Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-02

spending vibrations on the tympanum Of my
ear, and, by means of these, enable me to
reproduce in myself his pbantasms and his
simple thoughts. All this would require a
wonderful adaptation of means to an end,
an incomprehensible, an infinite wisdom in
the Creator; but this is no real objection,
since, as a matter of fact, His wisdom IL
truly infinite.
SOME CONSEQUENCES.
What a wide vista of possibilities opens
here before us. The telephone and tele-
graph may, perhaps, soon become things Of
of the ignorance of the nineteenth century,
as we keep as curiosities Indian bows and
arrows. Men will then converse with one
another at any distance by mere brain power,
(which is to act without loss of energy due
to distance" We shall need for this pur-
pose no machines at all. There will be 10
patents taken out on the noophone or en-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. name may be
coined for it-as there are patents on the
telephone, making the luxury so expensive
that not every man can enjoy the USE of one.
With his brain power alone in action, the
editor will sit in his easy chair and ask his
agent in Lincoln or Washington, or Presi-
dent Mckinley himself, about the latest
phase of legislation, which will at once he
mentally telegraphed while the editorial is
being written. We shall then be able to
consult our lawyer or doctor by merely wish
ing it, or call for a policeman when we meet
d IUDIDdu vi ii slIttls ENtH VIC ioisC
wife will not need to put on a wishing cap
tc have her orders conveyed to the butcher
or the milkman. Visits in the evening to
closely sympathizing friends will go out of
fashion, for the parties car keep up a brain
chat with one another all the day. The
general in a battle will send his order by
telepathy, etc.
WHY DELAY HI BOON?
am sorry that Prof. Crookes speaks so
difidently of the practical results. THE
time may come he says, when 1t tthe
theory can be submitted to experimental
tests" And why wait for a time to come?
What prevents us from experimenting al
once? Mems brains are ready today for any
new adventure. Why should we wait TIL
our posterity will reap the fruit OF these
wonderful discoveries? If there is anything
in them, let us have 1t at once. The medium
of transference-be it ether or what not
Is ready now and has been ready for cen
turtles. 1t may take time to perfa9t the
process of telepathy, but If, as tho professor
thinks, intense thought, concentrated by
one person upon another with whom he Is
in close sympathy can induce a telepathic
chain along which brain waves shall go
straight to their goal without loss OF energy
due to distance" it must travel as well to-
day as it will in 100 years from now. III 1t
will not do so, does this not throw the strong
est doubt on the existence of the telepathIc
medium? And IL nature uniformly persists
in refusing to give evidence OF such power
in man as the theory supposes, does not the
theory cease to be scienti1ic? For a theory
is called scientific in so far only as 1t
plausibly explains existing facts without con-
tradicting other facts. But where are the
existing facts which the theory is to ex-
plain?
LET US HAVE FACTS.
As soon as the principles OF steam power
and electric power were understood, we at
once had some of the effects made visible.
So with the telegraph, the telephone, the
telescope, the microscope, bicycles, photo
graphs, etc, etc. Let us have telepathic
messages at once. Happily, PROF. Crookes,
as president OF the much-yaunted Society Tor
Psychical Research, Is in the best position
conceivable to test the value Of his hypothe-
sis and mature his theory, We have specu-
lations enough, the air Is fun OF them Let
us have facts-solid, hard ana STUBBORN
facts, that will convince the most skeptlcal
The professor complains of hindrances In
the shape of scientific superstitlons,' what
ever that nay mean. There is nothing that
will disslpate the mists of superstitions but
bright, luminous facts. Show us clearly what
teIepathy can do; show how your theory is
carried out In practice, and all scientific
prejudices will give way before the solid
proof. | must confess, however, that, so far,
/ have never seen those psychical phenomena,
so much lauded as being fraught with prom
Use OF endless possibilities, treated in that
common-sense straightforward way In
which we deal with real science. In the
physical sciences we proceed by induction,
as Bacon has taught us, though others did
it before him. We first get the solid and
facts. and then we explain them
on suggested hypothesis. or theories. But
in this psyehlcal business We seem to get
plenty Of theories and few, II any, undoubted
facts. 1t is all wrapped in mystery.
A recent work. The Law OF Psychieai |