Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-11-28

lliagc Sd that the conflagaration in
he other half may find the fuel is gone
then it comes there. But there is
llenty of advice Of this cast. Such is
he direction to imagine flock Of
heep following each other over a wall !;
count backwards TO repeat the
nultiplication-table; and so on. Wal
er Scott, who was an excellent ob.
server, SAYS Of mathematics. that per-
sons Of weak mental powers are apt to
De put to sleep by mathematical COM
binations aud sends one of his char
Acters to sleep accordingly. Even
good mathematicians tell me that they
cannot carry on elaborate calculations
fnore than an hour or two in their
heads in bed without sleeps taking its
revenge. This seems to me terrible.
1t is working the poor brain almost 10
death to insure the inevitable re action.
| However, | feel bound TO say that
the only practical suggestion ever
received in this matter which did me
much good was made to me By my
friend Mr.. Collins, the gentleman
whose exploration and surveys Of the
Amoor River and Of Siberia have been
4 such value. He gave NE the advice
just on the eve Of his sailing on one of
nis expeditions: 'Opcn the eyes"
he said, las YOU lie in bed, and look
steadily, without once winking, on
whatever is before them"
II my sleepless patient will try this,
he will find that the eye but just now
30 disposed TO wakefulness is at once
penitent, and begs to be permitted to
c.ose just for one instant. But you
nust be resolute: at is my turn now.
When wanted TO sleep, YOU wanted
10 be awake. Now keep open. and
.ook at that crossing Of the window
sash agains. the sky" ."-"Please let
me wink just once: i am very sorry"
mo! look at the crossing of the
nindow-sasb." The eve is held to as
Insignificant an object as the window
sash. The brain is held 10 window
sash. and nothing more important
:han window-sash. ToujourS window
SASH Meanwhile, the warmth OF the
bed, the hot water at the feet, is call
ing blood away; and l seldom find
that think window sash long. or anv
and there is no window-sash. None
the less does this theory bid YOU hold
the eye open till sleep closes it. More
than once | have held nv ewes op n
in such strait; and. failing any win
dow-sash, have hidden them look at
Mr.. Collins home on the Amoor
River. "And what sort of houses are
here on the Amoor River p" Why,
| suppose log.cabins. ."-"And do YOU
think there is bark on the logs:"-
why, yes there must be bark on the
logs. And do you think there is
boardwalk in front Of the house Z"
- Board walk :-board-w bark
board-board. d.hark-bark- bark board.
II is at about this stage that | have n
hundred times left Mr.. Collins and the
Amoor River, and gone to the land of
Nod.
Failing relief from any of these ex-
periments, YOU would better give up the
bed. take DR.. Franklin's walk as he
bids you, and then pass sponge Of
cold water freeley over the whole head.
forehead. hindhead, scalp, and all, till,
for the moment, it il well cooled down.
lake to bed with you wet towel. and
lay /: folded thick over your forehead.
This secures sleep for an hour or two
tnd. though n reaction may follow. if
worst comes TO worst you may do it
again.
3. Intentionally y omit all reference
to opiates or other sedatives, taken rs
medicines not that I dsbclieve in
them; but they are for the ply sicians
to advise you H.. The En>t-Indian
surgeon said that opium was the great
est blessing God had conferred on
man. | do not agree with him. |
hope YOU may never have to try il
You do, let the doctor judge when and
how. To the bromide of potassium.
now used SO largely rs sedative, few.
it any, of the evils generally dreaded
seems to belong.
4. And here l may as well bring
these suggestions to a close. To good
sleep, and enough of it, owe the hap
piness Of happy and an active life.
| shall be glad if can help any one
else to the same enjoyment. l confess
l have been distressed, since began
TO make these simple suggestions pub
lie, to learn from personal information
how many people in our over-workiny
over-thinking land suffer from sleep
lessness. wish could tell them all
how much better prevention is than
cure. l have spoken all along as if
We had full mastery over the faculties
of mind and body which are involved,
when l say what we should do with
our thoughts, and what we should do
with our appetites. or course, dear
reader, l know that you may have lost
that power; know you may have
never gained it. But let us speak Sc.