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235
The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft
·
George Gissing
142
Of
course
I
know
very
well
that
all
that
make
use
of
these
words
are
not
in
one
and
the
same
category.
There
is
a
study
of
the
human
mind,
in
health
and
in
disease,
which
calls
for
as
much
respect
as
any
other
study
conscientiously
and
capably
pursued;
that
it
lends
occasion
to
fribbles
and
knaves
is
no
argument
against
any
honest
tendency
of
thought.
Men
whom
one
cannot
but
esteem
are
deeply
engaged
in
psychical
investigations,
and
have
convinced
themselves
that
they
are
brought
into
touch
with
phenomena
inexplicable
by
the
commonly
accepted
laws
of
life.
Be
it
so.
They
may
be
on
the
point
of
making
discoveries
in
the
world
beyond
sense.
For
my
own
part,
everything
of
this
kind
not
only
does
not
interest
me;
I
turn
from
it
with
the
strongest
distaste.
If
every
wonder-
story
examined
by
the
Psychical
Society
were
set
before
me
with
irresistible
evidence
of
its
truth,
my
feeling
(call
it
my
prejudice)
would
undergo
no
change
whatever.
No
whit
the
less
should
I
yawn
over
the
next
batch,
and
lay
the
narratives
aside
with--yes,
with
a
sort
of
disgust.
"An
ounce
of
civet,
good
apothecary!"
Why
it
should
be
so
with
me
I
cannot
say.
I
am
as
indifferent
to
the
facts
or
fancies
of
spiritualism
as
I
am,
for
instance,
to
the
latest
mechanical
application
of
electricity.
Edisons
and
Marconis
may
thrill
the
world
with
astounding
novelties;
they
astound
me,
as
every
one
else,
but
straightway
I
forget
my
astonishment,
and
am
in
every
respect
the
man
I
was
before.
The
thing
has
simply
no
concern
for
me,
and
I
care
not
a
volt
if
to-
morrow
the
proclaimed
discovery
be
proved
a
journalist's
mistake
or
invention.
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