Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-10-26

A medical man of eminence believes that
he has discovered that weariness is caused hy
what he calls fatigue material, substance
formed in the blood by the action OF the mus
cles and nerves, and which he alleges il only
destroyed by the oxygen of the blood during
sleep. This statement Is not yet demon
strated, hut whether continued experiment
proves or disproves it, the Importance OF
sleep as giving opportunity for the repair OF
wasted tissues, and winding up the system
for fresh work. cannot be overestimated.
One great cause of the superior health of
our pattern ancestors over the men and wo-
men of to-day was that they slept more.
There were other differences in their favor,
but this was one OF the most important
That was a rare occasion of pleasure, busi-
ness or necessity that kept young person.
at least, out of bed until midnight. and their
robust forms and healthy color proved the
value of early hours and abundant rest.
Certainly they did not have so lively time
as we do did not crowd so much excite
ment into given period, but as they lived
longer and had simpler tastesit seems prob
able that they got quite as much out of
life. One meets on every hand tired-look-
ing young men whose faces evoke pity.
hasty inference might be drawn from the
often-repeated injunction of health critics
not TO over-study or over-work, that their
faces ''are sicklied DER with the pale cast of
thought :" but such is not often the case,
nor are many of them suffering from too
great exertion of muscles. They are ex-
hausted from lack OF sleep, that is all but
it is a serious matter, for, giving themselves
too little time at night for tired natures
sweet restorer." to repair damages. they are
not only spending each day the strength
gained at night, but drawing on their capi-
fal Ry aud lNs when a n pmgrnpncV
there is no reserved strength TO meet 1t, and
they become physically bankrupt, involving
those dependent upon them III distress of
one sort or another.
In some cases II is unrestralned love of
amusement that causes this wrong-dong.
Exciting forms of pleasure which are pro-
tracted TO and beyond midnight. are indulged
in not once or twice n month, but nightly,
and irreparable inroads are made upon the
constitution at period when the boy is not
yet hardened for hfe's work, by too great and
constant excitement, as well as by INSULT
cient sleep. Not only so, but while the capa-
city for simple pleasures Is smothered, so
much indulgence in mere amusement robs it
OF all zest Young misanthropes, who have
drained their cup of lite to the dregs, are
not inirequent. They go to bed tired, rise
unrested, and go to their daily tasks without
interest. They conclude that life doesn't
pay, and they are right. II does not pay
them, because they misuse it, II has no
sparkle, and they come to their sere and yell
low leaves before they are fairly men. The
worst feature OF all is. indulging constantly
their desire for pleasure. they lose the power
of self-restraint. 81 WISH rules them in
stead of 81 ought. and instead of being
manly. self denying. energetic, studious.
they are, as one of George Ehot's sharp wo
men says, poor, squashy things. The
locke well enoof but the wont wear, the
woon't wear.
Young men are not the only sinners IN
respect to sleep. School girls study at night
some of them but their pale checks are
oitener caused by noyel-reading and enter
tanning company. Go to bed at nine o'clock
Missy tilts her small nose in disdain. She
is not child, she would have you know, but
Il young lady say of fifteen years, and knows
low to take care of herself The one thing
that an American mother is usually profound
ly ignorant of is how either to exact or win
obedience from her chits of girls. SO the
waste goes on. Clergymen who spend Sat
urday night over their sermons. enter their
pulpIts worn out and dull on Sunday. and
preach people 10 sleep. because they are
themselves half asleep IN body. and wholly
so in spirit. They have the blue devils on
Monday, because the devil of procrastination
possessed them all the week. They 20 ON
set voyages and European tours, III search of
lest health. which they would find ut home
if they would sleep enough. and ut proper
hours.
The poor mothers and housekeepers who
are kept awake by restless children and un-
finished tasks, have more OF our pity but
even they might manage better than they do.
Babies are sure to be i'll and restless If their
L q.
see how many OF the Indispensable pieces OF
work may be- postponed, if one will but
think 80. 81 might have donea little more,
wrote Faith Rochester once. "but remen-
bercd that WAS the haby's mother. and 50
went to bed" Sensible woman and good
mother, 1t il pitiiul to think how many
nursing babies die of embroidery and ruffed
skirt, of cake and pies, and superfuous
machine and housework Of all sorts. II is
not put down so in the registry OF deaths
They call the trouble 10y various names
cholera infantum. marasmus, hydroccphalus
etc but the recording angel knows better
and without mncing matters, writes Died
from fatigue. because ITS mother waa iguo-
rant, or obstinate. or yairs and silly. as the
case may be.
Thank heaven. At Is no longer thought an
envnble distinction IN II woman to have dch-
cate health The tide has turned since the
days that some of ua can remember
the girl who tainted easily. was thought to be-
OF a little higher order of things than her
more robust companions. Health is brcom-
ing fashionable, but public sentiment will
not he entirely sound upon the question So
long as the fact Is not generally recognized,
that to risk the health for present personal
qualification, IL worse than stupid blnnder
it is sinful and while there is 80 little
| cultivation of the moral sense. TINT ppnul.