Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-05-21
EARLY RISING.

splace a basin of cold water beside you
bed. When you first awake in the morn
inc, dip your hands in the basin, and sleel
will not again seal you in its treacherou
embrace. This is the advice of an aget
clergyman who had been in the habit ofris
ing Ct early during long life"
The above scrap of information has beer
floating through the papers for the last tw'
or three months. We have read it until W.
are tired of it, for the reason tits advice tht
wisdom of which we do not credit Why
should any man wish to rise earlyi Is i
more pleasant or more conducive to health
Old Ben. Franklin with vast deal of wis
dom has sent forth to the world as much alb
surdity as any philosopher who has lived
One of his maXlms was
"Early to bed and early to rise,
Makes man healthy, wealthy, and WISE"
Which many fools taking in its litera
sense have adopted with the confident ex
pectation that going to bed at dark and get
TING UP two hours before day would ensure
these three greatest of earthly blessings
MANY such have done it, and before hal
their DAYS were out found themselves bun
die of disease, poor as Jobs turkey, and JUS
as consummate fools as their grandfathers
who pursued different course
There are no general rules which can be
made to suit the condition and circumstances
of every individual. Nothing is truer than
the old adage, ''that one mans meats anoth'
er mans poison" what is healthful to one
constitution is destruction to another. AL
our relations are early risers. From tt
10 in the morning we show our nose abroad
We have been healthy all the time and they
have been pretty generally sickly: The
"treacherous embrace" of mornings NAP
we have yielded to our whole life, and mean
to continue it, the old Parsons advice tc
the contrary Notwithstanding. AT this sea,
son of the year it is decidedly the happles'
hour of the twenty-four. We want no ba'
sin of cold water in which to dip our hands
Nor do we need any soporlfc to quiet US
We sleep gently and refreshingly until we
are satisfied, get up and use the basin OF
cold water which at that time we ind ex-
ceedingly reVlvlng.
We find in the books, in the nursery tales,
and even from the pulpit much said in IA
vor of early rising. We remember to have
read some time since some anecdote Illus
trating the absurdity ofsuch teachings. A
celebrated English Judge Mansfield we
think) was for many years strenuous ad-
vocate for early rising, and delig ghted al
ways to find instances in which his theory
was strengthened by the health and good
looks ofindividuals who followed it. In one
of his Nisi Prius courts on some occasion
yery excited case called forth large num-
ber of witnesses. Among them were two
men, ono SO, and the other 1902 years ofage,
and both in fine health s. exceedingly ac-
tive for their years. The Judge hoping
to find two strcng illustrations OF the be-
nefits of early rising in these old men in
terrogated them closely as to their habits.
What is your age said he to one of them
Ninety eight sir
What are your habits?
Ihave been regular throughout life. l
l eat moderately, sleep reasonably, and Ia
Dor steadily. | have been seldom sick,
never had doctor, thank God, and ever
had a quiet conciq qnce. go to bed at an
early and regular hour, and rise always be-
fore day dawns.
Just what | had expected said the Judge
in exultation. Behold the benefits OF early
rising.
The Judge then called up the other wit
ness when similar dialogue ensued.
Your age : if you pease sir.
One hundred and two.
What are your habits /?
I have lived just as inclination or
appetite inclined me. | eat what L
want, just as much as l please, and as
often as my appetite prompts me. go to
bed at any hour that suits me, get up when
have slept as much as | want, and DO e.
very thing in the way of eating and sleep
ing that desire. | was never sick IN my
life, have clean conscience, and render
daily acknowledgements to my God tor his
kindness and his mercies.
These cases were posers to his Honor
He could not reconcile them. They denied
his old theory of early rising as contributing
so essentially to health. Afterwards ne
contended, as all wise men should, that
neither health, wealth nor wisdom was ac-
quired by any prescribed rules of conduct
but was the result ofindustry, integrity and
-. .I.cI Nome