Wichita eagle., 1889-08-06
TO WOO SWEET SLEEP.
MANY SCHEMES EMPLOYED FOR
CONOUERING INSOMNIA.

StJNlOChiiNo ilNOONiNiFs
The Disciplined Brains of Great Soldiers.
The Hop Pillow of Our Forefathers-A
Plan That Would Cause Architects
TroubIe-Wet the Head.
If any unusually acute inventor could
tell us of an infallible continuance for
going to sleep just when we wish to do
SO there can be no doubt whatever of the
substantial benefit which would thereby
be secured for mankind. Some fortunate
individuals, like Napoleon I, can COM
mand sleep the moment they lay their
heads on the pillows, others find them
selves all through life sleeping the sleep
of the Just every night, without difficulty
being experienced as to occasional wake
fulness, except when illness happens to
supervene.
The Duke of Wellington, who always
slept on camp bedstead, had a maxim
that when a man turned in bed it was
time to turn out; and here it may be re-
marked that great soldiers appear to be
peculiarly constituted in their power to
summon sleep at will. Possibly this may
be due to the habits Of discipline which
they have learned. They say to their
brains, go to Sleep" and at once the
word Of command is obeyed.
WITH HEADS TO THE NORTH.
We are all familiar with the stereo-
typed advice in cases of this kind to
turn the pillow" to ''think of some
thing else," or to imagine and count a
number Of mountain sheep going through
a gate. Many a time and oft has the too
wakeful brain worker attempted to carry
these and similar prescriptions into prac-
tice, usually with results disproportionate
to the efforts involved.
1t may be said without much exaggera-
ton that the man who can first imagine
a flock Of sheep, then half open gate,
and then can force his hypothetical sheep
to go through one by one without crowd
ing or lodging or turning tail, is fit for
treason. stratagems or writing the sub
FINEST poetry. He is no ordinary man,
and it is for ordinary individuals that
the saving prescription is required.
Among prescriptions of more or less
sensible kind which have been at various
times propounded and actually put into
use for inducing sleep may be mentioned
the hop pillow, in which our forefathers
had considerable faith, the narcotic es-
sential oil which produces the hop scent
being supposed to be exceedingly sopo-
rife.
The hop pillow was used by George III
habitually when that monarch suffered
from insomnia. Then S. A. Ellis long
ago announced as grand discovery to
the Scottish CurativA Mesmeric associa-
ton that sleep was all matter of which
way ones head points.
In certain direction the electricity Of
the earth, which is supposed to flow be-
tween the poles, passes along the body,
and so tends to the enjoyment of repose
Persons wishing to avoid sleepless nights
must therefore, Mr.. Ellis advised, always
sleep south by north, with their heads
pointing in their latter direction, and
they must most religiously avoid attempt
ing to slumber if their bed lies east and
west.
The idea boasts some supporters nova
days, but the consequences of its univer-
sal prevalence would lead to extraordi-
nary results. For example, architects
would have greater difficulties in build
ing suitable private residences than they
encounter even now, if they were obliged
to put their doors and fireplaces SO that
every apartment would allow of a bed
being situated in exactly the same posi-
ton all over the house.
Let us imagine also country house,
where the gentlemen all retired to bed
about 10 o'clock, the ladies having de-
parted to rest long before. What rude
awakening would ensue for the latter
when they were suddenly reused by hear
ing horrible rumbGngs as Of thunder in
the rooms on every side, and above them!
They would think it was an earthquake
without doubt; whereas, as mere mat
ter of fact, it would be only that each
guest was simultaneously attempting to
shift his four poster into consonance
with the teachings of electrical science.
PROFOUND SECRET.
There was, moreover, a London gentle
man who years ago really believed he
had found an absolutely certain prescrip-
ton for banishing wakefulness, and be
was willing to impart his knowledge TO
others for handsome fee on the express
condition that the information should
'go no further"
When the sleep practitioner died one
of his patients informed an expectant
world that the grand secret was simply
this: \ person lying in bed and attemp-
ting to Sleep usually breathes through
his nostrils, and the breath SO emitted is.
in cold weather, quite visible.
All that has to be done is for the sub
ject 70 think of his own breathing, TO
imagine that he sees every breath that