The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-09

guilt. See that your conscience is at
peace with God and man; go to bed at
Christian hour. lie on the right side
and-sleepl
soMNUs AND MoRs.
1t Is related in an ancient classic myth
that the Goddess of Night became the
mother OF twins. named Somnus and
Mors; that is. Sleep and Death. Somnus.
the God of Sleep, abode In a cave near
the dark Zimmerman country. Here the
sun never shone, and no sound ever broke
the long silence. At the entrance OF the
cave strange figures ever waved poppy
blooms whose subtitle exhalation charged
the atmosphere with heavy dullness.
Somnus lay upon a black couch around
which black plumes had been placed and
black curtains drawn. His clothing was
black the thickest night. and was all
spangled with stars. On his head ti.ero
was a crown of peoples and in his Ian
guild hand he held a chalice of poppy
juice.
In this same cave there above Mors.
brother to Somnus. Mors was the god Of
death. He was clad In a winding-sheet.
and bore an hour-giass and a scythe. He
had hollow eyes and a hideous aspect,
and excited fear in all who saw him.
But they, Somnus and Mors, were twins
Sleep and death have always been
POLITICALLY called twins, and the likeness
between them Is not visible simply to
the eye of the poet To the psychologist
1t is profound fact. How often do we
say OF one asleep, HE looks as II he
were dead;" and of the dead how fire.
quently is the remark made, He seems
to be simply asleep"
The similarity, however, IS more re-
markable than any visible phenomena
disclose The process of falling Into the
long slunrber of death is Identical, 80 far
as the sequence Of the failing sense Is
concerned, with the process OF the soul
gliding into the silent mystery of sleep.
Neither In death nor in sleep do the DIFF
ferent senses become inactive stimuli
taneously. but In a fixed succession.
Those who have witnessed the last hours
of departing loved ones can verify the
following facts characteristic of the
final stages OF dissolutioni
First, the sense of sight gradually de-
parts until, to the dying one. It seems
that night has suddenly fallen. do you
know me?'' is asked by some loving
friend Yes. at this stage he knows
the questioner; but not by the sense of
sight That IL the first to go.
Secondly the sense of taste in the
dying person is the next to depart after
sight L. gone. Drugs. bitter or sweet,
now produce no motion of the lips; for
the papillae on the tongue. the palate and
the upper part of tho pharynx have lost
the power of sensation.
Thirdly: The sense of smell is the next
to cease its functions. The camphor or
cologne are only gratifying to the loving
one who holds them to the nostrils of the
dying, for love yearns to minister up to
the very last moment
Fourthly: Susceptibility to touch next
goes The hand tenderly placed upon the
brow meets with no RESPONSE the water
that bathes the parched lips awakens no
feeling.
Fifth: The last sense to depart Is hear
ing. The name you call IL heard no
more and your audibly expressed grief
does not disturb him who Ia now about
to enter the mysterious Valley OF
Silence
This identical process IL observed IN
the phenomenon of sleep. The gentle
wing of night fans the eyeiids down to
begin with; then one after another of
the senses retire from duty until hearing
silently closes tho last gate Of the city
of Mansoul.
With these facts In mind more forcfbls
than ever becomes shapespeare's line:
"Downy Sleep. Deaths counterfeit
The mystery of death and the mystery
Of sleep are strangely alike. Said Plato
AS waking ends In sleep and sleep ter
minats- In waking 40 life ends in death
ano cath In lifo.''
Laid Longfellow:
20, peaceful sieej
With what subtle meaning did the
Creek
Call thee the lesser mystery at the
feast
Whereof the greater mystery is DEATH
NAnother has said:
Sleep II Deaths younger brother.
And 30 like him.
We should never trust him
Without our prayers
(Nsxt week DR.. Evans paper w1n - -
DREAMY