St. Landry democrat., 1882-05-13
PRESENTIMENTS.
AN Investigation of the Causes of Those
Dark Forebodings which Make
Powerful Men Weak.
GnIIsn P,le


Much apprehension has been occasioned
throughout America from the announcement
made by Professor Proctor that the return in
nineteen years of the great comet of last sum-
mer will cause the destruction of the earth.
But while people are becoming so strangely
exercised over this announcement, an event OF
far more serious Importance, which is taking
place to-day, seems to be almost wholly over
looked. the nature Of this most vital subject
can be best explained by relating the following
experiences:
bishop E. O. Haven, known to the entire
land, was unaccountably awakened one night
out of sound sleep, and lay awake until
morning. His mind seemed unusually active,
and he not only reviewed his past life, which
had been an eventful one, but laid extensive
plans for the future. He did not feel especial
ly ILL., but could not account for the unusual
activity of his brain, nor for the restlessness
which seemed to possess him. In the morn
ing he had but little appetite, but was appa-
rently well in other respects. In few days,
however, he began to feel restless and morbid,
although he tried earnestly to overcome the
feeling which had taken possession Of him.
But try as he would the shadow of some evil
seemed to follow him, and he was conscious
of gradual sinking and wasting away Of all
his physical faculties. He had been an earnest
aud diligent worker, and in his zeal frequent
ly over-taxed his strength, and being absorbed
in his duties failed to observe the common
symptoms with which he was afflicted, thus
permitting the work of destruction to go on
unheeded. But the end finally came in a most
peremptory manner. Shortly before his death
he wrote a letter-the last one he ever indited
lin which be speaks as follows "A belief
that death is near affects different minds diff
ferently, but probably all who are in fair con-
dition of physical and mental strength instinct
lively shrink from It with an indetinable dread
and horror. A dying man is no more able OF
himself to foresee his own destiny or the des-
tiny of those he leaves than he was before he
began to die.''
The recent sad and sudden death of Hon.
Clarkson N. Potter is one of the most. serious
warnings ever given in the long list Of innu-
merable cases OF fatal neglect. 1t is not suf-
icient to say that many other brilliant men,
including Everett, Sumner, Chase, Wood, VIII
son and Carpenter, were swept away by the
same fatal trouble. The question: is, were these
men sufficiently careful OF their health, and
could they have been saveda The Albany Ar-
gus, in speaking of Mr.. Potter's sudden illness
and death, says:
Zone of the physicians who attended Mr..
Potter here was interviewed last evening He
stated that Mr.. Potter's inability to converse
had for some time served to battle the ply
sicians In their efforts to determine the root
Of his illness. It seems, however, that Mr..
Potter, some two years ago, suffered slight
attack OF kinney disease UnWise depend
ence upon robust constitution and naturally
perfect health, and neglect of proper cloth
ing, doubtless sowed the seeds of disease
that needed but some such personal neglect
as that of Tuesday morning to develop. From
the symptoms at first shown, it was thought
that his only trouble was nervous prostration;
but his long continuance in a semiuncon-
scious state led to the belief that his Illness
was seated in chronic difficulty more mystic
rious and dangerous
Up to the latter part of last year Mr.. Ed
ward T. Rock, member of the New York
stock exchange, was doing business in Wall
street, New York. He had everything to en-
courage him, and make life happy, but was
the victim Of unaccountable uneasiness. His
experience as described by one who knew,
was as follows AT unexpected times, and
on occasions when he had the greatest reason
to feel joyous he was irritable and haunted
with strange feelings Of discomfort. He en-
deayored to check these feelings and appear
pleasant, but it required great effort to do
so; after which he would again relapse into
his former morbid mood. This feeling con-
sinued for number of months, when he
became conscious OF an added sense Of