Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1894-03-29
CONCERNING DREAMS.
They Occupy Only q Few Seconds and Are
Afected by Events

Doctors assert that dreams occupy
few seconds only-at most the space OF
about three minutes. This statement
4 is startling to those who have not no.
ticed for themselves what part time
plays in such connection. The writer
has had several opportunities of prov
ing its correctness herself, and many
might arrive at a similar knowledge by
asking 10 be awakened a minute or SC
after falling into first sleep. All who
dream will do SO Immediately on fall
ing into Inconsistencies. Another reli
able test is to be found in the sleep that
follows upon the morning summons for
rising. A few more moments snatched
for tine tempting after doze will not un-
frequently mean dream of a very elab-
crate nature-one which implies almost
| as many hours as seconds.
Are dreams affected by the events of
our wakeful hours? is the question that
has been asked over and over again, but
the result of observation leads one to be-
lieve in such being the case or not, ac-
coIding to the Importance with which
we treat them. In connection with such
a question events and individuals can
scarcely fail to require separate consid-
Grafton. Events that are all important
| to some do not commend themselves in
that light TO others, and this fact leads
one to express the opinion that, accord
| ing to the intensity with which outward
events occupy our thoughts, will our
dreams be in any way affected by them.
To one woman the exercise of hos
pitality means the entire surrender OF
her mental domain to all the worries,
real or imaginary, consequent upon the
preparations for the contemplated en-
tertainment. To another, the needful
directions once given, there is an imme-
diate return to considerations which out
weigh in het opinion the more material
ones that held whilom place in her
thoughts. In the one case culinary fail
ures and visions of Indifferent service
will probably haunt the dreams that
precede or follow that entertainment.
In the other no such tortures are in
volved in the sleeping hours.
There have been startling instances of
the brain power to solve difficult ques-
tions during sleep. A case in point is
that of lawyer engaged in criminal
defense. The examination of one wit
ness after another seemed only to add to
the proof of his clients guilt. Wearied
one night with trying to find some point
which might turn the scale in the pris-
oner's favor, he fell asleep, and in
dream the desired point stood out clear
ly. On awakening it was Immediately
worked out. and the verdict Of mot
guilty" was found consequent upon that
revelation afforded during the hours of
sleep.
When exercising the imaginative IA
culties to any great extent. the dreams
will always preserve the ideal charac-
ter OF the wakeful hours. The composer
will dream of the melodies which pro-
vide his own lullaby when dropping
into slumber, and the artist and the
writer enter the land of dreams in COM
pany with those that the pen or the
brush are guided to depict with such
loving hand. Plots have been furnished
and subjects for the canvas have been
suggested over and over again in the
quiet hours of the night, when TO all
outward appearances there is nothing
but the most peaceful slumber on the
part of the sleeper.-Cincinnati Com
mercial Gazette.