The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-07
The aMieFa Daily EAGLE Tuesday or,mg deubsr T.
GREAT MEMS ILLUSIONS.
DEAN SWIFT SAID ALL MEN ARE
MAD IN SOME DEGREE.


are more or less insane, differing only in
degree. Certainly those who are consid-
cred sane-in which category the gentle
reader is included-sre liable to halluci-
nations, and it depends upon the extent
to which we give way before, and believe
In, the illusions of the brain, whether we
walk abroad with our fOllies or are placed
In padded room.
Byron often received visits from
specter, but he knewit TO be a creation Of
the imagination. Pope saw an arm APP
parently come through the wall, and
made inquiries after its owner. Goethe
states that he one day saw the exact
counterpart Of himself coming toward
him. Ben Jonson spent the watches of
the night an interested spectator of a
crowd of Tartars, Turks and Roman
Catholics, who rose up and fought round
his arm chair TILL sunrise. DR.. Jonson
heard his mother call his name in clear
voice, though she was at the time in an
other city. And Sir Joshua Reynolds,
leaving his house, thought the lamps
were trees and the men and women
bushes agltated by the breeze.
VISIONS APPEARED.
Nicolai was alarmed at the appearance
of dead body which vanished and came
again at intervals. This was followed
by human faces, which came into the
room, and after gazing upon him for
while departed None of his friends
was among the faces he saw. After
enjoying q silent acquaintance with his
visitors for some weeks, they began 10
speak, and he describes their converse
ton as brief and agreeable. Such WISH
itors would cause many to lose their
reason, but Nicolai knew they were but
the effects of indigestion.
Bostock, the psychologist, saw similar
figures and faces, and after recovering
from a momentary surprise, he set him
self to study the habits and customs Of his
curious visitors. This he had ample OPP
portunity TO do, as they remained with
him three days and nights. There was
one human face constantly before him
for twenty-four hours, the features and
headgear as distinct as those of living
person, yet having no resemblance TO
any one he had ever known. Finally
the phantom disappeared, TO make way
for troops of little human figures, which
disported themselves like fanticcini for
his entertainment.
The reason, says Connolly, that Nico-
lai and Bostock did not become hopeless
ly insane was because they never believed
in the reality of the visions. The effects
of the illusions Of some men have been
felt in history. Religions have been
founded on the words of men supposed
TO have been inspired, but who were
merely suffering from form of madness
which medical science calls "ecstacy."
Oliver Cromwell, lying sleepless on his
couch, saw the curtains open and gigan-
tic woman appear, who told him he
would become the greatest man in Eng
land.
In 1908 Gen. Rapp, having important
news, entered the emperors apartment
unannounced, and found the great war
rior in rapt attitude, gazing ut the cell
ing. The general made an intentional
poise, whereupon Napoleon seised his
arm and said excitedly, Look up therel"
He looked and saw nothing. Why"
said the emperor, do you not see it? IL
is my star; it is before you besming; IL
has never deserted me. / see it on every
great occurrence urging me onward; 1T
is an unfailing omen Of success.
SPIRITS THAT INSPIRED.
Some men have been inspired to per-
severe in their Hfe's work by self con-
jured illusion. Loyola. lying wounded
during the siege of Pampeluna, saw the
Virgin, who encouraged him 10 prose-
cute his mission. Benyenuto Cellini, i'm
prisOned at Rome, resolved 10 free him
self by self destruction. but was deferred
by the apparition Of young woman Of
Tondrous beauty, whose reproaChes
turned him from his purpose. This
spirit returned and consoled him on
other occasions when he was low spirit
ed. Descartes was followed BY an IN
visible person whose voice he heard urg-
ing him TO continue his researches after
truth.
Many have fondly chung 70 their illu-
sions, and though reasonable IN most
things have at least been distinctly mad
in one. Tasso firmly believed that he
had familiar genius. whose great de-
light and chief recreation was 70 con-
verse with him. His friend, J. q. Man
so. tried 10 persuade him Of this illusion,
the poet offered 20 introduce
his unbelievlnS friend 70 the spirit But
though he often heard TassO IA CONVEX
sation with the imaginary being. II
never made itself visible 70 other eyes.
Few believe that Luther actually held
a warm discussion with an important
parsonage from the other world, yet that
he believed IL himself We have his word,
and ne has even left On record some &C
count Of tie dispute. from which u
would appear that MS opponent = not 20
willy a. We have been led 70 believe. At
any rate be could not wind himself srgu-
round the sturdy priest
Ravaillsc. while chanting tue Ms
ersre' and De Pr0fundls. fondly -
Heved that the sounds be emitted were
OF the nature and had the fall effect q q
trumpet. Count Emmanuel sweden borz
that he had the privilege q in
persols IN tre spirit world
Jean Engelo recAt Tas under = similar
zimmerman was for some
time in constant fear - an imaginary
enemy, whom he expected 70 aruvs At I
any moment, break into and wreck h.s I.
dwelling. London Standard
Ashamed Of fLslr OEE jest
On tie Ferr-b Il - sfre,- - sty