Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-12-09
No. 2SS

fever; while objective dreams are those
started by noises or other events going on
outside the sleeper. This Is fair sample of
the ruthless way In which science disposes
of Superstition" Against the imAgins-
tive view of the significance of dreams men
of science protest, and viii probably con-
dnus to protest as long as there are any
men of science left. They quote the old
lady In the Spectator, who believed that
the earthquake of Lisbon had some mys-
terious but quite unexplained connection
with the fsct that few days before she
had happened to spill some salt At table.
Perhaps the most practical lesson taught
at the royal Institution lecture was one
which may assist us to know that
something is wrong with our bodi-
ly organization. As rule, said
the lecturer, ,it is better not to dream ut all.
Dreamlessness is usually q symptom Of all
round health. A child's dreams are tnva-
riably signs of disturbed health, and should
be regarded with anxiety. For adults ii is
q good thing to know that we msy be sure
that our brains are being oyerstrAlned
when our nightly dreams relate to events
of the day, and If we actually seem In sleep
to be continuing our daily work this is a
danger signal which never must be dtsre-
garded. When We feel wearied in the
morning very likely Ii results from dreams
that we have forgotten, and then the best
thing to do is TO take exercise. without
coming to any decided opinion ss to the
supernatural meanings attributed to
dreams, we can at least profit by these prac-
teal hints.
Considered as products of bad digestion
dreams cannot be reasonably expected TO
tell us anything of O useful character or 10
supply us with any warning, except one
directed against the continuation Of de-
prayed dietetic habits. If 1t is true that
the sleep of health IL dreamless, thleh Il be-
comes difficult TO believe that the only per-
sons to whom visions in sleep are vouch-
safed should be the victim of indigestion.
It is always puzzle for persons Of an IN
imaginative turn of mind TO understand
how the future. which does not yet exist, can
be supposed TO have any effect on the pres
ent, and IL must be admitted that dreams of
warning are much harder to believe in than
the "brAin waves" and Thought transfer
ences" which members of the Physical Re-
search society take as matters quite In the
ordinary course of things. There Is a
considerable mass of testimony in favor Of
the power of the mind to produce results
at an enormous distance By some system
of physchicsl telegrspby OF which nobody
has yet discovered the secret A man who
goes TO sleep and dreams thRt his brother
is being killed by wild tribe in Central
Africa, and who sfterwsrd hears that he
did meet with that fate at the precise time
when the vision occurred, need not ay TO
any supernatural explanation of the phe-
nomenon. It Is quite different when a
dream tells of something which is to hap
pen In a few months time, In the latter
case most people will prefer 10 juin with
science in attTibuting the fact either to q
law of condolences or to q simple delu-
sion.
We must do science the justice to admit
that IL she increases the gloominess of life
in some directions, as by her doctrine Of the
struggle for existence, EEe decreases it In
other respects, one of which is by siding in
the gradual Punishment of any confidence
in visions and omens and "wierdness' gem
orally.
/ find Salvation on the best cure for
rheumatism / have ever known.-Joshua
Zimmerman, WethsTedyille, Nd