The wanderings of a spiritualist (1921) (14591468037)

Identifier: wanderingsofspir00doyl (find matches)
Title: The wanderings of a spiritualist
Year: 1921 (1920s)
Authors: Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930 Goldie, Charles F., fl. 1858-1879, artist Johnstone, Henry J., fl. 1880-1900, artist Steele, L. G. A., artist
Subjects: Spiritualism
Publisher: New York : George H. Doran
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library



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had studied the subject, mentioned four learnedbeasts in history: a marvellous horse in Shakespearestime, which was burned with its master in Florence;the Boston skippers dog; Hans, the Russian horse,and Darkie of Christchurch. He investigated the latterhimself, as one of a committee of three. On the firstoccasion they got no results. On the second, ninetyper cent, of the questions were right, and they includedsums of addition, subtraction, etc. It was uncanny,he wrote.1 I called, therefore, upon Mrs. McGibbon, the owner,who allowed me to see the dog. He was a dark,vivacious fox terrier, sixteen years old, blind and deaf,which obviously impaired his powers: In spite of hisblindness he dashed at me the moment he was allowedinto the room, pawing at me and trembling all overwith excitement. * He was, in fact, so excited that hewas of little use for demonstration, as when once hebegan to bark he could not be induced to stop. Occa-sionally he steadied down, and gave us a touch of his (192)
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2 C a a H .5 THE WANDERINGS OF A SPIRITUALIST true quality. When a half-crown was placed beforehim and he was asked how many sixpences were in it,he gave five barks, and four for a florin, but when ashilling was substituted he gave twelve, which lookedas if he had pennies in his mind. On the whole theperformance was a failure, but as he had raised byexhibiting his gifts, £138 for war charities, I took myhat off to him all the same. I will not imitate thosepsychic researchers who imagine that because they donot get a result, therefore, everyone else who hasreported it is a cheat or a fool. On the contrary, Ihave no doubt that the dog had these powers, thoughage and excitement had now impaired them. The creatures powers were first discovered whenthe son of the house remarked one day: I will giveyou a biscuit if you bark three times. He at once didit. Now, six times. He did so1. Now, take threeoff. He barked three times once again. Since thenthey have hardly found any problem he could n