the unknown guest(陌生客)-第15节
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statements； as regards the objective reality of the facts； are so to speak
equivalent to a legal deposition。 M。 Bozzano mentions some previsions
which are quite as remarkable in connection with the gaming…tables at
Monte Carlo。
I repeat； I am aware that； in the case of these occurrences and those
which resemble them； it is possible once again to invoke the theory of
coincidence。 It will be contended that there are probably a thousand
predictions of this kind which are never talked about； because they were
not fulfilled； whereas； if one of them is accomplished； which is bound by
the law of probabilities to happen some day or other； the astonishment is
general and free rein is given to the imagination。 This is true； nevertheless；
it is well to enquire whether these predictions are as frequent as is loosely
stated。 In the matter of those which concern the conscription…drawings； for
instance； I have had the opportunity of interrogating more than we
constant witness of these little dramas of fate； and all admitted that； on the
whole； they are much clearer than one would believe。 Next； we must not
forget that there can be no question here of scientific proofs。 We are in the
midst of a slippery and nebulous region； where we would not dare to risk a
step if we were not allowing ourselves to be guided by our feelings rather
than by certainties which we are not forbidden to hope for； but which are
not yet in sight。
8
We will abridge our subject still further； referring readers who wish to
know the details to the originals； lest we should never have done； or rather；
instead of attempting an abridgment； which would still be too long； so
plentiful are the materials； we will content ourselves with enumerating a
few instances； all taken from Bozzano's Des Phenomenes premonitoires。
We read there of a funeral procession seen on a high…road several days
before it actually passed that way； or； again； of a young mechanic who； in
the beginning of November； dreamt that he came home at half…past five in
the afternoon and saw his sister's little girl run over by a tram…car while
crossing the street in front of the house。 He told his dream； in great distress；
and； on the 13th of the same month； in spite of all the precautions that had
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been taken； the child was run over by the tram…car and killed at the hour
named。 We find the ghost； the phantom animal or the mysterious noise
which； in certain families； is the traditional herald of a death or of an
imminent catastrophe。 We find the celebrated vision which the painter
Segantini had thirteen days before his decease； every detail of which
remained in his mind and was represented in his last picture； Death。 We
find the Messina disaster dearly foreseen； twice over； by a little girl who
perished under the ruins of the ill…fated city； and we read of a dream which；
three months before the French invasion of Russia； foretold to Countess
Toutschkoff that her husband would fall at Borodino； a village so little
known at the time that those interested in the dream looked in vain for its
name on the maps。 Until now we have spoken only of the spontaneous
manifestations of the future。 It would seem as though coming events；
gathered in front of our lives； bear with crushing weight upon the
uncertain and deceptive dike of the present； which is no longer able to
contain them。 They ooze through； they seek a crevice by which to reach us。
But； side by side with these passive； independent and intractable
premonitions； which are but so many vagrant and furtive emanations of
the unknown； are others which do yield to entreaty； allow themselves to be
directed into channels； are more or less obedient to our orders and will
sometimes reply to the questions which we put to them。 They come from
the same inaccessible reservoir； are no less mysterious； but yet appear a
little more human than the others； and； without drugging ourselves with
puerile or dangerous illusions； we may be permitted to hope that； if we
follow them and study them attentively； they will one day open to us the
hidden paths that join that which is no more to that which is not yet。
It is true that here； where we must needs mix with the somewhat
lawless world of professional mystery…mongers； we have to increase our
caution and walk with measured steps on very suspicious ground。 But in
this region of pitfalls we glean a certain number of facts that cannot
reasonably be contested。 It will be enough to recall； for instance； the
symbolic premonitions of the famous 〃seeress of Prevorst；〃 Frau Hauffe；
whose prophetic spirit was awakened by soap bubbles； crystals and
mirrors；＇1＇ the clairvoyant who； eighteen years before the event； foretold
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the death of a girl by the hand of her rival in 1907； in a written prophecy
which was presented to the court by the mother of the murdered girl；＇1＇ A。
J。 C。 Kerner： Die Scherin von Prevorst 141 ＇1＇ the gypsy who； also in
writing； foretold all the events in Miss Isabel Arundel's life； including the
name of her husband； Burton； the famous explorer；＇2＇ the sealed letter
addressed to M。 Morin； vice…president of the Societe du Mesmerisme；
describing the most unexpected circumstances of a death that occurred a
month later；＇3＇ the famous 〃Marmontel prediction；〃 obtained by Mrs。
Verrall's cross…correspondences； which gives a vision； two months and a
half before their accomplishment； of the most insignificant actions of a
traveller in an hotel bedroom；＇4＇ and many others。
＇1＇ Light； 1907； p。 219。 The crime was committed in Paris and made a
great stir at the time。
＇2＇ Lady Burton： The Life of Captain Sir Richd。 F。 Burton； K。C。M。G。；
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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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 coexisten
