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subconsciousness。 But all this is practically nothing more than inconsistent
speculation and ingenious dreaming in the dark； in any case； it is
adventitious； secondary and provisional。 Let us keep to the facts as we see
them： an unknown faculty； buried deep in our being and generally inactive；
perceives； on rare occasions； events that have not yet taken place。 We
possess but one certainty on this subject； namely； that the phenomenon
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actually occurs within ourselves； it is therefore within ourselves that we
must first study it； without burdening ourselves with suppositions which
remove it from its centre and simply shift the mystery。 The
incomprehensible mystery is the preexistence of the future； once we admit
thisand it seems very difficult to denythere is no reason to attribute to
imaginary intermediaries rather than to ourselves the faculty of descrying
certain fragments of that future。 We see； in regard to most of the
mediumistic manifestations； that we possess within ourselves all the
unusual forces with which the spiritualists endow discarnate spirits； and
why should it be otherwise as concerns the powers of divination？ The
explanation taken from the subconsciousness is the most direct； the
simplest； the nearest； whereas the other is endlessly circuitous；
complicated and distant。 Until the spirits testify to their existence in an
unanswerable fashion； there is no advantage in seeking in the grave for the
solution of a riddle that appears indeed to lie at the roots of our own life。
13
It is true that this explanation does not explain much； but the others are
just as ineffectual and are open to the same objections。 These objections
are many and various； and it is easier to raise them than to reply to them。
For instance； we can ask ourselves why the subconsciousness or the spirits；
seeing that they read the future and are able to announce an impending
calamity； hardly ever give us the one useful and definite indication that
would allow us to avoid it。 What can be the childish or mysterious reason
of this strange reticence？ In many cases it is almost criminal； for instance；
in a case related by Professor Hyslop＇1＇ we see the foreboding of the
greatest misfortune that can befall a mother germinating； growing； sending
out shoots； developing； like some gluttonous and deadly plant； to stop
short on the verge of the last warning； the one detail； insignificant in itself
but indispensable； which would have saved the child。 It is the case of a
woman who begins by experiencing a vague but powerful impression that
a grievous 〃burden〃 was going to fall upon her family。 Next month； this
premonitory feeling repeats itself very frequently； becomes more intense
and ends by concentrating itself upon the poor woman's little daughter。
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Each time that she is planning something for the child's future； she hears a
voice saying：
〃She'll never need it。〃
＇1＇ Proceedings； vol。 xiv。； p。 266。
A week before the catastrophe； a violent smell of fire fills the house。
From that time； the mother begins to be careful about matches； seeing that
they are in safe places and out of reach。 She looks all over the house for
them and feels a strong impulse to burn all matches of the kind easily
lighted。 About an hour before the fatal disaster； she reaches for a box to
destroy it； but she says to herself that her eldest boy is gone out； thinks
that she may need the matches to light the gas…stove and decides to destroy
them as soon as he comes back。 She takes the child up to its crib for its
morning sleep and； as she is putting it into the cradle； she hears the usual
mysterious voice whisper in her ear：
〃Turn the mattress。〃
But； being in a great hurry； she simply says that she will turn the
mattress after the child has taken its nap。 She then goes downstairs to work。
After a while； she hears the child cry and； hurrying up to the room； finds
the crib and its bedding on fire and the child so badly burnt that it dies in
three hours。
14
Before going further and theorizing about this case； let us once more
state the matter precisely。 I know that the reader may straightway and
quite legitimately deny the value of anecdotes of this kind。 He will say that
we have to do with a neurotic who has drawn upon her imagination for all
the elements that give a dramatic setting to the story and surround with a
halo of mystery a sad but commonplace domestic accident。 This is quite
possible； and it is perfectly allowable to dismiss the case。 But it is none the
less true that； by thus deliberately rejecting everything that does not bear
the stamp of mathematical or judicial certainty； we risk losing as we go
along most of the opportunities or clues which the great riddle of this
world offers us in its moments of inattention or graciousness。 At the
beginning of an enquiry we must know how to content ourselves with little。
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For the incident in question to be convincing； previous evidence in writing；
more or less official statements would be required； whereas we have only
the declarations of the husband； a neighbour and a sister。 This is
insufficient； I agree； but we must at the same time confess that the
circumstances are hardly favourable to obtaining the proofs which we
demand。 Those who receive warnings of this kind either believe in them or
do not believe in them。 If they believe in them； it is quite natural that they
should not think first of all of the scientific interest of their trouble； or of
putting down in writing and thus authenticating its premonitory symptoms
and gradual evolution。 If they do not believe in them； it is no less natural
that they should not proceed to speak or take notice of inanities of which
they do not recognize the value until after they have lost the