the unknown guest(陌生客)-第2节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
polarization of light or as crystallization by means of electric currents。
In the same group may be placed the movement and transportation of
objects without contact； the touches of spirit hands； the luminous
phenomena and materialization。 Like table…turning； they demand the
presence of a medium。 I need not observe that we here find ourselves in
the happy hunting…ground of the impostor and that even the most powerful
mediums； those possessing the most genuine and undeniable gifts； such as
the celebrated Eusapia Paladino； are upon occasionand the occasion
occurs but too oftenincorrigible cheats。 But； when we have made every
allowance for fraud； there nevertheless remains a considerable number of
incidents so rigorously attested that we most needs accept them or else
abandon all human certainty。
The case is not quite the same with levitation and the wonders
performed； so travelers tell us； by certain Indian jugglers。 Though the
prolonged burial of a living being is very nearly proved and can doubtless
be physiologically explained； there are many other tricks on which we
have so far no authoritative pronouncement。 I will not speak of the
〃mango…tree〃 and the 〃basket…trick；〃 which are mere conjuring； but the
〃fire…walk〃 and the famous 〃rope…climbing trick〃 remain more of a
mystery。
The fire…walk； or walk on red…hot bricks or glowing coals； is a sort of
religious ceremony practiced in the Indies； in some of the Polynesian
islands； in Mauritius and elsewhere。 As the result of incantations uttered
5
… Page 6…
THE UNKNOWN GUEST
by the high priest； the bare feet of the faithful who follow him upon the
bed of burning pebbles or brands seem to become almost insensible to the
touch of fire。 Travelers are anything but agreed whether the heat of the
surface traversed is really intolerable； whether the extraordinary power of
endurance is explained by the thickness of the horny substance which
protects the soles of the natives' feet； whether the feet are burnt or whether
the skin remains untouched； and； under present conditions； the question is
too uncertain to make it worth while to linger over it。
〃Rope…climbing〃 is more extraordinary。 The juggler takes his stand in
an open space； far from any tree or house。 He is accompanied by a child；
and his only impedimenta are a bundle of ropes and an old canvas sack。
The juggler throws one end of the rope up in the air； and the rope； as
though drawn by an invisible hook； uncoils and rises straight into the sky
until the end disappears； and； soon after； there come tumbling from the
blue two arms； two legs； a head and so on； all of which the wizard picks
up and crams into the sack。 He next utters a few magic words over it and
opens it； and the child steps out； bowing and smiling to the spectators。
This is the usual form taken by this particular sorcery。 It is pretty rare
and seems to be practised only by one sect which originated in the North…
West Provinces。 It has not yet perhaps been sufficiently investigated to
take its place among the evidence mentioned show。 If it were really as I
have described； it could hardly be explained save by some strange
hallucinatory power emanating from the juggler or illusionist； who
influences the audience by suggestion and makes it see what he wishes。 In
that case the suggestion or hallucination covers a very extensive area。 In
point of fact； onlookers； Europeans； on the balconies of houses at some
distance from the crowd of natives； have been known to experience the
same influence。 This would be one of the most curious manifestations of
that 〃unknown guest〃 of which we shall speak again later when； after
enumerating its acts and deeds； we try to investigate and note down the
eccentricities of its character。
Levitation in the proper sense of the word； that is to say； the raising；
without contact； and floating of an inanimate object or even of a person；
might possibly be due to the same hallucinatory power； but hitherto the
6
… Page 7…
THE UNKNOWN GUEST
instances have not been sufficiently numerous or authentic to allow us to
draw any conclusions。 Also we shall meet with it again when we come to
the chapter treating of the materializations of which it forms part。
7
… Page 8…
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
8
… Page 9…
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 hap
