The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-07
A STRANG DREAM.
How a Painter Was Rescued From
a Life of Dissipation.

me recent death OF Charley Rivers, the
Wldely-known painter of this city, has re-
ylyed the story OF remarkable dream of
MS that USED 10 be current among his init
mate 1rlends. FOR many years in his life
Rivers was given to habits of conyivialitv
and often drank too much. Upon these oc-
casions the kindly attentions which he usu.
ally paid to his wife was changed to rude
ness of behavior that shocked her relations.
Her father, writes Fort Wayne Qnd.) cor
respondent to the Globe-Democrat of ST.
Louis, especially keenly resented the harsh
treatment that his daughter was forced to
endure, and often threaten ed that he would
bring about legal separation of the pair.
When the old gentleman was seized with
his last illness Rivers conduct became more
reprehensible. One day that ne spent in
Chicago was so given up TO carousing that
in the evening, when he boarded the train
on the Pittsbug. Fort Wayne and Chicago
Railway for Il llVe hours ride home, he was
very much under the influence OF liquor.
As he used to tell the story himself he at
once fell into troubled sleep and in a Wis
ion became the unwilling companion of his
aged father-in-law As he first saw the old
man he seemed to be in an anxious frame of
mind, brckoned TO him in a worried way and
would not be satisfied until his Son-in-law
Signifed his willingness to accompany him in
the direction OF dark grove, toward which
the old gentleman pointed. Rivers all at
once was overcome with an ungoyernable
thirst (nothing strange in this, one would
say, and feeling certain they would find at
least spring In this cool place. FASTENED to
join his relative and relieve is great any-
iety. As soon as the tao had reached the
woods, in different spots the trees seemed 10
part, and long tongues OF fire leaped up
through the open spaces thus formed.
The strange part OF all was that
this FIRE. and his companion was as
franticaIly striving &c lead him IN aa
opposite direction. The old .ses told him
that these were .jfahOiiy sire MI. thar they
lnaedeDed the -seuls and brains OF all those
wiil3 learned to love their taste, and even
death !: self would afford no release 10 the
torments it brought upon its devetees Tseg
soon came to the borders of a lake formed
by the fiery streams running from these
iery springs The lake seemed like huge
mirror OF fame, III which he WAS shown his
future history, If he should persist IN nis pCes~
EN- dissipation He saw bis home, wife, chit
dreu AMI himself and how ali would change
in the passing Years. His vile grew rapidly
I'D and careworn before his sight, and
seemed to fear his homecoming more and
a hovel. His children grew up to
hate the one who had been their
worst enemy, and struggled on through
poverty and disgrace. The last picture was
the most horrible Of all. He saw himself as
a most repulsive being, Stunned by all,
men and finally becoming the slayer of the
one he had once promised only to love and
protect. This picture was the most wildly
portrayed and the longest reflected in the
lake. Rising and falling with the waves
was the CHASTITY head of his wife, showing
where it had been severed, as If by one
deadly stroke of some sharD-edged inStru-
ment The blood was still dripping, and
added to the deep fame color of the waters.
AS he strove to flee in horror from the final
xtrt. Alz L.. -
"You will spend all eternity in repeating
this last act OF your conscious being. This
is my last warning. l pass from earth
within the hour"
The dream made such vivid impression
on Rivers mind that be was in very ner-
his journeys end. From the depot he was
driven to his home in the suburbs of the
city, long two miles from the house Of his
father-in-law. He reached his door toward
morning, and at once startled his wife with
the statement that her father was dead.
Questioned by her as to the correctness of
his information 1t appeared that he had no
evidence but the vision on the train which
he asserted must be wholly convincing.
Mrs. Rivers. in reply, assured her husband
that she had called upon her father that
very day, that he sat up in bed, smoked his
pipe and was unusually cheerful, evidence
ing, as she believed, his speedy GONZALES
cence.
Inc COuplt IttITeu W Ueu, DuC no sleep
came to Rivers. He remained broad awake,
fearing another meeting with his irate
father-in-law. Soon a loud knocking was
heard at the door, aud the painter screamed
i'll terror to his wife: "Get up and 20 to
the door. tell you that your father is
dead !"
Mrs. Rivers answered the knocking and |
admitted to the house Patrick Doyle. young |
man who lived near her fathers house. He |
related that the old gentleman had died dur |
ing the night, and that his last words were |
about Rivers and his sprees. The painter |
hltehed up his horse and conveyed his family |
to the residence of friend. Nor did he ven |
ture to return again to his home until after
the funeral, when his wife bore him COM
pany.
Rivers friends aver that from the time when
he met his father-in-law in his night ride
from Chicago he was changed man. Any
how, whatever may have been the controlling
reason, he thereafter forsook his cups and
was both industrious in lis business and low