The New York herald., 1921-09-18

Special Cable to THE NEW YosK HERALD.
Covyrsoht. 1891, by THE New YonK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Paris. Sept. II.
'srreat pet dogs and cats kindly. for
they have the intelligence Of the aver
age child" said Prof. Charles Richet
Of the Sorbonne to-day in discussing
psychical and metaphysical phenom-
ena, which he has been studying for
the last twenty years.
Prof. Richet has come to the con-
clusion that famous German horses
and dogs which have amazed scientists
by their ability to work out difficult
mathematical problems are not guided
by telepathic suggestion from their
owners but have actually developed
an intelligence just like a child. This
alone, he said. accounts for the per-
fosmances Of the Elberfeld horses.
shown here before the war and which
not only spelled polysyllabic words but
even solved algebraic problems.
Prof. Richet has frequently been ac-
cused Of having spiritualistic tendencies.
but In an interview here he declared such
accusations were not true.
ST do not believe In any sort Of spirit
phenomena, but do believe implicitly
in q majority Of the cases Of psychic
phenomena" he said.
writing ON Metaphysics.
Prof. Richet is busy writing new
treatise on metaphysics. which. his
friends say. may revolutionize the study
Of this subject, at least effectively.
1T must be admitted" Prof. Richet
said, that we have few instances Of
real phenomena where contact with q
medium or subjective Is not involved.
Numerous frauds have been perpetrated,
AZ we have no more than four or five
really great mediums alive to-day.
MY thesis regarding such objective
phenomena, when considered meta
physically, takes two distinct lines.
First, we have to admit that human in
telligence has processes Of understand
Ing which we know nothing about; and,
second, such understanding has an in
vincible tendency to attach itself to
existent personalities. although 1t some-
times selects the personality of a being
which has disappeared from the world 9
daily life"
Prof. Richet's attack on spiritualist
fraud is one or the hardest blows spir-
ituaiists on this side Of the Atlantic have
received.
Hard Blow to sDirftism.
For some time intense interest has
been shown throughout France in mat
tors dealing with hidden mysteries. In
deed, this interest also has been known
in the United States and in England,
where scores Of fake mediums have taken
advantage Of the credulity of the public.
But now. with Prof. Richet declaring
that these mysteries are not revealed at
the will Of ordinary individuals, 1t Is
believed that the interest In France In
these questions will fade, at least In so
far as the intelligent classes are con-
cerned.
Prof. Richet Is not alone in his at
titude regarding Spiritualism. since Ca
mile Flammarion, who has been a close
student Of psychic phenomena for sixty
years. declared last week that there
would In q great majority Of the cases
be found distinct evidence Of sugges-
ton.
The same decision has been reached by
DR.. Geley, a famous physician here,
who summed up his Investigations with
the declaration:
Although frequently meet with
troublesome phenomena. I would not for
q minute think OF ascribing them to the
dead, but to living influences"