The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-01-28

VI SlI1Sl 0CA IlOl1 puoolAS oioAS
though a graveyard at night. Indeed,
it is safe to say that nothing in the
world, or out of it, is regarded with
such universal fear as a ghost.-this
too, Notwithstanding the fact that no
authenticated instance is on record
In which specre or apparition OF
any kind did harm to a living crea-
ture. The superstitution in question
is doubtless an inheritance from our
most remote ancestors, who believed
that the dead were liable to assume
the guise and role of malignant de-
wills; but it seems strange thai mod
ern enlightenment should noc have
done away with so nonsensical no
ton.
Oddly enough, however, when in
our dreams we encounter the ghosts
of the dead, we are unterrified. To
do so, indeed, appears quite natural
and q matter of course. For under
such conditions the point of view is
changed We ourselves are phan-
toms likewise (according to Profess
sor Baer), and we meet them, those
others, on an equal footing. They
are not afraid Of us, and why should
we be afraid of them?
At the bottom of the ghosc-fear is
dread of the mysterious, the un-
known and the intangible. But,
when your soul has made a tempor-
ary escape through the minds back
door, it finds itself in a world where,
as one might say, all the relations OF
things are altered. 1t has arrived,
so to say, behind the scenes, and (as
under circumstances on the stage)
the mystery becomes mere matter OF
course. Intangibility is normal in
the realm of the Hereafter-especial-
ly,. when oneself is part Of 1t.
Professor Baer advances his ideas
on the subject not as statement OF
ascertained fact, Of course--the mat
ter being one respecting which eX-
act knowledge is obviously impossl-
ble-but as a theory, which, he
thinks, finds endorsement in definite
and logical evidences. 1t is not prac-
ticable here, for lack Of space, even
to summarize these evidences, which
are drawn to some extent from
study of what he calls the lana
tony of dreams. His conclusions
the essence of which lies in the
theory that the dream life is in
certain sense a real life, and not
merely magic lantern show" in
which imagination uncontrolled, IN
fantastic colors, paints a multitute
of slides'-may be put, as he offers
them tentatively, in the form OF
questions:
To tegin with, what is this strange
realm which we visit in our dreams!
Professor Baer believes that 1t IS
actual, and by no means purely in
aginary. It is not even an "undls-
covered country" for we spend there
no small part of our time limit. But
where are we to suppose that II IS
located? Is it near or far away? Or
ere we to suppose that it is simply ain
invisible world, through which we
unconsciously wander in our waking
moments, thourgh unable to discern
the people (viewless under waking
conditions) who inhabit 1t?
Again, shall we, after we die, as
suming in permanent fashion the
chostly state, ourselves become in
habitants of this mysterious country?
And, if so, what will be our cond1-
tion therein? Shall we be happy, or
otherwise? In classical literature
one finds again and again the idea'
which the scientists seem to have
persistently entertained that the
souls of the departed suffer from a
chronic melancholy. Thus the heroes
of the Trojan war, as Ulysses found
them when he ventured into Hades,
continually lamenting their lot, wish
ing that they we're alive again. But
has such a notion any proper basis?
Professor Baer's belief Is quite op-
posite. At all events, he deems 1t a
mistake to believe that the ghosts
we meet in our wanderings through
tho domain in the Beyond are pur-
suing, like the phantoms OF Hector
and Achilles which Odyssens met, an
altogether aimless and vegetatlVe eX-
istence. He thinks we may rather
suppose that they have occupations
of one sort or another, useful IN
ways we know not of.
If the wanderings of che ghost, IN
sleep are under any sort Of control,
it would be interesting to know by
what they are directed. Nothlng'
seemingly, could be more haphazard.
Scenes and incidents follow one an
other in no orderly sequence, ap-
parently, and people come and go
without any obvious rhyme or rea-
son. Many dreams, Of course, are
very pleasurable, while others are
far from agreeable and sometimes
even terrifying. But, as Professor
Baer suggests, there is no reason for
supposing that in the region OF the
!Iereafter-if his theory, Identifying
it with the country we visit in our
slumbers, be accepted-is place de-
void of unpleasantnesseS.
The ghost that walks in Dreams
according to his idea, Is none other
than the subconscious, or secondary,
self-the strange double" which in
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