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>Fromthemaybeenchantedatmospherethatsurroundsnumbersweshallpassmoreeasilytotheevenmoremagicmistsofthefinaltheory，theonlyoneremainingtousforthemoment：themediumisticorsubliminaltheory。This，wemustremember，isnotthetelepathictheoryproperwhichdecisiveexperimentshavemadeusreject。Letushavethecouragetoventureuponit。Whenonecannolongerinterpretaphenomenonbytheknown，wemustneedstrytodosobytheunknown。We，therefore，nowenteranewprovinceofagreatunexploredkingdom，inwhichweshallfindourselveswithoutaguide。
Mediumisticphenomena，manifestationsofthesecondaryorthesubliminalconsciousness，betweenmanandman，are，aswehavemorethanoncehadoccasiontoassureourselves，capricious，undisciplined，evasiveanduncertain，butmorefrequentthanonethoughtand，toonewhoexamines，themseriouslyandhonestly，oftenundeniable。Havesimilarmanifestationsbeendiscoveredbetweenmanandtheanimals？Thestudyofthesemanifestations，whichisverydifficulteveninthecaseofman，becomesstillmoresowhenwequestionwitnessesdoomedtosilence。Thereare，however，someanimalswhicharelookeduponas\"psychic，\"which，inotherwords，seemindisputablytobesensitivetocertainsubliminalinfluences。Oneusuallyclassesthecat，thedogandthehorseinthissomewhatill-definedcategory。Tothesesuperstitiousanimalsonemightperhapsaddcertainbirds，moreorlessbirdsofomen，andevenafewinsects，notablythebees。
Otheranimals，suchas，forinstance，theelephantandthemonkey，appeartobeproofagainstmystery。Bethisasitmay，M。
ErnestBozzano，inanexcellentarticleonLesPerceptionspsychiquesdesanimaux，[1]collectedin1905sixty-ninecasesoftelepathy，presentimentsandhallucinationsofsightorhearinginwhichtheprincipalactorsarecats，dogsandhorses。Thereare，evenamongthem，ghostsorphantomsofdogswhich，aftertheirdeath，returntohauntthehomesinwhichtheywerehappy。
MostofthesecasesaretakenfromtheProceedingsoftheS。P。
R。，thatistosay，theyhavenearlyallbeenverystrictlyinvestigated。Itisimpossible，shortoffillingthesepageswithoftenstrikingandtouchingbutrathercumbersomeanecdotes，toenumeratethemhere，howeverbriefly。Itwillbesufficienttonotethatsometimesthedogbeginstohowlattheexactmomentwhenhismasterloseshislife，forinstance，onabattlefield，hundredsofmilesfromtheplacewherethedogis。Morecommonly，thecat，thedogandthehorseplainlymanifestthattheyperceive，oftenbeforemendo，telepathicapparitions，phantasmsofthelivingorthedead。Horsesinparticularseemverysensitivetoplacesthatpassashauntedoruncanny。Onthewhole，theresultoftheseobservationsisthatwecanhardlydisputethattheseanimalscommunicateasmuchaswedoandperhapsinthesamefashionwiththemysterythatliesaroundus。
Therearemomentsatwhich，likeman，theyseetheinvisibleandperceiveevents，influencesandemotionsthatarebeyondtherangeoftheirnormalsenses。Itis，therefore，permissibletobelievethattheirnervoussystemorsomeremoteorsecretpartoftheirbeingcontainsthesamepsychicelementsconnectingthemwithanunknownthatinspiresthemwithasmuchterrorasitdoesourselves。And，letussayinpassing，thisterrorisratherstrange；for，afterall，whathavetheytofearfromaphantomoranapparition，theywho，weareconvincedhavenoafter-lifeandwhoought，therefore，toremainperfectlyindifferenttothemanifestations，ofaworldinwhichtheywillneversetfoot？
[1]Annalesdessciencespsychiques，August，1905，pp422-469。
Ishallperhapsbetoldthatitisnotcertainthattheseapparitionsareobjective，thattheycorrespondwithanexternalreality，butthatitisexceedinglypossiblethattheyspringsolelyfromtheman’sortheanimal’sbrain。Thisisnotthemomenttodiscussthisveryobscurepoint，whichraisesthewholequestionofthesupernaturalandalltheproblemsofthehereafter。Theonlyimportantthingtoobserveisthatatonetimeitismanwhotransmitshisterror，hisperceptionorhisideaoftheinvisibletotheanimalandatanothertheanimalwhichtransmitsitssensationstoman。Wehavehere，therefore，intercommunicationswhichspringfromadeepercommonsourcethananythatweknowandwhich，toissuefromitorgobacktoit，passthroughotherchannelsthanthoseofourcustomarysenses。
Nowallthisbelongstothatunexplainedsensibility，tothatsecrettreasure，tothatasyetundeterminedpsychicpowerwhich，forlackofabetterterm，wecallsubconsciousnessorsubliminalconsciousness。Moreover，itisnotsurprisingthatintheanimals，thesesubliminalfacultiesnotonlyexist，butareperhapskeenerandmoreactivethaninourselves，becauseitisourconsciousandabnormallyindividualizedlifethatatrophiesthembyrelegatingthemtoastateofidlenesswhereintheyhavefewerandfeweropportunitiesofbeingexercised，whereasinourbrotherswhoarelessdetachedfromtheuniverse，consciousness——ifwecangivethatnametoaveryuncertainandconfusednotionoftheego——isreducedtoafewelementaryactions。Theyaremuchlessseparatedthanourselvesfromthewholeofthecircumambientlifeandtheystillpossessanumberofthosemoregeneralandindeterminatesenseswhereofwehavebeendeprivedbythegradualencroachmentofanarrowandintolerantspecialfaculty，ourintelligence。Amongthesesenseswhichuptothepresentwehavedescribedasinstincts，forwant——anditisbecomingapressingwant——ofamoresuitableanddefiniteword，needImentionthesenseofdirection，migration，foreknowledgeoftheweather，ofearthquakesandavalanchesandmanyotherswhichwedoubtlessdonotevensuspect？Doesallthisnotbelongtoasubconsciousnesswhichdiffersfromoursonlyinbeingsomuchricher？
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Iamfullyawarethatthisexplanationbymeansofthesubliminalconsciousnesswillnotexplainverymuchandwillatmostinvoketheaidoftheunknowntoilluminatetheincomprehensible。Buttoexplainaphenomenon，aDr。J。deModzelwskiverytrulysays，\"istoputforwardatheorywhichismorefamiliarandmoreeasilycomprehensibletousthanthephenomenonatissue。\"Thisisreallywhatweareconstantlyandalmostexclusivelydoinginphysics，chemistry，biologyandineverybranchofsciencewithoutexception。Toexplainaphenomenonisnotnecessarilytomakeitasclearandlucidasthattwoandtwoarefour；and，evenso，thefactthattwoandtwoarefourisnot，whenwegotothebottomofthings，asclearandlucidasitseems。Whatinthiscase，asinmostothers，wewrongfullycallexplainingissimplyconfrontingtheunexpectedmysterywhichthesehorsesofferuswithafewphenomenawhicharethemselvesunknown，butwhichhavebeenperceivedlongerandmorefrequently。Andthissamemystery，thusexplained，willserveonedaytoexplainothers。Itisinthiswaythatsciencegoestowork。Wemustnotblameit：itdoeswhatitcan；anditdoesnotappearthatthereareotherways。
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Ifweassenttothisexplanationbymeansofthesubliminalconsciousness，whichisasortofmysteriousparticipationinallthathappensinthisworldandtheothers，manyobstaclesdisappearandweenterintoanewregioninwhichwedrawstrangelynearertotheanimalsandreallybecometheirbrothersbycloserlinks，perhapstheonlyessentiallinksinlife。Theytakepartfromthatmomentinthegreathumanproblems，intheextraordinaryactionsofourunknownguest；and，if，sincewehavebeenobservingtheindwellingforcemoreattentively，nothinganylongersurprisesusofthatwhichitrealizesinus，nomoreshouldanythingsurpriseusofthatwhichitrealizesinthem。Weareonthesameplanewiththem，insomeasyetundeterminedelement，whenitisnolongertheintelligencethatreignsalone，butanotherspiritualpower，whichpaysnoheedtothebrain，whichpassesbyotherroadsandwhichmightratherbethepsychicsubstanceoftheuniverseitself，nolongersetingrooves，isolatedandspecializedbyman，butdiffused，multiformandperhaps，ifwecouldtraceit，equalineverythingthatexists。
Thereis，henceforth，noreasonwhythehorsesshouldnotparticipateinmostofthemediumistic，phenomenawhichwefindexistingbetweenmanandman；andtheirmysteryceasestobedistinctfromthoseofhumanmetaphysics。Iftheirsubliminalisakintoours，wecanbeginbyextendingtoitsutmostlimitsthetelepathictheory，whichhas，sotospeak，nolimits，for，inthematteroftelepathy，asMyershassaid，allthatwearepermittedtodeclareisthat\"lifehasthepowerofmanifestingitselftolife。\"Wemayaskourselves，therefore，iftheproblemwhichI
settothehorse，withoutknowingthetermsofit，isnotcommunicatedtomysubliminal，whichisignorantofit，bythatofthehorse，whohasreadit。Itispracticallycertainthatthisispossiblebetweenhumansubliminals。IsitIwhoseethesolutionandtransmitittothehorse，whoonlyrepeatsittome？
But，supposethatitisaproblemwhichImyselfamincapableofsolving？Whencedoesthesolutioncome，then？Idonotknowiftheexperimenthasbeenattempted，underthesameconditions，withahumanmedium。Forthatmatter，ifitsucceeded，itwouldbeverymuchthesameasthenolesssubliminalphenomenonofthearithmeticalprodigies，orlightningcalculators，withwhich，inthisrathersuperhumanatmosphere，wearealmostforcedtocomparetheriddleofthemathematicalhorses。Ofalltheinterpretations，itistheonewhich，forthemoment，appearstometheleasteccentricandthemostnatural。
Wehaveseenthatthegiftofhandlingcolossalfiguresisalmostforeigntotheintelligenceproper；onecan，evendeclarethat，incertaincases，itisevidentlyandcompletelyindependentofsuchintelligence。Inthesecases，thegiftismanifestedpriortoanyeducationandfromtheearliestyearsofchildhood。IfwerefertothelistofarithmeticalprodigiesgivenbyDr。
Scripure，[1]weseethatthefacultymadeitsappearanceinAmpereattheageofthree，inColburnatsix，inGaussatthree，inMangiameleatten，inSaffordatsix，inWhateleyatthree，andsoon。Generally，itlastsforonlyafewyears，becomingrapidlyenfeebledwithageandusuallyvanishingsuddenlyatthemomentwhenitspossessorbeginstogotoschool。
[1]AmericanJournalofPsychology，1April1891。
Whenyouaskthosechildrenandevenmostofthelightningcalculatorswhohavecometoman’sestatehowtheygotoworktosolvethehugeandcomplicatedproblemssetthem，theyreplythattheyknownothingaboutit。Bidder，forinstance，declaresthatitisimpossibleforhimtosayhowhecaninstinctivelytellthelogarithmofanumberconsistingofsevenoreightfigures。ItisthesamewithSafford，who，attheageoften，usedtodoinhishead，withoutevermakingamistake，multiplication-sumstheresultofwhichranintothirty-sixfigures。Thesolutionpresentsitselfauthoritativelyandspontaneously；itisavision，animpression，aninspiration，anintuitioncomingoneknowsnotwhence，suddenlyandindubitably。Asarole，theydonoteventrytocalculate。Contrarytothegeneralbelief，theyhavenopeculiarmethods；or，ifmethodtherebe，itismoreapracticalwayofsubdividingtheintuition。Onewouldthinkthatthesolutionspringssuddenlyfromtheveryenunciationoftheproblem，inthesamewayasaveridicalhallucination。Itappearstorise，infallibleandready-done，fromasortofeternalandcosmicreservoirwhereintheanswerstoeveryquestionliedormant。Itmust，therefore，beadmittedthatwehavehereaphenomenonthatoccursaboveorbelowthebrain，bythesideoftheconsciousnessandthemind，outsidealltheintellectualmethodsandhabits；anditispreciselyforphenomenaofthiskindthatMyersinventedtheword\"subliminal。\"[1]
[1]Ihavenoneedtorecallthederivationofthetermsubliminal：beneath（sub）thethreshold（limen）ofconsciousness。
Letusadd，asM。deVesmeveryrightlyremarks，thatthesubliminalisnotexactlywhatclassicalpsychologycallsthesubconsciousness，whichlatterrecordsonlynotionsthatarenormallyperceivedandpossessesonlynormalfaculties，thatistosay，facultiesrecognizedto-daybyorthodoxscience。
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Doesnotallthisbringusalittlenearertoourcalculatinghorses？Fromthemomentthatitisdemonstratedthatthesolutionofamathematicalproblemnolongerdependsexclusivelyonthebrain，butonanotherfaculty，anotherspiritualpowerwhosepresenceundervariousformshasbeenascertainedbeyondadoubtincertainanimals，itceasestobewhollyrashorextravaganttosuggestthatperhaps，inthehorse，thesamephenomenonisreproducedanddevelopedinthesameunknown，whereinmoreoverthemysteriesofnumbersandthoseofsubconsciousnessmingleinalikedarkness。Iamwellawarethatanexplanationladentosuchanextentwithmysteriesexplainsbutverylittlemorethansilencedoes；nevertheless，itisatleastasilencetraversedbyrestlessmurmurs，andsedulouswhispersthatarebetterthanthegloomyandhopelessignorancetowhichwewouldhaveperforcetoresignourselvesifwedidnot，inspiteofall，toperformthegreatdutyofman，whichistodiscoverasparkinthedarkness。
Itgoeswithoutsayingthatobjectionsareraisedfromeveryside。Amongmen，arithmeticalprodigiesarelookeduponasmonsters，asasortofextremelyrareteratologicalphenomenon。
Wecancount，atmost，half-a-dozeninacentury，whereas，amonghorses，thefacultywouldappeartobealmostgeneral，oratleastquitecommon。Infact，outofsixorsevenstallionswhomKralltriedtoinitiateintothesecretsofmathematics，hefoundonlytwothatappearedtohimtoopoorlygiftedforhimtowastetimeontheireducation。Thesewere，Ibelieve，twothoroughbredsthatwerepresentedtohimbytheGrand-dukeofMecklenburgandsentbackbyKralltotheirsumptuousstables。Inthefourorfiveothers，takenatrandomascircumstancessuppliedthem，hemetwithaptitudesunequal，itistrue，buteasilydevelopedandgivingtheimpressionthattheyexistnormally，latentandinactive，atthebottomofeveryequinesoul。Fromthemathematicalpointofview，isthehorse’ssubliminalconsciousnessthensuperiortoman’s？Whynot？Hiswholesubliminalbeingisprobablysuperiortoone，ofgreaterrange，younger，fresher，morealiveandlessheavy，sinceitisnotincessantlyattacked，coercedandhumiliatedbytheintelligencewhichgnawsatit，stiflesit，cloaksitandrelegatesittoadarkcornerwhichneitherlightnoraircanpenetrate。Hissubliminalconsciousnessisalwayspresent，alwaysalert；oursisneverthere，isasleepatthebottomofadesertedwellandneedsexceptionaloperations，resultsandeventsbeforeitcanbedrawnfromitsslumberanditsunremembereddeeps。Allthisseemsveryextraordinary；but，inanycase，wearehereinthemidstoftheextraordinary；andthisoutletisperhapstheleasthazardous。Itisnotaquestion，wemustremember，ofacerebraloperation，anintellectualperformance，butofagiftofdivinationcloselyalliedtoothergiftsofthesamenatureandthesameoriginwhicharenotthepeculiarattributeofman。Noobservation，noexperimentenablesus，uptothepresent，toestablishadifferencebetweenthesubliminalofhumanbeingsandthatofanimals。Onthecontrary，theasyetrestrictednumberofactualcasesrevealsconstantandstrikinganalogiesbetweenthetwo。Inmostofthosearithmeticaloperations，beitnoted，thesubliminalofthehorsebehavesexactlylikethatofthemediuminarateoftrance。Thehorsereadilyreversesthefiguresofthesolution；hereplies，\"37，\"forinstance，insteadof\"73，\"
whichisamediumisticphenomenonsowell-knownandsofrequentthatithasbeenstyled\"mirror-writing。\"Hemakesmistakesfairlyofteninthemostelementaryadditions，andsubtractionsandmuchlessfrequentlyintheextractionofthemostcomplicatedroots，whichagain，insimilarcases，suchas\"xenoglossy\"andpsychometry，isoneoftheeccentricitiesofhumanmediumismandisexplainedbythesamecause，namely，theinopportuneinterventionoftheeverfallibleintelligence，which，bymeddlinginthematter，altersthecertaintiesofasubliminalwhich，whenlefttoitself，nevermakesamistake。Itis，infact，quiteprobablethatthehorse，beingreallyabletodothesmallsums，nolongerreliessolelyonhisintuitionand，fromthatmoment，gropesandfloundersabout。Thesolutionhoversbetweentheintelligenceandthesubliminaland，passingfromtheone，whichisnotquitesureofit，totheother，whichisnoturgentlyappealedto，comesoutoftheconflictasbestitmay。
Thecaseisthesamewiththepsychometricorspiritualisticmediumwhoseekstoprofitbywhatheknowsintheordinaryway，soastocompletethevisionsorrevelationsofhissubconscioussensibility。He，too，inthisinstance，isnearlyalwaysguiltyofflagrantandinexplicableblunders。
Manyothersimilaritieswillbefoundtoexist，notablythewayinwhichthelessonsvary。Nothingismoreuncertainandcapriciousthanmanifestationsofhumanmediumism。Whetheritbeaquestionofautomaticwriting，psychometry，materializationsoranythingelse，wemeetwithseriesofsittingsthatyieldnonebutabsurdresults。Then，suddenly，forreasonsasyetobscure——thestateoftheweather，thepresenceofthisorthatwitness，orIknownotwhat——themostundeniableandbewilderingmanifestationsoccuroneaftertheother。Thecaseispreciselythesamewiththehorses：theirqueerfancies，theirunaccountableanddisconcertingfreaksdrivepoorKralltodespair。Heneveropensthedoorofthatuncertainstable，onimportantdays，withoutasinkingattheheart。Letthebeardorthefrownofsomelearnedprofessorfailtopleasethehorses：
theywill，forthwith，takeanunholydelightingivingthemostirrelevantanswertothemostelementaryquestion，forhoursandevendaysonend。
Othercommonfeaturesarethestrongly-markedpersonalityofthemediumistic\"raps\"andthecommunicationsknownas\"deferredtelepathiccommunications，\"thatistosay，thoseinwhichtheanswerisobtainedattheendofasittingtoaquestionputatthebeginningandforgottenbyallthosepresent。Whatatfirstsightseemsoneofthestrongestobjectionsurgedagainstthemediumismofthehorseeventendstoconfirmit。Ifthereplycomesfromthehorse’ssubconsciousness，ithasbeenasked，howisitthatitshouldbenecessaryfirsttoteachhimtheelementsoflanguage，mathematicsandsoforth，andthatBerto，forinstance，isincapableofsolvingthesameproblemsasMohammed？
ThisobjectionhasbeenveryablyrefutedbyM。deVesme，whowrites：
\"Toproduceautomaticwriting，amediummusthavelearnttowrite；beforeVictorienSardouorMlleHeleneSchmidtcouldproducetheirmediumisticdrawingsandpaintings，theyhadtopossessanelementaryknowledgeofdrawingandpainting；TartiniwouldneverhavecomposedTheDevil’sSonatainadream，ifhehadnotknownmusic；andsoforth。Unconsciouscerebration，howeverwonderful，canonlytakeeffectuponelementsalreadyacquiredinsomewayoranother。Thesubconsciouscerebrationofamanblindfrombirthwillnotmakehimseecolours。\"
Here，then，inthiscomparisonwhichmighteasilybeextended，areseveralfairlywell-definedfeaturesofresemblance。Wereceiveavividimpressionofthesamehabits，thesamecontradictions，andthesameeccentricities；andweoncemorerecognizethestrangeandmajesticshadowofourunknownguest。
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Onegreatobjectionremains，basedupontheverynatureofthephenomenon，uponthereallyinseparabledistancethatseparatesthewholelifeofthehorsefromtheabstractandimpenetrablelifeofnumbers。Howcanhissubliminalconsciousnessinterestitselfforamomentinsignsthatrepresentnothingtohim，havenorelationtohisorganismandwillnevertouchhisexistence？
Butinthefirstplace，itisjustthesamewiththechildortheilliteratecalculator。Heisnotinterestedeitherinthefigureswhichheletsloose。Heiscompletelyignorantoftheconsequencesoftheproblemswhichhesolves。Hejuggleswithdigitswhichhavehardlyanymoremeaningtohimthantothehorse。Heisincapableofaccountingforwhathedoes；andhissubconsciousnessalsoactsinasortofindifferentandremotedream。Itistruethat，inhiscase，wecanappealtoheredityandtomemory；butisthisdifferenceenoughtosettlethedifficultyanddefinitelytoseparatethetwophenomena？Toappealtoheredityisstilltoappealtothesubliminal；anditisnotatallcertainthatthelatterislimitedbytheinterestoftheorganismshelteringit。Itappears，onthecontrary，inmanycircumstances，tospreadandextendfarbeyondthatorganisminwhichitisdomiciled，onewouldsay，accidentallyandprovisionally。Itlikestoshow，apparently，thatitisinrelationwithallthatexists。Itdeclaresitself，asoftenaspossible，universalandimpersonal。Ithasbutaveryindifferentcare，aswehaveseeninthematterofapparitionsandpremonitions，forthehappinessandeventhesafetyofitshostandprotector。Itprophesiestoitscompanionofalifetimeeventswhichhecannotavoidorwhichdonotconcernhim。Itmakeshimseebeforehand，forinstance，allthecircumstancesofthedeathofastrangerwhomhewillonlyhearofaftertheevent，whenthiseventisirrevocable。Itbringsacrowdofbarrenpresentimentsandconjuresupveridicalhallucinationsthatarewhollyalienandidle。Withpsychometric，typtologicalormaterializingmediums，itpractisesartforart’ssake，mocksatspaceandtime，passesthroughpersonalities，seesthroughsolidbodies，bringsintocommunicationthoughtsandmotionsworldsapart，readssoulsandlivesbythelightofaflower，aragofascrapofpaper；andallthisfornothing，toamuseitself，toastonishus，becauseitadoresthesuperfluous，theincoherent，theunexpected，theimprobable，thebewildering，orrather，perhaps，becauseitisahuge，rough，undisciplinedforcestillstrugglinginthedarknessandcomingtothesurfaceonlybywildfitsandstarts，becauseitisanenormousexpansionofaspiritstrivingtocollectitself，toachieveconsciousness，tomakeitselfofserviceandtoobtainahearing。Inanycase，forthetimebeing，itappealsjustwhatwehavedescribed，andwouldbeunlikeitselfifitbehavedanyotherwiseinthecasethatpuzzlesus。
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Lastly，toclosethischapter，letusremarkthatitisnearlycertainthatthesolutiongivenbycalculatingchildrenandhorsesisnotofamathematicalnatureatall。Theydonotinanywayconsidertheproblemorthesumtobeworked。Theysimplyfindtheanswerstraightawaytoariddle，theguessingofwhichismadeeasybytheactualnatureoffigureswhichkeeptheirsecretsbadly。Toanyoneintherequisitestateofmind，itbecomesaquestionofasortofelementarycharade，whichhidesitsansweronlyfromthosewhospeakanotherlanguage。Itisevidentthateveryproblem，howevercomplexitmayappear，carrieswithinitsveryenunciationitsone，invariablesolution，scarceveiledbytheindiscreetsignsthatcontainorcoverit。
Itisthere，underthenumbersthathavenootherobjectthantogiveitlife，coming，stirringandceaselesslyproclaimingitselfanecessity。Itisnotsurprisingthereforethateyessharperthanoursandearsopentoothervibrationsshouldseeandhearitwithoutknowingwhatitrepresents，whatitimpliesorfromwhatprodigiousmassoffiguresandoperationsitmerges。Theproblemitselfspeaks；andthehorsebutrepeatsthesignwhichhehearswhisperedinthemysteriouslifeofnumbersordeepdownin，theabysswheretheeternalveritiesholdsway。Heunderstandsnoneofit，hehasnoneedtounderstand，heisbuttheunconsciousmediumwholendshisvoiceorhislimbstothemindthatinspireshim。Thereisherebutabareandsimpleanswer，bearingnoprecisesignificance，seizedinanalienexistence。Thereisherebutamechanicalrevelation，sotospeak，asortofspecialreflexwhichwecanonlyrecordandwhich，fortherest，isasinexplicableasanyotherphenomenonofconsciousnessorinstinct。Afterall，whenwethinkofit，itisjustas，astonishingthatweshouldnotperceivethesolutionasitisthatweshoulddiscoverit。However，Igrantthatallthisisbutaventuresomeinterpretationtobetakenforwhatitisworth，anexperimentalorinterimtheorywithwhichwemustneedscontentourselvessincealltheothershavehithertobeencontrovertedbythefacts。
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LetusnowbrieflysumupwhattheElberfeldexperimentshaveyieldedus。Havingputasidetelepathyinthenarrowsense——whichperhapsentersintomorethanonephenomenonbutisnotindispensabletoit，forweseethesesamephenomenarepeatedwhentelepathyispracticallyimpossible——wecannothelpobservingthat，ifwedenytheexistenceortheinfluenceofthesubliminal，itisallthemoredifficulttocontesttheexistenceandtheinterventionoftheintelligence，atanyrateuptotheextractingofroots，afterwhichthereisasteepprecipicewhichendsindarkness。But，evenifwestopattheroots，thesuddendiscoveryofanintellectualforcesosimilartoourown，wherewewereaccustomedtoseebutanirremediableimpotency，isnodoubtoneofthemostunexpectedrevelationsthatwehavereceivedsincetheinvisibleandtheunknownbegantopressuponuswithapersistenceandanimpatiencewhichtheyhadnotdisplayedheretofore。Itisnoteasytoforeseeasyettheconsequencesandthepromisesofthisnewaspectwhichthegreatriddleoftheintelligenceissuddenlyadopting。ButIbelievethatweshallsoonhavetorevisesomeoftheessentialideaswhicharethefoundationsofourlifeandthatsomeratherstrangehorizonsareappearingoutofthemistsinthehistoryofpsychology，ofmorality，ofhumandestinyandofmanyotherthings。
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Somuchfortheintelligence。Ontheotherhand，whatwedenytotheintelligenceweareconstrainedtogranttothesubliminal；
andtherevelationisevenmoredisconcerting。Weshouldthenhavetoadmitthatthemisinthehorse——andhencemostprobablyineverythingthatlivesonthisearth——apsychicpowersimilartothatwhichishiddenbeneaththeveilofourreasonandwhich，aswelearntoknowit，astonishes，surpassesanddominatesourreasonmoreandmore。Thispsychicpower，inwhichnodoubtweshallonedaybeforcedtorecognizethegeniusoftheuniverseitself，appears，aswehaveoftenobserved，tobeall-wise，all-seeingandall-powerful。Ithas，whenitispleasedtocommunicatewithusorwhenweareallowedtopenetrateintoit，ananswerforeveryquestion，andperhapsaremedyforeveryill。Wewillnotenumerateitsvirtuesagain。Itwillbeenoughforustorecallwithwhateaseitmocksatspace，timeandalltheobstaclesthatbesetourpoorhumanknowledgeandunderstanding。Webelievedit，likeallthatseemstoussuperiorandmarvellous，theintangible，inalienableandincommunicableattributeofman，withevenbetterreasonthanhisintelligence。
Andnowanaccident，strangelybelated，itistrue，tellsusthat，atoneprecisepoint，thestrangestandleastforeseenofall，thehorseandthedogdrawmoreeasilyandperhapsmoredirectlythanourselvesuponitsmightyreservoirs。Bythemostinexplicableofanomalies，thoughonethatisfairlyconsistentwiththefantasticcharacterofthesubliminal，theyappeartohaveaccesstoitonlyatthespotthatismostremotefromtheirhabitsandmostunknowntotheirpropensities，forthereisnothingintheworldaboutwhichanimalstroublelessthanfigures。Butisthisnot，perhapsbecausewedonotseewhatgoesonelsewhere？Itsohappensthattheinfinitemysteryofnumberscansometimesbeexpressedbyaveryfewsimplemovementswhicharenaturaltomostanimals；butthereisnothingtotellusthat，ifwecouldteachthehorseandthedogtoattachtothesesamemovementstheexpressionofothermysteries，theywouldnotdrawuponthemwithequalfacility。Ithasbeensuccessfullyattemptedtogivethemamoreorlessclearideaofthevalueofafewfiguresandperhapsofthecourseandnatureofcertainelementaryoperations；andthisappearstohavebeenenoughtoopenuptothemthemostsecretregionsofmathematicsinwhicheveryquestionisansweredbeforehand。Itisnotwhollyillusivetosupposethat，ifwecouldimparttothem，forinstance，asimilarnotionofthefuture，togetherwithamannerofconveyingtouswhattheyseethere，theymightalsohaveaccesstostrangevisionsofanotherclass，whicharejealouslykeptfromusbythetoo-watchfulguardiansofourintelligence。Thereisanopportunityhereforexperimentswhichwilldoubtlessproveexceedinglyarduous，forthefutureisnotsoeasilyseenandaboveallnotsoeasilyinterpretedandexpressedasanumber。Itispossible，moreover，that，whenweknowhowtosetaboutit，weshallobtainmostofthehumanmediumisticphenomena；rapping，themovingofobjects，materializationevenandHeavenknowswhatothersurprisesheldinstoreforusbythatastoundingsubliminaltowhosefancythereappearstobenobounds。Inanycase，ifweacceptthediviningofnumbers，aswearealmostforcedtodo，itisalmostcertainthatthediviningofothermattersmustfollow。Anunexpectedbreachismadeinthewallbehindwhichlieheapedthegreatsecretsthatseemtous，asourknowledgeandourcivilizationincrease，tobecomestrongerandmoreinaccessible。True，itisanarrowbreach；butitisthefirstthathasbeenopenedinthatpartofthehithertouncranniedwallwhichisnotturnedtowardsmankind。Whatwillissuethroughit？Noonecanforetellwhatwemayhope。
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Whatastonishesusmostisthatthisrevelationhasbeensolongdelayed。Howarewetoexplainthatmanhaslivedtothisdaywithhisdomesticanimalsneversuspectingthattheyharbouredmediumisticorsubliminalfacultiesasextraordinaryasthosewhichhevaguelyfelthimselftopossess。OnewouldhaveinthisconnectiontostudythemysteriouspracticesofancientIndiaandofEgypt；thenumerousandpersistentlegendsofanimalstalking，guidingtheirmastersandforetellingthefuture；and，nearertoourselves，inhistoryproper，allthatscienceofauguryandsoothsayingwhichderiveditsomensfromtheflightofbirds，theinspectionofentrails，theappetiteorattitudeofthesacredorpropheticanimals，amongwhichhorseswereoftennumbered。Weherefindoneofthoseinnumerousinstancesofalostoranticipatedpowerwhichmakeussuspectthatmankindhasforestalledorforgottenallthatwebelieveourselvestobediscovering。Rememberthatthereisalmostalwayssomedistorted，misapprehendedordimly——seentruthatthebottomofthemosteccentricandwildestcreeds，superstitionsandlegends。Allthisnewscienceofmetaphysicsoroftheinvestigationofoursubconsciousnessandofunknownpowers，whichhasscarcelybeguntounveilitsfirstmysteries，thusfindslandmarksanddefacedbutrecognizabletracesintheoldreligions，themostinexplicibletraditionsandthemostancienthistory。Besides，theprobabilityofathingdoesnotdependuponundeniablyestablishedprecedents。Whileitisalmostcertainthatthereisnothingnewunderthesunorintheeternityprecedingthesuns，itisquitepossiblethatthesameforcesdonotalwaysactwiththesameenergy。AsIobserved，nearlytwentyyearsago，inTheTreasureoftheHumble，atatimewhenIhardlyknewatallwhatIknowsoimperfectlyto-day：
\"Aspiritual\"——Ishouldhavesaid，apsychic-\"epochisperhapsuponus，anepochtowhichacertainnumberofanalogiesarefoundinhistory。Forthereareperiodsrecordedwhenthesoul，inobediencetounknownlaws，seemedtorisetotheverysurfaceofhumanity，whenceitgaveclearestevidenceofitsexistenceandofitspower……Itwouldseem，atmomentssuchasthese，asthoughhumanity，\"——and，Iwouldaddto-day，allthatliveswithitonthisearth——\"wereonthepointofstrugglingfrombeneaththecrushingburdenofmatterthatweighsitdown。\"
Onemightinfactbelievethatashudderwhichwehavenotyetexperiencedispassingovereverythingthatbreathes；thatanewactivity，anewrestlessnessispermeatingthespiritualatmospherewhichsurroundsourglobe；andthattheveryanimalshavefeltitsthrill。Onemightsaythat，bythesideoftheniggardlyprivatespringwhichwouldonlysupplyourintelligence，otherstreamsarespreadingandrisingtothesamelevelineveryformofexistence。Asortofwordofcommandisbeingpassedfromranktorank；andthesamephenomenaareburstingforthineveryquarteroftheglobeinordertoattractourattention，asthoughtheobstinatelydumbgeniusthatlayhiddeninthepregnantsilenceoftheuniverse，fromthatofthestones，theflowersandtheinsectstothemightysilenceofthestars，wereatlasttryingtotellussomesecretwherebyitwouldbebetterknowntousortoitself。Itispossiblethatthisisbutanillusion。Perhapswearesimplymoreattentiveandbetterinformedthanofold。Welearnattheveryinstantwhathappensineverypartofourearthandwehaveacquiredthehabitofmoreminutelyobservingandexaminingthethingsthathappen。
Buttheillusionwouldinthiscasehavealltheforce，allthevalueandallthemeaningoftherealityandwouldenjointhesamehopesandthesameobligation。
CHAPTERV。THEUNKNOWNGUEST
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Wehavenowstudiedcertainmanifestationsofthatwhichwehavecalledinturnandmoreorlessindiscriminatelythesubconsciousmind，thesubliminalconsciousnessandtheunknownguest，namestowhichwemightaddthatofthesuperiorsubconsciousnessorsuperiorpsychisminventedbyDr。Geley。Grantingthatthesemanifestationsarereallyproved，itisnolongerpossibletoexplainthemorrathertoclassifythemwithouthavingrecoursetofreshtheories。Nowwecanentertaindoubtsonmanypoints，wecancavilandargue；butIdefyanyoneapproachingthesefactsinaseriousandhonestspirittorejectthemall。Itispermissibletoneglectthemostextraordinary；butthereareamultitudeofotherswhichhavebecomeor，tospeakmoreaccurately，areacknowledgedtobeasfrequentandhabitualasanyfactwhateverinnormal，everydaylife。Itisnotdifficulttoreproducethematwill，providedweplaceourselvesintheconditiondemandedbytheirverynature；and，thisbeingso，thereremainsnovalidreasonforexcludingthemfromthedomainofscienceinthestrictsenseoftheword。
Hitherto，allthatwehavelearntregardingtheseoccurrencesisthattheiroriginisunknown。Itwillbesaidthatthisisnotmuchandthatthediscoveryisnothingtoboastof。Iquiteagree：toimaginethatonecanexplainaphenomenabysayingthatitisproducedbyanunknownagencywouldindeedbechildish。Butitisalreadysomethingtohavemarkeditssource；nottobestilllingeringinthethickofafog，tryinganyandeverydirectioninordertofindawayout，buttobeconcentratingourattentiononasinglespotwhichisthestarting-pointofallthesewonders，sothatateachinstantwerecognizeineachphenomenonthecharacteristiccustoms，methodsorfeaturesofthesameunknownagency。Itisverynearlyallthatwecandoforthemoment；butthisfirsteffortisnotwhollytobedespised。
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Ithasseemedtousthenthatitwasourunknownguestthatexpresseditselfinthenameofthedeadintable-turningandinautomaticwritingandspeaking。Thisunknownguesthasappearedtoustotakewithinustheplaceofthosewhoarenomore，touniteitselfperhapswithforcesthatdonotdie，tovisitthegravewiththeobjectofbringingthenceinexplicablephantomswhichriseupinfrontofusfruitlesslyorhauntourhouseswithouttellinguswhy。Wehaveseenit，inexperimentsinclairvoyanceandintuition，suppressingalltheobstaclesthatbanishorconcealthoughtand，throughbodiesthathavebecometransparent，readinginourverysoulsforgottensecretsofthepast，sentimentsthathavenotyettakenshape，intentionsasyetunborn。Wehavediscoveredthatsomeobjectoncehandledbyapersonnowfarawayisenoughtomakeittakepartintheinnermostlifeofthatperson，togodeeperandrisehigherthanhedoes，toseewhatheseesandevenwhathedoesnotsee：thelandscapethatsurroundshim，thehousewhichheinhabitsandalsothedangersthatthreatenhimandthesecretpassionsbywhichheisstirred。Wehavesurpriseditwanderinghitherandthither，athaphazard，inthefuture，confoundingitwiththepresentandthepast，notconsciousofwhereitisbutseeingfarandwide，knowingperhapseverythingbutunawareoftheimportanceofwhatitknows，orasyetincapableofturningittoaccountorofmakingitselfunderstood，atonceneglectfulandoverscrupulous，prolixandreticent，uselessandindispensable。
Wehaveseenit，lastly，althoughwehadhithertolookeduponitasindissolublyandunchangeablyhuman，suddenlyemergefromothercreaturesandthererevealfacultiesakintoours，whichcommunewiththemdeepdowninthedeepestmysteriesandwhichequalthemandsometimessurpasstheminaregionthatwronglyappearedtoustheonlyreallyunassailableprovinceofmankind，Imeantheobscureandabstruseprovinceofnumbers。
Ithasmanyothernolessstrangeandperhapsmoreimportantmanifestations，whichweproposetoexamineinalatervolume，notablyitssurprisingtherapeuticvirtuesanditsphenomenaofmaterialization。But，withoutexpressingaprematurejudgmentonwhatwedonotyetknow，perhapswehavesketcheditwithsufficientclearnessintheforegoingpagestoenableushenceforwardtodisentanglecertaingeneralandcharacteristicfeaturesfromaconfusionofoftencontradictorylines。
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But，inthefirstplace，doesitreallyexist，thistragicandcomical，evasiveandunavoidablefigurewhichwemakenoclaimtoportray，butatmosttodivestofsomeofitsshadows？Itwererashtoaffirmittooloudly；butmeanwhile，intherealmswherewesupposeittoreign，everythinghappensasthoughitdidexist。Doawaywithitandyouareobligedtopeopletheworldandburdenyourlifewithahostofhypotheticalandimaginarybeings：gods，demigods，angels，demons，saints，spirits，shells，elementals，etherialentities，interplanetaryintelligencesandsoon；exceptitandallthosephantoms，withoutdisappearing，fortheymayverywellcontinuetoliveinitsshadow，becomesuperfluousoraccessory。Itisnotintolerantanddoesnotdefinitelyeliminateanyofthehypothesesbytheaidofwhichmanhashithertostriventoexplainwhathedidnotunderstand，hypotheseswhich，inregardtosomematters，arenotinadmissible，althoughnotoneofthemisconfirmed；butitbringshimbacktoitself，absorbsthemandrulesthemwithoutannihilatingthem。If，forinstance，toselectthemostdefensibletheory，onewhichitissometimesdifficulttodismissabsolutely，ifyouinsistthatthediscarnatespiritstakepartinyouractions，hauntyourhouse，inspireyourthoughts，revealyourfuture，itwillanswer：
\"Thatistrue，butitisstillI；Iamdiscarnate，orratherIamnotwhollyincarnate：itisonlyasmallpartofmybeingthatisembodiedinyourflesh；andtherest，whichisnearlyallofme，comesandgoesfreelybothamongthosewhooncewereandamongthosewhoareyettobe；and，whentheyseemtospeaktoyou，itismyownspeechthatborrowstheircustomsandtheirvoiceinordertomakeyoulistenandtoamuseyouroftenslumberingattention。Ifyouprefertodealwithsuperiorentitiesofunknownorigin，withinterplanetaryorsupernaturalintelligences，oncemoreitisI；for，sinceIamnotentirelyinyourbody，Imustneedsbeelsewhere；andtobeelsewherewhenoneisnotheldbackbytheweightofthefleshistobeeverywhereifonesopleases。\"
Wesee，ithasareplytoeverything，ittakeseverynamethatwewishandthereisnothingtolimitit，becauseitlivesinaworldwhereinboundsareasillusoryastheuselesswordswhichweemployonearth。
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Whileithasareplytoeverything，certainmanifestationswhichitdeliberatelyascribestothespiritshavebroughtuponitanotundeservedreproach。Tobeginwith，asDr。Maxwellobserves，ithasnoabsolutelyfixeddoctrine。Innearlyeverycountryintheworld，whenitspeaksinthenameofthespirits，itdeclaresthattheyundergoreincarnationandreadilyrelatestheirpastexistences。InEngland，onthecontrary，itusuallyassertsthattheydonotbecomereincarnated。Whatdoesthismean？Surelythisignoranceorthisinconsistencyonthepartofthatwhichappearstoknoweverythingisverystrange！Andworse，sometimesitattributestothespirits，sometimestoitselforanyoneoranythingtherevelationswhichitmakestous。Whenexactlyisitspeakingthetruth？Atleastontwooccasionsoutofthree，itdeludesitselfordeludesus。Ifitdeceiveitself，ifitismistakenaboutamatterinwhichitshouldbeeasyforittoknowthetruth，whatcanitteachusonthesubjectofaworldofwhosemostelementarylawsitisignorant，sinceitdoesnotevenknowwhetheritisitselforanotherthatspeakstousinthenameofthatworld？Arewetobelievethatitwasinthesamedarknessasourpoorsuperficialego，whichitpretendssooftentoenlightenandwhichitdoesinfactinspireinmostofthegreateventsoflife？Ifitdeceivesus，whydoesitdoso？Wecanseenoobject：itasksfornothing，notforalms，norprayers，northoughts，onbehalfofthosewhosemantleitassumesforthesolepurposeofleadingusastray。Whatistheuseofthosemischievousandpuerilepranks，ofthoseghastlygraveyardpleasantries？Itmustliethenforthemerepleasureoflying；
andourunknownguest，thatinfiniteanddoubtlessimmortalsubconsciousnessinwhichwehaveplacedoutlasthopes，isafterallbutanimbecile，abuffoonorarankswindler！
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Idonotbelievethatthetruthisashideousasthis。Ourunknownguestdoesnotdeceiveitselfanymorethanitdeceivesus；butitiswewhodeceiveourselves。Ithasnotthestagetoitself；anditsvoiceisnotthevoicethatsoundsinourears，whichwerenevermadetocatchtheechoesofaworldthatisnotlikeours。Ifitcouldspeaktousitselfandtelluswhatitknows，weshouldprobablyatthatinstantceasetobeonthisearth。Butweareimmersedinourbodies，entombedprisonerswithwhomitcannotcommunicateatwill。Itroamsaroundthewalls，itutterswarningcries。Itknocksateverydoor，butallthatreachesusisavaguedisquiet，anindistinctmurmurthatissometimestranslatedtousbyahalf-awakenedgaolerwho，likeourselves，isalifelongcaptive。Thegaolerdoeshisbest；hehashisownwayofspeaking，hisfamiliarexpressions；heknows，and，withtheaidofthewordswhichhepossessesandthosewhichhehearsrepeated，hetriestomakeusunderstandwhathehardlyunderstandshimself。Hedoesnotknowexactlywhencethesoundscomewhichhehears；and，accordingastempests，warsorriotshappentobeuppermostatthemoment，heattributesthemtothewinds，totrampingsoldiersortofrenziedcrowds。Inotherwordsandspeakingwithoutmetaphor，itisthemediumwhodrawsfromhishabituallanguageandfromthatsuggestedtohimbyhisaudiencethewherewithaltoclotheandidentifythestrangepresentiments，theunfamiliarvisionsthatcomefromsomeunknownregion。Ifhebelievesthatthedeadsurvive，hewillnaturallyimaginethatitisthedeadwhospeaktohim。Ifhehasafavouritespirit，angel，demonorgod，hewillexpresshimselfinitsname；ifhehasnopreconceivedopinion，hewillnotevenalludetotheoriginoftherevelationswhichheismaking。Theinarticulatelanguageofthesubconsciousnessnecessarilyborrowsthatofthenormalconsciousness；andthetwobecomeconfusedintoasortofshiftingandmultiformjargon。Andourunknownguest，whichisnotthinkingofdeliveringacourseoflecturesuponitsentity，butsimplygivingusasbestitcanamoreorlesswarningormarkofitsexistence，seemstocarebutlittleastothegarmentsinwhichitisriggedout，havingindeednochoiceinthematter，for，eitherbecauseitisunabletomanifestitselforbecauseweareincapableofunderstandingit，ithastobecontentwithwhatevercomestohand。
Besides，ifweattributetooexclusivelytothespiritsthatwhichcomesfromanotherquarter，themistakeisdoubtlessnogreatoneinitseyes；foritisnotmadnesstobelievethatitliveswiththatwhichdoesnotdieinthedeadevenaswiththatwhichdoesnotdieinourselves，withthatwhichdoesnotdescendintothegraveevenaswiththatwhichdoesnottakefleshatthehourofbirth。