143 



Now it would seem quite natural for one when awakened by the peal 

 of thunder to think of his relative, and the sudden thought may be mis- 

 taken for a dream. Even if it were a real dream and "came true" it 

 must still be regarded as a coincidence, as one instance out of thousands 

 of dreams the rest of which did not come true. We hear of the par- 

 ticular one, and as just remarked, at second hand, or even a number of 

 removes from the original source, to the neglect of all dreams that did 

 nut come true. At times we see a mention in the newspapers of dreams 

 that "came true." 



A second class is composed of those who pay no attention whatever 

 to dreams, and also those whom one can not interest in the subject at all, 

 who may even express disgust at the very idea of giving a dream a sec- 

 ond thought. This class is as unsatisfactory to the student as the other. 



Those who do give some attention to dreams and may be made to 

 take additional interest when their attention is called to the subject ''form 

 a third class — the class I have in mind in this paper. They are compara- 

 tively few — but, as in other thiugs, to the few we owe our increase in 

 knowledge. 



Out of the long list of factors and conditions enumerated in this 

 paper only a few, perhaps only one or two, may play an important role 

 in the life of any one person ; to him, however, they may be essential. 

 As an example, we have the man who requires the quiet of the country, 

 or on the other hand, the man who requires the stimulation of city life. 



In asking for data one can put the question in several ways : In the 

 case of those who have occasional periods when the mind is very active, 

 we can ask, "Under what conditions does this occur?" "What causes the 

 mind to become thus active?" While in those whose minds are nearly 

 always active, but where there are occasional intervals of inactivity, 

 when a man savs, "I can't think." we may ask, "Why not?" 



As an addendum may be mentioned several other factors that stim- 

 ulate the mind and bring on thoughts. 



Trying It on the Audience — "for further inspiration." I recall how 

 Dr. Jordan used to do this before his classes in Evolution, as he himself 

 told us. I have often wondered how much inspiration he got from a 

 dull class. 



An Assigned Task, as a factor, as where a member of the Academy 

 sends in his title, and as the time for the meeting approaches gradually 



