8U V2X ,. /. A -apt. /. V / +
V8: VU; F. ". A +ather V 5 +
V83 VU; Mrs. 1. A Mrs. AA V = r
V8V VU; &. A +ather V 5 +
V88 VU2 Mrs. M. A &. V c -
V8W VUU Mrs. ). A Mrs. ,. V 5 m
V87 VUU Mr. V. *. E. A Mrs. E. ? / m
V8X VU: ). A Mr. ). F ) * V + '
VW; VU3 M. V. A -apt. 5e L. V = '
VW2
VUV
VU8
Mr. .. ,. A Mrs. ,.
Mr. .. ,. A Mrs. ,.
V
E
/ m
/ m
VWU VU8 Miss .. -. A Mr. AA V = '
VW: VUW Mrs. ". A Mr. .. V a -
VW3 VU7 Mr. F. .. F. A Mr. AA V + '
VWV VUX Mrs. ,. A Mrs. AA V 5 m
VW8 VUX Mrs. -. A Mrs. AAPrQ V a c
VWW V:; $r. -. M. A Mr. M. V ) -
VW7 V:2 Lor5 $. A Mrs. 1. -. V + 5
VWX V:U Mrs. AA A Mrs. AA V 5 m
V7; V:: Lie9t. ,. -. ". A Mrs. " V / m
V72 V:: Miss F. -. A .. -. V s "
V7U V:3 -ol. -. A ,. -. or F. -. V ) -
V7: V:8 Mrs. M. A -apt. 1. V = '
V73 V:W &eneral M. A La9n5ress V ) c
V7V V:7 Mr. .. A $r. &. V + '
V78 V:7 Mrs. +. A &eneral +. V w .
V7W V:X Mr. F. $. A Mrs. +. V " s
V77 V3; Mrs. '. A Mr. $. V = '
V7X V32 Mr. &. A Miss '. V )c
VX; V3U Mr. AA A Mrs. AA V / m
VX2 V3: "ishop E. A Mr. -. V + '
VXU V3: 'ev. &. A Lor5 0. V + '
VX: V33 Mrs. 5e /. A /ister V s s
VX3 V3V Mr. AA A Mrs. AA V . w
VXV V3V -hil5 A +ra9 AA V / m
VX8 V38 Mrs. ,. A &. ,. V m /
ii-WU;!
VXW V3W F. AA A F. M. V + '
VX7 V3W MaDor .. A -apt. .. V " "
VXX V37 Miss M. A /ir F. #. V = '
8;; V3X O==icer A Lie9t. &. V ) -
8;2 VV; Mr. M. A .. M. V + /
8;U VV; Mrs. 1. A Mr. AA V 5 +
8;: VV2 Mr. ). A F. ) V + /
8;3 VVU Mr. F. ,. A Mrs. ,. V . w
8;V VV: &eneral 0. A Mrs. 0. V . w
8;8 VV: Mr. F. /. A Mrs. /. V . w
8;W VVV -hil5 A O==icer V 5 +
8;7 VV8 Mate A "rother V " "
8;X VV8 Mr. +. L. M. A Mr. /. V - -
82; VVW Maori A "rother V " "
822 VV7 Mrs. &. A /on V m /
82U VV7 Mrs. ). A Mrs. &. V a c
82: V82 Mr. M. 1. /. A Mr. /. ) + /
823 V8U Mrs. '. A &. '. ) m /
82V V8: .err $. A Mr. &. /. ) + '
828 V83 Miss ". A $r. .. ) a -
82W V83 'ev. -. -. +. A Mrs. +. ) / m
827 V8V Miss /. A Mrs. AA ) = r
82X V88 Mrs. M. A /ister an5 mother ) ss( ss( 5m
8U; V8W 'ev. F. ,. A 'ev. *. -. E. ) + '
8U2 V87 Mrs. M. A Mr. AA ) s "
8UU VW; Mrs. M. A *om AA ) = '
8U: VW; Mrs. M. A ,. M ) m /
8U3 VWU Miss -. A Mr. F. ) = '
8UV
VW:
VW:
Miss .. A %ephew
Miss .. A %ephew
)
)
a %
a %
8U8 VW3 Mr. -. A Mr. -. * / +
8UW VW3 BMaster o= MarinesC A +ather * / +
8U7 VWV Mrs. ,. A Mrs. $e M. V * s s
8UX VW8 Miss /. ,. A Mr. ,. * = '
8:; VW8 Mr. +. -. A Mrs. -. / . w
8:2 VW7 -olonel M. *. A Miss AA V ) + r
8:U VWX -apt. AA A Mme. AA V ) . w
8:: V7; Miss AA A Lie9t. ". V ) = '
8:3 V72 -hil5 A Mother V ) 5 m
8:V V7U M. AA A Mrs. AA ) V 5 m
8:8 V7: Mme. E. A Mons. E. ) V m /
8:W V7: Miss /. 1. A Mrs. ,. V ) s s
8:7 V73 -olonel *. A Mr. F. *. ) V " "
8:X V7V Mrs. ,. A Mr. ,. ) V w .
83; V78 Mrs. E. A ,. E. V ) w .
832 VX; Miss AA A 'ev. AA I or V. I = '
83U VX2 Mr. AA A Miss L. ). ,. $. $ / t
83: VX: Mrs. ). ,. A MaDor +. M. M. $. $ s *
833 VXV Mrs. ,. A Mr. ,. $. V * w .
83V VXW
Miss AA
Miss E.
! A Mrs. *.
V
V
! $ s s s
838 VX7
Mrs. M. A
Mrs. AA
! A Mrs. AA
)
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n a
s s
83W 8;;
La5> &.
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! A Mrs. AA
E
E
5 5 m
837 8;;
Miss /.
Mrs. 1.
! A Mr. F. 1.
$
$
c -
m /
ii-WU2!
83X 8;U
Mrs. 1.
Mrs. -.
! A Mrs. AA
*
*
5 m
5 m
8V; 8;:
Mrs. ..
%9rse
Miss E. ..
! A Mrs. M.
V
V
V
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a c
a c
8V2 8;3
Mr. /.
,. ".
! A Mr. *. /.
V
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+ /
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8VU 8;V
-. +.
%9rse
Mrs. '.
-apt. '.
! A -apt. +.
I
V
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a -
= '
+ '
8V: 8;8
Miss /. AA
Miss F. AA
! A Mrs. AA
V )
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s s
s s
8V3 8;W
Miss '.
/ervant
! A Mr. AA
V
V
a %
s *
8VV 8;X
Miss /.
Miss M. /.
! A Mrs. /.
V
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5 m
5 m
8V8 82;
Mrs. /.
Miss +.
! A Mrs. F. /.
V
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a -
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8VW 82;
Mrs. '.
Mrs. AA
! A Mr. AA
) V
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5 + PrQ
8V7 822
Miss E. AA
Miss .. AA
! A M. /.
V
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= r
= r
8VX 82U
.err -.
+r9lein -.
! A .err F. .. -.
$ V
V
" "
s "
88; 82:
Mr. '.
Mr. F. -. '.
! A a la5>
V
V
)c
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882 82:
Miss AA
-olonel ,.
an5 others
! A -apt. AA
V
V
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= '
+ '
+ + = '
88U 82V
Mrs. AA
Mar> AA
Fohn AA
! A Ellen AA
V
V
V
m 5
s s
" s
88: 828
Mr. -.
Mrs. -.
an5 U -hil5ren
! A Mrs. -.
V
V
V
/ m
= r
& & g
883 82W
Miss ,.
Miss A ,.
! A Mr. ,.
V
V
5 5 +
88V 82W
)5miral -.
Mr. &. ". -.
! A Mr. -.
V
V
/ / +
888 82X
Miss ). /.
Miss E. +.
1age
! A Miss /.
V
V
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s t
s t
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88W 8UU Mr. *. /.
Mrs. AA
V
V
+ '
w .
/ +
= '
887 8U: *wo La5ies
2
A $r. ". V r
Mrs. ".
Miss. ".
! A Mrs. -.
V
V
= =
88X 8UV
Miss ).
Miss ".
! A Mr. &. ..
V
V
= = '
8W; 8U8 U servants A Miss L. V a a c
8W2 8UW
Mrs. ". an5
: others
! A Miss ,. V + = = = r
ii-WUU!
8WU 8U7
'ev. AA
Mrs. AA
! A Mrs ". PrQ
V
V
" s
= r
8W: 8UX
Miss E. ".
Miss /. ".
! A Miss -. ". PrQ V s s s
8W3 8:2
Mrs. +.
an5 others
! A Miss +.
)
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m 5
s s
8WV 8:U
Mrs. #.
-apt. ).
! A Mr. ).
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5 +
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8W8 8::
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an5 others
! A Mr. AA
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s s * PrQ
8WW 8:3
Mr. .. .. E.
Mr. E.
! Ar
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8W7 8:V
Mr. M. 1. /.
Mrs. /.
! A -hil5
)
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8WX 8:V
Mrs. AA
an5 others
! A Mr. AA
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87; 8:8
Mr. -. .. 0.
Mr. 0.
Mrs. 0.
! A Mr. 0.
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+ /
m /
872 8:8
Mr. .. -. ..
Miss /.
! A Mrs. /.
)
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a n
87U 8:8
Mr. ,. ..
Mrs. ..
! A Mr. '. AA
)
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a % PrQ
87: 8:7
Mrs. ,.
Mr. ,.
! A Mr...
)
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= '
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873 8:X
Mr. L.
an5 others
! A Mrs. L. PrQ
)
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+ = = = = r
-)/E/ I% *.E )$$I*IO%)L -.)1*E'.
%O. 1)&E. 1E'-I1IE%* )%$ )&E%*. %)*U'E O+ 'EL)*IO%/.I1 O+ 1. *O
VOL. II. IM1'E//IO% ).
87V 8W2
Miss AA A Mr. ). .. ,.
-.
V. V = '
878 8WV +ra9lein .. A Mrs. '. V s s
87W 8W8 &. A Mr. E. M. -. M. I + '
877 8WX Mme. ". A Mons. &. .>pnotic sleep( [c. a -
87X 87: Mme. $. A Mons. F. .. .>pnotic sleep( [c. a -
8X; 87V Mlle. F. A $r. $. .>pnotic sleep( [c. a -
87X 87: Mme. $. A Mons. F. .. .>pnotic sleep( [c. a -
8X2 87W Mr. L. A Mrs. L. I . w
8XU 877 Mr. &. AMr. E. *. '. I + '
8X: 8X; Mrs. E. AMme. .. ) = r
8X3 8XU Mr. F. &. +. '. A Miss #. ) + r
8XV 8X: Mrs. *. AMr. ,. *. V m /
8X8 8X3 'ev. '. M. .. A Uncle P)rQ V % U
8XW 8XV Mrs. ". A Mr. J. V a -
8X7 8X8 E. ". A -. "r. V ) = '
8XX 8XX
$r. ). ".
F. ..
! A E
V
V
) ) -
W;; W;; Mr. F. M. +. A Mrs. +. $ . w
W;2 W;U Mr. .. E. M. A Miss '. $( V + r
W;U W;: Mr. M. /. &. A Mrs. AA $ V ) + r
ii-WU:!
)n anal>sis o= the above table shows that o= 77U
2
percipients( :W;( or 3U per cent.( were
males( an5 V2U( or V7 per cent.( =emales. O= W;7
2
agents( 337( or 8:{: per cent.( were
males( an5 U8;( or :8{W per cent.( =emales. *he prepon5erance o= =emale percipients
cannot be ass9me5 to in5icate an> s9perior s9sceptibilit> in that se? to telepathic
impressions Psee above( p. :( last sentence o= =irst noteQ. *he prepon5erance o= male
agents is probabl> to be acco9nte5 =or b> the =act that men are more liable than women to
acci5ents an5 to violent 5eaths( an5 that a larger proportion o= them 5ie at a 5istance =rom
their nearest relatives an5 =rien5s.
)nal>sing the res9lts o= col9mn V( we =in5 that( o9t o= 7:; cases( the agent stoo5 to the
percipient in the relation o=
1arent or chil5 in 2X: cases( or U:{: per cent.
"rother or sister in 2UU cases( or 23{W per cent.
.9sban5 or wi=e in VU cases( or 8{: per cent.
-o9sin( 9ncle( [c. WV cases( or X{; per cent.
+rien5 in U8: cases( or :2{W per cent.
)cE9aintance in 7X cases( or 2;{W per cent.
/tranger in :8 cases( or 3{: per cent.
It will be seen that onl> in 3W per cent. o= the cases is an> bloo5-relationship known to
have e?iste5 between the parties@ an5 since in man> cases the relatives o= the percipient
will have nat9rall> belonge5 also to the circle o= his intimate =rien5s( it seems reasonable
to concl95e that consang9init>( as s9ch( has little i= an> pre5isposing in=l9ence in the
transmission o= telepathic impressions. It ma> be s9ggeste5 that the comparative
in=reE9enc> o= s9ch transmissions between h9sban5s an5 wives is probabl> 59e to the
=act that it is commoner =or marrie5 persons than =or bloo5-relations to be together( when
one o= the two 5ies.
It is noteworth> that( o9t o= :8 cases in which the agent was a stranger to the percipient(
no less than 2V are collective cases in which an intimate =rien5 o= the agent was one o=
the co-percipients( an5 ma> be hel5 to have constit9te5 the link between the agent an5 the
stranger percipient. On the other han5( it is possible that the e?amples that have been
given o= telepathic a==ection b> strangers show somewhat less than the tr9e proportion@ as
there ma> be cases belonging to this categor> which =or evi5ential p9rposes m9st be
5ismisse5( the =act o= coinci5ence( which alone co9l5 5isting9ish them =rom p9rel>
s9bDective hall9cinations( having been 9ns9specte5 an5 9nknown.
ii-WU3! ii-WUV!
("/&0.
%.". +or man> topics( the />nopsis at the beginning o= each vol9me =orms Pwith the cl9e
which the titles o= the -hapters a==or5Q a rea5> means o= re=erence@ an5 these are( =or the
most part( not incl95e5 in the present In5e?.
*he page-n9mbers o= the second vol9me are printe5 in italics.
)"E'-'OM"IE( $'.( -ase 5escribe5 b>( o= hall9cinations vol9ntaril> originate5 l???i
)=ter-images 37XTX2( V;U( V;V
)genc>( telepathic( Vario9s con5itions o=( in spontaneo9s cases UUX
)non>mo9s testimon>( ,orthlessness o= 28WTX
)n?iet>( E==ect o=( in pro59cing hall9cinations V;8TX
B)rrival -asesC UV2T3( V2WT7( M$^1NN, K$B^4, LKN^B, L##^M, $BK^O
)95itor> hall9cinations( $i==erent proportion o= to vis9al( in the p9rel> s9bDective an5 in
the telepathic class BB^K
%9merical estimate relating to( in the two classes 1B^$
o= an internal sort 37;TU( 11M^BN
non-verbal an5 r95imentar> UUUTV( 3;:TV( V;UT:( 1BL^KB, L$#^O4
59e to an?iet> V;XT2;
59e to e?pectanc> V23
)9tomatic actions telepathicall> pro59ce5 P/ee Unconscio9s percipienceQ
)we( E==ect o=( in pro59cing hall9cinations V2;TU
")ILL)'&E'( $'.( on Bps>cho-sensorialC hall9cinations 382TU
$e=ects o= his view 38VT8
"all( 1ro=.( on vario9s points connecte5 with hall9cinations 38W( 3W;( 3WXT7;
-ase recor5e5 b> 3W8
"arrett( 1ro=. ,. +.( 1aper o=( rea5 be=ore the "ritish )ssociation in 27W8 2:
E?periments o=( in tho9ght-trans=erence U;TX( VXT82
"ernheim( $r.( E?periments o=( in h>pnotic hall9cinations 38XTW;( 3WU
"ell-so9n5s( .all9cinations o= V;UT:( 1BO^M, BKK^L
"inet( ).( on certain h>pnotic hall9cinations 387TW;
"ins=el5( Tractatus de !ortilegiis 2WV( 27:
"loo5( a prominent =eat9re in the telepathic percept :W:( K4, 4NK, 4KN, 4KK, 4#1
"o5in( D4(ono(anie 2W:( 2WW( 27;( 27U( 3W7
ii-WU8!
"og9et( Discours des !orciers 2W7( 27;( 27:
"oismont( $r. "rierre 5e( /p9rio9s cases o= collective hall9cination recor5e5 b> 1#$^O
B"or5erlan5C hall9cinations( Vario9s sorts o= :7XTXU
Importance o= 5isting9ishing =rom 5reams :X:TW
"rewster4s view o= vis9al hall9cinations 38V
"ro9gham( Lor5( 'emarks o=( on his own e?perience :X8TW
-)'$)%( De ?arietate =eru( 3WX( VVV
-ar5s an5 other obDects( E?perimental trans=erences o= i5eas o= U2TX( :2TV( :W( $$1^4
-asa9bon( MHric( 8f Credulit, and :ncredulit, 273
-as9al e?periments 72T7V( $LL^O, $$L
-ens9s o= 5reams o= 5eath :;:T2;
o= sensor> hall9cinations $^B4
-entri=9gal origin o= hall9cinations( strongl> s9pporte5 b> telepathic e?amples VW;T2
-evennes( /p9rio9s marvels in the l??ivTv
-hambers( $r. *. 0ing( -ase o= sim9ltaneo9s hall9cinations recor5e5 b> 1M#^M
-hance( how =ar an e?planation o= the =acts a559ce5 P/ee 1robabilitiesQ
-harcot( $r.( +orm o= 9nilateral hall9cination recor5e5 b> 3W2TU
-hil5ren( 1ercipience o=( PBcollectiveC cases not incl95e5Q U3V( U38( BKL, B4#^M, 4BK,
L1M, LLL, L#1
-hilto==( $r. ). M.( E?periment o=( in tho9ght-trans=erence $$L
-lairvo>ance U88TW( VVVT8( B#$^O
$i==erence between telepathic an5 in5epen5ent :87TX( $$M
*elepathic( in reciprocal cases 1$1^B, B#M, KNK^1N
In5epen5ent( o=ten ass9me5 witho9t an> s9==icient warrant KBM^KN, KKL
'elation o= to collective cases B$M, B#M^MN
allege5 o= /we5enborg ?lviii
-lo95> or mist> appearance o= vis9al phantasms VU2( VU8( VUW( VVW( ..ii, 1#B, 4LN, 4#1,
L1K
-oinci5ences( apt to be regar5e5 as either acci5ental or s9pernat9ral :XW( 4$1^B
signi=icant in virt9e o= fre2uenc,, not o= oddness B
*en5enc> to e?aggerate the closeness o= l??vTvii( 233TV( 2V8TW
-ol5( /ensation o=( at the time o= a telepathic a==ection U2;( VUW( KO, 1BB, 1LN, 1#N, B4M,
LNN
-ollectivit> o= percipience( in what sense a proo= o= obDectivit> in the percept 1$#^ON,
1MN^B
-oll9sion( .>pothesis o=( in e?periments in tho9ght-trans=erence 27TU;
%ecessit> o=( i= e?periments in tho9ght-trans=erence are to be e?plaine5 as tricks UUT:
-omm9nit> o= sensation( =irst notice5 in connection with the h>pnotic state 22
shown in e?periments in the trans=erence o= tastes an5 o= pains V2T7( KB4^K1, KKM, K44,
$$$^#
-ompact( previo9s( between agent an5 percipient( 1ossibl> YsicZ e==ect o= $$
Instances o= :XV( 32X( 3UW( VUW( $K, 4OO, 4#M, 4MO
ii-WUW!
-ontact( the essential con5ition =or m9sc9lar g9i5ance( all possibilit> o= which m9st be
precl95e5 in e?periments in tho9ght-trans=erence 2WT7
-ontact( )llege5 e==ect o=( in certain cases o= hall9cination 1#M, KLM
-ontemporar> evi5ence( Importance o= 2:( BO4
-otta( The :nfallible, True and )ssured "itch 2U;( 27U
-reer> =amil>( E?periments with the U;T:2
$)&O%E*( $'.( ;es 'aladies 'entales 3W8( 37;( 373
$4)9t9n( ;:ncr4dulit4 !cavante 27;( 273
$ea5( 1hantasms o= the( how connecte5 with the present inE9ir> 1MN^B, B14
Evi5ence =or( inconcl9sive V2U
$eath-cases( Large proportion o= :;:( BL^$
$e=erment or latenc> o= telepathic impressions V8( W;T2( U;2TU( U8V( V2X
$e l4)ncre( Tableau de l:nconstance des (auvais )nges et D4(ons 22W( 2W:
$el 'io( Dis2uisitiones 'agic+ 2WX( 27;( 272( 27U
$essoir( Ma?( E?periments o=( in tho9ght-trans=erence $4B^LK
$evelopment o= hall9cinations( &ra59al( in the p9rel> s9bDective class VU;TU
in the telepathic class VUUT:3
$iagrams( E?periments in the repro59ction o= :VTV2( $4B^LK
$isappearance o= vis9al phantasms( &ra59al( a =eat9re common to p9rel> s9bDective an5
to telepathic specimens VW:( MO
Instances o= 333( 338( 3V3( VU2( VUW( VVU( M$, 1O$, 1#B, B14, B4$, 4LK, 4$O, LNK, L1B,
LBB, $B#, $BM
/pecial mo5es o= 3:U( VVX( VW:( BKM, $NL
on s955en speech or movement( a =eat9re common to p9rel> s9bDective an5 to telepathic
specimens VW:( M1
Instances o= U;W( 323( 32W( 3:8( V:;( V3U( V83( $N, M1, 4L1, 4$1, 4$4, 4M1, LNN, $1$
$oor opening or sh9tting( .all9cination o= U23( 3V3( V:U( 4LM, 4MB, 4MO, L4K, $1B, $B$,
$KK, $M4, $MO
B$o9ble -onscio9snessC 8XTW;
$reams( 'elation o=( to waking hall9cinations UX8TW( 373TV( V:X( V3W
Evi5ential weakness o=( as a class UX7TX
o= 5eath( -ens9s an5 comp9tation relating to :;:T2;
$ress an5 app9rtenances o= vis9al phantasms V3;T8( V8XTW;( MN^$, BM4^O
$rowning-cases( Large proportion o= B$
E$&E,O'*.( +. #.( his remarks on the application o= the theor> o= probabilities to certain
e?perimental res9lts U8
an5 to certain spontaneo9s res9lts ..i
Emotional impressions( Evi5ential weakness o=( as a class U8XTW;
Error( 1ossibilit> an5 e==ects o=( in observation 2U:TV
in in=erence 2UVT8
in narration 2U8TX
in memor> 2UXT:2
Es5aile( $r.( Importance o= his testimon> 2UT:( 77
Evi5ence( e?perimental( %ecessit> o= acc9m9lating 2X( BO4
$i==erence in the nat9re o=( in e?perimental an5 in spontaneo9s cases 223TV
ii-WU7!
Evi5ence( =or telepath>( contraste5 with that =or other allege5 marvels 22VTUU
=or phantasms o= the living( contraste5 with that =or phantasms o= the 5ea5 l?iiiTiv( 2U2T
U(V2U
1oints o=( reE9ire5 in a t>pical case o= spontaneo9s telepath> 2:2
o= the percipient as to =acts 2::T7
as to 5ates 23;T8
$escription o= the( a5mitte5 to this book: its c9m9lative strength 2V7T88
its 5e=iciencies 28WTX
E?pectanc>( E==ect o=( in pro59cing hall9cinations V2UTW
E?perimental an5 spontaneo9s telepath>( -onnection between 22;T:( 2W2TU( BO1
E?periments P/ee 9n5er vario9s hea5ingsA-omm9nit> o= sensation( -ar5s( $iagrams(
[c.Q
E?ternalisation o= hall9cinations( Vario9s 5egrees in the 37;T:( BM^K#
B+)-E/ I% *.E $)'0C 3W:( 3WX( 3XU
+alck( De D+(onologi0 recentioru( )utoru( 38U( 1$#
+echner( E?periment o=( in hall9cination o= colo9r 38UT:
+HrH( $r.( E?periments o=( in certain cases o= h>pnotic hall9cination 387
<olie 3 deu. 3V7( B#N
+ragmentar> appearances 328( V;3( ..v, KK^4, LM, L1B, LB$
&)L*O%( +.( on the s>mpath> o= twins UWX
&i==or5( &.( Dialogue concerning "itches 2W8
Discourse of !ubtill *ractices 2WX
&lanvil( !adducis(us Triu(phatus 227( 2W3( 2W7T72( 273
&o5elmann( Tractatus de 'agiis 2WV( 2WX
&riesinger( Die *athologic und Therapie der *s,chischen Iran1heiten 382( 38W( 3WW(
3X3
&9thrie( M.( E?periments organise5 b> :8TV7
.)LLU-I%)*IO%/ O+ *.E /E%/E/
-ens9s o= $^B4, 1KK^4
1roportion o= vario9s t>pes o=( in the s9bDective an5 the telepathic classes BB^L
1s>chological i5entit> o= with 5reams 373TV( V:X( V3W( ONB
'esemblances between s9bDective an5 telepathic specimens o= 3X8TV;;( VWUT:( ??ii
how =ar trans=erable =rom one person to another 1#K, BB4^L, BOM^#B
Epi5emic 1#O
.>pnotic 1#O^#
*ra5itional 1#M
B1artic9lar(C i.e.( 9nshare5 b> persons present with the percipient( =reE9ent in the
telepathic class VW:( 1NL
Vis9al instances o= U2;( U27( VVU( V8;( 4B, 4K, $1, 1$K, B1B, B#O, BL$, 4LL, 4#4, 4ML,
L1K, L1O, LBB, L4B, LLL, LLO
)95itor> instances o= UU:( 3VU( 1NN, 1N4, 1N$, 1NM, BBB, 4#L, L$#, L$M, L#N, L#1, L#4
.artmann( E. von.( on !piritis( 1#4
ii-WUX!
.ere5itar> or =amil> s9sceptibilit> to telepathic in=l9ence VW:( 1KB
.erschell YsicZ( /ir F. +. ,.( E?perience o=( in hall9cinations 38V( 3WU( 37W
.ollan5( ) Treatise against "itchcraft 2WV( 2WX
.ollan5( /ir ..( -ases o= hall9cination recor5e5 b> 3WX( 372
.9tchinson( +.( 9istorical >ssa, concerning "itchcraft 2W3( 2WV( 2W8( 2WW( 27;( 273
.>pnotic e==ects( *elepathic pro59ction o= 77TX2( KKB^K, K44, $O$^#O
.>pnotism( Importance o=( in ps>chical inE9iries ?liiTiii
I$E)/( E?perimental trans=erence o=( involving more than a single image or wor5 7U( X3T
V( K4N^K, K4L^#
Illness( 1ossible e==ect o=( in heightening telepathic s9sceptibilit> :8;( :XW( 3U3( 14O,
1$B, 1$4, 1O$, K4L^LK, KL#, KMN, 4$4^L, L1L, ONK
Ill9sions( -ollective( 5isting9ishe5 =rom hall9cinations 1#4^$
B.>pnagogicC :X;( 3;;T2( 3W:T3
*elepathic( E9ite conceivable $B^K
Imager> an5 s>mbolism o= telepathic percepts :32T87( V:XTV3( BM#^M, 41B^BO, 4MO,
$1B^K
Inhibition o= 9tterance or o= partic9lar movements in another person( b> the power o= the
will V7T8U
FOLL#( 1'O+. +.( E?periments o=( in a95itor> hall9cinations 3W;T2
0).L")UM( *>pes o= hall9cination observe5 b> 3WU( 3W8( 3X;( 3X2( 3XV
0an5insk>( View o=( on hall9cinations 3X3
0ppe( on a95itor> hall9cinations 38W( 3W2( 3WV( 37;( 3XV
0raepelin( Seber Trug-ahrneh(ungen 3X;( 3XV
0ra==t-Ebing( Die !innesdelirien 38W( 3W8( 37W( V;U
L)%&( ).( on pop9lar s9perstitions 2UU( VV;
Lawson( $.( Tr,als of the Ne- >ngland "itches 3WW( V;7
Leck>( ,. E. ..( on witchcra=t 2WWTX( 27:TV
LiHbea9lt( $r.( E?periments o=( in tho9ght-trans=erence $LO^$N
Light P/ee L9minosit>Q
Limitation( )rbitrar>( o= the interval o= time in spontaneo9s telepathic cases to 2U ho9rs
2:XT3;( V22
Localit>( Occasional in=l9ence o= B$#, KN1^B
Lo959n( .>sterical epi5emic at 22X
Lowell( F. '9ssell( +eat9res o= s9bDective hall9cination 5escribe5 b> ..ii
L9minosit>( a =reE9ent =eat9re o= vis9al hall9cinations( both in the s9bDective an5 in the
telepathic class VV;T2
E?amples o= 32W( 3:8( 3:W( 333( VV;( VVW( V82( K1, 4$, OB, O$, 1O$, 1#1, 1#B, BN4, B1L,
41$, 4LL, 4LM, 4$N, 4OL, 4OO, 4O#, LNM, L1B, LBB, $11, $BB, $BM, ONK^4
L>all( /ir ). -.( )siatic !tudies 27:
M)#O( $'.( Truths contained in *opular !uperstitions 7
Mc&raw( $r.( Observations o=( on some rare =eat9res in the Bwilling-gameC 2V
ii-W:;!
Macken]ie( /ir &.( The ;a-s and Custo(s of !cotland 2WW( 27:
Magnan( $r.( 'ecor5 o= 5ramatic hall9cinations b> 3WWT7
'alleus 'aleficaru( 228( 227( 2W:
Marillier( L.( 'ecor5 o= s9bDective hall9cinations b> VU2( KB, OK, MM
Marshall( 1ro=. ).( on probabilities ..ii
Mather( "onders of the :nvisible "orld 272( 273( 3WW
Ma95sle>( $r.( on certain alcoholic hall9cinations :X;
Ma9r>( 'ecor5 o= an illusion h,pnagogi2ue b> :X;
Ma]]ini( -ase o= collective hall9cination 5escribe5 b> 1##
Mesmerism( Earl> connection o= tho9ght-trans=erence with 22T:
Erroneo9s i5eas o= the power o= P/ee .>pnotic e==ectsQ 7W( XUT:
Mickle( $r. ,. F.( on the cerebral seat o= hall9cinations 377TX
Misrecognition on the percipient4s part 3U7( 3UX( KMN, 4BB^K, L#B^K, $KK^4
Mistakes o= i5entit>( how =ar an e?planation o= allege5 telepathic phantasms 8UT:( B4K^4
More( &r.( ) True Discourse against !. 9arsnet 22X( 272( 27U
Motor-=orm o= tho9ght-trans=erence( E?periments in the 8UT72( 7XTX3
Movement( a =reE9ent =eat9re o= vis9al phantasms( both o= the p9rel> s9bDective an5 o=
the telepathic class 3:U( VW:
M9sical hall9cinations V;:( BB1^K, $KM^41
%E,%.)M( 'EV. 1. ..( 'ecor5 o= e?periments b> 8:TW;
/9bDective hall9cinations 5escribe5 b> 3WV( 372( 3XU( OB
%icolai4s hall9cinations 3V7TX( 3XU
%9mbers( E?perimental trans=erence o= i5eas o= UV( :3( $LK^4, $$1^4
O-.O'O,I-J( $'. F.( E?periments o=( in tho9ght-trans=erence $$N^4
1)I%( E?perimental trans=erences o= P/ee -omm9nit> o= sensationQ
/pontaneo9s trans=erences o=( rare 27XTX;
1arant( $r. #.( -ases o= hall9cination recor5e5 b> 3W8( 3X;
1aterson( -ases o= hall9cination recor5e5 b> 3W3( K#, 1KK
1a9l( -. 0egan( E?periments o=( in comm9nit> o= sensation( [c. $$$^M
1ercipience( telepathic( Vario9s t>pes o=( in spontaneo9s cases 278TW
1h>sical basis =or telepathic phenomena ver> har5 to conceive 222T2:( K14^L
5iscom=ort on the percipient4s part 2XW( UW:( U7;( KO1, KO4
1ick( $r. ).( 'ecor5s o= hall9cinations b> 3WU( 37W
1itcairn( Cri(inal Trials of !cotland 2W8( 2WW
1ollock( ,. ..( -ase o= collective ill9sion recor5e5 b> 1#L
1orta( F. "aptista( 'agia Naturalis 2WV
1re5iction( 1ower o=( how =ar a test o= scienti=ic achievement 2T3
1resence( )llege5 =eeling o=( act9al or potential hall9cination 37:T3( VU7( 1K#
1robabilities( *heor> o=( applie5 to e?periments in tho9ght-trans=erence U8( :2TV( W:T8(
$LK^4
applie5 to spontaneo9s telepathic occ9rrences :;:T2;( 1B^B1
ii-W:2!
1s>chical aspect o= telepathic phenomena( that to which this work is con=ine5 22:
/pecialise5 meaning o= the term V
'esearch( its pec9liar 5i==ic9lties an5 obligations 3T8( 2:;( 2;WTX( $^#, BOK
/ociet> =or viiT?
)merican /ociet> =or :V( V2
*s,chologie *h,siologi2ue, !oci4t4 de KKB^K, $OM
B1s>cho-sensorialC hall9cinations 382T3
-ommon mis9n5erstan5ing o= the term 3WX
')11( Die 9e.enprocesse 2W8
=apport, $i==erent sorts o= B$L^M
'eciprocal telepathic a==ections UUW( 1LK
o=ten ass9me5 on E9ite ina5eE9ate gro9n5s 1L4
)pparent rarit> o=( how e?plicable 1$O, KNK
'ecognise5 phantasms( $i==erent proportion o= to 9nrecognise5( in the p9rel> s9bDective
an5 in the telepathic class B4^L
'ecognition( )bsence o=( generall> b9t not alwa>s an evi5ential 5e=ect UU;( 11O, 1KO,
L$L
o= a phantasm sometimes 5ela>e5 VU;TW( O1, #B, 4$4
'egis( $r.( on 9nilateral hall9cinations 38W
'eligio9s investit9re o= telepathic impressions VVUT:( 414
'emarks( Interchange o=( with hall9cinator> =ig9re 3W8( 4$N, LNL, LB4, L#4, $NO
'em>( D+(onolatria 2WV( 27;( 272( 27U
'epeate5 apparition o= the same person OO^MN
occ9rrence o= a telepathic e?perience to the same person 2X8( BB, OO
'epetition o= telepathic 5reams a=ter an interval :VWT7
Instances o= ::;( :3;( :3:( :VW( :8V( 41#, 4B4, 44O, ON1
o= telepathic hall9cinations a=ter an interval 323TV( 1NL
Vis9al instances o= 323( 32V( 33V( LM, 4$O, 4#B, LNN
)95itor> instances o= 3;X( 1NN, 11K, 1BN, 1BK, BB#, BBM, 4OK, $K1, $KK^4, $KL
'e9ss( ;a !orcellerie an 1$(e et 1O(e !iWcle 2W8( 27:
'ichet( $r. -( his e?periments in tho9ght-trans=erence :2T:( WUT72( $$4^L
;9o((e et l:ntelligence 227( 2W:( 38U
'ink( Tales and Traditions of the >s1i(o VV;
'95imentar> hall9cinations( vis9al OK^$
a95itor> 1BL^KB, LON^$, $KL^M
'9mo9r( 1ossible telepathic sprea5 o= K$L
/*. MK$)'$( *he Convulsionnaires o= 2U;
/cot( '.( The Discover, of "itchcraft 2WV
/econ5-han5 evi5ence( $e=ects an5 errors o= l??vii( 237TVW( 4M$, LKM
/ort o=( a5mitte5 to the /9pplement KBB
B/econ5 sight(C 'emarks on LKL
ii-W:U!
/ensation( -omm9nit> o= Psee -omm9nit>Q
*elepathic pro59ction o= b> will XWT2;X( $O1^$
/ensor> an5 non-sensor> telepathic e==ects 5isting9ishe5 278TW
/i5gwick( 1ro=.( on the moral =actor in e?periments 2XTU;
/ikes( ,irt( British 7oblins l???( V3W
/imon( $r. Ma?( on a pec9liar t>pe o= hall9cination 372
/oli5it>( apparent( 1resence or absence o=( in vis9al hall9cinations KO^#
/pee( Cautio Cri(inalis 2W8
/pina( Hu+stio de !trigibus 2W3( 2WV
/9ll>( F.( on a partic9lar t>pe o= hall9cination 3WW
/9pernormal an5 s9persens9o9s( Meaning to be attache5 to the wor5s ?lvi( W
/9pplement( 1osition o= the( in the evi5ential case =or telepath> KB1^K
*)-*ILE cases( har5 to establish UUV
hall9cinations( 'arit> o= 1KK^4
*aine( his special 9se o= the wor5 hallucination 3VX
*amb9rini( on the ph>siolog> o= hall9cinations 37W
*artarotti( Del Congresso Nocturno delle ;a(ie 2WVT8
*aste( E?perimental trans=erences o= Psee -omm9nit> o= /ensationQ
*elepath>( *wo 5istinct branches o=Athe e?perimental an5 the spontaneo9s 7TX
Important 5i==erences between them( evi5entiall>( an5 theoreticall> 22;T:( 223TV
their tr9e theoretic connection 2W2TU
/pontaneo9s( two great 5ivisions o=Athe sensor, an5 the non6sensor, classAwhich are
=9rther s9b5ivi5e5 278TW
'elation o=( to religio9s an5 to materialistic conceptions lTlvii
*heosoph>( so-calle5( E?pos9re o= ?lvii
B*ho9ght-rea5ing(C /p9rio9s e?hibitions o= 23TV( 2W
*ho9ght-trans=erence( a pre=erable term to Btho9ght-rea5ingC 2;T2
a less wi5e term than telepath> 22( 8:
-on5itions o= satis=actor> e?periments in( an5 importance o= a c9m9lative proo= 2WTX( 7V
*hree( 1revalence o= the n9mber( in acco9nts o= abnormal phenomena BBM
*ransitional cases( Por e?periments to which the percipient is not knowingl> a part>Q #$,
11N, $O1^#O
Importance o= 2W2
$i==ic9lt> o= obtaining acco9nts o= 2;X( $OL
*9ke( $r. .ack( -ase o= collective ill9sion recor5e5 b> 1#L
*9nes( 1ossible telepathic trans=erence o= U::T3
*wins( *elepathic trans=erences between UWXT7:( :W;( 38
*wo Por moreQ phantasmal =ig9res( 1roportion o= appearances o=( abo9t eE9al in
hall9cinations o= the p9rel> s9bDective an5 o= the telepathic class V38
Instances o= 3V;( 3XX( VUX( V:V( V33( M#, 144, 4L$, 4$M, 4OL, 4#B, 4M$, LN$, LBK, LK4,
$BM
*wo or three senses( $i==erent proportion o= hall9cinations a==ecting( in the p9rel>
s9bDective an5 in the telepathic class BK^4
ii-W::!
U%-O%/-IOU/ agenc> in e?perimental cases W7TX( 73( $ON^1
percipience 8UT72( 73( UX:( KOM, $ON^1
intelligence l?ii( 8XTW;( U:;T2( K1K^4
Unconscio9sness o= the agent( +reE9ent( at the time when a spontaneo9s trans=erence
takes place U:;T2
Instances o=( Pswoon( coma( [c.Q 2X3( 3;8( 3:V( V3V( V37( V8:( V8X( 11B, KM4, 41M, L1O,
$NM
Unrecognise5 phantasms( $i==erent proportion o= to recognise5( in the p9rel> s9bDective
an5 in the telepathic class B4^L
=ig9res U27( 3UW( 3VU( V:;( ..i, $1, BK$, BL$, 4$#^M, 4MK, LNB, L1O, $1M, $M4
voices 9ttering wor5s UUW( 3;X( VV:( 1NN, 114, 11L, 11$, 11O, 11M, 1BN, 1BB, 1BK, 1KO,
1$4, 4ON, 4OK, L$1, L$K, L$L, L$#, L#4, $MB
VI/U)L hall9cinations( $i==erent proportion o= to a95itor>( in the p9rel> s9bDective an5 in
the telepathic class BB^K
%9merical estimate relating to( in the two classes 1$^BN
59e to an?iet> V;8TX
59e to awe V2;TU
59e to e?pectanc> V2UT3
'95imentar> OK^$, 1MB^4
Voisin( $r.( on vario9s t>pes o= hall9cination 38V( 3W:( 3XV
,)&/*)++E( The Huestion of "itchcraft debated 27:( 273
,ebster( on BpossessionC 27U
,ier( De *r+stigiis D+(onu( 2WV( 2WX( 27;( 272( 27:
,ill( 'elation o=( to telepathic e?periments XUT:
E?periments in the silent e?ercise o= V7T8U( 7XTX2( X:T3( $O$^O
E==ect o=( in the pro59ction o= the h>pnotic state 77( KKB^K, $OM^#O
B,illing-game(C 'es9lts obtaine5 at the( 59e to the interpretation o= slight ph>sical signs
23TV( $4B
Occasional hints o= some =9rther ca9se 2V
,itchcra=t( Lack o= evi5ence =or the sp9rio9s marvels o= l??iii( 228T7( 2WUTW
Mr. Leck>4s treatment o= 2WWTX
-ertain gen9ine phenomena o=( how e?plicable 2WXT7:
,or5s an5 names( E?perimental trans=erences o= U:TV( UWTX( 83( 88( 8X( W3TX( 7UT3(
$LL^O, $$L
,9n5t( on Bps>chical energ>C ?liTii
on hall9cinations 382( 3W3( 3W8( 37W( K# Yactuall, KOnB, >d.Z
ii-W:3! ii-W:V!
1'O-EE$I%&/ O+
*.E /O-IE*# +O' 1/#-.I-)L 'E/E)'-..
*he price o= each vol9me is hal=-a-g9inea@ the 1arts can be obtaine5 separatel>.
VOLUME I.
-O%*)I%I%& 1)'*/ I.TIV.
ObDects o= the /ociet>.
)55ress b> the 1resi5ent at the =irst &eneral Meeting.
+irst 'eport o= the -ommittee on *ho9ght-'ea5ing.
%ote on *ho9ght-'ea5ing. "> 1'O+E//O' ")L+OU' /*E,)'*.
%ote on *ho9ght-'ea5ing. "> 'ev. ). M. -'EE'#.
)ppen5i? to the 'eport on *ho9ght-'ea5ing. "> 1ro=essor ,. +. ")''E**.
)55ress b> the 1resi5ent at the secon5 &eneral Meeting.
/econ5 'eport o= the -ommittee on *ho9ght-*rans=erence P-ith :llustrationsQ.
1reliminar> 'eport o= the B'eichenbachC -ommittee.
+irst 'eport o= the -ommittee on B.a9nte5 .o9ses.C
+irst 'eport o= the Literar> -ommittee.
On B-lairvo>ance(C b> &. ,>l5( M.$. P)bstractQ.
*hir5 'eport o= the -ommittee on *ho9ght-*rans=erence P-ith :llustrationsQ. +irst 'eport
o= the -ommittee on Mesmerism. +irst 'eport o= the B'eichenbachC -ommittee.
On /ome 1henomena )ssociate5 with )bnormal -on5itions o= Min5. "> 1'O+E//O' ,.
+. ")''E**.
)55ress b> the 1resi5ent at the =o9rth &eneral Meeting.
/econ5 'eport o= the -ommittee on Mesmerism.
'ecor5 o= E?periments in *ho9ght-*rans=erence at Liverpool. "> M)L-OLM &U*.'IE(
F.1.( an5 F)ME/ "I'-.)LL. )ppen5i? to the 'eport on Mesmerism. %ote on M9scle-
'ea5ing. "> the 'ev. E. .. /U&$E%. -onstit9tion an5 '9les o= the /ociet>.
VOLUME II.
-O%*)I%I%& 1)'*/ V.TVII.
+o9rth 'eport o= the -ommittee on *ho9ght-*rans=erence.
*hir5 'eport o= the -ommittee on Mesmerism.
)n )cco9nt o= some E?periments in *ho9ght-*rans=erence P-ith :llustrationsQ. ">
M)L-OLM &U*.'IE( F. 1.
/econ5 'eport o= the Literar> -ommittee.
%ote on the E?istence o= a BMagnetic /ense.C "> 1ro=essor ,. +. ")''E**.
*he /tages o= .>pnotism. "> E$MU%$ &U'%E#.
'eport on ,ells /9nk at Locking( /omerset( to *est the )llege5 1ower o= the $ivining
'o5. "> 1'O+E//O' ,. F. /OLL)/( M.).( $./c.
*he $ivining 'o5. "> E$,)'$ '. 1E)/E.
)ppen5i? I. *ab9lar )bstract o= Evi5ence on the $ivining 'o5( collecte5 b> Mr. E.
V)U&.)% FE%0I%/.
)ppen5i? II. /electe5 -ases =rom the same.
*hir5 'eport o= the Literar> -ommitteeA) *heor> o= )pparitions. 1art I.
/econ5 'eport o= the -ommittee on .a9nte5 .o9ses( [c.
Opening )55ress at the eighth &eneral Meeting. "> the 1'E/I$E%*.
+o9rth 'eport o= the Literar> -ommitteeA) *heor> o= )pparitions. 1art II.
ii-W:8!
Opening )55ress at the ninth &eneral Meeting. "> 1'O+E//O' ")L+OU' /*E,)'*(
+.'./.
)n )cco9nt o= some E?periments in *ho9ght-*rans=erence. "> 1'O+E//O' OLIVE' F.
LO$&E( $. /c.
)n )cco9nt o= some E?periments in Mesmerism. "> E$MU%$ &U'%E#.
$iagrams Ill9strative o= *ho9ght-*rans=erence.
)9tomatic ,riting. I. "> +'E$E'I- ,. .. M#E'/.
)bstract o= the 1resi5ent4s Opening )55ress at the eleventh &eneral Meeting.
)cco9nt an5 -riticism o= M. 'ichet4s recent 'esearches in *ho9ght-*rans=erence. ">
E$MU%$ &U'%E#. ,ith a %ote b> 1ro=essor OLIVE'. F LO$&E an5 )L+'E$ LO$&E.
*he 1roblems o= .>pnotism. "> E$MU%$ &U'%E#.
VOLUME III.
-O%*)I%I%& 1)'*/ VIII. )%$ I\.
)9tomatic ,riting. II. "> +'E$E'I- ,. .. M#E'/.
Opening )55ress at the thirteenth &eneral Meeting. "> 1'O+E//O' ")L+OU' /*E,)'*(
+.'./.
%otes on the Evi5ence( collecte5 b> the /ociet>( =or 1hantasms o= the $ea5.
"> Mrs. .. /I$&,I-0.
.all9cinations. "> E$MU%$ &U'%E#.
*he -alc9l9s o= 1robabilities applie5 to 1s>chical 'esearch.AI. "> +. #. E$&E,O'*..
'eport on 1henomena connecte5 with *heosoph>
P2Q /tatement an5 -oncl9sions o= the -ommittee.
PUQ )cco9nt o= 1ersonal Investigations in In5ia( an5 $isc9ssion o= the )9thorship o= the
B0oot .oomiC Letters Pwith )ppen5icesQ. "> 'I-.)'$ .O$&/O%.
P:Q 'eport o= Mr. +. &. %E*.E'-LI+* on the "lavatsk>--o9lomb -orrespon5ence.
P3Q %ote on -ertain 1henomena not 5ealt with in Mr. .o5gson4s )cco9nt. "> Mrs. ..
/I$&,I-0.
PVQ $etails o= the Evi5ence re=erre5 to on page U;W. -ontents o= the )bove 'eport.
/ome .igher )spects o= Mesmerism. "> E$MU%$ &U'%E# an5 +'E$E'I- ,. ..
M#E'/.
+9rther 'eport on E?periments in *ho9ght-*rans=erence at Liverpool. "> M)L-OLM
&U*.'IE( F. 1.
Local )nOsthesia in59ce5 in the %ormal /tate b> Mesmeric 1asses.
'eport on an allege5 1h>sical 1henomenon.
-atalog9e o= the Librar> P)bri5ge5Q.
1)'* \.
.9man 1ersonalit> in the light o= .>pnotic /9ggestion. "> +'E$E'I- ,. .. M#E'/.
On some 1h>sical 1henomena commonl> calle5 /pirit9alistic( witnesse5 b> the )9thor.
"> 1'O+E//O' ,. +. ")''E**.
'es9lts o= a 1ersonal Investigation into the B1h>sical 1henomenaC o= /pirit9alism( with
some critical remarks on the Evi5ence =or the gen9ineness o= s9ch phenomena. "> M'/.
.. /I$&,I-0.
*he 1ossibilities o= Mal-observation in relation to Evi5ence =or the phenomena o=
/pirit9alism. "> -.)'LE/ -. M)//E#.
%ote on Mr. Masse>4s 1aper. "> 1'O+E//O' .. /I$&,I-0.
E?periments in M9scle-'ea5ing an5 *ho9ght-*rans=erence. "> M)\ $E//OI'.
On *elepathic .>pnotism( an5 its relation to other =orms o= .>pnotic /9ggestion. ">
+'E$E'I- ,. .. M#E'/.
*he -alc9l9s o= 1robabilities applie5 to 1s>chical 'esearch.AII. "> +. #. E$&E,O'*..
ii-W:W!
"ack to Esalen -*' /cholarl> 'eso9rces