CHAPTER V

CHARACTER SKETCHES

THE following case (that of Lieut. Cyril Markham) was published shortly In Light, but we are able to report it more fully here. The account given by Lieut. Markham of his own death was curious and interesting; he was killed in action, but there is no suggestion of war-conditions in the description of his passing, as will be seen.

The communication was as follows: "I went out slowly."...(I had a sharp, painful impression of his being shot through the right lung.-"L.M.B.)

"I had a feeling of being asleep on a shady hill, as I felt cool breezes on my left cheek...I smelt wild lavender...woke at last, and saw-whom do you think?-why, old gentleman you know...funny head, fond of hunting, heart big as big.... Refreshed? said he...and your father's son all over, every inch...kind old eyes, grey like father's, only more grey...

I don't like a memorial, father...makes me sort of want to smile, then weep, for the way we understand, or rather, misunderstand...I am myself? I am tremendously myself.... Life is grand here."

When I met Mr. Markham for the first time, I noticed his very kindly grey eyes.

He and his family were entire strangers to me, introduced by letter. The parents were planning a memorial to their son; this was quite unknown to me at the time of writing.

Lieut. Markham was, we learnt, a great lover of nature, and a joyous personality; I always had this impression strongly when writing for him, and it is apparent from time to time in the script, e.g., "Oh, hear the birds.... I would like to catch you up, father, to hear the birds.... I will sing in the dressing-room like a bird...Some day you will hear, father."

His father told me that Cyril always sang while dressing. Mr. Markham and his son were very close friends, and after "passing over," Lieut. Markham, himself, a decided Churchman, showed some concern about his father's religious views; the latter described himself as agnostic.

The reference is given thus: "Cyril wants father to be led to God.... Dad was so honest with Cyril about his views.... Regret so much my wanting him to be a Churchman, does not matter."

Father and son had freely discussed their religious views together, and Cyril generally addressed him as "Dad."

Mr. Markham was interested in Spiritualism, but his wife, who had "High Church" views, was much averse to it Cyril's comment on this was "Want Nellie to do something for me. Will she break down mother's attitude?"

"Nellie" was his sister, who had greatly helped her parents since the son's death.

Cyril also wrote: "Mary brings a feeling of hope," referring to a friend of his sister's.

On one occasion he stated "Claud has had narrow escape."

This referred to a cousin of his who had been wounded.

He mentioned one day, in a message to his father, that he had seen "Relly"-"Harold Wood"-"Taylor"-and "endless fellows."

A letter from Mr. Markham gave the following information about these friends: "One of Cyril's Scout Boys, in whom he was interested was called Rally...he had a fellow prefect named Wood, who had a commission in the army.... Taylor was another schoolfellow."

I was unacquainted with any of these names.

Cyril stated that he had been at school, "Harrow and Portsmouth"; his father wrote: "Cyril was at Harrow at school, his regiment was stationed at Portsmouth."

Lieut. Markham had a house-master at school named Lynwood, whose opinion carried great weight with his parents; Cyril once wrote: "Mr. Lynwood has so much weight with my people," and his father, seeing the script later, was specially interested in this remark.

The chief interest of the following account lies in the fact that it shows very clearly how confusion may arise when two communicators from "the other side" are writing on about the same date.

The confusion is of the same nature as that which ensues when two photographic impressions are registered on the same plate, or two people in succession speak indistinctly through a telephone, and the person listening does not know the personality or the voice of either.

In April, 1918, I was corresponding with a Mrs. Eliot, living in Sussex, about an interview with her that I was trying to arrange. I had been told that someone connected with her had lately died, and she expressed a wish to see me, as the fact had been mentioned to her that I could write automatically.

I had no idea whether the person who had died was a friend or relation of hers, man or woman.

After some correspondence, we finally arranged that I should go and see her on April 29th.

On April 26th I had the following experience.

I was resting in the afternoon, as I had made an 'appointment to write (automatically) at 5:15 p.m. for a certain Lieut. Arthur Drayton (deceased) who was a stranger to me.

While resting I became aware (clairvoyantly) of a young officer pacing up and down my room; both his hands were in his pockets, and he was whistling a tune.

His whole personality expressed abundant vitality and joyousness; he seemed a mere boy, and I was amused by his light-hearted gaiety, and the quick swing with which he turned each time he came to the end of the room.

My attention was thoroughly aroused, and I found that I was receiving a clear but fragmentary impression of his character, which

I wrote down a little later. I give it exactly as I noted it then:

Alert, spontaneous, clever, refined, particular about his personal appearance and that of others...a good deal of real humour...very keen, original, capable of keeping several things going at the same time...the sort of person one would get in touch with easily and find really interesting...many-sided, versatile, accessible."

I naturally concluded that this boy was the person who was to write at 5:15 p.m., though I was surprised at getting such an impression previously.

I therefore sent the character-sketch, with a copy of the script received at 5:15 p.m. to Mrs. Drayton, and was more than surprised to hear from her that neither had the least connection with her son Arthur.

I went on April 29th, as arranged, to see Mrs. Eliot, and found that it was her son, Bruce by name, for whom she wished me to write; he had been killed in the war.

I found him easy to get into touch with, and will reproduce his messages later.

A week or two after my visit to Mrs. Eliot, a sudden idea came to me concerning the so-called "Drayton" script; from what I had learnt on April 29th of Bruce Eliot, after writing freely for him for an hour and a half, I felt fairly sure that the script and character-sketch belonged to him.

I accordingly sent a copy of both to Mrs. Eliot, who replied as follows: "The mental impression was quite the best I have had from anyone, as far as it goes; it exactly describes him."

The script, too, seems quite definitely to have come from Bruce Eliot, as the following extracts, with verification notes, will show: "I am aged twenty, you know, younger than my brother. I do miss him, dear old chap.... I am feeling how true is the idea expressed in our motto, Mother.... Geraniums I loved...we had such a lot in our garden...sorry new gardener has said good-bye to those."

His mother's letter confirmed the above as follows: "He was twenty-one when he died...he had an elder brother to whom he was deeply attached...the idea expressed in our motto is-'ad rem'-to the point-and he was extraordinarily to the point in all he did. We had many geraniums always, and-if was a joke against our former gardener that he would grow nothing else I Instead of them last year we had tomatoes and beetroot on the terrace!"

Lieut. Eliot referred to his own death; he wrote I get feeling of"-

[illustration of a vertical zig-zag scrawl]

As I, L.M.B., wrote this, my hand became quite numb, and I breathed heavily; I had the feeling, first of high altitude, and then of a rapid zig-zag fall. I explained to him that he was giving me a horrible sensation, and he wrote: "I say, I am sorry. How extraordinary to be sure.

'My next sense-impression was of an overpowering smell of petrol, and Bruce Eliot then wrote: "Did you smell petrol?"

I answered (in writing), "Yes, strong smell," and he added, "Our engine did give out clouds of petrol."

Mrs. Eliot gave us the following information later: The engine was riddled with bullets, and giving out clouds of petrol."

The script continued: "Mother has a vivid account of what took place.... Colonel of section, nice letter he wrote."

His mother wrote: "I have a very vivid account of his death from himself, through a medium...and a very nice letter from the doctor of his former battalion, he may have acted as Colonel."

The last part of the script of April 26th contained these words:

"Mother would be wise to make enquiries about getting alterations done by --. Don't be advised by Mr. X-, who is in correspondence. I feel it is unwise. I am uneasy, Mother, do you follow? Uneasy about some dealing with Mr. X-. You must get things done quickly, mustn't you? I hope this idea will reach you.... It is only a trifling matter in comparison, but I care for your comfort, Mother."

Mrs. Eliot confirmed this as follows: "Rather remarkable about the alterations, as it seems to refer to a transaction about to take place, but which at the time I was unaware of.... All has been done now. I did make enquiries. I did not take the advice of the person I was then in correspondence with. The whole situation is changed, which has added to my comfort."

Referring once more to his brother, he commented thus: "Rod (his brother Roderick, name correct) is my great chum...he is colossal...he is a great fellow really."

A message was sent to a friend: "Send a message from me to Doris, send Doris my love, and say when she comes here we will have a gorgeous time."

We learnt that "Dods was a great friend of his, a girl of about fifteen; they used to have great fun together.

All the above script, except the reference to "Rod" and "Doris" was received on April 26th, before I had met Mrs. Eliot at all, or even knew of the existence of her son Bruce.

The part about "Rod" and "Doris" was written on April 29th, when Mrs. Eliot was present.

The evidential matter received on that day was especially interesting and valuable, but was of too private a nature to be reproduced here.

His personality was very apparent throughout the writing, and one or two touches (from the script of April 26th) are given:

"I say, it is most awfully good of you doing this. It must seem queer to you, we are utter strangers...dear me, how funny it is."

As I wrote this I heard him laugh, and he wrote the word "laugh" with a large circle round it.

At the outset. of the first communication he asked: "Would you like me to take any special line?" and I replied: "Take your own line, just use me like a telephone."

He answered: "I see. Thanks. jolly good of you. Do say if you get tired or bored."

During the autumn of 1918 I wrote for him again, his mother being present. I was able to get into touch with him quite freely and easily in spite of the lapse of several months.

He wrote: "Isn't it nice to talk, dear?.... I see so far here, it is a delightful experience,'

He was evidently still in close touch with those whom he knew in the earth-life, for he referred at some length in this script to the recent death of a young cousin, Pauline, and to its effect upon her parents.

Of the girl herself he wrote: "' I am longing to help Pauline...strange how she died, wasn't it? She was young, too, wasn't she?... So easily she slipt over...felt no shock at all...it was as easy as a quiet sleep...and all was made so possible here for her, tell her mother this. I do hope her work will be acknowledged, it was of real value."

He showed a most sympathetic insight into the grief of the father and mother of Pauline, noting their condition from day to day, and actually sharing in their sorrow.

Referring to the father, he wrote: I saw him a day or two ago, and I felt quite sad after. I whispered to him, but he did not hear. I fear he could hear nothing. He is an awfully fine character."

Before writing for Lieut. Eliot on that day, I was aware (psychically) that the death of someone connected with him had taken place, but I knew nothing of Pauline or her family, nor did Mrs. Eliot mention her until after I had written the above.

One point of interest concerned his brother "Rod."

Bruce asserted that "Rod" had gone to Boulogne, but indicated that there was no cause for alarm, and that he would return to England.

His mother could not believe the assertion about Boulogne, as "Rod" was then in the fighting line.

She wrote later: "My son has returned from France. He did go to Boulogne to get some spectacles, unknown to me till some weeks after."