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the chapter treating of the materializations of which it forms part。
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THE UNKNOWN GUEST
CHAPTER I。
PHANTASMS OF THE LIVING AND THE DEAD
1
This brings us without any break to the consideration of veridical
apparitions and hallucinations and finally to haunted houses。 We all know
that the phantasms of the living and the dead have now a whole literature
of their own； a literature which owes its birth to the numerous and
conscientious enquiries conducted in England； France； Belgium and the
United States at the instance of the Society for Psychical Research。 In the
presence of the mass of evidence collected； it would be absurd to persist in
denying the reality of the phenomena themselves。 It is by this time
incontestable that a violent or deep emotion can be transmitted
instantaneously from one mind to another； however great the distance that
separates the mind experiencing the emotion from the mind receiving the
communication。 It is most often manifested by a visual hallucination； more
rarely by an auditory hallucination； and； as the most violent emotion
which man can undergo is that which grips and overwhelms him at the
approach or at the very moment of death； it is nearly always this supreme
emotion which he sends forth and directs with incredible precision through
space； if necessary across seas and continents； towards an invisible and
moving goal。 Again； though this occurs less frequently； a grave danger； a
serious crisis can beget and transmit to a distance a similar hallucination。
This is what the S。 P。 R。 calls 〃phantasms of the living。〃 When the
hallucination takes place some time after the decease of the person whom
it seems to evoke； be the interval long or short； it is classed among the
〃phantasms of the dead。〃
The latter； the so…called 〃phantasms of the dead；〃 are the rarest。 As F。
W。 H。 Myers pointed out in his Human Personality； a consideration of the
proportionate number of apparitions observed at various periods before
and after death shows that they increase very rapidly for the few hours
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THE UNKNOWN GUEST
which precede death and decrease gradually during the hours and days
which follow； while after about a year's time they become extremely rare
and exceptional。
However exceptional they may be； these apparitions nevertheless exist
and are proved； as far as anything can be proved； by abundant testimony
of a very precise character。 Instances will be found in the Proceedings；
notably in vol。 vi。； pp。 13…65； etc。
Whether it be a case of the living； the dying； or the dead； we are
familiar with the usual form which these hallucinations take。 Indeed their
main outlines hardly ever vary。 Some one； in his bedroom； in the street； on
a journey； no matter where； suddenly see plainly and clearly the phantom
of a relation or a friend of whom he was not thinking at the time and
whom he knows to be thousands of miles away； in America； Asia or Africa
as the case may be； for distance does not count。 As a rule； the phantom
says nothing； its presence； which is always brief； is but a sort of silent
warning。 Sometimes it seems a prey to futile and trivial anxieties。 More
rarely； it speaks； though saying but little after all。 More rarely still； it
reveals something that has happened； a crime； a hidden treasure of which
no one else could know。 But we will return to these matters after
completing this brief enumeration。
2
The phenomenon of haunted houses resembles that of the phantasms
of the dead； except that here the ghost clings to the residence； the house；
the building and in no way to the persons who inhabit it。 By the second
year of its existence； that is to say； 1884； the Committee on Haunted
Houses of the S。 P。 R。 had selected and made an analysis of some sixty…
five cases out of hundreds submitted to it； twenty…eight of which rested
upon first…hand and superior evidence。＇1＇ It is worthy of remark； in the
first place； that these authentic narratives bear no relation whatever to the
legendary and sensational ghost…stories that still linger in many English
and American magazines； especially in the Christmas numbers。 They
mention no winding…sheets； coffins； skeletons； graveyards； no sulphurous
flames； curses； blood…curdling groans； no clanking chains； nor any of the
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THE UNKNOWN GUEST
time…honoured trappings that characterize this rather feeble literature of
the supernatural。 On the contrary； the scenes enacted in houses that appear
to be really haunted are generally very simple and insignificant； not to say
dull and commonplace。 The ghosts are quite unpretentious and go to no
expense in the matter of staging or costume。 They are clad as they were
when； sometimes many years ago； they led their quiet； unadventurous life
within their own home。 We find in one case an old woman； with a thin
grey shawl meekly folded over her breast； who bends at night over the
sleeping occupants of her old home； or who is frequently encountered in
the hall or on the stairs； silent； mysterious； a little grim。 Or else it is the
gentleman with a lacklustre eye and a figured dressing…gown who walks
along a passage brilliantly illuminated with an inexplicable light。 Or again
we have another elderly lady； dressed in black； who is often found seated
in the bay window of her drawing…room。 When spoken to； she rises and
seems on the point of replying； but says nothing。 When pursued or met in
a corner； she eludes all contact and vanishes。 Strings are fastened across
the staircase with glue； she passes and the strings remain as they were。 The
ghostand this happens in the majority of casesis seen by all the people
staying in the house： relatives； friends； old servants and new。 Can it be a
matter of suggestion； of collective hallucination？ At any rate； strangers；
visitors