The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-10-21
IN THE LANE OF DREAMS.
C~onyectures ON the Mysterious Working
of the lIlnd In Slaan


Conyectures on he Mysterious Workings
Of the Mind In Sleep.
Dreams used to be accepted as vaga-
fies of the mind. prompted by undisei-
plined articles of diet, suchias mince pie
Or Welsh rarebit Thus dreams were
left without dignity and an unneces-
sary odium cast on deserving and
friendly articles of food. With the adj
vance Of psychology IN club discussions
and in the university extension courses
different views have come about The
extreme position held is that waking
life is all an illusion. the real life we
live is in dreams The completest ex-
position of this is in Du Maurier's re.
markable novel, Peter I5betson."
That, to be sure. Is q novel, but Its
readers, who hold the same view, insist
that through Peter Ibbetson the con.
viction of Mr.. du Maurier are distinctly
perceived. He ever describes the
method OF dreaming true" a. 1t 10
called.
To dream true, according to ths
recipe, one must lie fat on the back,
cross the feet and clasp the hands be.
hind the head. In that position, with
the thoughts ON what one desires to do
Or see in dreams, sleep must come un-
der those conditions. The theosophists
say that in this case the consciousness
h merely transferred to the astral
plane, where all things past and to
come are photographed, and the mind
wanders, as it were, through series Of
rooms filled with pictures. In night
mares the mind has got into q ool
where is the picture of some horrible
deed. The experiment, it will be seen,
seems easy enough, but as most people
sleep in knots, or attitudes of self-de-
Tense, the relaxation of the position IL.
self will be found to be more difficult
than appears. > 1t is possible tn suggest
against this view that the food eaten
in dreams alone would not long
maintain the power to dream
at all. This seems to give n
certain positive value to waking life
and regular meals. Other people do not
go SO far, but they contend that the
mind can be made very useful while
the body is laid up for repairs. The
capacity of the mind to work when dis
embarrassed of the demands of the
body is enormously increased. Instead
OF allowing it to waste its power and
expend its activity. like a growing AMI
frequently naughty child. in play and
mischief, it should, by discipline. be
made to perform useful and praise
worthy deeds. The student should set
it to studying his lesson. to solving his
problems. The author should teach It
to go on with his novel, or perhaps
have ready for him in the morning
something new and original, as Cole
ridge was surprised by having his misd
present him when he awoke with
"kubla Khan" From all directions
come int;mations that dreams are to be
put in harness and set to work.
There r people, however, on the
other hand, who object to dreaming at
all, and have made it 4 matter of will.
When night the thoughts, like
chickens, ought to come home to roost
Before going to sleep they recall oil
their wandering ideas and lay them up
in an orderly pile near by, as they lay
their clothes on a chair by the bedside.
This is done with system, and. when &C
complished. they fold their hands and go
into a dreamless sleep, to awake with
both mind and body refreshed. These
people believe that the mind can 60 off
into irresponsible wanderings, but they
don't believe it ought to be trusted
without the guidance of the will. 1t is
- -
e!ementals and unseen powers without
moral principle that may corrupt the
mind, or in its absence get possession
O. the unseen body. So it seems that,
dreaming or not dreaming, both are
matters of consequence and may fully
engage the waking mind-if it has
nothing more important to thinkabout
My. Sun.