the unknown guest(陌生客)-第21节
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Here is another which evidently belongs to the same class； though at
first sight it seems to postulate the preexistence of a fatal event and a
vision of the future corresponding exactly with a vision of the past。 A
traveler in South America is descending a river in a canoe； the party are
just about to run close to a promontory when a sort of mysterious voice；
which he has already heard at different momentous times of his life；
imperiously orders him immediately to cross the river and gain the other
shore as quickly as possible。 This appears so absurd that he is obliged to
threaten the Indians with death to force them to take this course。 They
have scarcely crossed more than half the river when the promontory falls
at the very place where they meant to round it。＇1＇
＇1＇ Flournoy： Esprits et mediums； p。 316。
The perception of imminent danger is here； I admit； even more
abnormal than in the previous example； but it comes under the same
heading。 It is a phenomenon of subliminal hypersensitiveness observed
more than once； a sort of premonition induced by subconscious
perceptions； which has been christened by the barbarous name of
〃cryptaesthesia。〃 But the interval between the moment when the peril is
signalled and that at which it is consummated is too short for those
questions which relate to a knowledge or a preexistence of the future to
arise in this instance。
The case is almost the same with the adventure of an American dentist；
very carefully investigated by Dr。 Hodgson。 The dentist was bending over
a bench on which was a little copper in which he was vulcanizing some
rubber； when he heard a voice calling； in a quick and imperative manner；
these words：
〃Run to the window； quick！ Run to the window； quick！〃
He at once ran to the window and looked out to the street below； when
suddenly he heard a tremendous report and； looking round； saw that the
copper had exploded； destroying a great part of the workroom。＇1＇
＇1＇ Proceedings； vol。 xi。； p。 424。
Here again； a subconscious cautiousness was probably amused by
certain indications imperceptible to our ordinary senses。 It is even possible
that there exists between things and ourselves a sort of sympathy or
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subliminal communion which makes us experience the trials and emotions
of matter that has reached the limits of its existence； unless； as is more
likely； there is merely a simple coincidence between the chance idea of a
possible explosion and its realization。
A last and rather more complicated case is that of Jean Dupre； the
sculptor； who was driving alone with his wife along a mountain road；
skirting a perpendicular cliff。 Suddenly they both heard a voice that
seemed to come from the mountain crying：
〃Stop！〃
They turned round； saw nobody and continued their road。 But the cries
were repeated again and again； without anything to reveal the presence of
a human being amid the solitude。 At last the sculptor alighted and saw that
the left wheel of the carriage； which was grazing the edge of the precipice；
had lost its linch…pin and was on the point of leaving the axle…tree； which
would almost inevitably have hurled the carriage into the abyss。
Need we； even here； relinquish the theory of subconscious perceptions？
Do we know and can the author of the anecdote； whose good faith is not in
question； tell us that certain unperceived circumstances； such as the
grating of the wheel or the swaying of the carriage； did not give him the
first alarm？ After all； we know how easily stories of this kind involuntarily
take a dramatic turn even at the actual moment and especially afterwards。
21
These examplesand there are many more of a similar kindare
enough； I think； to illustrate this class of premonitions。 The problem in
these cases is simpler than when it relates to fruitless warnings； at least it
is simpler so long as we do not bring into discussion the question of spirits；
of unknown intelligences； or of an actual knowledge of the future；
otherwise the same difficulty reappears and the warning； which this time
seems efficacious； is in reality just as vain。 In fact； the mysterious entity
which knows that the traveler will go to the water's edge； that the wheel
will be on the point of leaving the axle； that the copper will explode； or
that the promontory will fall at a precise moment； must at the same time
know that the traveler will not take the last fatal step； that the carriage will
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not be overturned； that the copper will not hurt anybody and that the canoe
will pull away from the promontory。 It is inadmissible that； seeing one
thing； it will not see the other； since everything happens at the same point；
in the course of the same second。 Can we say that； if it had not given
warning； the little saving movement would not have been executed？ How
can we imagine a future which； at one and the same time； has parts that are
steadfast and others that are not？ If it is foreseen that the promontory will
fall and that the traveler will escape； thanks to the supernatural warning； it
is necessarily foreseen that the warning will be given； and； if so； what is
the point of this futile comedy？ I see no reasonable explanation of it in the
spiritist or spiritualistic theory； which postulates a complete knowledge of
the future； at least at a settled point and moment。 On the other hand； if we
adhere to the theory of a subliminal consciousness； we find there an
explanation which is quite worthy of acceptation。 This subliminal
consciousness； though； in the majority of cases； it has no clear and
comprehensive vision of the immediate future； can nevertheless possess an
intuition of imminent danger； thanks to indications that escape our
ordinary perception。 It can also have a partial； intermittent and so to speak
flickering vision of the future event and； if doubtful； can risk giving an
incoherent warning； which； for that matter； will change nothing in that
which already is。
22
In conclusion； let us state once more that fruitful premonitions
necessarily annihilate events in the bud and consequently work their own
destruction； so that any control becomes impossible。 They would have an
existence only if they prophesied a general event which the subject would
not escape but for the warning。 If they had said to any one intending to go
to Messina two or three months before the catastrophe； 〃Don't go； for the
town will be destroyed before the month is out；〃 we should have an
excellent example。 But it is a remarkable thing that genuine premonitions
of this kind are very rare and nearly always rather indefinite in regard to
events of a general order。 In M。 Bozzano's excellent collection； which is a
sort of compendium of Premonitory phenomena； the only pretty clear
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cases are nos。 cli； and clviii。； both of which are taken from the Journal of
the S。P。R。 In the first；＇1＇ a mother sent a servant to bring home her little
daughter； who had already left the house with the intention of going
through the 〃railway garden；〃 a strip of ground between the se。 wall and
the railway embankment； in order to sit on the great stone； by the seaside
and see the trains pass by。 A few minutes after the little girl's departure； the
mother had distinctly and repeatedly heard a voice within her say：
〃Send for her back； or something dreadful will happen to her。〃
＇1＇ Journal； vol。 viii。； p。 45。
Now； soon after； a train ran off the line and the engine and tender fell；
breaking through the protecting wall and crashing down on the very stones
where the child was accu
