, 1882-05-12
PRESENTIMENTS.

PREsENTIMENTs.
AN INVESTIGATION OF THE CAUSES OF
THOSE FoREBODINGs WHICH
MAKE POWERFUL MEN
WEAK.
"GOlden Rule."l
Much apprehension has been occasioned
throughout America from the announce.
ment made by Professor Proctor that the
return In nineteen years OF the great
comet OF last summer will cause the
destruction OF the earth. But while
people are becoming so strangely exercised
over the annousscement, an event OF far
more serious Importance, which Is taking
place to-day, seems to be almost wholly
overlooked. The nature OF this most vital
subject can lie 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 till morning. His mind seemed
unusually active, and he not only reviewed
his past life, which had been an eventiul
one, but laid extensive plans for the
future. He did not feel especially III. but
could not account for the unusual activity
Va itio btaius uSE VIC ECoblCooilOSo "hiSil
seemed to possess him. In the morning he
had but little appetite, but was apparently
well in othe. 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 q gradual
sinking and wasting away OF all his
physical faculties. He had been an
earnest and diligent worker, and in his
zeal frequently 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 60 on unheeded.
But the end finally came In most
peremptory manner. Shortly before his
death he wrote letter--the last one he
ever indited-in which he speaks rs
follows. "A belief that death Is near
affects different minds differently. but
propably all who are in fair condition
of physical and mental strength instinct
lively shrink from it with an indefinable
dread and horror. A dying man Is no
more able OF himself to f0resee hls own
destiny or the destiny of those he leaves
than he was before he began to die.
The sad and sudden death of Hon.
Clarkson N. Potter is one OF the most
serious warnings ever given in the long
list OF innumerahle cases OF fatal neglect.
IL is not sftlclent to say that many other
brilliant men, Everett, Sumner, Chase,
Wood, Wilson and Carpenter, were swept
away by the same fatal trouble. The
question Is, were these men sufficiently
careful oil their health, and could they
have been saved? The Albany argus"
in speaking of Mr.. Potter's sudden illness
and death says:
'One OF the physicians who attended
Mr.. Potter here WAS interviewed last
evening. He stated that Mr.. Potter's
Inability To converse had Tor some time
served to battle the physicians In their
efforts to determine the root of his illness,
1t seems, however, that Mr. Potter, some
two years ago, suffered slight attack Of
kidney disease. Unwise dependence
upon robust constitution and naturally
perfect health. and neglect of proper,
clothing, doubtless sOwed the seeds OF
disease that needed but some such personal
neglect as thss OF Tuesday morning to
develop. From the symptoms at first
shown, IL was thought that his only trouble
was nervous prostration; but his long
continuance in semi-unconsciOus state
led to the belief that his illness was seated
In q chronic difficulty more mysterious
and dangerous.
Up to the latter part OF last year Mr..
Edward +. Rook, member of the New
York stock exchange, was doing business
la Wall Street, New York. He had
every thing TO encourage him, and make
life happy, but was the victim Of
unaccountable uneasiness. His experience
as described by one who knew was rs
follows: "At unexpected times, and OH
ocrasions when he had the greatest reason
to feel joyous he was irritable and
haunted with strange feelings of
discomfort. He endeavored TO check
these feelings and appear pleasant, but it
required great effort to do so; after
which lie would again relapse into
his former morbid mood. This feeling
continued ior number of months, when
he became conscious of an added
sensation of lasitude. lie was tired even
when resting, and although experiencing
no acute PAIN, had dull, aching sensations
In his limbs and various parts of his body.
shortly alterward his head began TO ache
most frequently and his stomach failed to
digest properly, Being told that he was
suffering from malaria he consulted an
eminent nhyclcian, who informed him
that his kidneys were slightly affected,
and gave him medicine to restore them.
But lie grew worse instead of better. He
then consulted other eminent doctors OF
another school and was Informed that he
had brain difficulty somewhat In the
nature OF the tumor, bnt In spite of all
efforts to the contrary he continued to
grow worse. AZ this time his condition
was terrible. What were at first simple
symptoms had developed to terrible
troubles. He was flushed and teyerish,
constantly uneasy, aud yet always weary
He had IN intense appetite one day and