Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-09-01
Early Rising.

EVEN since the days Of poor Richard,
we were about to say, but IL dates much
further back than that, so we will say since
the beginning of the world, there has been
a class of wiseacres who are unwilling to
believe that any good can come of per
son who does not rise with the lark. IL is
not so important with these philosophers
whether one who follows their advice Is
thereby better fitted 10 perform his required
duties, since they hold mere early rising to
be virtue which covers multitude of
sins. They insist that early retiring and
early rising twill make q man healthy,
wealthy, and wise," In spite of the fact
that chambermaids, milkmen, chimney.
sweeps, and others who are earliest out of
their beds, have never been particularly
distinguished for any of these characters
tics or requirements. 1t is useless TO ar
que with these philosophers that arly ris-
Ing, like cold baths in winter, does not
agree with all constitutions; they reply
with an allusion to the sluggard upon
whom poverty comes like an armed man,
or the early bird, OF some other person or
thing which has the least possible relation
to our circumstances or employments. 1t
Is bad enough when one of these early-ris-
ing philosophers is q friend or neighbor; ;
but when he lives under the same root,
and not only rises at unearthly hours but
insists upon disturbing the " forty morning
winks" Of the household slumberers, he
becomes positive nuisance, which should
be exposed that it may be abated. The
fact Is, these good people mistake a habit
for characteristic. Mere early rising is
as often bad as good trait, for knaves
and drunkards are frequently found stir
ring early in the morning. But L,
as is probably the case, early rising is
used by them as another name for fore
handedness, then much that is said of
1t may be true. 1t is much more impor-
tant that man should have sufficient
amount of refreshing sleep than that he
| should be out of bed at given hour in
the morning. If there were any absolute
time in the morning when mankind must
cease from slumber, then most editors of
| daily papers and night wOrkmen generally,
must be irrevocably consigned to the ranks
of the ne'er. do wells. The hours of dark
ness are naturally appointed for sleep; but
when they are occupied, 30 much more
daylight must be given to "tired natures g
sweet restorer." Those who dispute this
| proposition, IL passing a season at the
| North Pole, would, to be consistent, find
1t necs ssary to sit up wakefully during the
months the sun never sets, and slumber
| soundiy during the equally long period of
its disappearance.
The natural time for rising, however,
seems to vary at different seasons of the
year. Now that the nights are warm, ii
is not comfortable to sit in a well.lighted
room on account of the heat thrown out
from the burners, so it is not hard to per
susde ones self to retire early. The light
which streams in our windows by six
| d. ~ 20
wake us, so it is not difficult to get up al
that time, providing we have had our
seven or eight undisturbed hours of sleep
In winter, however, the warmth of the
fire, the brilliancy of the library lamp, and
the comfort OF the easy chair, are apt to
keep US up until near or past midnight, Sc
that six, seven and sometimes eight
o'clock still finds us enjoying the treasure
whose inventor received Sancho Panza''
blessing. 1t is the refreshment we have
derived from our sleep much more than the
hour we rise which determines our work
ing power for the day.
Poor Richard says the man who risei
late may trot all day without overtakins
lis business at night; but we fancy tha
depends upon the gait at which he geti
over the ground. II will not do for the
baker or the milkman to lie abed too late il
the morning; but what If the merchan
and the professional man should rise ever
earlier than they? If last nights business
had been attended to, they must wait tn,
receipt of new orders by mail, or of Gus
toners who are not wont to stir until thel
eaten their breakfast.
If, however, the doctors correctly inform
US, the besetting sin of the Americans il
not indolence, but oyer-sctivity and excess
I've excitement, resulting in nOrvans nrns
tration and brain disorders. Sleeplessnes
is much more common than sluggishness
and pale, haggard, bilious looking persons
1t is more recreation and good sleep, there
fore, that most of US want, rather thai
such early rising as entails yawny, half
awake existence during the rest of the day
Forehandedness is much more prerequi
site of success than the most regular wax
ing at the stroke of the alarR clock. If i
is necessary to get up early, retire easily
and rise when you have slept the requisit,
number of hours but it is not worti
while to plume ones self above his fellow
on any grounds, least of all on account o
being out of bed half hour earlier thai
ordinary mortals.-ReGrth and Home