The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-26
Scientific Evidence Of Thought ransference or ena

mysterious; it is the minimum hypothesis,
which we feel bound to stretch to the utmost
before going beyond it. If, however, direct
irst-hand laboratory experience Of the rudi-
mentary stages Of such a faculty is wanted
as it ought to bet must be looked and
waited for. and experiments must be tried from
time to time. as in any other chance cf success
is likely to occur il observers are patient.
though 1t is not always at hand and my expe.
rienee shows that sooner or later sufficiently
sensitive or capable neutrality-suspicious. with
adequate receptivity-will be found. Perhaps
they are commoner than think, because
the test is so seldom applied I have now an
apparatus set up for examining whether traces
of the faculty exist widespread in normal peo
pie, and shall make report to the Society for
Psychica Research in due course.
But whether incipiently widespread or not
and however it be explained. the faculty OF
telepathic receptiyity certainly exists in a few
people, though even in them it is by no means
always and under all circumstances available.
in that respect it differs from an inorganic
property like rado.activity--thoug that too
appears limited 10 few substances and is not
conSpCuous or widespread
The Society for Psychical Research has done
more In the way Of detecting fraud than any
It's wide experience: but it has also had large
experience OF genuine phenomena. and by ar.
pication of the comparatively simple principle
OF telepathy TO cases where its application IS
not specifically obvious and where any other
explanation involves greater departure from
normally it has done a good deal to mitigate
II
at least one kind OF so-caled ghost, and GER
orally to induce sane and soner treatment OF
number of uncommon but genuine expe-
Iences.
IT is sometimes said-Sr Bryan Donkin
either says or clearly !mplies--that the existence
OF telepathy would contradict established
knowledge. II that we're true it would indeed
De an absardity. hut telepathy does nothing
OF the kind: it enarges and expands. it opens
up new chapter. but it does not contradict.
ny psychcal research our knowledge OF fact Is
supplemented. but in no other way changed
me un"eiccme facts Will fl into the coherent
scheine OF science in due course, and will dis
pace nothing already there though they will
remove some mistaken accTetions = the begin
hlnSs OF a premature fence or boundary II
biologists have formulated for themselves O
'heory that material mode OF access is the
only access to mind. and material methods tho
only possible means of psychic intercommu
mon, mat theory, we'll founded as it is on the
positive side, may have TO give way on the
negative side and the word only be elimina led
from the statement before it is true
subject to correction by further exner.ence
am ready Professionally to agree that possihlv
the only way in which mind can act on IN
organic matter is through or by the aid of the
orain nerve and muscle system OF some living
animal, and, conversely, that the material uni.
verse acts, and perhaps only can act. on mind
oy an inverse process through the sense or.
CANS OF living person. At any rate there Is
great nniformity OF experience in support q,