The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-01
WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF.
Some Interesting Experiments That
Prove Thay Go by Contraries.


Prove Thay Go by Contraries.
From the Argosy.
From time immemorial, dreams have
been the wonderland of waking hours.
Hope and fear have wrought them into
their own fabric. Superstition has seized
upon them and worked up curious ritual
of dreams that go by contrarieS," of
dreams of the morning light" OF dreams
with signif1cances, some of which seem
natural enough, while to few of those APP
parently most arbitrary, science herself has
offered a certain amount of explanation.
Dreaming is an experience which may be
called common to humanity, though it
varies so widely in different individuals
that, in few exceptional cases, IL Is abso-
lutely unknown. A French Dhysiologist
caused many curious experiments to be
made on himself during sleep. These ex-
periments took the form of trltilng physical
sensations, which produced almost lnvarla-
bly, wonderfully exaggerated effect ~ the
sleeping mind. Thus a feather tickling the
lips was converted into the horrible punish
ment of mask of pitch being applied to
the face. A bottle of eau de cologne held
to his nose sent him into a dream OF per-
tuners shop in Cairo. A pinch on the neck
recalled the days of his boyhood aGd the old
family physician applying blister to that
region. Scientific writers admit that there
is type of dream in which coming physi-
cal disease or disaster is allowed forth
some bodily sensation perhaps too slight to
be noticed by the subject when awake, yet
contriving to impress telf in some SYM
bolc form on the sleeping mind. The more
striki g instances of this sort may serve to
explain how, in some lesser degree, certain
| symbols are likely to attach them elves to
certain painful sensations or conditions,
until they are finally accepted as mysterious
| presageS of evil.
Conrad Gesner, the eminent naturalist,
| dreamed that he was bitten on the left side
| by venomous serpent. In short time a
severe carbuncle appeared on the very spot,
terminating his lie in the space of three
| days. 1t is most singular fact that under
certain combined conditions of fatigue, dis
| comfort and malaria, VIII lie bodies Of men
such as companies of sOldiers--have been
seized by the same terrific dream, and have
awakened simultaneously, shrieking with
| terror. Such an insta CO is related by
Laurent, when after forced march, S0l
| French soldiers were packed in a ruined
Calabrian monastery which could i'll ac-
commodate half that number. At midnight
| frightful cries issued from every corr er OF
| the building as frightened men rushed from
it, each declaring that it was the abode Of
| the evil one-that they had seen him, in the
! form of big black dog, who threw himself
| upon their breasts for an instant and then
disappeared. The men were persuaded JC
return to the same shelter on the next
night, their officers promising to keep watch
| beside them. Shortly after midnight tue
| same scene was re-enacted-the same cries
! the same flight, as the soldiers rushed forth
| in body to escape the sutfocsti embrace
of the black dog. The wakeful officers had
seen nothing.