the unknown guest(陌生客)-第26章
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Mohammed did even more： as each figure was of a different colour； I
asked him to tell me the colourof which I myself was absolutely
ignorantof the first letter on the right。 With the aid of the conventional
alphabet； he replied that it was blue； which proved to be the case。 Of
course； I ought to have multiplied these experiments and made them more
exhaustive and complicated by combining； with the aid of the cards and
under the same conditions； exercises in multiplication； division and the
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extracting of roots。 I had not the time； but； a few days after I left； the
subject was resumed and completed by Dr。 H。 Hamel。 I will sum up his
report of the experiments： the doctor； alone in the stable with the home
（Krall was away； travelling）； puts down on the black…board the sign ＋ and
then places before and after this sign； without looking at either of them； a
card marked with a figure which he does not know。 He next asks
Mohammed to add up the two numbers。 Mohammed at first gives a few
heedless taps with his hoof。 He is called to order and requested to be
serious and to attend。 He then gives fifteen distinct taps。 The doctor next
replaces the sign ＋ by X and； again without looking at them； places two
cards on the blackboard and asks the horse not to add up the two figures
this time； but to multiply them。 Mohammed taps out； 〃27；〃 which is right；
for the black…board says； 〃9 X 3。〃 The same success follows with other
multiplication sums： 9 X 2； 8 X 6。 Then the doctor takes from an envelope
a problem of which he does not know the solution： fourth root of 7890481。
Mohammed replies； 〃53。〃 The doctor looks at the back of the paper： once
more； the answer is perfectly correct。
16
Does this mean that every risk of telepathy is done away with？ It
would perhaps be rash to make a categorical assertion。 The power and
extent of telepathy are as yet； we cannot too often repeat； indefinite；
indiscernible； untraceable and unlimited。 We have but quite lately
discovered it； we know only that its existence can no longer be denied； but；
as for all the rest； we are at much the same stage as that whereat Galvani
was when he gave life to the muscles of his dead frogs with two little
plates of metal which roused the jeers of the scientists of his time； but
contained the germ of all the wonders； of electricity。
Nevertheless； as regards telepathy in the sense in which we understand
and know it to…day； my mind is made up。 I am persuaded that it is not in
this direction that we must seek for an explanation of the phenomenon； or；
if we are determined to find it there； the explanation becomes complicated
with so many subsidiary mysteries that it is better to accept the prodigy as
it stands； in its original obscurity and simplicity。 When； for instance； I was
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copying out one of the grisly problems which I have mentioned； it is quite
certain that my conscious intelligence could make neither head nor tail of
it。 I did not so much as know what it meant or whether the exponent 3。 4。 5
called for a multiplication； a division or some other mathematical
operation which I did not even try to imagine； and； rack MY memory as I
may； I cannot remember any moment in my life when I knew more about
it than I do now。 We should therefore have to admit that MY subliminal
self is a born mathematician； quick； infallible and endowed with boundless
learning。 It is possible and I feel a certain pride at the thought。 But the
theory simply shifts the miracle by making it pass from the horse's soul to
mine； and the miracle becomes no clearer by the transfer； which； for that
matter； does not sound probable。 I need hardly add that； a fortiori； Dr。
Hamel's experiments and many others which I have not here the space to
describe finally dispose of the theory。
17
Let us see how those who have interested themselves in these
extraordinary manifestations have attempted to explain them。
As we go along； we will just shear through the feeble undergrowth of
childish theories。 I shall not； therefore； linger over the suggestions of
cheating； of manifest signs addressed to the eye or ear； of electrical
installations that are supposed to control the answers； nor other idle tales
of an excessively clumsy character。 To realize their inexcusable inanity we
have but to spend a few minutes in the honest Elberfeld stable。
At the beginning of this essay； I mentioned the attack made by Herr
Pfungst。 Herr Pfungst； the reader will remember； claims to prove that all
the horse's replies are determined by imperceptible and probably
unconscious movement on the part of the person putting the questions。
This interpretation； which falls to the ground； like all the others； in the face
of the actual facts； would not deserve serious discussion； were it not that
the Berlin psychologist's report created an immense sensation some years
ago and has succeeded in intimidating the greater part of the official
German scientific world to this day。 It is true that the report in question is
a monument of useless pedantry； but we are none the less bound to admit
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that； such as it was； it annihilated poor Von Oaten； who； being no
controversialist and not knowing how to proclaim the truth which was
struggling for utterance； died in gloom and solitude。
To make an end of this cumbrous and puerile theory； is it necessary to
emphasize again that experiments in which the animal does not see the
questioner are as regularly successful as the others？ Krall； if you ask him；
will stand behind the horse； will speak from the end of the room； will
leave the stable altogether； and the results are just the same。 They are the
same again when the tests are made in the dark or when the animal's head
is covered with a close…fitting hood。 They do not vary either in the case of
Berto； who is stone…blind； or when any other person whatever sets the
problem in Krall's absence。 Will it be maintained that this outsider or that
stranger is acquainted beforehand with the imperceptible signs that are to
dictate the solution which he himself often does not know？
But what is the use of prolonging this fight against a cloud of smoke？
None of it can bear examination； and it calls for a genuine effort of the
will to set one's self seriously to refute such pitiful objections。
18
On the ground thus cleared and at the portal of this unlooked…for riddle；
which comes to disturb our peace in a region which we thought to be
finally explored and conquered； there are only two ways； if not of
explaining； at least of contemplating the phenomenon： to admit purely and
simply the almost human intelligence of the horse； or to have recourse to
an as yet very vague and indefinite theory which； for lack of a better
designation； we will call the mediumistic or subliminal theory and of
which we will strive presentlyand no doubt vainlyto dispel the grosser
darkness。 But； whatever interpretation we adopt； we are bound to
recognize that it plunges us into a mystery which is equally profound and
equally astonishing on either side； one directly related to the greatest
mysteries that overwhelm us； and it is open to us to accept it with
resignation or rejoicing； according as we prefer to live in a world wherein
everything is within the reach of our intelligence or a world wherein
everything is incomprehensible。
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As for Krall； he does not doubt for an instant that his horses solve for
themselves； without any assistance； without any outside influence； simply
by their own mental powers； the most arduous problems set them。 He is
persuaded that they understand what is said to them and what they say； in
short； that their brain and their will perform exactly the same functions as
a human brain and will。 It is certain that the facts seem to prove him right
and that his opinion carries way great weight； for； after all； he knows his
horses better than any one does； he has beheld the birth or rather the
awakening of that dormant intelligence； even as a mother beholds the birth
or the awakening of intelligence in her child； he has perceived its first
gropings； known its first resistance and its first triumphs； he has watched it
taking shape； breaking away and gradually rising to the point at which it
stands to…day； in a word； he is the father and the principal and sole
perpetual witness of the miracle。
19
Yes； but the miracle comes as such a surprise that； the moment we set
foot in it； a sort of instinctive aberration seizes us； refusing to accept the
evidence and compelling us to search in every direction to see if there is
not another outlet。 Even in the presence of those astounding horses and
while they are working before our eyes； we do not yet sincerely believe
that which fills and subdues our gaze。 We accept the facts； because there is
no means of escaping them； but we accept them only provisionally and
with all reserve； putting off till later the comfortable explanation which
will give us back our familiar； shallow certainties。 But the explanation
does
