The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-05
VIEW BooKs.
Brier Reviews Of Important and Interest-
ing New Publication.

NAuh INV ~
ing New Pubicntions,
Mr.. John B!Gelow says in his handsomely
published and very thorough volume on " The
Mystery of Sleep" Harper q Brotbcrs), thar
during sleep tho activities OF our bodily organs
are not suspended, and that we breathe and di-
gest, that our hearts labor and our mcsenteries
busy themselves, just the same between mid
night and 8 In the morning as they do during
the other hours of the twenty. four. Our
hearts do not take n moments rest from tho
hour OF our birth until our decease," Mr..
Bigelow declares. This Is generally SO, un-
less we suffer from tho phenomenon that
Is sometimes called the tobacco heart,
from which may every good man DO fore
fended. II is true, as Mr.. Bigelow further says,
that our lungs are equally restless In their
endeavor to provide themselves with fresh air.
to the end that the blood may be purified and
qualified for It's appointed uses. Strange n
man In his sleep, and see whether he will be
able to continue his activities In the morning.
The Affirmation that is ncontrovcrtible is the
one, after all, that is calculated to give us
complete satisfaction. Mr.. Bigclow Celebrates
the idea with the trained and unhurrled
art OF the thorough ~essnylst. 1.-The process
of inspiration and expiration by tho aid
or an elaborate and complex system of
muscular contraction and expansion" he
says. goes on with an unrelenting vlgor.
Tho Same is true of our stomach, our glands.
our kidneys, and OF all our mysterious digestive
apparatus. Even our nails and our hair are as
tireless as our heart or lungs" So, with some
OF US, 1t may DO added, Is our literary activity.
1t goes on almost unconsciously, and is unla-
borious, measured. without disturbance or evil
dencc of eccentricity. We do not mind 1t, and
neither do others. 1t seems to be a benefcent
arrangement, recognizing q necessity and
affording an innocent and harmless grntif-
cation.
occasionally Mr.. Bigelow submits n PROPOSE
tion with which we cannot wholly agree. On
page o. for example, he says: AL philosophers
1 believe. are not agreed that matter can neither
be increased nor diminished in quantity by any
thing that we can do" We have no quarrel
with the philosophers ordinarily, but are they
exactly right in this Instance? Suppose that
the matter is indigestion: is it not possible
to increase 1t with Welsh rabbit or diminish IL
by means of dietary selection and pepsln? We
hasten to say that Mr.. Bigelow finds other in
stances which seem to support the conclu.
sions Of the philosophers. How can that
he asks. "be reconciled with tho
idea OF matter becoming fntigucd or needing
rest: and how can we explain the tireless en-
ergy Of the countless planets. which have been
dancing to tho music OF the spheres around
their respective suns from the dawn of creation.
and without relaxing their speed IN the slight
est degree or stopping n moment for repairs In
all the myriads of years ~ If the planets do
not need rest, Mr.. Bigclow infers, certainly our
bodies do not, and he declares that =" it is not
true. nor Is there any substantial foundation
for q suspicion. that the mind or the soul, the
animus or the ANNA, the Intellectual or the
spiritual functions of our being. can over be
fatigued." The conclusion of Mr.. Bigelow upon
this point seems to be that sleep is merely q
change of employment. and that some mys-
FERROUS part of US is built up during sleep. as
other parts of us-also mysterious. without
doubt-are built up during our waking hours.
sleep. like DEATH" Mr.. Bigelow says,
knocks at the doors OF kings palaces as we'll
as at poor mems cottages" There can be no
doubt that this is true. or that the definite good
fortune OF kings is discoverable in the circum-
stance. 1t is logically the truth further, as Mr..
Bigelow goes on to declare, that sleep is no
"respecter OF persons and that while it Is
levying its tribute we ere unconscious of every
thing we have done in the past. and of all we
are planning to do in the future" 1t is doubt
less true, indeed, that here we have one of the
universal conditions of sleep which Is coinci-
dent and in harmony with one of the supreme
behests OF the Christian iife-utter separation
from the phenomenal world-an entire emanci-
poSAobs " iS" SiCCpihe lEOUu II
cares and ambitions OF the life into which we
we're born. aud to the indulgence of which we
are inclined by nature to surrender the service
of all our vital energies"
Every reasonable person must agree with a
suggestion advanced by Mr.. Bigelow on page
II. why" he asks. should the ploughman
leave his plough in the furrow when the sun
ceases TO light his way? Can any other more
satisfactory reason be suggested than that he
may for a few hours be ms one dead to the con-
Germs of his farm and plough and his soul for a
time freed from their distractions? Whatever
may be the final purpose OF sleep. that also Is
amongth the final purposes OF nocturnal darkness"
or this. as we say. we should think there could be
no question. By a provision of unerring nature
the farmer loves his supper and his bed: like
wise it is true that he cannot see to plough in
the dark. Besides. the morning follows the
night We remark with pleasure the approval
suggested in Mr.. BiGelow's quotation OF the Ger
man proverbs: The morning hour has gold in
Its mouth"
When we arc suddenly aroused from profound
sleep. as MIR. Bigelow points ont on page "3. we
behave variously, according to our age. Chill
dren are apt to cry and adults to scold.' This
shows that we should do our best, in mere mercy
TO those about us. to have sleep enough. w
are made happy" Mr.. Bigelow observes. when
peTHulItou W CIubo u eyes uRaIN anu return
whence we came and to the company VIC had
left" So, of course, il we scold or cry when
awake. are others. By all means let us sleep.
On waking" Mr.. Bigelow says on page 20.
" and before we experience any appetite for
food. we are prone to welcome an ex-
hilarant Of some sort to overcome our
to return to the disciplinary
life into which we were born TO be
trained. The late Chief Justice fancy.
] have been told, habituallr smoked n pipe be-
fore his breakfast" or course not everybody,
particularly women and children, could be
expected to follow. with anything like graceful
ness and propriety, the example Of Chief Justice
fancy. We are glad to say that Mr.. Bigelow
merely mentions the habit of the Chief Justice,
and in no wise approves Of 1t. On page ~,
speaking of Toussaint L'Ouverture's habit of
pretending to attack the enemy at night, Mr..
Bigelow says that this was repeated so fire.
quently rs to effectually prevent their getting
any rest" We wish that Mr.. Bigelow had not split
the infnitive. This is the one flaw that we have
noticed in the style of An almost perfectly con-