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superfluous and tedious as would be； for instance； a string of names of the
recognized chemical reactions that can be obtained in a laboratory。 Any
one who pleases is at liberty to convince himself of the reality of the facts；
provided that he applies to genuine mediums and keeps aloof from the
inferior 〃seers〃 and especially the shams and imposters who swarm in this
region more than in any other。 Even with the best of them； he will have to
be careful of the involuntary； unconscious and almost inevitable
interference of telepathy； which is also very interesting； though it is a
phenomenon of a different class； much less surprising and debatable than
pure psychometry。 He must also learn the art of interrogating the medium
and refrain from asking incoherent and random questions about casual or
future events。 He will not forget that 〃clairvoyance is strictly limited to the
perception of human personality；〃 according to the role so well formulated
by Dr。 Osty。 Experiments have been made in which a psychometer； on
touching the tooth of a prehistoric animal； saw the landscapes and the
cataclysms of the earth's earliest ages displayed before his eyes； in which
another medium； on handling a jewel； conjured up； it would seem with
marvellous exactness； the games and processions of ancient Greece； as
though the objects permanently retained the recollection or rediscovered
the 〃astral negatives〃 of all the events which they once witnessed。 But it
will be understood that； in such cases； any effective control is； so to speak；
impossible and that the part played by telepathy cannot be decided。 It is
important； therefore； to keep strictly to that which can be verified。
Even when thus limiting his scope； the experimenter will meet with
many surprises。 For instance； though the revelations of two psychometers
to whom the same letter is handed in succession most often agree
remarkably in their main outlines； it can also happen that one of them
perceives only what concerns the writer of the letter； whereas the other
will be interested only in the person to whom the letter was addressed or to
a third person who was in the room where the letter was written。 It is well
to be forearmed against these first mistakes； which； for that matter； in the
frequent cases where strict control is possible； but confirm the existence
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and the independence of the astounding faculty。
11
As for the theories that attempt to explain it； I am quite willing to grant
that they are still somewhat confused。 The important thing for the moment
is the accumulation of claims and experiments that go feeling their way
farther and farther along all the paths of the unknown。 Meanwhile； that
one unexpected door which sheds at the back of our old convictions more
than one unexpected door； which sheds upon the life and habits of our
secret being sufficient light to puzzle us for many a long day。 This brings
us back once more to the omniscience and perhaps the omnipotence of our
hidden guest； to the brink of the mysterious reservoir of every manner of
knowledge which we shall meet with again when we come to speak of the
future； of the talking horses； of the divining…rod； of materializations and
miracles； in short； in every circumstance where we pass beyond the
horizon of our little daily life。 As we thus advance； with slow and cautious
footsteps； in them as yet deserted and very nebulous regions of
metapsychics； we are compelled to recognize that there must exist
somewhere； in this world or in others； a spot in which everything is known；
in which everything is possible； to which everything goes； from which
everything comes； which belongs to all； to which all have access； but of
which the long…forgotten roads must be learnt again by our stumbling feet。
We shall often meet those difficult roads in the course of our present quest
and we shall have more than one occasion to refer again to those depths
into which all the supernatural facts of our existence flow； unless indeed
they take their source there。 For the moment； that which most above all
engage our attention in these psychometric phenomena is their purely and
exclusively human character。 They occur between the living and the living；
on this solid earth of ours； in the world that lies before our eyes； and the
spirits； the dead； the gods and the interplanetary intelligences know them
not。 Hardly anywhere else； except in the equally perplexing manifestations
of the divining…rod and in certain materializations； shall we find with the
same clearness this same specific character； if we may call it so。 This is a
valuable lesson。 It tells us that our every…day life provides phenomena as
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disturbing and of exactly the same kind and nature as those which； in other
circumstances； we attribute to other forces than ours。 It teaches us also that
we must first direct and exhaust our enquiries here below； among
ourselves； before passing to the other side； for our first care should be to
simplify the interpretations and explanations and not to seek elsewhere； in
opposition； what probably lies hidden within us in reality。 Afterwards； if
the unknown overwhelm us utterly； if the darkness engulf us beyond all
hope； there will still be time to go； none can tell where； to question the
deities or the dead。
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CHAPTER III。
THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE FUTURE
1
Premonition or precognition leads us to still more mysterious regions；
where stands； half merging from an intolerable darkness； the gravest
problem that can thrill mankind； the knowledge of the future。 The latest；
the best and the most complete study devoted to it is； I believe； that
recently published by M。 Ernest Bozzano； under the title Des Phenomenes
Premonitoires。 Availing himself of excellent earlier work； notably that of
Mrs。 Sidgwick and Myers＇1＇ and adding the result of his own