Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-09-10
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY MORNING, sxrrEusxR 10, 1859
INSTINCT OF PRESENTIMENT.

INSTINCT OF PRESENTIMENT.
In Schubert's Spiegct der Ndtnr mirror
OF Nature) the author relates in his chapter
on instinct. the following facts as proofs Of u
certain divine impulse in men:
~ gentleman, an acquaintance OF the Gel
ebrated 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,
whom his sister, deaf mute, came sudden
" and most anxiously running along, and
seizing her brothers arm and coat tried to
keen him back; but finding this unavailable
she threw herself at his feet, and taking hold
of his knees expressed, by the most iinplor-
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. TWAS fortunate he did 80, for the
boat had gone but a short distance on the ri
YER when sudden gust Of wind made it cap
size. Several Of the company found q wa
terry grave, and he, who could not even swim,
would, no ioubt have met with the same fate,
if his sister, by some divine presentimeat,
had not prevented his going
''Once on an evening rich and benign
farmer felt, by some secret impulse. impell-
ed to send at late hour some articles Of
food to poor family in the neighborhood.-
Wherefore so late; cannot this be done a
well tomorrow said those around him.
no. replied he, it must be done now -
While insisting, the worthy farmer did not
know what blessing his benevolent action
was just then to the tenants Of the poor hut.
for there the father-he who had to nourish
and sustain the family-had fallen sick; the
mother was infrm already, and the chill
dren 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 removed, 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 impulse led him out Of tho
back gate of his garden into the fields, where
he arrived just in time to save the life Of a
miner, who in climbing up ladder, missed
his footing and fell down the shaft into coal
tub, which his son was at that time wipdingup,
but by the increased weight was unable to do
50 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 a 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 ven
cradle gentleman could not resist his
secret impulse. So he went, and, strange
to say, arrived there Just in time to prevent
his friend from taking his own life. The
nightly visit and friendly exhortations had
such wholesome effect on the depressed
spirits of his friend, that he never again at
tempted to commit suicide.
"Prof. Buchner, at Marburgh, being once
in very pleasant company, felt strong de-
sire to 60 home and remove his bed from its
old place to another corner of his bedroom.
lie yielded to the impulse. Having done 80,
he felt again at ease, and went back to his
friends. Daring the night large portion of
the ceiling in the room, just at the spot where
his bed formerly stood, crumbled down, and
would no doubt have crushed him to death
had it not been removed from there"