ses, among
others, which we shall fully discuss a little further on, we shall be
almost tempted to let Phinuit benefit by the doubt about his colleagues,
and to believe that he is really a consciousness different from that of
Mrs Piper.

FOOTNOTES:

[32] _Proc. of S.P.R._, vol. vi. p. 520.

[33] _Ibid._, vol. viii. p. 50.

[34] _Proc. of the S.P.R._, vol. viii. p. 98.

[35] _Proc. of S.P.R._, part xxi. vol. viii. p 51.

[36] _Proc. of S.P.R._, vol. vi. p. 449.

[37] _Proc. of S.P.R._, vol. viii. p. 51.

[38] _Ibid._

CHAPTER VII

Miss Hannah Wild's letter--The first text given by Phinuit--Mrs
Blodgett's sitting--Thought-reading explains the case.

There is a case of which I shall speak with some detail in this chapter,
for three reasons:--(1) The good faith of the experimenters being
unquestioned, if the experiment had succeeded we should certainly have
had a first step towards proof of a future life. Experiments of this
kind must be arranged if the desired end is to be attained. Even if only
one out of ten were successful, we should have established a method of
procedure, and should certainly in time discover the truth. (2) This
example will once again show the reader the character of Phinuit, who
hesitates at no invention, and risks being caught in the act of
imposture sooner than own to his ignorance or incapacity. (3) The reader
will find in it examples of the untrue assertions which are found in all
the bad sittings.

This dishonesty of Phinuit certainly complicates the problem singularly.
But I wish to present it as it actually is, with its dark and bright
sides. Science must endeavour to explain both.[39]

Miss Hannah Wild died on July 28, 1886. She was a strong Baptist, and
remained so to her last moments. About a year before her death a Boston
spiritualist paper published a message supposed to have come from her
dead mother. Miss Hannah Wild was much struck by it.

Her sister advised her to try the following experiment. Miss Hannah Wild
should write a letter whose contents she alone knew, and when she died,
she should return, if not prevented by circumstances stronger than her
will, and communicate the contents of the letter to her sister through
some medium. The letter would only be opened when some message bearing
all the marks of authenticity should arrive.

This was done. Hannah Wild wrote the letter, sealed it and enclosed it
in a tin box. It was understood that no mortal hand w