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！
… Page 18…
THE UNKNOWN GUEST
perhaps only too ready to imagine it。 We should have to alter more than
one of our physical and moral laws； more than one of our ideas； and it
would no doubt be the most important and the most extraordinary
revelation that would be expected in the present state of our knowledge
and since the disappearance of the old positive religions。 But we are not
there yet： the proof of all this is still in the nursery…stage； and I do not
know if it will ever get beyond that。 Nevertheless the fact remains that； in
these impenetrable regions of mystery which we are now exploring； the
one weak spot lies here； the one wall in which there seems to be a chinka
strange one enoughgiving a glimpse into the other world。 It is narrow
and vague and behind it there is still darkness； but it is not without
significance and we shall do well not to lose sight of it。
6
Let us observe that this survival of the dead； as the neospiritualists
conceive it； seems much less improbable since we have been studying
more closely the manifestations of the extraordinary and incontestable
spiritual force that lies hidden within ourselves。 It is not dependent in our
thought； nor on our consciousness； nor on our will； and very possibly it is
not dependent either on our life。 While we are still breathing on this earth
it is already surmounting most of the great obstacles that limit and
paralyse our existence。 It acts at a distance and so to speak without organs。
It passes through matter； disaggregates it and reconstitutes it。 It seems to
possess； the gift of ubiquity。 It is not subject to the laws of gravity and lifts
weights out of all proportion with the real and measurable strength of the
body whence it is believed to emanate。 It releases and removes itself from
that body； it comes and goes freely and takes to itself substances and
shapes which it borrows all around it； and therefore it is no longer so
strange to see it surviving for a time that body to which it does not appear
to be as indissolubly bound as is our conscious existence。 Is it necessary to
add that this survival of a part of ourselves which we hardly know and
which besides seems incomplete； incoherent and ephemeral is wholly
without prejudice to nor fate in the eternity of the worlds？ But this is a
question which we are not called upon to study here。
18
… Page 19…
THE UNKNOWN GUEST
I shall perhaps be asked：
〃If it is becoming increasingly difficult for all these factsand there
are more of them accumulating every dayto be embraced in the
telepathic or psychometric theory； why not frankly accept the spiritualistic
explanation； which is the simplest； which has an answer for everything
and which is gradually encroaching on all the others？〃
That is true： it is the simplest theory； perhaps too simple； and； like the
religious theory； it dispenses as from all effort or seeking。 We have nothing
to set against it but the mediumistic theory； which doubtless does not
account exactly for a good many things； but which at least is on the same
side of the hill of life as ourselves and remains among us； upon our earth；
within reach of our eyes； our hands； our thoughts and our researches。
There was a time when lightning； epidemics and earthquakes were
attributed without distinction to the wrath of Heaven。 Nowadays； when we
are more or less familiar with the source of the great infectious diseases；
the hand of Providence knows them no more； and； though we are still
ignorant of the nature of electricity and the laws that regulate seismic
shocks； we no longer dream； while waiting to learn more about them； of
looking for their causes in the judgment or anger of an imaginary Being。
Let us act likewise in the present case。 It behooves us above all to avoid
those rash explanations which； in their haste； leave by the roadside a host
of things that appear to be unknown or unknowable only because the
necessary effort has not yet been made to know them。 After all； while we
must not eliminate the spiritualistic theory； neither must we content
ourselves with it。 It is even preferable not to linger over it until it has
supplied us with decisive arguments； for it is the duty of this theory which
sweeps us roughly out of our sphere to furnish us with such arguments。
For the present； it simply relegates to posthumous regions； phenomena that
appear to occur within ourselves； it adds superfluous mystery and needless
difficulty to the mediumistic mystery whence it springs。 If we were
concerned with facts that had no footing in this world； we should certainly
have to turn our eyes in another direction； but we see a large number of
actions performed which are of the same nature as those attributed to the
spirits and equally inexplicable； actions with which； however； we know
19
… Page 20…
THE UNKNOWN GUEST
that they have nothing to do。 When it is proved that the dead exercise
some intervention； we will bow before the fact as willingly as we bow
before the mediumistic mysteries： it is a question of order； of internal
policy and of scientific method much more than of probability； preference
or fear。 The hour has not yet come to abandon the principle which I have
formulated elsewhere with respect to our communications with the dead；
namely； that it is natural that we should remain at home； in our own world；
as long as we can； as long as we are not violently driven from it by a series
of irresistible and incontrovertible proofs coming from the neighbouring
abyss。 The survival of a spirit is no more improbable than the prodigious
faculties which we are obliged to attribute to the mediums if we deny them
to the dead。 But the existence of mediums is beyond dispute； whereas that
of spirits is not； and it is therefore for the spirits or for those who make use
of their name to begin by proving that they m