The Book of Dreams and Ghosts by Andrew Lang
page 44 of 279 (15%)
page 44 of 279 (15%)
|
(Signed) "JOHN WILLIAMS." {42} When we come to dreams of the future, great historical examples are scarce indeed, that is, dreams respectably authenticated. We have to put up with curious trivialities. One has an odd feature. THE RATTLESNAKE Dr. Kinsolving, of the Church of the Epiphany in Philadelphia, dreamed that he "came across a rattlesnake," which "when killed had _two_ black-looking rattles and a peculiar projection of bone from the tail, while the skin was unusually light in colour". Next day, while walking with his brother, Dr. Kinsolving nearly trod on a rattlesnake, "the same snake in every particular with the one I had had in my mind's eye". This would be very well, but Dr. Kinsolving's brother, who helped to kill the unlucky serpent, says "_he had a single rattle_". The letters of these gentlemen were written without communication to each other. If Mr. Kinsolving is right, the real snake with _one_ rattle was _not_ the dream snake with _two_ rattles. The brothers were in a snaky country, West Virginia. {43} The following is trivial, but good. It is written by Mr. Alfred Cooper, and attested by the dreamer, the Duchess of Hamilton. THE RED LAMP Mr. Cooper says: "A fortnight before the death of the late Earl of L--- in 1882, I called upon the Duke of Hamilton, in Hill Street, to see him professionally. After I had finished seeing him, we went into the |
|