Spiritualism in the Daily Papers.
It is very certain that, as regards the attitude of the Press towards Spiritualism and the publicity willingly given to all matters connected with it, foreign journalism is far ahead of us. We are continually meeting with new instances of that fact. Here are two more.
An important Italian daily, ‘Il Socolo XIX’, publishes an article signed ‘Gaudolin,’ which deals very favourably, but strictly moderately, with spiritualistic phenomena, and fills no less than two and a half long columns with closely-printed matter. The first part of it describes some curious physical manifestations, the narrative of which has already appeared in several other leading Italian dailies, and which, it is stated, occurred in the beginning of September last, at the Villa Farinola, near Florence. This old and extensive building, formerly an imposing mansion, and still the property of an Italian nobleman, is now inhabited by various tenants. The left wing, flanked by a chapel, has been transformed into an orphanage, kept by a small Sisterhood of eight Franciscan nuns, while the right is occupied by two respectable married couples and their large families of girls and lads. It is on that side on the villa that a ‘shower of stones,’ violently thrown, began suddenly, went on from morning to night during a whole week, and after having caused considerable damage, immense excitement and not a little fright, stopped as mysteriously as it began.
It was at first surmised that some skilful practical joker was amusing himself at the expense of the two persecuted families. Suspicions fell, of course, upon the Franciscan nuns and their pupils, for the good sisters were thought to look unfavourably upon any friendly relations between the girl orphans and the young people of the right wing. But careful investigations, repeated searches, and constant watch, the efforts of the numerous visitors attracted to the place, and the vigilance of the police were perfectly fruitless; the alleged malefactor could in no way be traced.
The open plains around the villa could not have afforded shelter to anyone in hiding; moreover, the stones, some of them weighing nearly two pounds, fell from all directions, not only outside the building, but also in perfectly closed interior rooms. One of the missiles struck and smashed to pieces a lighted lamp which the housewife was carrying downstairs. All the window-panes also were broken; but, curiously enough, those of the nuns’ dormitory were spared.
In the second part of his article the writer clearly shows that, all circumstances considered, the possibility of a prolonged hoax or of any kind of trickery is not admissible, and goes on to enumerate the various theories which can serve in explanation of the phenomena. He also recalls and narrates some occurrences of a similar character which have taken place in other countries and at different intervals in the last half of our century, adding that such phenomena have been witnessed and chronicled in all times and lands. He briefly alludes to some highly interesting experiments of trance and clairvoyance, and concludes with a few appropriate reflections touching the limitations of our sense impressions, of pure reason, and of physical science; insisting also upon the need for caution and open-mindedness in the investigation of apparently abnormal manifestations, and the absurdity and progress paralysing influence of prejudice. It seems pretty certain that this excellent article comes from the pen of a good and enlightened Spiritualist, who has contrived to place his views before the public with a considerable amount of skill.
Light, 15th October 1898.