The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-12
Nlcht-Cap Books.

Thsckeray says in the Roundabout
Papers. "Al0ntaigne and HOwePs Letters
are my bedside BOOKS. II / wake at night
have one ~ other OF them to prattle me 60
sleep again. They talk about themselves
forever and don't weary me. 1 Ike TO hear
them tell their old stories over ana over again.
l read them IN the dOZy hours and only half
remember inem.' Then, after page or two,
ne adds 81" snOnid ike to write a night-cap
book book fbat you can muse over. that
YOU can smile over, thaI you eau yawu OYer.'
| have 80 hearty a belief I'm Mr. Ibackeray
that think he would have been more or less
pleased 20 know that he had written a might
cap book that the ''Roundabout Papers"
with their whimsical gentleness, their ramb-
ling fancy. have more than once yanquished
the devil Of Insomnia In a sick room.
This is no small triumph, for His ins0muiac
Highness is most eNacting genius; aud
nerves worn by illness need Il peculiar cor
resporeence OF soothing thought with musical
dicti0n for a satisfactory lullaby. Nothing
can serve 30 well as books, be they but the
right books. Those who have tested the
varied and complicated possibilities Of i'll
sOmuia learn t. value these lar above the
kindergarten expedients OF saying the alpha
bet backward, counting sheep jumping over
a stone wall and 80 on.
Not long ago, played nurse to friend who
was suffering from nervous pr0strati0n. and
who purchased moments Of sleep with hours OF
effort ! started IN, like the most professional
OF nurses. with my own little theory that
very stupid article read IN a more or less
clerical monotone would answer the purpose,
and my poor friend would .uccumb 10 the
double influence. | chose a book Of historical
research, loaded with dates, heavy with in-
formation packed and pressed until the
human interest was fairly squeezed out OF IL.
II worked very badly, the patient not being
sufficiently enlisted TO lose a sense OF nervous
effort that defeated sleep. Perceivlng where
the difficulty lay, we hitupon modern serial,
sparkling as champagne, vivid and clear,
and the result was IA frenzy of wakeiulhess.
Gradually il dawned upon Us that a number
OF requirements must be complied with In
order that a book should be genuinely night
cap book. and That the sum OF these demanded
high order Of merit. The article read must
be reflective in character, with the quoting
Influences of fiat landscapes and wide hOri-
IONS. The language must HOW, not IN
series Of tempestuOus falls az mountain
brook, but fuil and imp.d as a river; there
must be a certain continuity OF thought and
the thought must not he feverlsh, OK argu-
mentatiYe, or low, or s0fr0wiul, or gay. IT II
not an easy thing 10 be night-cap author.
Oar sedatiye library, which became sure
resource, contains varied series, but ali
answer, IN a greater or less degree, To the
stern demands made upon them. Copies Of
the London Spectator, Philips Brooks ser
mons, the friendly talks at Dr.. Holmes
breakfast and tea tables, the freside travels
of that clear thinker who lett Us only yesiet-
dpy, Emersou's lofty essays; aud have Just
noU coyertly enriched the shelf by adding
"rrue and l." thinking that its fragrant
breath OF spring life and rs unsulIed English
should make X a slumOer song for the weariest
heart and most unrestibg br@la.-Scrlbners
Magazius Tor June.