Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-03-27
nF SUCH STUFF DREAMS ARE MADE.

Dreams have in all ages presented to man a
subject Of curious and interesting investiga-
tion. Perhaps no other phenomena have at
called forth so much metaphysical aeumen.
Whether they are produced wholly by natural
OF supernatural causes, OR are the result of
both causes combined, questions which
have divided alike the learned and the illite-
rate, the philosopher and the boor. The In
serno of Dante and the Paradise of Mahommed
hare each opened to the gaze of the sleeper.
Terrible conceits which cause the hair TO stand
on end. the cheek to pale, the eyes to start
from their sockets and the body become para
Iized with dread-elysian scenes on which the
-beholder looks with the most soothing and
pleasurable emotons-or disjointed and fam
tastic images, such as eye bath not seen nor
hath il entered into the heart Of man to con-
ceive, and which outvie the most grotesque
conceptions of the ancients, in turn present
themselves in dreams. Time and space are
ignored, the laws Of motion and matter are
disregarded and the vagaries Of the dreamer
are bound by no rules. A day, year, or e.
ven a century may be crowded into moment.
The dead and the living, the past and the
present, the distant and the near, the true and
the false, without seeming incongruity are
grouped in a tableau. Without intending to
deny that some dreams were the result of su-
pernatural agency, we declare our belief that
they generally proceed from natural causes,
and then they are frequently recollections of
scenes, incidents and thoughts of waking mo-
ments so vividly brought out, and SO strange
ly combined, that they lose their identity and
appear new TO the dreamer. Dreams of this
character are tinctured with, if not induced
by strong emotions which weighed upon the
sleeper when awake. For the edification or
amusement of others, some striking dreams
have been related or published. The most re-
markable one which has fallen under our OBJ
seryation was that of the editor of the Clear
field Republican, which he published last week.
Some time since, it may be remem bered, we
propounded few questions to the editor,
which he dubbed Grows Catechism.' The
junta had several meetings, and various were
the answers suggested, but satisfactory ones
could not be framed. We had forgotten the
circumstance, but not so the editor. Rows
Catechism stuck to him like an incubus. In
the night watches, when others enjoyed sweet
slumber, he felt that he must throw off the
weight He thought, SO he dreamed, that
q he was in his sanctum surrounded by his couu-
sellors, and there replies were framed which
would silence US forever, and so strongly was
he impressed with the reality OF his dream
that it was incorporated in his last paper. We
have been amused when friends related to us
their adventures with goblins and spectres
dire in dream-land We could not repress a
smile when others have spoken of the absurd
or surprising parts they have enacted, but we
laughed until our sides ached when we read the
EDITORS dream. II was evidently repetition
of some of the sayings of the junta-but such
jumble-history, biography, geography, ply
sizes and metaphys ysics theology, ethnology,
political economy law, moral and divine-all
thrown together with as much order as lot of
printers pie. A regard for the health of our
readers alone prevents us reprinting the arti-
Gle, for We would like them to know the length
and the breadth and the depth thereof. They
could then appreciate i,s author-they will
look on him
And they gaze. apace their wonder grows,
That one small head can carry all he knows