and we were at a loss to explain it, but the event proved that the child was perfectly right.  This seance took place in 1706.  These four members of the royal family were then full of health and strength; and they all died before the king.  It was the same thing with M. le prince, M. le duc, and M. le prince de Conti, whom she likewise did not see, though she beheld the children of the two last named; M. du Maine, his own (Orleans), and M. le comte de Toulouse.  But of course this fact was unknown till eight years after.”

Science may conceivably come to study crystal visions, but veracious crystal visions will be treated like veracious dreams.  That is to say, they will be explained as the results of a chance coincidence between the unknown fact and the vision, or of imposture, conscious or unconscious, or of confusion of memory, or the fact of the crystal vision will be simply denied.  Thus a vast number of well-authenticated cases of veracious visions will be required before science could admit that it might be well to investigate hitherto unacknowledged faculties of the human mind.  The evidence can never be other than the word of the seer, with whatever value may attach to the testimony of those for whom he “sees,” and describes, persons and places unknown to himself.  The evidence of individuals as to their own subjective experiences is accepted by psychologists in other departments of the study. {66}

CHAPTER IV

Veracious Waking Hallucinations not recognised by Science; or explained by Coincidence, Imposture, False Memory.  A Veracious Hallucination popularly called a Wraith or Ghost.  Example of Unveracious Hallucination.  The Family Coach.  Ghosts’ Clothes and other Properties and Practices; how explained.  Case of Veracious Hallucination.  Riding Home from Mess.  Another Case.  The Bright Scar.  The Vision and the Portrait.  Such Stories not usually believed.  Cases of Touch:  The Restraining Hand.  Of Hearing:  The Benedictine’s Voices; The Voice in the Bath-room.  Other “Warnings”.  The Maoris.  The Man at the Lift.  Appearances Coincident with Death.  Others not Coincident with Anything.

In “crystal-gazing” anybody can make experiments for himself and among such friends as he thinks he can trust.  They are hallucinations consciously sought for, and as far as possible, provoked or induced by taking certain simple measures.  Unsought, spontaneous waking hallucinations, according to the result of Mr. Galton’s researches, though not nearly so common as dreams, are as much facts of sane mental experience.  Now every ghost or wraith is a hallucination.  You see your wife in the dining-room when she really is in the drawing-room; you see your late great-great-grandfather anywhere.  Neither person is really present.  The first appearance in popular language is a “wraith”; the second is a “ghost” in ordinary speech.  Both are hallucinations.