The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1824-04-29
SONdMBULISM.

mental fscultiss are by no means torpid dur
ing tho time Of sleep, bur in The following cir.
cumstances, fully suthen nicsted, there Is aw-
pie proof tina, the powers of the miod may st
that period sustlin greater labor than during
our waking moments. The subject is one
we'll deserving Of attention, both IN medical
end philosophers al point Of view. About three
months ego, John Buck'idge, the son OF
wealthy and respectable farmer, residing near
Leeds, in Yorkshire, was placed sta ersm.
mar school within a few miles OF that town
kept by tho Rev. Mr.. Dunno. Young Buck
ridge, who was entered ~ q boa der, display
ed vers hi!ls inclination for learning during
the frs, month Of his probstiop. He talked
necessarily Of the plough and harrow, the dsi-
ry and tho farm yard, the hogs and horses, and
wished often end heartily that be was smtngst
thsm, snd free from tho tedious aud irksome
task OF poriOg over books, the contents OF
which he neither knew, nor seemed 10 wish 10
know--he thoughs
"where ignorance was bliss
Twas tsly TO be wise"
However, the Principal Of tho establishment
neglected no means In endssvoring 10 call
forth whatever share ofintsllect tho boy might
have /; siill no eyinccd no thirst for improve.
meat, and his reten,lve faculties being eT'
uemely dofec,ive he seldom remembered in
the morning eny part Of tho lesson commised
to his keeping on the preceding evening In
this manoer the boy continued to plod on
wsariiy with his studies until tho expiration
Of another montb, when Q visible change was
remarked in the manner that he performed
tho varors school business allotted 10 him (;
he that was before only remarkable for doll
ness and stupidity, became tho most correct
and generally peifec, student in the entire Q.
cademys bur the cause Of his Wcst singular
change sill remained mystery. DuiDg the
usual hours for business, he was, as before,
listless and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. did he relax
in his atm me n,s, so that he did not seem Q
devote one hour more to s,udy.-l, happened
however, tha, ono OF the ushers, who occupied
sn apartment contiguous 10 the schools Dom
hearing noise in tho passage be,wixt the
hours Of twtlvs and ons, whan the family hso
retired to rest, was induced TO watch, on the
supposi,ion that thieves might have broker
in,o The house. On partly opening his door
all was dark and silent but in few minute.
| after, young Buckrldge ascended from The
kitchen With lamp sight 10 his hsnd, which
he had brought from it. The oshei's isar'
now gave wsy to curiosity, aud be de,or minet
| to watch the movements Of the boy, who wa
/ evidently enjoying q profound sleep. Buck
| ridge passed on with a rapid though csu,lou
| step to tho door OF tho school room, which h,
| unlocked, and proceeding directly to the plsc,
| that no generally occupied, opeoed desk II
which his books were deposited, took then
out and arranged them in due order befon
| him, and Instantly fell 10 study. The aston
Il ,.k> shat IL hf n Ar
been a trick Of the boys, took and pinche'
I him repeatedly bu, 10 no purpose--he seem
| cd inseosible 10 every thing save only the pur
suit Of lear ming, and after having successiveI
perused the difereo, lessons marked Tor hi
business on the following morning, he stos
from the seat, and repeated them at the Prn
cipal's desk, .. If he had been there for exam
ina,ion in tho most perfect and sstisfsc,or
manner. The usher hsvin. faithfully report
ed this singular discovery, Mr.. ID. resolved I
watch the following uigh', and be enabled
question the lad he accordingly did so, 40
soou, the same hour as on the pfecedin
\ night, young Buektidge arose from his be
and went through tho same ceremony, wi,
the addition Of writing his Eogli'h Exercise
which were no, included 10 the business Of III
former day Having completed ,his impo
tant sfair, he proceeds as before TO M'. ID
desk, where that gentlemso now STOOD, Il
gether with the usher, and here he fepeste
in regular succession his various lessons, 6,
piled to macy questions put 10 him BY Mf.
and finally, having delivered 10 his exerei.'
for examination, returned to the kitchen wi
tho lamp, which he carefully extinguishe
aud vent back to bsd.-Being closely ques
ioned 10 the morn,ng IS TO how he had b
come 90 perfect in his lessons, he could Q
sign no reason whatever for being 90, and d
cisred that il had surprised himself .:
thing 10 certain, that the sleep is BY no mes
counterfeit F; the lad s,ilI knows nothing Of
bot almost Invariably Qoi,s his bed q, the san
hour end goes through his school busine
wi,a tho ssue UAWWipg rseel"i'y