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f them are not at all tragic and that premonition opens its mysterious and capricious vistas of the future in connection with the most diverse and insignificant events。 It cares but little for the human value of the occurrence and puts the vision of a number in a lottery in the same plane as the most dramatic death。 The roads by which it reaches us are also unexpected and varied。 Often； as in the examples quoted； it comes to us in a dream。 Sometimes； it is an auditory or visual hallucination which seizes upon us while awake； sometimes； an indefinable but clear and irresistible presentiment； a shapeless but powerful obsession； an absurd but imperative certainty which rises from the depths of our inner darkness； where perhaps lies hidden the final answer to every riddle。
One might illustrate each of these manifestations with numerous examples。 I will mention only a few； selected not among the most striking or the most attractive； but among those which have been most strictly tested and investigated。＇1＇ A young peasant from the neighbourhood of Ghent； two months before the drawing for the conscription； announces to all and sundry that he will draw number 90 from the urn。 On entering the presence of the district…commissioner in charge； he asks if number 90 is still in。 The answer is yes。
＇1＇ Proceedings； vol。 xi。； p。 545。
〃Well then； I shall have it！〃
And； to the general amazement； he does draw number 90。
Questioned as to the manner in which he acquired this strange certainty； he declared that； two months ago； just after he had gone to bed； he saw a huge； indescribable form appear in a corner of his room； with the number 90 standing out plainly in the middle； in figures the size of a man's hand。 He sat up in bed and shut and opened his eyes to persuade himself that he was not dreaming。 The apparition remained in the same place； distinctly and undeniably。
Professor Georges Hulin； of the university of Ghent； and M。 Jules van Dooren； the district commissioner； who report the incident； mention three other similar and equally striking cases witnessed by M。 van Dooren during his term of office。 I am the less inclined to doubt their declaration inasmuch as I am personally acquainted with them and know that their statements； as regards the objective reality of the facts； are so to speak equivalent to a legal deposition。 M。 Bozzano mentions some previsions which are quite as remarkable in connection with the gaming…tables at Monte Carlo。
I repeat； I am aware that； in the case of these occurrences and those which resemble them； it is possible once again to invoke the theory of coincidence。 It will be contended that there are probably a thousand predictions of this kind which are never talked about； because they were not fulfilled； whereas； if one of them is accomplished； which is bound by the law of probabilities to happen some day or other； the astonishment is general and free rein is given to the imagination。 This is true； nevertheless； it is well to enquire whether these predictions are as frequent as is loosely stated。 In the matter of those which concern the conscription…drawings； for instance； I have had the opportunity of interrogating more than we constant witness of these little dramas of fate； and all admitted that； on the whole； they are much clearer than one would believe。 Next； we must not forget that there can be no question here of scientific proofs。 We are in the midst of a slippery and nebulous region； where we would not dare to risk a step if we were not allowing ourselves to be guided by our feelings rather than by certainties which we are not forbidden to hope for； but which are not yet in sight。
8
We will abridge our subject still further； referring readers who wish to know the details to the originals； lest we should never have done； or rather； instead of attempting an abridgment； which would still be too long； so plentiful are the materials； we will content ourselves with enumerating a few instances； all taken from Bozzano's Des Phenomenes premonitoires。 We read there of a funeral procession seen on a high…road several days before it actually passed that way； or； again； of a young mechanic who； in the beginning of November； dreamt that he came home at half…past five in the afternoon and saw his sister's little girl run over by a tram…car while crossing the street in front of the house。 He told his dream； in great distress； and； on the 13th of the same month； in spite of all the precautions that had been taken； the child was run over by the tram…car and killed at the hour named。 We find the ghost； the phantom animal or the mysterious noise which； in certain families； is the traditional herald of a death or of an imminent catastrophe。 We find the celebrated vision which the painter Segantini had thirteen days before his decease； every detail of which remained in his mind and was represented in his last picture； Death。 We find the Messina disaster dearly foreseen； twice over； by a little girl who perished under the ruins of the ill…fated city； and we read of a dream which； three months before the French invasion of Russia； foretold to Countess Toutschkoff that her husband would fall at Borodino； a village so little known at the time that those interested in the dream looked in vain for its name on the maps。 Until now we have spoken only of the spontaneous manifestations of the future。 It would seem as though coming events； gathered in front of our lives； bear with crushing weight upon the uncertain and deceptive dike of the present； which is no longer able to contain them。 They ooze through； they seek a crevice by which to reach us。 But； side by side with these passive； independent and intractable premonitions； which are but so many vagrant and furtive emanations of the unknown； are others which do yield to entreaty； allow themselves to be directed into channels； are more or less obedient to our orders and will sometimes reply to the questions which we put to them。 They come from the same inaccessible reservoir； are no less mysterious； but yet appear a little more human than the others； and； without drugging ourselves with puerile or dangerous illusions； we may be permitted to hope that； if we follow them and study them attentively； they will one day open to us the hidden paths that join that which is no more to that which is not yet。
It is true that here； where we must needs mix with the somewhat lawless world of professional mystery…mongers； we have to increase our caution and walk with measured steps on very suspicious ground。 But in this region of pitfalls we glean a certain number of facts that cannot reasonably be contested。 It will be enough to recall； for instance； the symbolic premonitions of the famous 〃seeress of Prevorst；〃 Frau Hauffe； whose prophetic spirit was awakened by soap bubbles； crystals and mirrors；＇1＇ the clairvoyant who； eighteen years before the event； foretold the death of a girl by the hand of her rival in 1907； in a written prophecy which was presented to the court by the mother of the murdered girl；＇1＇ A。 J。 C。 Kerner： Die Scherin von Prevorst 141 ＇1＇ the gypsy who； also in writing； foretold all the events in Miss Isabel Arundel's life； including the name of her hu