The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-01
ART IN GOING TO BED.
Radical Change Is Necessary IN the
Custom of the People.


Providence Journal
Ernest Hart. u. {. l., is lecturing in Lon
don on the Art OF Living He thinks that
at the end OF ., 600 years very few OF us IN
derstand the elementary principles OF COM
fort and health, and then treats of what
seems the not too complicated subject OF
going to bed.
The management of the bedroom and the
art of going to bed would seem to be very
simple matters, as 10 which some rational
principles and comfortable and healthy
customs might be expected TO prevail. Let
US see IL this is so.
Take the case OF the ordinary well-to-do
Englishman. He leaves in the winter
warm, well lighted, and, perhaps sumptu-
ously FURNISHED room and he ascends through
a cold staircase TO a room OF which the
temperature is not determined and is very
apt to be below so degrees.
In how few OF our homes are the passages
and staircases warmed by basement
stove or base burner? If he is thoughtful
and what is called self indulgent, he will
have the room warmed by a coal fire or a
gas stove. This is, however, by no means
a universal rule, and is frequently reserved
onlyfor the heads OF the establishment orfOr
what are called delicate people.
The room is rarely well or conveniently
lighted, and the fittings commonly are
centuries behind our modern knowledge.
1t is only here and there that hot and cold
water are laid on, Or that the lighting can
he without effort shifted from the dress
ing table to the bed head, and controlled
from convenient place near the bed.
nj, ic 81 tI,a,
happy person then puts on something which
is called might gown" a sort of linen or
cotton sack with sleeves. which leaves the
lower limbs and feet more or less uncov-
cred, and at once makes a man an uncon-
Portable and ridiculous object. 1t is the
clothing OF the primeval savage.
If a ridiculous situation is needed for
farce it is commonly created by night
alarm at which Che sleepers appear in this
ridiculous guise at the bedroom door. The
bed is a ridiculous contriyance, having the
worst of all coverings linen sheets, the
foster mothers OF rheumat ism and the
worst of all material for contact with the
skin. To counterbalance its defects and
Increase the miseries Il heavy supcrabun-
dant mass of blankets and quilts is i'm
posed, and to prevent any comfortable or
free movement of the limbs these are"tucked
in around the edges, constituting il huge
set OF swaddling clothes, such as only saw
ages now employ even for children.
The fire now is generally allowed 10
become extinct, if ever lighted. and those
who have passed their day in warm rooms
often spend the night in achamberin which
the temperature is not much above freezing
point, and to mitigate which q complete
reclothing of the body is required.
The reasonable practice would require,
first, that for the present bideous ard II
diculous night gown paiamas of various
degrees of warmth or thinness should be
provided. The present bedstead and bed
clothing should be alJogeth her discarded and
two light eiderdowns like the Indian resal
or the Japanese fulton should be Subst i
tuted. Night socks should be worn of a
texture suited to the season. Near the
couch should be provided bookshelf With
the favorite books. The couch should be
| supplied with convenient headrest which
| falls forward at touch. BY the bed
| should be one lever which controls the
| light, either a Bypass bed light or an
| electric light, as may be most convenient.
| The room should be kept at tempera
ture which never falls below so deg, and
in another part OF it should be placed a
| long deck chair" with cushions. to whicI
(! if the Sleeper grows restless. he can easily
| transfer himself and repose at any angle
| That is how to get to bed nationally
| healthily, prepared for the emergencies o
| the night, whether of sleepiessuess or house
| hold accident.