194


THE  THEOSOPHIC  VIEW  OF  FAIRIES

I  have  added  the  experience  of  a  clairvoyant
officer  in  the  company  of  the  girls  upon  the
third  and  unsuccessful  attempt  to  get  photo-
graphs. I  have  analysed  some  of  the  criti-
cism which  we  have  had  to  meet.  I  have
given  the  reader  the  opportunity  of  judging
the  evidence  for  a  considerable  nimiber  of
alleged  cases,  collected  before  and  after  the
Cottingley  incident.  Finally,  I  have  placed
before  him  the  general  theory  of  the  place
in  creation  of  such  creatures,  as  defined  by
the  only  system  of  thought  which  has  found
room  for  them.  Having  read  and  weighed
all  this,  the  investigator  is  in  as  strong  a  po-
sition as  Mr.  Gardner  or  myself,  and  each
must  give  his  own  verdict.  I  do  not  myself
contend  that  the  proof  is  as  overwhelming
as  in  the  case  of  spiritualistic  phenomena.
We  cannot  call  upon  the  brightest  brains
in  the  scientific  world,  the  Crookes,  the
Lodges,  or  the  Lombrosos,  for  confirmation.
But  that  also  may  come,  and  for  the  present,
while  more  evidence  will  be  welcome,  there
is  enough  already  available  to  convince  any
reasonable  man  that  the  matter  is  not  one
which  can  be  readily  dismissed,  but  that  a

195


THE  COMING  OF  THE  FAIRIES

case  actually  exists  which  up  to  now  has  not
been  shaken  in  the  least  degree  by  any  of
the  criticism  directed  against  it.  Far  from
being  resented,  such  criticism,  so  long  as  it
is  earnest  and  honest,  must  be  most  welcome
to  those  whose  only  aim  is  the  fearless  search
for  truth.
196


Library  West  /ALF

Date  Due  Slip

Date  Due                Date  Returned

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