The Springfield herald., 1897-05-14

SxSXS~ mans death occur
there, and through
I'll his life nothing assumes such in
Innate relations with him as his bed.
The man who can sleep is the man who
can work. With sleeplessness comes,
first, insanity; then the slumber from
which one is awakened not by the
breakfast gong, but by Gabriel's trum-
pet.
Nice house-good BEDS said AL
fred Jingle, to the founder of the Pick
wick club. referring to the Bull inn, on
the High street OF Rochester. And
when that jerky conversationalist said
good beds" he paid that house of en-
tertainment the highest compliment
which can be bestowed upon any inn
1t Is said that when Chauncey Depew
goes to banquet he takes with him
his own wine and thus does not allow
his Intervals to be juggled with by
spurious mixtures which masquerade
In all countries where the tariff is high,
as wine. 1t is also well known that
II one invite distinguished friend of
Chaunceys. namely, the prince OF
Wales, to dinner, one must provide
certain brand of champagne. In like
manner many distinguished individ-
uals carry around with them their own
beds, and in this, doubtless, there is
wisdom. 1t is well known that when
the queen of England travels to the
south of France, or elsewhere, prac-
tfcally her whole bedroom goes with
her. Not for years has Victoria slept
n n CT n nod cb long
and prospers, as Rip Van Wrinkle
says but she is not the only monarch
who INDUCES in a similar habit. The
empress of Austria carries her bed with
her wherever she goes, following thus
the scriptural injunction. Take up thy
bed and walk" In Italy they do not
pay much attention to beds as gen.
eral rule, and 1t is not surprising to
learn that the king in that country is,
therefore, not particular enough about
his sleeping apartments to carry bed
with him. The German emperor is a
young man and so is not as careful OF
himself as some older monarchs may
be; he is content to carry two pillows
with him when he travels. The Grand
Duke Paul. however, takes not only bed
and bedding, but bedstead as well. He
has.a metal bedstead of peculiar con-
struction that can be taken apart and
folded up in small compass; this Is in
variably part of his baggage when
travelling. The reason, however, diff
fers from that which actuates the
august persons | have previously men
toned. The Grand Duke Paul is SO
tall that there is no bed in Europe that
will fit him. European beds. as ev.
cry traveller knows. are likely to be
scant in length. and in French hotels
one often comes upon a bed that will
not adequately allow him to stretch his
legs. However, no innkeeper in any
country has bed long enough for the
Grand Duke Paul; therefore that un-
fortunate man has to carry his couch
with him, just as if he were a giant
travelling with circus. I don't know
whether or not the grand duke gets
special terms at hotels for bringing
along his own bedstead and bedding,
but 1t seems to me he ought to strike
for a reduction of his bill. l know
OF only one ordinary every day man
who follows the example of royalty Tor
bedding. This man prizes a nights
sleep at its correct value, and he con-
sequently has invented an outfit. The
mattress is of very thin rubber, COW
cred on tho. outside with checkered
silk. which is also as thin as possible,
and this folds up SO completely that
1t takes up but very small portion
OF a valise. This pneumatic bed doesn't
need an air pump as the pneumatic tire
does, for the mattress can be filled by
putting the lips to the orifice and thus
Initiating it. Nevertheless, in order to
save his lungs unnecessary exertion he
has small pump with him, with which
he very speedily adds bulk to the sur
prisingly small bundle. This man has.
he tells me. some thought of adding a
hydrogen gas attachment, so that when
he goes to America and sleeps in one
of the forty-second story rooms and a
fire takes place he can initiate his mat
tress with hydrogen gas and descend
unscathed to the pavement. suggest
ed to him that such a contrivance
would also be useful in enabling an i'm
pecunfous man to escape his board bill,
but my friend says he is quite serious
about the hydrogen gas Attachment.
1t is very simple. he says. All one
needs to carry is lot of zinc clippings
and a bottle Of sulphuric acid; with
these two ingredients he can generate
enough hydrogen gas to enable him
self to lessen considerably the fall
Even as it is now, he thinks the mat
tress would be of great assistance and
If ever he is cought in fire he is going
to jump out of window with the mat
tress in front OF him and endeavor to
have it reach the pavement first with
himself on top of it.
He carries also set of four sheets,
all of very thin, white silk. For the
rest of his night accouterments he de-
pends on the blankets and coverlets
he may find in the hotel. He says
that whenever he comes to hired bed
room where the beds do not satisfy him
he throws the mattress and all the rest
of 1t on the floor, initiates his pneumatic
bed and thus retires. conscious that he
will hoy "a r,1o mt, ioJ,