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inventions like other myths. In the case of crystal-gazing, however, we can scarcely push scepticism so far as
to deny that the facts exist, that hallucinations are actually provoked. The inference is that a presumption is
raised in favour of the actuality of the other phenomena universally reported. They, too, may conceivably be
hallucinatory; the rappings and haunting noises may be auditory, as the crystal visions are ocular
hallucinations. The sounds so widely attested may not cause vibrations in the air, just as the visions are not
really in the crystal ball. As the unconscious self suggests the pictures in the ball, so it may suggest the
unexplained noises. But while, as a rule, only one gazer sees the visions, the sounds (usually but not
invariably) are heard by all present. On the whole, the one case wherein we find facts, if only facts of
hallucination, at the bottom of the belief in a world-wide and world-old practice, rather tends in the direction
of belief in the other facts, not less universally alleged. We know too much about mythology to agree with
Dr. Johnson, in holding that 'a belief, which prevails as far as human nature is diffused, could become
universal only by its truth,' that 'those who never heard of one another would not have agreed in a tale which
nothing but experience could make credible'. But, on the other hand, a belief is not necessarily untrue,
because it is universally diffused.
In the second place, crystal-gazing shows how a substratum of fact may be so overlaid with mystic
mummeries, incantations, fumigations, pentacles: and so overwhelmed in superstitious interpretations,
introducing fairies and spirits, that the facts run the risk of being swept away in the litter and dust of
nonsense. Science has hardly thought crystal-gazing worthy even of contempt, yet it appears to deserve the
notice of psychologists. To persons who can 'scry,' and who do not see hideous illusions, or become
hypnotised, or superstitious, or incur headaches, scrying is a harmless gateway into Les Paradis Artificiels.
'And the rest, they may live and learn.' {223}
A very few experiments will show people whether they are scryers, or not. The phenomena, it seems, are
usually preceded by a mistiness, or milkiness, of the glass: this clears off, and pictures appear. Even the best
scryers often fail to see anything in the crystal which maintains its natural 'diaphaneity,' as Dr. Dee says. Thus
the conditions under which the scryer can scry, are, as yet, unascertained.
The phenomena of scrying were not unknown to Dr. Gregory, Professor of Chemistry in the University of
Edinburgh. Dr. Gregory believed in 'odylic fluid' on the evidence of Reichenbach's experiments, which
nobody seems to have repeated successfully under strict tests. Clairvoyance also was part of Dr. Gregory's
faith, and, to be fair, phenomena were exhibited at his house, in the presence of a learned and distinguished
witness known to the writer, which could only be accounted for either by thought transference, or by an
almost, or quite incredible combination of astuteness, and imposture on the side of Dr. Gregory himself. In
presence of the clairvoyants the nobleman of whom we speak thought not of his own house, but of a room in
the house of a friend. It possessed a very singular feature which it is needless to describe here, but which was
entirely out of the experience of the clairvoyante. She described it, however, expressing astonishment at what
she 'saw'. This, unless Dr. Gregory guessed what was likely to be thought of, and was guilty of collusion, can
only be explained by thought transference. In other cases the doctor was convinced that he had evidence of
actual clairvoyance, and it is difficult to estimate the amount of evidence which will clear such a belief of the
charge of credulity. As to 'scrying' the doctor thought it could be done in 'mesmerised water,' water
bewitched. There is no reason to imagine that 'mesmerised' is different from ordinary water. {224} He knew
SCRYING OR CRYSTAL-GAZING 76
Cock Lane and Common-Sense
that folklore retained the belief in scrying in crystal balls, and added some superfluous magical incantations.
The doctor himself was lucky enough to buy an old magical crystal in which some boys, after long staring,
saw persons unknown to themselves, but known to the professor, and also persons known to neither. A little
girl, casually picking up a crystal ball, cried, 'There's a ship in it, with its cloth all in rags. Now it tumbles
down, and a woman is working at it, and holds her head in her hand.' This is a very fair example of a crystal
fancy picture. The child's mother, not having heard what the child said, saw the same vision (p. 165). But
this is a story at third hand. The doctor has a number of cases, and held that crystal possesses an 'odylic'
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