The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-05-03

that which corresponds to organs Of light
reception. about the time that man, so
trained for countless epochs, makes the
same light available for manifold indus
tries.
Nor is it In the lower living world only
that, without reference TO sunlight, occur
alterations OF vigor and languor.
Throughout the created universe, actusl
or potential, there is apparently univer-
sal and eternal principle OF flow and ebb,
characteristic OF the world sidereal, as OF
our own globe, and II science be not
wholly misled in hypothesis, this princi-
ole OF activity and rest affects all move
ment and is integral in even the rythm Of
crystal masses.
II we could, would we abolish sleep?
What proportions of the human race
"would fsrdels bear" all the nights, from
infancy TO death, as fardels must be borne
all the days Of the same span? To make
sleepless nights tolerable, II would be nee
essary to do more than supply an efficient
artificial light. The scheme Of life itself
would have TO be organically changed.
Uniformity in the pressure Of existence
upon human sensibility would be neces-
sary. Seasons would have to be smoothed
into changeless calm. The waves Of
catastrophe, physical, moral, intellectual,
monetary, industrial, that plunge the
world into ideal darkness would have to
be subjected to perfect human control or
some subtle faculty man would demand
for himself 10 addition to all others, to
afford the necessary resistance to unusual
tides. A satisfactory artificial light to
accomplish this would have to be some
thing more than fairy arch fed by an un-
certain and elusive force from natures
own dynamos.
1t may we'll be feared-or hoped-that
no addition from physics is going to
change law that appears to be part Of
the primal code Of creation. For not only
does the world sleep when the sun is high
In the heavens, but life itself, spiritual
and intellectual, as well as physical, con-
fesses that sleep is born with it. As the
human infant sleeps most of its first years,
so old age sleeps more and more as II
nears its end; and even before the bodii,
faculties begin their cureless decline, the
faculties of the mind fall more and more
into sleep from which neither sunlight
nor lamp made by man can wake them.
The world will not bless Edison for in
venting lamp to abolish sleep. Rather
with Cervantes will il continue to "bless
him who first invented Sleep" Nor
should Edison waste his time trying to
put out his mental eyes flying too near
that sun OF infinite light which has made
sleep principle Of creation; let him apply
his wit to things within reach.
Why does not Edison invent an electric
warning of icebergs bearing down upon
paths of the seas as now on land APP
proach Of fire is simultaneously notified
to all portions Of dwelling equipped
with the necessary apparatus?
Science is passing by obvious emporium
tiles for exercise Of its newly developed
resources when it ignores such needs as
are numerous still on oceans and on con-
tinents to waste its time ON problems be-
yond its hand II not beyond its dream.
Instead Of seeking to extend the term of
mans endurance under labor by abolish
ing sleep, let it rather aim to deminish
those exhausting strains upon sensibility
and power, mental and corporal, that
make sleep indispensable for existence.
For when Edison has found means to
abolish sleep, he may prophesy that an
other achievement is within his reach. II
he can abolish sleep a second captive
awaits his wand-sleep's brother, death.