8 @ The Secret Liji of Nature
Gardner reported to Doyle that he found Frances to be mediu-
mistic, explaining that by this he meant her "etheric" body contained
"more loosely knit ectoplasm" than usual,"ectoplasm which the nature
spirits could have used to densify their own normal bodies sufficiently
to come into the field of the camera's range."*
Gardner said both girls were "good clairvoyants, quite unspoilt be-
cause unaware of it." He said they also had the advantage of being able
to see only the "subtler physical region but nothing beyond, their extra
sensory perception being strictly limited; hence there was very little
confusion or distortion in the focus of their clairvoyance."
Gardener did not stay at Cottingley to try to witness any further
fairy photography, explaining that he felt his presence might prevent
anything appearing on the plates.
"The fact is," he admitted, "that the fairy life will not come out
from the shrubs and plants unless the human visitor is of a sympathetic
quality. Such a visitor needs to be not merely sympathetic in mentality,
for that is of little use; he must have a warm emotional sympathy, child-
like in its innocence and simplicity."
The girls encouragingly told Gardner they thought that within a
couple of months he could get used to the fairies or, rather, they to
him, but he modestly told them he doubted he could cultivate the nec-
essary quality even in that length of time, which, in any case, he could
not spare.
During August of 1921 it rained almost continuously throughout
England.The girls, who knew the fairies would not appear in overcast
weather, were able to get up to the glen for only an hour or so when
the sun peeped out brightly, enabling them to take two shots, fodowed
by one more.
The three plates were posted to Gardner with a candid disclaimer:
''Ahaid they are not very good, but two are fairly clear."
- Ectoplasm is described by Webster as an external layer of protoplasm, the latter
being regarded as "the only form of matter in which the phenomena of life are
manifested." By occultists, ectoplasm is considered to be a temporarily extrudable
component of the human body-amorphous, cloudlike, fleecy, vaporous, gray-
white-densified into tangible form by the special and unconsciously exercised
psychic abilities of certain rare people.