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unexpected visitor who comes in a rather sinister way to trouble the
comfortable quiet in which we were slumbering； rocked by the firm and
watchful hand of orthodox science。
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Let us first be content to enumerate them。 We shall find that we have
table…turning； with its raps； the movements and transportations of
inanimate objects without contact； luminous phenomena； lucidite； or
clairvoyance； veridical apparitions or hallucinations； haunted houses；
bilocations and so forth； communications with the dead； the divining…rod；
the miraculous cures of Lourdes and elsewhere； fluidic asepsis； and lastly
the famous thinking animals of Elberfeld and Mannheim。 These； if I be not
mistaken； after eliminating all that is in； sufficiently attested； constitute the
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residue or caput mortuum of this latter…day miracle。
Everybody has heard of table…turning； which may be called the A B C
of occult science。 It is so common and so easily produced that the Society
for Psychical Research has not thought it necessary to devote special
attention to the subject。 I need hardly add that we must take count only of
movements or 〃raps〃 obtained without the hands touching the table； so as
to remove every possibility of fraud or unconscious complicity。 To obtain
these movements it is enough； but it is also indispensable that those who
form the 〃chain〃 should include a person endowed with mediumistic
faculties。 I repeat； the experiment is within the reach of any one who cares
to try it under the requisite conditions； and it is as incontestable as the
polarization of light or as crystallization by means of electric currents。
In the same group may be placed the movement and transportation of
objects without contact； the touches of spirit hands； the luminous
phenomena and materialization。 Like table…turning； they demand the
presence of a medium。 I need not observe that we here find ourselves in
the happy hunting…ground of the impostor and that even the most powerful
mediums； those possessing the most genuine and undeniable gifts； such as
the celebrated Eusapia Paladino； are upon occasionand the occasion
occurs but too oftenincorrigible cheats。 But； when we have made every
allowance for fraud； there nevertheless remains a considerable number of
incidents so rigorously attested that we most needs accept them or else
abandon all human certainty。
The case is not quite the same with levitation and the wonders
performed； so travelers tell us； by certain Indian jugglers。 Though the
prolonged burial of a living being is very nearly proved and can doubtless
be physiologically explained； there are many other tricks on which we
have so far no authoritative pronouncement。 I will not speak of the
〃mango…tree〃 and the 〃basket…trick；〃 which are mere conjuring； but the
〃fire…walk〃 and the famous 〃rope…climbing trick〃 remain more of a
mystery。
The fire…walk； or walk on red…hot bricks or glowing coals； is a sort of
religious ceremony practiced in the Indies； in some of the Polynesian
islands； in Mauritius and elsewhere。 As the result of incantations uttered
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by the high priest； the bare feet of the faithful who follow him upon the
bed of burning pebbles or brands seem to become almost insensible to the
touch of fire。 Travelers are anything but agreed whether the heat of the
surface traversed is really intolerable； whether the extraordinary power of
endurance is explained by the thickness of the horny substance which
protects the soles of the natives' feet； whether the feet are burnt or whether
the skin remains untouched； and； under present conditions； the question is
too uncertain to make it worth while to linger over it。
〃Rope…climbing〃 is more extraordinary。 The juggler takes his stand in
an open space； far from any tree or house。 He is accompanied by a child；
and his only impedimenta are a bundle of ropes and an old canvas sack。
The juggler throws one end of the rope up in the air； and the rope； as
though drawn by an invisible hook； uncoils and rises straight into the sky
until the end disappears； and； soon after； there come tumbling from the
blue two arms； two legs； a head and so on； all of which the wizard picks
up and crams into the sack。 He next utters a few magic words over it and
opens it； and the child steps out； bowing and smiling to the spectators。
This is the usual form taken by this particular sorcery。 It is pretty rare
and seems to be practised only by one sect which originated in the North…
West Provinces。 It has not yet perhaps been sufficiently investigated to
take its place among the evidence mentioned show。 If it were really as I
have described； it could hardly be explained save by some strange
hallucinatory power emanating from the juggler or illusionist； who
influences the audience by suggestion and makes it see what he wishes。 In
that case the suggestion or hallucination covers a very extensive area。 In
point of fact； onlookers； Europeans； on the balconies of houses at some
distance from the crowd of natives； have been known to experience the
same influence。 This would be one of the most curious manifestations of
that 〃unknown guest〃 of which we shall speak again later when； after
enumerating its acts and deeds； we try to investigate and note down the
eccentricities of its character。
Levitation in the proper sense of the word； that is to say； the raising；
without contact； and floating of an inanimate object or even of a person；
might possibly be due to the same hallucinatory power； but hitherto the
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instances have not been sufficiently numerous or authentic to allow us to
draw any conclusions。 Also we shall meet with it again when we come to
the chapter treating of the materializations of which it forms part。
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