wise what is it? Hence we assume * * * * *" 

 Some recent writers have sought to demolish Wal- 

 lace's argument concerning spiritism by saying he is 

 an old man and in his dotage. Wallace once wrote a 

 booklet entitled, "Vaccination a Fallacy," which cre- 

 ated a big dust in Doctor's Row, and was cited as cor- 

 roborative proof, along with his faith in socialism, that 

 the man was mentally incompetent. 

 But this is a deal worse excuse for argument than any- 

 thing Wallace ever put forth ^t The real fact is that 

 Wallace issued a book on spiritism in 1874, and in 1896, 

 reissued it with amendments, confirming his first con- 

 clusions. So he has held his peculiar views on immor- 

 tality for over thirty years, and moreover his mental 

 vigor at eighty-two is unimpaired. 



Whether the proof he has received as to the existence 

 of disembodied spirits is sufficient for others is very 

 uncertain, but if it suffices for himself, it is not for us 

 to quibble J> Wallace agrees to allow us to have our 

 opinions if we will let him have his. 

 His views are in no sense those of Christianity, rather 

 they might be called those of Theosophy, as the per- 

 sonal God and the dogma of salvation and atonement 

 are entirely omitted. 



The doctrine of Evolution he carries into the realm of 

 spirit. His belief is that souls reincarnate themselves 

 many times for the ultimate object of experience, 

 growth and development. He holds that this life is the 

 gateway to another, but that we should live each day 

 as though it were our last. To this effect we find in a 



109 



LITTLE 

 JOURNEYS 



