The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-01-22
Sleep and Health.

We have been told, tlme aIter Glule,
that early rising is wonderful method
of lengthening the day, and thus ad-
ding to the value and usefulness of a
man life. To those who are tempt
ed to self-indulgence in sleep by a
natural tendency to ease, or lack OF
incentive to early rising, the injunc-
tion is good enough, and should be
enforced. But with the majority of
US the danger lies in the opposite
direction. The demands upon our
time are so many and so pressing that
the longest day is sadly too short for
the work we would like to see done in
it. We go to bed at night with the
unpleasant conviction that something
is being left half finished, and to.
morrow has already enough duties of
its own to occupy its hours. So we
get in the habit of scheming how the
day may be made bit longer by steal
ing a fragment from both ends of the
night. We then hatter ourselves upon
having stolen march from Dame
Nature, and cheated her out Of her
own. And how easy it is to imagine
that we feel none the worse for the
change, and that the touch of weari-
ness which sometimes oppresses US is
an unworthy inclination to slothful-
ness that ought to be kept in subjec-
tion.
Time, however, tells another tale,
and few years will prove that the
human system must have the appoint
ed hours of sleep and rest, or serious
consequences will follow. When
early rising is practiced it must be
preceded by early retiring. We are
told that large portion Of people
who have lived to an extreme old age
were early risers; but it is well to un-
derstand that they are mostly agricul-
tural laborers and country people, liv-
ing simply and contented, and going
to bed about nine o clock in the even
ing. without a care to ruffle their sleep.
A schoolboy on his holiday does not
rest more soundly; andit is unreason-
able for the ordinary business man,
who has hands and brain actively en-
gagged until almost midnight, to at
tempt to keep pace with him in the
morning. There is no real gain in
robbing ones self Of the needed rest.
The day may be heightened, but it is
proportionately weakened, for loss Of
e1aor rnoons 1oas of enepy
There is a story told Of certain
tradesman who was in difficulties, and
went to his brother for assistance.
On his arrival he found him in bed,
and had to wait sometime for his ap-
pearance. IT am surprised at you
staying in bed so long, said the poor
relation IT have been up three hours
at least" eyes" replied the more
fortunate brother; "but you see when
I do get up I am thoroughly awake. :"
The hint was more forcible than
thoughtful, yet it contains a lesson
which is especially applicable to those
who are trying to gain for themselves
livelihood and fortune. He who
has enough sleep has secured one OF
the safeguards against the encroach-
ments Of disease and mental prostra-
tion. His nerves are steadier,, his
intellect is clearer and keener, and the
business and responsibility Of life are
attended to with degree of comfort
and efficiency that are otherwise un-
attainable.
! A few days ago two gentlemen met
by chance in our sanctum. They we're
quite youthful in appearance, and in
excellent health. On comparing notes
it was found that both had been in
the military service during the "late
unpleasantness," but upon opposite
sides. Their youthful appearance led
to banter as to which was the elder,
and it was agreed that each should
mark the date of his birth on slip
of paper and place it in the writer 8
hands, when it transpired that the
"wearer of the gray was senior by
some seven years. We confessed our
astonishment, for he was by far the
Younger looking. II am great home
body,' he explained, and having
married soon after the war, | have
scarcely ever missed retiring for the
night as early as nine o'clock. In ad-
dition to this, my habits Of life have
always been simple and temperate.
He was a man fifty years of age
who did not look to be more than
thirty-Gve, all owing to simple and
regular habits of life, with due
allotment to mature sweet restorer,
sleep" And nature will never be
cheated Of her requirements without
writing her protest in indelible lines.
Halls Journal Of Health.