Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-13
early TO Bed"


NbpHtOi 1ti'Sihphsl
Another of our earliest and most
cherished Illusions has gone by the
board II there were one fact Of hygiene
which used to be regarded as settled be-
yond dispute, II was that early rising Is
beneficial to the health. But the proverb
az TO the desirable consequences which
spring from this habit, In regard to health,
wealth, and wisdom, Is ruthlessy
trampled under foot by medical contem-
porary. which asserts that "the desire to
rise early, except In those trained from
youth to outdoor pursuits. Is commonly
sign, not of strength of character and
vigor Of body, but of advancing age"
This VIII be thoroughly good news for
all our sluggards. who may be expected
henceforth to quote medical opinion as
sufficient reply to the accusation of
self-indugence when they come down TO
breakfast at midday. They will lie in
bed out of a stern sense of what Is due
to the teachings of physiology. However.
II Is more than probable that in the next
number of the same journal. or at all
events, In an early issue Of some rival
sheet, we shall have the novel theory ex-
ploded. In support Of the idea that we
ought to lie long abed it is argued that
men have been experimentally proved to
work best and fastest, not in the early
morning hours. but In the middle Of the
day. a good deal would depend. II may
be suggested. on what kind OF breakfast
a man makes.
The early-risers often commit the
error OF undertaking, and work hard
on an empty stomach, which is Judi
clous; yet there have been thousands
who have found. as did Sir Walter Scott
and Anthony Trollope, that the brain
was clearest and most attuned to labor
before the worries and distractions of
the day had commenced. Our contem-
porary dismisses with airy contempt the
advice that we should initiate the hours
OF the birds and beasts and enjoy the
beauties OF the sunrise, and refers with
evident approval and sympathy to the
habits OF the professedly nocturnal ami
mails. a tiger there Is no doubt. Is a
tolerably healthy animal. although he
never enjoys the sunrise, and although
his best work IL done about midnight
And, with due training carried on for
unnumbered generations. II Is possible
that human beings might also get into
the way OF turning night into day"
with no detriment TO their nerves or di-
gestions. What. however. we have to
deal with Is man as we know him now,
and II Is a little startling 10 hear the
advantage of being up with the lark
decried from scientific standpoint. Are
these the paradoxlcal views or the new
DOCTOR?
We willingly admit that the other
proverb as to the hours Of sleep respec-
lively required by a man. a woman. and
fool is as unsound our contem-
porary asserts 1t TO be, and. considering
the wear and tear of nerves and brain
which city life occasions In these fast
moving days, II would be well If every
body would at all events attempt to give
himself or herself eight hours, or seven,
as an irreducible minimum. And the
Young men who burn the candle at both
ends and stay up till Il or l, when they
have TO rise at or 8, are worthy OF all
the vituperation which all the medical |
journals in existence can invent. After |
all. there IL good deal in the teachings |
Of experience. and It is difficult to dis
place the general belief that the person
who goes to bed at 10 or II and rises at G,
!. or 8 IL making the best of both worlds
he world Of sleep and the world OF
waking.