1885.] 
Space and its Dimensions. 
83 
to see or in any way interfere with articles within the figure. 
Having no depth, and being incapable of rising above or 
sinking below his plane, either of which actions would imply 
a third dimension, he cannot look down into the supposed 
figure. On the other hand, a three-dimensional being, or 
perhaps we might better say a being capable of aCting in 
three-dimensional space, experiences no such difficulty. He 
looks over, or steps over the boundary lines without inter- 
fering with them, and adds at his pleasure in their interior. 
Now, by analogy, if a four-dimensional being exists, he 
will be able to pass into closed rooms or to see and touch 
articles in closed boxes, &c., without in the least interfering 
with their boundary planes. Just as one of us can enter a 
closed square or circle from a direction which to the sup- 
posed Flatlander would be invisible, inconceivable, and, 
indeed, non-existent, so the four-dimensional being would 
enter our rooms, our prisons, our locked chests from a 
direction perfectly open to him, though to us as “ invisible, 
inconceivable, and practically non-existent ” as in the third 
dimension to a Flatlander. 
Nor would it be at all necessary that such a being, four- 
dimensional or ^-dimensional, should be of spiritual nature. 
It may quite as well be material. That is to say its material 
frame would not in the least interfere with its power of per- 
forming in the most natural manner aCtions which we should 
regard as supernatural or miraculous. 
Mr. Hinton does not consider that there is anything in 
the world as we know it which would indicate the possi- 
bility of there being an existence in four dimensions. But 
the evidence has scarcely been sought for. It is submitted 
that if a fourth dimension exists there are two alternatives : 
either, whilst there are four dimensions, we have a three- 
dimensional existence only, or, that our existence is really 
four-dimensional, but we are not conscious of it. If the 
former alternative be correct — if we exist in three dimensions 
only, while there really exist four or more dimensions — we 
are then, with reference to beings which exist in four dimen- 
sions, what lines and planes are in relation to us, — that is, 
■ — mere abstractions! 
