POWER OF THE IMAGINATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8472, 24 January 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

POWER OF THE IMAGINATION.

The Philadelphia Times tells how a dream of death was accurately carried out to the peaceful end. The story is as follows— A remarkable instance of the hold superstition has upon the mind of even the educated and religious was recently exhibited in the case of Mrs. Rebecca Byrnes, of Helena, Ark., a lady noted for her intellectual attainments and pious life. One morning, rising in what seemed her usual health and spirits, she summoned her children to come to her. One son was residing in Topeka, Kan., one in New Orleans, two daughters were married and living in Sedalia, Mo. ; but, obedient to their mother's call, they came at once, though ignorant of the reason of their summons. When all were about her, the lady informed them that she had had a dream in which her husband, who had been dead for nearly 15 years, had warned her that she had only ten days more of life. She had sent for her children to bid them good-bye, which she proceeded to do with much calmness, but with the air of one who had not the slightest doubt that she was already dying. Her friends attempted to reason with her and to point out the folly of placing such confidence in a dream, but all to no purpose, for the lady persisted in asserting that she would depart from earth on such a day and exactly at a certain hour. Her pastor remonstrated with her and even brought the severest censure to bear on her superstitious credulity, and at last Mrs. Byrnes ceased to speak of the matter, so that her family had begun to think she had conquered her fancy. She continued in excellent health and pursued her usual daily life, but just before the hour she had predicted would be that of her death she sought her children and bade them good-bye, then seating herself quietly in an arm-chair, expired just as the hour was struck. The physicians declare that her death was due solely to her imagination,