Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-09-20
Instinct of Presentiment.

| In Schubert's Spiegel der Natur mirror of
Nature) the author relates in his chapter on in
stinct, the following facts as proofs of certain
divine impulse in men:
ga gentleman, au acquaintance of the cele-
brated French authoress, Nine. Beaumont, was
about making pleasure trip on the river with
party of friends Everything was ready, and he
was just entering the boat, when his sister, a
deaf mute, came suddenly and most anxiousy
running along, and selzing her brother's arm and
coat tried TO keep him back; but finding this
unavailable she threw herseli at his feet, and ia
king hold of his knees expressed, by the most
imporing gestures, he- wish that he should de-
sist from going on the water Touched by the
painful, entreating expression in the face and
posture of the deaf mute, several persons Joined
in the prayer of the poor unfortunate girl, and
her brother finally yielded to their wishes. 1t
was fortunate he did so, for the boat had gone
but short distance on the river when sudden
gust of wind made it oapsize. Several of the
company found watery grave, and he, who
could not even swim, would, no doubt, have met
with the same fate, II his sister, by some divine
presentiment, had not prevented his going.
"Once on an evening rich and benign farmer
felt, by secret impulse, impelled TO send at
late hour some articles of food to a. poor fami-
y in the Deghborhood. Wherefore SO late
cannot this be done as we'll tomorrow said
those around him. No. replied he, lit must be
done now.' While insisting the worthy farmer
did not know what blessing his benevolent ac-
ton was just then to the tenants of the poor hut,
for there the tather-he who had to nourish and
sustain the tamily--had fallen sick the mother
was infirm already, and the children had been
crying for bread for more than two days-the
youngest of whom was nearly dead from hunger.
Thus their most pressing wants were at once re-
moved, and perhaps some lives saved.
"Another gentleman, living near some coal
mines in Silesia, awoke one night from his sleep
with an irresistible impulse to go down in his
garden. He rose and went down; the same i'm
pulse led him out of the back gate of his garden
into the fields where he arrived just in time to
save the life of miner, who, in climbing up
ladder, missed his footing and tell down the
shaft into coal tub, which his son was at that
time winding up, but by the increased weight
was unable to do so now alone.
"a venerable clergyman in England once felt,
likewise, an unexpected desire to pay, late at
night, visit to friend of his, whom he knew
to be of very melancholy turn of mind
Though extremely tired by the cares and labor
of the day. and though the distance to his friends
house was very great, the venerable gentleman
could not resist his secret impulse. So be went,
and strange to say, arrived there just in time to
prevent his friend from taking his own life
Tie nightly visit and friendly exhortations had
such wholesome effect on the depressed spirits
of his friend, that he never agair attempted to
commit suicide.
"Prof Buchner, at Marburgl, being once in
very pleasant company, felt a strong desire to
go home and and remove his bed from its old
place to another corner of his bedroom. He
yielded to the impulse. Having done SO, he felt
again at ease, and went back to his frieDds.-
During the night large portion of the ceiling
in the room, just at the spot where his bed for
merly stood crumbled down, and would no doubt
have crushed him to death had il not been re-
moved from there"