320 MY LI1 



a form of mediumship which, so far as T remember, was never 

 very prominent or successful with Mrs. Guppy. This is the 

 greal fault of all beginners. Instead of being content for a 

 time to observe only what happens, they almost always want 

 certain phenomena which alone will satisfy them; acting on 

 the tacit assumption that all mediums and all preterhuman 

 intelligences are liable to produce at will all the various classes 

 of phenomena. Those who follow the more scientific method 

 of beginning with observation only — which, strange to say, 

 the scientific men are hardly ever willing to do — almost always 

 find that their early doubts and supicions are, one by one, 

 shown to be unfounded, through the occurrence of phenomena 

 which seem specially adapted to answer them. 



A few years later my friend visited Lourdes, in order to 

 inquire on the spot as to the marvellous cures said to be 

 effected there, and, if possible, to see some of them himself. 

 While there he wrote me a very interesting letter, giving 

 some account, of his inquiries, which, being a Catholic, a well- 

 known writer, and a good French scholar, he had facilities for 

 pursuing which the ordinary English tourist or reporter does 

 not possess. I give here the more important parts of this 

 letter, dated April 5, 1874. 



After referring to my Fortnightly Revieiv article which I 

 had told him I was writing, he continues, " We are here in a 

 charming country and quiet, pleasant old town, at this season 

 almost empty of visitors. We are here also, as you are, no 

 doubt, fully aware, at the headquarters of a whole series of 

 alleged modern miracles performed, as asserted, through the 

 water which suddenly began to flow while Bernadette Sou- 

 birous was in an ecstatic state in the presence, as she affirms, 

 of an apparition of the B. V. M. [Blessed Virgin Mary.] 



" I have made such inquiries as I have been able, and find 

 that here, on the spot, the miracles are fully believed in. The 

 clergy were for a long time opposed to the whole thing, and 

 the bishop had to be morally forced to institute an inquiry, he 

 was so little disposed to accept such phenomena as facts. He 

 ended, however, by being fully convinced, as also the cure (a 

 fine, soldier-like man of about sixty-five, somewhat brusque 



