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There are psychometers； however； and notably Mme。 M； Dr。 Osty's favorite medium； who never confuse the future and the past。 Mme。 M places her visions in time according to the position which they occupy in space。 Thus she sees the future in front of her； the past behind her and the present beside her。 But； notwithstanding these distinctly…graded visions； she also is incapable of naming her dates exactly； in fact； her mistakes in this respect are so general that Dr。 Osty looks upon it as a pure chronological coincidence when a prediction is realized at the moment foretold。
We should also observe that； in psychometry； only those events can be perceived which relate directly to the individual communicating with the percipient； for it is not so much the percipient that sees into us as we that read in our own subconsciousness； which is momentarily lighted by his presence。 We must not therefore ask him for predictions of a general character； whether； for instance； there will be a war in the spring； an epidemic in the summer or an earthquake in the autumn。 The moment the question concerns events； however important； with which we are not intimately connected； he is bound to answer； as do all the genuine mediums； that he sees nothing。
The area of his vision being thus limited； does he really discover the future in it？ After three years of numerous； cautious and systematic experiments with some twenty mediums； Dr。 Osty categorically declares that he does：
〃All the incidents；〃 he says； 〃which filled these three years of my life； whether wished for by me or not； or even absolutely contrary to the ordinary routine of my life； had always been foretold to me； not all by each of the clairvoyant subjects； but all by one or other of them。 As I have been practising these tests continually； it seems to me that the experience of three years wholly devoted to this object should give some weight to my opinion on the subject of predictions。〃
This is incontestable； and the sincerity； scientific conscientiousness and high intellectual value of Dr。 Osty's fine work inspire one with the most entire confidence。 Unfortunately； he contents himself with quoting too summarily a few facts and does not； as he ought； give us in extenso the details of his experiments； controls and tests。 I am well aware that this would be a thankless and wearisome task； necessitating a large volume which a mass of puerile incidents and inevitable repetitions would make almost readable。 Moreover； it could scarcely help taking the form of an intimate and indiscreet autobiography； and it is not easy to bring one's self to make this sort of public confession。 But it has to be done。 In a science which is only in its early stages； it is not enough to show the object attained and to state one's conviction； it is necessary above all to describe every path that has been taken and； by an incessant and infinite accumulation of investigated and attested facts； to enable every one to draw his own conclusions。 This has been the cumbrous and laborious method of the Proceedings for over thirty years； and it is the only right one。 Discussion is possible and fruitful only at that price。 In all these extraconscious matters； we have not yet reached the stage of definite deduction； we are still bringing up materials to the scene of operations。
Once more； I know that； in these cases； as I have seen for myself； the really convincing facts are necessarily very rare； indeed； nowhere else do we meet with the same difficulty。 If the medium tells you； for instance； as Mme。 M。 seems easily to do； how you will employ your day from the morning onwards； if she sees you in a certain house in a certain street meeting this or that person； it is impossible to say that； on the one hand； she is not already reading your as yet unconscious plans or intentions； or that； on the other hand； by doing what she has foreseen； you are not obeying a suggestion against which you could not fight except by violently doing the opposite to what it demands of you； which again would be a case of inverted suggestion。 None therefore would have any value save predictions of unlikely happenings； clearly defined and outside the sphere of the person interested。 As Dr。 Osty says：
〃The ideal prognostication would obviously be that of an event so rare； so sudden and unexpected； implying such a change in one's mode of life that the theory of coincidence could not decently be put forward。 But； as everybody is not； in the peaceful course of his threatened by such an absolutely convincing event； the clairvoyant cannot always reveal to the person experimentingand reveal it for a more or less approximate dateone of those incidents whose accomplishment would carry irresistible conviction。〃
In any case； the question of psychometric prognostications calls for further enquiry； although it is easy even at the present day to forsee the results。
10
Let us now return to our spontaneous premonitions； in which the future comes to seek us of its own accord and； so to speak； to challenge us at home。 I know from personal experience that； when we embark upon these disconcerting matters； the first impression is scarcely favourable。 We are very much inclined to laugh； to treat as wearisome tales； as hysterical hallucinations； as ingenious or interested fictions most or those incidents which give too violent a shock to the narrow and limited idea which we have of our human life。 To smile； to reject everything beforehand and to pass by with averted head； as was done； I remember； in the time of Galvani； and in the early days of hypnotism； is much more easy and seems more respectable and prudent than to stop； admit and examine。 Nevertheless we must not forget that it is to some who did not smile so lightly that we owe the best part of the marvels from whose heights we are preparing to smile in our turn。 For the rest； I grant that； thus presented； hastily and summarily； without the details that throw light upon them and the proofs that support them； the incidents in question do not show to advantage and； inasmuch as they are isolated and sparingly chosen； lose all the weight and authority derived from the compact and imposing mass whence they are arbitrarily detached。 As I said above； nearly a thousand cases have been collected； representing probably not the tenth part of those which a more active and general search might bring together。 The number is evidently of importance and denotes the enormous pressure of the mystery； but； if there were only half a dozen genuine casesand Dr。 Maxwell's； Professor Flournoy's； Mrs。 Verrall's； the Marmontel； Jones and Hamilton cases and some others are undoubtedly genuinethey would be enough to show that； under the erroneous idea which we form of the past and the present； a new verity is living and moving； eager to come to light。
The efforts of that verity； I need hardly say； display a very different sort of force after we have actually and attentively read those hundreds of extraordinary stories which； without appearing to do so； strike to the very roots of history。 We soon lose all inclination to doubt。 We penetrate into another world and come to a stop all out of countenance。 We no longer know where we stand； before and after overlap and mingle。 We no longer distinguish the insidious and factitious but indispensable line which separates the years that have gone by from the years that are to come。 We clutch at the hours and days of the past and present to reassure ourselves； to fasten on to some certainty； to convince ourselves that we are still in our right place in this life where that which is not yet seems as substantial； as real； as positive； as powerful as that which is no more。 We discover with uneasiness that time； on which we based our whole existence； itself no longer exists。 It is no longer the swiftest of our gods； known to us only by its flight across all things： it alters its position no more than space； of which it is doubtless but the incomprehensible reflex。 It reigns in the centre of every event； and every event is fixed in its centre； and all that comes and all that goes passes from end to end of our little life without moving by a hair's breadth around its motionless pivot。 It is entitled to but one of the thousand names which we have been wont to lavish upon its power； a power that seemed to us manifold and innumerable： yesterday； recently； formerly； erewhile； after； before； tomorrow； soon； never； later fall like childish masks； whereas to…day and always completely cover with their united shadows the idea which we form in the end of a duration which has no subdivisions； no breaks and no stages； which is pulseless； motionless and boundless。
11
Many are the theories which men have imagined in their attempts to explain the working of the strange phenomenon； and many others might be imagined。
As we have seen； self…suggestion and telepathy explain certain cases which concern events already in existence； but still latent and perceived before the knowledge of them can reach us by the normal process of the senses or the intelligence。 But； even by extending these two theories to their uttermost point and positively abusing their accommodating elasticity； we do not succeed in illumining by thei