The record-union., 1898-04-20
Premonitions of Death.

The first symptom of appfoachlhS 3
death with some is the strong pre-
sentiment that they are about to die.
| Ozanam. the mathematician, While III
apparent health, rejected pupils from
the feeling that he was on the eve
of resting from his labors, and ne eX-
pired soon after of an apoplectic stroke.
Fletcher. the divine, had dream
which shadowed out his impending dis
solution, and believing it to be the mer-
ciful warning of heaven, he sent for
sculptor and ordered his tomb. Begin
your work forthwith he said at part
ing; there is no time to lose ANA
unless the artist had obeyed the ad-
monition. death would have proved the
quicker workman of the two. Mozart
wrote his requiem under the CONVICTION
that the monument he was raising TO
his genius would, by the power of as
sociation, prove a universal monument
to his remains. When life was fieeting
very fast, he called for the score, ana
musing over it. said: Did l not tell
you truly that it was for myself that
I composed that death chant?'
Another great artist in another de-
partment, convinced that his hand was
about TO lose it's cunning, chose sub
iect emblematical of the coming event.
His friends inquired the nature of his
coming design, and Hogarth replied
THE end of all things" In that case
rejoined one there will be an end Oh
the painter" What was uttered in jest
was answered in earnest, with SOL
emn look and a heavy sigh. There
WILL" he said, land the sooner my
works. done the better" He commenced
next day, labored upon the drawing
with unremitting diligence, and when
he had given it the last touch seized
his palette, broke it in pieces, and said:
II have finished The print was pub
lished in March, under the title of
"Finis," and in October the curious
eyes which saw the manners in the
face were closed in the dust. Our an
cestors. who were prone to look in the
air for causes which were to be found
upon the earth, attributed these inti-
nations to various supernatural agen-
cies.
John Hunter has solved the mystery,
if mystery it can be called, in single
sentence 1--WE sometimes" he says,
"feel within ourselves that we shall
not live; for the living powers become
-
intelligence to the brain"
His own case has often been quoted
among the marvels of which he offered
this rational explanation. He intl-
mated, on leaving home, that if a dis
cussion which awaited him at the hos
pital took an angry turn it would prove
his death A colleague gave him the
lie. the coarse word verified the proph-
| ecy and he expired almost immed1-
ately in an adjoining room. There was
| everything to lament in the circum-
stance, but nothing at which to Won
| der.
| Circumstances which at another time
would excite no attention are accepted
for an omen when health Is falling.
The order for the requiem with Mozart,
the dream with Fletcher, turned the
current of their thoughts to the grave.
Foote, prior to his departure for the
continent, stood contemplating the
picture of a brother author. and ex-
| claimed. his eyes full of tears: Poor
Westonr In the same detected tone
he added, after q pause: Soon others
shall say, Poor Footei'" And to the
surprise of his friends, a few days
proved the justice of his prognostica-
ton The expectation of the event had
share in producing it; for slight
shock completes the destruction Of
PROSTATE energies.
| The case of Wolsey was singular.
The morning before he died he asked