The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-02
Superstition and War,

I
The Bonapartes always were supersu-
tious. especially the mother OF Napoion-
she always had a presentiment tnal the
rise and fall of her family would occur IN
the same century, that the glory which
was prophesied for them would be fol-
lowed by disaster. And the prediction was
verified. She died in her eighty-seventh
year. having lived long enough TO see the
downfall Of all her chieldren.
Napoleon / always feared December
as an unlucHy day, and il was related OF
him that before every important pattie
he would throw dice 10 ascertain II ne
were TO lose or win. The red men
whom he always saw going 10 battle with
him was a delusion which caused MIN
much suffering.
Among crowned heads Louis XII OF
France was one of the firmest beleVefs
in superstition. He IL was who had an
unfortunate astrologer brought oeIore h-ih
who told him that a beautiful woman
friend Of the kings would die soon a
few days later the woman died, ana LOUIS
enraged at the verifcation of the predlc-
ton. sent for the astrologer, and Wneh
ne was brought before him ordered his
courtiers to throw him out Of window
of the palace. Before the order was
obeyed he asked the astrologer with
sheer If he could tell him (the king the
hour of his death.
| sire replied the quick-witted astro-
| logger, bowling low, Il shall have the honor
/ OF dying just three days before your ma
! jesty'' ar
Not only did the astrologer save his life
! then. but he was treated with the great
est care that his valuable life might De
prolonged.
Like Napoleon. Abraham Lincoln al
| WAYS believed he was man OF destlhy'
TIE thought he would rise to some lofty
station in life, but that he would nave d
eudden fall. He was pleased, yet alarmed
a+ what he looked upon as rent IN the
veil which hides the future from norta
.iah+ for the vision he saw was Of glory
and of blood.
I5ncoIn's friends never willingly allow
cd him to dwell on his faith in occult IN
euences. and not until the dark shado'
he Anticipated had fallen did they see
strange fatality in his recurring VISIONS
The one that most impressed MN happen
ed in Springfield in 1860. He was lying Vi
a lounge in his own chamber, when giahc
ing in a mirror that hung near, ne sa"
double image of himself reflected there
Al that time Lincoln was in the full gloV
| Of health and hope, but In the miro
the face showed a mortal palehess
Aagain and again he tried the experiment
h,1t always with the same CHASTITY result
Afterward he tried it In the eXecutiN
mansion, but there IL failed
, ua aid not attach so much importanc
n This cision or illusion until 1854, on IN
r dav Of his denomination at Baltimore. "
= mat dav Lincoln was at the war depart
rnen+ in telegraphic communication VII
= coneraI Grant who was at Richmond.
- telegram arrived at the White House IN
f forming Lincoln of his denomination
= president. but though he went nome LOT
= bas+v lunch he did not stop to read IN
f telegram. On returning to the war ds
: nertment dispatch was handed to hi
d telling him of the nomination or Anore'
d Johnson for the vice presidency. MI LII
e coin was surprised. and said
h II thought II was customary 10 nom"
s ate the president first.
}, ON being told of the first telegram +
e said mournfully recalling the double In
d age IN the mirror:
n ''TH never live through my second terri
h That belongs to Johnson-at least the be-
e part of it,
e Shortly before his assassination Linco
e had a strange dream. which he related
e his wife and Mr.. Lamon, his former ia
u partner
j. ct retired late. for I had waited up Il
g important dispatches, and soon fell IN
= light slumber. I dreamed there was
le deathlfke stiffness around me, but still
y could hear the subdued sobs of nun
Is her of people. 1 left my room. went {
1t through the house in my dream ever
IT where the same weeping and wailing b
d, could see nobody. Finally I went In
er the east room, and there / saw a cotf
,e with many soldiers al guard.
lie :" who is dead in the White House:
lie asked.
I why, don't you know said one
IN the soldiers. the president has been a
10 sassinated.' Then a loud burst of gri
re came from the crowd, and with that
m awoke."
I Mrs. Lincoln remembered the dream
s, the fatal night of his death, and cried OF
to His dream was prophetic!'
n Lincoln had one fortunate dream, viii
be he often dreamed. and which he said W
tn always welcome as it invariably proceed
to a great union victory. He said he drea1
yn ed il before the battle of Autielam a
again before that of Gettysburg and sc
a eral other engagements. He dream
ne that he saw a badly damaged ship sail
e. away rapidly. while pursuing vessels cv'
to took and demolished ,he wreck. II
dream always comforted him