ll possible
to make her hear my mental commands, despite the distance
separating us, despite the cessation of my relations to the
family, and despite the intervention of a third party, the
father himself, who was magnetizing his daughter. I
therefore bade the patient not fall asleep. Half an hour
later, reflecting that if, by some extraordinary chance, my
command was obeyed, this might prejudice the mind of the
unfortunate girl against me, I withdrew my prohibition, and
dismissed it from my thoughts. On the following morning, at
six o'clock, I was greatly surprised by the arrival of a
messenger, bringing me a letter from the father of the young
lady, in which he informed me that on the day before,
January 12, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, he was unable to
put his daughter to sleep, except by a prolonged and
disagreeable struggle. When she at last fell asleep she
declared that if she had resisted, it was because of my
command, and that she finally fell asleep only because I
permitted it.

These declarations had been made before witnesses, whom the
father had asked to countersign his report. I have preserved
this letter, and have added a few circumstantial details
thereto.

It is, therefore, probable that, with an exact knowledge or
phenomenal conditions, we may eventually be able to mentally
transmit entire thoughts to distant points, as is done now
by telephone.

Independently of magnetism, it is difficult not to believe that two
persons, mutually dear to each other, although separated by certain
circumstances, may remain united by their thoughts, with a tenacity
which nothing can disturb, especially if the circumstances are grave.
The thoughts of the one react upon the mind of the other, as if the
beatings of one heart could transmit themselves to another heart.
There is a certain psychical tie between the two; and at the time when
one especially concentrates his voluntary force upon the other, it is
not unusual for the latter to feel the reaction, and be plunged into a
revery even more intense. The transmission of thought--or, to speak
more exactly, _suggestion_,--is, under these conditions, a matter for
observation, which might frequently be applied.

I shall not here consider the phenomena of telepathy or ghosts.
Readers of THE ARENA have been favored with Mr. Wallace's excellent