the unknown guest(陌生客)-第41节
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most secret regions of mathematics in which every question is answered
beforehand。 It is not wholly illusive to suppose that； if we could impart to
them； for instance； a similar notion of the future； together with a manner of
conveying to us what they see there； they might also have access to
strange visions of another class； which are jealously kept from us by the
too…watchful guardians of our intelligence。 There is an opportunity here
for experiments which will doubtless prove exceedingly arduous； for the
future is not so easily seen and above all not so easily interpreted and
expressed as a number。 It is possible； moreover； that； when we know how
to set about it； we shall obtain most of the human mediumistic phenomena；
rapping； the moving of objects； materialization even and Heaven knows
what other surprises held in store for us by that astounding subliminal to
whose fancy there appears to be no bounds。 In any case； if we accept the
divining of numbers； as we are almost forced to do； it is almost certain that
the divining of other matters must follow。 An unexpected breach is made
in the wall behind which lie heaped the great secrets that seem to us； as
our knowledge and our civilization increase； to become stronger and more
inaccessible。 True； it is a narrow breach； but it is the first that has been
opened in that part of the hitherto uncrannied wall which is not turned
towards mankind。 What will issue through it？ No one can foretell what we
may hope。
37
What astonishes us most is that this revelation has been so long
delayed。 How are we to explain that man has lived to this day with his
domestic animals never suspecting that they harboured mediumistic or
subliminal faculties as extraordinary as those which he vaguely felt
himself to possess。 One would have in this connection to study the
mysterious practices of ancient India and of Egypt； the numerous and
persistent legends of animals talking； guiding their masters and foretelling
the future； and； nearer to ourselves； in history proper； all that science of
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augury and soothsaying which derived its omens from the flight of birds；
the inspection of entrails； the appetite or attitude of the sacred or prophetic
animals； among which horses were often numbered。 We here find one of
those innumerous instances of a lost or anticipated power which make us
suspect that mankind has forestalled or forgotten all that we believe
ourselves to be discovering。 Remember that there is almost always some
distorted； misapprehended or dimlyseen truth at the bottom of the most
eccentric and wildest creeds； superstitions and legends。 All this new
science of metaphysics or of the investigation of our subconsciousness and
of unknown powers； which has scarcely begun to unveil its first mysteries；
thus finds landmarks and defaced but recognizable traces in the old
religions； the most inexplicible traditions and the most ancient history。
Besides； the probability of a thing does not depend upon undeniably
established precedents。 While it is almost certain that there is nothing new
under the sun or in the eternity preceding the suns； it is quite possible that
the same forces do not always act with the same energy。 As I observed；
nearly twenty years ago； in The Treasure of the Humble； at a time when I
hardly knew at all what I know so imperfectly to…day：
〃A spiritual〃I should have said； a psychic…〃epoch is perhaps upon us；
an epoch to which a certain number of analogies are found in history。 For
there are periods recorded when the soul； in obedience to unknown laws；
seemed to rise to the very surface of humanity； whence it gave clearest
evidence of its existence and of its power。 。 。 。 It would seem； at moments
such as these； as though humanity；〃 and； I would add to…day； all that lives
with it on this earth〃were on the point of struggling from beneath the
crushing burden of matter that weighs it down。〃
One might in fact believe that a shudder which we have not yet
experienced is passing over everything that breathes； that a new activity； a
new restlessness is permeating the spiritual atmosphere which surrounds
our globe； and that the very animals have felt its thrill。 One might say that；
by the side of the niggardly private spring which would only supply our
intelligence； other streams are spreading and rising to the same level in
every form of existence。 A sort of word of command is being passed from
rank to rank； and the same phenomena are bursting forth in every quarter
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of the globe in order to attract our attention； as though the obstinately
dumb genius that lay hidden in the pregnant silence of the universe； from
that of the stones； the flowers and the insects to the mighty silence of the
stars； were at last trying to tell us some secret whereby it would be better
known to us or to itself。 It is possible that this is but an illusion。 Perhaps
we are simply more attentive and better informed than of old。 We learn at
the very instant what happens in every part of our earth and we have
acquired the habit of more minutely observing and examining the things
that happen。 But the illusion would in this case have all the force； all the
value and all the meaning of the reality and would enjoin the same hopes
and the same obligation。
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CHAPTER V。
THE UNKNOWN GUEST
1
We have now studied certain manifestations of that which we have
called in turn and more or less indiscriminately the subconscious mind； the
subliminal consciousness and the unknown guest； names to which we
might add that of the superior subconsciousness or superior psychism
invented by Dr。 Geley。 Granting that these manifestations are really proved；
it is no longer possible to explain them or rather to classify them without
having recourse to fresh theories。 Now we can entertain doubts on many
points； we can cavil and argue； but I defy anyone approaching these facts
in a serious and honest spirit to reject them all。 It is permissible to neglect
the most extraordinary； but there are a multitude of others which have
become or； to speak more accurately； are acknowledged to be as frequent
and habitual as any fact whatever in normal； everyday life。 It is not
difficult to reproduce them at will； provided we place ourselves in the
condition demanded by their very nature； and； this being so； there remains
no valid reason for excluding them from the domain of science in the strict
sense of the word。
Hitherto； all that we have learnt regarding these occurrences is that
their origin is unknown。 It will be said that this is not much and that the
discovery is nothing to boast of。 I quite agree： to imagine that one can
explain a phenomena by saying that it is produced by an unknown agency
would indeed be childish。 But it is already something to have marked its
source； not to be still lingering in the thick of a fog； trying any and every
direction in order to find a way out； but to be concentrating our attention
on a single spot which is the starting…point of all these wonders； so that at
each instant we recognize in each phenomenon the characteristic customs；
methods or features of the same unknown agency。 It is very nearly all that
we can do for the moment； but this first effort is not wholly to be despised。
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2
It has seemed to us then that it was our unknown guest that expressed
itself in the name of the dead in table…turning and in automatic writing and
speaking。 This unknown
