The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-07-26
Dreams.

Dreams.
We have been accustomed to con-
slider the myth-creating power of the
human mind as one especially belong
ing to the earlier stages of growth of
society and of the individual. 1t will
throw, I think, a rather curious light
on the subject, if we discover that
this instinct exists in every one of us,
and exerts itself with more or less
energy through the whole Of our
lives. In hours of waking conscious
ness, indeed, it is suppressed, or has
only the narrowest range Of exercise,
as in the tendency, noticeable in all
persons not of the very strictest We
racity, to supplement an incomplete
anecdote with explanatory incidents,
or throw slightly known story into
the dramatic form, with dialogues
constructed out of our own conscious
ness. But such small play Of the
myth-making faculty is nothing COM
pared to it's achieveme during
sleep. The instant that daylight and
common sense are excluded the fairy
work begins. At the very least, half
of our dreams (unless I greatly err
are nothing else than myths formed
by the unconscious celebration on
the same approved principles, where
by Greece and India and Scandina-
via gave to US the stories which we
were once pleased to set apart as
mythology" proper. Have we not
here, then, evidence that there is a
real law Of the human mind causing
us constantly to compose ingenious
fables explanatory of tie plleuoonnao
around us, law which only sinks in
to allegiance in the waking hours OF
persons in whom the reason has been
highly cultivated, and which resumes
its sway even over their well-tutored
brains when they sleep p Macmil-
lan's Magazine.
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ABOUT HoME.-A change has
come over the weather, during the
past five days. The extremely hot
and oppressive term has departed
and pleasant, bearable weather
with an occasional shower, has
been eur portion. The cotton crop
of the Parish has improved very
much, under this favorable wealth
er, and now good hopes of a toler-
able crop are entertained. But
again the dreaded scourge have
made their appearance in several
localities. The catapillars are here
sure enough, and though a month
behind last year, may yet do us
considerable harm. The cane, also
has improved a little, with some
hopes of a respectable yield. The
corn crop is gone beyond redemp.
ton, and may be called total fail
IRE.
Captain Graham's new ferry
boat, the Ariail, is rapidly ap
preaching completion; he promi
Geo to have hcr reauy Tor acUlon Dy
the 10Th Of next month. We wish
him success.
There was another negro killed
on Saturday night. We have been
unable to learn any of the particu
lars.
--o~-~-..-As-..-~<--~~~~-
New YoRK AS IT Is.-According tc
the most accurate calculations that
can be made, the meat bill OF New
York city for the last year was $780,.
100000 and the liquor bill s,0OO,.
600. Ice cost the city $2,5OO,OOO 6
year; and 100000 are expended in
theatrical and other amusements. OF
the 1858 children between the
ages of five and fifteen, 1880 are il
the Catholic schools. The statement
has been made that the saloons Of
the city, if placed in line, would ex.
tend on both sides of Broadway from
4lo H.