Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-20

An Ingenious Device for Controlling she
Visions Of the Night.

Visions of the Night.
DREAMS HAVE BEEN REGARDED As
~ an interesting subject Of study ever since
scientific thought was born. Locke. the essay
list on tho human understanding was Of the
opinion that . man did not think at all when
really asleep, while modern investigators in
this line OF research believe that thought no
more ceases during sleep than . watch, prop
erly wound, runs down in the night Accord
ing TO their notion under such conditions the
mechanical functions Of the mind are active,
though uncontrolled by the Judgment and
thus il happens that ones dreams are apt -
be unreasonable and even absurd.
Could anything be more interesting than 10
trace the progress Of . dream. IL 10 we're only
possible2 Think of the variety OF experiences
through which one would he conveyed, un-
trammeled by the limitations Of common sense
which restrict ones waking thoughts, and
freed from the moral responsibilities that en-
cumber the doings OF ordinary Life. Proba-
biity sets no bounds to the dreamer's vision.
and even conscience is dormant. since the most
righteous OF men do on occasions raishehave
themselves most shockingly in the strange lana
of Nod.
Most desirable Of all things would IL be TO be
able TO control ones dreams and fashion the
sleep fancies into shapes pleasing and a-abesoue,
so that Morpheus might lit the curtain eyery
night upon q delightful and entertaining stage
play, with no horrors in IL TO rake up the feel
ings uupleasantly. For the purpose Of accom-
plishing something OF this sort wnshineton
man has invented an ingenious contrivance in
the shape Of sort Of adjustable sks Teton nisbt-
cap, with small cushioned screws that can b~
turned down so as 10 press upon certain parts
OF the head. Teachers Of chronological science,
as everybody knows. have divided up the peri,
Uranium into areas, each OF which represents
certain definite ideas and emotions Thus
there IL no difficulty in applying the screws 70
whatever centers of thoughts OF feelings
IL may be desired TO excite. When a person n
trying 60 think very hard he instinctively
presses his forehead over the organs of refec-
ton, and II Is the same principle that il utilized
by tins instrument. The pressure is e.citive.
and the subject has simply TO adjust the screv.
suitably in order to call the attention OF The
mind. as one might say, in corresponding di-
recuons. Before going 70 sleep lie regulates
the machine and directs his dreams accord
ingly.
For example, suppose he Is in love and de-
sires visions in accordance with his hopes. He
likes the screws 80 as TO exert a geutle pressure
upon the organs of amatiyeness low down al
the back OF the head, and dreams that he pos
sesses the OBJECT OF has choice. An e1tra screw
fastened down upon the philoprogenitive bump
just above. conveys 20 his somnolent imacin-
ihSs the anticipatory pleasures of a large family
OF children The location of this bump. by the
way. was ascertained by discovering its .-promi-
nence in women and apes in whom love Of
their young Is stronger thanit lie in man." This
quotation Is made from the highest known hu-
thority on phrenology and may therefore be re-
lied upon.
If, on the other hand, the subject Is on bad
terms with any one and Is only restrained from
encountering the adversary lev inferior physi-
cal powers or lack of confidence IN the police
he may apply the screws TO the proper bumps
OF combatlveness behind each ear and enjoy IN
vivid imagination the pleasure of chewing the
gentleman up TO any extent that may be neces-
sary for satisfaction.
This explains the idea involved which NAV
be ampllhed indefinitely with the aid Of a
proper phrenologic chart. On either side Of
the back OF the skull above philoprogenitiveness
are the organs Of friendship, where people who
are mutually attached put their heads together
The bumps OF destructiveness are just shove
the ear, as was originally ascertained from
their large development in a student who was
SC fond OF torturing animals that he became q
surgeon, and also IN an apothecary, who be-
came an executioner. Above the ear in front
Is located ncquisitiyeness, which 10 found TO be
much swelled In pickpockets. Many inven-
tions have been suggested in dreams and il
should be remembered that the mechanical fac
ulty Is situated above the temple, as wac first
learned from supposed skull OF Raphael and
from the head of a milliner, who possessed un-
common taste. Self esteem is high on the back
OF the head IL is always found large in beggars
"ho eASuoe theif poverty on account OF pride.
On either side Of self esteem are the bumps Of
| love-of-approbation, which are greatly devel-
oped as a rule in lunatics who imagine thew
are kings and queens. Benevoience is on top
of the head, little in front of the middle VEN
GRAFTON is in front of benevolence and wonder
Is stlii further forward. This last is prominent
IN psychic researches and vision-seers- IDEAL
ity IS in the middle of the forehead: il is touched
| by the hand when one is composing poetry.
Nearly every one composes remarkably good
poetry in his dreams-if only he could rernern-
Der 1t afterward- However, it ought 10 be very
easy TO regulate all these things by iudicious
| use OF the instrument described.