Page:The Naturalisation of the Supernatural.pdf/72

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52
Spontaneous Thought Transference

defect in such corroborative testimony; and as the reference is always given to the Society's Journal or Proceedings, the reader can in every case, if he pleases, study for himself the full accounts there printed.

The following account was sent, in French, to the late F. W. H. Myers by a well-known man of science. Three years ago I myself had the opportunity of discussing the incident with the percipient. A fragment of a book cover, bearing the words mentioned, was enclosed with the account.

No. II. From Professor———,

Paris, 11th December, 1897

On Friday, December 10, 1897, at about 10.35 p.m., being alone and at work in my library, I began to think, without any reason, that there had been a fire at the Opera. My wife and daughter had gone off to the Opera at 8; I had not been able to accompany them. The impression was so strong that I wrote F (Feu!) on the cover of a book which lay near me. A few instants later, wishing to emphasise this presentiment, I wrote "Att" (for attention) "Fire!" I enclose what I wrote. I did not, however, feel anxious, but said to myself, "There has been no great fire at the Opera, only an alarm of fire."

At the same time, or rather ten or fifteen minutes later, at 10.55, my sister, Madame B., who lives in the same house, and whose bedroom is on the same floor with my study, had an idea that my study was on fire. She was at the moment on the point of getting into bed, but she came en désshablie to my study-door and put her hand on the handle to come in; but then, telling herself that her fear was absurd, she went back to bed. She tells me, however, that she would nevertheless have come in but that she was afraid that I had some one with me in the room.