a journey in other worlds-第47节

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a　liquid　or　a　solid。　　On　earth　the　state　of　a　substance；　whether
solid；　liquid；　or　gaseous；　depends　simply　upon　those　two
conditions。　　Here　neither　thermal　nor　barometric　changes　are
required；　for；　by　mastering　the　new　natural　laws　that　at　death
become　patent　to　our　senses；　we　have　all　the　necessary　control。　
It　requires　but　an　effort　of　my　will　to　be　almost　instantly
clothed　in　human　form；　and　but　another　effort　to　rearrange　the
molecules　in　such　a　way　as　to　make　the　envelope　visible。　　Some
who　have　been　dead　longer；　or　had　a　greater　natural　aptitude　than
I；　have　advanced　further；　and　all　are　learning；　but　the
difference　in　the　rate　at　which　spirits　acquire　control　of
previously　unknown　natural　laws　varies　far　more　than　among
individuals　on　earth。
　　　
〃These　forms　of　organic　life　do　not　disintegrate　till　after
death；　here　in　the　natural　state　they　break　down　and　dissolve
into　their　structural　elements　in　full　bloom；　as　was　done　by　the
fungi。　　The　poisonous　element　in　the　deadly　gust；　against　which　I
warned　you；　came　from　the　gaseous　ingredients　of　toadstools；
which　but　seldom；　and　then　only　when　the　atmosphere　has　the
greatest　affinity　for　them；　dissolve　automatically；　producing　a
death…spreading　wave；　against　which　your　meteorological
instruments　in　future　can　warn　you。　　The　slight　fall　you　noticed
in　temperature　was　because　the　specific　heat　of　these　gases　is
high；　and　to　become　gas　while　in　the　solid　state　they　had　to
withdraw　some　warmth　from　the　air。　　The　fatal　breath　of　the
winged　lizardsor　dragons；　as　you　call　themresults　from　the
same　cause；　the　action　of　their　digestion　breaking　up　the　fungus；
which　does　not　kill　them；　because　they　exhale　the　poisonous　part
in　gaseous　form　with　their　breath。　　The　mushrooms　dissolve　more
easily；　the　natural　separation　that　takes　place　as　they　reach　a
certain　stage　in　their　development　being　precipitated　by
concussion　or　shock。
　　　
〃Having　seen　that；　as　on　earth；　we　gain　control　of　the　material
first；　our　acquisitiveness　then　extends　to　a　better　understanding
and　appreciation　of　our　new　senses；　and　we　are　continually
finding　new　objects　of　beauty；　and　new　beauties　in　things　we
supposed　we　already　understood。　　We　were　accustomed　on　earth　to
the　marvellous　variety　that　Nature　produced　from　apparently
simple　means　and　presented　to　our　very　limited　senses；　here　there
is　an　indescribably　greater　variety　to　be　examined　by　vastly
keener　senses。　　The　souls　in　hell　have　an　equally　keen　but
distorted　counterpart　of　our　senses；　so　that　they　see　in　a
magnified　form　everything　vile　in　themselves　and　in　each　other。　
To　their　senses　only　the　ugly　and　hateful　side　is　visible；　so
that　the　beauty　and　perfume　of　a　flower　are　to　them　as　loathsome
as　the　appearance　and　fumes　of　a　toadstool。　　As　evolution　and　the
tendency　of　everything　to　perpetuate　itself　and　intensify　its
peculiarities　are　invariable　throughout　the　universe；　these
unhappy　souls　and　ourselves　seem　destined　to　diverge　more　and
more　as　time　goes　on；　and　while　we　constantly　become　happier　as
our　capacity　for　happiness　increases；　their　sharpening　senses
will　give　them　a　worse　and　worse　idea　of　each　other；　till　their
mutual　repugnance　will　know　no　bounds；　and　of　everything
concerning　which　they　obtain　knowledge　through　their　senses。　
Thus　these　poor　creatures　seem　to　be　the　victims　of　circumstances
and　the　unalterable　laws　of　fate；　and　were　there　such　a　thing　as
death；　their　misery　would　unquestionably　finally　break　their
hearts。　　That　there　will　be　final　forgiveness　for　the　condemned；
has　long　been　a　human　hope；　but　as　yet　they　have　experienced
none；　and　there　is　no　analogy　for　it　in　Nature。
　　　
〃But　while　you　have　still　your　earthly　bodies　and　the
opportunities　they　give　you　of　serving　God；　you　need　not　be
concerned　about　hell；　no　one　on　earth；　knowing　how　things　really
are；　would　ever　again　forsake　His　ways。　　The　earthly　state　is　the
most　precious　opportunity　of　securing　that　for　which　a　man　would
give　his　all。　　Even　from　the　most　worldly　point　of　view；　a　man　is
an　unspeakable　fool　not　to　improve　his　talents　and　do　good。　　What
would　those　in　sheol　not　give　now　for　but　one　day　in　the　flesh　on
earth；　of　which　you　unappreciatives　may　still　have　so　many？　　The
well…used　opportunities　of　even　one　hour　might　bring　joy　to　those
in　paradise　forever；　and　greatly　ease　the　lot　of　those　in　hell。　
In　doing　acts　of　philanthropy；　however；　you　must　remember　the
text　of　the　sermon　the　doctor　of　divinity　preached　to　Craniner
and　Ridley　just　before　they　perished　at　the　stake：　　'Though　I
give　my　body　to　be　burned；　and　have　not　charity；　it　profiteth　me
nothing'which　shows　that　even　good　deeds　must　be　performed　in
the　proper　spirit。
　　　
〃A　new　era　is　soon　to　dawn　on　earth。　　Notwithstanding　your　great
material　progress；　the　future　will　exceed　all　the　past。　　Man　will
find　every　substance's　maximum　use；　thereby　vastly　increasing　his
comfort。　　Then；　when　advanced　in　science　and　reason；　with　the
power　of　his　senses　increased　by　the　delicate　instruments　that
you；　as　the　forerunners　of　the　coming　man；　are　already　learning
to　make；　may　he　cease　to　be　a　groveller；　like　our　progenitors　the
quadrupeds；　and　may　his　thoughts　rise　to　his　Creator；　who　has
brought　him　to　such　heights　through　all　the　intricacies　of　the
way。　　Your　preparation　for　the　life　to　come　can　also　be　greatly
aided　by　intercourse　with　those　who　have　already　died。　　When　you
really　want　to　associate　spiritually　with　us；　you　can　do　so；　for；
though　perhaps　only　one　in　a　hundred　million　can；　like　me；　so
clothe　himself　as　to　be　again　visible　to　mortal　eyes；　many　of　us
could　affect　gelatine　or　extremely　sensitive　plates　that　would
show　interruptions　in　the　ultra…violet　chemical　rays　that；　like
the　thermal　red　beyond　the　visible　spectroscope；　you　know　exist
though　you　can　neither　see　nor　feel　them。　　Spirits　could　not
affect　the　magnetic　eye；　because　magnetism；　though　immaterial
itself；　is　induced　and　affected　only　by　a　material　substance。　
The　impression　on　the　plate；　however；　like　the　prismatic　colours
you　have　already　noticed；　can　be　produced　by　a　slight　rarefaction
of　the　hydrogen　in　the　air；　so　that；　though　no　spirit　could　be
photographed　as　such；　a　code　and　language　might　be　established　by
means　of　the　effect　produced　on　the　air　by　the　spirit's　mind。　　I
am　so　interested　in　the　subject　of　my　disquisition　that　I　had
almost　forgotten　that　your　spirits　are　still　subject　to　the
requirements　of　the　body。　　Last　time　I　dined　with　you；　let　me　now
play　the　host。〃
　　　
〃We　shall　be　charmed　to　dine　with　you；〃　said　Ayrault；　〃and　shall
be　only　too　glad　of　anything　that　will　keep　you　with　us。〃
　　　
〃Then；〃　said　the　spirit；　〃as　the　tablecloth　is　laid；　we　need　only
to　have　something　on　it。　　Let　each　please　hold　a　corner；〃　he
continued；　taking　one　himself　with　his　left　hand；　while　he　passed
his　right　to　his　brow。　　Soon　flakes　as　of　snow　began　to　form　in
the　air　above；　and　slowly　descended　upon　the　cloth；　and；　glancing
up；　the　three　men　saw　that　for　a　considerable　height　this　process
was　going　on；　the　flakes　increasing　in　size　as　they　fell　till
they　attained　a　length　of　several　inches。　　When　there　was　enough
for　them　all　on　the　table…cloth　the　shower　ceased。　　Sitting　down
on　the　ground；　they　began　to　eat　this　manna；　which　had　a
delicious　flavour　and　marvellous　purity　and　freshness。
　　　
〃As　you　doubtless　have　already　suspected；〃　said　the　spirit；　〃the
basis　of　this　in　every　case　is　carbon；　combined　with　nitrogen　in
its　solid　form；　and　with　the　other　gases　the　atmosphere　here
contains。　　You　may　notice　that　the　flakes　vary　in　colour　as　well
as　in　taste；　both　of　which　are　of　course　governed　by　the　gas　with
which　the　carbon；　also　in　its　visible　form；　is　combined。　　It　is
almost　the　same　process　as　that　performed　by　every　plant　in
withdrawing　carbon　from　the　air　and　storing　it　in　its　trunk　in
the　form　of　wood；　which；　as　charcoal；　is　again　almost　pure
carbon；　only　in　this　case　the　metamorphosis　is　far　more　rapid。　
This　is　perhaps　the　natural　law　that　Elijah；　by　God's　aid；
invoked　in　the　miracle　of　the　widow's　cruse；　and　that　produced
the　manna　that　fed　the　Israelites　in　the　desert；　while　apergy
came　in　play　in　the　case　of　the　stream　that　Moses　called　from　the
rock　in　the　wilderness；　which　followed　the　descendants　of　Abraham
over　the　rough　country　through　which　they　passed。　　In　examining
miracles　with　the　utmost　deference；　as　we　have　a　right　to；　we　see
one　law　running　through　all。　　Even　in　Christ's　miracle　of
changing　the　water　to　wine；　there　was　a　natural　law；　though　only
one　has　dwelt　on　earth　who　could　make　that　change；　which；　from　a
chemist's　standpoint；　was　peculiarly　difficult　on　account　of　the
required　fermentation；　which　is　the　result　of　a　developed　and
matured　germ。　　Many　of　His　miracles；　however；　are　as　far　beyond
my　small　power　as　heaven　is　above　the　earth。　　Much　of　the
substance　of　the　loaves　and　fishes　with　which　He　fed　the
multitudethe　carbon　and　nitrogenous　productsalso　came　from
the　air；　though　He　could　have　taken　them　from　many　other　sources。　
The　combination　and　building　up　of　these　in　the　ordinary　way
would　have　taken　weeks　or　months；　but　was　performed
instantaneously　by　His　mighty