Description

In this work, Lionel Weatherly inspects and investigates stories of mirages, prophetic dreams and the experiences of historical figures like Joan of Arc. Illusionist John Nevil Maskelyne, who exposed the fraud of a number of spiritualists including the Davenport Brothers, and who created several famous illusions which are still being performed today, examines the truth behind a number of famous Eastern magical illusions. Maskelyne also scrutinizes mediumistic fraud, questioning the credibility of figures like D. D. Home and Madame Blavatsky, in an entertaining and carefully argued investigation of phenomena which have mystified for centuries.

From the preface:

I have tried my best to make my statements as clear as possible, to invest my explanations with language that anyone could understand. Above all I have, I hope, steered clear of that dangerous shoal, upon which so many authorities on these subjects have wrecked their literary craft; viz., “Religious Arguments.”

To Mr. J. N. Maskelyne I here tender my most grateful thanks. Without his help I could not have asked any publisher to launch this work upon the market.

Who is there, in this England of ours – who is there, I may say, at all known to men, who has the right, from practical experience, to speak with such authority on Magic, on Spiritualism, or on the so-called Miracles of Theosophy, as Mr. Maskelyne? Who was it exposed the Davenport Brothers? Who was it who threw many a bombshell into the Spiritualistic camp? Who is it who fearlessly cautions those at the bottom of these latter-day miracles, and bids them Beware? The man whose friendship I value, whose assistance to me has been absolutely indispensable, and who will, I know, as long as he lives, devote himself to the exposure of fraud, deception, and trickery, whenever carried out under the guise of supernatural religion.

PREFACECHAPTER I. Introduction.SuperstitionWitchcraftBelievers in the SupernaturalCHAPTER II. What is Mind?The UnknowableDivisions of the MindI. – PerceptionII. – Intellecta. Memoryb. Reason and Judgmentc. ImaginationIII. – EmotionIV. – WillCHAPTER III. Description, Physiology, and Classification of Hallucinations and Illusions.Sense Deceptions generallyDefinitions of Hallucination and IllusionPhysiology of HallucinationExplanation of IllusionClassificationCHAPTER IV. Ordinary Sense Deceptions.Simple Sense DeceptionsAtmospheric IllusionsThe MirageThe Fata MorganaThe Giant of the Brocken MountainFog SpectresCase of Dr. LombardA Murderer’s HallucinationA Lover’s ApparitionNicolaiSir Walter Scott’s Friend’s IllusionAn American’s IllusionBeethovenLutherThe Demon of SocratesHallucinations and Illusions by SuggestionEpidemic Hallucinations and IllusionsVampiresMrs. A.’s Sense DeceptionsDe Quincey’s Day-dreamsCHAPTER V. Dreams.SleepA Dreamless SleepDreams generallyAre dreams divinely inspired?Ancient Ideas of DreamsClassification of DreamsDream IllusionsDream HallucinationsNightmarePersistent Dream ImagesDifferences between the Sleeping and Waking MindProphetic Dreams and their Occasional FulfilmentSomnambulismDream CrimesCHAPTER VI. Ghosts. Haunted Houses.Ghosts in all CountriesCauses of Belief in GhostsReasons against Reality of Ghosts etc.Ominous Night NoisesExplanation of Phantasms of the DeadThe Hallucinations of Thos. PerksLord Lyttleton’s ApparitionThe Hallucination of Mr. Cassio BurroughsMiss Bailey’s GhostUnexplained Ghost StoriesTelepathyCHAPTER VII.I. – Oriental Jugglery, (by J. N. Maskelyne).IntroductoryFiction and RomanceTravellers’ TalesThe Genesis of Oriental MiraclesOriental Literature concerning MagicThe Basket TrickThe Mango Tree TrickThe Burial TrickII – Modern Spiritualism. (J. N. Maskelyne )Andrew Jackson DavisThe Fox FamilyMrs. Norman Culver’s StatementDaniel Douglass HomeThe Davenport BrothersAnnie Eva FayDr. SladeProsecution of SladeEglintonSo-called MaterialisationsArtemus Ward on MediumsWhat has Investigation Proved?TableturningThoughtreadingSpirit PhotographyReport of the Seybert CommissionIII. – Theosophy. (J. N. Maskelyne.)Madame BlavatskyThe Starting of the Theosophical SocietyMadame Blavatsky in IndiaMadame Blavatsky in LondonThe Coulombs’ ConfessionMr. Hodgson’s ReportWhat Theosophists SayMrs. BesantCHAPTER VIII.Joan of ArcPercy Bysshe ShelleySwedenborgCHAPTER IX. Insane Sense Deceptions.Analogy between Dreams and InsanityHallucinations of HearingIllusions of HearingHallucinations of SightIllusions of SightHallucinations and Illusions of Touch, Taste, and SmellComplicated Hallucinations and IllusionsCHAPTER X.BelladonnaIndian HempOpiumCHAPTER XI. Conclusion.AN ADDENDUM TO THE CHAPTER ON THEOSOPHY