110 HAMPSHIRE DAYS 



a mystery, one which, so far as I know, has not yet 

 been looked into. A small ray of light may be thrown 

 on the matter, if we consider the fact of those strange 

 weaknesses and mental abnormalities in our own 

 species, which are supposed to have their origin in 

 violent emotional and other peculiar mental states in 

 one of our parents. The fathers have eaten sour 

 grapes, and their children's teeth are set on edge, is 

 one of the old proverbs quoted by Ezekiel. I know 

 of one unfortunate person who, if he but sees a lemon 

 squeezed, or a child biting an unripe-looking fruit, 

 has his teeth so effectually set on edge, that he cannot 

 put food into his mouth for some time after. Here is a 

 farmer, a big, strong, healthy man, who himself works 

 on his farm like any labourer, who, if he but catches 

 sight of any ophidian adder, or harmless grass snake, 

 or poor, innocent blindworm instantly lets fall the 

 implements from his hands, and stands trembling, 

 white as a ghost, for some time ; then, finally, he goes 

 back to the house, slowly and totteringly, like some 

 very aged, feeble invalid, and dropping on to a bed, he 

 lies nerveless for the rest of that day. Night and sleep 

 restore him to his normal state. 



I give this one of scores of similar cases which I 

 have found. Such things are indeed very common. 

 But how does the fact of pre-natal suggestion help us 

 to get at the true meaning of such a phenomenon as 

 fascination ? It does not help us if we consider it by 

 itself. It is a fact that "freaks" of this kind, mental 



