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a liquid or a solid。 On earth the state of a substance； whether
solid； liquid； or gaseous； depends simply upon those two
conditions。 Here neither thermal nor barometric changes are
required； for； by mastering the new natural laws that at death
become patent to our senses； we have all the necessary control。
It requires but an effort of my will to be almost instantly
clothed in human form； and but another effort to rearrange the
molecules in such a way as to make the envelope visible。 Some
who have been dead longer； or had a greater natural aptitude than
I； have advanced further； and all are learning； but the
difference in the rate at which spirits acquire control of
previously unknown natural laws varies far more than among
individuals on earth。
〃These forms of organic life do not disintegrate till after
death； here in the natural state they break down and dissolve
into their structural elements in full bloom； as was done by the
fungi。 The poisonous element in the deadly gust； against which I
warned you； came from the gaseous ingredients of toadstools；
which but seldom； and then only when the atmosphere has the
greatest affinity for them； dissolve automatically； producing a
death…spreading wave； against which your meteorological
instruments in future can warn you。 The slight fall you noticed
in temperature was because the specific heat of these gases is
high； and to become gas while in the solid state they had to
withdraw some warmth from the air。 The fatal breath of the
winged lizardsor dragons； as you call themresults from the
same cause； the action of their digestion breaking up the fungus；
which does not kill them； because they exhale the poisonous part
in gaseous form with their breath。 The mushrooms dissolve more
easily； the natural separation that takes place as they reach a
certain stage in their development being precipitated by
concussion or shock。
〃Having seen that； as on earth； we gain control of the material
first； our acquisitiveness then extends to a better understanding
and appreciation of our new senses； and we are continually
finding new objects of beauty； and new beauties in things we
supposed we already understood。 We were accustomed on earth to
the marvellous variety that Nature produced from apparently
simple means and presented to our very limited senses； here there
is an indescribably greater variety to be examined by vastly
keener senses。 The souls in hell have an equally keen but
distorted counterpart of our senses； so that they see in a
magnified form everything vile in themselves and in each other。
To their senses only the ugly and hateful side is visible； so
that the beauty and perfume of a flower are to them as loathsome
as the appearance and fumes of a toadstool。 As evolution and the
tendency of everything to perpetuate itself and intensify its
peculiarities are invariable throughout the universe； these
unhappy souls and ourselves seem destined to diverge more and
more as time goes on； and while we constantly become happier as
our capacity for happiness increases； their sharpening senses
will give them a worse and worse idea of each other； till their
mutual repugnance will know no bounds； and of everything
concerning which they obtain knowledge through their senses。
Thus these poor creatures seem to be the victims of circumstances
and the unalterable laws of fate； and were there such a thing as
death； their misery would unquestionably finally break their
hearts。 That there will be final forgiveness for the condemned；
has long been a human hope； but as yet they have experienced
none； and there is no analogy for it in Nature。
〃But while you have still your earthly bodies and the
opportunities they give you of serving God； you need not be
concerned about hell； no one on earth； knowing how things really
are； would ever again forsake His ways。 The earthly state is the
most precious opportunity of securing that for which a man would
give his all。 Even from the most worldly point of view； a man is
an unspeakable fool not to improve his talents and do good。 What
would those in sheol not give now for but one day in the flesh on
earth； of which you unappreciatives may still have so many？ The
well…used opportunities of even one hour might bring joy to those
in paradise forever； and greatly ease the lot of those in hell。
In doing acts of philanthropy； however； you must remember the
text of the sermon the doctor of divinity preached to Craniner
and Ridley just before they perished at the stake： 'Though I
give my body to be burned； and have not charity； it profiteth me
nothing'which shows that even good deeds must be performed in
the proper spirit。
〃A new era is soon to dawn on earth。 Notwithstanding your great
material progress； the future will exceed all the past。 Man will
find every substance's maximum use； thereby vastly increasing his
comfort。 Then； when advanced in science and reason； with the
power of his senses increased by the delicate instruments that
you； as the forerunners of the coming man； are already learning
to make； may he cease to be a groveller； like our progenitors the
quadrupeds； and may his thoughts rise to his Creator； who has
brought him to such heights through all the intricacies of the
way。 Your preparation for the life to come can also be greatly
aided by intercourse with those who have already died。 When you
really want to associate spiritually with us； you can do so； for；
though perhaps only one in a hundred million can； like me； so
clothe himself as to be again visible to mortal eyes； many of us
could affect gelatine or extremely sensitive plates that would
show interruptions in the ultra…violet chemical rays that； like
the thermal red beyond the visible spectroscope； you know exist
though you can neither see nor feel them。 Spirits could not
affect the magnetic eye； because magnetism； though immaterial
itself； is induced and affected only by a material substance。
The impression on the plate； however； like the prismatic colours
you have already noticed； can be produced by a slight rarefaction
of the hydrogen in the air； so that； though no spirit could be
photographed as such； a code and language might be established by
means of the effect produced on the air by the spirit's mind。 I
am so interested in the subject of my disquisition that I had
almost forgotten that your spirits are still subject to the
requirements of the body。 Last time I dined with you； let me now
play the host。〃
〃We shall be charmed to dine with you；〃 said Ayrault； 〃and shall
be only too glad of anything that will keep you with us。〃
〃Then；〃 said the spirit； 〃as the tablecloth is laid； we need only
to have something on it。 Let each please hold a corner；〃 he
continued； taking one himself with his left hand； while he passed
his right to his brow。 Soon flakes as of snow began to form in
the air above； and slowly descended upon the cloth； and； glancing
up； the three men saw that for a considerable height this process
was going on； the flakes increasing in size as they fell till
they attained a length of several inches。 When there was enough
for them all on the table…cloth the shower ceased。 Sitting down
on the ground； they began to eat this manna； which had a
delicious flavour and marvellous purity and freshness。
〃As you doubtless have already suspected；〃 said the spirit； 〃the
basis of this in every case is carbon； combined with nitrogen in
its solid form； and with the other gases the atmosphere here
contains。 You may notice that the flakes vary in colour as well
as in taste； both of which are of course governed by the gas with
which the carbon； also in its visible form； is combined。 It is
almost the same process as that performed by every plant in
withdrawing carbon from the air and storing it in its trunk in
the form of wood； which； as charcoal； is again almost pure
carbon； only in this case the metamorphosis is far more rapid。
This is perhaps the natural law that Elijah； by God's aid；
invoked in the miracle of the widow's cruse； and that produced
the manna that fed the Israelites in the desert； while apergy
came in play in the case of the stream that Moses called from the
rock in the wilderness； which followed the descendants of Abraham
over the rough country through which they passed。 In examining
miracles with the utmost deference； as we have a right to； we see
one law running through all。 Even in Christ's miracle of
changing the water to wine； there was a natural law； though only
one has dwelt on earth who could make that change； which； from a
chemist's standpoint； was peculiarly difficult on account of the
required fermentation； which is the result of a developed and
matured germ。 Many of His miracles； however； are as far beyond
my small power as heaven is above the earth。 Much of the
substance of the loaves and fishes with which He fed the
multitudethe carbon and nitrogenous productsalso came from
the air； though He could have taken them from many other sources。
The combination and building up of these in the ordinary way
would have taken weeks or months； but was performed
instantaneously by His mighty