ASPR Journal, V14 - Iapsop.com

A "Psychometric" Experiment. 211
involved in the psychometry, supernormal. or not, practised by
Mrs. Stansell.
If one in a mediumistic state is capable of receiving impressions
from a supernormal source, it is certain that he is
capable of receiving them by " suggestion " from a normal source,
and of mistaking the latter for the former. Many, who ought
to know better, perceiving that such persons often experience
impressions, hallucinations, and the like, by suggestion and associative
mechanics, assume that this settles the question whether
they ever get impressions from, we will say, spirits, 'and settles
it negatively. But it merely begs the question most exasperatingly.
For psychical researchers do not deny, but rather insist,
on all the possibilities of illusion which these rough-and-readies
make the basis of too hasty conclusions; their problem is how
in the world to account for a large number of particular instances
which such possibilities seem inadequate to cover. For
instance, we can understand how the sight of the Vanderbilt
palace, together with her strong emotions regarding capital and
labor, and perhaps ipchoate memories of socialistic utterances;
could bring into Mrs. Stansell's consciousness the picture of a
mob attacking the building, which she would be liable to interpret
as being prophetic. But if anyone can even imagine a
system of sensory impressions and emotions and associations,
normally derived, which could suggest to Mrs. Stansell the
series of correct statements regarding a stranger, Prof. Mosley,
it is highly desirable that he should attempt it and set forth the
result.
Most psychical researchers are obliged to entertain the theory,
at least tentatively, that the mediumistic mind (which the present
writer takes to be the subliminal mind, as it were bubbling up its
deliverances) is like a canvas, which may be painted on by whomever
or whatever holds the brush, or like a miJt, which if not
supplied with material grinds out its own. If spirit, angel or
demon can make records upon it, a "sitter" can do the same,
inadvertently or by intention, and so can sensory impressions
and memory associations intermingle. If it be said that this is
to make difficulties of appraisal, the answer is that we cannot
help that, but must take the facts as we find them.
As Mrs. Stansetl held the hands of Prof. Mosley and the
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