FORESEEING THE END.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1920, Page 9

FORESEEING THE END.

A book of poems has just been published which was written in trench and billet during the war by ;i yonng officer, who distinctly foretells his own death, and never for a moment believes that he will live to come home. Instances of such foreknowledge are not uncommon.

One of the most remarkable was the case of Von Spee. If it i.s true, and it was reported on very good authority, it does credit to the German admiral, who showed a rare spirit and delicacy. After the Battle of Coronel the German colony at Valparaiso gave a banquet to celebrate the occasion, at which the final toast was "Destruction to tiio British Navy." It i.s said that Von Spee immediately rose and raid that neither he, nor his officers, cared to respond to the toast, and tliey withdrew. The steps near the door were covered with flowers, and the admiral said: "I think you had better keep these for my grave. They may be wanted." A few weeks later he encountered Sturdee at the battle of the Falkland Islands.

The personality of Abraham Lincoln has been vividly brought to the minds of playgoers lately, and all his biographers agree that the great President hkd premonition of the tragic death which befell him on April 14th, 1865. Of the danger of assassination he was fully i aware, and at a Cabinet meeting on the morning of the fatal day he was observed to wear a grave troubled look. When General Grant asked what was the matter, he said he had had a strange dream, frat did not say whait it was. In the afternoon, his mood changed: to one of extreme gaiety, and liis wi'fa> remarked uneasily; "I ha.vo seen you th» only once Wore', and that was Juai before our Willie diadl."'

The Dtesby lias hnxl few more axffent ! devotees than. Eowl PhJincratoiu Wjb flfliy- years, as rnsmlhr as clireltwork,. popular statesman 1 galloped' dbw.it to Epsom: on "Day., and' it was to Hi's great disgust that oir his Ihst visit, liem's compelled;, to maUa ffie: journey iin a; carriage:

As,, that day; lie- srcwr fclirs Freunlii horsr ! GTadiiiieur forge aliemll, fter naiit ti>' s a friend: "Tf ®e foreigner wins t sftalt I not live? tHnough' tliff yean"' Klinliateftir' jwoir, ami iir ltes fflan. fihtr months ' "Fam 1 " wbek deiicE.