The Mystery of Dreams.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4715, 16 February 1884, Page 1

The Mystery of Dreams.

■ : ——; ;;.;♦ . • _.-.■■..,, .. SOME POPUIIB SUPERSTITIONS WHICHJ I SEEK TO BE SUSTAINED BY ACTUAL j BEBULTS. Until we know more about the constitution of the soul it will never be possible for us to define the true nature of dreams. There are many curious theories about them in works of philo«ophy, but none entitled after fair examination to more credence than another. Some writers hold that we dream constantly during the whole period of sleep, others that it is only within a minute or two before waking, The latter notion is, however, disprored by observation, particularly of animals, dogs being perceived to be in the act of dreaming while in profound slum* ber. Breams hare an especial interest for < us because so many hare appeared to either foreshadow the future exactly, or to give a sort of mystical intimation of it, the connection between which and fact it was possible to trace afterward. This has still. greater stress became of the dreams which were indications of future events described in so many places in the Scriptures. It is distinctly stated in one place that God would speak to his prophets in a dream. The visions of the Old Testament are most singular. What are we to think of those of Pharaoh, and the interpretations of Joseph, and that of Nebuchadnezzar and its meaning as propounded by Daniel? It is often urged that there can be nothing in dreams from the fact that, although now and then one may prove prophetic, in myriads of instances they fail. If it were possible to find only a single coincidence—or, indeed, two or three, or even half a doaen—there might be some reason in such an argument. But the truth is there are tbous* ands of cases of well-authenticated dreams that are known to hare come out truth, or to have been precursors and signs of future events. , Many books have been written on the science of interpreting dreams, chiefly by tbe ancients, some in the Middle Ages, and at least one in our time. The latter is worth looking into. The interpretations seem very absurd, inasmuch as it is impossible to find any. connection in the majority of instances between the vision and the circumstances it is supposed to prefigure. With respect to some, however, the association is clearer. Thus we are told, and it is commonly accepted, that to dream of a horse—a white horse, according to certain authorities, bay f according to others—is a sign of speedy news. Here of course the affinity is dear enough. To dream of catching fish is an indication that money is coming; also self* evident, as the scales offish suggest silver, and the captnre of fish is something naturally associated with luck. Not so satis* factory is the doctrine that a funeral preshadows a wedding, and a wedding a funeral. The rule of contraries is, however, for some unknown reason, one of the strongest foundations of the whole mystio art. Thus one of the best possible draamt is that of being hanged, while to be crowned a king is held to be a sure sign of ruin. If there be any basis for. a belief in dreams at all it is extremely improbable that there can be formed ji.Qy >7>tem of interpretation that will apply. When certain occurrences of appearances took; place in sleep, which seems, from repotted

coincidence, to have a prophetic significance, the mass of evidence in the literature upon this subject rather demonstrates that the elucidation is of a special character, Jjnd applies only to the one individual. Charlotte Bronte, for instance, never dreamed of an infant that something unfortunate did not follow. The present writer has for many years had a special dream in the form of a regiment of soldiers inarching by, and it has seldom failed to be the apparent augury of something agreeable.. Of dreams which turned out exactly true there are many authentic stories. Alexander's death was foretold in a dream of Endemius, and the dream of Capurnia in which she saw Csesar killed is historic. I&arius and Sylla were both similarly warned, and Cyrus, according toXenophon, of the very hour. The vision of Socrates was very strange—a white lady came to him and quoted a certain line or Homer in the ninth book. There are modern instances cren more extraordinary.. Archbishop Land dreamed that in the moment of his greatest glory he should sink to perdition. The grandfather of the poet Goethe was confident that the latter would be elected Councillor, because he saw in sleep the person who had formerly filled the seat and died in it appear and offer the vacant place to Goethe. Goethe proved successful. The mother of Cardinal Bembo dreamed that she saw Giusto wound him in the hand. Later on they had an altercation, and that event took place. Of all the stories of dreams none are more extraordinary than those relating to the death of Villiers, the first Duke of Buckingham, and later of the wicked Lord Lyttelton. The Countess of Denbigh, sister of the Duke, dreamed that she was riding with him in a coach, when the people gave a loud cry, and she was told that it was a shout of joy at the dangerous illness of the Duke. She had scarcely related this dream when the Bishop of Ely came to tell her that her brother had been assassinated. Parker, an officer of the wardrobe to the King, had been an old favorite of Sir George Villiers, the father of the Duke of Buckingham. One night while Parker was asleep in Windsor Castle, he saw the figure of Sir George enter and approach his bedside. The old man entreated him to warn the Duke of the danger of following the counsels of certain persons and - inspiring the enmity of the people. This vision was repeated three times, and on the last risit the spectre drew a dagger from beneath the folds of his gown and said: " This will end my son, and you, Parker, also prepare for death." The dream was narrated to both the Duke and his mother, and when they parted for the last time at Whitehall, after he had been out on a day's hunting, the lady sank down in agony of tears. The prophecy was but too terribly and truly fulfilled.—? Baltimore Sunday News.