The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-05
A HAND ON THE CURTAIN.

With the destruction OF awe for the
Unknowable has come almost fierce
determination to sound the uttermost
depths of the mysteries which surround
US. Here in the West are two daring men,
each with hand on the curtain behind
which turks the Inscrutable-One engaged
on the problem OF the fourth dimension
with all the holiness OF inspired courage,
and the other coolly and patiently working
to solve the mystery of gravitation. While
these scientists are proceeding on material
istic lines, searching the Unknowable by
means of algebraic formule, shrewd and
logical believers in what are commonly
termed occult matters are pushing their
efforts into the darkest places and reveal
ing marvellous phases of the human mind,
will and spirit.
The singular part Of it all is that these in
quirers are fighting for the same end-the
discovery Of the Inscrutable.
Among the most recent Of wonderful
discoveries is the presence of argon in the
air; and we may be sure that the next
problem to be assailed will be the purpose
and function of this mysterious COM
ponent. The possibilities which it pre-
sents are dazzling, but there is not space
here to discuss them.
Next we are assured that the mysterious
phenomenon of table-tipping is explainable
on the theory of deviation" That is,
for every positive force there must be a
negative one, and particular preponder-
ance of one over the other determines a
specific condition. Granted that there is
such force as gravity, there must be a
force in existence which tends to overcome
it. What can this force be? Suppose that
the human will. which has developed SO
extraordinary and mysterious powers in
certain cases-as in the hypnotic control OF
other persons, in the healing of physical
ailments by faith, and in other ways
should have a special individual power,
amounting to a physical force, which
should be able to counteract gravity to a
limited extent by compelling heavy OBJ
iects to float in the air; that is a problem
upon which some earnest minds are at
work; and who can declare that no proof
! foresee the extent to which this force
might be exercised if proved and devel.
oped? Would not at least the problem oil
''aerial navigation be solved?
Another manifestation of this spirit oil
unrest and inquiry is found in the wonder.
full progress that medicine is making II
is true that many ludicrous mistakes are
made-as that by Brown-Sequard, when he
announced that he had discovered the
elixir of life-but these do not dampen the
ardor nor impair the value of the great
achievements of Jenner, Pasteur and
Koch. Along with these great discoveries
of the nature and the cure of disease are
proceeding intelligent efforts to prevent it.
Hygiene is becoming one of the greatest
of sciences. Not only have the dreadful
plaques which formerly devastated the earth
| been shorn of their terrors, but commune
ties and individuals are learning the secret
of preserving health at home. 1t is singu
lar, however, that the mastery of the arr
Of intelligent living is the slowest of all
| In this field we have earnest workers, Ed.
ward Atkinson being the greatest, and it is
| in this field that the highest work of socio.
| logical reformers is to be done.
Robert Stevenson of San Francisco has
promised us that if some of our wealthy
men give him the material aid necessary to