The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-14
SOME PROPHETIC DREAMS.
SEEMING SHADOWS CAsr BEFORE THE
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Spirit OF Her Observation-Disclosures from =
Consumptive-A skipper Dream of Rats.
BosToS, Aug. 13.-People used to talk about
the supernatural. but it is not up-to-date to do
30 any longer. "SupernormAl" is now the word
for all the conditions and experiences which
people cannot account for. Since science has
formed a Society for Psychical Research and
explored the hidden crannies OF human experi-
ence. they tell US that all which is is natural;
that the 'subliminal self" is as much q reality
as the commonplace self. One good result Of
all this is that everyday people need no longer
be ashamed to speak Of queer experiences. II
anybody laughs at them now it is apt to be the
inexperienced. A really scientific person would
no more sheer at an honest experience for
which you could not give reason than he would
sheer at the great Sir William Crookes. who
brought forth the machinery that produced tho
N-ray. though he cannot yet explain Just what
the A-ray is.
When the Rev. Minot j. Savage was gather
ing material some time ago such as the
Society for Psychical Research deals with. many
strange personal stories reached him through
virtue of his being q minister yet not all the
things he published could be quite Endorsed by
that society. For example. not everybody who
has a wonderfully vivid dream, which may
cause him 70 believe it TO be the forerunner OF
some remarkable occurrence, has the presence
Of mind 10 write it down upon awakening,
pigeonhole it and await results. or else
promptly relate it TO some one who will stand
witness that it was told before any after event
gave it value as a proof that coming events cast
their shadows before. But unless that were
done it could not have the published indorse-
ment Of the society. however much members Of
that society might personally accept it.
curious psychic experience. well substan-
tiated. occurred last winter in connection
with an event which caused a scandal. This
event was the marriage Of the widow OF a high
naval oflcer 10 q hypnotist and fake. 1t caused
sorrow TO many a person who had previously
known the bride as a large hearted. freehanded
woman. Economically given TO the ideal side of
life in all its phases. In the minds Of those who
knew her best there was no doubt but she
was the victim OF hypnotism-or. had she
lived some generations ago, what would have
been dubbed black magic. Three or four
days before the matter eliminated q GER
tain mar went TO her and told her that
he had had a sort Of trance vision in which
he saw her sitting With her hands folded in her
lap and her head bowed. She was weeping.
and a dark, mist-like pail seemed to surround
her. He spoke, as he thought. but could not
make her rouse herself or heed him. All this.
but much more Enthusiastically. he told the
lady. and. to his chagrin, found he could make
no more impression in reality than he seemed
to be able to make in his trance vision. The
woman appeared 70 be living in a dazed. auto
matte way. which surprised the man who went
TO her with his story, but knew nothing what
ever Of the existence OF the hypnotist.
The man who had this premonition or vision
call it what you willis no Spiritualist. me-
dunn or professional OF any kind. though he
has often claimed to have had some remarka-
bic psychic experiences. He is a man Of most
respectable antecederts. reduced in circum-
stances. to whom the woman had always
shown friendly interest He went to her as a
matter OF duty; he failed to make any impress
sion. 1t was as if she could not understand what
he was saying. Not many days later the whole
scandal became public, together with the hyp-
notists efforts 70 obtain the woman's property.
his arrest. &c.
Here is a story OF quite another sort. but
equally. well substantiated The woman to
whom it happened is practical, rather hard
IN hst the Classic sRa IS She h had long been @ 'i iStey@ye eateSS
in q man, and he in her; their tastes were
kindred; they exchanged views on all sorts OF
subjects: they were much together. There
was no formal engagement, but that there
would some day be a marriage in which they
less. equally in the, minds Of both. one even
ing as she parted from him she felt much
troubled DE did not complain, but she feared
few days later she returned home about
dusk. and. being tired. threw herself on the
lounge for a brief rest before lighting the gas.
A strange, lonesome feeling possessed her. She
got on ner feet 70 strike a hight and as she DID
rectly in front Of her. She looked long enough
to recognize il as that of the man who flled her
thoughts. With a murmured exclamation she
put out her hand, started forward as he moved
toward the, door, and grasped only the air.
almost persuaded herself that she had been the
victim Of her OWL ~faDcles. Not until next
made her world brightest had passed away the
evening before from that mysterious cause
IabelIe d'%i heart III &fEa XaTs q TR Ust stron ns@e' b afEf
that the woman holds since is that the man,s
spirit as it. was leaving his boy Eege alec itsGlf
convince, others. for the thing that happened
was OF the very nature she would keep from
others in advance oil confirmation.
70 two sisters who lived in Portland. Ne. The
was an old one. whose interior called for re-
pairs: but it was central and with certain
was, In Short, the sort OF house to stimulate
ones imagination with wondering about the
ago. Its n9oEs and crannies and 'cupboards,
its very walls seemed 10 eXhale a history. but
of Oa,b this hi T6sy m ITS new w SseuPEs nsI1 G dHns
ing Ing up p't for am al the family. Rooms were ere
the heI two SISTERS did not mind I shifting as best Is
they could. One took 70 a couch that had been
decided 70 make herself comfortable, on a p!le
Of bedding that had been dumped into the
tired and soon fell fast asleep; In the morning
each hurried DOWN TO see what could be done
about improyising a breakfast.
oh. ] had the queerest dream" exclaimed
she who had slept on the lounge.
SO did L. said the other.
What was III"
You spoke first, Tell yours, then III tell
mine.
Well. continued she who had occupied the
where ! lay. sitting by the window, was ii very
young, man. j should Judge not over twenty,
He had very blue and mourniul eyes / noticed
them especially. for they were fixed upon me
intently for a while. Then he got up and
passed close by me-. coughing a short cough,
and passed out the door. 1t was all very vivid"
Good gracious % cried the sister who had
listened. He must have come right down to
me-. for / saw the very same man in my dream.
In mine, the, room | lay IN, was furnished in
dreary black haircloth-like the typical COM
mon parlor OF long ago-and that pale young
man with the sad blue, eyes sat IN a chair near
an alright stove. In his right hand he held a
book. with a couple Of fingers between the
leaves. as 1t hung down beside his chair. After
gazing at me a while he spoke.