Concerning Dreams

Doctors assei't that dreama occnpy a few seeonds only - at most the space of about three inmutes. This statement is startling to those who bave not noticed for themselves what part time plays in such a connection. The writ'er has had several opportnnities of proving its correctness herself, and many might arrive at a similar knowledgeby asking to be awakened a minute or so after falling into a first sleep. All who dream will do so immediately on falling into unconscionsüess. Another reli able test is tobe found in the sleep that follows upon the morning summons for rising. A few more monients snatched for the tempting after doze will not unfrequently mean a dream of a very elabórate nature - one vvhich implies almost as many hours as seconds. Are dreams affected by the events of our wakeful hours? is the question that has been asked over and over again, but the result of observation leads oneto believe in such being the case or not, accoiding to the irnportance with which we treat them. In connection with such a question events and individuals can ecarcely fail to require separate consideratiou. Events that are all important to sorue do not commend themselves in that light to others, and this tact leads one to expresa the opinión that, accoiding to the intensity with which outward events occupy our tïïoughts, will our dreams be in any way affected by them. To one woman the exercise of hospitality means the entire surrender of her mental domain to all the worries, real or imaginary, consequent upon the preparations for the contemplated entertainment. To another, the needful directions once given, there isan irnmediate return to considerations which outweigh in her opinión the more material ones that held a whilom place in hei thoughts. In the one case culinary failures and visions of indifferent service will probably haunt the dreams that precede or follow that entertainment. In the other no such tortures are involved in the sleeping hours. There have been startling instances of the brain's power tosolve difíicult questions during sleep. A case in point is that of a lawyer engaged in a criminal defense. The examination of one witness after another seemed only to add to the proof of his client's guilt. Wearied one night with trying to flnd some point which might turn the scale in the prisoner's favor, he feil asleep, and in a dream the desired point stoodout clearly. On awakening it was immediately worked out, and the verdict of "not guilty" was found consequent upon that revelation aöorded during the bours of sleep. When'exercising the imaginative faeulties to any gieat extent. the dreams will always preserve the ideal character of the wakeful hours. The composer will dream of the melodies which provide bis own luilaby when dropping into slumber. and the artist and the writer enter the land of dreams in cotnpany with thoe that the pen or the brush are guided to depict with such a loving hand. Plots have beea furnished and subjects for the canvas have been suggested over and over. again in the quiet hours of the night, when to all outward appearances there is nothing but the most peaceful slumber on the