The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-09-12
Sleep-Walkers' Freaks.

4 BOUT ten years ago several young
IN men boarded together and kept
bachelors hall. One of their number
was young artist of extraordinary
genius. One day he had on his easel the
outlines and first touches of large pic
ture of dear friend (his mother, l be-
lieve), and it occupied his whole time and
attention
On returning on the evening of this
day spoken of, his thoughts were full of
this painting, but he soon fell asleep
About midnight his ellow-boarders were
disturbed by noise on his part. The
light burning dimly, they observed that
he was arising in his sleep, and they eau
tiously watched his movements Getting
up, he proceeded imme ediately to his easel,
sat down, mixed his colors, and began to
paint.
Here his friends got around him and
noticed his eyes were open, though he
neither saw them nor other objects in the
ROOM But the most remarkable thing
was that he painted as well Or even bet
ter than he did when awake. Not one
touch was out of place, and the shading
and mixing Of his paint was unexception-
al. He finished his picture and retired,
and, of course, on his awaking in the
morning, he was astounded In this
circumstance, as you will see, neither a
part of his hearing or sight was used
Another remarkable incident is as fol-
lows: Several young men were board
] pth Z
was the duty of one to rise early and pre-
pare breakfast. One of the party was a
notorious sleep walker, and several morn
ings arose about three or four o'clock,
built the fire, cooked breakfast, and did
several necessary things-and all this
time was asleep!
He would then go back to bed again,
and would again arise at the proper time
to prepare the breakfast, as he thought,
and 10 and behold he would find it already
cooked and cold OF course this soon
caused a good deal of trouble, but the
only way it was stopped was by one of the
others arising about that time every
morning. with the help of an alarm clock,
to send him back to bed again.
Another circumstance that am ac-
quainted with is more remarkable and
wonderful than the two preceding A
farmer had a boy under his care who was
a great night walker, and performed the
most incredible deeds. Near the farm
er's house was large stream, and on this
day in question, it had risen to terrible
height, overAowing its banks and carry
ing away every bridge or anything in its
grasp.
Toward night it began to rain, the
wind was high, and altogether, the night
had most dreary aspect; but in the mid
die of this dark and stormy night this
boy arose-in his sleep-put his clothes
on, and found his way out of the
house, went to the barn, unhitched the
horse, got on his back, and amid the
rain and wind drove down to the stream !;
this he forded, and the water reached up
to both the horses and boys neck but he
did not awake.
Arriving on the other side, he pursued
his way for long distance in the woods,
turned around, came back again, crossed
the stream, put his horse in the barn and
went up stairs, woke up just as he was
pulling off his wet and muddy clothes !;
and the way it was found out was on ac-
count of the dirtiness of the horse, and
the tracks discovered, and, of course, as
the boy had been up to those night
walkings" before, it was finally decided it
was him. A somnanbulist is generally a
a very sensitive person, and one who is
particularly nervous.