'Twixt two worlds : a narrative of the life and work of William Eglinton

1 58 'Twixt Two Worlds.
What association of ideas can be set in train by " page 199, line 14" This inquiry reminds
us of what can be nothing more than a coincidence, namely, that the last word of the fourteenth
line was a cipher, which (regarded as a numerical figure) is the class of association one
would expect from figures 199, 14, O, belonging, as it were, to the same family. But it is
merely a coincidence, for psychography told us that on that page was "a table" (singularly
enough Table A).
2. If the latent thought were revived by volition (as happens when we tell another our
name and address), it would come into the field of consciousness. Mr. Eglinton denies any
conscious revival.
3. That there is present in the medium some abnormal excitement during the occurrence
of these psychographic phenomena there can be no doubt. Of the causes of this excitement
we are very ignorant, but it may be remarked that inasmuch as the effects seem to be simply
muscular and nervous, neither exciting nor depressing the mind of the subject, this phenomenon
cannot well be classed with those well-established facts where the most remotely hidden
memories flash into consciousness in states of rare cerebral excitement, for at such times
there is always great mental disturbance, bordering and often entering upon delirium. I cannot
speak too well of Mr. Eglinton's disposition to assist me in my investigation of the remarkable
phenomena attending his mediumship. He takes an intelligent interest in his work, and
deserves the gratitude and encouragement of all serious students of this profound and important
subject.
A somewhat different experiment as to its details, but pointing to the same conclusions,
is that narrated by Mr. A. G. Leonard, M.A., of 44, Highbury Hill, N., and Major Le Mare
Taylor, Staff-Instructor of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
A seance was held at Mr. Eglinton's at five p.m. on Monday, 29th June, 1885. The three
gentlemen took their seats round the table in the usual manner, Major Taylor, who was seated
at Mr. Eglinton's right hand, holding with his left Mr. Eglinton's left hand. Mr. Leonard,
sitting on the right of Major Taylor, held with both hands Major Taylor's right hand. Mr.
Eglinton's right hand was disengaged. The seance lasted for over half-an-hour, and no results
whatever were obtained, though Mr. Eglinton was holding a slate under the table in the
usual way. Conversation turned upon an experiment that Major Taylor had made at a
previous seance, when the number of matches in a match-box, from which an indefinite
number had been removed by two or three sitters, had been correctly written on the slate.
Mr. Eglinton regretted that, on the occasion referred to, the match-box had not been marked,
for (he suggested) a Sadducean world would say that another match-box, with a known number
of matches, had been substituted for the one being used in the experiment. It was, therefore,
determined to repeat the test, taking every precaution that could be thought of.
Major Taylor chanced to have in his pocket a box of " Tandstickor " matches. Major
Taylor and Mr. Leonard then went aside to the window and marked with their initials both the
box and cover. Major Taylor then removed a large number of the matches, leaving an unknown
quantity in the box. Mr. Leonard then replaced a few (he knew not how many) in the box.
A slip of paper was placed above the matches in the box, and the box was closed. Neither