WAYS OF NATURE 



things that one man alone had reported having 

 seen, — things so at variance not only with my own 

 observations, but with those of all other observers 

 and with the fundamental principles of animal psy- 

 chology, that my will to believe," always easy to 

 move, balked and refused to take a step. 



In matters of belief in any field, it is certain that 

 the scientific method, the method of proof, is not of 

 equal favor with all minds. Some persons believe 

 what they can or must, others what they would. One 

 person accepts what agrees with his reason and 

 experience, another what is agreeable to his or 

 her fancy. The grounds of probability count much 

 with me; the tone and quality of the witness count 

 for much. Does he ring true ? Is his eye single ? 

 Does he see out of the back of his head ? — that is, 

 does he see on more than one side of a thing ? Is 

 he in love with the truth, or with the strange, the 

 bizarre ? Last of all, my own experience comes in 

 to correct or to modify the observations of others. 

 If what you report is antecedently improbable, I 

 shall want concrete proof before accepting it, and 

 I shall cross-question your witness sharply. If you 

 tell me you have seen apples and acorns, or pears 

 and plums, growing upon the same tree, I shall dis- 

 credit you. The thing has never been known and 

 is contrary to nature. But if you tell me you have 

 seen a peach tree bearing nectarines, or have known 

 a nectarine-stone to produce a peach tree, I shall 

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