Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-06-27
WALKING IN THEIR SLEEP.
SOME REMARKABLE FREAKS OF
soMNAMBULISTS.
A German Who Writes Poetry i'm His
SIeep-CuriOus Case OF an Italian
NObIeman.

sOmuambullst-who on one occasion
arose from his sleep and wrote some
verses on a subject which he had vainly
wrestled with when awake.
"Are many such stories told of SOM
nambulists 2" asked an Atlanta ConstAH-
ton man of a well-known physician.
"There are, - was the reply. There iS
a case on record of man at Milledge-
vile who used to arise in his sleep and
90 out on the roof of his house and walk
along where it would have been utterly
impossible for him to have stood had he
been awake. I have heard of aman who
was accustomed to go down the steep
side of mountain to a-creek, undress,
and 90 in and take bath. He would
then come out, dress and return home,
all the time being wholly unconscious OF
what he was doing"
'What is somnambulism ~
az don't know. The somnambulist
seems to dream, and to have the power
to act that sleeping man has not.
Some of them relate as dreams what they
do when they take these night walks.
There is story told of ayoung nobleman
in the city of Brenstein who was sobserved
by his brother to rise in his sleep, put on
his cloak, and, having opened the case.
ment, to mount by the help of pulley
to the roof of the building. There he
was seen to tear in pieces amagpie's nest
and wrap the young birds in his cloak.
He returned to his apartment, having
placed his cloak by him with the birds
in it. In the morning he awoke and re-
lated the adventure as having occurred
in dream, and was greatly surprised
when he was led to thereof of the tower
and shown the demolished nest, as well
as the magpies concealed in his cloak
"Do somnambulists always go with
their eyes open"
''They usually do. I have noticed
that actresses who play Lady Macbeth
all accept that idea. Did you never see
woman in the sleep-walking scene in
Lady MacbethP"
The reporter remarked that he had
been quite Mortified on more than one
occasion as a pair of CLASSY eyes stared
vacantly over the footights.
''Those eyes in the real somnambulist
cannot see. They look, but they do not
see; they have ears, and hear not"
One of the most interesting cases is re-
ported by Muratori. Says he:
"Signor Augustin was an Italian noble
man, dark, thin, melancholy and cold
blooded, addicted to the study of the
abstract sciences. His attacks occurred
at the waning of the moon, and were
stronger in autumn and winter than in
summer. An eyewitness gives the fol-
lowing description of them:
"One evening toward the end of Octo-
Der we played at various games after
dinner. Signor Augustin took a part in
them along with the rest of the company,
and afterward retired to repose. At IL
o'clock his servant told us that his mas
ter would walk that night, and that we
might come and watch him. Iexamined
4 him after some time with candle In my
hand. He was lying upon his back, and
sleeping with open, staring, unmoved
eyes. We were told that this was
sure sign that he would walk
in his sleep. l felt his hands and
found them extremely cold, and his
pulse beat so slowly that his blood
seemed not to circulate. 1t was about
midnight when Signor Augustin drew
aside the bed curtains with violence,
arose, and put on his clothes. 1 went up
to him and held the light under his eyes.
He took no notice of it, although his
eyes were wide open and staring. He
fastened on his sword and warmed him
himself in an arm chair by the fire. He
went to his wardrobe, took out some
things got others disarranged, put them
in order again, locked the door, and put
the key in his pocket. He then went
into court and caught and bridled his
horse. He appeared confused when he
did not find the saddle in its accustomed
place, but finally mounted the horse and
rode to another side of the court and tied
his horse. From there he went into the
house and walked into a parlor, where
he played several airs on harpsichord.
After moving about for two hours he
went to his room and threw himself on
his bed, where he slept nine or ten hours.
The servants declared that they could
only put an end to his paroxysms by
tickling him under the soles of mis- feet,
or by blowing trumpet in his ears. "
Negretti was a servant about twenty
four years old. and sleep-walker from
his eleventh year, but his attacks only
occurred in March. He would arise in
his sleep, arrange the table, stand back
of his masters chair long enough to give
him time to eat, and then clear the cloth.
He would then lock up the house and ar
range for going to bed, and after doing
so would be awakened. He could re-
member nothing of his somnambulistic
actions. Hewould awaken when water was
thrown in his face, and would be faint and
stupid for some time. He acted from
force of habit, and if q door through
which he had passed was afterward shut he
would run against it when he returned.
If he carried a candle and a bottle was
substituted he would not know the diff
] ference. 1t is said of Negretta that he sat
down to eat bowl of salad which he
had prepared. 1t was taken from him
and some strongly seasoned cabbage put
in its place; but he ate without perceiv-
ing the difference He shifted ground
coffee in place of snuff, which he had
demanded. Other sleep-walkers have
been known to detect these deceptions.
In general, somnambulists do not hear
persons who talk aloud in their presence
A young priest used tc arise and write
his sermons in his sleep, reading them
aloud after doing so, and making cor
rections and interlineations with the
most remarkable accuracy, even correct
ing grammatical errors and incorrectly
spelled words. He also composed
music and wrote it while asleep, putting
in cleffs, sharps and flats.
Somnambulists have been known to fall
from dangerous heights, and even to be
killed on being awakened while taking
their sleen walks. The affliction is said