Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1891-01-29
Saint Narq 5 beacon,
DEATH .PREsEHTIMENTs.


Baltimore Sunday Neps.
The late Emma Abbott ID thought
to have shortened her life by constant
ly entertaining the idea that she
would die young. II has been said
that to live long you must never ceass
TO believe that you are destined TO
length of life. And ye. are there not
"well.defned presentiments Of DEATH
Here is a true, strange story Of
Adolphe- Belot, the writer of shelf.
ful Of clever but highly improper mo-
veis, who died a few days ago. About
a fortnight before his death he called
at Dsntu's to settle an agreement for
a new story. When the matter had
been arranged he suddenly exclaimed:
II want 700 to add another clause to
that agreement" what 10 that p
II want Gou to undertake. when / die.
to pay for the funeral" "But my
dear sir" replied his intsrlocutor in
astonishment, "what are You thinking
about? We could not think Of in.
sorting such q clause in an agreement
for a new book" "But," objected
Belot, walking up and down the room
with his hands in his pockets. "it 10 .
very email matter for you. have
made inquiries and find that a funs.
raj such as. I want will cost only
eos" "But it is impossible" Every
well, then" Belot resumed, "shsll we
manage it in another way? Will you
undertake to pay 1000 francs TO the
person who will present a demand for
that sum, in my name, the day after
my death 2" The publishers were still
astonished, but they undertook TO
make the payment; the partner with
whom the conversation took place
saying it hardly mattered, since the
obligation would not fall upon him,
but upon his successors. "How do you
know ?" said Belot, as he went out,
"you may have to pay good deal
sooner than you expect" And so it
happened.
A remarkable instance of the hold
of what is termed superstition has
upon the mind of even the educated
and religious was recently exhibited
in the case of Mrs. Rebecca Byrnes,
of Helena, Ark, a lady noted for her
intellectual attainments and pious life.
One morning arising in what seemed
her usual health and spirits, she sum.
moned her children to come to her.
One son was residing in Topeka,
Kan, one in New Orleans. two daugh.
tiers were married and living in. Sc.
dalia, Mo-, but, obedisnt to their mo.
Tiers call, they came at once, though
Ignorant of the reason of their sum.
mons. When all were about her the
lady informed them that she had q
dream in which her husband, who had
been dead for nearly fifteen years. had
warned her that she had only ten
days more of life. She sent for her
children to bid them good.by. which
she proceeded to do with much calm.
ness, but with the air of one who had
not the slightest doubt that che was
already dying.
Her friends attempted to reason
with her and point out the folly of
placing such perfect confidence in q
dream, but all to no purpose. for the
lady persisted in asserting that she
would depart from earth on such
day and exactly at a certain hour.
Her pastor demonstrated with her,
and even brought the severest GEN.
sure to bear on her superstitious cred.
ulsy, and at last Mrs. Byrnes ceased
to speak of the matter, SO that her
family had begun to think that she
had conquered her fancy. She con.
tinued in excellent health and pursu.
ed her usual daily life. but just before
the hour she had predicted would be
that of her death abe sought her chill.
dren and babe them good.by, then,
seating herself quietly in an arm.
chair. expired just as the hour was
struck. The physicians declare that
her death was due solely to her imag.
ination.
CLOCKS AND DEATH.
Recently there was an instance civ.
en- of the stoppage of clock aunoun.
cling a distant death. The recent
death of jewsler in Bueyyrus, O., il
interesting in this connection. For
many years it has been the Office of a
ekillful German Waterman named
Frank Kehrer to attend to the town
clock.
During the past few months the
health of Kehrsr has been poor, and
the clock deprived of his careful atteu.
ton. has been keeping Indifferent
time. One Monday morning recent