American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-07-19
SLEEP AND DEATH.-As men be-


gin to be about fifty years old, espe-
cially if Of sedentary habits, the feel
ing on rising in the morning is as if
they had not got enough sleep, not
as much as they used to have, and
as if they would like to have more
and cannot get 1t. They look upon
q healthy child sleeping sound with
feelings of envy. But it is curious
to observe that there is a bliss to all
in the act of going to sleep, bliss
we become cognizant of only when
we happen to be aroused just as we
were falling into stronger sleep;
and there are strong physiological
reasons to suppose that this state is
a counterpart of the great event that
comes to all, the act of dying. In
fact, those who have, in rare cases,
been brought back to life when on
its EXTREMIST verge, and in several
cases, as those who have been recov-
cred from drowning and other modes
Of strangulation, or simple smother
ingS, the expressions have been, Oh
returning to consciousness, How
delicious" "Why did you not let
me go :" An eminent man, thus
brought back, represented that tho
last remembered sensations of which
he was conscious were as if he were
listening to the most ravishing strains
Of music. Let us all, then, cherish
the thought that our approach to
the sleep of the grave is the strict
counterpart Of the approach to sleep.
BATHING.-Ablution is absolutely
necessary for the preservation of
beauty and health. In the East, the
harems have in connection with them
baths, that the beauties may con-
tinue to have soft and elastic skins,
and by the tonic effect of cold water.
health may be prolonged. Pimplcs,
alterations, and many ilnperfections
Of a light character, may be removed
by the use of the bath. BY the re-
moval Of fetid matter from the sur
face of the skin, diScOloration, black
specks and roughness are often
cured.
There are four kinds of water used
in cleansing the body: rain, spring,
river and sea water. Rain water is
the most powerful as a cleanser.
Spring water will circulate the blood
more rapidly than either Of the 9th
ers, producing the greatest shock in
shower and sponge bathing. River
water will be found more suitable
where circulation is not desirable,
and where rain water would be found
hardly invigOrating enough. Sea
water Immediately acts incidentally
upon the skin, and is a greater
Strengthener to an enfeebled coHsti-
tuition. To bathe with advantage it
must be done with discretion, for the
kind of bathing that will suit some
will prove miSchievOus to others;
and some kinds of washing are hurt
full to all.
Persons with tendency to heart
disease should never use the shower
bath and those subject to head COM
plants should make it rule to wet
the upper part of their persons first,
and but gradually wet the feet. The
vapor bath is but seldom beneficial
to persons with pulmonary com
plants, and the warm bath is I'M
suited to those of nervous, san.
guine temperament. Bathing should
be treated more scientifically than it
has been. 1t would be well if, pre-
viOus to reSorting to the bath, peo-
pie were to consult their medical ad-
viSerS as to the best mode of bath
ing, The notion is too general, that
all persons are benefited by bathing
i'll the open sea.
Men have different spheres. 1t is
for some to evolve great moral
truths, rs the heavens evolve stars
to guide the sailor on the sea and
the traveller on the desert and it is
for some, like the sailor and traveller,
simply to be guided.
The pureSt and holieSt relation in
life is that of marriage, which ought
never to be regarded as a mere civil
contract, entered into from nero
worldly ends, but az an essential
union of two minds, by which each