Mysterious Psychic Forces: An Account of the Author's Investigations in Psychical Research, Together with Those of Other European Savants
John Stuart Mill · en
Raising the lamp, I looked around and saw Katie standing close behind
Miss Cook. She was robed in flowing white drapery as we had seen her
previously during the seance. Holding one of Miss Cook's hands in
mine, and still kneeling, I passed the lamp up and down so as to
illuminate Katie's whole figure, and satisfy myself thoroughly that I
was really looking at the veritable Katie whom I had clasped in my
arms a few minutes before, and not at the phantasm of a disordered
brain. She did not speak, but moved her head and smiled in
recognition. Three separate times did I carefully examine Miss Cook
crouching before me, to be sure that the hand I held was that of a
living woman, and three separate times did I turn the lamp to Katie
and examine her with steadfast scrutiny, until I had no doubt whatever
of her objective reality. At last Miss Cook moved slightly, and Katie
instantly motioned me to go away. I went to another part of the
cabinet, and then ceased to see Katie, but did not leave the room till
Miss Cook woke up, and two of the visitors came in with a light.
Before concluding this article I wish to give some of the points of
difference which I have observed between Miss Cook and Katie. Katie's
height varies; in my house I have seen her six inches taller than Miss
Cook. Last night, with bare feet, and not "tiptoeing," she was
four-and-a-half inches taller than Miss Cook. Katie's neck was bare
last night; the skin was perfectly smooth both to touch and sight,
whilst on Miss Cook's neck is a large blister, which under similar
circumstances is distinctly visible and rough to the touch. Katie's
ears are unpierced, whilst Miss Cook habitually wears earrings.
Katie's complexion is very fair, while that of Miss Cook is very dark.
Katie's fingers are much longer than Miss Cook's, and her face is also
larger. In manners and ways of expression there are also many decided
differences.
After the observations summarized in these two letters Professor Crookes
continued his experiments at his own home, for a space of two months. The
result of all is embodied in the following statements made by Crookes
himself: