Inferences from Haunted Houses and Haunted MenHarris, J. W. (John William)
Science
Inferences from Haunted Houses and Haunted Men
Harris, J. W. (John William)
Ghosts; Hypnotism
According to the average experience of Miss Freer's party, he would
only have been attacked on about two days. The last day his tormentor
left--doubtless to avoid a journey with Father H. and subsequent
recognition. How these sounds are produced is easily understood. If the
doctrine of a very light stream of electricity be admitted, the pressure
on the ear readily causes raps--there is a slight buzzing sound if the
pressure on the ear be relaxed at a distance at first, later there is
pain; the flap is from an intermitted pressure. It is a thud if the
pressure be more acute, and the pattering, which is almost identical to
the effect produced by a drop of water rolling on the inside of a
sensitive ear, occurs when there is a double or treble intermission. In
some cases where the victim is strong, the consonants can be worked off
to his hearing.
Add to this a slight effect on the eye, and Miss Campbell's doubtfully
pronounced word "candle" becomes clear enough. An initial starts a word
there is some reason to believe. Mr. Osgood Mason dwells upon community
of sensation, and it is doubtless this that renders the direction of aim
so exact; but when the subject of tickled faces is considered, we shall
see that it does not insure complete accuracy, any more than that exists
in volley firing, which with inferior shots is more telling than
independent firing, and yet is not perfect.
The reason why more audile phenomena are perceived at night is that the
percipient is tolerably still. Father H. and other people heard these
sounds more when in bed after daylight. If loud clangs, &c., were heard
by night by the garrison under Miss Freer's command, it was that the
attacking hypnotists did not have the chances they had with Father H. of
hypnotising their victims; and here again, where action on the ear and
eye is concerned, talking with a friend, or indeed any one, is a great
safeguard. The tympanum is stirred, the eye moves--the mere irregularity
of the breath is an aid. Another reason will be given later. Miss
Campbell, whose case--one of experimental thought transference--has
been twice referred to, was an intimate friend of Miss Despard, who
effected the transfers. Her case differs from his; he expected nothing
(at least consciously), and perceived nothing except ugly sounds, until
he got a feeling that some one was glad that he left, and that he himself
would not like to pass another night there. Perhaps this last feeling was
a deceptive transfer; they did not like the stout priest bluffing them.
Later he was willing to go to the house at B---- again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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