The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-09-08


most weird and original But it is not
concerning the dreaming that comes
with sleep that we have to do with now,
but it is the waking dream, the day
dream, the fancies that float thrc ugh the
mind while the hands are busy with
thousand duties, that we want to talk of
for moment.
Shakespeare esks:-
Tell me where is Fancy bred,
Or in the heart or in the head2'
Does it not seem that the leneings OF
the heart, unsatisfied as they often are,
give birth to the fancies of the head? And
are not women chiefly the dreamers while
men ale the schemers in this strange, va
ried life we lead? We read much of the
pleasures of imagination, and it is ques-
ton what thousands upon thousands of
women would do il the y could not build
air castles and crowd out stern realities
by beguiling fanciee, and cold, discour-
aging facts by pleasant dreaming. But
the question arises, is it wholesome, or
does it prove beneficial in any wsy-tb is
dwelling in fancy upon the unreal and
unlikely "supposings" of the imagination?
To answer one query with another, rs
long as the dreams with which the mind
is eased and beguiled are not harmful or
impure, are not human beings justified in
finding interest and enter tainme Mt in
dreaming as they mey?
Just here, however, comes up truth
involving a principle we'll worthy the
consideration of young people, and all
having the care Of the young devolving
upon them. In whatever direction the
mind is trained in early years, it will be
likely to follow out the same direction or
trend as years advance and the mind ma
lures. The Imagination of child is fed
by what it sees and hears. A little fur
Their on, reading and study come in to
help the observation and hearing. And
gradually all the surroundings and influ-
ences with viii j the child lie environed
go toward furnishing material for imRg-
nation and dreams. Right or wrong the
habit OF dreaming is inseparable from
teachings from the very beginning, the
better and more helpful will be the inev-
table dreams It is the season for
dreaming; nature lies in quiet, reposeful
mood. One can scarcely pause anywhere
without feeling the restful epell. Seduc-
tive dreams of journeys to far off lands,
of wanderlngs midst tropical scenes
"where every prospect pleases" come
stealing over the senses, bathing them in
half-unc onscious longing to fly familiar
scenes and feast the eyes on the sights
and sounds on which we have reveled in
books. To gaze on italian skies and Ro-
man sculpture; to look for ourselves on
the ruins OF the intricate, marvellous Al
hambra, and into lustrous Spanish eyes;
to wander to tar.off Jerusalem and visit
the sad slopes of Olyet; to fly in fact, in
stead of fancy, from one historic, stored
spot to another, the eyes photographing
never. to- be-forgotten scenes on the mem
ory-ab, for the taldllment of such
dreams!
The best and sweetest of all day
dreams rises one which increases in in
tensity and vividness as the years roll by
It seems that by nothing else is the i'm
agination fed to the same degree as by
what we read. And there is enc dear old
book full Of stories, which also are pict-
ures in themselves, and presented in such
a way, that, dream over them as we may,
they are always appearing in fresh, new
light The stories point to events sure
to occur in our own lives. There are
warnings for others which are as much
warnings for us. There are promises
which all through the ages have been the
one great supporting dream of all believ-
ers in its doctrines. Oar great Shakes
pesre says sgsin:-
I'VE are such stuff
AS dreams are made of, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep"
The stories OF this ancient book The
Book"-tell all about that "sleep" and
what lies beyond it. Oh that in our
dreaming of the hereafter, we could "dnd
surcease of Sorrow" panacea for the
ills of litel An old legend tells how Faith
and Hope were helping each other en-
dure to the end. When Faith grew weary
and asked Hope what was left for her to
exist upon, she said, "the hope of hesv-
en-" And Faith fell into the arms of
Hope and together they realized the fru-
ition of heaven. II dreaming of such
fruition ourselves. we can help others to
enjoy it too, it will prove indeed "time-
ly dreaming. "-Zion's Herald.