The state of awe which the surrounding circumstances of a spiritualist _seance_ inspires produces a general readiness of mind to perceive what is strange, mysterious, and apparently miraculous.
It is worth noting, perhaps, that those delightful half-illusions which imitative art seeks to produce are greatly favoured by such a temporary attitude of the interpreting imagination.

In the theatre, for example, we are prepared for realizing the semblance of life that is to be unfolded before us.

We come knowing that what is to be performed aims at representing a real action or actual series of events.

We not improbably work ourselves into a slightly excited state in anticipation of such a representation.

More than this, as the play progresses, the realization of what has gone before produces a strong disposition to believe in the reality of what is to follow.