Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-07-28
VERM MONT TELEG RAPH.

of our modern books-school books as
well as others-and to the use Of lamps
and candles, than most Of US have ever
supposed.
Having thus shown, directly and indi-
rectly, the more prominent sources of in
jury from sitting up late in the evening,
and rising late in the morning, and hav-
ing represented as plainly as we could the
vast advantages, in point ofreal economy,
which result from rising early, there re-
mains on this part OF our subject, but one
thing more to be considered.
We have shown that there is a fallacv
in some of the estimates which have been
made of the waste oftime involved by w.
ing in bed late. That there is, however,
great deal of time wasted in this manner,
we have never doubted for one moment
But admitting time to be really wasted in
sleep, how MUCH do we waste?
An extended rep y to this question
would involve full discussion of the
whole subject of sleep-its uses and abu-
ses. Upon such a discussion, we cannot
of course now enter. We can only say,
that those writers who make the most lib
era allowance, are very generally agreed,
that most adults sleep about two hours
longer than the wants Of their nature de-
mand.
Whether these two hours are wasted
before midnight or atterward, makes little
difference as to our present purpose. If it
be admitted that an average amount Of
time, equal to two hours in every twenty
four, is really wasted by each adult, we
then have good and substantial data on
which to found the following estimates:
Two hours a day, from the age oftWen-
tv to fifty, that is, for period of thirty
years, amount to 2l,9l4 hours equal to
two and a half whole years Of human life :;
or more than three and half years, FIVE
consider as part of real life our waking
hours onl y But three years and half,
or even two and a half, subtracttd from the
meridian of human life, is by no means a
triAing loss
But letus proceed step further The
whole population Of the United States mast
be at least fifteen millions. Suppose on
" halfof these to reach fifty Yeas Of age.
Yet two years and a half deducted from
each of 100000 individuals, amount to
l0,75O,OOO years of life Of the shortnesS
Of which almost every oneis complaining
To superior beings, must rot these our
complaints, arising as they do, appear
childish, or even ridiculous?
1t seems almost unnecessary. in COun-
try where every body understands the
rules ofrommon arithmetic, to compute the
oft i
time. Every one must see, that a loss of
two years and half Of active life is no
3 trife. Can its value be less, upon the
average, even when We consider the low
price Of female labor, than $3.50? But
this is a loss to the present generation of
S75OOOO,OOO.
We will say nothing of the valuable
/ uses 10 which such an amount either OF
. wasted time or money might be applied
, 1t is sufficient five have made it apparent
f that an enormous waste does exist. II
r our estimate were even twice as high as
it should Though we believe it too
low, rather than too high-the subject
should lead US to reflection, and induce us
r to make the inquiry, whether hy our OWN
8 example, we may not be contributing to
swell this mighty aggregate Of wasted
5 property, and in that way becoming, in a
greater or less degree, responsible for the
, consequences.
MEANS OF SECURING THE HABIT OF
EARLY RISING.
Four things are indispensable to those
who would FORM for the first time, the
habit Of early rising.
F'irst-a thorough conviction of its i'm
= portance-If arguments like the torego-
ing, have failed fully to convince an indi-
vidual that a change Of habits will make
; him happier, healthier, and more prosper
Gus in his pecuniary concerns, then it
seems to US in vain for him to talk Of the
: importance of such a habit, or of the
> means ofacquiring it.
SecondIv-a strong will and fixed de
termination to succeed-No lounger will
ever become, permanently and habItually,
an early riser, till he has a fixed determine
ton to be so. He who waivers continu-
allv sometimes rising early, at others
yielding to temptation, and practically
saying-"A little more sleep--a little
more slumber," just this once, will never
reach the goal, nor secure the prize
There must be a will like that of Luther,
when he resolved 10 60 to certain place,
though his way were INSTRUCTED by. wick,
1 ed men and internal spirits thick as the
( tiles on the tops of the houses.
There are some persons who cannot
t rise, or think they cannot, without the I'M.
mediate interpositlon OF some peasurabIe
I. motive. While the will is still weak, and
5 the temptation and inclination to indul
e gence in our bad habits still strong some
/ thing of tn:s Kind may be useful. A pleas
0 ant morning walk, or familiar converse
t ton. or reading exercise with a choice