Page:Complete Works of Count Tolstoy - 18.djvu/298

 perturbations which are produced by the immersion of a solid body in a liquid. These perturbations are what we call mediumistic phenomena— (Laughter, whispering.)

. This is quite just and intelligible; but permit me to ask you: If, as you have said, putting a medium to sleep produces perturbations of the spiritual ether, why, then, do these perturbations find their expressions, as is generally understood in spiritualistic séances, in manifestations of the activity of dead persons?

. Because the particles of this spiritual ether are nothing but the souls of the living, the dead, and those not born, so that every concussion of this spiritual ether inevitably causes a certain motion of its particles. But these particles are nothing but the souls of men which by this motion are brought into communion.

(to Sakhátov). What is there here not to understand? This is so simple— I thank you very, very much!

. It seems to me that everything is clear now, and that we can begin.

. The lad is in the most normal of conditions: temperature, 37.2; pulse, 74.

(takes out a note-book, and makes a memorandum). As a confirmation of that which I have had the honour of presenting to you will be the fact that putting the medium to sleep inevitably brings with it, as we shall soon see, a rise in temperature and pulse, just as in the case of hypnosis.

. Pardon me, but I should like to answer Sergyéy Iványch's question as to how it is we know that the spirits of deceased persons are communing with us. We know this because the spirit who comes tells us so straight out,—just as simply as I am saying this,—he tells us who he is, why he has come, where he is, and whether he is happy. At the last séance came