Apparitions and thought-transference: an examination of the evidence for telepathyPodmore, Frank
Philosophy
Apparitions and thought-transference: an examination of the evidence for telepathy
Podmore, Frank
Apparitions; Telepathy
_Next object--three gold studs in morocco case._--"Is it yellow?...
Something gold.... Something round.... A locket or a watch
perhaps." (Do you see more than one round?) "Yes, there seem to
be more than one.... Are there three rounds?... Three rings?"
(What do they seem to be set in?) "Something bright like beads."
[Evidently not understanding or attending to the question.] Told
to unblindfold herself and draw, she drew the three rounds in a
row quite correctly, and then sketched round them absently the
outline of the case, which seemed therefore to have been apparent
to her though she had not consciously attended to it. It was an
interesting and striking experiment.
_Next object--a pair of scissors standing partly often with their
points down._--"Is it a bright object?... Something long-ways
[indicating verticality].... A pair of scissors standing up.... A
little bit open." Time, about a minute altogether. She then drew
her impression, and it was correct in every particular. The object
in this experiment was on a settee behind her, but its position had
to be pointed out to her when, after the experiment, she wanted to
see it.
_Next object--a drawing of a right-angled triangle on its
side._--(It's a drawing.) She drew an isosceles triangle on its
side.
_Next--a circle with a cord across it._--She drew two detached
ovals, one with a cutting line across it.
_Next--a drawing of a Union Jack pattern._--As usual in drawing
experiments, Miss R. remained silent for perhaps a minute; then
she said, "Now I am ready." I hid the object; she took off the
handkerchief, and proceeded to draw on paper placed ready in front
of her. She this time drew all the lines of the figure except the
horizontal middle one. She was obviously much tempted to draw this,
and, indeed, began it two or three times faintly, but ultimately
said, "No, I'm not sure," and stopped.
[Illustration: ORIGINAL.]
[Illustration: REPRODUCTION.]
[N.B.--The actual drawings made in all the experiments are
preserved intact by Mr. Guthrie.]
[END OF SITTING.]
Experiments with MISS R.--_Continued_.
I will now describe an experiment indicating that one agent may be
better than another.
_Object--the Three of Hearts._--Miss E. and Mr. Birchall both
present as agents, but Mr. Birchall holding percipient's hands at
first. "Is it a black cross ... a white ground with a black cross
on it?" Mr. Birchall now let Miss E. hold hands instead of himself,
and Miss R. very soon said, "Is it a card?" (Right.) "Are there
three spots on it?... Don't know what they are.... I don't think I
can get the colour.... They are one above the other, but they seem
three round spots.... I think they're red, but am not clear."
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