My Library

out, but suddenly decided to follow her. One may call such a case typical, because the phantom appearance of inanimate objects is by no means exceptional. Even granting Dobbin an etheric double, he could hardly be considered as furnishing the means of propulsion! Nor can "collective hallucination" be accepted in explanation of an appearance which was viewed at different times in different places by four different people, one of whom was neither in temporal, mental nor physical contact with the other three. Even if Mr. Mountford could have persuaded his hosts that they were looking at something which had no existence, and which they were quite unprepared to see, his own vision remains to be accounted for, and it could not have affected that of Miss Coe, which must, for a considerable period, have held the picture which so alarmed her. There remains the "thought-form" theory; but: whose thought and why the thinking? The Robert Coes were not planning a startling surprise, and a routine visit was not likely to stimulate their mental energies. Thought-forms, doubtless, can be created; but so far we have only succeeded in impressing them on a photographic plate or the attention of a friend. Thought-forms "in the round", like the Coes' equipage, with the pony trotting and the wheels revolving along a mile of road, are of a type which has not yet been attempted in this country. Mme David-Neel has described her creation of a thought-form which was able to function as a man; but she had powers at her disposal of which we know nothing, and the making and dissolving of her robot was a lengthy business.