Arizona weekly citizen., 1889-08-17


 If any unusually acute inventor could tell us of an infallibIe contriyance 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 .uand 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 fuIness. except when illness happens to supervene.
 The Duke of Wellington. who always slept on camp bedstead, had a maxim that when 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
 
 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 numberof mountain sheep going through gate. Many time and oft has the too wakeful brain worker attempted to carry these and similar prescriptions into prac- tice, usually with results sdisproportionate to the efforts involved.
 It 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 limest poetry. He is no ordinary man, and it is for ordinary individuals that the saving prescription is required.
 Among prescriptions of a more or less sensible kind which have been atvarious 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 Curative Mesmeric associa- tion 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, Mir. Ellis advised, always sleep south by north, with their heads pointing in their latter direction, and they must most religiously avoid attempt ing to sIumber if their bed lies east and west.
 The idea boasts some supporters nowa- days, but the consequences of its univer- sal prevalence would lead to extraordi- nary results For example, architects would have greater difficulties in build illg suitable private residences than they encounter even now, if they were obliged SO put their doors and fireplaces so that every apartment would allow of bed being situated in exactly the same posi- tion all over the house.
 Let us imagine also country house, where the gentlemen all retired to bed about 12 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 rumblings as of thunder in the rooms on every side, and above them, They would think it was an earthquake without doubt; whereas, IS mere mat ter of fact, it would be only that each guest was simultaneously attempting to hift his four poster into consonance with the teachings of electrical science.
 PROFOUND SECRET.