The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-08-18
The Art Of Sleeping,

Most of the men who have made their
mark as successful leaders have been
good sleepers as well as hearty workers.
Napoleon Bonaparte lost no opportunity
either for good sleep or good meal.
Even before going into battle he would
take few hours tor sleep if possible.
The Duke of Wellington was such a
sound sleeper that he seldom moved
from the time he closed his eyes until he
awoke. He used a very narrow bed,
and said that when it was time for
man to turn in his bed it was time to
get up. Henry Ward Beecher is known
to be a good sleeper. He falls asleep in
moment after his head has touched the
pillow. These men md other great
workers have had faculty which is an
important addition to the mere taking
of sleep. 1t is the power of withdraw
ing ones self from all surrounding per-
sons and objects and finding immediate
rest in slumber. The man Who can thus
take rest is refreshed and strengthened
under many circumstances which would
keep other people weary and wakeful.
He is master OF every situation as re-
CARDS his own rest. Some men, by long
abit, find themselves able to take sleep
with the same ease that others would
take glass of water. They can sleep
either while perched on q high stool or
rattIing along in a railroad car at forty
miles an hour. The economy of wear
and tear on the lives of such people is
wonderful. The man who cannot sleep
unless he has first removed his clothes,
put out the light and climbed into his
bed is at a great disadvantage. Greater
yet is his disadvantage if he can sleep in
no bed but his own. There are som
who are possessed with the notion that
their own bed is the only one in which
they can slumber. These people are
utterly wretched when they 60 to the
ountry where the beds are stuffed with
straw or shavings, and where the springs
are made of noisy material, which re-
sounds Whenever touched. When they
90 to Europe and are forced either to
stay awake or to sleep in quarters not
much larger than the shelf of mantel-
piece, their misery is too great for utter
ance. Much of the comfort and discom-
tort experienced in sleeping and in trying
to sleep is the result of habit. There are
some people who toss on their beds for
half the night, rs if they were uneasy
ghosts. They have never learned to
sleep.
1t is the power to shut ones self within
ones self that constitutes one of the ap-
proaches to healthful sleep. There are
objections to sleeping in church which
need not in this connection be recounted.
But the man who has by patient habit
accustomed himself to slumbering un-
der sermon can learn to 60 to sleep
and under any circumstances.
He is sometimes seen in snug corner
of str ct car, when several ladies ap-
pear on the platform seeking seats. lie
often finds it convenient when bore
addresses him to be able to subside into
slumber. When his mother.in-law
wearies him with protracted discussion
of uninteresting subjects, it is ever so
delightful to sleep, or to seem to sleep.
Good sleep is blessing from heaven,
and he who can sleep, whether flies
crawl on him, mosquitoes bite him,
Cross people scold him, or noisy children
dance and play in his presence, is blessed
indeed.- Philadelphia Times.