668 E. From the "Report on the Census of Hallucinations," Appendix G. "A Proposed Scheme of Apparitions," by F. W. H. Myers, Proceedings S.P.R., vol. x. p. 418.

The following is an account of an experiment made between two ladies well known to me, whom I will call Miss Danvers and Mrs. Fleetwood, which I here quote as well illustrating some of the points to which I wish to call attention. I asked Miss Danvers to endeavour to appear to Mrs. Fleetwood, without forewarning that lady, and to send me a letter-card (the best vehicle for such communications, as it carries the postal date impressed on what remains, nevertheless, a private letter), - to tell me of the attempt before she knew whether it had succeeded or no.

On June 20th, 1894, I received the following letter, dated June 19th, from Miss Danvers, with two enclosures: -

"On Sunday night at 12 p.m. I tried to appear to Mrs. Fleetwood [at a distance of about nine miles] and succeeded in feeling as if I were really in her room. I had previously written my statement, which I enclose, together with Mrs. Fleetwood's, which she has just sent me. She wrote it also at the time, not knowing I was trying to appear. I was lying down, not kneeling, but the other details are correct".

A memorandum, signed by Miss Danvers, was enclosed, as follows: "June 17th, 1894, 12 p.m. I write this just before trying to appear to Mrs. Fleetwood. My hair is down, and I am going to lie down and try to appear with my eyes closed".

Also a memorandum, signed by Mrs. Fleetwood, as follows: "Sunday night, June 17th, 1894. - I woke from my first sleep to see Edith Danvers apparently kneeling on an easy chair by my bedside, her profile turned towards me, her hair flowing, and eyes closed, or looking quite down. I felt startled at first, as I always do, on seeing visions in waking moments, but determined to keep quiet; and after I was fully awake and able to reason with myself, the figure still remained, and then gradually faded like a dissolving view. I got up and looked at the clock. It was just twelve. I was alone in the room. As I now write, it is about two minutes after twelve".

In conversation on June 23rd Miss Danvers told me that she had seen, in a sort of flash, Mrs. Fleetwood start up in bed, rest on her elbow, and look towards her. She had not been clearly aware of her own attitude in Mrs. Fleetwood's room, although she seemed aware of her position, which corresponded to the place towards which Mrs. Fleetwood gazed. Miss Danvers had never previously made notes of an experiment, and had not seen the importance of writing down this point at once, nor had she felt confident that Mrs. Fleetwood really saw her. Mrs. Fleetwood also sent me a letter of Miss Danvers to herself, dated June 18th, in which, among various other matters, Miss Danvers asks, "Have I appeared to you at all? I tried last night, but you may not have been alone." There is, of course, therefore, no proof that Miss Danvers' sense of invasion of the room was more than subjective; but the point is worth mention in connection with the experiment presently to follow. As regards Mrs. Fleetwood's "visions in waking moments," that lady herself believes them to have been all in some sense veridical, but they have not been recorded.

They included two visions of Miss Danvers, at moments when Miss Danvers on her part was strongly directing her attention to Mrs. Fleetwood. So, at least, both ladies believe; but the visions were not recorded at the time.

Miss Danvers then made a second experiment, in which, through some misunderstanding of the due conditions, she informed Mrs. Fleetwood beforehand of her intended invasion. It turned out, however, that Mrs. Fleetwood saw nothing whatever; - so that we have at least the negative assurance that mere expectation on her part does not necessarily produce a vision. Miss Danvers then made a third (unannounced) experiment of a rather different kind, which she describes to me as follows in a letter dated June 27th, 1894.

" On Monday, June 25th, at 12.15 A.M., I thought I would try to go to Mrs. Fleetwood's room, but did not think she could see me. I succeeded in seeing her room, and saw the third volume of Marcella, lying on a chair by the bedside. I did not know she was reading it, as I thought she had finished it long ago, so I was surprised. Mrs. Fleetwood did not appear to see me, or make any sign. The room was otherwise much as usual. On the same day I saw Mrs. Fleetwood, and asked her if what I saw was correct, and she said it was perfectly so. She also said she was suffering from toothache and could not see me, but felt a presence in the room".

Mrs. Fleetwood writes, June 27th: "When Miss Danvers came to lunch with me, on Monday last, she asked me if I had taken the third volume of Marcella up to my room the night before (the 24th); as she had been there in the spirit, and had seen it lying on a chair by my bed. This was precisely what had happened. I had taken up the book to read in the early morning, but I am sure Miss Danvers did not know of my often doing so [i.e. taking a book to her bedroom], as it is not my usual habit." On June 30th, Mrs. Fleetwood adds: " Miss Danvers did know we had had Marcella in the house, for she read it when here; but she quite thought it had been sent away long before she saw it in my room. She did not know that I had laid it aside, being busy, and had kept back the third volume".

668 F. From the Journal S.P.R., vol. vii. p. 99. This case is specially interesting in being reciprocal, as well as experimental. It must be observed, however, that the attempt to produce an apparition of himself seems to have been only a secondary object on the part of the agent; his main desire being to discover himself something of the percipient's condition. It will be observed that he did not appear in the clothes which he was actually wearing at the time, but in a garb familiar to the percipient.

The case was sent to us by Dr. M. L. Holbrook (an Associate of the American Branch of the S.P.R.), who writes concerning it to Dr. Hodgson: -

[June 1894].

I think the enclosed case is a very good one. I have known of it for years, and got it written out a day or two ago, when in Lakewood, N.J. The son's testimony (Geo. Sinclair) was written out without any consultation with his parents, or knowledge of what they had said. M. L. Holbrook.

The following is the account of the agent, Mr. B. F. Sinclair: -

Lakewood, June 12th, 1894. On the 5th of July, 1887,1 left my home in Lakewood to go to New York to spend a few days. My wife was not feeling well when I left, and after I had started I looked back and saw her standing in the door looking disconsolate and sad at my leaving. The picture haunted me all day, and at night, before I went to bed, I thought I would try to find out if possible her condition. I had undressed, and was sitting on the edge of the bed, when I covered my face with my hands and willed myself in Lakewood at home to see if I could see her. After a little, I seemed to be standing in her room before the bed, and saw her lying there looking much better. I felt satisfied she was better, and so spent the week more comfortably regarding her condition. On Saturday I went home. When she saw me, she remarked, "I don't know whether I am glad to see you or not, for I thought something had happened to you. I saw you standing in front of the bed the night (about 8.30 or before 9) you left, as plain as could be, and I have been worrying myself about you ever since. I sent to the office and to the dep6t daily to get some message from you." After explaining my effort to find out her condition, everything became plain to her.

She had seen me when I was trying to see her and find out her condition. I thought at the time I was going to see her and make her see me. B. F. Sinclair.

Mrs. Sinclair writes: -

I remember this experience well. I saw him as plain as if he had been there in person. I did not see him in his night-clothes, but in a suit that hung in the closet at home. It made me very anxious, for I felt that some accident or other had befallen him. I was on the rack all the time till Saturday, and if he had not come home then, I should have sent to him to find out if anything was wrong. H. M. Sinclair.

Mr. George Sinclair, in answer to Dr. Holbrook's request for his testimony, wrote to him: -

27, 7TH Street, N. Y. City, N. Y.,June 14th, 1894.

Dear Sir, - Yours of the 13th inst. at hand, and I will with pleasure give you whatever information I can. At the time in question I was living at the Seven Stars house in Lakewood, going to and from my work and stabling my horse at father's. I do not remember the date, but think it was about the middle of the week that mother told me in the morning that "she had seen father the night before just before she retired for the night." " His face was drawn and set as if he were either dead or trying to accomplish something which was beyond him." She watched very anxiously the balance of the week for a letter or telegram, but none came, and when no word came on Saturday she was almost crazy. He unexpectedly returned Saturday night, saying that it was just as cheap to come home as to stay in N.Y. over Sunday at a hotel.

When mother questioned him in regard to the incident at the middle of the week, he said "that he made up his mind to see her that night if possible, and had concentrated his will power on that one object," with the result which you know. It gave him pleasure and her a good deal of uneasiness.

Geo. Sinclair.