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

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THE EXISTENCE OF SPIRITS. 75this case should wo do o<strong>the</strong>rwise? These suppositions were jusl, but wesay without hesitation our i'antastic experimenters committed from <strong>the</strong>first an unpardonable fault, pliilosophically speaking; that is, not to havetaken <strong>the</strong> least notice <strong>of</strong> those facts from America which were beginningto sound in <strong>the</strong>ir ears from all sides. When we are visited by <strong>the</strong> plague,yellow fever, or cholera, <strong>the</strong> first care <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> faculty is to have it studiedin Kgypt, Spain, and Poland. These scourges are investigated even at<strong>the</strong> place <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir birth; we notice <strong>the</strong>ir origin, development, and termination.Well ! in doing <strong>the</strong> same in this case, <strong>the</strong>se gentlemen wouldhave seen as clear as day that <strong>the</strong> Auijshourg Gazette was right in telling<strong>the</strong>m that this animal magnetizing was received direct from America.But what shall wc do ?wc take no pleasure in looking at what we do notwant to see.351. ^'However, this afiiliation once well established, well understood,by thoroughly studying <strong>the</strong> American prodigies, we should very soon havereached <strong>the</strong> assurance that <strong>the</strong>re, at least, <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong>s had exhibited <strong>the</strong>mselvesin open day ; and <strong>the</strong>re, as <strong>the</strong>y were first concealed in tables orhchin^ }jar tit Ions, we could have seen immediately what might be reservedfor us for <strong>the</strong> future.352. "But rest assured our French science will not yield; <strong>the</strong> snare istoo gross; French science has no rival in physics and electricity; it onlysees in this a waggish electricity, and will never consent to be persuadedthat it has slept a hundred years at <strong>the</strong> side <strong>of</strong> such truths, or ra<strong>the</strong>r at<strong>the</strong> side <strong>of</strong> such enormities in physics.353. ''And <strong>the</strong>n iniquity is exhibited to herself at all times. Sir, <strong>the</strong>nwhat becomes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tndisjwiisahle conditions <strong>of</strong> Dr. Andre ? that is tosay:'All <strong>the</strong> effects ceasing on <strong>the</strong> least interruption <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chain.'354. " This morning, in a journal <strong>of</strong> Lorraine* <strong>the</strong>re is a notice <strong>of</strong> acircle formed in a first story, round a massive table ; as long as <strong>the</strong> circlecontinued nothing was done; but getting tired <strong>the</strong>y all leave for <strong>the</strong> street,and a few moments afterward <strong>the</strong> rebellious table begins to waltz, as if tobid defiance to <strong>the</strong> party. What a law <strong>of</strong> physics, what electricityBehold, on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, cities and countries disinherited ! Behold<strong>the</strong> city <strong>of</strong> Valence, who laboured all in her power, who followed withangelic patience all <strong>the</strong> prescriptions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new science ; nothing couldproduce <strong>the</strong> phenomena. Is it that at Valence, perchance, <strong>the</strong> humanspecies has no electricity ? Mon Dieu ! it has electricity, but it is not <strong>of</strong>that accidental and local kind, <strong>the</strong> real kind for <strong>the</strong> occasion, and whichmay be <strong>the</strong>refore denominated erratic; as <strong>the</strong> ancients called those godsthat moved about from place to place.355. " No, Science is not to be so deceived; she is not satisfied with <strong>the</strong>explanation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> little fingers, but soon perceives that <strong>the</strong>se little fingerssupply here precisely <strong>the</strong> part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> famous mesmeric trough, and <strong>the</strong>chain that was formed entirely round it. Then, also, <strong>the</strong> chain was said

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