Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-04-08

Coarlnr sluaber.

lhere lh no reason 10 uOuDt tue TACT
that the most wakeful person will find il
easy enough TO 20 to sleep IL he heed
the words OF the scientific people, ant
sets about the matter in such way that
there shall be an accumulation in the
organism of the products OF oxidation
aud mainly of carbonc acid, that accu
mutation being favored and controlled
by reflex action Of the nervous system
which thus protects the organism from
excessive oxidation, and also allows the
organism to manifest its normal func.
tional activity throughout a succeeding
rhythmic period. y
But as there are persons who might
worry their minds by endeavoring to ar
range matters according to this pro-
gramme, we may as we'll try to consider
this desirable rhythmic period from
a simpler point Of view.
The matter has been so thoroughly
discussed in the journals of the land,
ever since sleeplessness became a ma.
tional disease, that we do not pretend to
effer any new ideas in regard TO il. we
will merely assert that if we want TO 60
TO sleep, and find ourselves unable to do
so in the ordinary way, it is an excellent
plan to fix our mind upon something un-
interesting, and to keep it there. Here
is the gist Of nearly everything that has
been said about the mental processes of
inducing sleep. ..,
Nearly every one knows something or
somebody decidedly uninteresting, and
there are those who could afford to fur
nish subjects of this nature to their
friends. But it must be admitted that
it is hard to keep ones mind at work
upon dull and unengrossing theme.
There is a constant tendency to get in
terested in something, and to keep
awake. Generally it is the fact that we
are awake and ought to be asleep, that
occupies our minds, and few subjects
could possess more painful interest at
the time. In consequence of this ten
dency, this affinity of the mind for mat
ters of interest, it is often necessary to
give a color of pleasureable sensation to
the object of mental contemplation. In
this way we can think OF the thing long
enough to get perfectly tired out, and so,
unconsciously, drop of into slumber.
For instance, suppose we imagine
that we are rowing a boat, regularly and
steadily, along quiet and heavily
shaded stream. This is a most excel
lent imagination to go to sleep upon.
We know man who fell into slumber
every night for months thinking upon
this fancy, and in all that time he
never rowed his boat quarter Of a
mile from the startingplace.) Well
this idea of boat and pair Of oars
may be so extremely uninteresting to
some men, that it would be impossible
for them to keep their minds upon it
long enough to produce the proper ef-
feet. In such a case it might be well to
put lady in the stern of the boat. But
it is necessary to be careful here. This
female must not be very interesting.
We would recommend a lady not too
young; some quiet, thoughtful person,
with what is generally known as a su-
perior mind. There should be but
little conversation, and that of nature
to induce somnolent reflection. For in
stance, the lady might remark, after
period Of silence, that she should think
people living in Constantinople would
always feel under the influence of a
SPELL Now, one might be quite certain
that such remark, made by thought
ful woman with q superior mind, would
have something in it, and the quiet per-
sistence necessary to discover the ref
erence of the remark to the fact that
few cities had furnished such fertile OPP
portunities for spelling as C,o-n-s-t-a n
t.i-n.o-p.l-e, together with the gentle and
monotonous exercise with the oars, will
be almost certain to put one to sleep-if
anything can.
Persons who are in the habit of lying
awake in the morning before it is time
to get up, will often find that if they can
but impress it upon their minds that
they ought to get up Immediately, and
that it is wrong for them to lie still d
moment longer, the bed will begin to
grow more and more attractive, and that
the gentle drowsiness which besets peo-
pie who ought TO get out of bed, but
who want to stay there, will very proba-
oily steal upon them. Every one who
has ever wished he could be as delight
fully sleepy on Sunday or holiday morn
ings as he is on days when he must rise
early to his work, will appreciate this
nlan