Hypnotism: Its History, Practice and Theory

 

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a decision is as a rule to be sought, but rather, in very many cases, from the conjurer. I am, how-ever, perfectly well aware that conjurers have been found to maintain the genuine character of the phenomena. Ziillner, for instance, invoked the testimony of Bellachini. But in according this unquestioning recognition to Bellachini's evidence, Zollner himself entered a territory with which he was totally unacquainted. In the first place, not every conjurer is necessarily a competent judge of his own art. And just with regard to Bellachini, it is well known that he was often quite taken aback by the performance of some new trick. In the profession he was never looked upon as a really quick-witted conjurer. We must, therefore, not consider all conjurers properly qualified to examine occultistic phenomena. The question further depends not merely on the professional competency of the conjurer, but also on his personal character, and more particularly on his regard for the interests of science. Let it not be forgotten that the conjurer regards as a colleague the medium engaged in the service of occultism, and, as we know, clericus clericum non decimal. As an instance of the lengths to which esprit de corps may be carried in these matters, let me cite the following: About fifteen years ago a so-called magnetic lady, Mrs. Abbott, made her appearance in Berlin. The strongest men tried in vain to lift her from the ground; their united efforts were equally unavailing to lift the chair on which she was sitting. In one special attitude it was found impossible to make her fall back an inch; together with more to the same effect. I pointed out at the time that the whole thing turned on a very clever application of the laws of mechanics relating to the lever. To remove all remaining doubt the famous wrestler Abs was called to Berlin, and he declared in public that he found it impossible to raise the woman from the ground. I do not think I am guilty of the slightest indiscretion if I now state that the chief actor in the scene has long since acknowledged the accuracy of my explanation, and admitted


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the imposture. And just the same motives which prevented him from exposing it would prevail with very many ponjurers under similar circumstances. All this one must remember in judging of the value of evidence from these sources.

I am, of course, not at least opposed to the serious investigation of the phenomena of occultism by real inquirers; I even go so far as to consider this most desirable. ,Only let one beware of believing oneself an expert, unless one is really so. I hold the impartial examination of these matters perfectly legitimate, and

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