undoubtedly
exercise, under proper conditions,—we shall dwell more at length
(whilst without any prolix discourse) on this pertinent subject of
double mentality.
But
here it may be asked pointedly, to start with, what are some of the
circumstances calculated to eclipse for the while that protective
power, and guidance which our ordinary commonsense of every day life
affords, and maintains, throughout its incidents, and course. Let us
explain that chief among such circumstances are to be reckoned imminent
drowning, febrile delirium, and some forms of insanity. The late
Professor Denton produced during the latter part of his life a work
which specially discusses, after a fashion easily comprehended, this
science of Psychometry, under the plainer title of " The Souls of
Things." Therein he has alleged confidently a power of the human mind
to discern the past lifelong history of inanimate objects by telepathic
(distance-reading) aid. Together with his sister, his wife, and some
other persons who had been found to possess this telepathic power in a
remarkable degree, Professor Denton made a long series of experiments.
The particular branch of science to which the Professor devoted his
usual daily life was geology : outside which he was also well versed in
general knowledge and learning. His wife and sister were likewise
highly cultivated persons, being particularly interested in those
branches of learning in which the gifted Professor excelled. It was the
habit of the Professor to select a geological specimen, or some
fragment of a structure possessing historical interest, and to submit
the same to his " hypnotised" coadjutors, so as to elicit their version
of its history. His wife would then readily enter a partially "
subjective " condition of mind, so that—
