The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-06-03
Dreams and Dreaming.


Dreams generally occur when sleep is
unsound, and the phenomena give much
support to the theory Of Gall that the
brain consists ofseparate organs. "Whcn,"
says he, "ono organ is active, the dream is
simple; the object Of our love is embrac-
ed, harmonious music is heard, we fight
our enemies, according as one organ OF
another is performing it's functions" y
Dreams are supposed by many to be cx-
cited chiefly by the memory OF something
which has occurred short time previous
to falling asleep; but this is the exception
rather than rule. They consist more fire.
qucntly of the revival of old associations.
and not seldom of events which seem to
have been quite forgotten. One Of the
most remarkable things connected with
dreaming is the absence OF Judgment.
We converse with tho dead, and even
though VIC may know them to be dead,
this excites in us no surprise. Fear also
is generally absent. Another curious cir
cumstance is that space aud time have no
existence in dreams. 1t has happened to
most people to dream that they have
passed through some long period of days,
or even of years while they have been
only q short time asleep. But still more
curious is the fact that that some sudden
impression on the senscs-such as the
noise of shutting door or the entrance
of light into q room where person is
asleep, and by which he is awakenod--is
often the exciting cause of an elaborate
d, cam. There seem, indeed, to be many
things connected with our mental struc-
ture which arc as it were, analyzed and
dssected for US by the process OF dream
ing, could we but interpret them rightly.
A book might he filed with the account
of the so.called prophe,ic dreams which
have been published. Many otherwise
strong minded persons have been 90
struck by a dream of this kind as to give
entire credcncc to the connection between
it and the event which it foresliadow-
ded.
But it has always seemed to US that in
such cases one consideration has been en-
tirely overlooked. 1t is this: People
arc constantly experiencing remarkable
condolences such rs the unexpected meet
ing with persons Of whom they have been
at the time talking or thinking, or the
coincidence may be of such nature as to
make it important or valuable in connec-
ton with something about to be done or
not to be done. But it never occurs to
them that in such matter anything su-
pcrnatural has supcrvencd. Now, since
coincidcnts are by no means rare in tho
waking world, why should they be regar-
ded as rare in connection with the world
of dreams? Why. in other words, should
it be thought necessary in the one case to
attribute that to the supernatural which
ia accepted in accordance with the doc
trinc Of chances in the other case
Let it only be considered what thous-
ands of dreams arc nightly experienced,
and that out of these thousands consd-
erablc number have sufficient point to be
remembered afterward. Is it then sur
prising. considering what occurs in every.
day lie, if in IL few instances our dreams
scemcd TO be fulfilled? This without
question, is the truo explanation OF So
called prophetic dreams. Dreaming is
not peculiar to man. Horses neigh in
their sleep, and every one is familiar with
the angry growls as wen DIS I"o o''eo.i"'
bark whcl, proceed from the sleeping
dog. There can be no doubt That the
memory of incidents in dog life, such as
of the combat or Of the chase, are in such
cases present TO the ANNALS conscious.
ness. 49,,
Children dream almost from birth and
tbcv suffer more from trighitul dreams
thnn adults do Some of the dreams OF
childhood not unfrequentlv make impress
sions upon the mind which endure
throughout liic 1t has been supposed
tlat our dreams become less cXlravagant
and inconsistent as we grow older. This
seems true OH tho whole butat times the
most extraordinary dreams occur at ev-
cry period of life. Old people seem Ito to
unlike the young. the aged seldom speak
in their sleep.-People's magazine.