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The Soul of Things; Or, Psychometric Researches and Discoveries
the 1st of 3 volumes-
Excerpt: ...all round it that seem like rooms. The second story has openings all round farther in. People seem to be going there. " I am in the building now, in which there is a great number of people. They do not seem to take any part, but merely look on. I feel no solemnity about it, as in a church. In it I see an oval space. The people seem to be seated very singularly; I cannot account for it, unless the seats rise as they extend back. It is built in the fashion of an amphitheatre, so that those farthest back can see over the others' heads. There is some mirthfulness in their feelings, but I cannot see what is going on down there. " Now, I see persons singularly dressed; some of them are on animals that look like horses, but they seem smaller than ours. Some of them are women; one of them on horseback. There is an entrance, where they come in, beautifully decorated with flowers. I see one young lady, with small features, of straight and rather slender figure, standing on horseback near there; she seems to have just ridden round. She looks beautiful. There is nothing on her head but a" wreath of flowers. She has a light-colored dress, which is in good taste, and rides on a light-colored horse. The men have dresses on, that give them the appearance of possessing wings, as they fly round, standing on their horses. I can fancy some of them to be fixed up to resemble birds. Some of them are dressed in black. The lady on the pony is gay, merry and nimble; the men do not seem so light-hearted. What a rider she is! It is fearful to see her; I can scarcely credit that any one could ride like that. I sometimes think, some of the men are dressed to represent dark angels, and she a bright one. This is a very large place, and is strongly built....
Excerpt: ...all round it that seem like rooms. The second story has openings all round farther in. People seem to be going there. " I am in the building now, in which there is a great number of people. They do not seem to take any part, but merely look on. I feel no solemnity about it, as in a church. In it I see an oval space. The people seem to be seated very singularly; I cannot account for it, unless the seats rise as they extend back. It is built in the fashion of an amphitheatre, so that those farthest back can see over the others' heads. There is some mirthfulness in their feelings, but I cannot see what is going on down there. " Now, I see persons singularly dressed; some of them are on animals that look like horses, but they seem smaller than ours. Some of them are women; one of them on horseback. There is an entrance, where they come in, beautifully decorated with flowers. I see one young lady, with small features, of straight and rather slender figure, standing on horseback near there; she seems to have just ridden round. She looks beautiful. There is nothing on her head but a" wreath of flowers. She has a light-colored dress, which is in good taste, and rides on a light-colored horse. The men have dresses on, that give them the appearance of possessing wings, as they fly round, standing on their horses. I can fancy some of them to be fixed up to resemble birds. Some of them are dressed in black. The lady on the pony is gay, merry and nimble; the men do not seem so light-hearted. What a rider she is! It is fearful to see her; I can scarcely credit that any one could ride like that. I sometimes think, some of the men are dressed to represent dark angels, and she a bright one. This is a very large place, and is strongly built....
388 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1871
93 people want to read
About the author
William Denton
137 books2 followersWilliam Denton (1815-1888), a prominent clergyman in Victorian England, was educated at Worcester College, Oxford, and was deeply influenced by the tractarian movement. He had links with the orthodox church in Serbia and published several books on Serbia and Montenegro; he was also deeply concerned about the position of Christians in Turkey.
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March 9, 2024
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from chapter 2, Photographs and Flying Machines on Mars-
Sherman's second examination, on March 25, 1869-
" It seems like a city. The people are weird. I see some that have hooks on their feet with springs, so that they can go over the ground fast. They have large heads and very large foreheads. And their hair is not like ours.
"Nothing is made of brick or wood; seems like everything they have
is soft.
"Roofs are generally steep. Hats seem to be elastic at the sides with metal on the top. The women dress the same as the men. Some wear a kind of white cloth.
" Ooh, they've just recently gotten something new that everyone is excited about. Flying contraptions! They look like a cross between a gymnastics apparatus and a hang glider. People are lined up to use them. Most can only get three or four feet off the ground, but the best can go over a house. The way they steer is most curious. And some go backward. How they enjoy it !
"Now I see, they do have a strong, hard material for building. Bones, I think.
"I see no one smoking anywhere.
"Ladies can fly those machines: they must not be very difficult to operate.
"I see a square block at the bottom... of something.. and something that seems heavy... and has a shape to it...
I don't know.. It's hard to tell... rectangle, maybe.
"They all seem to carry around long sticks with extravagant mustaches on one end. They hold them in front of their mouths whenever they speak.
"Some of them dare to fly over open water with that machine. They go faster than birds.
"There is a green grassy place with something curious. It is a monstrous head, about twenty feet across, all made of bones that have been joined together so nice that you would think it was all one giant bone carved into shape.
[It didn't take me long to get to this planet. What planet is it ?]
(I tell him.)
"The people are very industrious. Those fliers can go around in perfect circles. I see them flying round and round like birds. The machines... they look as if they could not be real.
"I see a man producing pictures from a box. The box is longer than wide, and is carved out of bone. The man takes a handful of something and pours it into the box. Then he turns a knob. Sand spills out from a little hole in the box.. The man pinches his fingers into the little pile of sand, or whatever it is, and pulls out something with a picture on it... And on the box, something like very fine wires, like hairs, that grow from the base of the knob. The largest pictures I saw were about an inch square, but as natural as life.
[ Is this the planet where I saw the three-fingered people ? I don't see any now. These have all four fingers, and eyes like ours.]
" There are several men in a big room producing one picture after another and putting them in them their pockets... Thousands of tiny pockets...
VOL. III.
contents-
CHAPTER I.
GEOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.
Massachusetts in the Long- Ago. — An Epitome of the World's Geological History. — The "World before Life. —The Dawn of Life. — Life in Cambrian Times. — Early Life-Forms. — Life at the Bottom of the Silurian Ocean. — The Trilobites of the Silurian Time, and how they swam.
— Silurian Crinoids. — Animals and Plants of the Coal-Period. — Coal-Period in Massachusetts. — Wanderings in a Pennsylvanian Coal-Forest — Animals and Plants of the Coal-Period. — The Ocean during the Coal-Period. — Flowers in a Coal-Forest. — Tree-climbing Mussels. — Coal-Period in Rhode Island. — The Connecticut Valley and its Ancient Inhabitants. — Bird-Tracks of the Connecticut Valley, and the Birds that made them. — Kangaroo Serpents. — The Pterodactyls of the Connecticut Valley. — The Horned Reptile. — Strange Reptiles of the Connecticut Valley. — The Penguin Reptile. — A Mammoth Frog. — Walking-Fish. —More Strange Animals. — The Tracks of a Pterodactyl. — A Meteoric Shower. — A Night Visit to the Connecticut Valley in the Long- Ago. — Coast of the United States when the Sandstones of the Connecticut Valley were formed. — Bird-
Reptiles of Lebanon. — The Zeuglodon. — Southern Massachusetts in Tertiary Times. — Pebble from Cairo, Egypt. — Glacial Phenomena of the Drift Period. — Commencement of the Glacial Period. — The Co-hoes Mastodon. — Glacial Period in Maine
CHAPTER II.
ASTrONOMICAL EXAMINATIONS.
A Boy's Visit to Venus. — Visit to a Comet. — Visit to a Small Planet. — A Collision between Two Worlds. — A Boy on the Sun - Mrs. Cridge's Examination of the Sun. — The Atmosphere of the
Sun.— The Heart of the Sun - Sherman's Examinations of Mars. — The Animals of Mars. — The
People of Mars. — Photographs and Flying-Machines of Mars. — A Monster Kite. - Horticulture on Mars. — Night on Mars. — Visit to a Theatre. — "Worship on Mars. — Machines for making: — Fireworks. — Metal Sided Boots —; Religious Belief indicated. — Automata. — A Possible Fad for Artificial Mustaches -Winter Sports. — Fruit-Growing. — Utilizing Electricity. — Locomotion and Bathing. — Bone Buildings. — Giant Silk Worms as Beasts of Burden. — Other Worms on Mars - Mrs. Cridge's Examinations of Mars. — The Light of Mars. — The Atmosphere. — Physical Geography of Mars. — Reptiles on Mars. —Peculiar Electric Condition of Mars. — A Public Park on Mars. — The Smells of Mars. — Interior of the Dwellings — Difference between the People of Mars and those on the Earth. — Musical Mustaches — Worship on Mars - Mrs. Denton's Examinations of Mars. — Nature and Art on Mars. — Homes and Home-Life on Mars. — A Superior People But an Inferior Race. — A Library and it's Geysers. — A Parade. — A Reading-Room. — A Telescope Library on Mars. — Vehicles on Mars. — Aerial Conveyances.
Sherman's Examinations of Jupiter. — Flying Plants and Animals of Jupiter. — Night on Jupiter. — Balloons on Jupiter. - Mrs. Cridge's Examinations of Jupiter. — The Atmosphere of Jupiter. —
The Temperature. — Atmospheric Peculiarities. — The Surface of The Water. — The Inhabitants— Modes of Travel on Jupiter. — Dwellings. — Astronomical Instruments and Observations. — Astronomical Convention on Jupiter. — A General View of Jupiter. — The People floating in the Air. — Daily Life of the Jovians. — Floating Buildings and Flying Gardens. — Equatorial Jupiter. — Ladies of Jupiter. — Language and Amusements of the Jovians
CHAPTER III.
MISCELLANEOUS EXAMINATIONS.
Examination of Pumice-Stone. —Early Tertiary Times in Vermont. — An Egyptian Funeral. — The Mammoth Cave. — The Adelsberg Cave, and how it was formed. — The Siege of Gibraltar. — Savage Man in Europe. — Church of St. Clements, Rome. — Fish during the Trenton Period. — Earthquake on Hawaii. — Coal-Mine near Pittsburg. — Lead-Mine, Galena. — A California Gold-Mine. — A Vein of Manganese. — The Parahlamoosh Range, Colorado. — The Earth's Interior. — A Journey through the Planet. — A California Diamond. — A Dying Egyptian. — The Great Psychometric Realm seen. — What Psychometry will accomplish
from chapter 2, Photographs and Flying Machines on Mars-
Sherman's second examination, on March 25, 1869-
" It seems like a city. The people are weird. I see some that have hooks on their feet with springs, so that they can go over the ground fast. They have large heads and very large foreheads. And their hair is not like ours.
"Nothing is made of brick or wood; seems like everything they have
is soft.
"Roofs are generally steep. Hats seem to be elastic at the sides with metal on the top. The women dress the same as the men. Some wear a kind of white cloth.
" Ooh, they've just recently gotten something new that everyone is excited about. Flying contraptions! They look like a cross between a gymnastics apparatus and a hang glider. People are lined up to use them. Most can only get three or four feet off the ground, but the best can go over a house. The way they steer is most curious. And some go backward. How they enjoy it !
"Now I see, they do have a strong, hard material for building. Bones, I think.
"I see no one smoking anywhere.
"Ladies can fly those machines: they must not be very difficult to operate.
"I see a square block at the bottom... of something.. and something that seems heavy... and has a shape to it...
I don't know.. It's hard to tell... rectangle, maybe.
"They all seem to carry around long sticks with extravagant mustaches on one end. They hold them in front of their mouths whenever they speak.
"Some of them dare to fly over open water with that machine. They go faster than birds.
"There is a green grassy place with something curious. It is a monstrous head, about twenty feet across, all made of bones that have been joined together so nice that you would think it was all one giant bone carved into shape.
[It didn't take me long to get to this planet. What planet is it ?]
(I tell him.)
"The people are very industrious. Those fliers can go around in perfect circles. I see them flying round and round like birds. The machines... they look as if they could not be real.
"I see a man producing pictures from a box. The box is longer than wide, and is carved out of bone. The man takes a handful of something and pours it into the box. Then he turns a knob. Sand spills out from a little hole in the box.. The man pinches his fingers into the little pile of sand, or whatever it is, and pulls out something with a picture on it... And on the box, something like very fine wires, like hairs, that grow from the base of the knob. The largest pictures I saw were about an inch square, but as natural as life.
[ Is this the planet where I saw the three-fingered people ? I don't see any now. These have all four fingers, and eyes like ours.]
" There are several men in a big room producing one picture after another and putting them in them their pockets... Thousands of tiny pockets...
VOL. III.
contents-
CHAPTER I.
GEOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.
Massachusetts in the Long- Ago. — An Epitome of the World's Geological History. — The "World before Life. —The Dawn of Life. — Life in Cambrian Times. — Early Life-Forms. — Life at the Bottom of the Silurian Ocean. — The Trilobites of the Silurian Time, and how they swam.
— Silurian Crinoids. — Animals and Plants of the Coal-Period. — Coal-Period in Massachusetts. — Wanderings in a Pennsylvanian Coal-Forest — Animals and Plants of the Coal-Period. — The Ocean during the Coal-Period. — Flowers in a Coal-Forest. — Tree-climbing Mussels. — Coal-Period in Rhode Island. — The Connecticut Valley and its Ancient Inhabitants. — Bird-Tracks of the Connecticut Valley, and the Birds that made them. — Kangaroo Serpents. — The Pterodactyls of the Connecticut Valley. — The Horned Reptile. — Strange Reptiles of the Connecticut Valley. — The Penguin Reptile. — A Mammoth Frog. — Walking-Fish. —More Strange Animals. — The Tracks of a Pterodactyl. — A Meteoric Shower. — A Night Visit to the Connecticut Valley in the Long- Ago. — Coast of the United States when the Sandstones of the Connecticut Valley were formed. — Bird-
Reptiles of Lebanon. — The Zeuglodon. — Southern Massachusetts in Tertiary Times. — Pebble from Cairo, Egypt. — Glacial Phenomena of the Drift Period. — Commencement of the Glacial Period. — The Co-hoes Mastodon. — Glacial Period in Maine
CHAPTER II.
ASTrONOMICAL EXAMINATIONS.
A Boy's Visit to Venus. — Visit to a Comet. — Visit to a Small Planet. — A Collision between Two Worlds. — A Boy on the Sun - Mrs. Cridge's Examination of the Sun. — The Atmosphere of the
Sun.— The Heart of the Sun - Sherman's Examinations of Mars. — The Animals of Mars. — The
People of Mars. — Photographs and Flying-Machines of Mars. — A Monster Kite. - Horticulture on Mars. — Night on Mars. — Visit to a Theatre. — "Worship on Mars. — Machines for making: — Fireworks. — Metal Sided Boots —; Religious Belief indicated. — Automata. — A Possible Fad for Artificial Mustaches -Winter Sports. — Fruit-Growing. — Utilizing Electricity. — Locomotion and Bathing. — Bone Buildings. — Giant Silk Worms as Beasts of Burden. — Other Worms on Mars - Mrs. Cridge's Examinations of Mars. — The Light of Mars. — The Atmosphere. — Physical Geography of Mars. — Reptiles on Mars. —Peculiar Electric Condition of Mars. — A Public Park on Mars. — The Smells of Mars. — Interior of the Dwellings — Difference between the People of Mars and those on the Earth. — Musical Mustaches — Worship on Mars - Mrs. Denton's Examinations of Mars. — Nature and Art on Mars. — Homes and Home-Life on Mars. — A Superior People But an Inferior Race. — A Library and it's Geysers. — A Parade. — A Reading-Room. — A Telescope Library on Mars. — Vehicles on Mars. — Aerial Conveyances.
Sherman's Examinations of Jupiter. — Flying Plants and Animals of Jupiter. — Night on Jupiter. — Balloons on Jupiter. - Mrs. Cridge's Examinations of Jupiter. — The Atmosphere of Jupiter. —
The Temperature. — Atmospheric Peculiarities. — The Surface of The Water. — The Inhabitants— Modes of Travel on Jupiter. — Dwellings. — Astronomical Instruments and Observations. — Astronomical Convention on Jupiter. — A General View of Jupiter. — The People floating in the Air. — Daily Life of the Jovians. — Floating Buildings and Flying Gardens. — Equatorial Jupiter. — Ladies of Jupiter. — Language and Amusements of the Jovians
CHAPTER III.
MISCELLANEOUS EXAMINATIONS.
Examination of Pumice-Stone. —Early Tertiary Times in Vermont. — An Egyptian Funeral. — The Mammoth Cave. — The Adelsberg Cave, and how it was formed. — The Siege of Gibraltar. — Savage Man in Europe. — Church of St. Clements, Rome. — Fish during the Trenton Period. — Earthquake on Hawaii. — Coal-Mine near Pittsburg. — Lead-Mine, Galena. — A California Gold-Mine. — A Vein of Manganese. — The Parahlamoosh Range, Colorado. — The Earth's Interior. — A Journey through the Planet. — A California Diamond. — A Dying Egyptian. — The Great Psychometric Realm seen. — What Psychometry will accomplish
June 16, 2022
The idea of gaining history of an object by merely touching it? Hogwash. But being as each so-called experiment reads like a little dream where not much is happening, I would read a little bit of it before going to sleep. It was sufficiently barely interesting, barely entertaining- great for bedtime. Otherwise, don't bother reading it, seriously.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews