The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-11


termining her claims. Madame Palla-
dino refuses to let the experimenters
fix their own conditions and hence
they would be justified in wholly ignor-
ing the case.
l do not agree with the conjurer that
it is hopeless to investigate such cases
unless the conjurers conditions are sat
isfled There are means that science
could use that would settle the question
under the terms proposed by Eusapia
herself. But with her absurd charge for
sittings, and the fact that scientific men
have no time to spend years and whole
fortunes on such conditions. 1t is better
to let the case alone than TO have a sit
ting or two and then pretend that you
are scientific.
The whole affair was a money making
scheme of some kind, and the scientific
man, with his limited means and time
cannot be blamed for wanting to decide
the problem in the most conclusive man.
ner. 1t would have been much better for
him to have refused to have anything to
do with 1t than to have played a part in
the vaudeville. He is not obliged to in
vestigate such cases when so distinctly
limited and circumscribed by the medium
herself. He should say that he must
either have his own conditions or plenty
of time and means for determining the
titiiiiiS ildQG. but IL is CtIIdln IldL fsu-
sapia refuses restraints that are neces-
sary, and SO opens the way to sceptieisn
of the claims made by her and for her
The whole performance has the appear
ance of the ordinary claptrap of the adj
venturer, and but for the fact of hys-
terra admitted. would not be worth the
attention of serious men. II the proper
conditions could be demanded and OBJ
tanned 1t might be otherwise. But while
I fully accord to spiritualsts the fact
that we cannot always dictate the con-
ditions under which phenomena are OBJ
tainable, l agree with the scientific man
that We are not obliged to form convic-
tions favorable to that view until we dc
obtain the desired conditions.
The great mistake of spiritualists, some
of them at least, and of many psychic re-
search sympathizers, has been that they
have felt it necessary to defend this case
to the interest of their cause Physical
phenomena, at best and uncomplcated
do not lend themselves properly to the
proof of any such doctrine They are
rarer than the phenomena which have
some claims to a spiritualistc source, and
they are much more open to doubt OF
dispute, especially when surrounded by
the conditions and antecedents associated
with the Palladino case. The reader oil
reports on her performances constantly
feels that he is in the atmosphere OF
the conjurer. He never feels this in the
presence of Mrs. Verrall, Mrs. Forbes
Mrs. Holland, Mrs. Piper, Mrs. Smead
Mrs. Quentin and that type.
Whatever he may think of these cases
he does not suspect conjuring. But the
lifting of tables and the moving OF Other
objects are SO like the we'll known frauds
that they invite and favor the most
scrutinizng soepticism, and nothing else
Unless the most rigid conditions are OBJ
served there is no use in taking them
seriously.
Darkness may be necessary. but if il
be SO 1t is not necessary to make up oui
minds hastily, or perhaps at all, if we
think that the circumstances do not per-
nit it. If so important a truth as the
existence of spirits is to depend upor
our opinion under such conditions. We
are entirely justified in demanding one Of
three conditions: %. That We be allowed
to experiment in our own way, ca. Thai
In case we cannot wholly have our owr
way, we may be permitted to investigate
as long as We please and to vary the
phenomena in the proper manner: ant
f3). That We be allowed to suspend oul
judgment If we cannot have conditions
that are necessary for the proofs,
While / differ with many psychic re
searchers about the limitations of dark
ness in regard to certain phenomena,
do agree with them in the Judgment tina
is not an easy task to form conclusions
under such circumstances, and it will
be the same with any other conditions
that are not rigid 1t is only ques
ton of multiplying and varying the kint
of phenomena But this involves grea
expense and unlimited time, when fiv,
minutes of daylight would settle the case
IL the phenomena could be produced il
the light.
The Palladino case, as it has been man
aged. is not calculated to influence in
telligent people who have no time to spend
years and fortunes on it. 1t only excites
dispute and many of the facts asserted
of it are so closely related to fraud
that even the apology of hysteria has
little effect. | say nothing of the ques-
ton of the absurdity of spirits resorting
to such phenomena either for proof OF
amusement. I do not care anything about
that position. If such phenomena actual
ly occur they are fit subjects for scien-
tific investigation, regardless of their
source. and I would not be frightened
away from them If had to believe thai
shirts were occupied at nothing else
l am not so respectful of peoples pres
ent habits as to think them much better
than table tapping. The universe is not q
very dignified thing to me. At the same
time I am not very enthusiastic about
such phenomena as evidence of any ideal
ism, even as unintelligible as Professor
Muensterbergs l am certain that they
are not going to take the scientific mar
By storm unless they can be rescued from
the environment of jugglery, and hence
am not going to be caught defending the
case in the interest of any spiritistie
Interpretation of nature, until adequate
evidence is forthcoming There has beer
no attempt to investigate the case will
that in view by any one in this country
We have had parlor shows for those
who can pay a high price and a soI
thrown to a few scientific men who Were
foolish enough to go and see the case
and one of them to write for the maya
zines, on basis of two sittings! IL the
case had been experimental With fol
wears as Dr. Hodgson did with Mrs. Piper
and with the same patience and care, we
might have some data upon which to
form an opinion.
The only effect of the whole affair has
been to create a false conception of the
real problem of psychic research. In SC
far as it affects the question of the ex-
istence of discarnate spirits.
OF course psychic research has much
more to do than to hunt for ghosts, but
the central issue which interests the pop
Mar mind, when it is not frivolous and
djssipated, is the question or future
life. and unfortunately for that problem
it has gotten too closely associated with
miracles and conjuring. When the peo-
pie should have had intelligence enough
10 see that the problem and the phenom-
ana related to it were very different from
these more exciting facts, it ran after
the very thing that created doubt and
dispute. 1t neglects the first facts that
promise a solution of the problem. II
must pay the penalty. which is, the In
evitabie consequence of Illusion. ] 90 moi
care to rescue it from this until 1t turns
with intelligent insight to both the right