The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-06-23
VOL. J
A Wo.d shout EARLY Rising.

investigating the suhject--to interviewing
old folks and rummaging among family
bistorics-statc> that he never came across
a case Of rcmai kable longevity unaccom-
panied by The habit OF early rising from
which testimony it might be inferred that
they die ca ly who lie abed late; but we
hold this to he fal,acy. The medical gem
cd, and, at,cr the manner of partisans,
booked at hut one SHE of the question.
That most elderly people arc early risers
is due TO the damaging fact that they can
not slren O. mornings. They necessarily
rise hctlmcs. and unj,lstifiablv make mon
strous vi.t,lo of it. Alter man passes his
tiftieth birthday he usually awakens at sum
rise. though perhaps he used to let the
hrcakf,st-beIl ring in vain when he was
Younger. As our theorist confined his
observations to aged people who could not
slumbcr after the gray dawn had tapped
at the window-pane, he came easily to the
conclusion that men live to he old be-
cause they do not sleep late, instead
Of seeing that they do not sleep late be-
cause they arc oil. having with q great
deal Of trouble secured this lop-Sided d.
tam, our friend started off with his theory
in favor Of rising with the lark. Not being
n lark ourselves, we decline to regulate our
movements on any Ornithological princi-
pie. We believe III a generous allowance
Of sleep. We believe that too little sleep
is more injurious than too much. Unless
q mans business or professional engage
mentS oblige him to turn out very early,
he does his physical nature injustice by
defra,lding himself of those delicious morn
ing maps which SO refresh and strengthen
one. For men who do brain work there is
no medicine like plenty Of sleep
"Slccp. that knits mp thc ravel'd sleeve OF care,
The death OF each d 'site, sore laoor's bath,
Balm of hust MUD, great nature's second
CHIEF nouri.her In life's feast !"
Cervantes'S humble hero did not mis-
place his benson in shOwerng it on the
man that invented sleep; but the man that
invented waking up much before O'Clock
in the morning was no friend to the human
race.
There is m immense amount of nonsense
| on record in defence of early rising this
has been written chiefly Ivy poets who
| brcaklastcd-when they did brcakfast-at
| T. o'clock. Thomson, who gave birth to
the atrocious sentiment emb olied in the
| line,
Falsely Iuxurious, will not man awake"
was one Of the LATEST men Of his century.
He generally lay In bed until noon (medi-
| tating verses on sunrise), and did not often
yet fully awake until later in the day, for he
was frequently observed strolling in his
| garden ut Richmond, after breakfast, eat.
ing peaches Off a tree, with both hands in
his waistcoat pockets!
We would like to know what inducemcnt
| there is for early rising in the city. What
| is more shabby and dispiriting than a city
| street before the shop windoW-shutters are
milk-and-water man, and Mary washing of
! the front steps? In the country there is q
kind of bloom in the morning that wears of
| in IN hour or two-this is worth enjoying
| DaYhreak OH the Sea-cOast or up among the
mountains is Il glorious spectacle but fl.
miliarity with it breeds contempt. 1t /:
| your habitual late riser who takes in the
| full richness Of nature on those raro occa.
sions when he gets up early. 1t Is wei
enough to rise with the sun-wc Won't
say with the lark, because we know moth.
| ing about its cccentricities-two OF three
| times in the course of the summer, if fol
no other purpose than TO be prepared
to combat the intolerance of the proles.
sional early riser, who, If be were in 4
state of perfect health, would lie abcd
until O'clock. There arc few small things
more apt to he eXaSpcrating than this early
bird with the worm of his conceit in his
bill. How he scorns yoll for your lndUlent
habits! Here he has been up "these three
hours"; bo has read the morning paper,
becu to the post-Othce, seen Smith i'll the
distance, converscd with Jones, came near
meeting Brown, while yorl-you were
snoozng away the best hours of life. Let
the old fellow prattle OH, for some day YOU
will grow restless yourself after the clock
has struck five, and will want the privilege
of jccrinS ut your son.iu-law, or your
grandson, or any of the younger drowsy
beads Of your household who may chance
| to come down late to breakfast. The old
fellow would sleep later if he could, but he
| can't, and ii he wants to make virtue OF
| it, what's the harm? Maybe he basn't as
many virtues as you lave. He certainly
has not had your refreshing sleep.-Ec.