429 F. From the Journal S.F.R., vol. viii. p. 123. The account was sent to Dr. Hodgson by Mr. A. E. Dolbear, Professor of Physics in Tufts College, Mass.

Tufts College, Mass., April 11th, 1895.

Dr. R. Hodgson, - Dear Sir, - ... Perhaps I have told you before that I have had a great many such or hallucinations, but I am reminded of one which happened last summer. I was a lecturer at Greenacre, Me., where Miss Farmer, daughter of the late electrician, Moses G., had a summer hotel, and many of the prominent occult folks of the country gathered. I stopped for the night at the house of Miss Farmer - the old homestead. During the night I dreamed that Mr. Farmer was in the room and talked with me, though I could n't see him. I said to him, "How shall I know it is you, and not some one else?" He replied, "I'll show you my hand;" so his left hand was extended to me, and I took hold of it. It was very cold, and made me so shudder that I was at once awakened. I found myself uneasy, and turned over in bed to ease my uncomfortableness. Directly I slept again and dreamed over the same occurrence; when Farmer showed his hand, I asked him how I should know it to be his hand. He replied, "I'll move my fingers so," and he straightened out his first and third fingers, while the second and fourth were bent in a very uncommon way. I can't move my fingers in such positions without the aid of the other hand.

After that the "séance" ended, and I forgot all about it, till next morning at breakfast with Miss F. I chanced to recall it, and told her I had dreamed of her father, and I related the above to her; when I came to the finger business she dropped her fork, and with much earnestness said, "That was one of his tricks. He could get the fingers of his left hand into uncommon positions, and for the amusement of visitors and intimate acquaintances would do it." I never knew he had any such trick, so I was surprised. I recorded the above facts the same day. Those whom I told, and especially Miss F., who were spiritualists, seemed sure I had had a visit from Mr. Farmer.... A. E. Dolbear.

Tufts College, Mass., April 18th, 1895. Dr. R. Hodgson, - Dear Sir, - I had met Mr. Farmer two or three times. Was not intimately acquainted, and have no recollection of ever seeing him do any kind of a trick, or indeed that he could do any. Each time when I did meet him it was on electrical business, and I knew nothing about him socially. It does not seem probable to me that I ever saw him twist his fingers in any way.... A. E. Dolbear.

Miss Farmer writes as follows to Professor William James in corroboration of Professor Dolbear's statement: -

Eliot, Maine, June 15th, 1896.

... My father had great regard for his friend (Prof. Dolbear), and respect for his valuable contributions to science. After reading his book, Matter, Ether, and Motion, he said, "I would like to talk with Dolbear and tell him some of the experiences that have come to us since mother went, and see what he would say to them."... Callers coming in, the subject was dropped.

In 1894 Professor Dolbear kindly consented to become one of the speakers at Greenacre. The inn being full, I took him to Bittersweet, and he occupied the library chamber. In course of conversation the next morning, he said, "I had a strange dream last night - I dreamed of your father." That did not seem strange, as he had looked at his life-sized portrait before retiring. I asked about the dream, and he said he dreamed he heard his voice, and was told it was my father. He asked how he should know it was he. The reply was, "I will show you my left hand and arm," and he did so twice. The professor still questioned, "How shall I know it is your hand and arm rather than some one else's ?" The reply was, "I will show you a trick with my fingers," and then the professor described and tried to imitate it, but could not. I was dumb with astonishment, and then said, " Why, professor, that was a favourite trick of my father's. When tricks were performed, he would say, ' Who can do this ? ' and then, without using the right, would bend the joints and twist the fingers of the left hand in a way that I never saw imitated." That to me was a positive proof of my father's identity; it was like him - he liked a joke.

He longed to be able to share with his friends the conviction of truth which had come to him. He knew that with Professor Dolbear no proof would be convincing unless of the most unique character. The professor said he was wakened and lay for a time thinking of it; then fell asleep and dreamed the same thing again. He was much pleased with my corroboration of the circumstance, and said he would willingly travel sixty miles for an experience like that. In 1895 he came to Greenacre a second time, and at dinner with Rev. E. P. Powell, of Clinton, New York, in speaking of my father, used these words, " I talked with him last summer." Knowing that my father had passed out in 1893, Mr. Powell was mystified, and I said, "Professor, Mr. Powell does not understand how that can be, you should explain yourself." He then related his dream. I listened carefully, and noted that the story was just as he had given it the year before.

I omitted one circumstance of 1894. Coming from the tent after the lecture, I met Dr. J. L. M. Willis, my father's physician, and a very intelligent man. I presented him to Professor Dolbear, and then said, "Do you remember, doctor, of any special trick that my father could do with his hands ? " He answered, "No, I do not know of any except this." He then put up his left hand, and trying to cross his fingers, said, "I can't do it; I never saw anybody else who could."... Sarah J. Farmer.