The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-04

like telephoning-by long distance tele-
phone?
&c. P. laughs.
Were you not surprised to find
yourself living?'
Perfectly so, greatly Surprised. 1
did not believe in future life. 1t was
beyond my reasoning powers. Now 1t
is as clear as daylight We have an
astral fac-simile of the material body.
+" Jim, what are you writing
now?'
'TG. p, when living. would probably
have ;jeered at the association with the
word astral. DR.. HI
Nothing of Importance
why don't you write about this?'
81 should like to, but the expression
of my opinion would be nothing; l must
have facts.
These 1 will give you, and to Hodg-
son, too
will people know about this pos
sibility of communication?
They are sure to in the end. 1t is
only a question of time
What is Rogers writing?'
"A novel.
"'No, not that Is he not writing
something about me-?
Yes, he is preparing a memorial of
you
That's nice. 1t is pleasant to be
me- Martha Rogers deceased daugh-'
teri is here l have talked with her
several times.
Here follows an account of the girls
peculiarties, also many inquiries and
remarks about friends still in existence,
and regrets that it would be so hard
to make his father believe-With his
mother it would be easier.
"All references in the conversation,
adds DR.. Hodgson, proved absolutely
correct"
We are also told that trying to look
into this world is much like looking
through a keyhole to learn what people
are doing within a room.
Although great numbers of people
had sittings. and G. P. never failed to
recognize everybody whom he had ever
seen before and seemed never weary of
assisting strangers, no one had more
personal intimacy impaired than the
Howards. Here is a description of a
rather dramatic scene for spirit" to
play:
Mr.. Howard (says DR.. Hodgson) was
supporting Mrs. Piper's head, l was
following the writing and Mr.. Howard
was sitting some distance away smok-
ing a long pipe, when the following
conversation ensued:
&c. Prov, what will do for you?
DR.. H asks for any special message
ne may tnlnk desirable, anything dpoul
philosophy, etc.
Mr.. Howard George, before
you go to philosophy-you know my
opinion of philosophy"
&c. Pit is rather crude. to be sure.
"Mr. H.-Tell me something. You
must be able to recall certain things
that you and I know. 1 ask you be-
cause several things l have asked you
have failed to get hold of.
P-Wbv did Won NOT ask ma this
before? Do you doubt me, dear old fell
low?
Mr. HI simply want something
you have failed to answer certain ques-
tons that l have asked-now l. want
you to give me the equivalent to those
answers in. your own terms
What does Jim mean?
&c. P.-Do you mean our conversa-
ton on different things, or do you mean
something else?
Mr.. HI mean anything. Now,
George, listen for a moment-listen-
listen
&c. P.-I know.
Mr. HI mean that we have spent
many summers and winters together
and talked on great many things
and had a great many views IA COM
lnon-went through a great many ex-
periences together. Now &c. P,
commencing to write)-Hold on a min
ute.
&c. P-You used to talk to me
about"
| DR.. Hodgson goes On to explain:
| The transcription here of the words
written by G. P. conveys, of course.
no proper impression of the actual cir
! cumstances. The inert mass of Mrs.
Piper's body turned away from the
right arm and sagged down, as 1t were.
| limp and lifeless over Mrs. Howard s
shoulder, but the right arm, and espe-
cially hand, mobile, intelligent, depre-
catory. then impatient and fierce in the
persistence of the writing that followed
which contained too much of the per
sonal element in G. P.'s life to be re-
produced here.
| Several statements were read by me
and assented to by Mr.. Howard, and
! then was written private and the