Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-07
"RISE WITH THE LARK"
A Society for Keeping Good Hours-Re
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 men,
bership is confined to persons of wealth and
leisure, for the reason that laboring people are
obliged to rise early and become so tired with
long days work that they are glad to go to
bed at dark or shortly after. The members of
the ''Ligue du Marin" propose to take long
social walks through the parks, along the boul-
evards and into the country, in the morning,
starting out before 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 breakfast. Their recep-
tions will be at in the evening instead Of 10 or
II. They will exert their influence to have
balls, concerts, 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 civiliza-
ton. No one can give any good reason for the
absurd change. The more wealthy and Guilt
waited most people become, the larger is the
portion of the night that is devoted to INTEL
lectual labor and amusements, and the smaller
the part given to sleep. The larger the popu-
lation of place, the later is the time for ris-
ing 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 an
hour or two later in all these things, and those
who live in cities are several hours later. The
first English parliament, like a country prayer
meeting, convened at early candle lighting"
Year by year the time of meeting was post
poned, till midnight was the hour for assem-
bling. A reform was then thought necessary
and 1t now meets at q somewhat seasOnable
hour in the evening.
Men who have accomplished much have
almost without exception been early risers.
Bishop Ken, author Of the familiar hymn COM
mencing awake, My 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
were late sleepers. BY his direction his funeral
took place at daybreak, and the hymn he wrote
ing. In the sixteenth century students in
English colleges were obliged to rise at 8 and
to be ready for prayers and recitations at G.
They preserved through life the habits they
acquired in boyhood.
The men who acquired great distinction in
England in previous age were early risers
Sir Edward Coke rose at 3 every morning in
the year. and as no one else about the house
was up lighted his own fire. Lord Burghley
and John Wesley rose at 4, Sir Ashley Cooper
historian, was always at work ut 6, which was
two hours after the time Rubens, the painter,
commenced TO use his brush,
Daniel Webster ''rose with the lark" He
acqired the habit on New Hampshire farm
and il chung TO him all his life. When he and
Lord Ashburton were engaged in settling our
northwestern boundary dispute an old farmer
friend became impatient at the long delay and
accused Webster Of forgetting the good ways
he had acquired when be was farm lad and
the great statesman said; Il work hard and I
presume Lord Ashburton does, but we do not
get along % fast - wish, % we can seldom
manage Il 20 - to get together. The fact Il
rise at every morning, which d exactly the
time my distinguished fellow-laborer goes to
bed"
The society world d certain to follow the
fashions n dress that are set in Paris. II may
adopt the fashion Of early rising. Il h not an
expensive one like that OF wearing costly gar
4 promotive of economy - we'll - health.
Early rising Will be . decided novelty TO most
persons, and may be found enjoyable On that
account