Mysterious Psychic Forces: An Account of the Author's Investigations in Psychical Research, Together with Those of Other European Savants
John Stuart Mill · en
But that which I did see very well indeed was the sudden appearance of
three very vivid little lights between my neighbor and myself. They
were promptly extinguished and seemed like a kind of will-o'-the-wisp,
similar to electric sparks coming and going with great rapidity.
In short, I can only repeat here what I have said during the course
of these experiments, "If I had not been convinced forty years ago, I
should be this evening."
Report of M. Jules Claretie.
(_Seance of November 25_)
(There were present at this sitting, in addition to the hosts of the
occasion, M. Jules Claretie and his son, M. Brisson, M. Louis Vignon,
Mme. Fourton, Mme. Gagneur, M. G. Delanne, M. Rene Baschet, M. and
Mme. Basilewska, M. Mairet, photographer.)
I note only the impressions I received after the moment when Eusapia,
who had taken my hand at the time when M. Brisson was still seated by
her, asked me to replace him. I am certain that I did not let go of
Eusapia's hand during all the experiments. Every moment I felt the
pressure of her foot upon mine, the heel being especially perceptible.
I do not believe that I relaxed my fingers for a moment, nor released
the hand that I held. I was struck with the throbbing of the arteries
at the end of Eusapia's fingers: the blood bounded feverishly through
them.
I sat next the curtain. It goes without saying that it was drawn from
right to left or from left to right just as it happened. That which I
can't understand is that it could swell out until it floated over the
table like a sail inflated by the wind.
I felt at first a little light blow on my right side. Then, _through
the curtain_, two fingers seized me and pinched my cheek. The pressure
of the two fingers was evident. A blow more violent than the first hit
me on the right shoulder, as if it came from a hard, square body. My
chair was twice moved and turned, first backward, then forward.
Those two fingers which pinched my cheek I had already felt--before I
took my place at Eusapia's side--when I was holding over against the
curtain the little white book which M. Flammarion had given me. This
book was seized by _two naked fingers_ (I say naked, because the folds
of the curtain did not cover them) and then disappeared. I did not see
these fingers: I touched them, or they touched me, if you will. My
son held out and handed over also a leather cigar-holder, which was
grabbed in the same way.
One of the persons present saw a rather heavy little music-box
disappear in the same way.