the days of my life-第10章
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between my feet； I landed her a most severe kick upon the shins。
It was all very amusing； and would have done no harm had the business stopped there。 But it did not。 Before I leave 20 Hanover Square； however； I may mention that more than a quarter of a century afterwards I revisited it under strangely different circumstances。 The house is now the home of various societies； and in the offices of one of these societies I was called upon to preside as Chairman of the mittee of the Society of Authors upon the occasion of a General Meeting。 Of course everything was changed； but it seemed to me that I recognised the marble mantelpieces。
My acquaintance with Lady Paulet gave me the entree to the spiritualistic society of the day。 Perhaps some of them had hopes that I might develop into a first…class medium。 Among the seances that I attended were some at a private house in Green Street。 Here I witnessed remarkable things。 The medium was a young lady； not merely in the conventional sense of the term； who evidently believed in her mission and was not paid。 She sank into a trance secured by many tests； and “strange things happened” or seemed to happen。 Thus； to leave out the minor manifestations； two young women of great beauty — or perhaps I should say young spirits — one dark and the other fair； appeared in the lighted room。 I conversed with and touched them both； and noted that their flesh seemed to be firm but cold。 I remember that； being a forind； I even asked the prettier of the two to allow me to give her a kiss。 She smiled but did not seem to be at all annoyed； but I never got the kiss。 I think she remarked that it was not permissible。
She was draped in a kind of white garment which covered her head； and I asked her to allow me to see her hair。 She pushed up the white drapery from her forehead； remarking sweetly that if I would look I should see that she had no hair； and in fact she appeared to be quite bald。 A minute or two later； however； she had long and beautiful hair which flowed all about her。
Afterwards either she or the other apparition remarked that she was tired。 Thereon her body seemed to shrink； with the result that； as her head remained where it was； the neck elongated enormously； after the fashion of Alice in Wonderland。 Then she fell backwards and vanished altogether。
To this day I wonder whether the whole thing was illusion； or； if not； what it can have been。 Of one thing I am certain — that spirits； as we understand the term； had nothing to do with the matter。 On the other hand I do not believe that it was a case of trickery； rather I am inclined to think that certain forces with which we are at present unacquainted were set loose that produced phenomena which； perhaps； had their real origin in our own minds； but nevertheless were true phenomena。
Sometimes these phenomena were purely physical。 Thus I and some other of the Scoones students’ arranged a seance at the house of the uncle of one of them in St。 James’s Place； where no such thing had ever been held before。 The medium； a feeble little man； whose name； I think； was Edwards； arrived and at the door was pounced upon by two of the strongest young men present； who never let go of him until the end of the proceedings。 These were various and tumultuous。 We sat in the darkened dining…room round the massive table； which presently began to skip like a lamp。 Lights floated about the room； and with them a file of Morning Posts which normally reposed in a corner。 Cold little hands picked at the studs in our shirts； and the feather fans off the mantelpiece floated to and fro； performing their natural office upon our heated brows。 Our host； Mr。 Norris； whispered to me that he was receiving these attentions。
“Catch hold of the thing；” I said； letting go of his hand。
He did so and thrust his fingers through the leather loop of the fan。 Then followed a great struggle； for somebody or something located near the ceiling strove to tear it away from him。
“Stick to it；” I said； and there followed a crack。
“Confound them！ they have broken my fan；” said Mr。 Norris； and passed me the round and carved ivory handle； which I felt so distinctly that I could have sworn that it was separated from the feather top。 I gave it back to him and he threw it down upon the table； remarking that as the “spirits” had broken it they might as well mend it again。 When the light was turned on later there before him lay the fan — but unbroken and even unruffled。
This was curious but by no means the cream of the proceedings。 We became aware that heavy articles were on the move； and the light showed us that we were not mistaken。 There in the centre of the dining…table； piled one upon the other； like Ossa upon Pelion； were the two massive dining…room arm…chairs； and on the top of these； reaching nearly to the ceiling； appeared Mr。 Norris’s priceless china candelabra。
How were those massive chairs； which it would have taken two skilled and careful men to lift to that height； passed over our heads without our knowing it and set one upon another？ Even if the medium； who as I have said was held by the two strongest of the sitters； friends of my own who were above suspicion； were free； he could never have lifted those chairs。 Even if he had had a confederate they could never have lifted them； and certainly could not have arranged the china upon the top of the pile。
I gave it up then and； after assuring the reader that these things happened exactly as stated； I give it up now。 All I can do is to fall back upon my hypothesis that some existent but unknown force was let loose which produced these phenomena。
Whatever may be the true explanation； on one point I am quite sure； namely that the whole business is mischievous and to be discouraged。 Bearing in mind its effect upon my own nerves； never would I allow any young person over whom I had control to attend a seance。 I am well aware that there are many different grades of spiritualism。 The name covers such occurrences as I have described and the researches of wise scientists like Sir Oliver Lodge。 Lastly； there is an even higher variant of preternatural experience to which it may be applied — I mean that of the munion of the individual soul still resident on earth with other souls that have passed from us； this； too； without the intervention of any medium； but as it were face to face in those surrounding solitudes that； unless we dream — as is possible； for the nerves and the imagination play strange tricks — from time to time they find the strength to travel。
In short； spiritualism should be left to the expert and earnest investigator； or bee the secret fort of such few hearts as can rise now and again beyond the world； making as it were their trial flights towards that place where； as we hope； their rest remaih。 To most people that door should remain sealed； for beyond it they will find only what is harmful and unwholesome。
Since those days nearly forty years ago I have never attended a seance； nor do I mean ever to do so more。
During this time that I was at Scoones’ a great event happened。 I fell truly and earnestly in love。 If all goes well； this； I suppose； is one of the best things that can happen to a young fellow。 It steadies him and gives him an object in life： someone for whom to work。 If all goes ill； it is one of the worst； for then the reverse is apt to e about。 It unsteadies him； makes him reckless； and perhaps throws him in the way of undesirable adventures。 In my case； in the end all went wrong； or seemed to do so at the time。
I was taken by a friend to a ball at Richmond； who gave it I have long forgotten。 There I saw a very beautiful young lady a few years older than myself to whom I was instantly and overwhelmingly attracted。 I say beautiful advisedly； for to my mind she was one of the three really lovely women whom I have seen in my life。 The second was the late Duchess of Leinster； and the third was a village girl at Bradenham who was reported to be the daughter of a gentleman。 She； poor thing； died quite young。
At length the ball came to an end and I escorted this lady back to her carriage — she was driving back to London alone — with the intelligent object of ascertaining where she lived。 In this； by the way； I failed； either I did not catch the address or it was too vague and general。 Ultimately； however； I overcame that difficulty by a well…directed inquiry at a butcher’s shop in what I knew to be the neighbourhood。 It occurred to me that even goddesses must eat。
The reason that I mention this matter is that quite a curious coincidence is connected with it。 The house where the ball took place had a garden in front； down which garden ran a carpeted path。 At the end of the path a great arch had been erected for the occasion； and through this arch I followed the young lady。 Some thirty…five years later I was present at her death…bed — for happily I was able to be of service to her in her later life — and subsequently； with my wife； who had bee her friend many years before； was one of the few mourners at her funeral。 At the church where this took place it is the custom to carry out coffins through the big western door。 As I followed hers the general aspect of the arch of this door reminded me of something； a
