Evening star., 1894-02-22
CONCERNING DREAMS.
They Occupy Only n Few Seconds and
Are Affected by Events.

From the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
Doctors assert that dreams occupy a few
seconds only, at most the space of about
three minutes. This statement is startling
to those who have not noticed for them
selves what part time plays in such a con-
nection. The writer has had several op-
portunities of proving its correctness her
self, and many might arrive at a similar
knowledge by asking to be awakened a min
ute or SO after falling into a first sleep.
All who dream will do so Immediately on
falling into Inconsistencies. Another re
labIe test is to be found in the sleep that
follows upon the morning summons for Tis-
ing. n few more moments snatched for the
tempting after doze will not unfrequently
mean dream OF very elaborate 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
or observation leads one to believe in such
being the case or not, according to the i'm
portance with which We treat them In
connection with such a question, events ana
individuals can scarcely fail to require sep
arate consideration. Events that are ALL
important to some do not commend them
selves in that light to others and this fact
leads one to express the opinion that ar-
cording to the intensity with which out
ward events occupy our thoughts, will our
To one woman the exercise of hospitality
means the entire surrender of her menta.
domain to all the worries, real or imagin-
airy, consequent upon the preparations for
the contemplated entertainment To an
other the needful directions once given
there is an immediate return to considera-
tons which outweigh in her opinion the
more material ones that held a whilom place
IN her thoughts. In the one case CULINARY
failures and visions of Indifferent service
will probably haunt the dreams tina: pre-
cede or follow that entertainment: in tn
other no such tortures are involved in the
sleeping hours.
brains power to solve diRicl.lt ouestion-
during sleep. a case in point is that of a
lawyer engaged in criminal defense Th,.
examination of one witness after another
seemed only to add to the proof of his
clients guilt. Nearied one night with try
ing 10 nnd some point which might turn
the scale in the prisoners favor he fajl
asleep, and in a dream the desired poinf
stood out clearly. On awakening, il was
immediately worked out. and the verdict of
not guilty was found consequent upon
that revelation afforded during the hours on
sleep.
When exercising the imaginative faculties
to any great extent the dreams will ALWAYS
preserve the ideal character of the wakeful
hours. The composer viii dream of the
melodies which provide his own lula bX-
When dropping into slumber, and the artist
and the writer enter the land of dreams in
company with those that the pen or the
brush are guided TO depict with such a Low
ing hand. Plots have been furnished ana
subjects for the canvas have been s,;gpeet-
ed over and over again in the quiet hours
81 the night when. to all outward appear-
3hces, thefe Is nothing but the most peaca-
tul slumber on the part Of the sleeper.