Middletown transcript., 1896-01-11
OF Interest
ITO Farmers
THE EVILS OF EARLY RISING.

the possible exception of Mr.. Alfred
Austin, would admit that poetry today
does not get the consideration it rs-
ceived in the good old days. We no
longer look upon poet as sort of in
spired being with special message to
the world, and therefore not to be
judged by the ordinary standards that
apply to average men. As an oracle
he has been supplanted by the scien-
tist, whose facts even when stated in
the most halting prose, are esteemed as
of more value than the most scintilla-
ting fancies of ths poet 1t is true the
poets still continue to sing; but they
must often feel that they sing to un-
needing ears.
In view of all this it is interesting to
note the fact that in one matter science
has actually come to the defence of the
poets. Everybody knows that all well
constituted poets have Nritten-or, to
speak POLITICALLY, have sung-in praise
of sleep, and plenty of it. It is not
necessary to give examples of this, for
even Macaulay's schoolboy knows it.
Moreover, while all poets advocate
sleep, there are some whom We might
name who induce-but that is another
story. What we want to impress on
the reader is the fact that the poet has
always stood up for sleep as sacred
privilege and duty, even in this rest
less and sleepless age, when the time
spent in sleep is looked upon as dead
loss.
But, as we have said, science, in the
person of DIR. Sslden FL. Talcottt, the
superintendent of an insane asylum at
Middletown, N. Y, has in this matter
indorsed the views of The poets. We
do not understand that DR.. Talcott is
a poet himself, or that lie holds brief
for the poets. II may be that he did
not have their vindication in mind at
all. But that only makes his testi-
mony to their veraciiy The more val
liable. Briefly, he calls attention to
the relative frequency Of insanity
among people who live ON farms. It
is usually said that this is due to the
isolation of their lives, their excessive
toll and, possibly, their inordinate con-
sumption of pie and pork. But this ex-
PLANTATION is far from conclusi We; for
against it must be put the fact that
farmers usually tive temperate lives in
the open air, and that they are almost
wholly free from the many forms of
mental strain and overwork that do so
much to produce insanity in other
classes of the community. Or. Talcott's
theory is that insanity among farmers
and the families Of farmers is largely
due to their excessively early hours of
rising. Early rising, he thinks, is es-
pecially harmful to growing children,
and may cause such arrangement of
their nervous system as will make them
easy victims to mental disorders in
later life. We are not in the conf
dence of the farmers boy; but we think
we may assert, without fear of contra
diction, that when he hearsof DR.. Tai
colts theory, If he 9, er does, he will
at once look him upon as the greatest
man that this age has produced. For the
necessity of getting mp early, except
when be is going for days fishing. is
the one great sorrow in the life of every
well-ordered farmers boy. When be
had only the poets on his side he could
hardly hope for deliverance; but now,
that science has called attent ion to the
deadly effects Of early rising, the case
is different. The day of his redemp-
tion is dawning.
Seriously, the point that DR.. Talcctt
makes is worth the consideration of
others than farmers. A sound and
sufficient sleep lies at the basis OF all
physical and intellectual well-being.
And it is grave question whether the
lack Of q proper amount OF sleep is not |
responsible for many Of the nervous
disorders Of people to-day in every
walk Of life. Nature is inexorable,
and her law prescribing certain per-
iod of our lives for physical rest cam
not be violated with implnity.-N Y.
Tribune.
GOING INTO DEBT FOR A FARM.
Whether man can rum In debt for |
! farm and pay for it Of the farm, de-
psl,ds much on the man and family.
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