The Washington times., 1895-04-28
BEAUTIFYING SLEEP.

Women who sleep great deal and com
fortably, who are addicted to cat-naps
and regard nine hours of wholesome rest
as absolutely requisite to their physical
WELL being are the women who defy the
frosting hand Of time. These are the wo-
men whose wrinkles are few and far be-
tween, and whose eyes remain the brightest
and cheeks the rosiest for the longest pc
riod after the bloom OF youth has fled.
No less notable beauty than Diane de
Poictiers, who retained her irresistible
| loyeliness until her seyentieth year, rec
ognized the value of sleep as a preventive
of wrinkles. Indeed, SO fearful was she
of losing a moment of precious rest that,
mistrusting the beds Of her friends, she
carried her own with its splendid set
tings on all her journeys.
She who can afford it buys her bed OF
mahogany, a beautiful French canopy
affair, modeied-only on larger lines
after the one still shown at Versailles as
used by Louis XIV. But whether OF
richly polished wood or simple white
iron the modern bed has tester or canopy
and more or less dTapery OF silk or chintZ.
With all OF them are sold what in nearly
every part OF America are indispensable,
mosquito nets. These are a novel inven-
ton of the decorators, and are in the form
of big parasols with heavy handles at
least five feet high. The handle fits
into and is braced by metal clamp
behind the back of the bed, and set at
such an angle that when its siik-covered
ribs are unfurled it lets down over the
bed yelling of mosquito-proof net, en-
tirely protecting the helpless sleeper.
Three mattresses laid upon wire spring
foundation are invariably used. One is
Of fresh springy black moss, one of mixed
cotton and wool, and the third filled
with superior quality OF South Amer
lean hair.
All three have their ugly blue and white
tufting enveloped in white linen slip
Three mattresses laid upon a wire spring
between every mattress is laid long thin
satchet bag o white linen filled with Eng
IiSh lavender. Such an arrangement Of
bedding is believed to be most conducive
to profound and healthful sleeping.
There q re those eccentrics among wealthy
folk in New York city who substitute for
the cotton bed one filled with the dried
shredded husks stripped from the ears OF
Indian corn. This is not tufted but stuffed
loose into a ticking that has a pocket slip,
buttoning down the middle, and every
morning the maid opensthe pocket and with
her hands turns and tnsses the husks.
When the maid prepares her mistress
bed for occupancy its sumptnouS cOSiHeSS
would tempt an argus into cat mapping and
weary woman to long hours OF delicious
repose. Day cushions, stiff head roll and
satin counterpaue are replaced by the
three or four night pillows of various sizes
and no bolster at all. To a German scient-
fst is due the discovery that at night the
head should be elevated not more than two
inches above the body else free circulation
is impeded. Following this good counsel
the wise sleeper uses big square pillows,
two OF them, it is true, but stuffed with
down, not feathers, and so scantily that
when laid one upon another the weight OF
the shoulders presses them very low. In
addition to these the maid adds two more
pillows, about twelve inches square. These
are covered and trimmed just like the big
ones and meant to tuck into the corners OF a
weary back or fill creyice where draughts
might slip i'll.
In summer numbers OF gentle sleepers
use sheets of cool white Shanghai silk and
others who suffer from neuralgia and rheu-
matism have their beds made the year
round with fine cotton ones. Like those Of
silk and linen they have deep hemStitched
borders, show broad inserted bands OF
drawn work or lace, and in one corner is an
embroidered coat OF arms a pair of cream
rolored California blankets and down
coverlid tufted in flowered silk make up
the requisite covering for the luxurious
sleepy head whose slumbering body though
deeds be warm should not be taxed by any
useless weight and at the foot of the
couch lies a big satin sachet envelope. This
holds every evening fresh night dress and
handkerchief and an odd little vinagrette.
'Tismade of white rubber, flask shape, with
silver screw top, fits into flowered silk
bag, and holds some compound OF salts aud
perfume supposedly conducive to fairdreams.
But dreams, say these sleepers who take
their rest by fixed rule and regulation, are
all a matter of how one composes herself
for the night. No wonder Peter Ibbetson
was able to recall the past when he went to
sleep lying flat on his back and his hands
clasped under his head. To lie on ones
back brings visions OF i'll omen and to hold
ones elbows above the level OF the lungs
when so lying interfei1s with the free ac-
ton of the heart. Resting wholly on the
eft side Will also disturb the heart and
brings dreams of misfortune.
The women who have an eye to a COM
Portable night follow the rule of the Rus
sian soldiers, who sleep in the form of an
S. That is resting on the right side, the
arms lying nearly parallel with the body,
and the right knee drawn high up.
Numbers of women learn to sleep resting
the cheek on the palm, for that gives
brilliant color, and whether or no 'tis
against their principles, sleep in a well
shuttered room, since to rest in complete
darkness, effeetually protected from the
morning sun, keeps the eyes lmpid and
strong and from pink rims or falling
lasheS. MILLfCENT DAY.