CHAPTER V

EVA C. PROCESSES OF MATERIALIZATION
/TT^HE phenomena of telekinesis mostly I found in the case of Eusapia Palladino are not the most striking manifestations of which physical mediums are capable. Another group, which even two years ago seemed to me quite incredible, consists in Processes of Materiali- zation. In this group are comprised those cases where, in the presence of a medium, formations of material or semi-material nature are pro- duced in the shape of organic or semi-organic structures of a supernormal kind. Such pheno- mena were numerous in the case of Eusapia Palladino also.
The problem of mediumistic materializations has again come to the front, by reason of the publication of Schrenck-Notzing's book on " teleplastic " materialization processes in the case of a French medium, Eva C. A parallel, and almost as voluminous a publication was issued simultaneously by a French lady, Mme. Alexandre Bisson, in whose house the medium lives, and who has apparently constituted herself the latter's psychological impresario, inasmuch
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as the organization and supervision of Eva C.'s trances remain nearly always entirely in her hands.
The phenomena of Eva C., according to the reports of the two authors whom for the moment we take as our authority consist in a quasi-organic substance extruded from her or- ganism generally through the mouth capable of independent movements in the form of strange shapes. These shapes sometimes resemble parts of the human body, though more frequently they take the form of human faces or figures enveloped in floating veils. The shapes are then said to dissolve before the eyes of the spectator . . . that is to say, to re-enter the organism of the medium.
The flat surface of these formations is their oddest characteristic. The hand which purports to be materialized looks like a fake ; the faces or figures seem to be cut out of paper and sub- sequently veiled. Sometimes it looks as though there were actual folds and wrinkles in the paper itself. I found this impression confirmed by my examination of the stereoscopic prints kindly forwarded to me by Schrenck-Notzing. Nobody who looks at these pictures without further explanation could think that they are anything else than drawings on paper or material, possibly sketches from illustrated papers brought with her by Eva C. ; yet this hypothesis is denied both by
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Schrenck-Notzing and Mme. Bisson. According to the former, Eva C., at each seance was clad in tights which he had bought himself and^into which she was sewn ; furthermore, she was carefully searched each time from head to foot, to preclude the possibility of any objects being smuggled in hair, ears, mouth in fact, her whole body was examined. She was also sub- mitted to a gynaecological examination. Some- times she was even entirely unclothed during the seance. The cabinet, too, was overhauled before and after the sittings. In addition to this, very important phenomena and spontaneous movements of the " teleplastic " substance and of the materializations have been observed with the curtains open.
Two doctors Gulat-Wellenberg and Mathilde von Kemnitz set up the " Rumination Hypo- thesis." According to this, Eva C. be- longed to those rare people who are not only able to swallow objects whole, but also to bring them up again when they want to do so. Thus, she might have smuggled portraits painted on muslin into her oesophagus, and brought them up again during the seance, when her head was behind the curtain of the cabinet. Schrenck- Notzing's reply to, and criticism of, this theory, has so completely demolished it, that there is no real necessity for further discussion of it. He even examined the contents of the medium's
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stomach one day, and it is impossible to explain how Eva C., whose hands according to the reports were continuously under control, could have been able to unfold the tightly packed scraps of pictures which she is supposed to have brought up aga,fai, and finally drape them in veils. On the other hand, it would not be right to assert that Eva C. had no interest to tempt her to fraud, for this would not be in accordance with the real facts. For years she has lived in easy surroundings, as a guest in Mme. Bisson's house, where she feels herself to be the centre of interest to an ever-increasing scientific circle. This applies with equal force to Mme. Bisson, who has also been suspected by some people of being engaged in fraud. She it is who is usually responsible for the putting of Eva C. into a state of trance, and who generally controls and influences the medium. As Mme. Bisson's voluminous book on Eva C. was published simultaneously with that of Schrenck-Notzing, literary ambition and desire for notoriety may well be the explanation of her participating in a fraud. The only question is whether her character is such as to make it likely. Schrenck- Notzing, says it is not ; and mere suspicion is no proof. On the other hand, it may be that Schrenck-Notzing too, cannot be considered quite impartial. It is much more important to note that seances held in the absence of Mme.
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Bisson have been productive of positive results. It is all the more amazing though, that Mme. Bisson should not have insisted of her own accord on being subjected to the most searching investi- gations once suspicion against her was openly voiced though it is only fair to say that she has permitted a limited examination to be made of her person.
So far, it is clear that the pros and cons are evenly balanced. The impression given by the innumerable photographs taken by Schre^k- Notzing and Mme. Bisson make us incline towards the theory of fraud, though on perusing Schrenck- Notzing's reports the scale tilts the other way. A definite decision is only possible if in the first place we make up our minds whether Eva C. was adequately controlled both before and during the seance, and secondly, whether Mme. Bisson had no opportunity for fraud, and was unable to pass on objects to Eva C. It is of lesser im- portance for the moment, to ascertain how much reliability can be placed in the reports and minutes of the sittings, as in this case the photo- graphs supply all requisite information. On the other hand these photographs cannot be taken as proofs of the objectivity of the phenomena, as they are only momentary reproductions, and there is no film which reproduces simultaneously the ejection of the substance from the body of Eva C., together with its spontaneous movement
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and the further phenomena. It must, however, be added that even if the physical control exercised over Eva C. were sufficiently strict, and Mme. Bisson is not a cheat, never was a medium subjected to so many precautions as was Eva C. by Schrenck-Notzing. A further point of great importance lies in the use of a number of cameras at the same time from different angles, and in the taking of stereoscopic prints.
It is, of course, impossible to prove the ob- jectivity of the minutes of the sittings ; their importance depends on our opinion of Schrenck- Notzing. The fragmentary character of the notes is sometimes regrettable, but a change in this respect is hardly possible, in view of the suddenness and rapidity with which phenomena occur.
As I have already mentioned, the most pro- nounced characteristic of the actual phenomena, consists in their peculiar flatness ; but it is also noteworthy how clearly they^are dependent on the mind of the medium. It is as though these materializations were pictures of the imagination or of the memory, for in some cases they are strikingly like published photographs, and in one case even a few letters from the pages of a periodical were reproduced. This circumstance which so strongly favours the assumption of fraud might, if fraud is not at work, almost be regarded as proof that these materializations 1 are no more
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than some physically objective transformation of Eva C.'s memory pictures. 1
Are there any other circumstances which might definitely influence judgment, either for or against ?
As a matter of fact, these do exist as the result of the new investigations to which Eva C. has been subjected. She has since the first series of experiments been examined for a whole year in Paris, by a psychologist, Dr. Geley, at the rate of two sittings a week, the sittings taking place for three months in his own laboratory. As he was given the opportunity of lecturing on the subject in January, 1918, in the College de France, it is clear that in the philosophical and scientific circles of Paris he must be looked upon as a serious and reliable investigator.
His observations sweepingly confirm the striking reports of Schrenck-Notzing. It even appears that the phenomena concerned had still further developed and were more easily observed. In his opinion fraud is not only highly improbable, but actually impossible, owing to the stringent conditions of supervision. " I do not say : * No fraud took place in these sittings, but there was no possible chance of its perpetration/ I cannot repeat this often enough : the materializations were invariably formed before my eyes ; I have
1 Another possibility is that these pictures are conveyed to her telepathically from another source.
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observed their origin and development with my own eyes." And more than a hundred other men of science have had the opportunity of witnessing the same phenomena as well. Promi- nent among them are the names of Richet, Courtier, and Clarapede.
It is of equal interest that Eva C. was examined by a Committee of the Society for Psychical Research in the spring of 1920. Not less than forty sittings took place. Of these a considerable number produced results. The conditions im- posed and the measures taken to control the examination were very strict. The conclusion of the committee was that upon the basis of their own observations they were unable to reach an absolutely positive decision ; but that if the earlier observations of Schrenck-Notzing, Mme. Bisson and Geley were brought into account, the verdict must be in favour of the genuineness of the phenomena. The phenomena observed were mostly similar to those previously observed by Schrenck-Notzing and Mme. Bisson, only smaller. This is shown by the photographs. Whilst the photographs of Schrenck-Notzing and Mme. Bisson often show heads as big as life, and some- times forms upon a scale larger than life, those of the committee are in all cases of quite small objects, apparently of the size of a few centi- metres only. In these circumstances the com- mittee was unable to come to a conclusion
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recognizing the phenomena as genuine without any reservations ; at least, the committee as a committee, was unable to do so unanimously. But it is clear, as is often the case with committees, that the final conclusion is a compromise. The final summing up especially is anything but consistent. It is balanced, very clearly, between recognition and non-recognition. The report has no reservations in its statement that there was upon no occasion any suspicion or trace of fraud. On the contrary, Eva C. made the control easy in every way, and never made difficulties. The control of the medium during the sittings was so good that it was completely impossible for her to have smuggled objects in with her to the sittings and then manipulated them with her hands. If fraud is still admitted to be possible, then the only possible explanation must lie in the regurgitation hypothesis. The phenomena were not big enough for the committee to be able to rule this hypothesis out altogether as impossible. Upon one occasion the " substance " coming out of the mouth of the medium forced its way through a veil which covered the head of the medium, and took a definite shape outside it. This shape was then dissolved, and the " sub- stance " retreated through the veil into the medium's mouth. It would, therefore, be necessary to assume upon the hypothesis of regurgitation that the medium had got posses-
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sion of a wax-like substance which could easily be melted and become hard again. Geley, in his acute criticism of the report, has rightly pointed out that it is quite impossible to believe that no trace of such a wax-like substance would have been left upon the veil. It is not, therefore, surprising to hear that Dingwell, when recently at Munich for the purpose of experiments with Schrenck-Notzing's medium, Willy Sch., de- clared that he only put forward the hypothesis of the existence of such a substance to make clear the complete absurdity of the whole explanation. This may remind us of Galileo's conduct when, considering that the time was not yet ripe for openly supporting the views of Copernicus, he composed a dialogue between supporters of the old and new point of view in which he allowed the supporters of the old view to prevail by the use of such contradictory arguments that every reader was inevitably convinced of the Tightness of the newer Copernican conceptions.
Quite a number of the phenomena and the circumstances under which the sittings took place, make it very difficult to explain why the committee refused to come to a positive con- clusion in favour of genuineness, except by an instinctive disinclination on the part of the majority to allow anything to be accepted as proof, except perfectly obvious brute facts upon an overwhelming scale.
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This remainder of prejudice acted, as is well known, like a heavy drag upon the sensitiveness of the medium and was, with other disturbing factors, the reason why Eva C.'s phenomena in London were markedly not so strong as in France or at Munich.
Considered by themselves the very careful reports of the individual sittings (when regard is had to the conditions of control and of the unsatisfactory nature of the regurgitation hypo- thesis) furnish a further proof of the genuineness of the phenomena and are in themselves scientific material of especial importance. The diminutive size of the phenomena, which the committee quite naturally did not desire, itself raises a whole host of interesting theoretical considerations as to the nature of the processes which are in play.
These surprising new discoveries with regard to materialization-mediums affect the question of the connexions between materializations and the pseudopodia by which telekinesis is occa- sioned. Schrenck-Notzing assumes that they are different stages of one and the same process. This begins with the radiation of the finest thread-like or even shapeless effluvia from the organism. The next step consists in their fusion into more solid formations, and the following one in their transformation into the flat, sketch- like forms, which have been photographed in considerable number in the publications con-
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cerning Eva C. With further progress, the materialization develops into plastic forms, which at first sight are indistinguishable from normal organisms. The materializations are usually in- visible in their first stage, although " palpable " ; but it is impossible to lay down any hard and fast rules, as even effluvia of the lowest grade have been photographed. The formations are mostly unable to stand exposure to light, though there are exceptions.
Geley has set up the hypothesis that the substance emanating from the materialization- mediums is connected with the yet undifferen- tiated fundamental organic matter, and that it takes on shape under the eyes of the spectators, and appears to them as a genuine head, a real hand, etc. He compared this process to the metamorphosis which takes place in the cocoon of the chrysalis or a caterpillar when it turns itself into an almost homogenous primitive organic substance, in order to build itself up again into a new formation the butterfly. Even were we to admit the existence of such an undifferentiated primitive organic substance which can be fashioned by vital factors, it would only represent one side of the discovery, the other side of which would be the power of the vital force of the medium herself to change its own direction. These changes clearly take place in the medium under the influence of intellectual
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processes. The construction of hands and feet is evolved according to their conception. On the other hand, it cannot be a question of direct influence of the medium's imagination on organic matter, for the medium has no knowledge of the finer microscopic and ultra-microscopic structure of a hand or a foot. Her conceptions we must assume work through the medium of the vital factors.
That the human mind has some power over vital forces, has, apart from the arguments from materialization processes, been undoubtedly proved. It is well known that it is possible in the case of some people to produce blisters, haemorrhage, and other phenomena through hypnotic suggestion. However trifling these experiments may appear, great metaphysical significance is to be ascribed to them inasmuch as they afford proof of the action of mental processes on the vital forces. These physiological results would not be possible, if the hypnotic expectation of the formation of a blister or haemorrhage did not effect a corresponding alteration in the tissues involved. The con- struction of the organism, however, is the work of the vital forces, and the production of a blister or haemorrhage is not possible without interfering with the work of the atoms which compose the organism. This interference can hardly be re- garded otherwise than as a procedure to which
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the vital factors so adapt themselves that they rearrange the molecules in the way in which they are arranged in a burn, or in the loosening of the cells which causes the blood to flow. The mere idea of a blister or of a haemorrhage can hardly be regarded as sufficient by itself to produce either of them, for the idea in itself contains nothing but a representation in thought of a visual image. We must, therefore, interpose factors between the idea and the physical effects I mean those vital factors which regulate the various processes of the organism. In the cases of the blister and the haemorrhage we are not concerned with the production of results, which cannot be brought about by normal means. Blisters are ordinarily produced by outward burns, though haemorrhage of course might take place in certain illnesses without outward in- fluence. A better illustration perhaps may be found in cases where under the influence of auto-suggestion, pseudo-pregnancy is occasioned with the attendant changes in the organism, which normally are only produced by the vital factors after conception.
The real mystery of the influence of thought and imagination on the organic material does not only lie in the fact that the mind produces effects on physical things, but also in the fact that milliards of atoms are immediately dis- placed in a completely orderly manner while the
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individual himself is totally unaware of all the movements which are necessary to obtain the result arrived at. It is just as though we imagine that an entirely ignorant monarch gives instruc- tions for the execution of some great undertaking, and has no idea how it will be carried out. Suddenly engineers, architects, technical ad- visers, mechanics and workmen start up to begin and complete the work. In like fashion, neither the person under hypnosis, nor the waking auto- guggestor, nor the materialization-medium know how their ideas are actually being put into execution. Despite this, the acting vital forces immediately set intelligently to work in order to achieve the result.
The recent developments have thrown a certain light on earlier reports about mediums, who had not been so thoroughly tested or who had not been tested under scientific control. I am thinking above all of Crookes' medium, Florence Cook, Mme. d'Esperance, and several others. Mme. d'Esperance is the more interesting by reason of the detailed autobiography left by her probably the only autobiography of a material- ization-medium. To be sure, she, too, takes her stand on spiritism. The resemblance in type between all these cases is obvious, despite the individual peculiarities of each of them. Of course, this does not tend towards a strict proof of their objectivity, though the probability is
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enhanced thereby. If we accepted this proba- bility, we should find in one chapter of Mme. d'Esperance's autobiography a detailed descrip- tion of a sudden abrupt interruption of her state of trance during a complete " act of materialization." The ostensible reason appears to have been the wish to catch her cheating, while according to her own account, a case of " dedoublement de personnalite " which went further than in any other known case, and which actually brought about the biological splitting of her body was taking place. Remarkably enough, she was conscious of her own individuality simultaneously with that of the supposed ma- terialized spirit, just as Helene Smith was in her semi-somnambulism, and this might be looked upon as an extraordinarily strong proof for the anti-spiritistic interpretation of the whole process of materialization. The interpretation of this case given in my " Phenominology of the Ego," should be consequently somewhat altered. Un- fortunately I do not for the moment possess Mme. d'Esperance's book, which would enable me to go into the matter further.
The mind of Mme. d'Esperance " animated " her own body as well as that of the " material- ized " spirit. The explanation resulting from Botazzi's observations of Eusapia, i.e., that a materialization-medium feels through its pseudo- podia, can thus be extended to the forms material-
EVA C. MATERIALIZATIONS
ized. Their psychic life belongs in reality to the mind of the medium. Unfortunately, the sudden interruption of Mme. d'Esperance's trance were fraught with such consequences to her health, that it would not be advisable to encourage anyone to repeat such an experiment.
If I am right in these suppositions, stages may be constructed in the materialization phenomena, starting with the most elementary visions and ending with the perfected forms which, to the uninitiated, can, perhaps, be hardly distinguished from normal organisms. The higher the degree of materialization, the harder the distinction, the more perfect and stable the new formation. Whether these can be of permanent character remains to be proved. Crookes says that he was allowed to take a lock of hair and scrap of clothing from the materialized form. (If so, where are they, and who possesses them now ?) Probably in the higher stages of materialization some dissolution of the material form of the medium ensues.
A close comparison can be made between materialization processes and creations by God. The former almost seem to be a faint reflection of the divine creative power, which is able to evolve forms of far greater consistency and duration. The creations of God are not tran- sient, but remain until He Himself recalls them into non-existence. The creations of the
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materialization-mediums are quite fleeting and do not last longer than the state of trance of the medium, whether we assume that they are com- posed of the matter of which the organism of the medium is itself composed or that they are " new creations " of matter or material substance. Whichever view is true, it may be that they afford us a glimpse into the creative power of God, for we cannot help imagining that the creation of the world originated from the thought of God in just the same way as materializations are evolved by the thoughts of the medium. What remains problematic is the part played by the vital forces. From whence do they come ? Are they an independent group of world factors, or are they also creations of God which are misused by the mediums in the materialization process, or is it more reasonable to assume that they too only come into existence through the creative action of God and of the mediums ?
ADDITIONAL REMARKS
The publication of a second edition has in- duced me once again to examine exhaustively Schrenck-Notzing's first great publication, the criticisms of Matilda von Kemmitz and von Gulat-Wellenburg, and Schrenck-Notzing's reply. I do not doubt that every reader, who (as is so often the case) has only seen Kemmitz's pamphlet, will be convinced that the whole thing is a fraud,
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and that Schrenck-Notzing is a man utterly devoid of all critical faculty. But if anyone takes the trouble to work through Schrenck- Notzing's book and his reply to his critics, he will be compelled to shake his head over what can only be described as the indescribable super- ficiality of the pamphlet of this lady doctor, who had, indeed, but just taken her degree.
It is also not correct to say as Dessoir does, that except Schrenck-Notzing, I can only refer to Geley as vouching unreservedly for the genuineness of the phenomena. This has been done also in printed statements by Professors Richet and Boirac, as well as by Dr. Bourbon and de Fontenay, who was an expert on his own account, and they did so as the result of sittings in which they took part. Also Professor Courtier, Clarapede, Bennet, Flammarion, etc., have publicly declared that their conviction is the same.
("Psych: Studien." May, 1920).
Schrenck-Notzing has sent me, upon my request, the letters which he received about the investigations of the Committee of the Psychical Research Society from Fielding, Fournier d'Albe, Mme. Bisson 1 and Eva C. The essential parts of these letters are printed lower down. Fournier d'Albe declares that he is himself
1 It has not beep possible to obtain leave to publish these letters in this English edition Editor.
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completely convinced of the genuineness of the phenomena, and that an amateur conjurer who took part in the sittings said that it was impossible to imitate them by trick methods. Fielding holds that a convincing proof of the genuineness of the phenomena was not achieved. The only possibility for fraud lay, in his opinion, in regurgitation, but this he regards as very unlikely. W. Whately Smith also says that the phenomena which he witnessed at six sittings in London could only have been produced by rumination ; that it is not easy to see how rumination was the reason, and that he, upon the whole, has come in consideration of all the evidence for the case to the conclusion that it is genuine. (" The Psychic Research Quarterly " I, 3, 1921.) Since the sittings Schrenck-Notzing reports that a radiographic examination of the oesophagus and stomach of Eva C. has been made. The result is to show a normal condition of these organs unlike that of persons gifted with the power of rumination. Ruminants have always a distension of the stomach and, in order to achieve their results, have to swallow liquids in quart quantities.
Mme. Bisson, whose letters do not leave an unfavourable impression, complains that the methods of investigation in London were not at all adapted from the psychical point of view to the results which were desired. Instead of being
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content with taking necessary precautions, con- versation went on continually without any restraint in the presence of the medium about possibly undiscovered methods of cheating, and the medium, as well as Mme. Bisson, naturally became increasingly irritated. Moreover, right from the beginning an unfavourable predisposi- tion clearly prevailed in the minds of the com- mittee, and this could not fail to have had an unfavourable effect on the medium, and to prevent the phenomena from reaching their proper development.
It is a very common fact, which again and again recurs, that persons who have taken part in an investigation are convinced of the reality of the phenomena during the sittings and immediately after them, and record their opinions to this effect in writing, and then after more or less of an interval, as memory becomes fainter, they begin to doubt again and explain the whole thing just as decidedly in the opposite sense.
In the same way everyone on first making acquaintance with parapsychological literature undergoes a similar experience. As long as he is under the impression of the recorded observed facts he is more or less convinced, and then as time goes by he becomes uncertain again, and ends up by regarding the whole thing as a swindle. If he again takes up the literature on the subject he repeats the process, and this happens so often
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that we at last become conscious of it and have to resolve to hold fast afterwards to the judgment which we have formed whilst actually engaged in considering the facts. This seems the only methodological point of view which is tenable in the circumstances.
From the theoretical point of view it would be extremely important, if the theory of observa- tion could only be more closely worked out with the object of laying down rules for saying when an observed fact can be regarded as really super- normal and when the possibility of deception is excluded. The discussion about observed facts still continually breaks down over the impossi- bility of coming to an agreed decision of the question whether, given the conditions, the possi- bility of fraud was left open or not. It is necessary to lay down fixed criteria on this subject, or we shall never make any advance. The mere statement that " very probably there was fraud, after all," can always be made, but it cannot all the same claim to be always accepted as a valid argument, for if it were, the positive ascertainment of facts would be impossible.
In the same way explanations which are obviously impossible must not be allowed to stand. There is a kind of criticism, which is not criticism^which would rather admit the most senseless hypothesis than the existence of a parapsychic fact. One of the crassest examples
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of this may be found in Lehmann's well-known book on superstition and magic. He " ex- plains " a report of Seiling about a partial de- materialization of Madame d'Esperance, by supposing that that medium " stuck her legs and, perhaps, the whole of the lower part of her body, through the opening of the back of the chair on which she was sitting," and he, him- self, gives the measurements of this hole as nineteen cm. high by twenty-nine cm. broad. If you compare this measurement with that of a grown woman with her clothes on, you can only be astonished that a reputable investigator regards the proceeding as possible, and goes on to assume that the people sitting near-by noticed in no way how the medium got up and forced her legs and lower body with her clothes backwards through the opening of the chair.
The phenomena observed with Eva C. have recently received indirect confirmation through similar phenomena recorded in Crawford's posthu- mous work, " The Psychic Structures of the Goligher Circle" (Watkins, London, 1920), which reached me for the first time as I was correcting those additional remarks. (Schrenck- Notzing has given an account of the book in " Psych : Studien," August, 1921). These pheno- mena have upon occasion the same web-like formation as many of the structures produced by Eva C.
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The genuineness of Crawford's work is vouched for, not only " by this one man," as Dessoir says. As regards the levitation phenomena, Professor Wm. Barrett has given a confirmatory statement. (In proceedings of S.P.R., Vol. 30, page 334). Crawford, in 1920, explained his unwillingness to allow the presence of witnesses as due to his fear that they might spoil the development of his medium by subjecting her to a bad psychical influence.
Moreover, Fournier d'Albe, who took over the further investigation of the medium soon after Crawford's death, has declared in favour of the genuineness of the phenomena. He writes to Schrenck-Notzing : " The phenomena are very strong and begin after 10-20 minutes. I have taken some photographs which show a quite regularly webbed-woven structure like chiffon. How it is produced future investiga- tion must show." 1 F. M. Stevenson in the same way has confirmed Crawford's conclusions as the result of his own investigations and of the photo- graphs which he took. (" The Psychic Research Quarterly," Oct., 1921.)
1 Fournier d'Albe went back on this as the result of further investigation, and concluded emphatically that the phenomena were due to fraud. Editor.
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Extracts from letters about the London sittings with Eva C.
Fournier d'Albe to Schrenck-Notzing.
" London, June 24, 1920.
" I was present at six sittings, of which four were negative. This seems about the usual proportion in London. The best sitting was last Thursday. Eva had the veil on, and not less than four different phenomena showed them- selves one after the other in front of her face, but inside the veil a finger, a kind of veil, a cravat with some lines upon it and a (paper) surface upon which the lines of a face were drawn. This last was grey and flat, and was fastened to her nose. All the phenomena were shown for some seconds. Mr. Dingwell the amateur conjurer of the committee assures me that the phenomena could not have been pro- duced by trickery.
" Yesterday the result was similar, although Eva, shortly before the sitting, had had a cup of tea and a cake a precaution directed against the regurgitation hypothesis. I was not present.
" The psychological effect upon the com- mittee is the usual one. All the conditions, one after the other, were complied with, but, instead of being content they go on thinking out new ones. Whatever the reason, the phenomena are all of small measurements, and I think it
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probable that in London the larger phenomena will not be forthcoming."
"June 30, 1920.
" The London sittings are at an end, and the ladies journeyed back this morning to Paris. A total of about thirty (really forty) sittings took place and I think only about eight (really thirteen) were positive. I attended ten. Of these four were positive. The best was last Saturday from four to seven o'clock.
" We felt the cold wind (for the first time) and saw (i) a black string between the hands, (2) which changed itself into a grey membrane, (3) and then into a flat surface of grey felt (which was examined with an electric torch), (4) a mass which hung from the mouth like a stalactite ; (5) later (2 minutes) a face drawn in natural colours upon a thin substratum (this was sub- mitted to the light and photographed), (6) fibrous substance between the two hands which were held by D. This vanished suddenly before our eyes after I had examined the medium's mouth, (7) a finger ' coming out of the mouth (photographed).
" This I am told was the best sitting. Since it took place two sittings were held on Monday and Tuesday without result. Mrs, Feilding was present at them. She seems to hinder the pheno- mena by her too critical attitude. Although
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Mr. Feilding says that nothing took place which could not throughout have been produced by a conjurer, yet the personal judgment of all who took part is thoroughly favourable to the two ladies. We had hoped for phenomena on a larger scale, but the circumstances, especially from the psychological side, were not favourable enough for that."
Feilding to Schrenck-Notzing.
" London, July 17, 1920.
" Madame Bisson left over a fortnight ago, after a stay of more than two months, during which we had about thirty seances. The results, although very interesting, were, unhappily, not as important as previous reports had led us to hope for. That is to say that, inasmuch as the regurgitation theory is the only theory that can hold the field in opposition to that of super- normal ideoplasm, it is a pity that we never got phenomena big enough to warrant us in declaring, as a matter of scientific certainty, that this theory is insufficient, however great its improba- bility may be. I am extremely sorry that Madame Bisson seems very dissatisfied with our way of running things. All the same, I assure you most positively that her dissatisfaction is really base- less. We felt from the outset that it would be impossible that in a short series of experiments we should be able to add anything of value to
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the study of the phenomena from a scientific point of view. Madame Bisson has a far better installation in Paris than we have here for a study of this kind. We limited ourselves, therefore, to trying to confirm your and her opinion about the authenticity of the phenomena ; that is, to establish the absence of any trick or fraud of any kind, so as to prepare the English public for the forthcoming appearance of the transla- tion of your book, the interest in which will obviously depend on the confidence which this public will have, that the facts described in it really deserve serious attention. There has already been a considerable polemic in the reviews and in certain books tending to show that it is all nothing but the merest humbug. At the least, therefore, a favourable report by the S.P.R., which is known for its caution in matters of this kind, would have a far greater practical value than an incomplete study of the nature of the * substance ,' which is apparently what Madame Bisson wanted. Madame is wrong in thinking that we began the experiments with the conviction that it was all merely a trick to be shown up. But as we knew that the chief thing would be to be able to give an effective answer to the question * trick, or genuine phenomenon ? 7 we included in our committee certain members also, who, from their knowledge of conjuring, would be able to speak as experts from that point of
EVA C. MATERIALIZATIONS 127
view. They were not, however, in any way con- jurors by profession."
Feilding to Schrenck-Notzing.
" Rockport, Ireland, August 28, 1920.
" I think I must have expressed myself badly when speaking about the regurgitation theory. I never intended to say that we had adopted this as the most probable theory. I only said that the phenomena that we saw in London were not large enough for us to be able to say that they, taken alone and without considering what had been observed by our predecessors, rendered the regurgitation theory impossible."
Eva C. to Schrenck-Notzing.
" London, May 5, 1920.
" The sittings here seem likely to go well. Out of five, three have produced something. I very much hope that the results will be alto- gether satisfactory. After this I believe that I shall have done my duty as regards these sciences. At all events I shall have done all that was humanly possible for me. I have often needed courage, for all these questions are very distasteful and not always very considerate for the medium. The control is always very painful to me, for I am really a bit of a savage, and all these exhibitions of my person are really hateful. I accept every condition, and desire to do so, as I understand that the whole interest in these ph^liomena is based on control before and after.
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Madame Bisson has recently^ published the following statement in " Psychica," 1921, May 15, No. 3 :
" The first five sittings in London gave excel- lent results. But the experimenters were not used to materialization phenomena and the room for the sittings adjoined a very noisy room, from which strong disturbing noises made by mes- sengers kept coming so that the medium was woken up and made nervous. The hour of the sittings was changed to later in the day, and this was very inconvenient for the medium who only got home late after tiring sittings.
" Yet in spite of all distracting causes we got some good and interesting manifestations. One day, both hands of the medium being held by one of those present (a conjurer) a parcel of substance appeared between this gentleman's hands and Eva's. This substance grew bigger on their hands and then developed. A small woman's face appeared. Mr. D., the conjurer, cried out : ' She has blue eyes and red lips she is smiling to me.'
" I do not yet know the report of the S.P.R., and I shall avoid commenting on it. I got a letter to say that Mr. D. had delivered a lecture on our work in which he is said to have declared that he could not admit that there was any fraud, for fraud would seem to him more extraordinary than the phenomena itself."