Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

76 FOREIGN CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE OFto be very important; and the trough, magnet, steel, glass pile all necessaryagents. Very well, what has now become of all these necessities ?The magnetic effects exceed all those of that time, and notwithstandingthey are not made any use of. Much more ! since the passes have ceasedto be the fashion, the phenomena have doubled.In Germany, where peoplego to the bottom of things, they have desired to look into the heartof it. Each master of the magnet—and they are pretty plenty therehas constructed his own trough. That of Walford consists of an ii'onbox, furnished with bottles, iron wire, ground glass, &c. That of Keiserwas made of hccch without bottles, and filled with water, which did notprevent the effects from being precisely the same in the two cases. Thusit was said : It is magnetism alone which gives them this power, and theymagnetized their best. But one lucky day it was thought proper not tomagnetize, and the trough lost none of its power! ^Ah ! ah !' they say,'the trough is magnetized by the magnetized patients themselves, and theyput a stout man into it, free from all magnetic influence, and besides inexcellent health. Well, this time ! the magnetic effects exceeded in intensityall the previous experiments, and never had the phenomena exhibitedthemselves so brilliantly.'356. '^ This is the precise account of the famous report of Bailly, ofwhich M. Arago spoke so highly in his last memoir; and in one respect hewas right ;for these great experimenters did not allow themselves to be caughtby any of these electric seductions, and proclaimed physics to be entirely innocentof all the effects they witnessed. But at the same time they thoughtproper to refer to the imagination these same prodigious effects, whichno one could understand even after having seen them; and there was theirgreat mistake ;they were right as savans, as philosophers inexcusable.357. '^ Moreover, th!s absurd explanation by imagination he renewedunder these circumstances; and that of jugglery is not more fortunate.What prejudice ! These two words rendered much service, and coveredmany retreats ! That is, however, passed ; it will be necessary hereafter,not only to admit them, but to redeem all analogous precedents, for theseare about to be, at last, explained. Again, what is to be done ? 'It willbe necessary to proclaim that these electric phenomena which are real asan rffcct, are not in fact real in their cause; that they lie when they wishthe contrary to be believed, that they joke when they act by turns withand without a chain in a particular town, and not in some other, &c.358. ^'But on the other hand to perceive a capricious and lying cause,is almost to perceive ... a mind. A mind, grands dieux ! You representyourself before the whole Academy Arago as recognising spirits,hobgoblins! grand experiment ! But that itself is horrid to contemplate !Not a face at the Institute can remain uncovered, and that day will foreverbe regarded as unlucky for science, as it robs it of a victory which wasthought to have been gained centuries before.