MODERN EVOLUTION. \^-j 



The essay from which the above passages are 

 quoted is preceded by references in detail to a con- 

 siderable number of cases of "the appearance of 

 preterhuman or spiritual beings," the evidence of 

 which " is as good and definite as it is possible for 

 any evidence of any fact to be." These ghost-stories, 

 contrasted with the full-flavoured eerie tales of old, 

 are feebly monotonous. The apparatus of the 

 medium is limited : the phenomena are largely of the 

 " horse-play " order. Through the whole series we 

 vainly seek for some ennobling and exalting concep- 

 tion of a life beyond, some glimpses " behind the 

 veil," only to find that the shades are but diluted or 

 vulgarized parodies of ourselves; or that "the filthy 

 are filthy still," like the departed bargee whose 

 " communicating intelligence " (we quote from a re- 

 cent book on spiritualism entitled The Great Secret) 

 was as coarse-mouthed as when in the flesh. In 

 considering, if it be deemed worth while, the evi- 

 dence of genuineness of the occurrences, we are 

 thrown, not on the honesty, but on the competency 

 of the witnesses. The most eminent among these 

 show themselves persons of undisciplined emotions. 

 The distinguished physicist, Professor Oliver Lodge, 

 who has been described to the writer by an intimate 

 friend of the Professor as " longing to believe some- 

 thing, "argues that in dealing with psychical phenom- 

 ena, a hazy, muzzy state of mind is better than a 

 mind " keenly awake " and " on the spot " (see Ad- 

 dress to the Society for Psychical Research, Pro- 



