St. Landry democrat., 1888-11-24
RISE WITH The lARK.N
A Society for Keeping GoSd Houzs-Re
suits of High Civilization

4 Society for Keeping GoOd hoozs~fs@'
suits Of High Civilization
A society for keeping good hours has
been formed in Paris and branches of it
have been established in other French
cities. Its membership is confined to
persons Of wealth and leisure, for the
reason that laboring people are Obliged 70
rise early and become SO tired with q
long days work that they are glad to go
to bed at dark or shortly after. The mem
bers of the .'Ligue du Marin" propose
to take long social walks through the
parks, along the boulevards and into the
country, in the morning, starting out be-
fore the rising of the sun. They also
propose to change the hours for meals,
having dinner at about the time they
have been in the habit Of eating break
fast. Their receptions will be at 2 in the
evening instead of 10 or II. They will
exert their influence to have balls, con-
certs, theatrical performances and other
public entertainments commence at the
same early hour.
Changing night into day and day into
night is one of the results Of modern high
civilization. No one can give any good
reason for the absurd change The more
wealthy and cultivated most people be-
come, the larger is the portion of the
night that is devoted to intellectual labor
and anusements, and the smaller the
part given to sleep. The larger the pop.
,llation of place, the later is the time
for rising and retiring. Farmers rise
while it is still dark, have breakfast at
day dawn, and are out in the fields at
sunrise; village people are en- hour or
two later il all these things, and those
who live in cities are several hours later.
The first English parliament, like conn-
try prayer meeting, convened at ''early
candle lighting" Year by year the time
of meeting was postponed till midnight
was the hour for assembling. A reform
was then thought necessary. and 1t now
meets at a somewhat seasonable hour III
the evening.
Men who have accomplished much
have almost without exception been
early risers. Bishop Ken, author Of the
familiar hymn commencing Awake,
Ny Soul, and with the Sum-" composed 1t
before the sun was up, and recited it Or
sung it to wake up the college boys who
we've late sleepers by his directions his
funeral took place at daybreals, and the
hymn he wrote is chanted over his grave
every Sunday morning. In the Six
teenth century students in English col
leges were obliged to rise at s and to be
ready for prayers and recitations at 6.
They preserved through. life the habits
they acquired In boyllood.
The men who acquired great distinc-
ton in England in a previous age were
early risers. Sir Edward Coke rose at 3
every morning in the wear, and az no one
else about the house was up lighted his
own fire. Lord Burghley and John Yves
ley rose at i, Sir Ashley Cooper and Lord
Chatham at s. Gibbon, the great his
torian, was ALWAYS at work at G, which
was two hours after the time Rubens, the
painter. commenced to use his brush.
Daniel Webster rose with the lark. "
He acquired the habit on q New Hanp-
shire farm and il chung to him all his
life. When he and Lord Ashburton
were engaged in settling our northwest
ern boundary dispute I'm old farmer
friend became impatient at the long de-
lay and accused Webster Of forgetting
the good ways he had acquired when he
Was farm lad and was living at home.
Nothing of the kind" the great states
man said: Il work hard and presume
Lord Ashburton does, but we do not get
along as fast as wish, as we can seldom
manage it SO rs to get together. The
fact is rise at 4 every morning, which
is exactly the time my distinguished fell
low laborer goes to bed
The society world is certain to follow
the fashions III dress that are set in Paris.
1t may adopt the fashion Of early rising.
1t is not an expensive one like that OF
wearing costly garments Of peculiar de-
sign. It is fashion that Is pron.otive
of economy as well as health. Early
rising will he decided novelty to most
persons and may be found enjoyable on
that account. Chicago Times.