The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-06-02
SOMNAMBULISM FXTRAOR-
BINARY.
A "reminiscences of Ike Late sol Smith.
BY COI.LEY CIBBER.

"Those who are subject to solnnam-
bulism seldom, if ever, retain any re-
collections Of the objects of their per-
Fceptions while under the influence OF
this disorder. [Stewart on 1.-The
Mind Vol. l.
Connected with this gentlemen,
whose recent death caused SO much
regret among his numerous friends,
is one Of those remarkable phenon-
ena OF the human mind which not
unfrequently startle us as being be.
You'd reason OF philosophy to explain.
The writer of this became acquainted
with Sol Smith in the year 1882; in
the city Of New Orleans; That ac-
qnaintance ripened into friendship,
and continued until the day of his
death. That he thought of the wri-
ter of this "reminiscences when he com
piled his last interesting work, en-
titled, Theatrical Management in
the West apd South" Harper &
Brothers. 1868, is evidenced in that
book, page $50. Sol Smith reinem-
bered his friends and forgave his
enemies, Christian trait whiGh went
down with him to the grave and
buoyed him up above it, In his last
will and testament. bearing date a
short time before his death, I find
these remarkable words.
II request that no one will wear
mourning for me, as I expect to go
Immediately into a world Of happ;-
ness, at which my friends should re-
joice. "
Some fifteen years ago, when we
were alone in his room in New Or
learns clearinghouse, dingy, dark
and gio.sfsy us the fay was, he told
me the following strange event in his
life. was, as I may say, under the
seal of confession, for was not tc
mention it until after his death, in
case ] survived him. Sol was a som.
llanlbuiist. His attacks of this strange
disorder or nocturnal mystery were
more of o periodical character than
of nightly occurrence. He ha6
consulted physicians. Indian doctors
old women, "diyiners," spiritua1ists
and all other authorized and unau
thorized quacks, but without success
He had studied the case himself
s''somnia P:,tl,agored, to find the result
the same.
! There is no doubt that clos
affinity exists between dreams anf
somnambulism. Is not the one TIN
result of the other? The difference
is thus drawn by Dr.: Franklin, who
speaking of dreams, says:
"That the bearings and issue O
political events WHICH had puzzles
him when awake were not unfre
quently unfolded to him in dreams.
In the one the man dreams and re
allies when he awakes, while the act
of the other are entirely erased fror
memory.
/ am not writing an essay ON som
nambulism, as the subject is too dee
and metaphysical for me, butthe fol
lowing extract from Bishop Porteu
sermons 1881 sums up the peculiar
ties of the disorder in 50 few word
that I think they apply immediatel
| to the cases of those SO afflicted
s'The somnambulist directs himse
with tlnerring certainty through til
most intricate windings, and over I'll
most dangerous precipices, and witt
out any apparent assistance from IL
organs of sense, has been known
read, write and compose.
Although I have stated that IL
communicating made by me by M
Smith was strictly confidential, it WI
limited to his lifetime only, and 1 W.
at perfect liberty to publish it aft
his death. I do not say that w
the only one to whom he commune
!, ted this strange occurrence; but as
never heard of of it through a,
other source, I presume he had nc
c One reason he assigned for not givi,
it publicity, was that he general
would have termed it one Of Sc
Smiths yarns" True, they migl
I VIII relate the circumstance as
told it, using the colloquial porti
in his own language, or as nearly
;: my memory will carry me.
ri It was q small town in the State
q Georgia; where Sol was well know
e he having on several occasions Civ
concerts there. that he found hims