The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-23
NATURAL SLEEP.
4 Necessity, tile Full I'M
porIance Of Which
Few People
Realize.
I~uPDIrkNc NEpVnUS RACE.
AMERICANS A NERVOUS RACE
Over Excitement Makes Great De-
mands on Vitality Relaxing
the Muscles.

fast becoming a nervous people,
Rapid eating, rapid work, rapid ac-
emulation of means, rapid expendl :
ture, rapid living and rapid transit
are what make up the ever constant
whirl of life. until the pulse and the
nerves have become enfeebled, n
thereby the nerve centres, like a
dynamite bomb, are ready to explode
on the slightest p~rovocation or con-
cussion. A general anxious feeling or
a feeling of unrest hovers over the
homes, the cities and the nation, and
while there. are many individual ex-
ceptions, the larger majority of the
psuple are living III a continual state OF
tancv, with nerves alert, and only
paclued when excited. Thus the
theatre and the play, sensational lit
erature, stimulating foods and bever-
ages, are on the increase. The enorin-
u consumption OF nerve medicines
and tonics would alone speak loudly
10 one who studies in the least degree
til physical tendencies OF medicines.
Moth ng proves better the artificial
state of nan in this age than the arti-
fic al means by which he tries to adj
lust himself TO natures laws-lneans
w,ach. in most cases, serve merely 10
keep up appearances OF life a little
longer; but the crash zones sooner or
later, tor any undue stimulation of
that which is natural must, in a short
time. lead to disease and death.
OVER EXCITEMENT.
Over-excitement means rapid nerve
waste. 1t is tying down the safety
valves and burning tissue in the fur
nace. There is a physiological meas
ure of excitement that is good for II
individual, for it stirs up the nutritive
processes, clears out the cobwebs in
the brain and makes the mind clearer
and stronger for it. But excessive
and abnormal excitement has burned
the youth out of many a body, leav-
ing the possessoT an old man al forty.
Stock exchanges are notorious fields
OF shattered nerves and softened
brains. Political campaigns may
bring party triuinphs, but yearly they
bring enormous order drains upon
vitality to thousands. As strange as
it may seem, few indeed in the active
whirl of life have that poise OF nerve
force, that discipline Of the vital
functions, which will render them at
ease when the days business shall
have been completed; and it is such
only that are capable Of taking rest
to the best advantage or experiencing
natural sleep.
How many they are that take their
business to bed with them, and when
sleep comes it is laborious and fatigu-
ing, more or less disturbed by mutter-
ings, dreams and restl1ssness. An
overstimulated individual
can only with difficulty relax. and let
GO the things for the time being that
have over animated them during the
daE. and thus find perfect repose; but
instead they mechanically disobey all
the laws of nature in sleep, simple as
they are. They are SO blinded by i'm
mediate personal interests that the
habit of not resting when sleeping
has grown to such an extent that to
return to natural sleep takes thought
and study.
RELAXING THE MUSCLES.
Few who pretend to rest give up
entirely to the bed. a dead weight,
letting the bed hold them instead of
trying to hold themselves on the bed.
Watch closely and you will usually
see the muscles are tense, if not all
over, SO nearly that it fatiguing; the
spine seems to be a central point OF
tension. 1t touches the bed at each
end, it is true, but only in its entirety
as far as the individual will permit.
The knees are usually drawn up, the
muscles of the legs tense, the hands
and arms contracted, often clasped
above the head, the fingers clinched.
either holding the pillow or them
selves; the head, instead of letting
the pillow have it's whole weight,
holds itself on the pillow, the throat
muscles often contracted, or the mus
Giles of the face drawn one way or
another. This may seem exaggerated
when it is sleep that we are all talk
ing about, but it is indeed too true.
How many poor sleepers are more
fatigued when they get up than when
s4ev go to bed, and yet natural sleep
natures sweet restorer," and al
W VS. brings perfect recup r4t On to fit
g Tor the coming days duties. IF
I could only stop myself from think
ing is a complaint often heard, but
no one can reason himself out of the
habit. f.
If you al not stop thinking, do not
try. Let the thoughts stream ahead
if the will, only use enough will
power to relex all the muscles, make
yourself as heavy as possible in bed,
and, W0ll6 blo dbLeu0lOu Vi Tile ulllu
is drawn to the letting-go process of
the muscles, the imps of thought find
less to do in the brain, because the
mind is absorbed in a better work,
and soon the senseless thinking will
stop.
Five minutes of complete rest are
worth nor than an hour of omlnon
resting. There is no better way o.
learning to overcome perverseness in
sleeping than to study with a r the
sleep Of a healthy little child. Having
gained the necessary freedom to give
perfect repose. the dropping of all
thought andcare can be made an easy
task. To take the regular process,
first let go the muscles. which will en-
aule one more easily to drop disturb
ing thoughts, or refuse without resist
ance to admit the thoughts. and free
dom from care for the time will follow
Take plenty Of time for repose, and
above all things court q clear con
science before resting; the latter add
much to tranquil sleep.-Ihe Pucyt'
Home Journal.
Gigsiing Is Not Laughing.
Women very generally neglect {
very powerful weapon OF offense ant
defense placed at their command by
nature. A woman's laugh, II Intelll