The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-05-22
STORIES OF DREAMS.
Extraordinary Vision Seers of
Ancient and Modern Times.

Until we know more about the con-
structon of the soul it will never be
possible for us to define the true nature
of dreams. There are many curious
theories about them in works of philos-
ophy, but none entitled after fair exam
nation to more credence than another.
Some writers hold that we dream con-
stantly during the whole period of sleep,
others that it is only within a minute or
two before waking. The latter notion
is, however, disproved by observation,
particularly of animals, dogs being per-
ceived to be in the act of dreaming
while in profound slumber, Dreams
have an especial interest for us because
so many have appeared to either fore
shadow the future exactly, or to give
sort of mystical intimation of it, the
connection between which and fact it
was possible to trace afterward. This
has still greater stress because of the
dreams which were indications of future
events described in so many places in
the scriptures 1t is distinctly stated in
one place that God would speak to his
prophets in a dream. The visions of
the Old Testament are most singular.
What are we to think of those of Pha-
raoh, and interpretations of Joseph,
and that of Nebuchadnezzar and its
meaning as propounded by DanielP
1t is often urged that there can be
nothing in dreams from the fact that,
although now and then one may prove
prophetic, in myriads of instances they
all, if it were possible to find only sim
gle coincidence-or, indeed, two or
three, or even half dozen-there might
be sound reason in such an argument;
but the truth is there are thousands OF
cases of well-authenticated dreams that
are known to have come out true, or to
have been precursors and signs of flu
ture events.
Many books have been written on the
science of interpreting dreams, chiefly
by the aRcients, some in the Middle
Ages and at least one in our time. The
latter is by Mr. Frank Seafield, and is
worth looking into. The interpretations
seem very absurd, inasmuch as it is i'm
possible to find any connection in the
majority of instances between the Wis
ion and the circumstances it is supposed
to prefgure. With respect to some
however, the association is clearer
Thus we are told, and it is commonly
accepted, that to dream of a horse-I
white horse according to some authori
ties. bay according to others-is a sigI
of speedy news. Here, of course, tn,
affinity is clear enough. To dream o
catching fish is an indication that none,
is comng-also self-evident. as thu
scales of fish suggest silver, and the cap
ture of fish is something naturally asSo
ciated with luck. Not so satisfactory
the doctrine that funeral foreshadow
wedding, and a wedding funeral
The rule of contraries is, however, TO
some unknown reason, one of tn
strongest foundations of the whole mys
tic art. Thus one of the best possibl
dreams is that of being hanged, Will
TO be crowned a king is held to be a sur
token of ruin. If there be any basis TO
a belief in dreams at all, it is eXtremel
improbable that there can be found an
system of Interpretation that will appl
generally. When certain occurrence
or appearances took place in sleeT
which seems, from repeated coinci
dence. to have prophetic significance
the mass of literature upon this subjeC
rather demonstrates that the elucids
ton is not of special character, an
applies only to the one individual
Charlotte Bronte, for instance, neve
dreamed of an infant that somethin
unfortunate did not follow. The preser
writer has for many years had speci;
dream in the form of a regiment of so
diers marching by, and it has seldol
failed to be the augury OF somethin
agreeable.
OF dreams which turned out exact