The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-11

JOHN n. Wrk1H.
NEW YoRK, March 10.
A DREAM OF NATIONS.
Strange Vision That Calls for . Seer
TO Reveal It's Message.
To THE Eprroa or THE suN--Str. We
arc a superstitious people and we arc
surfeited with seers. There Is something
about fortune telling that irrcsistibly
attracts US. and down In our hearts we
entertain no light regard for palmists,
cla~irvoyants. crystal gazers and astrolo-
gers. We abase ourselves In the pres
ence OF the religious and political wind
TANNER. We stand In awe OF voices
claiming authority n listen reverently
to pious preachfnents on our destiny az
n nation and our mission to humanity.
II seems. therefore. somewhat strange
that n OF the most valuable of the an
cient arts should be lost to US, the art
Of Interpreting dreams.
Who Shall deny the Significance of
dreams? II the dreams that may come
In the hereafter should give US pause,
what OF the dreams that grow out OF our
experiences in tho flesh? Are these
shadow children OF the mind Of no more
significance than a sop Of tea leaves in
a cup? Is II not possible TO persuade
n OF our worthy phiianthropists To
endow n chool whose curriculum shall
lie devoted exclusively to the study Of
dreams. a school that shall produce
adopts skilled not only in the ancient
mysteries but also in the modern ones
such ne psychology and interpretive
philosophy
o.. for such an oracle. For the other
night | dreamed a dream that peril.xcs
me I dreamed I was on the top OF
Mount olympus. a sandai winged mes
senger escorted me To- a vantage point,
for some sort Of performance was about
TO begin.
At first everything was dim and OBJ
scurc; but presently the earth reveaied
Itself. and then. in solemn procession. all
the nations since tho dawn of tim"
seemed to pass in review before mo.
And IL seemed to mo that power, no,
virtue. symbolized all N. nations that
were great. and that armed
strength was inseparaJly connected with
national unity. | saw many nations long
since Departed sorne O! them ! scarcely
remembered. others I had never beard
Of at all. And always in the van There
marched warrior kings,
And then troored ny the undinmei
shades. Alexander. Cesar. Cromwell.
Napoleon, Washington and n score az
others. men 81 blood and iron. n
seemed TO typify the nations that claimed
them az their own. II was all very
inspiring.
Then suddenly the scene narrowed
Before me stretched a single continent.
and standing upright within its confines
was a young giant. 80 admirably proper
toned and Of such superlative strength
and power that Jupiter at sight Of him
would have looked jealousy 10 his thun-
derbolts.
For a moment I was unable 20 say
a word. Then. remembering that l was
"a Yankee in the p~resencc OF the EN-
h,rrasssd gods, / nudgcd I1crrnes In the
ribs.
For heavens sake :" 7 sa.ped. WHO'S
that"
HerInes glanced at me IN aston!shfn"nt
You don't know. you of all mortals 80
he cried. Look we'll. Behold the Titan
Of the New World. America"
What" ! stammered. ~dumfounded
rs that America"
None other quo.h the god. did
sou expect TO see a tango master at a
pink tea or a pious Old gentleman clip.
ping coupons"
Yes. that il America" he continued
his eyes aGlow with admiration. Amer,
tea. the m rnation Of unconScious
power. lie IL IA mere stripping In years
and experience. lie has not yet found
himself. He dare not yet give voice tc
his ambitions. his hunger for greatness
But he has a Spokesman cried the god
'and " you listen intentiy YOU shall
hear what America stands for
Scarcely had he finished speaking
when ! observed a lean. scholarly look,
ing man standing upon a platform. Fo'
a moment he stood bow!n- and smillnl
while fags waved all around him anC
strains of martial music filed the air.
Presently the music died away and
the lean, scholarly looking man begai
to speak and at the sound Of his yoiC.
saw America lift his chin AZ incl
higher and throw back his massiv,
shoulders in urcons cions pride.
IL dare say" said the lean. scholarl!
looking man, that We all. quite fvankll
and quite sincerely. agre. that tn. mis-
sion OF America is one of humanity an'
not of selfish. insular greatness. ! wan
TO say to YOU that | have II great on
thusiasm for rendering America spirit
ually efficient.
~ deprecate. and | know you all dep
recatc. sacrifices made for such sordi,
considerations as learths and homes. !
is not these. but the spiritual sacrifice
that count. l say to you. very solemn
very earnestly, that "A nation can be to
proud To fight, I sincerely trust that 4
the defence OF humanity W. shall n'vc
be called upon to hold an offending
Power To strict accountability. II. per
chance. that task shall fall 10 US. let Il
pray that America VIII develop n hand
some passion for iisticuNs, But th
spirit of America is the spirit OF pcac,
D.. and America could well AFFORD 10 relin
auish many a mere material advantage
even 70 the surrender OF territory, rattle
than experience the horrors ~ war.
say to you. very solemnly-'
At this point my attention was al
tracted to America. Something va tn
matter with him. Bent far forward. h
WIS looking down. with stern. torribl
eyes. at the lean. scholarly looking man
and so compelling was the gaze that TIA
voice OF tn. speaker lscame a whisp-
and then died utterly away. E,erythin
was very still II seemed as II no on
dared TO speak.
And then. In the silence, ! saw Amer
lea Mt up his head again and look fo't
eagerly upon the Marching hosts Of IN
nations vending their way toward g.
horizon.
n at sight Of them he stretched hi
mighty arms like a Titan housing hin
self from sleep. his eyes shunc lh
beacon fires, and from his lips burst
7 tremendous, exultant shout.
: ALBANY. March 10. SIMON GREET"