The Mystery of Dreams.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1812, 16 February 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Mystery of Dreams.

SOME I'OPULIK SUrEKSriTIONS WHICH SEEM TO UK SU^TUNED Bi ACTUAL RESULTS. Until wo know more about the constitution of the boul it will never be possible for us to define the tiue natuie of dieams. There are many curious theories about them in worlw of philosophy, but none entitled after fair examination to moio ciedence than another. Some writers hold that we dieam constantly dining the whole period of sleep, others that it is only wiUun a minute or two before wakiiiL'. The latter notion is, however, disproved by observation, paiticularly of animals, dogs being peiceived to be in the act of dieaming while in piofound slumber. Dreams have an especial interest for us because so many have appeared to either foreshadow the future exactly, or to give a sort of mystical intimation ot it, the connection between which and fact it was possible to trace afterward. This has still greater stress because of the dreams which were indications of future events described in so many places in the Scriptures. It i 3 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 piophetic, 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 dozen— theie might be some leason in such an aigument. But the truth is there are thousands of cases of well-au-themcated dieams that are known to have come out tiuth, or to have been precursers and signs of futuie events. Many books have been written on the science of interpreting dreams, chiefly by the ancients, some in the Middle Ages, and at least one in our time. The latter is woith looking into. The interpretations seem very absurd, inasmuch as it is impossible to find any connection in the majonty of instances between the vision and the circumstances it is bupposed to prefigure. With respect to some, however, the association is clearer. Thus we are told, and it is commonly accepted, that to dieam of a horse — a white horse, according to certain authorities, bay, according to others — is a sign of speedy news. Here, of course, tho affinity ig clear enough. To dream of catching fish is an indication that money is coming ; also self evident, as the scales offish suggest silver, and the capture of fish is something naturally associated with luck. Not so satisfactory 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 mystic art. Thus one of the best possible dreams is that of being hanged, while to be crowned a king is held to be a suie sign of ruin. If there be any basis for a belief in dreams at all it is extremely improbable that there can be formed any system of interpretation that will apply. When certain occuuences of appearances took place in sleep, which seeing fiom repeated coincidence, to have a prophetic significance, the mass of evidence in the literature upon this subject rather demonstrates thattheelucidation is of a special chaiacter, and 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 foiin of a regiment of soldiers marching by, and it has seldom failed to be the appaient 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 Capumia in which she saw Cffisar killed is historic. Marius and Sylla were both similarly warned, and Cyrus, according to Xenophon, of the very hour. The vision of Socrates was very strange — a white lady came to him and quoted a certain line of Homer in the ninth book. There are modern instances even 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 formely 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 Lyttleton. 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 hal scuoely roLited this dream when the Bishop of Ely catno to tell her that her brother had been assassinated. Parker, an officer of th? wardrobe to the King, had beeu an old favorite of Sir Greorgo Yillfcrs, the father of the Duke of Buckingham. One night while Parker was asleep in Windsor Castle, he saw the figure of SirtrPorge enter and approach his bedside. The old man entreated him to warn the Duke of tho danger of following the counsels of certain persons and inspiring the enmity oE the people. This vision was repeated three times, and on the last visit the spector drew a dagger from beneath the folds of his gown and said : •' This will end my son, and you, Parker, also prepare for death.' 1 The dream was narrated to both the Duke and bis mother, and when they parted for the last time at Whitehall, after he had been out on a day's limiting, the lady sank down in agony of tears. The prophecy was but too terribly and truly fulfilled. — Baltimore Sunday News.