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vol。i。； p。253。
＇3＇ Journal of the Society for Psychical Research； vol。 ix。； p。 15。
＇4＇ Proceedings； vol。 xx。； p。 331。
9
I will not review the various and very often grotesque methods of
interrogating the future that are most frequently practised to…day： cards；
palmistry； crystal…gazing； fortune…telling by means of coffee…grounds； tea…
leaves； magnetic needles and white of egg； graphology； astrology and the
rest。 These methods； as I have already said； are worth exactly what the
medium who employs them is worth。 They have no other object than to
arouse the medium's subconsciousness and to bring it into relation with
that of the person questioning him。 As a matter of fact； all these purely
empirical processes are but so many； often puerile forms of self…
manifestation adopted by the undeniable gift which is known as intuition；
clairvoyance or； in certain cases； psychometry。 I have spoken at sufficient
length of this last faculty not to linger over it now。 All that we have still to
do is to consider it for a moment in its relations with the foretelling of the
future。 A large number of investigations； notably those conducted by M。
Duchatel and Dr。 Osty； show that； in psychometry； the notion of time； as
Dr。 Joseph Maxwell observes； is very loose； that is to say； the past； present
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THE UNKNOWN GUEST
and future nearly always overlap。 Most of the clairvoyant or psychometric
subjects； when they are honest； do not know； 〃do not feel；〃 as M。 Duchatel
very ably remarks； 〃what the future is。 They do not distinguish it from the
other tenses； and consequently they succeed in being prophets； but
unconscious prophets。〃 In a wordand this is a very important indication
from the point of view of the probable coexistence of the three tensesit
appears that they see that which is not yet with the same clearness and on
the same plane as that which is no more； but are incapable of separating
the two visions and picking out the future which alone interests us。 For a
still stronger reason； it is impossible for them to state dates with precision。
Nevertheless； the fact remains that； when we take the trouble to sift their
evidence and have the patience to await the realization of certain events
which are sometimes not due for a long time to come； the future is fairly
often perceived by some of these strange soothsayers。
There are psychometers； however； and notably Mme。 M； Dr。 Osty's
favorite medium； who never confuse the future and the past。 Mme。 M
places her visions in time according to the position which they occupy in
space。 Thus she sees the future in front of her； the past behind her and the
present beside her。 But； notwithstanding these distinctly…graded visions；
she also is incapable of naming her dates exactly； in fact； her mistakes in
this respect are so general that Dr。 Osty looks upon it as a pure
chronological coincidence when a prediction is realized at the moment
foretold。
We should also observe that； in psychometry； only those events can be
perceived which relate directly to the individual communicating with the
percipient； for it is not so much the percipient that sees into us as we that
read in our own subconsciousness； which is momentarily lighted by his
presence。 We must not therefore ask him for predictions of a general
character； whether； for instance； there will be a war in the spring； an
epidemic in the summer or an earthquake in the autumn。 The moment the
question concerns events； however important； with which we are not
intimately connected； he is bound to answer； as do all the genuine
mediums； that he sees nothing。
The area of his vision being thus limited； does he really discover the
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THE UNKNOWN GUEST
future in it？ After three years of numerous； cautious and systematic
experiments with some twenty mediums； Dr。 Osty categorically declares
that he does：
〃All the incidents；〃 he says； 〃which filled these three years of my life；
whether wished for by me or not； or even absolutely contrary to the
ordinary routine of my life； had always been foretold to me； not all by
each of the clairvoyant subjects； but all by one or other of them。 As I have
been practising these tests continually； it seems to me that the experience
of three years wholly devoted to this object should give some weight to
my opinion on the subject of predictions。〃
This is incontestable； and the sincerity； scientific conscientiousness
and high intellectual value of Dr。 Osty's fine work inspire one with the
most entire confidence。 Unfortunately； he contents himself with quoting
too summarily a few facts and does not； as he ought； give us in extenso the
details of his experiments； controls and tests。 I am well aware that this
would be a thankless and wearisome task； necessitating a large volume
which a mass of puerile incidents and inevitable repetitions would make
almost readable。 Moreover； it could scarcely help taking the form of an
intimate and indiscreet autobiography； and it is not easy to bring one's self
to make this sort of public confession。 But it has to be done。 In a science
which is only in its early stages； it is not enough to show the object
attained and to state one's conviction； it is necessary above all to describe
every path that has been taken and； by an incessant and infinite
accumulation of investigated and attested facts； to enable every one to
draw his own conclusions。 This has been the cumbrous and laborious
method of the Proceedings for over thirty years； and it is the only right one。
Discussion is possible and fruitful only at that price。 In all these
extraconscious matters； we have not yet reached the stage of definite
deduction； we are still bringing up materials to the scene of operations。
Once more； I know that； in these cases； as I have seen for myself； the
really convincing facts are necessarily very rare； indeed； nowhere else do
we meet with the same difficulty。 If the medium tells you； for instance； as