The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-05-22


Calphurnia, in which she saw Caesar
killed, is historic. Marius and Sylla
were both similarly warned, and Cyrus,
according to Xenophon, of the very
hour. The vision of Socrates was very
strange. Awhile lady came to him and
quoted certain line of Homer in the
ninth book. There are modern instances
even more extraordinary.
Archbishop Land dreamed that in the |
moment of his greatest glory he should |
sink to perdition. The grandfather of
the poet Goethe was confident that the
latter would be elected Counselor of
Frankfort, because he saw in sleep the
person who had formerly filled the seat
and died in it appear and offer the va
cant place to Goethe. Goethe proved
successful. The mother of Cardinal
Bembo dreamed she saw Ginsto wound
him in the hand. Later on they had
an alteration, and that event took
place.
OF all the stories of dreams none are
more extraordinary than those relating
to the death of Villiers, the first Duke
of Buckingham, and later, of the wicked
Lord Lyttleton. The Countess of Dem
bigh, sister of the Duke, dreamed that
she was riding with him in a coach
when the people gave loud cry, and
she was told it was shout of Joy at the
dangerous illness of the Duke. She
had scarcely related this dream when
the Bishop of Ely came to tell her that
her brother had been assassinated
Parker, an officer of the wardrobe of
the King, had been an old favOrite of
Sir George Villiers, the father of the
Duke of Buckingham. One night while
Parker was asleep in Windsor Castle,
he saw the figure of Sir George enter
and approach his bedside. The old man
entreated him to warn the Duke of the
danger of following the cOunsels of GER
tain persons and inspiring the enmity
of the people. This vision was repeated
three times, and on the last visit the
specter drew dagger from beneath the
folds of his gown, and said: This VII
end my son, and do you Parker also
prepare for death. The dream was
narrated to both the Duke and his
mother, and when they parted for the
last time at WHITEHALL after he had
been out upon a days hunting, the lady
sank in an agony of tears. The proph-
ecy was but too terribly and truly full
filled. .
In New York there is an association
called the "Thirteen Club" which has
for its purpose the combating of popular
superstitions. Among the number are
some of the most distinguished men of
State, including eX-Presdent Arthur and
Mr.. Conklng. Every thing relating to
the club has some connection or sugges-
ton with the number -. The member
ship is restricted to - times -. At the
dinners each table accommodates but
10 persons; there are exactly 13 courses,
and so on all through. AT one of their
meetingsres lutions were adopted, copies
of which have been sent to the Cover
nors of the different States, expressive
of the sentiment that the odium attached
to Friday as an unlucky day and ''hang-
man day. is unmerited, and suggest
ing that other days as well as Friday
should be selected for the hanging of
murderers.
Although the combating of supersti.
ton appears the excuse for being of this
q club and social intercourse is suggested
as its true purpose, there is no doubt
q that belief in omens, dreams and gooC
y and bad luck is very widespread, anC
; even among the most Intelligent impress
p sions of this character are more or less
I strong, according to the spiritual organ
=. ization of the individual They are in
f nate, having existed, as we known
+ among all races as far back as records
q 90. They are not confined to any par
! ticular national type, although they APP
pear to have been modified by circum
g stances, such as locality, habits anC
V climate. Everywhere, in one form o
q another, has been recognized or en-
@ ployed some principle of divination
s The origin can only have been from
IS the speedy perception of occult sym
l. pathy pervading all things in nature
q Wilson points out that this must hav,
:. been the foundation of the system o
d horary questions in astroiogy, wherein
4. the stars are held to act as symbols, an
r, of this kind of sympathy between tn
Y various parts of matter he suggests a
a examples the connection between tn
i magnet and iron, between water an
n luminaries, the child and the parent; tn
10 marks on children before birth produce
If by the mothers wants or fears; the colo
" of fruit increasing or diminishing a
,e the fruit is in or out of season; the tul
D. bulence of wine at the vintage time
D. and many other instances.
is No people have been so celebrate
vs. for these beliefs or superstitions as tn
i. Romans, with whom they are in fact,
Or part of their religion. With them ever
lie unusual occurrence had hidden NEAR
s. ing, and was believed to symbolic som
lie approaching event In this they saw
lie providence furnishing them a guide j
re advance, something nearly correspond
Or ing to the mysterious faculty of il
ly stinct in the lower animals. Indoe
~ those very animals sometimes becom
ly oracular. BY natural degrees rose tn
es class supposed to be specially skilled