New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-06-09
A Singular Dream,

Some ninety years ago there aourished in Gias-
Cow, Scotland, a club Of young men, which, from
the extreme profigacy Of the members, and the
RIGHTEOUSNESS of their orgies, was called the He'll
Club. Beside their nightly or weekly meetings.,
they held one grand satnrnaiia, in which each
one tried to excel the other in drunkenness and
blasphemy; and on these occasions there was mo-
star among them whose lurid light was more CON
spicuous than that OF young Mr. Archibald b,
who, endowed with brilliant talents and hand
some person, had held out great promises III his
boyhood; and raised hopes which had been com
pletey frustrated by his subsequent reckless dispe
sition.
One morning, after returning from the annual
festival Mr.. Archibald B., having retired to
bed dreamed The following dream:
He fancied that he himself was mounted on .
favorite black horse that he always rode, and was
proceeding towards his own house then covntrT
seat embowered with trees, and forming part Of
the city-when stranger, whom the darkness Of
the night prevented his discerning suddenly seized
his horses reins, and said:
"You must 90 with me ~ IS
ssAnd who are you?'' exclaimed the young man,
with yolley Of oaths, while he struggled @ free
himself
sThat you will see by and by,n returned the
other, in tone That excited unaGcountable terror
in the youth, who plunged his spurs into the horse
attempting to fly, but in vain.
However fast the animal few, the stranger was
beside him, till at LENGTH in his desperate efforts
to escape, the rider was thrown; but instead Of
being dashed to the earth as he expected, he found
himself falling, falling still. II sinking in the
bowels OF Gne earlns 5
At length, a period being put to thia mysterious
descent. he found breath 70 inquire Of his compan-
ion, who was still beside him, whittier they were
going. @ 45s NJ s n. 81
ITO heilp. replied the stranger, and imme-
diately innumerable echoes repeated the fearful
1 s0und
/ AT length lighsappeared, which soon increased
to blaze; but instead Of the cries the groana and
lamentations which the terrified traveller expected,
nothing met his ear but the sounds OF nusic rirth
and jollity; and he found himself at the entrance
of superb building, far exceeding any he had
seen constructed by human hands. Within, toos
| what q scene No amusement OF pursuit of man
on earth but what was being there carried on
with q vengeance that excited his nnutterable
amazement. There the young and lovely still
| swarmed through the mazes of the giddy dance!
There the painting steed still bore the brutal
4 rider through the excitement nf the goaded race!
| There over the midnight bowl the Incorporate
| still drawled out the wantOn song of maudlin hlaa-
/ phemy! The gambler piled for even his endless
game. and the slaves of mammon toiled through
eternity their bitter task whilst all the magnif-
cenee of earth paled before that which now met
| his view. -. -
he soon perceived that he was among old ac-
i qnaintances, whom he knew to be dead, and each,
he observed, was pursuing the object, whatever i
| was, that had formerly engrossed him; when find
ing himself relieved from the presence Of his mn
| welcome conductor, he ventured TO address his
former friend, Mrs d., whom he saw sitting, as had
been her wont on EARTH absorbed at loo. requested
her to rest from the game and introduce him to
the pleasures of the place. which appeared to be
| very unlike what he had expected, and, indeed, q
i very agreeable one. Bat with the cry of agony,
she answered that there was no rest in he'll that
i they must ever toll on at those very pleasures !;
and innumerable voices echoed through the inter.
| minable vaults:
"There is no rest in hell ~ while, throwing open
their vests, each disclosed in the bosom an ever
burning flame. These, they said, were the plea
sures Of hell; their choice on earth was now their
i irreyocable doom.
/ In the midst of the horror this scena inspired,
his conductor returned, and, OF his earnest en-
treaty restored him again 60 earth but as he qnit
ted him he said, Remember, in 9 year and day
we meet again"
At this crisis Of his dream the sleeper awoke,
feyersh and ILL and whether from the effect Of the
dream or Of his preceding orgies he was SO anWell
as to be Obliged to keep his bed for several days,
during which period he had time for many serious
reflections. which Terminated in resolution to
abandon the club and his icentious companions
altogether.
Hewas no sooner well however, than they focked
around him, bent on recovering so valuabie menl-
! her OF their society; and having wrung from him
confession of the Of his detection, which, as
it may be supposed, they soon contrived 10 make
him ashamed Of his good resolution. he Joined
them again, and resumed his former course Of life
and when the annual saturnaia came around he
found himself with his glass in his hand at the
table; when the President arising TO make the &C
cnstomed speech began with saying, Gentlemen
this being leap year, it is Q year and day since
our last anniversary, I, etc. The words struck upon
the young mans ear like . knell but ashamed to
expose his weakness TO the jeers OF his comrades
he sat ont for the feast, plying himself with wine
even more literally than usual in order to drown
his intrusive thoughts till in the gloom of win
ter's morning he mounted his horse to ride home.
Some hours afterward the horse was found with n
road side, about halfway between the city and
B-,s house, whilst few yards of lay the corpse
. | of lns master.
n stances happened as here related. An account Of
n il was pubished at the time, but the copies were
!, bought up by the family. Two or three, however,
b we're preserved, and the narrative was reprinted.
CHANGING ABour-We all know the old British
boast-Britannia rules the waves-hut taking into