SPACE AS A THOUGHT-CATEGORY 167 



we ascribe length, breadth, and thickness, and think 

 we have said it all; but quite otherwise that eternal 

 realm which we occupy in common with beings higher 

 than ourselves. 



That the majority of persons are still feeling their 

 way over the surface of things is attested by the gen- 

 eral mental ineptitude for the study of solid geome- 

 try. Depth and height play little part in our phys- 

 ical perception. For nearly all of us the third di- 

 mension is practically unknown beyond the reach of 

 a few feet. The aviator soaring aloft why all the 

 bravado of curve and loop? Sooner or later he will 

 fall to his death. Ay, verily! but his is a joyous 

 martyrdom making for the evolution of conscious- 

 ness. Not always shall we crawl like flies the surface 

 of our globe! 



x Although the scientist has found it useful on occa- 

 sion to postulate the fourth dimension, he has not 

 thought it necessary as yet to put it in the category 

 of reality ; much less has the layman. Consequently 

 the mathematician holds the sole title to its knowl- 

 edge unless we recognise the claims of the medium to 

 a fourth-dimensional insight. There is much to-day, 

 however, which points to our coming to such percep- 

 tion as the natural result of our evolution and quite 

 apart from geometrical abstractions or occultism. 

 It is as though some great tidal wave had swept over 

 space and we have, unbeknown to ourselves, been 

 lifted by it to new heights. And when we have once 



