and in a photograph of the deceased he recognised the features of the apparition.[1]
Again, a lady taking an afternoon nap in her bedroom on the day of her arrival at the Convent of St. Quay, Pontrieux, was awakened to see a venerable priest kneeling at the side of her bed. The figure rose, blessed her, and then vanished. On telling her story she learnt that no man was on the premises, but from her description the figure was recognised as that of the Bishop of St. Brieuc, who was in the habit of staying in this particular room when he visited the Convent. The funeral of the Bishop was taking place about sixteen miles off that same afternoon.[2]
When all allowance has been made for coincidence, the effect of unconscious suggestion, and for the almost inevitable embellishments, from which the narrators are not withheld in a case of this kind by any sense of personal sacredness in their experience, we find it difficult to resist the conclusion that these apparitions are in some fashion connected with the dead persons whom they purport to represent. Of the nature of that connection it is not easy to form even a plausible guess. As Mr. Gurney says of one case of the kind, the vision fre-
- ↑ Proceedings, S. P. R., vol. v.. p. 416.
- ↑ Proceedings, S. P. R., vol. v., p. 460. For other cases of the type see Mr. Myers's list (ibid. p. 473). And for some recent instances see Miss Atkins's narrative (Journal, April, 1894); the figure of a priest seen at Costessey Park by Lady Bedingfield (Journal, May, 1899); Miss Bedford's case (Journal. July, 1905): Mrs. Verall's case (Journal. July, 1906). The figure seen in the last case was afterwards recognised from a portrait.
